Abstract: A granular perpendicular magnetic recording medium comprises a non-magnetic substrate and a granular perpendicular magnetic recording layer overlying the substrate, comprising a first granular perpendicular magnetic layer proximal the substrate and having a first saturation magnetization (Ms)1, and a second granular perpendicular magnetic layer distal the substrate and having a second, different saturation magnetization (Ms)2. Also disclosed is a method of fabricating the granular perpendicular magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: A rotating joint is provided having a washer with a through-hole, a base, and a shoulder; a rotatable member having a primary hole circumscribing the center hole and sandwiched between the shoulder and base; and a fastener having a shaft that is insertable into the through-hole and connected with a mating threaded receptacle for applying a clamping force on the washer for preventing axial movement of the member while allowing the member to rotate. The shoulder is rolled, and the fastener is non-shouldered and does not use a load distribution washer. The rotatable member includes an opening for connecting a seat belt when the joint is used as a seat belt anchor. The shoulder has a lip overhanging the base, and the rotatable member is positioned therebetween. A method is also provided wherein the joint is captured by the washer separately from the application of the clamping force.

Abstract: The present invention relates to articles comprising an antiglare layer, coating compositions suitable for making antiglare layers, methods of making an antiglare article, and methods of making antiglare coating compositions. In some embodiments the article is a (e.g. illuminated) display article such as a touch screen. The antiglare layer comprises aggregate inorganic oxide particles in a cured inorganic polymer matrix.

Abstract: A method of performing data/information recording and retrieval utilizing a multilevel patterned magnetic medium, comprises providing a magnetic recording system including a read/write head and a multilevel patterned magnetic recording medium including a plurality of spaced apart data/information storage elements each comprising a stacked plurality n of magnetic recording cells with different magnetic properties and magnetically decoupled from overlying and/or underlying cells; providing relative movement between the write head and magnetic recording medium; and writing to the medium by supplying the write head with a modulated write current comprising a plurality n of pulses of different magnitudes while the head passes over each element, thereby applying n different magnetic field strengths to each element, the write current including a first pulse of magnitude sufficient to write to a first cell of each element having a highest magnetic coercivity of said cells, and n?1 succeeding pulses of progressively s

Abstract: An anchorage mechanism is provided for structurally coupling at least two components in series to withstand tensile loads. The anchorage mechanism includes a lower anchor and an upper anchor. The lower anchor has a first end that includes a substantially flat surface having flange portions, and an opposing second end configured for connecting the lower anchor to one of the at least two components. The upper anchor has a first end defining a receiving portion and a second end defining a first opening configured to secure the upper anchor to a second of the at least two components. The receiving portion is configured in a first manner to receive the flange portions of the lower anchor, and configured in a second manner to interlock the upper anchor with the lower anchor to withstand tensile loads. A method of installing a seat belt assembly with the disclosed anchorage mechanism is also provided.

Abstract: A system for verifying the authenticity of data contained in a magnetic medium using the remanent noise characteristics of the magnetic medium. In one embodiment, the invention includes a sensing unit configured to generate a signal indicative of the magnetic field of the magnetic medium, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) in communication with the sensing unit and configured to digitize the analog signal, a filter in communication with the ADC configured to enhance the component of the signal associated with the remanent noise characteristic, a data extraction unit, in communication with the ADC and the filter configured to measure at least bit duration and peak location and an authentication extraction unit, in communication with the filter and the data extraction unit configured to extract a set of scaled samples from the output of the filter representative of the remanent noise characteristic.

Abstract: A capacitive touch screen is described with a touch area including a substantially transparent conductive polymer. The capacitive touch screen also includes circuitry connecting the conductive polymer of the touch area to a power source, where the circuitry is configured to determine a location of a capacitive coupling on the touch area.

Abstract: An anchorage mechanism is provided for structurally coupling at least two components in series to withstand tensile loads. The anchorage mechanism includes a lower anchor and an upper anchor. The lower anchor has a first end that includes a substantially flat surface having flange portions, and an opposing second end configured for connecting the lower anchor to one of the at least two components. The upper anchor has a first end defining a receiving portion and a second end defining a first opening configured to secure the upper anchor to a second of the at least two components. The receiving portion is configured in a first manner to receive the flange portions of the lower anchor, and configured in a second manner to interlock the upper anchor with the lower anchor to withstand tensile loads. A method of installing a seat belt assembly with the disclosed anchorage mechanism is also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a dimmer switch having a broad range of control with a relatively simple circuit having a number of safety features. The circuit employs a triac and diac to selectively conduct an AC power wave. A variable phase shift network having an improved range of control governs the firing angle of the diac. The variable phase shift network includes a first and second series R-C circuits coupled by a bridge resistor.

Abstract: A quantum dot (QD) sensitized wide bandgap (WBG) semiconductor heterojunction photovoltaic (PV) device comprises an electron conductive layer; an active photovoltaic (PV) layer adjacent the electron conductive layer; a hole conductive layer adjacent the active PV layer; and an electrode layer adjacent the hole conductive layer. The active PV layer comprises a wide bandgap (WBG) semiconductor material with Eg?2.0 eV, in the form of a 2-dimensional matrix defining at least two open spaces, and a narrower bandgap semiconductor material with Eg<2.0 eV, in the form of quantum dots (QD's) filling each open space defined by the matrix of WBG semiconductor material and establishing a heterojunction therewith. The active PV layer is preferably fabricated by a co-sputter deposition process, and the QD's constitute from about 40 to about 90 vol. % of the active PV layer.

