Abstract: The use of whispering gallery mode (WGM) evanescent waves to detect adsorption of molecules to the surface of microsphere sensors and more particularly to the utilization of a high refractive index surface layer to increase the sensitivity thereof. The present invention examines the sensor capability of WGM in a dielectric sphere coated with a thin uniform dielectric layer of a high refractive index. Among the utilities of such a modified resonator for the sensing are to have an evanescent field of a different penetration depth without using a non-silica based microsphere or changing the laser wavelength, to further enhance the sensitivity by drawing the optical field of WGM into the coating layer, and to realize the same relative shifts for WGM of different radial modes, thus eliminating ambiguities in the measurement of a refractive index change in the surrounding medium.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for step-stabilization of giant magnetoresistive (GMR) based read heads are provided. With the apparatus and method, gratings or periodic structures are generated in the underlayer of the magnetoresistive (MR) sensor stack and the edges, or “steps”, in these structures are the magnetically active features. These “steps” are oriented approximately parallel to the desired bias direction and provide a restoring force towards the bias direction for any perturbations, whether intrinsic or extrinsic. In the case of a GMR sensor, where the easy axis is parallel to the permanent magnet set direction, these stabilizer steps are oriented parallel to the magnetization direction of the permanent magnets.

Abstract: A single-element magnetoresistive (MR) read head with reduced susceptibility to noise is disclosed. In particular, the present invention addresses the problem of noise generated thermally through contact with the recording medium. The present invention solves this problem by keeping the temperature of the read head at a level that minimizes the noise level. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the shielding material used in the read head is recessed with respect to the magnetic-medium-bearing surface. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a thin coating of metal on the read head surface is applied. In yet another embodiment, the read element is operated with a low bias current so as to minimize the thermal effect of power consumption due to electrical resistance. In still another embodiment, the read element makes use of insulating material that is both an electrical insulator and a high quality thermal insulator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to wettable silicone hydrogels comprising the reaction product of at least one siloxane containing component and at least one reactive, hydrophilic polymeric internal wetting agent. The present invention further relates to silicone hydrogel contact lenses comprising at least one oxygen permeable component, and an amount of reactive, hydrophilic polymeric internal wetting agent sufficient to impart wettability to said device.

Abstract: Lactam polymers has been modified with sodium borohydride (NaBH4) to yield lactam polymers bearing hydroxyl functional groups. These functional groups are useful for the covalent attachment of reactive groups, fluorescent probes, antimicrobial agents, bioactive factors, and drugs. The resulting as components for medical devices, specifically ophthalmic devices and more specifically contact lenses. Hydrogels based on these polymers are also useful for biomedical applications in the areas of drug delivery, tissue engineering, and implantable devices.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head having one or more magneto-resistive (MR) elements. A thermally conductive stud is incorporated in an underlayer of the head, below the bottom shield of the MR element. This stud acts as a heat sink, and enhances the heat flow from the bottom shield to the substrate to thereby reduce thermal contact noise in the device, as well as allowing use of higher bias currents when reading signals from the media.

Abstract: Applying a strong static DC electric field to supersaturated aqueous glycine solutions resulted in the nucleation of the ? polymorph attributed to the electric-field induced orientation of the highly polar glycine molecules in large preexisting solute clusters, helping them organize into a crystalline structure. A method to induce crystallization and to prepare polymorphs and/or morphologies of materials by using a static electric field to cause nucleation and crystal growth to occur in a supersaturated solution in such a way as to obtain a crystal structure that would not normally appear without the use of the static electric field. Aqueous glycine solutions were prepared by combining solid glycine and water. Supersaturated solutions were generated by heating the tubes to 62-64° C. and holding them at that temperature in an ultrasonicator overnight. Once the glycine was completely dissolved, the solutions were slowly cooled to room temperature.

Abstract: A first-order perturbation theory similar to the one widely used in quantum mechanics is developed for transverse-electric and transverse-magnetic photonic resonance modes in a dielectric microsphere. General formulas for the resonance frequency shifts in response to a small change in the exterior refractive index and its radial profile are derived. The formulas are applied to two sensor applications of the microsphere to probe the medium in which the sphere is immersed: a refractive index detector; and a refractive index profile sensor.

