Abstract: The invention provides a zoom lens system much more reduced in size and cost than ever before and best-suited for use on portable information terminals of small size. The zoom lens system comprises, in order from an object side thereof, a first lens group G1 having positive refracting power and designed to be fixed during zooming, a second lens group G2 having negative refracting power and designed to move from the object side to an image plane side of the system for zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end of the system, a third lens group having refracting power and designed to move from the image plane side to the object side for zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end, and a fourth lens group G4 having positive refracting power and designed to be movable during zooming.

Abstract: The invention provides a zoom lens system which has a zoom ratio of about 3, a wide field angle on the wide-angle end and a small F-number and enables satisfactory image-formation capability to be obtained. The zoom lens system comprises a first lens group G1 having negative power, an aperture stop, a second lens group G2 having positive power and a third lens group G3 having positive power. For zooming, the first and second lens groups G1 and G2 move on the optical axis with a varying spacing between adjacent lens groups while the third lens group G3 remains fixed. During zooming, the stop moves in unison with the second lens group. The first lens group consists of a negative, a negative and a positive lens and the third lens group consists of one lens. The first lens group further comprises a lens having an aspherical surface satisfying condition (1), and the third lens group further comprises a lens having an aspherical surface satisfying condition (2).

Abstract: An optical deflector comprises an aspheric deflecting lens (1, 13) of positive optical power. The deflecting lens (1, 13) has a first relatively short focal length giving rise to a first focal point (3) and a second relatively long focal length giving rise to a second focal point (5). Thus, a divergent beam (7) of light substantially at one of the first and second focal points is focussed by the lens at the other of the first and second focal points. Means (19), such as an electric motor, is provided for rotating the lens about an axis substantially coincident with one of the first and second focal points.

Abstract: A planar lens capable of compensating for chromatic aberration and which is easy to manufacture and enables easy assembling of optical pickups and a method for fabricating the planar lens are provided. The planar lens includes a transparent substrate with a lens cavity in a surface of the transparent substrate, and a lens element formed in the lens cavity with a first refracting surface in contact with the bottom of the lens cavity and a second diffracting surface having a diffraction grating opposite to the first refracting surface.

Abstract: A body of a lens frame, which is a lens barrel of the present invention, consists of an inner frame for holding a lens, an intermediate frame in which an adjusting screw is screwed, and an outer frame in which an adjusting screw is screwed. The frames are connected to one another by parallel springs. In the case of this lens frame, the inner frame is displaced in the direction of X-axis or a horizontal axis by screwing the adjusting screw thereinto in the direction of the horizontal axis and screwing another adjusting screw thereinto by the direction of a vertical axis. Thus, the inner frame is displaced in Y-direction through the intermediate frames. Consequently, the translation of the position of the optical axis of the lens is performed without inclination of the intermediate frame. Hence, the adjustment of the position of the optical axis is easily achieved. Moreover, this lens frame achieves a reduction in the cost of components thereof.

Abstract: This invention provides composite materials comprising nanostructures (e.g., nanowires, branched nanowires, nanotetrapods, nanocrystals, and nanoparticles). Methods and compositions for making such nanocomposites are also provided, as are articles comprising such composites. Waveguides and light concentrators comprising nanostructures (not necessarily as part of a nanocomposite) are additional features of the invention.

Abstract: A micromirror actuator includes a first substrate, at least one lower electrode, a micromirror, a two part second substrate, an upper electrode, a pair of support posts, and torsion bars. In the first substrate, a trench having a predetermined shape is formed. The lower electrode is formed in the trench. The micromirror faces the trench to be operative to pivot due to electrostatic forces and selectively to reflect incident light depending on pivoting positions thereof. The parts of the second substrate are formed on a portion of the first substrate and underneath the micromirror, respectively, and prevent the deformation of the micromirror. The upper electrode is formed on a portion of the second substrate on the first substrate and applies power to the micromirror. The pair of support posts protrude from the first substrate beside both sides of the trench. The torsion bars connect both sides of the micromirror to the pair of support posts.

