Abstract: A pallet fork includes a structural frame, a fork bar, a swing bar, and a pair of fork tines. The fork tines can be fixed or swinging through the removal of the swing bar. The swing bar can be conveniently stored onboard the pallet fork when it is inoperative. The structural frame is arranged for enhanced visibility by an operator to the fork tines to improve productivity and operator comfort.

Abstract: A quick coupler includes mounting structure for mounting the coupler to a machine, and for mounting the coupler to an implement. The mounting structure on the coupler includes wedge coupling surfaces and a tube. The mounting structure on the implement includes hooks for engaging the tube, and complementary wedge coupling surfaces. The wedge coupling surfaces wedge together during coupling to produce and tight fit and solid hold between the coupler and implement. The mounting structure is robust, and can accommodate future possible wear. The kinematic impact on the performance of the implement due to the use of the quick coupler is minimized.

Abstract: A pallet fork includes a structural frame, a fork bar, a swing bar, and a pair of fork tines. The fork tines can be fixed or swinging through the removal of the swing bar. The swing bar can be conveniently stored onboard the pallet fork when it is inoperative. The structural frame is arranged for enhanced visibility by an operator to the fork tines to improve productivity and operator comfort.

Abstract: A method for monitoring the operability of a slider of a disk drive includes the steps of providing a slider that includes a read/write head that magnetically interacts with a storage disk, and a slider mover that adjusts a head-to-disk spacing, controlling an electrical stimulus to the slider mover with a drive circuitry, measuring an actual electrical response from the slider mover with the drive circuitry, and comparing the actual electrical response to an expected electrical response to determine an operability status of the slider mover. Further, changes in the actual electrical response can be monitored and used to predict future failure of the slider mover.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a drive housing, a storage disk, a slider and a drive circuitry. The slider magnetically interacts with the storage disk, and includes a read/write head that is positioned to have an actual head-to-disk spacing greater than zero nanometers during rotation of the storage disk. The drive circuitry can determine and/or monitor the actual head-to-disk spacing at any time during the operation of the disk drive based on an amplitude or a change in the amplitude of a signal such as a variable gain amplifier signal. In one embodiment, the slider includes a slider mover that receives current via the drive circuitry and causes a deformation of a portion of the slider to change the head-to-disk spacing based on the amplitude of the signal.

Abstract: A current sensing circuit for use in a switching regulator having a high-side switch. The current sensing circuit includes a first sensing circuit coupled to the high-side switch for measuring current flowing in a positive direction through the high-side switch. The first sensing circuit includes a first replica device for generating a current which is a scaled version of the positive current flowing through the high-side switch. The current sensing circuit further includes a second sensing circuit coupled to the high-side switch for measuring current flowing in a negative direction through the high-side switch. The second sensing circuit includes a second replica device for generating a current which is a scaled version of the negative current flowing through the high-side switch.

Abstract: A method of regulating an output voltage by utilizing a switching regulator, where the switching regulator includes a high side switch, a low side switch having an active diode, a controller coupled to the high side switch and the low side switch, and a current measuring circuit coupled to the high side switch.

Abstract: A power supply switching regulator including a common terminal; an input terminal for supplying a direct current input; an output terminal; a recirculating diode having a first terminal connected to the common terminal; an inductor having a first terminal connected to a second terminal of the recirculation diode and a second terminal connected to the output terminal; a capacitor having a first terminal connected to the output terminal and a second terminal connected to the common terminal; a switch connected between the input terminal and the first terminal of the inductor, the switch operable for switching between an ON state in which the direct current input is coupled to the inductor, and an OFF state in which the direct current input is isolated from the inductor; and a controller coupled to the switch and operable for controlling the amount of time the switch is in the ON state and the OFF state such that the duration of time the switch is in the ON state is inversely proportional to the difference betwe

Abstract: An active diode including a NMOS transistor having a source terminal, a drain terminal, a gate terminal and a back gate terminal, where the source terminal is connected to the back gate terminal and forms the anode terminal of the active diode, and the drain terminal forms the cathode terminal of the active diode. The active diode further includes an offset bias voltage source having a first terminal and a second terminal; and an amplifier having a non-inverting input terminal and an inverting input terminal, and an output terminal, where the inverting input terminal is connected to the drain terminal of the transistor, the non-inverting input terminal is connected to the first terminal of the offset bias source, the output terminal is connected to the gate terminal of the transistor, and the second terminal of the offset bias source is connected to the source terminal of the transistor.

