Abstract: An optical homogenizing and combining apparatus, comprises a one piece, hollow, tubular body having a first input leg, a second input leg and an output leg, each leg having a polygonal cross-section and highly reflective interior surfaces in accordance with an embodiment. The body has a shape corresponding to first and second bent tubes, the tubes being truncated along a plane and joined at a junction lying in the plane. The a first end of the first tube defines the first input leg, a first end of the second tube defines the second input leg, and a second end of the first tube and a second end of the second tube define the output leg.

Abstract: The field of the invention is that of optical devices allowing the superposition of an electronic image on an image coming from an external scenery. The subject of the invention is an optical device for superposing images, designed to be positioned in front of an optical module comprising at least an objective and a photosensitive surface positioned in the focal plane of said objective. The device comprises an image source, an optical relay and an optical combiner formed of two optical parts assembled via an approximately plane common face including a weakly reflective coating. The combiner has the general form of a plate with plane parallel faces, the common face being inclined at around 45 degrees to said plane faces. It has an entrance face and a opposing face that are approximately perpendicular to the plane faces, the opposing face having approximately the form of a reflecting spherical surface.

Abstract: The zoom lens includes a plurality of lens units. The first lens unit is disposed closest to a magnification side in the plurality of lens units and has a negative optical power, and magnification-varying lens units that are disposed closer to a reduction side than the first lens unit and moves for variation of magnification. The first lens unit includes, in order from the magnification side, a first-A lens sub-unit having a negative optical power and a first-B lens sub-unit having a positive optical power. For focusing from an infinite side to a close side, the first-A and first-B lens sub-units move as a distance therebetween increases, and the first-B lens sub-unit moves toward the reduction side. The zoom lens is capable of correcting well variation of curvature of field due to a projection distance change and has a good optical performance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microscope objective which consists of at least four lenses or groups of lenses and can preferably be used to improve image contrast. According to the invention, a phase plate, aligned concentrically to the optical axis, can be integrated into and taken out of the air space between the first lens and the second lens, as viewed from the object side. The defined arrangement of the phase plate and the associated shift of the real pupil into the air space between the first two lenses or groups of lenses, respectively, of the microscope objective allows a microscope objective, initially designed as a bright-field variant, to be redesigned as a phase contrast variant with relative ease.

Abstract: A variable lens (20) of electrowetting type comprise a fluid chamber (22) including a first, electrically conductive, fluid (40) and a second, nonconductive, fluid (50) and further comprises a first electrode (34) connected to the first liquid and second electrode means (30,32) arranged on the inner side of the chamber wall (24), whereby a volume of one of the fluids is arranged between two volumes of the other fluid. The lens can be driven by a low voltage applied between the first electrode and the second electrode and has relatively high optical power, due to the two interfaces between the fluids.

Abstract: An optical element (1) for correcting refractive index related aberrations comprises a fluid chamber (5) which is provided with an electrode configuration (2,12) and includes a first, electrically conducting, fluid (B) and a second, non-conducting, fluid (A), and an interface (14) between the fluids, the fluids having different Abbe numbers. By applying a voltage (VO to the electrode configuration electrowetting forces are generated, which deform the shape of the interface (14,14?) and determine the corrective power.

Abstract: A zoom lens composed of plural groups and adapted for changing group spacing or spacings, and includes, in a first group GR1 fixed during zooming operation, a reflection member M for bending or folding the optical axis substantially by 90 degrees and a negative group at the object side relative to the reflection member M. At the image side of the first group GR1, there are at least included a second group GR2 movable during zooming operation and having negative refractive power, and a light quantity adjustment member ST1 fixed during zooming operation. Angle of the reflection member M is changed at the time of sinking lens barrel so that the negative group of the first group GR1 is accommodated into a space thus defined.

Abstract: A zoom lens is provided and has a first group having a positive refractive power, a second group having a negative refractive power, an aperture stop, a third group having a positive refractive power and a fourth group having a positive refractive power, which groups are arranged in this order from the object side. The first group has a three-group four-lens configuration where a cemented lens of a negative lens and a positive lens, and two positive single-lenses and are disposed in this order from the object side. The second group has a three-group four-lens configuration where two single-lenses and each having a negative refractive power with a strong concave surface on the image side, and a cemented lens of a double-concave lens and a positive lens are disposed in this order from the object side.

