Abstract: A flash memory integrated circuit includes a plurality of flash memory arrays. A global word line driver is associated with each array, each global word line driver coupled to a plurality of select lines. A plurality of sense amplifiers are individually coupled to a plurality of bit lines. A plurality of sub arrays in each array each include a plurality of NAND flash memory cells coupled to local word lines and local bit lines. A local word line driver is associated with each sub-array and coupled to the plurality of select lines and configured to drive ones of the local word lines in its sub array associated with selected ones of the plurality of NAND flash memory cells in its sub-array. A local bit line driver is coupled between selected ones of the local bit lines in each sub array and selected ones of the plurality of bit lines.

Abstract: A memory device having an array portion including memory cells, and a peripheral portion including conductive lines is disclosed. In one embodiment, portions of the conductive lines adjoin a surface of a semiconductor carrier.

Abstract: A phase change memory includes a plurality of cells for storing data in the form of respective resistance levels, addressing circuits for addressing cells to be programmed, and the resistance levels are determined from comparison of cell currents of addressed cells with a reference current. A reference generator provides the sense amplifier with the reference current. The reference generator is provided with a reference select circuit to select the reference current from a plurality of verify currents based on program data to be stored in the cell.

Abstract: A memory cell array of a NAND flash memory device includes memory cells connected to bit lines and word lines. A page buffer unit includes cell program test circuits configured to program data into a selected memory cell or read data from the memory cell. An IO controller includes a program confirm decision circuit for outputting a cell program confirmation signal when a cell is programmed. A voltage providing unit changes a step of a program voltage according to the cell program confirmation signal and provides the program voltage.

Abstract: Non-volatile memory includes a row driving circuit with shared level shift circuits, so as to minimize the chip area of the non-volatile memory. The row driving circuit includes a plurality of word line driving circuits, a plurality of level shift high circuits, and a plurality of level shift low circuits. The plurality of word line driving circuits share the plurality of level shift high circuits and the plurality of level shift low circuits. Each word line driving circuit includes a plurality of driving units, a level shift high circuit, and a level shift low circuit. The plurality of driving units share the level shift high circuit and the level shift low circuit of the word line driving circuit.

Abstract: Systems and methods, including computer software for performing operations enable interleaving of charging operations in a charging pump. A first charge pump is charged to a predetermined level, and a first operation is performed using a charge stored in the first charge pump after it reaches the predetermined level. A second charge pump is charged during a time that overlaps with performing the first operation. A second operation is performed using a charge stored in the second charge pump as a result of charging the second charge pump.

Abstract: A content data storage device which stores content data which includes a wide-band content and a narrow-band content includes a buffer memory temporarily storing the content data to be externally input, a storage unit including a plurality of nonvolatile memories configured to be written for each page and storing in turn the content data to be output from the buffer memory, and a controller controlling an output from the buffer memory so as to output content data of one page to the storage unit when the content data of not less than one page is stored in the buffer memory, wherein the controller adds dummy data to the narrow-band content as the content data of one page, if the narrow-band content stored in the buffer memory reaches the prescribed capacity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a portable information terminal having installed therein an IC chip. The portable information terminal includes an internal memory disposed within the IC chip driven by using power supplied via a reader/writer, which is impossible to be accessed from outside the IC chip, an external memory driven by using power from an external power source installed outside the IC chip and a data management unit that controls data write processing or data read processing executed to write data into or read data from the internal memory or the external memory in correspondence to the power supply state pertaining to the external memory. The data management unit selects data with a high access frequency or a high priority among a plurality of sets of data recorded in the external memory and records the selected data into the internal memory.

Abstract: Disclosed is a nonvolatile memory device using a variable resistive element, and a data read circuit for use in variable resistive memory devices. More specifically, embodiments of the invention provide a data read circuit with one or more decoupling units to remove noise from one or more corresponding control signals. For instance, embodiments of the invention remove noise from a clamping control signal, a read bias control signal, and/or precharge signal. The disclosed decoupling units may be used alone or in any combination. Embodiments of the invention are beneficial because they can increase sensing margin and improve the reliability of read operations in memory devices with variable resistive elements.

Abstract: An apparatus, includes a counter which counts a frequency of input of a first signal, a delay controller which generates a second signal by adding a delay to the first signal, the delay corresponding to the frequency, and a control circuit which halts the counter counting the frequency, when a phase difference between the first signal and the second signal is a predetermined value.

