Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates welding electrodes, and more particularly to covered consumable welding electrodes. In an aspect, a consumable welding electrode comprises a core wire comprising a steel composition and a coating formed on the core wire. The coating comprises weld metal alloying elements comprising Fe, C, Mn, Si, Ni, Mo, V and Cr that are arranged such that an undiluted weld metal formed from the covered welding electrode has a combination of high tensile strength and high impact strength.

Abstract: A proximity detector includes a sensor providing a proximity reading. The proximity detector is capable of comparing the reading to a rising threshold level and a falling threshold level, wherein the falling threshold level is less than the rising threshold level. The proximity detector filters the proximity reading through three low pass filters using a three different time constants to generate three filtered readings. While the proximity detector is in the no material present state, the proximity detector will enter the material present state when the second filtered reading is less than the difference between the first filtered reading and the falling threshold. While the proximity detector is in the material present state, the proximity detector enters the no material present state when the third filtered reading is greater than the sum of the first filtered reading and the rising threshold.

Abstract: A platter based electronic musical instrument is operable to shift the frequency of a sound sample as a function of a rotational position of the platter and a scale selection signal. The electronic musical instrument is further operable to render the frequency shifted sound sample. A scale of the electronic musical instrument is selected via a leash. The leash determines the selected scale of the electronic musical instrument as a function of input provided by (e.g., a chord played on) a controlling musical instrument.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument includes a platter, rotational position sensor, and a processor. The platter can be rotated about a center point by a user. The rotational position sensor senses rotation of the platter and provides a position signal indicative of the sense rotation of the platter. The buffer stores a sound sample. The processor receives the position signal from the rotational position sensor, determines a rotational position of the platter as a function of the position signal, retrieves a sound sample from a buffer, shifts a frequency of the sound sample as a function of the determined rotational position of the platter, and renders the frequency-shifted sound sample. The instrument may also include user inputs for selecting octaves per rotation and scale divisions within each octave which further define the frequency shift applied by the processor as a function of the determined rotational position of the platter.

Abstract: A control mechanism may control the height and/or position of a read/write head configured to interact with a rotating information storage surface. A computation unit may compute a detected topography from gap measurements using a dynamic filter including a model of read/write head dynamics. A sensor may detect gap measurements of a side read/write track while the read/write head is interacting with a current read/write track. A memory may store the detected topography. The control mechanism may adjust the height of the read/write head based on the detected and/or stored topography. The control mechanism may be a reactionless control mechanism configured to apply a counterforce to offset movements of the read/write head and/or a slider.

Abstract: A wobble determining apparatus is provided with: a calculating device for calculating (i) a first time required until reaching a number of revolutions of a motor which allows a predetermined linear velocity, and (ii) a second time required to move an optical head to a position which allows the predetermined linear velocity, on the basis of the number of revolutions of the motor and the position of the optical head; a judging device for judging whether to keep the optical head in accordance with the calculated first time and the calculated second time; and a controlling device for controlling a moving device not to move the optical head if it is judged to keep the optical head, and for controlling the moving device to move the optical head to the position which allows the predetermined linear velocity if it is judged not to keep the optical head.

Abstract: A control mechanism may control the height and/or position of a read/write head configured to interact with a rotating information storage surface. A computation unit may compute a detected topography from gap measurements using a dynamic filter including a model of read/write head dynamics. A sensor may detect gap measurements of a side read/write track while the read/write head is interacting with a current read/write track. A memory may store the detected topography. The control mechanism may adjust the height of the read/write head based on the detected and/or stored topography. The control mechanism may be a reactionless control mechanism configured to apply a counterforce to offset movements of the read/write head and/or a slider.

Abstract: A topography detection mechanism may measure surface height of a side read/write track while the read/write head is interacting with a current read/write track. A memory may store the measured surface height.

