Abstract: A falling-time measuring unit measures time for which a fall of a storage device is consecutively detected by a fall detecting sensor. A head-position detecting unit detects a position of the head on a storage medium at a time of starting measuring the time. A moving-time calculating unit calculates necessary time for moving the head from the detected position to a destination position. A first-threshold determining unit determines whether the measured time exceeds a threshold calculated by a threshold calculating unit. A head-movement processing unit moves the head to the destination position when it is determined that the measured time exceeds the first threshold.

Abstract: A head-slap detecting device detects a head slap. The head slap causes a storage medium to be slapped by at least one storage-medium driving unit that performs at least one of reproduction and recording of data from and to the storage medium. The head-slap detecting device includes a detecting unit that detects the head slap by determining whether a first variable gain obtained from a variable gain amplifier that amplifies an output of data reproduced by the storage-medium driving unit exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A time measuring unit measures a duration time of a state relating to the detection of the abnormality when the head is retracted. A head-return determining unit determines whether to return the head onto the storage medium based on the measured duration time.

Abstract: When a head is subjected to external vibration while a controller is controlling the head according to a positioning-oriented controller characteristic, the positioning-oriented controller characteristic are changed to a vibration-reducing controller characteristic. Moreover, when the external vibration stop while the controller is controlling the head according to the vibration-reducing controller characteristic, the vibration-reducing controller characteristic are changed to the positioning-oriented controller characteristic.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a storage device with a power-off protective reflex function, which comprises: at least a sensor for detecting a motion value with at least one dimension of the storage device; a processor coupled to the sensor for receiving the motion value and initializing a control signal after receiving the motion value; a media unit coupled to the processor for accessing data; and a switch respectively coupled to the processor and the media unit for receiving a control from a control signal to turn on or turn off the power required for accessing the media.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention allow for detection of contact between a sensor, such as a data read/write head, and a surface, such as the magnetic surface of a disc. An actuator may be controlled to repeatedly seek a head across a surface of a disc. A touchdown actuation pattern may be provided to the head during the seeks and a set of measurements are made to detect contact.

Abstract: System and method for generating a Position Error Signal (PES) reference curve in data storage devices are provided. The method includes scanning a distance of at least one Track Pitch (TP) in a cross-track direction in each servo-burst along a predefined path. One or more TPs in each servo-burst are scanned with a read head. The method further includes, calculating a plurality of samples of each differential signal. A differential signal corresponds to a first read-back signal and a second read-back signal. Thereafter, a plurality of normalized signals are determined. A normalized signal is determined by dividing each sample of the differential signal with a normalization constant. The plurality of normalized signals are combined to generate the PES reference curve.

Abstract: Pulses generated from servo stripes of a servo tape system are narrowed by using non-linear gain enabling precise position of the read head. Non-linear gain based on the amplitude of each pulse is applied to each pulse to reduce jitter and distortion so as to more accurately position the read head. A non-linear gain device comprising multipliers apply a non-linear gain to a normal servo pulse signal prior, in one embodiment, to the signal being applied to a qualifier. The non-linear gain device further comprises a limiter so as to limit the gain beyond a certain threshold to 1.0. The limitation of the gain to 1.0 renders the actual amplitude of the pulse unchanged while narrowing the pulse and flattening the baseline. The resulting pulse possesses less jitter and less distortion qualities rendering the positioning of the read head more precise.

Abstract: A method for navigating among tracks uses limited input commands. A plurality of tracks is associated with a currently playing queue. One of the tracks in the queue is identified for a current focus. A voice command is received that includes a directional aspect and a metadata filtering aspect. In response, the focus moves to a second track having a different value for the selected metadata filtering category.

Abstract: A disk dampener, a hard disk drive (HDD) including the disk dampener, and a method for fabricating the HDD are provided. The disk dampener is disposed adjacent to a surface of a disk in a hard disk drive (HDD), wherein an air gap is disposed between the disk dampener and the surface of the disk. The disk dampener includes an edge portion having a shape corresponding to an outer edge of the disk, and an extending portion extending from the edge portion toward an axis passing through the center of the disk. In addition, the axis is perpendicular to the surface of the disk, at least a portion of the air gap is disposed between the extending portion and the disk, and the edge portion and the extending portion are formed from different materials.