Abstract: A read latency control circuit is described having a clock synchronization circuit and a read latency control circuit. The clock synchronization circuit includes an adjustable delay line to generate an output clock signal whose phase is synchronized with the phase of the input clock signal. The read latency control circuit captures a read command signal relative to the timing of the input clock signal and outputs the read command signal relative to the timing of the output clock signal such that the read command signal is outputted indicative of a specified read latency.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes: a delay locked loop (DLL) for delaying an external clock to generate a DLL clock signal; an internal command signal generator for generating an internal command signal in response to an external command; a delay circuit for delaying the internal command signal by a delay time corresponding to a delay time of the DLL to output a delayed internal command signal; and an output enable signal generator for generating an output enable signal based on the delayed internal command signal and the DLL clock signal.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns a semiconductor memory device comprising: a memory cell array having memory cells arrayed two-dimensionally; word lines connected to the memory cells of rows of the memory cell array; bit lines connected to the memory cells of columns of the memory cell array; sense amplifiers connected to the bit lines, and detecting data stored in the memory cells; a test pad passing a predetermined reference current from a power source, and transmitting a reference voltage based on the reference current; and test circuits connected between the power source and the test pad and intervening between the power source and the bit lines, the test circuits passing test currents according to the reference voltage via the bit lines.

Abstract: A precharge voltage supplying circuit comprises a control signal generating unit for generating a first control signal in response to a power-up signal and a clock enable signal, and a precharge voltage control unit having a bleeder circuit and driving the bleeder circuit in response to the first control signal to control a precharge voltage. The precharge voltage supplying circuit can be widely used in various devices which need the generation of a voltage, a level of which is adjustable according to a PVT characteristic change, and a range of change of which is not so large.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array, a word line, a source line, a row decoder, and a source line driver circuit. The memory cell array includes a memory cell unit having a plurality of memory cells connected in series. The word line is connected to control gates of the memory cells. The source line is electrically connected to sources of the memory cells positioned on one end sides of the memory cell unit. The row decoder selects the word line. The source line driver circuit is arranged in the row decoder and applies a first voltage to the source line.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns a memory comprising memory cells including floating bodies, logic data being stored in the memory cells; word lines connected to gates of the memory cells; bit lines connected to the memory cells; and sense amplifiers connected to the bit lines, and applying a first voltage to the bit lines when first logic data is written to the memory cells connected to the bit lines, wherein the sense amplifiers apply a second voltage to the memory cells having stored therein the first logic data during a refresh operation in which at least second logic data stored in the memory cells is recovered, the second logic data is opposite in logic to the first logic data, and the second voltage is lower in absolute value than the first voltage and equal to or higher in absolute value than a potential of sources of the memory cells.

Abstract: A random access memory device includes an array of individual memory cells arranged into rows and columns, each memory cell having an access device associated therewith. Each row of the array further includes a plurality of N word lines associated therewith, with a wherein N corresponds to a number of independently accessible partitions of the array, wherein each access device in a given row is coupled to only one of the N word lines of the row. Address decoder logic in signal communication with the array is configured to receive a plurality of row address bits and determine, for a requested row identified by the row address bits, which of the N partitions within the requested row are to be accessed, such that access devices within a selected row, but not within a partition to be accessed, are not activated.

Abstract: A data access method for an application circuit to access a memory. The method includes steps of: receiving a first data from the application circuit; duplicating the first data to obtain a duplicated first data; and writing the first data and the duplicated first data into the memory at continuously accessible addresses. For accessing to the first data, the first data and the duplicated first data are read from the memory in response to a rising edge and a falling edge of a data-triggering signal; and one of the first data and the duplicated first data is outputted while the other of the first data and the duplicated first data is discarded.

Abstract: For easier and surer fixing to a syringe holder, a mixing tip fixed at two portions of a top end of a syringe holder (X) containing two parallel syringes (Y, Y) comprising: a housing (2) including a mixing element (1); a paste guiding member (3) including paste inlets (3a) attached to nozzles of two syringes (Y, Y), and flow paths (3b) to introduce pastes extruded from the syringes into the housing (2) through the paste inlets (3a); and two locking members fixed at or integrally formed with the paste guiding member (3) or the housing (2) to be locked to the syringe holder (X), wherein the two locking members are a pawl part (4) locked with a locking hole (Xa) formed at the syringe holder (X) and a projection part (5) inserted into a hole part (Xb) provided at the syringe holder (X), or two pawl parts (4, 4).