Abstract: In the present invention, a coating agent comprising photocatalyst particles dispersed in a titanium peroxide solution obtainable by causing titanium hydroxide (orthotitanic acid) gel to act with hydrogen peroxide being used as a material for the photocatalyzer film is used to a photocatalyzer film (18) having photocatalyst particles (18) supported therein. By forming a porous hydrophilic substance film (12) on the photocatalyzer film (18), the defects of the film caused by the wiping can be prevented. Also, a film formed by using the coating agent comprising photocatalyst particles dispersed in a titanium peroxide solution at a temperature of from normal room temperature to 200° C. is of high porosity in comparison with a film formed at a higher temperature and with a film not having a photocatalyst particles dispersed therein. Consequently, the photocatalyzer film (18) and the hydrophilic substance film (12) have good adhesion property when use each other.

Abstract: The invention concerns some type of reflecting mirror that can be utilized as rear-view mirrors for automobiles. Such a mirror is made up of: one layer of amorphous material, not pyrolytic, with refraction index greater than 3.4 and lower than 3.8; one or more layers of materials having refraction index comprised between 1.3 and 1.5. This multi-layer may contain also: one or more layers of materials with refraction index comprised between 2.9 and 2.4; one high reflection layer of metallic type; one absorbent layer. Proposed mirrors, for the optical characteristics and for the disposition of the components, however they have an integral reflection superior to that of the already known other anti-glaring mirrors, they present a glaring in night vision lower than that one of the already known mirrors, because they reduce selectively spectral range to which human eye is more sensible.

Abstract: A method for adjusting an optical system that has a multilayer mirror that includes a multilayer film includes the steps of measuring wave front aberration of the optical system, determining a condition to remove part of the multilayer film in the multilayer mirror so that the wave front aberration measured in the measuring step may reduce, and removing the part of the multilayer film in the multilayer mirror based on the condition determined by the determining step.

Abstract: A head support mechanism includes a slider for carrying a head at least for performing reproduction of data from a disk, and a holding portion for holding the slider. The holding portion includes: a first portion including a first piezoelectric element; a second portion including a second piezoelectric element; a third portion connected to the first and second portions, the slider being provided on the third portion; and a fixing portion for fixing the first and second portions. At least one of the first and second piezoelectric elements is contracted and expanded in a direction substantially parallel to a surface of the disk, in the presence of an applied voltage so that the slider provided on the third portion is rotated around a predetermined center of rotation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of reading and writing data from and to a data storage device is provided. One method of practicing the present invention comprises placing, or leaving an unused track, row or column adjacent to a medium track containing apparatus information. Another method of practicing the present invention comprises placing, or leaving an unused track, row or column adjacent to both sides of the medium track containing the apparatus information.

Abstract: A disk writer writing servo data on a disk for an HDD. The disk writer includes a reference signal writer writing a reference signal on the disk along a track at a predetermined distance from an edge of the disk; and a servo writer including a reference signal detector detecting the reference signal written on the disk and a writer writing the servo data on the disk on the basis of a position where the reference signal is detected. With this configuration, the present invention provides a disk writer and a writing method thereof, capable of minimizing a positioning error of a start track of an HDD.

Abstract: An encoding system and associated method protect against miscorrection due to parity sector correction in, for example, an on-drive RAID system. The system adds a parity cluster block, which itself is a complete, C3-protected cluster. Having the cluster level, C4 level correction, by parity sectors, checked and verified by C3 checks that have high reliability level, as well as the capability for checking consistency of a cluster block, even in the presence of “jami” errors, makes this possibility unlikely. A scrub algorithm avoids read-modify-write operations by deferring the completion of the C2 and C3-ckecks until the storage device is idle.

Abstract: A voltage regulator includes an output node and first and second regulator circuits. The first regulator circuit generates a first regulated voltage on the output node when a supply voltage equals or exceeds a predetermined threshold, and the second regulator circuit generates a second regulated voltage on the output node when the supply voltage is less than the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A data storage system is described with a system for controlling the amount of lubricant being dispensed from the reservoir using a feedback loop that includes at least one sensor output for a physical parameter inside device such as temperature, humidity and fly-height. In one embodiment the lubricant reservoir housing is equipped with a movable shutter over an aperture in the lubricant reservoir housing. The area of the aperture through which the lubricant vapor can pass is controlled by moving the shutter. In another embodiment the lubricant reservoir housing is supplied with a lubricant diffusion packet such as an effusion cell or diffusion tube containing liquid lubricant. An energy source for the lubricant diffusion packet allows the temperature of the lubricant and, therefore, its vapor pressure, to be increased when the need for additional lubricant is sensed.