Abstract: Using a high sample rate dPES, together with pulsed heater and lock-in technique, to improve dPES SNR for contact detection between the head and media surface. Steps of powering a transducing head actuator with pulsed input signal at a select data track offset from a previously-written to data track of the storage medium, where the pulsed input signal has select amplitude and duty cycle to simulate a response signal, and further locking in an amplitude with respect to the heater frequency, can lead to a determination of level of heater power for initiating contact between the transducing head and the storage medium.

Abstract: A control mechanism may control the height and/or position of a read/write head configured to interact with a rotating information storage surface. A computation unit may compute a detected topography from gap measurements using a dynamic filter including a model of read/write head dynamics. A sensor may detect gap measurements of a side read/write track while the read/write head is interacting with a current read/write track. A memory may store the detected topography. The control mechanism may adjust the height of the read/write head based on the detected and/or stored topography. The control mechanism may be a reactionless control mechanism configured to apply a counterforce to offset movements of the read/write head and/or a slider.

Abstract: A control mechanism may control the height and/or position of a read/write head configured to interact with a rotating information storage surface. A topography detection mechanism may detect topography of a side read/write track while the read/write head is interacting with a current read/write track. A memory may store the detected topography. The control mechanism may adjust the height of the read/write head based on the stored topography. The topography detection mechanism may compute the detected topography from gap measurements using a dynamic filter including a model of read/write head dynamics. The control mechanism may be a reactionless control mechanism configured to apply a counterforce to offset movements of the read/write head and/or a slider.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods and media formats for efficiently determining a position error of a head in relation to a storage medium. In one case, a system is disclosed that includes a storage medium with a series of data. The series of data includes a first defined marker and a second defined marker located a distance from the first defined marker, and position location data. The systems further include a first detector circuit that is operable to detect the first defined marker and to establish a location of the first defined marker, and a second detector circuit that is operable to detect the second defined marker and to establish a location of the second defined marker. The systems further include an error calculation circuit and an interpolation circuit. The error calculation circuit is operable to calculate an interpolation offset based at least in part on the location of the first defined marker and the location of the second defined marker.

Abstract: Techniques for processing tape storage include determining a current position of a read device to read a data block from a tape storage medium having a plurality of duplicate data areas, receiving a request to read a data block from the tape storage medium, and reading the requested data block from a duplicate data area from among the plurality of duplicate data areas that is nearest the current position of the read device.

Abstract: A data storage system for detecting a location of a head relative to a magnetic media is described. This system comprises arms, a preamplifier circuit coupled to the arms for controlling the arms, a proximity sensing system positioned within the preamplifier circuit, the proximity sensing system comprising: an input stage for transmitting an input sense signal; a programmable gain stage coupled to receive the input sense signal and operative for transmitting a gain signal in response to receiving the input sense signal; a multiplexer coupled to receive the gain signal and at least one control signal, the multiplexer operative for transmitting a multiplexed signal; a detector coupled to receive the multiplexed signal and a second control signal, the detector operative for transmitting an output signal; wherein an amplitude associated with the output signal enables detecting the location of the head.

Abstract: A data storage system for detecting a location of a head relative to a magnetic media is described. This system comprises arms, a preamplifier circuit coupled to the arms for controlling the arms, a proximity sensing system positioned within the preamplifier circuit, the proximity sensing system comprising: an input stage for transmitting an input sense signal; a programmable gain stage coupled to receive the input sense signal and operative for transmitting a gain signal in response to receiving the input sense signal; a multiplexer coupled to receive the gain signal and at least one control signal, the multiplexer operative for transmitting a multiplexed signal; a detector coupled to receive the multiplexed signal and a second control signal, the detector operative for transmitting an output signal; wherein an amplitude associated with the output signal enables detecting the location of the head.

Abstract: Changes in the thermal boundary condition near a close point of an ABS to a media indicate proximity of the ABS with the media. Before contact, heat conduction from the ABS is primarily through convective and/or ballistic heat transfer to air between the ABS and the media. After contact, heat flux primarily flows from the ABS to the media through solid-solid conductive contact. Further, a light source within a HAMR transducer head may create additional thermal variations within the transducer head. These thermal variations create temperature variations within the transducer head. Two resistance temperature sensors on the transducer head at varying distances from the close point and/or light source measure these temperature variations. A temperature difference between the two resistance temperature sensors indicates proximity of the close point to the media and/or light output.