Abstract: A motorized beverage mixing device having a housing adapted to accommodate a beverage mixing container. The housing is adapted to removably-retain the mixing container while the housing is rotated in an oscillating motion. The housing is preferably adapted to rotate the mixing container to or past a horizontal orientation in at least one rotational direction.

Abstract: A homogeniser (1) for the continuous treatment of fluids at very high pressure comprises at least one reciprocating plunger (5) in a compression chamber (6) and a guide chamber (11) from a fluid intake position to a delivery position. Said compression chamber (6) opens into a manifold (27), inside a block (26) from which a delivery pipe (32) and an intake pipe (31) branch off. A first seal unit (21) is housed in the guide chamber (11), a second seal unit (24) is located close to the intersection between the compression chamber (6) and the guide chamber (11) and a third seal unit (35) is positioned upstream and downstream of each valve (28, 29) and the intersection between the manifold (27) and the compression chamber (6).

Abstract: The invention relates to a mixing element (1) which is used to invert and mix flowing materials in a flow channel. Said mixing element comprises an axially-symmetrical base body (1a) which has a longitudinal axis (A). The base body (1a) comprises an outward-facing surface (1k) in relation to the longitudinal axis (A) and a front surface (Im) on each end of the longitudinal axis (A), in addition to a plurality of guiding elements (1b), which are rigidly connected to the base body (1a) on the surface (1k) via a base surface (1l). The guiding elements (1b) extend in a transversal manner in relation to the longitudinal axis (A), such that each guiding element (1b) comprises an inward-facing guiding surface (1d) in relation to the longitudinal axis (A) and an outward-facing guiding surface (1c) in relation to the longitudinal axis (A). A plurality of guiding elements (1b) are arranged in a successive manner in the direction of the periphery (A1) of the longitudinal axis (A).

Abstract: The static mixer comprises mixing elements for separating material to be mixed into a plurality of streams and a mechanism for the layered junction of the same, a transversal edge and guide walls that extend at an angle to said transversal edge, as well as deflecting elements arranged at an angle to the longitudinal axis and provided with openings. The mixer includes mixing elements comprising a transversal edge and a following transversal guide wall and at least two guide walls with lateral end sections and at least one bottom section disposed between said guide walls, thereby defining at least one opening on one side of said transversal edge and at least two openings on the other side of said transversal edge. In addition to a high mixing efficiency and a low pressure drop, a mixer of this kind provides reduced dead volumes and is thus more effective than mixers of the prior art.

Abstract: A system and method for determining vector acoustic intensity fields using a spherical array of acoustic sensors, and a regularization technique. A mobile spherical array of a number of microphones that image the acoustic intensity vector throughout a large volume internal and external to the spherical array.

Abstract: Seismic data traces contain noises that may exist in the form of wavelets and be represented by wavelets. A method is established for removing or attenuating the noises in the seismic data traces by removing the wavelets or representing wavelets of noises in the seismic data traces. The method involves three steps. (1) Decomposition of each seismic data trace into a set of time dependent wavelets of different shapes. The obtained wavelets can be named with their dominant frequency or other characteristics of the wavelets. (2) Proper selection of the wavelets to form a new set of wavelets that contains mostly signal wavelets and rejects the wavelets of noises and representing wavelets of noises as mush as possible. This step can also be described as to remove the wavelets of noises and representing wavelets of noises from the obtained set of wavelets from step one and form a new set of wavelets. (3) Composition or reconstruction of a new seismic data trace with the new selected set of wavelets.

Abstract: A method enables the time required to complete a seismic survey and the noises recorded in the seismic data to be reduced. One aspect of the method includes actuating a first vibrator group to start a first sweep at time T0; and a second vibrator group to start a second sweep at time T1, wherein T0<T1<T0+S1+L, where S1 is a sweep time of the first vibrator group and L is a listening time; wherein the time between the first sweep and the second sweep is T1?T0?((n?1)*f1*S1)/(n*(f1?f0)) where n is a natural number, f0 is the lower frequency limit of the vibrator sweep and f1 is the upper frequency limit of the vibrator sweep.

