Abstract: The invention is directed to an arrangement and a method for imaging depth-structured objects and for calibrating the imaging in connection therewith, preferably for generating stereoscopic images from different observation planes at different depth levels of an object. According to the invention, in an optical arrangement for imaging depth-structured objects comprising an entrance pupil, an aperture diaphragm, and a receiver surface positioned in the imaging beam path, at least one optical assembly which is displaceable in axial direction is provided between the aperture diaphragm and the receiver surface, and the displacement of this optical assembly within a predetermined length range causes a change in the focus position while the magnification remains the same.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electrowetting system using the electrowetting phenomenon. The electrowetting system comprises an electrolyte solution consisting of 30 to 89% by weight of water, 0.01 to 30% by weight of a salt and 10 to 60% by weight of a polar solvent having a dipole moment. According to the electrowetting system, the polar solvent added to increase the viscosity of the electrolyte solution stabilizes the movement of the electrolyte solution when a voltage is applied to operate the electrowetting system. In addition, high- or low-temperature reliability of the electrowetting system can be ensured by the use of the polar solvent.

Abstract: A fisheye lens system includes a negative first lens group and a positive second lens group, which are defined with respect to a maximum air-distance between lens elements constituting the fisheye lens system. The negative first lens group includes a first negative meniscus lens element having the convex surface facing toward the object, a second negative meniscus lens element having the convex surface facing toward the object, and a negative third lens element. The fisheye lens system satisfies the following conditions: 0.25<SF1?1.0 . . . (1); 0.1<SF2?1.0 . . . (2); 0.9<SF3<2.1 . . .

Abstract: A zoom lens system includes a negative first lens group, a positive second lens group, and a positive third lens group functioning as a focusing lens group, in this order from the object. Upon zooming from the short focal length extremity to the long focal length extremity, the distance between the negative first lens group and the positive second lens group decreases, and the distance between the positive second lens group and the positive third lens group increases. The positive third lens group includes cemented lens elements having a positive lens element and a negative lens element. The zoom lens system satisfies the following condition: 0.2 <f3?p/|f3?n|<0.35??(1) wherein f3?pdesignates the focal length of the positive lens element of the positive third lens group; and f3?ndesignates the focal length of the negative lens element of the positive third lens group.

Abstract: A solid image pickup device includes an image pickup unit on which image pickup elements are arranged in a two dimensional form, a print on which the image pickup unit is mounted, and protrusions formed in a pattern form of a conductive material on a floor area, of the print board, covered by the image pickup unit such that the protrusions surround a central part of the floor area, wherein the image pickup unit is fixed with an adhesive on the protrusions and the floor area of the print board.

Abstract: The invention provides protective articles comprising a backing that comprises a fluorinated polymer and a curable adhesive on at least one layer of the backing. The protective articles of the invention may be used to provide substrates or articles of the invention having a fluorinated surface. The invention also provides methods of preparing such articles, methods of repairing appliqués, and methods of edge sealing appliqués.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a small and low-cost switching power supply unit with a backup function in which a proper circuit construction can be selected by simple method when it is necessary to compensate for the instantaneous drop or power failure and a disk array system having the switching power supply unit. To accomplish the object, a backup unit which can insert and pull out its hot line into a switching power supply unit casing and has a secondary battery and its state monitoring/control unit is built in the unit, and proper charge/discharge management of the secondary battery can be made. When the backup unit is unnecessary, a backup unit formed by a plurality of capacitors whose hot lines can be similarly inserted and pulled out can be built in an enclosing space of the backup unit.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are contemplated to perform various actions, including: zooming into or out of an image having at least one object, wherein at least some elements of the at least one object are scaled up and/or down in a way that is non-physically proportional to one or more zoom levels associated with the zooming, and wherein, for example, the non-physically proportional scaling may be expressed by the following formula: p=d?·za, where p is a linear size in pixels of one or more elements of the object at the zoom level, d? is an imputed linear size of the one or more elements of the object in physical units, z is the zoom level in units of physical linear size/pixel, and a is a power law where a??1.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are contemplated to perform various actions, including: zooming into or out of an image having at least one object, wherein at least some elements of the at least one object are scaled up and/or down in a way that is non-physically proportional to one or more zoom levels associated with the zooming, and wherein, for example, the non-physically proportional scaling may be expressed by the following formula: p=d?·za, where p is a linear size in pixels of one or more elements of the object at the zoom level, d? is an imputed linear size of the one or more elements of the object in physical units, z is the zoom level in units of physical linear size/pixel, and a is a power law where a??1.

