Abstract: A method and system for providing a dual spin valve is disclosed. The dual spin valve is for reading data in a magnetic recording media. The method and system include providing a first pinned layer. The first pinned layer has a first magnetization. The method and system also include providing a CoFe free layer and providing a first nonmagnetic spacer layer. The first nonmagnetic spacer layer is between the first pinned layer and the CoFe free layer. The method and system also include providing a second pinned layer and a second nonmagnetic spacer layer. The second pinned layer has a second magnetization. The second nonmagnetic spacer layer is between the CoFe free layer and the second pinned layer.

Abstract: A drapery opening and closing system for opening and closing a single drape or two drapes, and a method of opening and closing a drape. A reversible electric motor, to which a winch member is rotatably coupled, is affixed to a wall proximate a window at an approximate mid-vertical height of such window. An elongate cord having a first end fixed to the wall and another coupled to such winch member, encircles the drape. Upon actuate of the motor, adjustable timing means permits operation of the motor for a predetermined interval of time to allow the elongate cord to be wound onto such winch member, thereby causing the cord encircling the drape to constrict and thereby bunching the drape together thereby drawing it from the window. Reversal of the direction of the winch allows unwinding of the cord to thereby allow the drape to fall back into position thereby covering the window.

Abstract: A structure which includes a ferromagnetic (FM) layer, a thin oxide layer, and an antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer is provided. The thin oxide layer, between 1 to 10 oxygen atoms in thickness, minimizes interlayer atomic diffusion between the FM layer and the antiferromagnetic layer. In a preferred embodiment, a spin valve sensor with improved thermal stability is provided by including the thin oxide layer between a FM layer and an AFM layer. The presence of the thin oxide layer also results in an improved spin valve sensor with an enhanced exchange pinning field.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling an asynchronous dual port FIFO memory is provided. The asynchronous FIFO may operate at frequencies satisfying 0.5f2<f1<f2 or 0.5f1<f2<f1, where f2 is the write frequency if f1 is the read frequency, or vice versa. A FIFO in accordance with the present invention comprises a dual port random access memory, a read pointer, a write pointer, a synchronization circuit and a status indicator. In the FIFO design, the read pointer indicating the read address is a simple sequential counter, and the write pointer indicating the write address is a Gray code counter. Gray code to sequential count converters are used to convert the Gray codes to sequential counts. The synchronization circuit synchronizes the write pointer and the read pointer using a read clock. A status indicator with simple circuits is provided to indicate if the FIFO is almost full or empty.

Abstract: A drapery actuator to open and close draperies, comprising a housing and a drive pulley supported by the housing to engage a drapery cord coupled to a drape. A motor, typically a D.C. motor, is supported by the housing for providing torque to reversibly rotate the drive pulley to move the drapery cord between a first extreme (typically closed) position and a second extreme (typically open) position. A first electrical switch operatively connected to the motor functions as a cut-out switch and reversing switch to stop the motor from continued turning in a given direction and thereafter switching polarity, to allow the motor to turn in an opposite direction when the switch is re-activated. A torque-activated mechanism is provided, adapted to actuate the first electrical switch when the drive pulley moves the drapery cord to the first position, and is further adapted to actuate the first electrical switch when the drive pulley is reversibly rotated by the motor to move the drapery cord to the second position.

Abstract: An optics assembly (10) includes an associated optical fiber (12). A ferrule (14) is formed with an output end (16) of the fiber (12) as a reinforcement interface device for connectively confronting a lens (18). Both the ferrule (14) and the lens (18) are inserted into an resilient split holder (20) from two opposite open ends thereof for self-adjustment and self-alignment between both the ferrule (14) and the lens (18), thus assuring both of them are axially aligned with each other. An enclosure (24) encloses the split holder (20) and the associated ferrule (14) and lens (18), optionally.

Abstract: A filtering assembly includes a first substrate piece and a second substrate piece combined together with their dielectric band-pass filter-film adhered to each other in a face-to-face manner. A corresponding method for making the same includes following steps: (1) providing a raw substrate having at least a twice dimension of final assembly; (2) coating a designated dielectric band-pass filter-film on one side of said raw substrate; (3) dividing said coated substrate into two semi-finished substrate pieces with said filter-film thereon; (4) combining these two semi-finished substrate pieces together wherein said filter-film of one piece is directly adhered to that of another piece by a thin adhesive optical coupling layer, so that the filtering assembly has said filtering means sandwiched between said two substrates.

Abstract: A coupler (30) includes an enclosure (32) sealing therein a fiber assembly (34) consisting essentially of a pair of fibers (36). The fiber assembly (34) includes a hourglass-like configuration (38) on the middle portion wherein a reinforcement structure (40) is applied to the neck portion (42) of said fiber assembly so as to enhance the strength thereof, so that the whole coupler (30) can own a better mechanical character for convenient and reliable usage.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved computer graphics memory architecture. The architecture includes an address translation table (ATT) and a buffer. The address translation table receives information about desired pixel data and determines the physical address of the desired data. The buffer is connected to the ATT and has a dual bank which stores the color value and the Z value of a 3-D pixel. A buffer addressing method is also provided in which the address of the desired pixel information and associated control circuits may be quickly determined through an appropriate data arrangement in the buffer and an address transfer table.

Abstract: A drapery actuator to open and close draperies and the like, comprising a housing and a drive pulley supported by the housing to engage a drapery cord. A motor is supported by the housing for reversibility rotating the drive pulley to move the drapery cord between a first extreme position and a second extreme position. A first electrical switch is operatively connected to the motor and a second electrical switch is also operatively connected to the motor. Switch actuator cooperate with the drive pulley such that the first electrical switch is actuated when said drive pulley moves the drapery cord to the first extreme position and the second electrical switch is actuated when the drive pulley is reversibly rotated by the motor to move the drapery cord to the second extreme position whereby when the drapery cord is in the first extreme position and the second extreme position the motor is deactivated and the drapery cord ceases moving.