Abstract:
A method and apparatus for compensating for head-to-disk contact-induced disturbances in a hard disk drive is disclosed. The method includes determining topographical variations across a surface of a disk during the manufacturing or operation of the hard disk drive. Error signal variations that occur as a result of head-to-disk contact-induced disturbances resulting from the topographical variations are recorded. Current to a voice coil motor in the hard disk drive is varied to correct for the contact-induced disturbances before they occur.
Abstract:
A cleaning tool 210 designed to be used with at least one cleaning implement/replaceable dusting sleeve/cleaning mitt or cleaning pad 11 is disclosed. The cleaning tool 210 includes a telescoping support 209 comprised of a plurality of telescopingly received shafts or sections (212, 213, 214, 215). The shafts 212, 213, 214 and 215 may be freely extended into a locked fully extended position 201 and released via depression of a first engaging projection 239. A primary support head 216 and secondary support head 218 are pivotally mounted to the forward mount 240 on a single gear 274 and releasbly locked together.
Abstract:
A dual-stage actuator disk drive has calibration tracks located in a nondata band, and uses a secondary-actuator failure detection and calibration test run by the servo control processor. The calibration tracks contain a pattern of pre-written magnetized test blocks. The test is run with the primary actuator biased against a crash stop, which enables the read head to access the calibration tracks. The servo control processor generates a test signal to the secondary actuator and receives a calibration signal from the read head as the read head detects the test blocks in the calibration tracks. The test comprises two measurements: a measurement of the secondary actuator static characteristics, and a measurement of the secondary actuator dynamic characteristics.
Abstract:
A data recording disk drive has a plurality of capacitive sensors, each sensor facing a surface of an associated disk, a capacitance sensing circuit for converting the sensed capacitance to a voltage representative of the distance between the sensor and the disk surface, and a feedforward controller that receives the voltage signal. The feedforward controller has a transfer function with gain and phase characteristics designed to match the transfer function from the out-of-plane disk vibration to the position of the read/write head while accounting for the effects of the sensor dynamics and the dynamics of the actuator. The output from the feedforward controller is combined with the output from the disk drive's servo feedback controller so that the effects of disk vibration on track misregistration of the head are removed from the control signal to the actuator.
Abstract:
A saw blade support that can be located on the blade of a saw to reduce flexing of the blade in use, at least part of the support being removable from the blade to facilitate the penetration of the blade into an article being sawn. The support may be pivotally attached or attachable to the saw, and the removal of at least part of the support from the blade to facilitate the penetration of the blade into an article being sawn may comprise pivoting of the support with respect to the blade such that the support rests on the article.
Abstract:
A communication method for retrieving stored data from an MWD tool, through an antenna used for conventional EM data telemetry. The method comprises establishing electrical contact between a surface transceiver and an EM data telemetry antenna upon retrieval to the surface. The MWD tool then transfers data through the antenna, the data being received by the surface transceiver. Also provided is an electrical isolation connector subassembly comprising an electrically insulative coating to electrically isolate the splitsub components, thereby forming the antenna for data transfer and EM data telemetry.
Abstract:
Synchronising digital media content to a device is achieved using the following steps: (a) identifying a digital media collection linked to a given user; (b) analysing the content of the digital media collection to derive a “taste signature” for that user; (c) identifying, based on the “taste signature” analysis, the priority order in which media content files are to be provided to the device during a synchronisation; (d) providing one or more media content files to the device during the synchronisation.
Abstract:
A method for defining a collection of digital media content for playback using a digital media player where (a) the collection is defined using specific criteria; and (b) the collection is not static but can alter or grow even after being made available to the digital media player; and (c) the said digital media files form a subset of a catalogue of digital media files available for the digital media player to play.
Abstract:
The various embodiments disclosed herein relate to network-based personal support systems and related methods. The systems and methods relate to providing support to a user through various types of interactions between the user and a personal support unit. The systems and methods can also relate to collecting and analyzing data relating to the interactions and further can include adjusting or modifying future interactions with the user based on the analysis of the data.