Abstract: A card authentication system. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method for authenticating a data card having an intrinsic magnetic characteristic and recorded data on the data card, the method including reading information from the data card, the data card information including the intrinsic magnetic characteristic and the recorded data on the data card, encrypting the data card information, sending the encrypted data card information, receiving the encrypted data card information, decrypting a portion of the encrypted data card information, the portion including the intrinsic magnetic characteristic, generating a score indicative of a degree of correlation between the intrinsic magnetic characteristic of the data card information and a stored value, and determining an authenticity of the data card based at least in part on the score.

Abstract: A rotating joint is provided having a washer with a through-hole, a base, and a shoulder; a rotatable member having a primary hole circumscribing the center hole and sandwiched between the shoulder and base; and a fastener having a shaft that is insertable into the through-hole and connected with a mating threaded receptacle for applying a clamping force on the washer for preventing axial movement of the member while allowing the member to rotate. The shoulder is rolled, and the fastener is non-shouldered and does not use a load distribution washer. The rotatable member includes an opening for connecting a seat belt when the joint is used as a seat belt anchor. The shoulder has a lip overhanging the base, and the rotatable member is positioned therebetween. A method is also provided wherein the joint is captured by the washer separately from the application of the clamping force.

Abstract: A system for verifying the authenticity of data contained in a magnetic medium using the remanent noise characteristics of the magnetic medium. In one embodiment, the invention includes a sensing unit configured to generate a signal indicative of the sensed magnetic field and an amplifier. The amplifier is in communication with the sensing unit, is configured to amplify signals having amplitudes less than a threshold by at least a first factor and configured to amplify signals having amplitudes greater than the threshold by at most a second factor. The first factor is greater than the second factor.

Abstract: A bit patterned magnetic recording medium, comprises a non-magnetic substrate having a surface; a plurality of spaced apart magnetic elements on the surface, each of the elements constituting a discrete magnetic domain or bit; and a layer of a ferromagnetic material for regulating magnetic exchange coupling between said magnetic elements. The layer has a saturation magnetization Ms ranging from about 1 to about 2,000 emu/cm3, preferably below about 400 emu/cm3, more preferably below about 200 emu/cm3, and may overlie, underlie, or at least partially fill spaces between adjacent magnetic elements.

Abstract: A method of performing data/information recording and retrieval utilizing a multilevel patterned magnetic medium, comprises: (a) providing a magnetic recording system including a read/write head and a multilevel patterned magnetic recording medium including a plurality of spaced apart elements each comprising a stacked plurality n of magnetic recording cells with different magnetic properties and magnetically decoupled from overlying and/or underlying cells; (b) providing relative movement between the write head and magnetic recording medium; and; (c) writing to the medium by supplying the write head with a modulated write current comprising a plurality n of pulses of different magnitudes while the head moves past each element, thereby applying n different magnetic field strengths to each element, the write current including a first pulse of magnitude sufficient to write to a first cell of each element having a highest magnetic coercivity of said cells, and n?1 succeeding pulses of progressively smaller magni

Abstract: A bit patterned magnetic recording medium comprises a substrate having a surface, and a plurality of spaced apart magnetic elements on the surface, each element constituting a discrete magnetic domain or bit of the same structure and comprised of a stack of thin film layers including in order from the substrate surface: a seed layer; and a perpendicular magnetic recording layer in contact with a surface of the seed layer and comprising a Co1-x-yPtxCry alloy material, where 0.05?x?0.35 and 0?y?0.15. The Co1-x-yPtxCry alloy material has a first order magnetic anisotropy constant K, up to about 2×107 erg/cm3, a saturation magnetization Ms up to about 1200 emu/cm3, an anisotropy field HK=2K1/Ms up to about 35 kOe, a hexagonal (0001) crystal structure with c-axis perpendicular to a surface thereof, and an X-Ray diffraction (XRD) rocking curve with a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of ˜5° or less.

Abstract: A wiring harness and a touch sensor incorporating same are disclosed. The touch sensor includes a sensing electrode disposed in a touch sensitive area. The touch sensor further includes a plurality of auxiliary electrodes disposed on a self-supporting dielectric substrate in a border area. The auxiliary electrodes transmit a touch signal to electronics configured to use the touch signal to determine the touch location.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods which utilize an image reject mixer in an out-of-band mixer application such as in a forward data channel frequency converter. For example, according to a preferred embodiment, an image reject mixer is utilized to provide a relatively high degree of image rejection with respect to an out-of-band signal, thereby relaxing the requirement for filtering in the signal path leading to the mixer circuitry. Preferred embodiments of the invention are substantially or fully implemented utilizing integrated circuit technology.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording system, comprises: a perpendicular magnetic recording medium including a non-magnetic substrate having a surface and a stacked plurality of thin film layers forming a layer stack overlying the substrate surface and including a magnetically soft underlayer (SUL) beneath at least one perpendicular magnetic recording layer, wherein the SUL has a saturation magnetization (Ms)—thickness (t) product (Mst) less than about 4 memu/cm2, and a ring-type magnetic transducer head is positioned in spaced adjacency to an upper surface of the layer stack.

Abstract: The present invention relates to articles comprising an antiglare layer, coating compositions suitable for making antiglare layers, methods of making an antiglare article, and methods of making antiglare coating compositions. In some embodiments the article is a (e.g. illuminated) display article such as a touch screen. The antiglare layer comprises aggregate inorganic oxide particles in a cured inorganic polymer matrix.