Abstract: A hard disk balancing apparatus for a hard disk drive including an eccentricity detection unit to detect an eccentricity amount and an eccentricity position of the hard disk with respect to a rotation axis of a spindle motor for rotating the hard disk as an origin, and a pushing unit to push a circumference of the hard disk in the eccentricity position and to move the hard disk on the rotation axis of the spindle motor according to the eccentricity amount. Here, the eccentricity detection unit includes a detection sensor to detect the rotation axis of the spindle motor, and is placed coaxially with the rotation axis of the spindle motor, and at least three distance sensors that are separated from the detection sensor to be at least farther than a radius of the hard disk and to measure a distance between one point on the outer circumference of the hard disk and themselves.

Abstract: The invention includes a method of attenuating resonance frequency modes in head suspensions, which does not significantly increase the weight of the head suspension. The invention provides a way to control the head deflection from the disk surface, which helps minimize damage from head slapping. The invention includes a basic head suspension infrastructure for which vibration resonance can be predictably controlled.

Abstract: Disclosed is a data storage device to provide servo patterns of a track pitch individually consistent with head characteristics (writing width, and reading width) in a recording medium of a hard disk device. The data storage device is provided with a disk having pitch information indicating a track pitch recorded in a predetermined area, and a head for scanning the disk to read the TPI ID and reading/writing data from/in the disk by being subjected to seeking control based on the TPI ID. The TPI ID is recorded as a part of a servo pattern in a TPI ID embedded area provided in an outer periphery of a data area of the disk.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for reducing vibration in dual stage actuators of storage devices such as hard disk drives. The apparatus comprises a compensating mass disposed on an outer arm of the storage device in order to balance the mass and inertia of the outer arm. The compensating mass is provided with an actuator that is driven in unison with a dual stage actuator also disposed on the outer arm. The excitation caused by the dual stage actuator is balanced by the excitation caused by the actuator of the compensating mass. The shape and mass of the compensating mass are selected to simulate the mass and inertia of the inner dual stage actuator. By driving the inner dual stage actuator in unison with the actuator and compensating mass, the torsional input of the voice coil motor is substantially reduced.

Abstract: An apparatus for clamping a hard disk includes a motor rotating body having a boss inserted in a central hole of the hard disk and having a threaded portion formed on an outer circumferential surface of the boss and an accommodation surface supporting part a lower surface of the hard disk, a clamping washer inserted around the boss of the motor rotating body and placed on an upper surface of the hard disk, and a clamping nut placed on the clamping washer and coupled to the threaded portion of the boss so as to clamp the hard disk between the clamping washer and the accommodation surface of the rotating body.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a non-rotating head used in linear scanning of linear magnetic tape. For example, the head may include a non-rotating contoured surface shaped to facilitate flyability of linear magnetic tape passing over the non-rotating contoured surface. A contact area defining a magnetic gap may protrude from the surface. The contact area that projects from the surface can contact the magnetic tape to read data from the tape and/or write data to the tape as the tape flies over the surface.

Abstract: A magnetic head in which two sides, which are defined as viewed in a core width direction, of first, second, and third end surfaces of a magnetic recording head extend along a longitudinal direction of recording tracks, so that it is possible to reduce spreading of leakage magnetic field extending from the two sides of the magnetic recording head in the core width direction between an upper core layer and a lower core layer protrusion through a gap layer. If the leakage magnetic field extending from both sides of the gap layer is reduced, it is possible to prevent the formation of an erased area beyond a multiple recording area. It is possible to maintain the S/N ratio of a reproduction signal at a proper value when reading out magnetic information from a magnetic tape.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head includes a lower core layer; a recording core formed on the lower core layer and exposed at a face surface facing a recording medium, the recording core including a gap layer, an upper pole layer, and optionally, a lower pole layer; an upper core layer magnetically coupled to the upper pole layer; and a coil. A tip surface of the upper core layer at the face surface is set back from the face surface in the height direction, and the tip surface is an inclined surface or a curved surface in which the depth gradually increases from the track width direction. A method for fabricating a thin-film magnetic head is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for mounting two planar objects so that they are relatively rotatable, in which a welding step and a pressing step are eliminated, is provided. At least three slits are formed in a first planar object, extending radially from the center point of relative rotation at equal angular intervals. The first planar object is made to approach a second planar object, in a manner such that the center point moves along the axial line of a cylinder provided on the second planar object. Thereby, the cylinder is press fit into a region of the first planar object which includes the slits. The region is spread, and the edges thereof are fitted rotatably about the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder.

