Abstract: A quick release electric throttle assembly connected to a supplemental electric propulsion system, wherein the propulsion system may be moved from one vehicle to another, and the throttle must be correspondingly moved among the vehicles as well is disclosed. The quick release interface may incorporate a disengaging and disengageable electric connection to permit electrical wiring to be quickly plugged and unplugged from the hand actuated accessory. The throttle may be further be configured as a low profile throttle, such as having a flat surface with at least one button by which the throttle may be actuated. The throttle may be secured and released from the control surface of a vehicle by wrapping the laminar flexible sheet at a desired position and wrapping a Velcro like strap over one another about the manual control surface.

Abstract: A system and method for stabilization of an image capture device are disclosed. Also disclosed are a system and method for autofocus of an image capture device.

Abstract: A system and method for stabilization of an image capture device are disclosed. Also disclosed are a system and method for autofocus of an image capture device.

Abstract: A quick release electric throttle assembly connected to a supplemental electric propulsion system, wherein the propulsion system may be moved from one vehicle to another, and the throttle must be correspondingly moved among the vehicles as well is disclosed. The quick release interface may incorporate a disengaging and disengageable electric connection to permit electrical wiring to be quickly plugged and unplugged from the hand actuated accessory. The throttle may be further be configured as a low profile throttle, such as having a flat surface with at least one button by which the throttle may be actuated. The throttle may be secured and released from the control surface of a vehicle by wrapping the laminar flexible sheet at a desired position and wrapping a Velcro like strap over one another about the manual control surface.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus may augment the utility of an electrically powered vehicle. A first electric motor (110a or 111a) may be provided with a first effective gear ratio, a second electric motor (110b or 111b) may be provided with a second effective gear ratio, and additional electric motors may be provided additional effective gear ratios. An electrically powered vehicle may be differentially powered by said electric motors at said different effective gear ratios. A transdisciplinary electrical diagnostic processor (440) may process electrically recondite operation parameters of one or more electrical components to provide transdisciplinary diagnostic output to a user. A standardized modular interface (540) supported on a trailer chassis (510) may be configured to accept multipurposed modular interchangeable trailer tops (560) at an interchange position (550) of said trailer chassis (510). A hand actuated accessory mount may be provided with a quick release interface (322).

Abstract: A system and method for stabilization of an image capture device are disclosed. Also disclosed are a system and method for autofocus of an image capture device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus may augment the utility of an electrically powered vehicle. A first electric motor (110a or 110b) may be provided with a first effective gear ratio, a second electric motor (111a or 111b) may be provided with a second effective gear ratio, and additional electric motors may be provided additional effective gear ratios. An electrically powered vehicle may be differentially powered by said electric motors at said different effective gear ratios. A transdisciplinary electrical diagnostic processor (440) may process electrically recondite operation parameters of one or more electrical components to provide transdisciplinary diagnostic output to a user. A standardized modular interface (540) supported on a trailer chassis (510) may be configured to accept multipurposed modular interchangeable trailer tops (560) at an interchange position (550) of said trailer chassis (510). A hand actuated accessory mount may be provided with a quick release interface (322).

Abstract: A camera has a motion detector and a sensor with a plurality of pixels. Each pixel includes shift transistors to shift charge between pixels as a function of motion sensed by the motion detector.

Abstract: A system for testing and cleaning a removable media drive such as a tape drive includes a utility cartridge and computer readable program code to initiate utility operations. The utility cartridge comprises computer readable magnetic storage media for performing testing operations thereon and non-magnetic cleaning media for cleaning the drive head. A method for testing and cleaning a removable media drive is also disclosed, as is a method for providing the system described herein.

Abstract: A system for interfacing an optical disk autochanger having a robot and a plurality of disk drives to a host includes a master SCSI bus, a subordinate SCSI bus, a SCSI multiplexer and a move controller. The master SCSI bus is connected to the host. The subordinate SCSI bus is connected to the plurality of disk drives. The multiplexer is connected between the master SCSI bus and the subordinate SCSI bus. The multiplexer transfers communications between the host and a selected disk drive. The move controller receives jukebox control commands from the host and selects the disk drive based on the jukebox control commands.