Abstract: An object is to provide an information recording and playback apparatus that is capable of reducing, as much as possible, reading and writing errors caused by magnetic leakage flux on the inner peripheral side of a magnetic disk.

Abstract: An internal support interface which provides vibration and acoustic isolation. A stationary shaft has a medial portion about which a rotatable member rotates. An end portion of the shaft has an annular base surface surrounding a stub shaft projection. A substantially planar housing member has a support post which extends from an annular interior surface in adjacent, non-contacting proximity to the stub shaft projection to form a gap therebetween. An annular damping member mutually contactingly surrounds the stub shaft projection and the support post while being compressed between the base surface of the shaft and the interior surface of the housing member.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a wafer substrate and a conductive underlayer formed directly on the substrate. An insulating layer is formed above the conductive layer. A reader and/or writer thereof is formed above the insulating layer. Another magnetic head includes a substrate and an insulating underlayer formed above the substrate. A conductive underlayer is formed above the insulating underlayer. An insulating layer is formed above the conductive underlayer. At least one device is formed above the insulating layer, the at least one device being selected from a group consisting of readers, writers, and combinations thereof. Tape drive systems and methods for forming such heads are also presented.

Abstract: A magnetic head comprises a pole layer and first and second coils located in regions sandwiching the pole layer. Each of the two coils is flat-whorl-shaped. The first coil incorporates an inner connecting portion and an outer connecting portion opposite to the inner connecting portion. The second coil also incorporates an inner connecting portion and an outer connecting portion opposite to the inner connecting portion. The inner connecting portion of the first coil is electrically connected to the inner connecting portion of the second coil. The outer connecting portion of the first coil is electrically connected to the outer connecting portion of the second coil, too. In such a manner the two coils are electrically connected to each other in parallel.

Abstract: In order to increase a surface recording density by greatly increasing a track density with maintaining a recording and reproducing property which is not less than that of the prior art, a nonmagnetic substrate 11, target materials 12, and magnetic plates 21 are positioned in parallel in a thin-film coating apparatus 10. A high-frequency voltage is applied to the target materials, and different polarities spaced uniformly on the surfaces of the magnetic plates are alternately generated. A sputtering gas is introduced into the thin-film coating apparatus to generate plasma around the target materials. A thin layer is formed on the nonmagnetic substrate by a sputtering method.

Abstract: A multi-channel head includes a substrate, a plurality of write elements arranged in a track width direction above the substrate in a lamination direction, and a plurality of read elements arranged in the track width direction above the plurality of write elements in the lamination direction. At least one of the plurality of write elements is offset from the others in the lamination direction. All the plurality of read elements are located higher than an uppermost one of the plurality of write elements in the lamination direction.

Abstract: An opening-closing mechanism for a record medium is arranged to include a moving body moves, on which an inserting slot and a revolving door are provided; a supporting means for causing the revolving door to support by the moving body in openable and closeable manner in the form of opening in; a movement transmission means for enabling an opening and closing operation of the revolving door on condition of the movement of the moving body; and a concave space movably receives therein the moving body.

Abstract: A disk cartridge includes a cartridge body and a lid. The cartridge body includes: first and second principal surfaces opposed to each other; a storage space to store a disklike data storage medium; windows cut through the first and second principal surfaces to partially expose the data storage medium in the storage space; an opening for removing the data storage medium from the storage space; and write-protect indicator holes cut through the first and second principal surfaces to prohibit writing on the data storage medium stored. The lid is provided to cover and uncover the opening of the cartridge body. The cartridge body is shaped such that both of the first and second principal surfaces can be opposed to a pickup of an optical disk drive when the cartridge is loaded into the drive.

Abstract: A loadbeam is locally stiffened by either, 1. the addition of strategically placed extra material to the loadbeam, 2. not removing material during the etching process to form the loadbeam, or 3. special forming, by crimping or bending, at specific sites on the beam. The use of local stiffening, when placed about the loadbeam dimple or between the dimple and flexure attachment points, with or without additional damping, can significantly improve the dynamical response of the loadbeam and eliminate vibrational modes of a slider mounted on the loadbeam during HDI interactions with disk surface asperities during disk drive operation.