Abstract: A magnetic disc medium comprising: a support; a substantially nonmagnetic lower layer; and a magnetic layer comprising a binder and hexagonal ferrite powder dispersed in the binder, in this order, wherein the magnetic disc medium has an outside diameter of from 20 to 50 mm, an amount of run out in a vertical direction at an outside perimeter of the disc medium in recording and reproducing of 50 &mgr;m or less, and an amount of run out in a vertical direction at an inside perimeter of the disc medium in recording and reproducing of 25 &mgr;m or less, and a recording and reproducing method of the magnetic disc medium, wherein the magnetic disc medium has an outside diameter of from 20 to 50 mm, and recording and reproducing are performed at an engine speed to make an amount of run out in a vertical direction at an outside perimeter of the disc medium 50 &mgr;m or less, and an amount of run out in a vertical direction at an inside perimeter 25 &mgr;m or less.

Abstract: A hard disc drive includes a base having a moving region in which an air damping ramp adjacent to a recording surface of a disc, a slider, and a driving unit which holds the slider, move. A bottom of the moving region is lower than the air damping ramp, and has a channel that is recessed at the bottom of the moving region and extends along a moving path of the slider. Thus, the hard drive reduces a vortex that forms around a head gimbal assembly (HGA) due to an application of insufficient preload onto HGA or a defective HGA. Accordingly, vibration of the HGA due to the vortex decreases, thus rendering a position error signal (PES) more accurate and reliable.

Abstract: A head slider for magnetic disks is lifted above a magnetic disk by airflow generated by rotation of the magnetic disk. The head slider includes an airflow guide part. The airflow guide part guides the airflow along a disk-facing surface of the head slider toward the sides of the disk-facing surface.

Abstract: A proximal end region of a load beam is provided with a proximal-end widthwise beam extending in the width direction and a pair of proximal-end lengthwise beams respectively extending from the opposite ends of the proximal-end widthwise beam towards a distal end of the load beam, while an intermediate region of the load beam is provided with a pair of intermediate lengthwise beams extending from the distal ends of the pair of proximal-end lengthwise beams towards the distal end of the load beam. The proximal-end lengthwise beams have an angle of inclination relative to the longitudinal center axis of the load beam greater than the angle of inclination of the intermediate lengthwise beams relative to the longitudinal center axis of the load beam.

Abstract: A damping assembly for the actuator of high performance disk drive assembly is formed from multiple materials. The damping assembly is added to the actuator to dampen vibration that occurs during operation of the drive. The damping assembly is connected to an exterior portion of a coil region of the actuator. The damping assembly helps dampen vibration modes for coil torsion and coil bending, thereby improving dynamics settling performance to improve overall file input/output throughput performance. This also allows for a higher voice coil motor torque constant by increasing the magnet radius, thereby also improving move time, which further improves file input/output throughput performance. The overall file performance is improved by reducing settling times associated with coil torsion and coil bending modes, and allowing a higher torque constant to also improve move time. Both of these effects contribute to improving file performance.

Abstract: An actuator assembly for a disk drive is provided wherein the pivot cartridge is supported within the bore of the actuator with corrugated end rings. The corrugated end rings provide a uniform distribution of forces on the pivot cartridge and effectively reduce vibrations between the pivot cartridge and the body of the actuator.

Abstract: A system and method for connecting an actuator to a suspension element is disclosed. The actuator is electrically coupled using a silver paste. The silver paste is further covered by a coating application to provide structural support. A step, attached to either the actuator base or the suspension tongue, provides further structural support and maintains a gap between the actuator and the suspension element.

