Abstract: A barrel for use in a firearm optimized to fire subsonic ammunition with high precision. The barrel groove diameter being within 0.0003 inch of the nominal bullet diameter and the barrel has at least 8 rifled grooves. Each of the plurality of rifling grooves has a sidewall formed from the bore diameter to the groove diameter, wherein the sidewalls formed are substantially parallel and the depth of each of the rifling grooves is shallow. The bullet is obturated as the bullet is forced down the bore. The plurality of shallow barrel grooves forming a plurality of raised lands upon the bullet. The obturated bullet having at least 50% lands formed around the circumference of the bullet body. The buffeting effect upon the bullet in flight by a transition shock wave upon the raised bullet lands is reduced by the plurality of bullet lands and the reduced height of each of the plurality of bullet lands.

Abstract: A barrel for use in a firearm optimized to fire subsonic ammunition with high precision. The barrel groove diameter being within .0003 inch of the nominal bullet diameter and the barrel has at least 8 rifled grooves. Each of the plurality of rifling grooves has a sidewall formed from the bore diameter to the groove diameter, wherein the sidewalls formed are substantially parallel and the depth of each of the rifling grooves is shallow. The bullet is obturated as the bullet is forced down the bore. The plurality of shallow barrel grooves forming a plurality of raised lands upon the bullet. The obturated bullet having at least 50% lands formed around the circumference of the bullet body. The buffeting effect upon the bullet in flight by a transition shock wave upon the raised bullet lands is reduced by the plurality of bullet lands and the reduced height of each of the plurality of bullet lands.

Abstract: A handguard system of a firearm includes a barrel nut, a handguard, and an adjustable barrel nut locking mechanism. The barrel nut is configured to secure a barrel to the firearm. The handguard includes a pathway, which extends transversely across the handguard. The pathway is configured to receive the adjustable barrel nut locking mechanism. The adjustable barrel nut locking mechanism includes a first wedge member, a second wedge member, and a biasing member. The biasing member is configured to connect the first wedge member to the second wedge member. The biasing member is further configured to incrementally bias the first wedge member toward the second wedge member when the biasing member is actuated. As a result, the first wedge member and the second wedge member are tightened about the barrel nut within the handguard.

Abstract: A parallel data storage device includes a data storage medium having a first cluster and a second cluster. The first cluster includes a first patch and the second cluster includes a second patch. The parallel data storage device also includes a first reader for reading the first patch of the first cluster and a second reader for reading the second patch of the second cluster. A first multiplexer is used for addressing the first cluster while a second multiplexer is used for addressing the second cluster. The first and second readers are arranged in a single column such that the first reader is electrically connected to the first multiplexer and the second reader is electrically connected to the second multiplexer.

Abstract: A marking beam of electromagnetic energy is generated within a printing device and a visibly markable portion of a replaceable subsystem that is at least partially arranged within the printing device is altered by illuminating at least part of the markable portion with the marking beam.

Abstract: Systems for translating voltage levels of digital signals are provided. An exemplary system comprises a circuit board operative to use a first digital signal and a second digital signal. The first digital signal operates between a first voltage and a second voltage, with the first voltage corresponding to a logic 0 and the second voltage corresponding to a logic 1. The second digital signal operates between a third voltage and a fourth voltage, with the third voltage and the fourth voltage exhibiting an average value, the absolute value of which is at least an order of magnitude different than an average value of the first voltage and the second voltage. The circuit board is further operative to use the first digital signal to produce the second digital signal. Methods and other systems also are provided.