Abstract: A head stack assembly (HSA) is provided. The head stack assembly includes a swing arm including a core pivotally coupled to a base member of a hard disk drive (HDD) and at least one arm blade extending from the core in a horizontal direction, a suspension extending from an extreme end of the arm blade, and a head slider mounted on an extreme end of the arm blade for reading and writing data from or to a data storage disk of the HDD. The swing arm further includes a blade extension portion extending from the arm blade toward the core to prevent an interference with the data storage disk of the hard disk drive, and a rigidity weakening portion formed on a side opposite to that where the blade extension portion is formed to attenuate a rigidity difference in a lateral direction of the arm blade, which is caused by the blade extension portion.

Abstract: A carriage for a disc device, which has a top arm, bottom arm, and mid arm, has a main mode, end arm mode, and mid arm mode as a frequency response obtained when subjected to a vertical shake. In the main mode, all of the top, bottom, and mid arms swing at a first frequency within the same phase in a primary bending mode. In an end arm mode, the top and bottom arms swing at a second frequency higher than the first frequency within opposite phases and with an amplitude larger than that of the mid arm. In the mid arm mode, the mid arm swings at a third frequency having a difference of 50 Hz or less from the second frequency within the same phase as in the main mode, and the top and bottom arms swing within the phase opposite from that in the main mode.

Abstract: A thin component such as the actuator arm (10) of a hard disk drive, is mounted on a pivot or pin (31), such as the pivot assembly of the hard disk drive, using a ring (32), e.g. a tolerance ring, having one or more projections (35), wherein the engagement of the component (30) and the ring (32) is such as to apply a force to the component (30) in a direction which is inclined to both the radial and axial directions of the pivot or pin (31). The pivot or pin (31) has a flange onto which the component (30) is pressed by the axial component of the force generated by the ring on the component. The edge of the ring (32) remote from the component (30) is engaged with a stop element, e.g. another flange (34) of the pivot or pin (31).

Abstract: A slider cradle for lateral positioning slider near rotating disk surface in hard disk drive, consisting essentially of piezoelectric micro-actuator coupling to slider cradle blank, further including piezoelectric micro-actuator coupling to first slider mount arm near slider mount and near slider mount base. A head gimbal assembly including slider cradle coupling to slider, flexure finger, and flexure finger electrically coupling to piezoelectric contacts. An actuator arm coupling to at least one head gimbal assembly. An actuator assembly, comprising voice coil coupling to at least one actuator arm. A hard disk drive containing actuator assembly. The invention includes a method of making slider cradle blank and slider cradle. The products of this process. Making head gimbal assembly, actuator assembly and hard disk drive using the invention's components. The head gimbal assembly, the actuator assembly, and the hard disk drive are products of these processes.

Abstract: Slider used to access data on rotating disk in hard disk drive, including vertical micro-actuator using shape memory alloy film perpendicular to air bearing surface and coupled to deformation region including read-write head. Slider further includes vertical control signal stimulating heating element coupled to film and/or second vertical control signal stimulating second heating element to alter vertical position. Flexure finger including micro-actuator assembly for coupling to slider, and possibly providing vertical control signal(s) to heating element(s). Head gimbal assembly including flexure finger coupled to the slider. A head stack assembly including at least one of the head gimbal assemblies coupled to a head stack. Hard disk drive including head stack assembly. The invention includes manufacturing the slider, the head gimbal assembly, the head stack assembly, and the hard disk drive, as well as these items as products of the invention's manufacturing processes.

Abstract: An optical processing element has a first face and a second face opposite to the first face. A first processing portion is disposed on the first face and a second processing portion is disposed on the second face. The first processing portion and the second processing portion both have continuous arc patterns. The radius of the arc pattern of the first processing portion is not equal to that of the arc pattern of the second procession portion. The optical processing element processes light source in order to produce even light emission, thereby solving the shortcomings of the prior art.

