Abstract: An amphibious vehicle that can be operated in a variety of conditions and terrain, including on land and in water, includes a high visibility cab portion, a chassis, and prime mover. The amphibious vehicle has two rows of forward-facing seats situated inside the cab portion, allowing both the operator and passengers to look outside via the high visibility cab portion. A CVT and steering-wheel interface for steering is utilized to provide the operator with an intuitive driving experience.

Abstract: Described are probe assemblies that include multiple layers, including at least one layer of probe bodies; suspension assemblies and components thereof, e.g., head gimbal assemblies, that include a probe assembly as described; and methods of using the probe assemblies and suspension assemblies.

Abstract: Described are probe assemblies that include multiple layers, including at least one layer of probe bodies; suspension assemblies and components thereof, e.g., head gimbal assemblies, that include a probe assembly as described; and methods of using the probe assemblies and suspension assemblies.

Abstract: Systems for interconnecting magnetic heads of storage devices in a test assembly are provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a probe assembly for coupling a read head to a cavity gimbal assembly, the probe assembly including a plurality of conductive probes each including a body section including two substantially flat side surfaces and a bottom surface including a pad configured to be soldered to a corresponding pad of a laminated flexure of the cavity gimbal assembly, a spring section including an elongated arm extending away from the body section, the elongated arm shaped to make conductive contact with a pad on a trailing face of the read head, and a non-conductive adhesive layer attached to at least one of the two side surfaces, where each of the plurality of the conductive probes is attached to an adjacent one of the conductive probes by one of the adhesive layers.

Abstract: A probe system that has a probe body comprising at least three arms extending from a central region and a probe tip centrally located on the probe body in the central region. A substrate is proximate the probe body opposite the probe tip. A first electrode is positioned to provide a centrally positioned voltage across the probe body and the substrate and a second electrode set is positioned radially outward from the first electrode, to provide an outer voltage across at least one of the at least three arms and the substrate. The probe structure may have, for example, four arms. Methods of actuating the probe tip are provided.

Abstract: A device comprises a recordable disc, a substrate adjacent to the recordable disc, and an actuation mechanism fixed to the substrate. The recordable disc includes a base layer and a recordable layer on the base layer. Additional electrodes or magnetic components may be placed on the base layer to provide electromagnetic or electrostatic forces to rotate the recordable disc when acted on by the actuation mechanism. As an example, the invention may utilize MEMS techniques in order to integrate a disc and motor of a disc drive as a common component.

Abstract: A device comprises a fluid bearing including a textured fluid bearing surface and a second surface and a recordable disc. The recordable disc includes a substrate, a recordable media layer on the substrate, and at least one of the textured fluid bearing surface and the second surface. The device may be manufactured using MEMS techniques. MEMS techniques provide the high precision necessary to create the textured fluid bearing surface. MEMS techniques also allow the recordable disc to be batch-fabricated with one or more additional recordable discs.

Abstract: A micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) disc drive includes high-precision and integrated components to allow for increased functionality, robustness and reduced size as compared to currently produced disc drives. Integrating multiple subcomponents of the disc drive using batch processing provides low manufacturing costs. Furthermore, using MEMS techniques, new features can be added to disc drives. For example, an environmental control component, an accelerometer and/or a thermometer may be integrated into the housing of the disc drive.

Abstract: In general, the invention is directed to techniques for integrated interconnects with a set of disc drives. The interconnects allow for a set of disc drives to be positioned in an array; for example, as set of disc drives may be stacked to communicate with a device through a single interface of the device. The interconnects may be formed as vias within the housing of the disc drives. Vias may produced using MEMS techniques, e.g., electroplating, as part of the manufacturing processes of the disc drive itself.

Abstract: A probe system that has a probe body comprising at least three arms extending from a central region and a probe tip centrally located on the probe body in the central region. A substrate is proximate the probe body opposite the probe tip. A first electrode is positioned to provide a centrally positioned voltage across the probe body and the substrate and a second electrode set is positioned radially outward from the first electrode, to provide an outer voltage across at least one of the at least three arms and the substrate. The probe structure may have, for example, four arms. Methods of actuating the probe tip are provided.