Abstract: A zoom lens system includes a first lens group, a second lens group, a third lens group, a fourth lens group, and an aperture stop, from an object side to an image side on an optical axis. The zoom lens system satisfies the following condition: Y × L 2 × f W × f T ? 1.06 where Y is a maximum diagonal length of the image side 170, L is a total track length of the zoom lens system 100, fW is a focal length of the zoom lens system 100 at a wide status, fT is a focal length of the zoom lens system 100 at a telephoto status.

Abstract: A zoom lens system comprising a first lens unit having negative power, a second lens unit having positive power and a third lens unit having positive power, wherein in zooming from a wide-angle limit to a telephoto limit, the lens units move respectively along an optical axis in such a manner that an interval between the first lens unit and the second lens unit decreases while an interval between the second lens unit and the third lens unit changes so that variable magnification is achieved, the first lens unit comprises one object side negative lens element and one image side positive lens element with a convex surface facing the object side, which have an aspheric surface, and the conditions: n12>1.88 and ?12<26 (n12 and ?12 are refractive index and Abbe number, respectively, of the image side positive lens element of the first lens unit) are satisfied.

Abstract: A zoom lens system comprising a first lens unit having negative power, a second lens unit having positive power and a third lens unit having positive power, wherein in zooming from a wide-angle limit to a telephoto limit, the lens units move respectively along an optical axis in such a manner that an interval between the first lens unit and the second lens unit decreases while an interval between the second lens unit and the third lens unit changes so that variable magnification is achieved, the first lens unit comprises one object side negative lens element and one image side positive lens element with a convex surface facing the object side, which have an aspheric surface, and the conditions: n12>1.88 and ?12<26 (n12 and ?12 are refractive index and Abbe number, respectively, of the image side positive lens element of the first lens unit) are satisfied.

Abstract: A macro lens system includes a positive first lens group, a diaphragm, a positive second lens group, and a negative third lens group. Upon focusing from an object at an infinite distance to an object at a closer distance, the positive first lens group and the positive second lens group integrally move toward the object without changing a distance therebetween, with respect to the negative third lens group which is stationary with respect to an imaging plane in a camera body. The positive first lens group includes a negative first sub-lens group and a positive second sub-lens group which are divided at a maximum distance between lens elements in the positive first lens group. The a macro lens system satisfies the following conditions: 0.32<d/f<0.

Abstract: The present invention provides a piezoelectric ultrasonic motors and a method of driving a motor with a standing wave. The motors include a thin ring/cylinder-type stator having one or two piezoelectric (ceramic or single crystal) rings/cylinders, coated with a segmented top/outer electrode and a bottom/inner electrode and poled in a thickness/radial direction, a metal ring/cylinder which is laminated with piezoelectric ring(s)/cylinder(s) having several inner threaded protrusions. The motor also includes a power source for supplying an alternating voltage to one group of electrodes of the piezoelectric stator to excite a standing wave vibration along one diameter direction of the stator ring/cylinder. The motor further includes a short cylinder rotor, which may have a lens inside for certain optical applications, or it may include other elements.

Abstract: An image sensor includes an inner lens to enable incident light to reach a condensing lens, so that the incident light may further reach photodiodes. Light loss can be reduced and photosensitivity can be improved. The image sensor includes at least one microlens that focuses incident light onto at least one photosensor that receives a light signal transmitted from the at least one microlens. The image sensor also includes at least one inner lens, disposed between the at least one microlens and the at least one photosensor, having an upper surface of a predetermined curvature to compensate photosensitivity of light received from the at least one microlens.

Abstract: A device, system and method integrating forward and panoramic fields is disclosed, comprising: a primary reflector, comprising a convex surface in relation to the forward field, reflective on at least part of the convex surface; a secondary reflector, forward of the primary reflector relative to the forward field, reflective on at least part a surface thereof facing rearward toward the primary reflector; a primary reflector hole in the primary reflector, substantially centered about an optical axis of the apparatus; and a secondary reflector hole in the secondary reflector, substantially centered about the optical axis.

