Abstract: A process is provided for producing a thin-film magnetic longitudinal recording disk having a coercive anisotropy with a larger coercivity in a circumferential direction than in a radial direction of a disk. A substrate textured with circumferential grooves is provided. The textured substrate is then heated and a thin-film nucleating layer is sputtered above the textured substrate. Subsequently, a thin film magnetic layer of a hexagonal close-packed cobalt alloy is deposited above the nucleating layer.

Abstract: The improved sputtered memory disk of the present invention comprises a substrate coated with a nucleating layer, a subsequent magnetic layer, and a protective coating. As a result of texturing in the circumferential direction and epitaxy involving the nucleating layer, an anisotropic orientation of coercivity in the circumferential direction has occurred during the sputtering that provides an improved memory disk having enhanced coercivity, a reduced amplitude modulation, an improved squareness of the hysteresis loop, e.g., lower switching field distribution, and a high production, relatively low cost production system. As a result, a higher recording density due to the higher coercivity and low switching field distribution can be experienced with the magnetic disk of the present invention.

Abstract: The invention is an expandable magnetron sputtering system based on an elongated hollow cylindrical cathode member. A magnetic field is provided parallel to an axial wall of the hollow cathode member to create a physical trap for containing a glow discharge therein. Removable end plugs are provided, if necessary, to help create the physical trap. The hollow cathode member may be solid or any contain one or more slots, as appropriate, for the substrate to be coated (filament-like versus planar) and the mode of operation selected (pass-by versus pass-through). The cathode members may be connected together (with anodes as needed) to extend the length of a sputtering path. A plurality of single-slot cathodes may be cost effectively formed and operated in a single monolithic slab of material.

Abstract: A sputtered magnetic recording disk is formed by a series of sequential sputtering processes within an environment of a low pressure inert gas. A disk substrate is abraded to provide a circumferential texturing of hills and valleys. The height of the hills and valleys are of a dimension not to interfere with a fly characteristic of a recording head, while the arithmetic average of the radial roughness is still sufficient to provide a magnetic switching field distribution of less than 0.20. A chromium nucleating layer is deposited on the textured substrate surface by a first sputtering process. A second sputtering process provide a magnetic layer of a cobalt alloy to provide C-axis orientation parallel to the substrate. A third sputtering process provides a protective carbon film. The output of any signal recorded on the magnetic thin film layer will have an amplitude modulation of less than twenty-five percent (25%).

Abstract: A magnetic thin film recording disk includes a substrate of a hard electroless plated nickel surface that has been textured to encourage a circular anisotropic orientation of crystal growth during a pass-by sputtering in a continuous production line. A thin film chromium nucleating layer that is substantially free of any oxidation that would affect the recording properties is subsequently deposited, and then a thin film magnetic layer of a cobalt alloy, having a desired circular anisotropic crystal growth, is deposited through the sputtering process. The resulting magnetic thin film recording disk is then coated with a thin film of a carbon protective material.

Abstract: A magnetron sputtering device for coating planar substrates with sputtered ions. The sputtering occurs from the internal wall of a cylindrical hollow flanged cathode target that includes a slot longitudinally disposed in a sidewall of the cathode. A first portion of sputtered atoms travel through the slot and onto a planar substrate moving relative to the sputtering device and a second portion of sputtered atoms simply redeposit on the internal wall of the cathode target such that the target cathode evenly erodes.

Abstract: An inkless method of recording an image of a desired object or symbol such as the print of a person's finger is described in which a recording surface is prepared by placing thereon a thermosensitive color-developing layer comprising a chromogenic dye such as a leuco dye, an organic acid developer, such as a phenolic compound, reactive with the dye to form a color and a thermosensitive barrier layer separating the dye and developer. A chemical reagent containing one or more metallic slats, such as ferric chloride, in the format of the desired object or symbol, is applied to the recording where the reagent reacts with the developer and/or dye in the thermosensitive color-developing layer to form a permanent two-dimensional image of the object or symbol such as the ridge pattern of the person's finger.

Abstract: A transactional instrument and method of producing the same is disclosed wherein a check can have a matrix array of subjectively coded symbols that are obscured from view, and which can be exposed in a particular manner for comparison with a dedicated ascertainable code to verify the transaction. Both the code and the addresses to the matrix array can be randomly generated, and removable opaque material can be used to obscure the coded symbols.

Abstract: A method for enhancing fingerprint images comprises the steps of applying a chemical compound to the fingers to be printed in which the compound contains a first constituent in the form of a conventional ink or inkless reagent. The first constituent is arranged by itself (i.e., ink) or in conjunction with a developer (i.e., inkless) to provide a visible image of a fingerprint when applied to a porous surface, such as a conventional fingerprint card under light within the visible spectrum. A second constituent is included in the compound which is arranged to fluoresce within the visible spectrum (i.e., 500 to 650 nm) when subject to U.V. radiation, preferably centered at 550 nm.The compound from the fingers is then deposited onto a porous surface and a visible image is formed therefrom representing the ridge patterns of the fingers. The surface is then illuminated with visible and ultraviolet light and the fluorescence of the second constituent enhances the brightness of the image.

Abstract: A sputtering production assembly for producing a magnetic thin-film memory disk and a method of coating the memory disk is provided. The magnetic disk substrates are preliminarily abraded to provide a uniform series of physical circumferential texturing to encourage a circular anisotropic orientation of crystal growth during the subsequent sputtering steps. A nucleating layer is deposited under controlled conditions, and subsequently a thin-film magnetic layer is deposit with a circular anisotropic orientation of crystal growth. Finaly, a thin-film protective coating is disposed on the magnetic layer.

Abstract: The improved memory disk of the present invention comprises a substrate coated with chromium with preferably a layer of cobalt/nickel as the magnetic layer sealed with a protective coating of carbon. As a result of circumferential texturing, a circular anisotropic crystal growth has occurred during the sputtering with a circumferential alignment that provides an improved memory disk having a reduced amplitude modulation, an improved squareness of the hysteresis loop, e.g. lower switching field distribution and a high production relatively low cost production system. As a result, a higher recording linear bit density due to the high coercivity and low switching field distribution can be experienced with the magnetic disk of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an apparatus for inkless fingerprinting directly on a medium, such as a check. The apparatus can include a stamp housing having a replaceable cartridge with a pair of reservoir resilient foam cell pads having a semi-sealed surface. One of the pads will contain a liquid developer solution, for example, a water soluble inorganic compound; while the other pad will contain a liquid reagent solution, for example, a water soluble inorganic compound which can react with the liquid developer solution to deposit a non-soluble colorant precipitate. Advantageously, the liquid developer solution will include a carrier solvent that is relatively non-evaporative over the life of the applicator, and has a viscosity value that permits the liquid developer solution to be deposited on a porous medium surface and maintain a coating having only sufficient thickness above the medium surface to contact and adhere to substantially only the ridge pattern of a finger.