Abstract: A write-erase magnet assembly for a data storage device including: a permanent magnet having a longitudinal axis and having a first longitudinally extending face portion with a first polarity and a second longitudinally extending face portion with a second polarity opposite the first polarity for alternately producing write and erase magnetic bias fields on an adjacently positioned data storage medium; a magnet support assembly for rotatably supporting the permanent magnet; a magnetic detent fixedly positioned relative to the longitudinal axis of the permanent magnet for magnetically producing a biasing torque on the magnet tending to orient the closer of the first and second face portions of the permanent magnet in adjacent relationship with the detent. A coil for applying flipping torque and braking torque for an eddy current rotation dampening assembly are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical disk handling system, called an autochanger, having two control systems to provide the six motions necessary to move optical disk cartridges from storage holding cells to an optical drive. The system uses shaft encoders on two motors of the two control systems, and current or voltage feedback from the motors, for all positioning, and for detecting the location of the mechanisms during, and at the end of, moves. An optical drive interface connects the electronics of the autochanger and the optical drive, and includes electrical signals to emulate an eject pushbutton on the optical drive and an indicator lamp on the optical drive. The autochanger monitors the on and off state of the lamp signal as well as the duration of the on and off cycles to determine which operation is being performed by the optical drive. The autochanger uses the lamp signal and the eject signal to control all operations with the optical drive.

Abstract: A write-erase magnet assembly for a data storage device including: a permanent magnet having a longitudinal axis and having a first longitudinally extending face portion with a first polarity and a second longitudinally extending face portion with a second polarity opposite the first polarity for alternately producing write and erase magnetic bias fields on an adjacently positioned data storage medium; a magnet support assembly for rotatably supporting the permanent magnet; a magnetic detent fixedly positioned relative to the longitudinal axis of the permanent magnet for magnetically producing a biasing torque on the magnet tending to orient the closer of the first and second face portions of the permanent magnet in adjacent relationship with the detent. A coil for applying flipping torque and braking torque for an eddy current rotation dampening assembly are also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical disk cartridge assembly including an optical disk for storing data in machine readable form; a disk casing for rotatably supporting the optical disk; and a reader door slideably mounted on the casing for selectively covering and uncovering an opening therein; the casing having a surface resistivity of less than 10.sup.6 ohms/sq. Also disclosed is an information storage assembly including such an optical disk cartridge assembly and further including an optical disk drive; a cartridge storage cell and a mechanized cartridge handling assembly for moving the cartridge assembly between the cartridge storage cell and the optical disk drive; each portion of the optical disk drive, cartridge storage cell, and mechanized cartridge handling assembly which comes into contact with the casing having a surface resistivity of less than 10.sup.4 ohms/sq. Methods for producing the optical disk cartridge assembly and information storage assembly are also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical disk cartridge assembly comprising: an optical disk for storing data thereon in machine readable form; a casing for rotatably supporting the optical disk therewithin and for shielding the optical disk from physical contact with other objects; and a door slideably mounted on the casing for selectively covering and uncovering an opening therein; the casing having a wear factor associated with sliding contact with the door of less than in 100.times.10.sup.-10 in..sup.3 -min./ft.-lb.-hr. and most preferably less than 10.times.10.sup.-10 in..sup.3 -min./ft.-lb.-hr. An information storage system employing a low-wear optical disk cartridge assembly and a method of making a low-wear optical disk cartridge assembly are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical disk handling system having two control systems to provide the motions necessary to move optical disk cartridges form storage holding cells to an optical drive. During initialization, the cartridge handling system uses shaft encoders, along with current or voltage feedback from the motors, to calibrate the home locations of the mechanisms. The system determines the home position for vertical movement of the transport as well as the top and bottom positions used for the translate operation. The system then calibrates the plunge movement, the flip movement, and the translate movement. Finally, the system determines whether the path for all the movements is free of obstructions.

Abstract: A mechanical assembly for alternately producing displacement of a carriage with respect to a carriage track and rotation of a gear mounted on the carriage, in response to torque provided from a single drive motor including: a latching assembly, having a latched state and an unlatched state, operably associated with the carriage for preventing relative movement between the carriage and the track during the latched state; and a locking assembly, having a locked state and an unlocked state, operatively associated with the gear for preventing relative rotation of the gear during the locked state.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical disk handling system having two control system to provide the motions necessary to move optical disk cartridges from storage holding cells to an optical drive. During initialization, the cartridge handling system uses shaft encoders, along with current or voltage feedback from the motors, to calibrate the home locations of the mechanisms. The system determines the home position for vertical movement of the transport as well as the top and bottom positions used for the translate operation. The system then calibrates the plunge movement, the flip movement, and the translate movement. Finally, the system determines whether the path for all the movements is free of obstructions.

Abstract: A mechanical assembly for alternately producing displacement of a carriage with respect to a carriage track and rotation of a gear mounted on the carriage, in response to torque provided from a single drive motor comprising: a latching assembly, having a latched state and an unlatched state, operably associated with the carriage for preventing relative movement between the carriage and the track during the latched state; and a locking assembly, having a locked state and an unlocked state, operatively associated with the gear for preventing relative rotation of the gear during the locked state.