Abstract: Disclosed is a CCP-CPP-GMR head assembly which has: a CCP-CPP-GMR head that includes at least a current control layer having as a microstructure a plurality of truncated cone electric conductors with axes the same as a current direction and an insulator filling between the plurality of truncated cone electric conductors, and in which a surface on which a larger-area basal plane of the plurality of truncated cone electric conductors is greater in number is a first surface of the current control layer and a surface of an opposite side of the first surface is a second surface of the current control layer; and a sense current source providing the CCP-CPP-GMR head with a sense current that flows from the second surface to the first surface, a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus having such a head, and a specification method of an appropriate sense current direction of the CCP-CPP-GMR head.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetic field detecting element has the steps of: forming stacked layers by sequentially depositing a pinned layer, a spacer layer, a spacer adjoining layer which is adjacent to the spacer layer, a metal layer, and a Heusler alloy layer in this order, such that the layers adjoin each other; and heat treating the stacked layers in order to form the free layer out of the spacer adjoining layer, the metal layer, and the Heusler alloy layer. The spacer adjoining layer is mainly formed of cobalt and iron, and has a body centered cubic structure, and the metal layer is formed of an element selected from the group consisting of silver, gold, copper, palladium, or platinum, or is formed of an alloy thereof.

Abstract: A driving circuit for driving at least one lamp includes a power switching circuit, a first transformer and a feedback control circuit. The power switching circuit is electrically connected with a power source to generate an input current. The first transformer includes a primary winding and a secondary winding. The primary winding is electrically connected with the power switching circuit. The secondary winding is for transforming the input current to drive the lamp. The feedback control circuit is connected in parallel with the primary winding in order to measure a voltage variation of the primary side and output a power control signal. The power switching circuit adjusts a current for driving the lamp according to the power control signal.

Abstract: An abnormality judging apparatus of a rotation angle detecting apparatus generating a sine wave signal and a cosine wave signal according to the rotation angle of a rotor is provided with an interface which receives the sine wave signal, an interface which receives the cosine wave signal, a signal arithmetic circuit which successively calculates the sum of each square of the received sine wave signal and cosine wave signal, a memory which stores as a threshold value the value of the sum of each square of the sine wave signal and cosine wave signal received from the rotation angle detecting apparatus at a predetermined point in time, and a judging circuit which judges that abnormality has occurred at the rotation angle detecting apparatus when the difference between the value calculated by the signal arithmetic circuit and the value stored in the memory is out of a predetermined range.

Abstract: An electric power source for a motor vehicle is so constructed and arranged that an interlock circuit detects a disconnected state of an interlock wire and turns off a contactor. The interlock circuit includes: a current output circuit outputting a detectable current via a diode to the interlock wire; a first current detection subcircuit connected via the interlock wire and the diode to the current output circuit; a second current detection subcircuit connected to a connection point operatively located between the current output circuit and the diode; and a judgment circuit. In the interlock circuit, when the detectable current is detected at the second current detection subcircuit and when the detectable current is not detected at the first current detection subcircuit, the judgment circuit judges the interlock wire to be in a disconnected state and cuts off the contactor.

Abstract: A system and method for protecting a motor drive unit from an associated motor includes a motor drive unit protection system. The motor drive unit protection system includes at least one switch configured to be connected between a motor drive unit and a plurality of motor leads of the motor driven by the motor drive unit. The motor drive unit protection system also includes a controller configured to monitor the motor drive unit or the motor to determine a fault condition indicative of the motor potentially operating as a generator. Upon determining the fault condition, the controller is configured to cause the at least one switch to connect the plurality of motor leads together to protect the motor drive unit from the motor when the motor is operating as a generator.

Abstract: The aircraft applicable current imbalance detection and circuit interrupter interrupts an electrical circuit when a current imbalance is sensed. The current imbalance detection and circuit interrupter includes a housing, power supplies, a sensor system for sensing a current imbalance at the line side of the electrical circuit, a logic controller and a power controller including a power relay having contacts capable of surviving carry-break and make-carry-break types of ground fault conditions at anticipated current levels. At power up, the device performs a test to confirm that none of the relay contacts have failed in a closed position, and to check whether a switching FET which controls the relay coil has shorted.