Abstract: An observation optical system has a negative lens unit including a cemented lens, arranged at the most object-side position; an annular reflecting mirror placed on the image side of the negative lens unit, with a reflecting surface facing the image side; and an imaging lens unit arranged on the image side of the negative lens unit and the annular reflecting mirror.

Abstract: A lens driving apparatus may include a movable body holding lenses; a support body for supporting said movable body to move in the optical axis direction of said lenses; and a drive mechanism for driving said movable body in the optical axis direction; wherein said movable body is provided with an extension portion that is extended toward the outer periphery, and a moving path and a movement-stopping portion are formed to at least a member of said drive mechanism mounted on the support body or to said support body, said moving path allowing said extension portion to move in the optical axis direction when said movable body is moved in the optical axis direction and said movement-stopping portion regulating the moving range of said movable body as said extension portion makes contact with said movement-stopping portion.

Abstract: An optical module includes a lens barrel (10). At least one lens (20) and a spacer (30) are mounted in the lens barrel. A filter (40) is glued to the lens barrel and the spacer with an adhesive so as to prevent the at least one lens and the spacer from falling out of the lens barrel.

Abstract: Methods for fabricating an optical film characterizable by a relationship between gain and thickness to prism pitch ratio (S/p) that varies cyclically are described. The thickness and the prism pitch of the optical film are selected based on the relationship between gain and S/p ratio, to obtain a desired gain. The optical film is formed having the S/p ratio that provides the desired gain.

Abstract: A fundamental limit to the sensitivity of optical interferometry is thermal noise that drives fluctuations in the positions of the surfaces of the interferometer's mirrors, and thereby in the phase of the intracavity field. A scheme for substantially reducing this thermally driven phase noise is provided in which the strain-induced phase shift from a mirror's optical coating cancels that due to the concomitant motion of the substrate's surface. As such, although the position of the physical surface may fluctuate, the optical phase upon reflection can be largely insensitive to this motion.

Abstract: A projection optical system is configured to project a reduced pattern of an object surface onto an image surface. The projection optical system includes, in order of reflecting light from the object surface, a first reflective surface having a concave surface shape, a second reflective surface having a convex surface shape, a third reflective surface having a concave surface shape, a fourth reflective surface, a fifth reflective surface, a sixth reflective surface, a seventh reflective surface, and an eighth reflective surface, and an aperture stop disposed on an optical path between the first reflective surface and the second reflective surface. An intermediate image is formed on an optical path between the fourth reflective surface and the fifth reflective surface. This configuration provides a projection optical system that has eight or more reflective surfaces and a high NA, and secures a disposing space for members, and exhibits a superior imaging performance.

Abstract: A vehicular mirror device includes a housing which is comprised of two housing components at least partially opposed to each other, and which is adapted to cover a mirror from the front during traveling of a vehicle. A collar is integrally and projectingly provided on one of the housing components to extend so that it is superposed onto the other housing component at opposed portions of both the housing components, and a plurality of recesses are provided in a juxtaposed manner in a tip end of the collar. This suppresses to the utmost the generation of a wind roar due to traveling wind flowing into between opposed portions of the housing components.

Abstract: An improved solar reflector utilizing end forms supporting a tensioned reflective membrane, where the end forms have a corrected periphery shape different from the ideal cross sectional shape of the reflector, that produces the idea cross sectional shape along most of the tensioned membrane, and with additional means to increase structural rigidity along the lateral free edges of the reflective membrane.

Abstract: A motor assembly includes a motor, a circuit board on which a control circuit to control the motor and a plug unit are mounted, and a supporting member which supports the motor and the circuit board. The motor is provided with a socket unit in which the plug unit is fitted. The supporting member has a board supporting portion to support the circuit board, a motor supporting portion to support the motor, and a supporting member engagement portion. The plug unit has a plug unit engagement portion which is engaged with the supporting member engagement portion. The plug unit engagement portion is engaged with the supporting member engagement portion when the plug unit is fitted in the socket unit.