Abstract: The application discloses processes for fabricating a slider or head for a data storage device. The processes disclosed provide a transducer portion that is separated from a slider body by a gap. In an illustrated embodiment, actuator elements are fabricated in the gap to adjust a position of the transducer portion relative to the slider body.

Abstract: Modifications to the indenter probe tips and transducer, and proper selection of optics in an indentation system allow straight down optical viewing of the sample surface under the indentation tip by a microscope, by providing an optical path through the transducer from the sample surface under the tip to a microscope objective, thereby simplifying alignment of the tip to features on the sample.

Abstract: A transducing device responsive to magnetic fields includes a writer, a reader, an actuator, and a void. The actuator is positioned proximate the writer and reader. The void is positioned between at least one of the reader and writer and a substrate of a sensing device. The void is also positioned proximate an external surface.

Abstract: The present invention includes a gimbal having a plurality of forwards struts extending from a central portion of a transducer-carrying apparatus and terminating in a forward suspension attachment portion. A plurality of rear struts also extend from a central portion of the transducer-carrying apparatus and terminate in a rear suspension attachment portion. The width of the gimbal is narrower than the width of the supporting suspension. A method of making the gimbal includes photo-patterning a foil substrate with an insulative material in the shape of struts. Bond pads are plated onto the foil substrate, which serve as the forward and rear attachment portions to the suspension, as well as attachment portions to the transducer-carrying apparatus. Supportive gimbal springs are etched onto the insulative undercoat of the foil substrate.

Abstract: A suspension comprises a load beam having a leading portion and a trailing portion, a gimbal sheet mounted to the leading portion and forming a first pad, a second pad, and a displacement lever assembly including at least a first lever arm having a first end adjacent and connected to the first pad and a second end opposite the first end and connected to the second pad. The displacement lever assembly is configured to translate a linear displacement of the first pad to a differing displacement of the second pad. The suspension comprises a piezoelectric element attached to the first pad and extending across the second pad.

Abstract: In general, the invention is directed to techniques for integrated interconnects with a set of disc drives. The interconnects allow for a set of disc drives to be positioned in an array; for example, as set of disc drives may be stacked to communicate with a device through a single interface of the device. The interconnects may be formed as vias within the housing of the disc drives. Vias may produced using MEMS techniques, e.g., electroplating, as part of the manufacturing processes of the disc drive itself.

Abstract: A device comprises a recordable disc, a substrate adjacent to the recordable disc, and an actuation mechanism fixed to the substrate. The recordable disc includes a base layer and a recordable layer on the base layer. Additional electrodes or magnetic components may be placed on the base layer to provide electromagnetic or electrostatic forces to rotate the recordable disc when acted on by the actuation mechanism. As an example, the invention may utilize MEMS techniques in order to integrate a disc and motor of a disc drive as a common component.

Abstract: A device comprises a fluid bearing including a textured fluid bearing surface and a second surface and a recordable disc. The recordable disc includes a substrate, a recordable media layer on the substrate, and at least one of the textured fluid bearing surface and the second surface. The device may be manufactured using MEMS techniques. MEMS techniques provide the high precision necessary to create the textured fluid bearing surface. MEMS techniques also allow the recordable disc to be batch-fabricated with one or more additional recordable discs.

Abstract: A micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) disc drive includes high-precision and integrated components to allow for increased functionality, robustness and reduced size as compared to currently produced disc drives. Integrating multiple subcomponents of the disc drive using batch processing provides low manufacturing costs. Furthermore, using MEMS techniques, new features can be added to disc drives. For example, an environmental control component, an accelerometer and/or a thermometer may be integrated into the housing of the disc drive.

Abstract: A transducing device responsive to magnetic fields includes a writer, a reader, an actuator, and a void. The actuator is positioned proximate the writer and reader. The void is positioned between at least one of the reader and writer and a substrate of a sensing device. The void is also positioned proximate an external surface.