Abstract: One system of the present application includes an electric power generation device structured to provide an AC electric power output at a target frequency. This device includes: an electric power generator; a sensing arrangement structured to provide samples corresponding to magnitude of the AC electric power output; and a controller including operational logic responsive to the sensing arrangement to calculate a peak amplitude as a function of a waveform period corresponding to the target frequency and two of the samples separated in time by a target duration of 20 to 30 percent of the waveform period and determine a zero crossing of the output from the peak amplitude and the target frequency. The operating logic is further structured to control operation of the device in accordance with the zero crossing.

Abstract: One system of the present application includes an electric power generation device structured to provide an AC electric power output at a target frequency. This device includes: an electric power generator; a sensing arrangement structured to provide samples corresponding to magnitude of the AC electric power output; and a controller including operational logic responsive to the sensing arrangement to calculate a peak amplitude as a function of a waveform period corresponding to the target frequency and two of the samples separated in time by a target duration of 20 to 30 percent of the waveform period and determine a zero crossing of the output from the peak amplitude and the target frequency. The operating logic is further structured to control operation of the device in accordance with the zero crossing.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for erasing magnetic tape are described. The tape to be erased is fed through an erasure unit that includes an array of magnetic elements. The array of magnetic elements includes a first set of magnetic elements and a second set of magnetic elements. The magnetic fields for the respective first and second sets of magnetic elements have opposite polarity, as seen by the tape as it feeds through the erasure unit. The fields seen by the tape as it feeds through the erasure unit decrease in intensity.

Abstract: An adjustable write-equalized recording circuit for recording data onto a magnetic tape. The circuit variably adjusts the amplitude of write-equalization pulses relative to the data waveform by an amount that can be either preset or determined during operation.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic transducer having a pair of planar core pieces with front and rear legs and a coil formed around the rear legs. The coil is preferably formed by deposition where turns of the coil have a bottom pieces, riser portions and top pieces which are interconnected to form the coil. In the preferred embodiment, the transducer track width is terminated by means of termination portions which extend into the transducer gap. These portions are preferably defined to create a more uniform flux density at the edges of the track width. In addition, the flux density across the track width is preferably made more uniform by including a curve portion along the rear edge of the front legs. This curve portion may also follow an exponential formula to achieve this uniform density.