Abstract: A head support mechanism includes a slider for carrying a head at least for performing reproduction of data from a disk, and a holding portion for holding the slider. The holding portion includes; a first portion including a first piezoelectric element; a second portion including a second piezoelectric element; a third portion connected to the first and second portions, the slider being provided on the third portion; and a fixing portion for fixing the first and second portions. At least one of the first and second piezoelectric elements is contracted and expanded in a direction substantially parallel to a surface of the disk, in the presence of an applied voltage so that the slider provided on the third portion is rotated around a predetermined center of rotation.

Abstract: A head support mechanism includes a slider for carrying a head at least for performing reproduction of date from a disk, and a holding portion for holding the slider. The holding portion includes; a first portion including a first piezoelectric element, a second portion including a second piezoelectric element; a third portion connected to the first and second portions, the slider being provided on the third portion; and a fixing portion for fixing the first and second portions. At least one of the first and second piezoelectric elements is contracted and expanded in a direction substantially parallel to a surface of the disk, in the presence of an applied voltage so that the slider provided on the third portion is. rotated around a predetermined center of rotation.

Abstract: A precise positioning actuator to be fixed with a head slider with at least one head element and with a support, for precisely positioning the at least one head element, includes a pair of movable arms capable of displacing in response to a drive signal applied to the actuator The head slider is caught in a space between the movable arms.

Abstract: A precise positioning actuator to be fixed with a head slider with at least one head element and with a support, for precisely positioning the at least one head element, includes a pair of movable arms capable of displacing in response to a drive signal applied to the actuator The head slider is caught in a space between the movable arms.

Abstract: A solid-state inductor and a method for forming a solid-state inductor are provided. The method comprises: forming a bottom electrode; forming a colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) thin film overlying the bottom electrode; forming a top electrode overlying the CMR thin film; applying an electrical field treatment to the CMR thin film in the range of 0.4 to 1 megavolts per centimeter (MV/cm) with a pulse width in the range of 100 nanoseconds (ns) to 1 millisecond (ms); in response to the electrical field treatment, converting the CMR thin film into a CMR thin film inductor; applying a bias voltage between the top and bottom electrodes; and, in response to the applied bias voltage, creating an inductance between the top and bottom electrodes. When the applied bias voltage is varied, the inductance varies in response.

Abstract: Magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) and charge perpendicular-to-plane (CPP) magnetic sensors are disclosed which have a first antiferromagnetic layer for pinning the magnetization direction in a pinned layer and a second antiferromagnetic layer for providing bias stabilization of a free layer. The two antiferromagnetic layers may be formed from the same material and using a spin-flop effect may be initialized simulataneously. A disk drive using these sensors is disclosed.

Abstract: An antiferromagnetic stabilization scheme is employed in a magnetic head for magnetically stabilizing a free layer of a spin valve. This is accomplished by utilizing an antiferromagnetic oxide film below a spin valve sensor in a read region and first and second lead layers in end regions and a ferromagnetic film in each of the lead layers that exchange couples to the antiferromagnetic oxide film in the end regions. The ferromagnetic films are pinned with their magnetic moments oriented parallel to an air bearing surface (ABS) of the magnetic head. The ferromagnetic film magnetostatically couples to the free layer which causes the free layer to be in a single magnetic domain state. Accordingly, when the free layer is subjected to magnetic incursions from a rotating disk in a disk drive, the free layer maintains a stable magnetic condition so that resistance changes of the free layer are not altered by differing magnetic conditions of the free layer.

Abstract: A GMR sensor is disclosed for sensing magnetically recorded information on a data storage medium. The sensor includes a ferromagnetic free layer and a ferromagnetic pinned layer sandwiching an electrically conductive spacer layer. An engineered overlayer is formed on the free layer to decrease free layer magnetic thickness without reducing physical thickness.

Abstract: A land grid array socket comprises an insulative housing having a plurality of contacts. The insulative housing has a top surface for receiving a land grid array package. A cover member is pivotally mounted on a first end of the insulative housing. The cover member is pivotal between an open position and a closed position where the cover member presses the land grid array package toward the top surface of the insulative housing so that the land grid array package electrically connects to the contacts. A lever is pivotally mounted on a second end of the insulative housing. The lever has a locking portion for locking the cover member in the closed position. A metallic reinforcing plate is positioned on a bottom surface of the housing. The metallic reinforcing plate extends between the first end and the second end of the insulative housing.