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a zoom lens which includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit with a negative refractive power, a second lens unit with a positive refractive power, and a third lens unit with a negative refractive power. The second and third lens units move during zooming. The first lens unit includes a negative biconcave lens element. The zoom lens satisfies the following conditions: ?1.4<?1/?w<?1.0 0.9<?2/?w<1.4 ?1.3<?3/?w<?0.9 where ?1 is a refractive power of the first lens unit, ?2 is a refractive power of the second lens unit, ?3 is a refractive power of the third lens unit, and ?w is a refractive power of the entire system at a wide-angle end.

Abstract: A zoom lens includes 10 or less lens elements and having a zoom ratio of more than 20×, said zoom lens having first, second, third, and fourth groups of lens elements placed in turn from object side to image side; wherein the first group of lens elements has positive refractive power and is fixed in position during zooming; wherein the second group of lens elements has negative refractive power and is moved in position during zooming; wherein the third group of lens elements has positive refractive power, includes at least one aspheric surface, and is fixed in position during zooming; wherein the fourth group of lens elements has positive refractive power, includes at least one aspheric surface, corrects variations in image surface position during zooming, and performs focusing; and wherein the zoom lens satisfies the following conditional expression (1): 7.8 < dz fw < 8.

Abstract: A projection system includes a modulator and an Offner relay. The modulator is to modulate light in accordance with sub-frames of a frame of image data. The Offner relay is to differently aim, in accordance with each sub-frame, the light as modulated.

Abstract: A lens set assembly comprises an object side facing an object, an image side facing an image generated by the lens set, and a plurality of lens sets disposed from the object side to the image side sequentially. When the lens set assembly is used, the lens sets are all disposed along an optical axis. When the lens set assembly is not in use, the lens set adjacent to the image side rotates about an axis perpendicular to the optical axis to depart from the optical axis, and the other lens sets move toward the image side.

Abstract: A lens feed mechanism is provided and includes: a lens frame that holds a movable lens and that is supported by a fixed lens barrel so as to be capable of moving in a direction in which the movable lens is to move; a feed screw supported rotatably on an axis extending in a moving direction of the lens frame; and a connecting unit that connects the lens frame with the feed screw, the connecting unit having a rack mechanism supported rotatable on an axis extending in a direction on a plane orthogonal to the moving direction of the lens frame, the connecting unit engaging with the feed screw.

Abstract: A suspension apparatus comprises a lens holder, a suspension spring and a supporting base. The supporting base is formed with an opening for accommodating the lens holder. The lens holder is for positioning a lens unit. The suspension spring is manufactured by stamping process to form a long strip with a plurality of suspension springs. The strip is then guided into a mold, and plastic injection molding process is performed in that mold so as to produce the lens holder and supporting base affixed respectively to either end of the suspension spring in one piece. After that, excess material of the strip is cut off. The suspension apparatus as above described is suitable for mass production. In addition, because of the high precision of mold, the inaccuracy of assembly and fabrication is minimized. The volume of the whole apparatus and the cost of production are also vastly decreased.

Abstract: A camera module has a lens unit and an image pickup portion. The lens unit has at least one lens and a lens holder for holding the at least one lens. The image pickup portion is provided below the lens unit. The image pickup portion has a substrate, an image pickup device mounted on the substrate, a housing space for housing the image pickup device therein in a hermetically sealed state, and a base provided above the substrate. The base has an opening for introducing light passing through the at least one lens to the image pickup device in the housing space, a support portion located around the opening, and a recessed groove located around the support portion for holding a resin adhesive for bonding. The image pickup portion also has a filter having a peripheral portion bonded to an upper surface of the support portion so as to cover the opening of the base.