Abstract: A seismic information processing method for determining a property related to an earth subsurface structure includes performing a first processing operation on geophysical information using a computer operating according to a first processing parameter set and generating a first result from the first processing operation. The method may include performing a second processing operation on the first result using the computer and generating a second result from the second operation. At least one measurement point of the second result is evaluated using the computer. The first processing parameter set may be varied at least once to a second processing parameter for processing the geophysical information. The first operation, the second operation and the evaluation are repeated using the second processing parameter set. At least one of the first result, the second result and the evaluation is used for generating the property relating to the earth subsurface structure.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of accounting for angle-dependent wavelet stretch in seismic data based on a novel relationship between wavelet stretch and the cosine of a reflection angle of an acoustic ray. Conventional seismic data having at least one wavelet, such as data generated from a reflection seismic survey, is accessed. The data is processed such that at least one wavelet is subject to angle-dependent wavelet stretch. A reflection angle for at least one wavelet is also determined. An operator is utilized to calculate a wavelet stretch factor for at least one wavelet based on the cosine of the corresponding reflection angle of the wavelet. The wavelet stretch factor is applied to the seismic data to account for angle-dependent wavelet stretch.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor includes: a first vibrator for transmitting an ultrasonic wave; multiple second vibrators for outputting a reception signal of a reflection wave; a casing having a bottom for accommodating the vibrators, an outer surface of the bottom providing a vibrating surface; and multiple tubes for guiding the ultrasonic wave. Each tube has a first opening coupled with an outside of a mobile body. An area of the first opening is smaller than an area of the vibrating surface. A distance between two adjacent first openings is smaller than a distance between two adjacent vibrating surfaces. The length of the tubes is determined to equalize a phase difference of the reflection waves at the first openings is equal to that at the vibrating surfaces.

Abstract: A reflection-point estimation section constituting an object detection apparatus first calculates a rotational correction angle for each estimated reflection point Pn by using the following equation, using the fact that the ratio of the amount of change in a detected distance dn to a movement amount In of a sonar is nearly equal to a tangent with respect to the direction normal to the surface of an object: Rotational correction angle?=atan{(dn+1?dn)/In} in which n is a natural number. Subsequently, the reflection-point estimation section obtains estimated reflection points Pn? after correction, by rotating each estimated reflection point Pn based on the calculation result.

Abstract: A time management device includes a body portion including a front side and a back side, the front side including at least one elapsed time indicator, and at least one of the front side and back side including a programmable elapsed time controller, wherein the programmable elapsed time controller receives at least one time indicator and actuates at least one of the elapsed time indicators responsive to the time indicator, and a support portion connected to the body, the support portion configured to mate with a door knob and support the body on the door knob.

Abstract: Before generating a digital photo slide show, both original digital photos and related media playing packages are burnt into a same optical disc. While the optical disc is loaded by a disc playing device, a media playing module installed on the optical disc playing device loads both the original digital photos and the related media packages on the optical disc, and generates a required digital photo slide show according to digital photos and media playing packages, both of which are chosen by a user, for preventing the problem of causing damage of resolution of the digital photos by repeatedly encoding said digital photos, and for management and reuse of said digital photos on the optical disc hereafter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical recording and reproducing device comprising an optical pick-up unit, position means for moving roughly the optical pick-up unit with respect to a desired position on an optical disc, an actuator for moving the optical pick-up unit relative to the position means in a radial direction of the optical disc, and a servo processor for delivering a control signal (u(k)) from a measured radial error signal (x(k)) derived from the optical pick-up unit. Said servo processor further comprises: —a state estimator (SEST) for delivering an estimated radial error signal ( ) and a predicted radial error signal ( ) on the basis of the measured radial error signal (x(k)) and of the control signal (u(k)); and—a shock detector (SDET) for delivering a shock indication (S_out) on the basis of the estimated radial error signal, of the predicted radial error signal, and of a sum (CA(k)) of the signals delivered by the at least two regions of the optical sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus for reproducing a wobble signal, including: a first filter unit receiving a wobble signal obtained by reading a wobble from a disc and passing a first band including a monotone frequency set according to the type or speed of the disc so as to generate a first wobble output signal; a second filter unit, when the wobble signal includes at least one frequency component, receiving the wobble signal and passing a second band including a multi-frequency set according to the speed of the disc so as to generate a second wobble output signal; and a wobble clock signal generation unit generating a wobble clock signal by quantizing one of the first and second wobble output signals. Accordingly, the wobble signal can be detected according to the type of disc, the speed of a disc, or a driving mode for the disc.