Abstract: Detecting and/or measuring a chemical substance, such as explosives or poison gases, using a change in a property of light passing through a microsphere of a sensor. Since the microsphere has a large quality factor, the sensor is extremely sensitive. The sensor includes the microsphere coupled with at least one optical fiber. The surface of the microsphere includes receptors complementary to the chemical substance.

Abstract: Microsphere sensors (i) having receptors selectively substantially provided at only an equator region, (ii) formed of a relative high IR material, and/or (iii) having a relatively small radius are provided with improved sensitivity. Such a microsphere sensor may be made by selectively treating an equator region of the microsphere forming a small concentrated receptor band on the high sensitivity portion of the microsphere surface. Changing the selected laser frequency applied to the microsphere sensor to a shorter wavelength also improves sensitivity. Physical properties of the microsphere sensor system: index of refraction, laser frequency, and microsphere radius may be adjusted in concert to match the target entity molecule size. These improvements in sensitivity may allow detection and/or identification of unknown target entities based on detectable step shifts observable in light modes due to the adsorption of even a single molecule as small as about 200,000 Da.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method of generating a number of inputs to the mixer elements in a direct conversion (homodyne) receiver configuration using Virtual Local Oscillator (VLO) techniques. These generated inputs meet the requirement that they must have a fixed and stable phase-relationship, as well as being correctly related in terms of their power spectra relative to the operating radio (RF), intermediate (IF), and baseband frequencies of the system, and that when applied to the mixer elements they permit the mixer elements to create internally the effect of applying the Local Oscillator signal at a suitable frequency.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method of generating a number of inputs to the mixer elements in a direct conversion (homodyne) receiver configuration using Virtual Local Oscillator (VLO) techniques.

Abstract: A method and tool for measurement of the roll static attitude and y-misalignment of magnetic recording sliders within the head stack assembly having reference elements placed on the deposited end of the magnetic recording slider, which are optically analyzed by a video camera connected to a computer. For fast measurement the head stack assembly is clamped in a fixture mounted on motorized stages, which move each slider into the measurement position. In a two step imaging and analyzing process, the orientation and location of one or more edges of the reference element are computed and compared with known control parameters.

Abstract: A suspension system comprises an actuator arm and two suspensions. Each suspension has a load beam and a laminated member comprised of a support layer, an electrically insulating layer, and an electrically conducting layer. The laminated members are etched to form electrical lines for each suspension. The laminate member of each suspension is bent along the side of the arm such that they overlap one another in order to reduce the required space.

Abstract: An etched, lubricated swage ball for use in swaging a head gimbal assembly to an actuator arm in a magnetic disk drive, and a method for making the same. The present invention discloses a lubricating system for swage balls used in a disk drive system which is free from transferrable aluminum oxide, other hard materials or excess solid lubricant which could be deposited on the clean disk surface during operation. The swage balls are first pretreated by cleaning and then etching to remove residual alumina from the surface of the swage balls. The cleaned, etched swage balls are then lubricated in a fluorocarbon lubricating system, thereby producing an etched, lubricated swage ball which is cleaner than that found in the prior art.

Abstract: A truck bed pull out step system installed under the front of a passenger pickup truck bed on one or both sides gives the user the ability to enter the pickup bed area or retrieve items with ease. When not in use is concealed under pickup bed.

Abstract: An etched, lubricated swage ball for use in swaging a head gimbal assembly to an actuator arm in a magnetic disk drive, and a method for making the same. The present invention discloses a lubricating system for swage balls used in a disk drive system which is free from transferrable aluminum oxide, other hard materials or excess solid lubricant which could be deposited on the clean disk surface during operation. The swage balls are first pretreated by cleaning and then etching to remove residual alumina from the surface of the swage balls. The cleaned, etched swage balls are then lubricated in a fluorocarbon lubricating system, thereby producing an etched, lubricated swage ball which is cleaner than that found in the prior art.

Abstract: A device and method is described for joining two or more small particles to form a composite levitated particle. The size of the particles joined may be in the range 0.1 micrometer to 30 micrometers. The device utilizes a linear quadrupole electrodynamic levitator with storage rings at right angles to the levitating electrodes. The storage rings move the charged particles to desired positions with DC electric fields. Particles with different sign but unequal charge are then joined by means of displacements caused by the DC fields of the storage rings. The initial particles and the final composite particle are retained free of any contact with substrate in the levitating fields of the linear levitator.