Abstract: Touchdown between a read/write head of disk drive and a recording medium is detected based on the variance in the frequency domain of position error signals (PES), each of which is measured after incrementally positioning the read/write head closer to the recording medium, from a baseline PES. The synchronous portion of the baseline PES is quantified and removed from the baseline PES and subsequent PES measurements to remove the effect of the synchronous portion of the baseline PES. The non-synchronous portion of the PES measured at a particular read/write head position may also be removed by synchronously averaging multiple PES measurements for each read/write head position. Detection of touchdown may be based on the rate of change of the variance in the frequency domain of PES relative to a baseline PES, instead of the absolute value of the variance.

Abstract: A method for measuring a change of a clearance between a head and a disk. The method includes reading a preliminarily written data string for clearance measurement on a disk to obtain a first measured value corresponding to a clearance, and writing a new data string for deterioration check onto the disk and reading the data string for deterioration check to obtain a second measured value corresponding to the clearance. The method also includes determining a deterioration of the data string for clearance measurement from a difference between the first measured value and the second measured value, measuring a clearance change using the data string for clearance measurement by a normal operation if the determination is that the data string for clearance measurement has not deteriorated, and measuring a clearance change by an operation different operation if the determination is that the data string for clearance measurement has deteriorated.

Abstract: A settling judgment method judges whether an object is settled at a target position by using a settlement judgment formula set a slice value and number of continuous samples. The slice and number of continuous judgments of the judgment value of the settling judgment are judged by the slice value and number of samples which are set such that the maximum value of a maximum amplitude ratio (Rate), for each frequency of cyclic disturbance (Y), determined from the maximum amplitude values (Max1, Max2) of the judgment values when the cyclic disturbance is applied is contained within a predetermined position accuracy. Settlings can be judged at high-speed and accurately according to the settling judgment formula, and both an improvement of positioning accuracy and high-speed judgment can be implemented.

Abstract: The determination on the reach to a BCA by using a pull-in signal in a seek for the BCA may eliminate the necessity of a position sensor for determination of the reach to a BCA, for example, which can realize a seek independent of a count of the number of steps by a stepping motor, for example. Thus, the construction can be simplified, and the costs can be reduced. Furthermore, the required accuracy of disk chucking and mechanical accuracy of the mechanisms may be alleviated, which can provide simplicity in design and manufacture. The pickup unit can be allowed to perform the secure reading of information in a BCA by, after the transporting unit is stopped based on the determination on the reach to the BCA, monitoring the determination results (determination signals) based on a pull-in signal, for example, with the objective lens at different positions and controlling the position of the objective lens to an optimum position.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of determining the location of a plurality of laser spots, comprising: determining a first distance of a first laser spot; determining a second distance of the first laser spot; determining a first distance of a second laser spot; determining a second distance of the second laser spot; and adjusting, if necessary, the locations of the first and second laser.

Abstract: A position verifying apparatus is provided with: a first recording device for recording the information into a first area of the first recording layer; a second recording device for recording a part of the information by laser light which has penetrated the first area and for recording another part of the information by laser light which does not penetrate the first area, into a second area of the second recording layer including at least a partial area which faces the first area; a reproducing device for reproducing the information; and a judging device for judging whether or not the relative shift is within tolerance, on the basis of a transit position at which reproduction quality transits from the reproduction quality indicated by the part of the information reproduced to the reproduction quality indicated by the another part of the information reproduced.

Abstract: A magnetism test method for a tray-type optical drive is disclosed. A preliminary input voltage is provided to a DC motor of the tray-type optical drive for performing a preliminary ejection on a tray and a magnetic clamper of the tray-type optical drive. Then, a test voltage smaller than the preliminary input voltage is provided to the DC motor to partially eject the tray, in which the tray is ejected to a point short of the complete distance of ejection. When the incomplete distance is longer than a predetermined distance, the magnetic force of the magnetic clamper is determined to abnormal.