Abstract: The aircraft applicable current imbalance detection and circuit interrupter interrupts an electrical circuit when a current imbalance is sensed. The current imbalance detection and circuit interrupter includes a housing, power supplies, a sensor system for sensing a current imbalance at the line side of the electrical circuit, a logic controller and a power controller including a power relay having contacts capable of surviving carry-break and make-carry-break types of ground fault conditions at anticipated current levels. At power up, the device performs a test to confirm that none of the relay contacts have failed in a closed position, and to check whether a switching FET which controls the relay coil has shorted.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device including two circuit blocks, an ESD protection circuit between power supply terminals (or ground terminals) of the two circuit blocks having the same voltage level as each other is constructed by at least one diode-connected field effect transistor whose back gate potential is adjusted by a back gate potential adjusting circuit. As a result, the absolute value of the threshold voltage and the ON resistance of the ESD protection circuit can be changed in accordance with whether the operation mode is an ESD protection operation mode or a usual operation mode.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a plug-in module is provided for installing in a power distribution assembly. In one embodiment, the plug-in module may include an overcurrent protection device, a power cable, which may include a first end coupled to the overcurrent protection device, and a second end coupled to the first end, one or more receptacle outlets attached to the second end and electrical contacts coupled to the overcurrent protection device and configured to couple the plug-in module to a plurality of stationary electrical conductors of the power distribution assembly.

Abstract: There is provided a static eliminator which comprises an ion generating portion in the form of tape. There is also provided a self-discharged static eliminator comprising an conductor provided with discharge whiskers in which the conductor is applied with a predetermined voltage. There is also provided a DC type of self-discharged fiber-like static eliminator which comprises plus fiber electrodes applied with plus voltage, minus fiber electrodes applied with minus voltage; a support disposed between the plus and minus electrodes for supporting the plus and minus electrodes and provided with insulation reserving member for preventing the spark discharge or short due to the access of the plus and minus electrodes.

Abstract: A disclosed overvoltage protection circuit includes a power source input terminal of an electronic device, the power source input terminal being configured to receive a power source voltage; an internal power source terminal configured to supply power to internal circuits of the electronic device; a voltage blocking circuit connected between the power source input terminal and the internal power source terminal, the voltage blocking circuit being configured to prevent the power source voltage received at the power source input terminal from being provided; and a constant voltage output unit connected in parallel with the voltage blocking circuit, the constant voltage output unit being configured to output a constant voltage. In the event that the power source voltage received at the power source input terminal is higher than or equal to a predetermined voltage, the voltage blocking circuit blocks the power source voltage received at the power source input terminal.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a plug-in module is provided for installation in a power distribution assembly. In one embodiment, the plug-in module includes a housing, an electrical isolation and overcurrent protection device located in the housing and a current sensing device located in the housing and adapted to sense a current carried by the electrical isolation and overcurrent protection device. The plug-in module may further include a power cable including a first end that is pre-terminated at the plug-in module to connect the power cable to the electrical isolation and overcurrent protection device, and electrical contacts adapted to removably couple the plug-in module to a plurality of stationary electrical conductors of the power distribution assembly. According to one embodiment, the electrical isolation and overcurrent protection device includes a circuit breaker.

Abstract: A transistor is coupled to a load so that an input voltage is applied to the load therethrough. A comparator compares a load-side voltage of the transistor with a reference voltage. A control circuit is operable to deactivate the transistor when the comparator detects that the load-side voltage is lower than the reference voltage. The transistor is so configured as to operate in a non-saturated region when an overcurrent flows in the load, so that the load-side voltage thereof becomes lower than the reference voltage.

Abstract: A starting method of an electronic apparatus wherein power supplies of a plurality of the electronic apparatuses are started in order, the starting method includes the steps of resetting the electronic apparatuses when each of the electronic apparatuses is started; and canceling the resets of the electronic apparatuses at the substantially same time after a power supply started last among power supplies of the plural electronic apparatuses is started.