Abstract: A lens barrel for holding a lens includes a barrel body for containing the lens. A ring shaped receiving wall is formed on the barrel body, for receiving a rear face of a peripheral portion of the lens, to position the lens in an optical axis direction. Three retaining claw portions are disposed to project from the barrel body, for retaining the lens on the ring shaped receiving wall by engagement with the peripheral portion thereof. Three first through holes are formed in the barrel body, and adapted to insertion and pressure of an external adjusting rod for positioning adjustment of the lens. Second through holes are formed in the barrel body, and adapted to introduction of adhesive agent for attaching the lens on the barrel body. The retaining claw portions and the first through holes are arranged at a regular pitch on a circumference of the barrel body.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a prism sheet for performing the function of polarization. The prism sheet comprises a prism and a polarization film. The polarization film is formed by depositing a first layer and a second layer on the prism, wherein the first layer and the second layer have different refractive index. The prism sheet includes a multilayered polarization film, and so transmits some of a light incident thereto by the polarization film.

Abstract: There is provided a LCOS panel assembly of a projection system comprising: a LCOS panel; a panel support supporting the LCOS panel and coupled to the quad side; a quarter-wave plate provided at the front side of the LCOS panel to polarize light; a quarter-wave plate holder rotatably supported about the panel support at a state where the quarter-wave plate is coupled thereto; and adhesives interposed on a contact surface of the quarter-wave plate holder and the panel support, so that foreign substance is prevented from being injected on a optical path of the LCOS panel assembly of the projection system or image matching is prevented from being deteriorated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fabricating a MEMS apparatus having a device layer with an optical surface that is supported by a pedestal on a planar support layer that is suspended for movement with respect to a base support by hinge elements disposed in a different plane from the planar support layer. The surface area of the optical surface is maximized with respect to the base support to optimize the fill factor of the optical surface and afford a high passband. The height of the pedestal is selected to position the device layer sufficiently above the base support to afford an unobstructed predetermined angular rotation about each axis. The hinges may be made of thin-film material, fabricated by way of surface micromachining techniques. The hinges are disposed underneath the device layer enabling the optical surface to be maximized so that the entire surface becomes usable (e.g., for optical beam manipulation).

Abstract: A wide-angle mirror includes a back plate having an inner side formed with an annular support flange having an outer side formed with a stop ring, a mirror plate having an inner side rested on the annular support flange of the back plate and a rim rested on the stop ring of the back plate, and a plurality of press strips secured to the back plate and rested on the mirror plate. Thus, the press strips are snapped onto the back plate and rested on the mirror plate to retain the mirror plate on the back plate, so that the wide-angle mirror is assembled easily and rapidly.

Abstract: A flip-up convex mirror attachment for installation onto the original equipment mirror in vehicles with either a left-side or right-side driver. The flip-up convex mirror attachment attaches to the mirror surface of the original equipment interior mirror found in most motor vehicles. The flip-up convex mirror attachment contains an angled hinge block for creating a predefined offset angle between the flip-up convex mirror and the OEM mirror such that the reflected image on the side of the mirror nearest the driver is maintained at generally the same point behind the vehicle as the original equipment mirror. The wedge-based hinge assembly may be attached to the flat mirror surface on either a left-side or right-side driver vehicle and still maintain the desired angular offset between the OEM and flip-up convex mirrors.

Abstract: A mirror adjustment mechanism for adjusting a mirror housing including an actuator housing and a drive mechanism arranged in the actuator housing. The drive mechanism includes an electric motor including an output shaft; a drive train having an input part coupled to the output shaft; and an output part coupled to a driven part. The driven part is connected to an electrical circuit and is configured to be movable under a spring action relative to the actuator housing. The driving part controls the electric motor and includes a first contact part that cooperates with a second contact part fixedly arranged relative to the actuator housing. The driving part is movable between a first position in which the impedance between the first and second contact parts has a first value, and a second position in which the impedance between the first and second contact parts has a second value.

Abstract: NMR data are acquired using a phase-alternation of the tipping pulse. Averaged properties are estimated over a window length. The averaged properties are inverted to undo the effects of the averaging. A matrix defined in terms of Walsh functions is used in the inversion.

Abstract: What is disclosed is an ND filter that enables relatively easy control of light quantity when used in an iris device and realizes excellent optical performance. The ND filter has a first region having an ND film with a uniform density, a second region having an ND film with a uniform density different from the density of the first region, and a density transition region provided between the first region and the second region. The density transition region has an ND film whose density changes continuously from the density of the first region to the density of the second region.

