Abstract: Various systems and methods facilitate internal communication within a lighting module as well as intercommunication among lighting modules over an external network. The network may be a conventional network managed by a central network controller or may be an ad hoc or “mesh” network—i.e., a scalable network architecture in which any lighting module is a node that can communicate with any other module or network-connected device.

Abstract: A first entity communicates with a second entity over a shared power bus by switching the bus to a high-impedance state and modifying the voltage on the power bus, in accordance with an outgoing communication, such that the modified voltage is detected by the second entity and the communication is received thereto.

Abstract: Various systems and methods facilitate internal communication within a lighting module as well as intercommunication among lighting modules over an external network. The network may be a conventional network managed by a central network controller or may be an ad hoc or “mesh” network—i.e., a scalable network architecture in which any lighting module is a node that can communicate with any other module or network-connected device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a unique identifier for data storage media is disclosed herein. The servo track of the data storage media is encoded one or more times with media manufacturer's data. The media manufacturer's data includes a variety of information including the unique identifier. The unique identifier differentiates among different media manufacturers, different spools or pancakes from which a given media comes from, and different media within a given spool or pancake. The unique identifier scheme is configured to facilitate standardization among media manufacturers while providing error correction and flexibility for future changes in format.

Abstract: A first entity communicates with a second entity over a shared power bus by switching the bus to a high-impedance state and modifying the voltage on the power bus, in accordance with an outgoing communication, such that the modified voltage is detected by the second entity and the communication is received thereto.

Abstract: A drug delivery device may include a base to be percutaneously affixable in an attachment zone of a synovial joint and a sustained-release drug carrier coupled to the base. The drug delivery device may also include an access device to provide access to the attachment zone. The attachment zone may comprise a non-articulating portion of a bone and/or cartilage with the synovial joint and the drug carrier may elute the drug into the synovial fluid sufficient to sustain a therapeutically effective concentration of the drug in the synovial fluid for at least 8 hours.

Abstract: A method of intra-articular drug delivery may include selecting an attachment zone in a synovial joint; affixing a drug release device in the attachment zone, the drug release device comprising a base affixable in the attachment zone, a sustained-release drug carrier, and a drug, the device positioned so that the device releases the drug into the synovial fluid of the synovial joint, and so that agitation of the synovial fluid facilitates elution of the drug from the drug release device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a unique identifier for data storage media is disclosed herein. The servo track of the data storage media is encoded one or more times with media manufacturer's data. The media manufacturer's data includes a variety of information including the unique identifier. The unique identifier differentiates among different media manufacturers, different spools or pancakes from which a given media comes from, and different media within a given spool or pancake. The unique identifier scheme is configured to facilitate standardization among media manufacturers while providing error correction and flexibility for future changes in format.

Abstract: Methods and systems for sensing a position of a transducer head with respect to a storage medium. One method includes generating a read signal from a servo track stored on a magnetic storage medium. The servo track includes servo frames of magnetic flux transitions forming detectable servo marks, the servo marks forming a tone field of repeating servo marks oriented at a first azimuth angle and a mid-frame synchronization mark incorporated within the tone field, wherein the tone field provides a metric reference for dimensional measurements between features within the servo frame(s). The number of servo marks in the tone field of each servo frame along a longitudinal direction of the servo track before the mid-frame synchronization mark and after the mid-frame synchronization mark varies with lateral position.

Abstract: Methods and systems for sensing a position of a transducer head with respect to a storage medium. One method includes generating a read signal from a servo track stored on a magnetic storage medium. The servo track includes servo frames of magnetic flux transitions forming detectable servo marks, the servo marks forming a tone field of repeating servo marks oriented at a first azimuth angle and a mid-frame synchronization mark incorporated within the tone field, wherein the tone field provides a metric reference for dimensional measurements between features within the servo frame(s). The number of servo marks in the tone field of each servo frame along a longitudinal direction of the servo track before the mid-frame synchronization mark and after the mid-frame synchronization mark varies with lateral position.