Abstract: A switching regulator circuit with improved slope compensation for providing a regulated voltage to a load. The regulator circuit includes a power source and a switch circuit configured to control the coupling of the power source to the load. The operation of the switch circuit is controlled by a control signal generated by a control circuit. A feedback circuit is provided for generating a feedback signal indicative of the regulated voltage provided by the switching regulator circuit to the load. A circuit is provided to generate a sensed signal indicative of the current supplied by the power source. The regulator circuit further includes a timing signal generator for generating a timing signal, a ramp signal generator for generating a ramp signal, and a current source controlled by the ramp signal for generating a compensation signal indicative of the ramp signal. The control circuit generates the control signal based on the compensation signal, the timing signal, the sensed signal and the feedback signal.

Abstract: A method of generating a slope compensation signal for use in a current mode switching regulator.

Abstract: A transducer for indicating position in space with reference to a coordinate system includes a magnetic field source (13), a movable button element (11) composed of a magnetically susceptible material having a central pole face (16) and a surrounding annular co-planer pole face (19) for providing uniform magnetic flux paths in the annular region between and extending from the plane of the respective pole faces, and a probe element having a plurality of sensor units (41a-d) for electronically measuring magnetic flux through a plurality of separate, geometrically congruent areas arranged around an axis of symmetry (24) in a sensing plane which is spaced from, and parallel to that of the pole faces of the movable button element.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for rotating an optical element, such as a diffraction grating or mirror, utilizes a moving coil actuator and an optical encoder to provide precise element position control. The moving coil actuator, which is coupled to the optical element, is comprised of a coil immersed in a magnetic field created by a pair of magnets. Current flowing in the coil windings causes the coil, and ultimately the optical element, to rotate. An optical encoder monitors the rotation of the element and provides rotation signals representative of the instantaneous element position to an actuator control circuit. The actuator control circuit phase shifts the rotation signals and compares the phase shifted rotation signals to a desired reference signal to generate position and velocity error signals. In a track follow mode, the position error signal is applied to the moving coil actuator via a loop compensator.

Abstract: A disk file subsystem is disclosed which utilizes a track address decoding circuit which converts the track address which is recorded on the magnetic media in Gray code according to a 1/6 (2,8) run-length-limited recording code to its corresponding binary track address.

Abstract: A digital-analog driver circuit for a plural-phase brushless D.C.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a system for generating clock signals from a source signal having two harmonically related and phase coherent frequencies such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,534,344 (Santana) and U.S. Pat. No. 3,879,753 (Dunn). The clock system employs a pair of synchronous demodulators for generating a phase error signal to control a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO). The source signal is applied to a pair of synchronous demodulators, each of which is supplied with a different carrier frequency. The output of each demodulator represents the area of the signal being demodulated. The output of each demodulator is zero and a null condition exists when the system is in a phase locked condition. At a non-locked condition, the output of one demodulator has multiple null points. The function of the second demodulator is to resolve the ambiguity between the desired and undesired null points.

Abstract: A positioning system for moving a member between positions in time optimal fashion employs concurrent "feedforward" and "feedback" control. The feedforward control system provides major control and the feedback control system provides minor control to correct for deviations between the actual and a nominal system. The feedback loop may thus be of low bandwidth permitting desensitization to high frequency disturbances or the employment of inherently low bandwidth controlled variables.The "feedforward" control function includes successive portions of opposite polarity corresponding to acceleration and deceleration of the member and also includes a subtractive velocity related component. This function represents the approximate current input to an electromagnetic coil actuator of a nominal system required to move such a member between positions in time optimal fashion.