Abstract: An optical element includes an airtight container having opposing face walls in a thickness direction, and side walls connecting the end face walls; a first liquid sealed in the container and having polarity or conductivity; a second liquid sealed in the container and not mixed with the first liquid so as to define an interface between the first liquid and the second liquid; and voltage applying means for applying a voltage to the first liquid. Further, the first liquid and the second liquid have the same specific gravity and substantially the same refractive index, and minute particles made of a material that does not transmit light are mixed in the first liquid, such that the first liquid has less light transmittance than the second liquid.

Abstract: A novel means for performing dibit extraction is presented. Any one of an unequalized signal dibit, equalized signal dibit, or noise dibit can be extracted. Instead of using the correlation properties of a PN (Pseudo-Noise) sequence to approximate a PN deconvolution sequence, the use of the actual deconvolution sequence (i.e., PN sequence that includes values of +k and 0, where k is oftentimes 1) is employed so that no approximations are needed. The resulting estimate of the channel is therefore very accurate.

Abstract: A read channel and method using that read channel are disclosed. The read channel comprises an analog to digital converter which asynchronously samples at a fixed rate an analog signal formed by reading a data track, where that data track was written to a data storage medium at a symbol rate and an interpolator interconnected with the analog to digital converter. The read channel further comprises a fractionally-spaced equalizer, where the interpolator provides an interpolated signal to the fractionally-spaced equalizer at an interpolation rate, where that interpolation rate is greater than the symbol rate. The fractionally-spaced equalizer forms a synchronous equalized signal. The read channel further comprises a gain control module interconnected with the fractionally-spaced equalizer, and a sequence detector interconnected with the gain control module.

Abstract: A magnetic head, such as a tape head, according to one embodiment includes an array of data writers for writing to multiple data tracks on a magnetic medium, a width of the array being defined between the data writers positioned farthest apart. An erase writer having a width at least about as wide as the width of the array is present for erasing at least part of the magnetic medium prior to the writing by the data writers. A plurality of readers may also be present. Preferably, the data writers and erase writer are formed on the same substrate.

Abstract: A system such as a tape head having multiple read devices, where the read devices have less than or equal to half the width of the write devices or data tracks. The read devices are aligned adjacent to one another in the track width direction. Data tracks and guide bands can be used for track following, while a preferred embodiment uses additional readers to read servo bands for track following purposes.

Abstract: A method for operating a head testing apparatus (spin stand) using a mounted hard disk that has had its servo track information pre-written in an external servo-writing apparatus rather than in the testing apparatus itself. This insures more accurate servo-track writing and renders the testing operation more efficient. The problem of repeatable runout (RRO) associated with the transfer of a disk written in one machine to another is eliminated by forming a corrected position error signal (PES) by subtracting the average offset of one or more servo sector locations previously calculated using limited bandwidth operation of the servomechanism, from the position error signal generated during full bandwidth servo operation of the apparatus.

Abstract: When recording the picture data or voice data on the hard disk, the encrypted data is generated through the encryption process with the serial number as the key based on the file system, and the encrypted data is recorded on the hard disk. When powered on, the encrypted data is read from the hard disk, the decoded data is generated with the serial number as the key, and the decoded data is determined whether normal or not. If normal, the data can be reproduced, and if abnormal, the data cannot be reproduced.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus for performing data recording processing includes: a data storage portion holding write data on a disk; an apparatus control portion for managing the data storage portion and controlling data recording processing; and a disk recording control portion obtaining data held in the data storage portion and performing processing of recording on the disk through data holding means, wherein the apparatus control portion is configured to perform, in the data recording processing on the disk, processing of: defining boundary information indicating the boundary position between disk-recorded-guaranteed data, which is guaranteed as data having been recorded on the disk completely, and unguaranteed data in data held in the data storage portion; and deleting the disk-recorded data identified by the boundary information selectively from the data storage portion.