Abstract: A color wheel comprises sectorial color filter segments and a support member. Protrusions are disposed at the support member and engaged with either through-holes or cavities as segment fixing mechanisms formed at the color filter segments, whereby the color filter segments are fixedly positioned with respect to the support member in the radial direction. Consequently, the color filter segments can be surely prevented from getting scattered off when the color wheel spins at high speed.

Abstract: This magnetic memory with a thermally-assisted write, every storage cell of which consists of at least one magnetic tunnel junction, said tunnel junction comprising at least: one magnetic reference layer, the magnetization of which is always oriented in the same direction at the time of the read of the storage cell; one so-called “free” magnetic storage layer, the magnetization direction of which is variable; one insulating layer sandwiched between the reference layer and the storage layer. The magnetization direction of the reference layer is polarized in a direction that is substantially always the same at the time of a read due to magnetostatic interaction with another fixed-magnetization layer called the “polarizing layer”.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of adaptively controlling a flying height of a magnetic head above a disk in accordance with a change in a user environment of a disk drive apparatus includes determining if a parameter reset condition related to the flying height of the magnetic head has been set; measuring a temperature of a disk drive if the parameter reset condition has been set, obtaining a flying height profile representing a variation of spacing between the magnetic head and a disk in accordance with a variation of power supplied to a heater controlling the flying height of the magnetic head at the measured temperature, based on a reference flying height profile stored in the disk drive, and determining the power that is to be supplied to the heater of the magnetic head, the power corresponding to a target flying height of the magnetic head from the obtained flying height profile.

Abstract: A tape library system includes a plurality of conductive track assemblies including at least one linear conductive strip, and at least one guide track. The system further includes a first fiber brush assembly and a second fiber brush assembly separated from each other by a predetermined separation distance, each of the first and second fiber brush assemblies comprising a spring biasing a track wheel, and a fiber brush attached to the fiber brush assembly and in electrical contact with the conductive strip. The fiber brush assembly linearly translates along the conductive track assembly on an axis parallel to the conductive strip.

Abstract: A device for recording information records a real-time data stream (51) in blocks having contiguous logical addresses (LA0-LA5) on a record carrier at corresponding physical addresses (PA0-PA8). The device has allocation means for allocating physical addresses to logical addresses, the allocation including at least one logically contiguous range of blocks allocated to at least a part of the real-time data stream. During recording, auxiliary data means (34,33) process auxiliary data related to the real-time data and record the auxiliary data as auxiliary blocks on the record carrier. The auxiliary data means assign physical addresses to the auxiliary blocks (61), which physical addresses are excluded from allocation to logical addresses and are within or near a physical address range (PA0-PA8) corresponding to the at least one logically contiguous range of blocks (LA0-LA5) allocated to the said part of the real-time data stream.

Abstract: A tension sensor within a tape drive for measuring tension of a magnetic tape medium is provided. The tension sensor comprises a guide pin connected to a top plate for guiding the magnetic tape medium; at least two flexure structures connected to the top plate and a base such that the at least two flexure structures are in a parallel configuration; and at least one magnetic field density sensor associated with the guide pin for detecting lateral motion of the guide pin. In some embodiments, the guide pin is a tape guiding roller.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for optimizing fast access data storage on segmented tape media. The apparatus, in one embodiment, is configured to selectively write data to a tape storage medium. The selection module may select data for storage as one of fast access and slower access. Fast access data may be stored on the first segment, or fast access portion, of a tape storage medium to provide optimal speed for data retrieval. Slower access data may be stored on the remaining available storage space of the tape storage medium. Additionally, read requests for fast access data may be accessed more quickly than read requests for slower access data. Thus, user data may be selected and written to a tape storage medium relative to a preferred access time.

Abstract: Altitude sensing systems and/or methods for fly height adjustment in disk drive devices are provided. In certain example embodiments, a PZT-type pressure and/or altitude sensor may be located on the side of the disk drive proximate to the disk edge. When the disk rotates, the air flow generated by the disk will deform the PZT element of the sensor. The PZT element will generate a voltage in response to this deformation. Calibrations may be performed to compensate for altitude changes (e.g. the air inside of the disk drive will become thin and the air resistance will be reduced at higher altitudes). Also, the output sensitivity of the PZT element may change with the altitude change. After the altitude is sensed by the PZT element in the sensor, the servo motor may use this signal to calculate and/or adjust the dynamic fly height (DFH) and/or fly height of the read/write head.