Abstract: An optical pickup projects laser beams having the first to the third wavelengths, in response to the type of a recording medium which is an object to which recording or reproduction is to be performed, and reflecting light from the recording medium is received by a light-detecting element. In order to reduce the sizes of the optical pickup, light of the second and the third wavelengths is generated by a single dual-wavelength light source, and reflecting light of all the wavelengths is to be received by the single light-detecting element. A hologram element giving different optical effects to light of each wavelength is arranged between the light irradiating means and the light-detecting element. Thus, appropriate information recording and reproduction can be performed by using light of each wavelength.

Abstract: A temperature sensor is disposed in an optical pickup to detect a temperature of an objective lens. An optical element (for example, a collimator lens) is driven according to a temperature change of the objective lens, which corrects deterioration of an optical characteristic of a laser beam passing through the objective lens. Good recording/reproduction is smoothly performed even if the optical characteristic of the objective lens is changed with the temperature change.

Abstract: An optical disc medium (10) is provided with a data recording area (12) having the spiral recording track (11) and a lead-in area (13) composed of an embossed pit. In the lead-in area (13), information indicating a characteristic range of a signal detected by an optical head from a groove track is previously recorded. In accordance with a kind of the optical disc medium (10), even when the characteristic range of the signal detected by the optical head from the groove track is different, since the information indicating the characteristic range is previously recorded on the optical recording medium (10), tracking operation of the recording track can be performed under conditions within the characteristic range. Therefore, the tracking operation of the recording track (11) can be accurately performed to any kind of optical disc medium (10).

Abstract: A light beam is scanned on a track of a recording medium, the track having a first track region and a second track region, each track region having a physical property that has recurring deviations. A wobble signal is derived from the light beam, the wobble signal having information associated with the recurring deviations. Whether the light beam is at the first track region or the second track region is determined based on a frequency, a period, or a pulse width of the wobble signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of and a device for compensating tilt of an optical or magneto-optical disc (1) exhibiting unknown tilt when placed in an apparatus for reading and/or writing data from and/or onto the optical or magneto-optical disc. A holographic optical element (23) containing a plurality of holograms each defining a phase profile able to compensate at least a specific coma amount is placed in a light path of an optical read/write unit (4) of the apparatus. The amount of tilt of the disc or coma introduced by the tilt is detected (14, 21), and a hologram defining a phase profile corresponding to the detected amount of tilt or coma is selected and accessed among the plurality of holograms of the holographic optical element for compensating the detected amount of tilt or coma. The invention applies to any type of optical data carrier such as so-called LD, CD, R-CD, DVD, DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-RW, DVR (Blue Ray).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical system for performing radial tracking on an associated optical record carrier. The optical system contains at least one radiation-emitting device capable of emitting at least three beams: a first beam for reading and/or recording information, and at least a second beam and a third beam for tracking. The optical system is adapted for radial tracking of the first spot from a tracking error signal generated based on the high-frequency component of the central-aperture signal of the second and third beams. The tracking error signal may be generated based on a difference signal of a DC-level of the power of the high-frequency components of the central-aperture signal.

Abstract: This invention relates to controlling the power states in a multimedia system comprising a multimedia connector box including a multimedia source interconnected to a transmitter module, and a multimedia device including a receiver module interconnected to a multimedia sink, wherein the transmitter and the vice via multimedia interfacing means. A signal detector detects the signal activity between the power sources of the multimedia system for determining the current power state of the power sources, and a power switching mechanism adapts the power states of the transmitter and receiving modules to the power states of the power sources.