Abstract: Methods and systems for sensing a position of a transducer head with respect to a storage medium. One method includes generating a read signal from a servo track stored on a magnetic storage medium. The servo track includes servo frames of magnetic flux transitions forming detectable servo marks, the servo marks forming a tone field of repeating servo marks oriented at a first azimuth angle and a mid-frame synchronization mark incorporated within the tone field, wherein the tone field provides a metric reference for dimensional measurements between features within the servo frame(s). The number of servo marks in the tone field of each servo frame along a longitudinal direction of the servo track before the mid-frame synchronization mark and after the mid-frame synchronization mark varies with lateral position.

Abstract: Methods and systems for sensing a position of a transducer head with respect to a storage medium. One method includes generating a read signal from a servo track stored on a magnetic storage medium. The servo track includes servo frames of magnetic flux transitions forming detectable servo marks, the servo marks forming a tone field of repeating servo marks oriented at a first azimuth angle and a mid-frame synchronization mark incorporated within the tone field, wherein the tone field provides a metric reference for dimensional measurements between features within the servo frame(s). The number of servo marks in the tone field of each servo frame along a longitudinal direction of the servo track before the mid-frame synchronization mark and after the mid-frame synchronization mark varies with lateral position.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the controlled dynamic braking of a DC motor in a tape transport device are provided. A PWM state device includes a plurality of state transition paths, each path having an initial state, representative of a tape profile, including a predetermined range of tape velocities, relative amounts of tape on each reel and an initial tape tension, and at least one subsequent state. When a low power event is detected, one of the state transition paths is selected, based upon a current tape profile, and an associated PWM signal is transmitted to the motor. An energy storage device provides power to the PWM state device during the low power event. The PWM signals follow the selected transition path to modulate the current generated by the motion of the motor and thereby create a decelerating force while substantially maintaining the initial tape tension.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a tape transport servo system for a tape drive is disclosed. The tape reel motors are excited when the tape drive is not being controlled by the tape transport servo system. Then, calibration data is collected for the motor torque, motor friction, DAC offsets, and pulse width modulator control signal timing.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a tape transport servo system for a tape drive is disclosed. The tape reel motors are excited when the tape drive is not being controlled by the tape transport servo system. Then, calibration data is collected for the motor torque, motor friction, DAC offsets, and pulse width modulator control signal timing.

Abstract: Air entrainment effects are avoided in a bi-directional, reel-to-reel tape transport in which magnetic tape can be moved in either of two opposing directions for data recording thereon. Control of tape position is implemented in a servo algorithm that uses tachometer inputs to determine parameter values for generating reel motor drive currents. A fine-line tachometer is mounted on each of two reels in the tape drive and multiplexing selects the fine-line output from the tachometer on the reel supplying tape for use in the servo algorithm. At least one of the tachometers is preferably of the type which generates an index line once each revolution of the motor to which it is mounted. This tachometer is coupled to the reel to which the tape is initially threaded and the index line is used to indicate that the motor is at a predetermined threading position for this operation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for generating a position error signal from a signal produced by a read element detecting a track comprising two harmonically unrelated patterns positioned parallel to each other on a magnetic media. The apparatus of the present invention produces a delayed signal from the read signal produced by the read element. The read signal is multiplied with the delayed signal to form a product signal. The product signal is integrated to produce a position error signal, wherein changes in the position error signal that are proportional to changes in position of the read element over the two patterns positioned parallel to each other on the magnetic media.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for controlling a reel-to-reel tape drive so that its performance characteristics are optimized to best suit the operational mode or availability of a host system by modifying tape speed adaptively according to predetermined conditions sensed during processing of data (i.e., while the tape is in motion). For example, tape might initially be fed at a high speed suitable for archiving; but if more than a predetermined number of "backhitches" (overruns of the interblock gap, IBG) occur during processing of a preselected number of successive blocks of data, the host will cause tape speed automatically to be reduced to a lower rate. This lower rate will enable the tape to stop in the IBG and is therefore suitable for intermittent processing.Preferably, before reducing speed during write operations, appropriate signals are generated at the host to command an increase in the IBG from a normal distance to a larger distance if backhitches exceed said preselected number.