Abstract: Embodiments in accordance with the present invention reduce the number of errors caused by the aged deterioration of a heater for adjusting the clearance between a head and a disk. According to one embodiment, a thermal fly height control (TFC) controller executes the measurement of a resistance value of a heater in a predetermined timing. The TFC controller judges whether or not the measured resistance value falls within a predetermined reference range. If the measured resistance value falls within the reference range, the processing ends without performing any other processing. If the measured resistance value goes out of the reference range, the TFC controller executes error handling processing in response to a resistance failure. As one of the error handling processing, the TFC controller notifies the host that the abnormality (resistance failure) has been detected in the resistance value of the TFC heater.

Abstract: A hard disc drive (HDD) that has improved head stability at low temperatures and a method of supplying current to a head of the HDD. The HDD includes a disc, a tunneling magneto resistance (TuMR) head to read data recorded on the disc having a heating coil, and a current control unit to supply a current corresponding to the ambient temperature surrounding the HDD to the heating coil. The current control unit supplies a current corresponding to the ambient temperature to the heating coil of the head. Since a heating coil is inserted in the TuMR head, an optimum current corresponding to the ambient temperature can be supplied to the heating coil, and thus, the head instability during a reading operation at low temperatures can be prevented.

Abstract: A hard disk drive flex cable assembly conveys data between a connector to a host system and a head stack assembly. It comprises a flex cable which in part has a first end for coupling to the connector, and a second end for coupling to the head stack assembly; and a stiffener coupled to the second end. The stiffener comprises an end formed to approximate a J-shape. A filling material is applied to the concave surface of the J-shape, whereby a dynamic response frequency of the flex cable assembly is moved away from a dynamic response frequency of the head stack assembly upon which the flex cable assembly is coupled.

Abstract: A method for forming a seal for hermetically sealing a hard disk drive assembly. The method includes forming a solder channel within a top cover of a disk drive enclosure and disposing a solder preform on a base of the disk drive enclosure such that the solder preform aligns with the solder channel when the top cover is positioned on the base.

Abstract: A disk-feeding apparatus includes a base, two or more than two disk-feeding devices and an intermediate conveyer associated with the disk-feeding devices. The disk-feeding devices are mounted on the base and hold respectively stacks of disks. An intermediate conveyer is mounted between each pair of adjacent disk-feeding devices to convey a disk from a first disk-feeding device to a second disk-feeding device of each pair of adjacent disk-feeding devices.

Abstract: To assuredly determine whether a shutter pinches a disk in a disk device including a shutter at a disk insertion slot. A shutter control device 10 includes a pinch determining unit 14 that determines whether the disk is pinched by the shutter based on a position of the shutter during a process of closing the shutter, and a sensitivity changing unit that sets sensitivity of determination to be high as ambient temperature of a shutter driving mechanism increases.

Abstract: A ferroelectric hard disk device is provided and includes: a ferroelectric media having a bottom electrode and a ferroelectric layer disposed on the bottom electrode; and a head formed above the ferroelectric media, the head being operative to write and reproduce information on the ferroelectric layer.

Abstract: A method of forming interleaved coils of a write head is disclosed using a combination of non-damascene and damascene processes.

Abstract: A magnetic head incorporates: a medium facing surface; a coil; a pole layer; first and second shields disposed to sandwich the pole layer therebetween; a first gap layer disposed between the first shield and the pole layer; a second gap layer disposed between the second shield and the pole layer; and a substrate. The first shield is located closer to the substrate than the second shield. The first shield has a first layer and a second layer disposed between the first layer and the first gap layer.

