Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a method for providing an efficient and powerful engine for internal combustion four stroke engines using a single valve per cylinder as the intake and exhaust valve. Outside air emerging from an air filter is forcibly pumped into the engine head using a blower which then is drawn into the combustion chamber during the intake stroke. The timing for opening and closure of the single valve is controlled by the camshaft which is provided with a cam lobe profile capable of prolonging the valve timing thus enabling the valve to remain open for a longer duration to cater for evacuation of air in the exhaust stroke and the intake of air in the intake stroke thereby permitting the use of only one single valve per cylinder.

Abstract: A device for producing laser radiation having a wavelength of about 2 ?m, the device comprising: a solid-state sample capable of producing lasing transitions corresponding to a wavelength of about 2 ?m; and a source of pumping radiation having a wavelength of about 1 ?m, the source being arranged so that at least some of the radiation produced thereby is absorbed by the solid-state sample, causing the solid-state sample to emit radiation having a wavelength of about 2 ?m.

Abstract: A multimedia console incorporating an alphanumeric keyboard, and a musical key-bed is described for generating multimedia work product conveniently when coupled with a digital personal computer or optionally as a stand alone music equipment. The musical key-bed is optionally detachably coupled with a protective cover for providing ergonomic support when said musical key-bed is not being used.

Abstract: A multimedia console incorporating an alphanumeric keyboard, and a musical key-bed is described for generating multimedia work product conveniently when coupled with a digital personal computer or optionally as a stand alone music equipment. The musical key-bed is detachably coupled with a protective cover for providing ergonomic support when, said musical key-bed is not being used.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a method for providing an efficient and powerful engine for internal combustion four stroke engines using a single valve per cylinder as the intake and exhaust valve. Outside air emerging from an air filter is forcibly pumped into the engine head using a blower which then is drawn into the combustion chamber during the intake stroke. The timing for opening and closure of the single valve is controlled by the camshaft which is provided with a cam lobe profile capable of prolonging the valve timing thus enabling the valve to remain open for a longer duration to cater for evacuation of air in the exhaust stroke and the intake of air in the intake stroke thereby permitting the use of only one single valve per cylinder.

Abstract: A musical keyboard having associated therewith a alphanumeric keyboard having a plurality of alphanumeric keys, the musical keyboard having a musical keys each being for producing a musical sound, and music function keys for producing musical effects, At least one of the alphanumeric keys is able to be used to modify a result of one or more of the music function keys and musical keys. The music function keys have functionality to produce the musical effect. The modification is only affective while the alphanumeric key is pressed after the musical function key has been pressed. The modification is to change the musical sound produced by the musical keys, and a further modification can be effected by relatively rapid hits of the one key of the plurality of alphanumeric keys. A method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for the use of the white keys of a musical keyboard such as a MIDI keyboard for the playing a selected scale whereby all while keys of the keyboard are remapped to the selected scale such that adjacent keys of the keyboard can be used to play adjacent notes of the selected scale. There is also disclosed a method for providing a functional aspect to at least one black key of a musical keyboard such as a MIDI keyboard, wherein upon a key of the keyboard being pressed, a first check is conducted to determine if a user has activated the selected scale setting; and if the selected scale function has been activated, a second check is conducted to determine if the key is a black key or a white key. If the key is a black key a second lookup table is checked based on a MIDI message for the black key to determine a corresponding functional aspect corresponding to the black key.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating laser radiation, the apparatus comprising: a pumping device comprising a resonant cavity; and a laser radiation generation element that is substantially Poynting vector walk-off compensated, the laser radiation generation element being located within the resonant cavity.

Abstract: A musical keyboard system for an electronic musical instrument, the keyboard system including a sensor arrangement for determining the amplitude of a note produced by a key of the musical keyboard, the sensor arrangement including a first sensor for providing an indication of a first time when movement of the key activates the first sensor, a second sensor for providing an indication of a second time when movement of the key activates the second sensor, a calculating device for determining the time difference between the second time and the first time, and an amplitude determining device for determining into which range of a plurality of ranges of time differences the time difference falls, and which amplitude of a plurality of amplitudes corresponds to the range. A corresponding method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing disc drives. Before a pivot cartridge is assembled into a disc drive, impedance readings of the pivot cartridge are taken, preferably, at more than one rotational position and across a frequency range. The pivot cartridge is accepted for assembly into the disc drive only if its impedance readings compare favorably with readings taken of a good pivot cartridge. Otherwise, the pivot cartridge is rejected and the impedance readings are analyzed to provide identification of the defect in the pivot cartridge. In addition, a system and a storage device readable by a computer system for implementing the method of screening pivot cartridges and identifying causes of defects is provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating laser radiation, the apparatus comprising: a pumping device comprising a resonant cavity; and a laser radiation generation element that is substantially Poynting vector walk-off compensated, the laser radiation generation element being located within the resonant cavity.

Abstract: A device for producing laser radiation, the device comprising: an elongate sample of a quasi-three-level laser material; a source of pumping radiation; and a concentrator configured such that at least some of the pumping radiation emitted by the source of pumping radiation is concentrated by the concentrator and subsequently enters the sample through a side surface thereof.

Abstract: A bias current for a magnetoresistive read head is selected by defining a tuning range based on a maximum and a minimum bias current value for the head. A plurality of read operations are iteratively performed using a different bias current value over the tuning range for each iteration. The results of each read iteration are measured and a bias current is selected on the basis of the read error rates, and particularly those bias currents associated with the lowest read error rate.

Abstract: A device for producing laser radiation having a wavelength of about 2 &mgr;m, the device comprising: a solid-state sample capable of producing lasing transitions corresponding to a wavelength of about 2 &mgr;m; and a source of pumping radiation having a wavelength of about 1 &mgr;m, the source being arranged so that at least some of the radiation produced thereby is absorbed by the solid-state sample, causing the solid-state sample to emit radiation having a wavelength of about 2 &mgr;m.

Abstract: An all-digital frequency synthesizing system that will eliminate spurious frequencies that degrade the overall performance of the generation of a binary waveform. The frequency synthesizing system has a count series retention table that contains a series of count integers that are selected by a count signal that chooses which series of the integers are to be linked to a periodic reference counter. The periodic reference counter will count a number of periods of a periodic reference frequency and when the counter has reached the number of counts that is equal to the number of the count integer, the periodic output signal will be toggled from logic level to another logic level. A new periodic output signal period can be chosen by selecting a new series of count integers in the count retention table. A count compiler will create the series of count integers retained in the count retention table.

Abstract: Head disc interference is detected and analyzed using the standard deviation of read back signal frequency. First, the amount of longitudinal head oscillation affecting transducer read/write heads located in the hard drive is measured. Measuring the longitudinal head oscillation is achieved by determining the degree of frequency modulation associated with the read-back signal as compared with a constant frequency used to write the information. Second, this measured amount of oscillation is compared to a predefined threshold value. Finally, a head disc interference alarm is activated when the oscillation is greater than the defined threshold value.