Abstract: A method and device for searching a recording medium are provided. The recording medium has a management information area of which location information is overlapped with that of a program area. The method for determining an area on a recording medium having an overlapped time range between two areas reads a time address from a current position on the recording medium, obtains additional information from the recording medium or from a recording medium driving unit, if the read time address belongs to the overlapped range, and determines, based on the obtained additional information, to which one the areas the current position belongs. Therefore, it prevents wrong track jumps that are caused from time-overlapped areas on a capacity-expanded recording medium.

Abstract: A positioning control apparatus for controlling a moving member to trace the position of a target member which almost equally repeats the position shift at a predetermined period comprises a position detector for detecting a relative position error, a first adder for adding a delay signal and a position error signal, a signal delay unit for outputting the delay signal which is obtained by delaying an output signal of the first adder at a period corresponding to the position shift of the target member, a second adder for adding the position error signal and the delay signal, a third adder for adding an output of the second adder and the delay signal via a filter, a compensating unit for performing the compensation for offset and/or the compensation for stabilization of the positioning control apparatus based on an output of the third adder, a drive unit for driving the moving member based on an output of the compensating unit, and a delay-amount setting unit for setting the amount of delay of a signal delayed

Abstract: An information playback apparatus is provided, which displays the status of playback in a way more suitable to the human sense as well as detects and then displays as new information the feature characteristic of audio information such as a music selection. The frequency of occurrence of variations in amplitude of audio information to be played back is measured at each predetermined frequency. The measured frequency of occurrence is displayed in a predetermined area of a display unit as the feature information of beat densities with respect to the playback elapsed time of the audio information to be played back. An index display unit is displayed in a substantially circular playback speed display unit. The amount of audio information to be sequentially played back corresponding to elapsed time is divided by a predetermined value to determine a remainder.

Abstract: A position detecting apparatus detect the moving position of a mobile element. The apparatus includes the mobile element moving reversibly along a specified running path, a conductive electrode disposed along the running path, a detecting electrode disposed on the mobile element, and a detector for detecting contact or non-contact between the conductive electrode and detecting electrode. The detecting electrode is disposed so as to contact or not to contact with the conductive electrode by the move of the mobile element. The position of the mobile element is detected by the detector.

Abstract: Disclosed is a thread servo of a disk drive system, in which a slide mechanism is driven on a slide drive signal generated from an error signal of the slide mechanism. When a precursory phenomenon of making unstable the operation of the slide mechanism is detected, the driving operation of the slide mechanism is stopped.

Abstract: A first electrically conductive member is provided on a control portion of a limit position switch for detecting whether or not an optical pickup head reaches a predetermined limit position. A body of the optical pickup head is provided with a second electrically conductive member. The second electrically conductive member moves into contact with the first electrically conductive member when the optical pickup head reaches the predetermined limit position. The second electrically conductive member moves out of contact with the first electrically conductive member when the optical pickup head separates from the predetermined limit position. The second electrically conductive member is electrically connected to an electric portion subjected to a reference potential. Detection is made as to whether or not a potential of the first electrically conductive member is equal to the reference potential.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording and/or reproducing information on and/or from a magneto-optical disk including an optical head for projecting a laser beam onto a magneto-optical disk and receiving the laser beam reflected by the disk, an up-down block arranged movably between a lower position and an upper position, an up-down motor for moving said up-down block up and down, a turntable for supporting the disk and a spindle motor secured to said up-down block and having a driving shaft coupled with said turntable for rotating the turntable, a position detecting device for detecting a position of said up-down block to derive a position signal when the up-down block is driven into the upper position, a rotation detecting device for detecting a rotation of said optical information record disk to derive a rotation signal when the optical information record disk is rotated at a predetermined revolving speed, and a control device for initiating a focus control for moving said objective lens and turntable relative to each