Abstract: Provided is a read channel incorporated in a storage device to process signals read from a storage medium. The read channel includes an equalizer equalizing input read signals to produce equalizer output signals. A detector senses an adjusted equalizer output signal to determine an output value comprising data represented by the input read signals. An equalizer adaptor receives the output value from the detector to determine a first error signal used to adjust the equalizer operations. A component adjusts the equalizer output signals being transmitted to the detector, wherein the component is adjusted by a second error signal calculated from the output value from the detector, wherein the first and second error signals are different.

Abstract: A data erasing device that erases data recorded on a magnetic disk, by a magnetic field generated in a horizontal direction by magnets, in order to prevent leakage of the data recorded on the magnetic disk of a magnetic disk device to be abandoned. The data erasing device includes a main body case having a path on which a tray is reciprocated, a demagnetizing circuit having plural permanent magnets adjacently disposed along the path in mutually adsorbing polarities, and a tray for accommodating the magnetic recording medium, and capable of reciprocating on the path. This tray includes a first accommodation groove and a second accommodation groove for accommodating the magnetic disk device. The first accommodation groove and the second accommodation groove cross each other to form an angle of 45 degrees or 90 degrees.

Abstract: Tilt between a head stack and its associated disk stack in a hard disk drive (HDD) is measured by determining the deviation of a target head from its expected position (based on the position of the current head) each time electrical contact is switched from the current head to a target head. A running average tilt value is stored and used to modify the logical seek distance used in a Rotational Position Optimization (RPO) algorithm to better order I/O requests in a queue. Also, the running average tilt value can be used by the servo to pre-position the target head before electrical contact is made with the target head, to improve speed of operation.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a magnetic disk unit in which there has been adopted a structure fixing a base and a top plate and preventing a deformation by a bimetal effect. In one embodiment, the magnetic disk unit includes a magnetic disk; a head drive mechanism in which is mounted a head accessing the magnetic disk; a base accommodating the magnetic disk and the head drive mechanism, and possessing a flat part, in which a threaded hole has been formed, in a circumference of an opening edge; and a top cover which is formed by a material whose thermal expansion coefficient differs from that of the base, in which there is provided an escape hole, for a screw, position-aligned to the threaded hole of the flat part, and which is attached to the base by the screw penetrating through the threaded hole and the escape hole for the screw.

Abstract: A system and method for reading a magnetic medium having a data band thereon, the data band comprising a plurality of simultaneously written data tracks and at least one alignment band. The system in one embodiment includes a plurality of adjacent readers for simultaneously reading the data tracks. At least one reader is also present for reading the at least one alignment band. A mechanism determines a fractional overlap of each reader on the data tracks based on readback of the alignment band. A mechanism extracts data from readback of the data tracks based at least in part on the fractional overlap.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a servo write method for writing servo information to a disk medium used in a disk drive is disclosed. In the procedure of the servo write method, first servo information is spirally written to a disk medium in a clean room before the disk medium is incorporated into the disk drive, then, the disk medium is incorporated into the disk drive, and second servo information is concentrically written to the disk medium already incorporated in the disk drive.

Abstract: A process for continually compensating for the microjog error resulting from RRO. Typically, the 1F RRO is the most significant, but the method could be applied to the microjog error caused by RRO of other frequencies. The process continually determines an instantaneous microjog error based on the RRO and adjusts the read element target position throughout one revolution, such that the write element remains centered on its intended position.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention prevent offtrack write that will be caused due to a head vibration in a storage device. In one embodiment, a hard disk drive (HDD) judges approval/disapproval of write of user data to a magnetic disk by using a read signal for user data in addition to servo data in write processing. Thus, a head vibration which cannot be precisely detected based on servo data is detected to prevent off-track write. More specifically, the HDD acquires a read back signal amplitude of a read element with respect to a user data sector within adjacent servo data during a write access phase, and detects a vibration from a maximum value MAX and a minimum value MIN of the read back signal amplitude to judge data write approval/disapproval.

Abstract: A media cartridge autoloader is disclosed that includes a main module having a rotation transmission path forming device and one or more media cartridge transport magazines. The rotation transmission path forming device can include a drive shaft unit, a drive shaft unit shifting mechanism, and a magazine drive motor module. A mechanism that rotates a turntable of a media cartridge picker can be used to move and selectively couple the drive shaft unit with one or more of the media cartridge transport magazines. A drive shaft of the drive shaft unit can be driven by a magazine drive motor of the magazine drive motor module, so that the coupled magazine is driven. This magazine drive motor can also release one or more of the media cartridge transport magazines from the engagement with one or more magazine locking mechanisms of the main module.