Abstract: A detector module is described wherein the detector module includes a housing with a conductive waveguide, a detector, a temperature sensor, and detector circuitry. The waveguide is made of a conductive material and of an appropriate size for a signal of a particular frequency. The detector, which can be a detector diode, protrudes a distance into the waveguide so as to produce a detector signal. The temperature sensor generates a temperature signal responsive to a temperature. The detector circuitry is contained within the housing. Moreover, the detector circuitry is configured to receive and condition the detector signal into a detector module signal. The detector module signal and temperature signal are then associated with a previously calibrated power level. With calibrated power level information, an input signal to a transmitter can be attenuated or amplified to control its output power.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a regulator of the power supplied to industrial process electric loads comprising a power module and a control module, wherein the power module comprises a solid-state switching relay associated to a heat dissipator and the control module comprises a Programmed Logic Controller or PLC which attends to controlling the load switching relay; the control module is equipped with connections to the different sensors being required for the industrial process correct operation. Advantageously, the regulator comprises at least two or more solid state relays (1, 2, 3, 4) housed in the power module and individually controlled by the central logic unit of said Programmed Logic Controller (CPU), in order to power different electric loads having a different load cycle from each other.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for determining the functional status of an electromagnetic valve having a solenoid and plunger including determining the electromechanical switching time of a valve based on characteristics of an electrical characteristic responsive to the solenoid; comparing the valve electromechanical switching time to a predetermined value; and generating a valve status signal dependant on the results of the comparison.

Abstract: A semiconductor capacitor structure includes a first metal layer, a second metal layer, a first set of via plugs, a second set of via plugs, and a dielectric layer. The first metal layer includes a first portion, a plurality of parallel-arranged second portions, a third portion, and a plurality of parallel-arranged fourth portions. The second metal layer includes a fifth section, a plurality of sixth sections, a seventh section, and a plurality of eighth sections. The first set of via plugs electrically connects the plurality of second sections to the plurality of sixth sections. The second set of via plugs electrically connects the plurality of fourth sections to the plurality of eighth sections.

Abstract: Disclosed is an organic encapsulant composition that, when applied to formed-on-foil ceramic capacitors and embedded inside printed wiring boards, allows the capacitor to resist printed wiring board chemicals and survive accelerated life testing conducted under high humidity, elevated temperature and applied DC bias.

Abstract: In a capacitor element in which a highly dielectric metal oxide film formed between wiring layers is used as a capacitor insulation film, the diffusion and thermal oxidation of a lower-layer wiring material are reduced, and the surface on which a thin capacitor insulation film that constitutes a capacitor element is formed is kept flat. A lower electrode (111b) having the ability to prevent diffusion of the wiring material is embedded and formed so as to be in direct contact with a lower-layer wiring (105) in a prescribed area of a wiring cap film (103), and the surface on which the capacitor insulation film is formed is flat. The wiring cap film functions to prevent diffusion and oxidation of the wiring material formed on a wiring disposed in a lower layer of the capacitor element.

Abstract: An improved method of manufacturing, modifying and repairing a switchgear is disclosed that includes a busbar system and active switching elements that can be assembled from modular parts.

Abstract: A keyboard with light and sound effects comprises an auto-uncover keyboard cover having a main cover plate, a main spindle set, a sub-cover plate, a sub-cover spindle set, a liquid crystal screen, a trumpet set, and a sound control button set; a keyboard including a keyboard body, an light emitting set, and a main control button. The cover and uncover operations of the keyboard cover are performed by the main spindle set and sub-cover spindle set to drive the main cover plate and sub-cover plate and the main control button severs to control the liquid crystal screen, trumpet set, and sound control button set; and the light emitting set is installed below the keyboard body. Or the cover and uncover operations of the keyboard cover are manually operated, and the main spindle set and the sub-cover spindle set serves to connect the main cover plate sub-cover plate and the keyboard.

Abstract: A plasma display module in which a chassis can be readily and quickly separated from a plasma display panel, and methods of attaching and detaching the plasma display panel to and from the chassis are disclosed. In one embodiment, the plasma display module includes a chassis that is disposed on an opposite side of the plasma display panel where an image is displayed and supports the plasma display panel, plates coupled to a surface of the chassis facing the plasma display panel, and a double-sided tape, wherein a surface of the double-sided tape is attached to a surface of the plasma display panel facing the chassis and the other surface of the double-sided tape is attached to each of the plates.

Abstract: An electronic device comprises a body and an arm member disposed on the body. The body has a reference point. The arm member is moved between a first status, a second status and a third status. When the arm member is situated at the first status, the arm member relatively supports the body with respect to the reference point of the body. When the arm member is situated at the second status, the arm member relatively carries or suspends the body with respect to the reference point of the body.