Abstract: A file system is enabled to use a Metadata Partition instead of VAT for write-once discs, and is provided by a pseudo-overwrite method with a plurality of tracks especially for metadata and file data. On applying this invention to a drive apparatus that supports pseudo-overwrite media, the file system distinguishes data to overwrite from data to append (S1701). When the data is newly written to a logical sector, the drive apparatus writes the data to a physical sector to which the logical sector corresponds (S1703). When the data being overwritten is data stored in the logical sector, the data is written to the other unrecorded physical sector in the volume space (S1704), and remapping information is written (S1705). The remapping information specifies the original address of the physical sector, and the remapping address of the physical sector in which the data is written.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical recording apparatus comprising means for optimizing a write strategy in a recording process. The apparatus comprising a radiation source for emitting a radiation beam in accordance with the write strategy, a read unit so as to provide a read signal, a bit detector for providing modulation bits corresponding to the read signal, a processing unit for grouping the modulation bits into modulation bit sequences and for correlating each modulation bit sequence of the read signal to a reference level, the reference level corresponding to the average amplitude of the read signal for a given modulation bit sequence. Average transition shifts of leading and/or trailing edges are determined based on the position of the reference levels, and at least one of the one or more write parameters in the write strategy is optimized in an optimization process based on the relative values of the reference levels.

Abstract: Before playing a digital photo slide show, both required digital photos and a guiding program are burnt on an optical disc in advance. While the disc is loaded into an optical disc play device, the guiding program triggers the optical disc play device to connect with an external network for updating media play effect packages, which are related to the digital photos, and for storing the updated media play effect packages in a preserved database of said optical disc play device. Then a corresponding digital photo slide show is dynamically generated and played according to both the updated media play effect packages, which are stored in the preserved database, and the digital photos burnt on the optical disc.

Abstract: On existing DVD and CD players a control loop is required for the adaptation and timing recovery. For Two-Dimensional Optical Storage such a control loop has drawbacks because PRML detection in the form of a stripe-wise Viterbi detector is used. Such a detector introduces an increasing detection delay when going from the outer rows towards the center of the broad spiral. A feedback loop is arranged to determining an error signal from a first area of the data block where the first area is that area where the error signal can be determined within the shortest period of time. This reduces the duration of the detection step and thus increases the stability of the control loop.

Abstract: A recording medium on which a recording/reproducing unit block is recorded, an apparatus to record and/or reproduce data on/from the recording medium, and a method of recording/reproducing the data on/from the recording medium. The recording/reproducing unit block comprises invalid data used in disc certification, and an identifier to indicate that the invalid data is included in the recording/reproducing unit block, the invalid data being used during the disc certification on a portion of the recording medium or the entire recording medium.

Abstract: As shown in FIG. 1, a position detector (10) includes: an object to be detected having a pattern (2) formed for generating a position signal; and a sensor (3) for detecting the position signal according to the pattern (2) by receiving an electromagnetic wave generated on the object (1) by light irradiation. The pattern (2) is formed in a gradation shape visibly or invisibly so that an electromagnetic wave having a wavelength continuously different depending on the position on the object (1) can be sent to the sensor (3). This enables detection of an absolute angle of a rotary object and an absolute position on an XY plane with a simpler configuration, simplifies the device assembly, and reduces the device size.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a focus control apparatus and method of controlling focus of a radiation beam onto a first spatial level of a record carrier, wherein a focus control loop is locked onto a reflection signal obtained from a second spatial level located at a predetermined distance from said first spatial level, and is then opened to move an objective means towards the second spatial level by a predetermined amount related to the predetermined distance. This stepwise procedure enlarges the margin for mechanical overshoot and hence reduces the risk of bumping into the disc. Additionally, no ambiguous focus error signals are detected and robustness of initial focusing is improved if a thin transparent cover layer is present.

Abstract: A method and optical disc drive for accessing data on optical storage medium are provided. The optical disc drive includes a sled motor and an optical pickup head. When the sled motor performs a track positioning, the optical pickup head uses a differential astigmatic detection (DAD) method to generate a focus error signal. When the track positioning is finished, the optical pickup head is switched to an astigmatic detection (AD) method to generate the focus error signal to assist to access data on an optical storage medium. Therefore, it can greatly reduce reading and writing errors of the optical disc drive.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to monitor and control hard-disk drive head position are described. In one example, a hard-disk drive system includes a hard-disk drive platter, a hard-disk drive read head configured to read information from the hard-disk drive platter, and a hard-disk drive head position controller configured to a receive a signal via the hard-disk drive read head and to determine if the received signal indicates that a distance between the hard-disk drive platter and the hard-disk drive is less than a predetermined distance and to vary a temperature of the read head based on the determination.