Abstract: A circuit protects a power conversion system with a feedback control loop from a fault condition. The circuit has an oscillator having an input for generating a signal with a frequency and a timer connected to the oscillator input and to the feedback control loop. The timer disables the oscillator after a period following the opening of the feedback control loop to protect the power conversion system.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting an arc fault.

Abstract: Resettable circuit interrupting devices, such as GFCI devices, that include an independent trip mechanism and a reset lockout mechanism are provided. The trip mechanism operates independently of a circuit interrupting mechanism used to break the connection, and the reset lockout mechanism prevents the resetting of electrical connections between input and output conductors if the circuit interrupting mechanism is non-operational or if an open neutral condition exists.

Abstract: An input circuit for an integrated circuit includes an electrostatic discharge circuit. The input circuit incorporates an interconnect pad, an ESD protection resistor, and an interconnect line that are coupled to the active internal components of the integrated circuit. The interconnect pad is coupled to the interconnect line, and the interconnect line is coupled to the ESD protection resistor which is coupled to the active internal components of the integrated circuit. The ESD protection resistor is positioned physically proximate to the active internal components of the integrated circuit and adjusted in value to compensate for the intrinsic resistance or RC time constant of the interconnect line. The circuitry provides for a lower signal propagation delay through the external connection because of lower RC time constants to drive the capacitance of the interconnect.

Abstract: An overvoltage protection device is formed in a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of doped regions for forming semiconductor devices. The overvoltage protection device is adapted to draw current away from a device to be protected from excess voltage and has a switchable device having a terminal adapted to be coupled to a potential source of excess voltage and to the semiconductor substrate for drawing current away from the potential source of excess voltage when the switchable device is triggered, and for directing the current to the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A protecting apparatus includes a back-flow preventing Zener diode having a cathode connected directly to a control terminal of a main transistor formed on a semiconductor substrate. A protecting transistor has an output terminal connected to an anode of the back-flow preventing Zener diode and an input terminal connected to an input terminal of the main transistor. A protecting capacitor or Zener diode circuit is connected between a control terminal of the protecting transistor and the input terminal of the main transistor for allowing initial surge current, when caused based on a rapid surge, to flow into the control terminal of the protecting transistor. The protecting transistor, when turning on in response to the initial surge current, allows next surge current succeeding the initial surge current to flow into the control terminal of the main transistor via the back-flow preventing Zener diode.

Abstract: A circuit breaker has a threaded collar fixed on a breaker housing and an approximately cylindrical actuating element displaceably guided in a bore of the threaded collar and partially protruding from the breaker housing for manual push-pull actuation in an advantageous way on the actuating side. In order to seal the circuit breaker, a sealing ring seals an annular gap formed between the wall of the bore and the circumference of the actuating element.

Abstract: A voltage regulator may include one or more features for generating high PSRR. For example, source follower devices may be included in the voltage regulator for providing current sources for the output voltage nodes. The source followers may be sensitive to power supply noise at the gate terminal. Filters are included on the gate terminals to filter the power supply noise, thus reducing the noise at the gate terminals. As another example, the voltage regulator may employ current sources on the output voltage nodes which produce current inversely proportional to the current drawn by the load. In one embodiment, the voltage regulator may include a power control circuit used to provide overvoltage protection during power up. The power control circuit provides a voltage during power up, and ceases providing the voltage after a time interval so that the circuit may operate.

Abstract: Methods of protecting against a surge voltage and apparatus for performing the same. One embodiment of the invention is directed to a circuit to protect a device from a surge voltage. The circuit is connected between the device and first and second nodes to which the surge voltage may be applied. A charge storage device is connected between third and fourth nodes and the device is operatively connected to the third node and a fifth node. The circuit comprises a first overvoltage protection device coupled between the fourth node and a fifth node, the fourth and fifth nodes being operatively connected to the first and second nodes, respectively, and a second overvoltage protection device coupled between the third node and the fifth node. A voltage between the third and fifth nodes during the surge voltage is substantially less than a switching voltage of the second overvoltage protection device for at least a portion of the duration of the surge voltage.