Abstract: Certain example embodiments described herein relate to a micro-actuator for use with an HGA and/or disk drive device. A substantially U-shaped frame may include a cavity capable of receiving a slider. The frame may include two segmented, flexible side arms and a bottom support arm at least partially defining the cavity. Each segmented side arm may have a PZT element mounted on an outer surface thereof facing away from the cavity, and each may include a lower portion proximate to the bottom support arm and an upper portion disposed at an end opposing the bottom support arm. The lower portion and the upper portion may be at least partially separated by a gap. Accordingly, micro-actuators having better resonance and servo performance, reduced difficulties associated with the slider/micro-actuator mounting process, and/or better shock performance may be provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention pertain to a slider designed to reduce fly height sigma. According to one embodiment, a slider includes an air bearing surface, a front shallow step pad, a rear shallow step pad, and rear side pockets. The front shallow step pad and the rear shallow step pad are at a first level deeper than the air bearing surface. The rear side pockets are at a second level deeper than the air bearing surface. The rear side pockets are in close proximity to rear corners of the slider.

Abstract: The present invention provides a head holding member and a head holding method of a head actuator having a very high impact resisting property by a simple construction, and a disk device using the head holding member and the head holding method. Concretely, a head support arm has a leaf spring portion for pressing the head support arm against a lamp portion (14), and is constructed so as to be rotated around a line perpendicular to a plane formed by a center line of the longitudinal direction of the head support arm and the axis of a rotating shaft. The head holding member is constructed by forming a load side wall face (14d), a tab portion upper wall face (14g) and a tab portion holding plane (14e) in the lamp portion (14). The load side wall face (14d) prevents tab portion (8a) from being moved from an escaping position to the direction of recording medium (4) and tab portion (8a) abuts on load side wall face (14d).

Abstract: A quasi-static tester is disclosed. The quasi static tester comprises: a mount configured to fix a head gimbal assembly in a given position; a camera configured to observe the head gimbal assembly when the head gimbal assembly is fixed in the mount, wherein the camera is used to position the head gimbal assembly in an observation position; and a magnet for performing quasi-static testing of the head gimbal assembly when the head gimbal assembly is fixed in the mount, wherein the observation position and a testing position in a uniform area of the magnet are a predetermined distance apart.

Abstract: A storage disk driving apparatus for driving a storage disk includes a carriage holding a head slider at the tip of the carriage. A shroud surface is disposed upstream of an air flow generated by the rotation of the storage disk with respect to the carriage, such that a plane surface extending in parallel with an outer edge line of the storage disk and away from the outer edge of the storage disk downstream of the air flow. In this manner, the air is directed more towards the axis of the carriage, and away from the arms of the carriage.

Abstract: A suspension for a disc drive includes a base plate, a load beam, and a flexure. The flexure includes a metal base member and a circuit member disposed along the metal base member. The circuit member extends along the load beam. The circuit member includes a resin base member formed of a first polyimide, conductors, and a resin cover member formed of a second polyimide. The resin cover member is lower than the resin base member in humidity expansion coefficient.

Abstract: A hard disk drive flex cable assembly, for conveying data between a connector to a host system and a head stack assembly, comprises a flex cable, which in part has a first end for coupling to the connector, and a second end for coupling to the head stack assembly; and a stiffener coupled to the second end, wherein the stiffener supports at least one termination pad of the second end on three sides of the termination pad.

Abstract: A slider comprising a platinum layer including a first end and a second end, where slider temperature may be estimated based upon the platinum layer resistance. A head gimbal assembly including the slider. A head stack assembly including the head gimbal assembly. A preamplifier including an analog to digital converter for measuring the platinum layer resistance. An embedded circuit for electrically coupling to the head stack assembly to use the platinum layer to successively estimate slider temperature and estimate head disk impact events and maintain a head disk impact count. A hard disk drive including the slider and measuring the resistance of the platinum layer to estimate slider temperature and/or head disk impact events and increment and maintain a head disk impact count.

Abstract: A magnetic memory including a stack, a first writing wire, and a second writing wire is provided. The stack includes a magnetic pinned layer, a tunnel barrier insulating layer, and a magnetic free layer, so as to form a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ). The MTJ has an easy axis. The first writing wire is disposed under the stack. The included angle between the first writing wire and the easy axis of the MTJ is smaller than 45 degrees and greater than 0 degrees on a projected plane. The second writing wire is disposed above the stack. The included angle between the second writing wire and the easy axis of the MTJ is smaller than 45 degrees and greater than 0 degrees on the projected plane.