Abstract: In general, the invention is directed to apparatus that provides one or more low-impedance paths to ground in a data storage device, such as a disc drive, through one or more conductive posts. When a shield, circuit board and base of the data storage device are fastened to one another, the conductive posts are driven into contact with a ground contact on the circuit board or the shield or both.

Abstract: A particle extracting device and a hard disk drive including the device are provided. The particle extracting device includes a cover member of the hard disk drive; and an air guiding member disposed on a bottom surface of the cover member and facing a disk, so as to form a flowing path which guides an air flow generated by a rotation of the disk to an outer portion of the disk. In addition, the flowing path formed along an outer circumference of the air guiding member has an air inlet portion having a larger cross-section than a cross-section of an air outlet portion of the flowing path.

Abstract: A cover member including an air guiding portion and an HDD including the cover member are provided. The HDD includes: a housing including a base member and a cover member; a spindle motor installed on the base member; a data storage disk mounted on the spindle motor; and an actuator rotatably installed on the base member, and including a read/write head for recording data onto the disk or reproducing data recorded on the disk. The cover member includes an air guiding portion protruding from a bottom surface of the cover member toward a surface of a data storage disk to guide an air flow generated by a rotation of the disk to the outside of the disk, and the air guiding portion has a width that changes along a rotating direction of the disk. Therefore, the air flow generated by the rotation of the disk can be guided outside of the disk by the air guiding portion formed on the cover member, and the air flows fast, and thus, the particles on the disk can be discharged outside of the disk efficiently.

Abstract: A spindle motor assembly includes a spindle motor having a shaft and a hub that rotates on the shaft, and a hard disk having a data storage medium mounted in the form of a whole disk, and a fastener attached to the center of a bottom surface of the disk-shaped data storage medium that faces the spindle motor. The fastener is a screw or a nut. In the case in which the fastener is a screw, a head of the screw is attached to the bottom surface of the hard disk, and the body of the screw is received in a screw hole in the upper portion of the shaft of the spindle motor. In the case in which the fastener is a nut, the nut is engaged with an external thread on an outer circumferential surface of the hub of the spindle motor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnetic structure for writing. The magnetic structure includes a non-magnetic layer, a first magnetic layer electroplated adjacent the non-magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer electroplated adjacent the first magnetic layer, and a third magnetic layer electroplated adjacent the second magnetic layer. The first magnetic layer has a first saturation magnetization and a first coercivity. The second magnetic layer has a second saturation magnetization and a second coercivity. The third magnetic layer has a first saturation magnetization and a first coercivity.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a substrate having a first tape bearing surface and a second (outrigger) tape bearing surface, preferably with a slot therebetween. A plurality of elements (readers and/or writers) are coupled to the substrate and positioned towards the first tape bearing surface. The first and second tape bearing surfaces lie along planes, the planes being offset from one another spatially and/or angularly. The second tape bearing surface, like typical flat profile heads, induces a small spacing between a tape passing thereover and its tape bearing surface. The second tape bearing surface is positioned below the plane of the first tape bearing surface, thereby creating the proper wrap angle of the tape relative to the first tape bearing surface.

Abstract: A magnetic head according to one embodiment includes a first module having a flat profile tape bearing surface, a second module having a flat profile tape bearing surface, and a third module having a flat profile tape bearing surface. The third module is positioned on an opposite side of the second module than the first module. The tape bearing surfaces of the first, second and third modules may lie along substantially parallel planes, may be configured in a tangent (angled) configuration, or may be configured in an overwrap configuration. Data writing and reading functions are usually performed by different modules at a given time.

Abstract: A magnetic head slider is provided. The magnetic head slider has a leading-side protrusion surface and a protruding magnetic element surrounding surface disposed at a surface of a slider opposing a disc. A first flow path that has the form of a groove is disposed between the magnetic element surrounding surface and the leading-side protrusion surface. A contracted portion is provided in the first flow path so as to be positioned closer to a trailing side compared to a swing fulcrum of the slider.