Abstract:
A miniature removable disk drive that meets the CompactFlash type II form factor and interface specifications uses a composite sheet metal/plastic tub-shaped base for supporting the disk drive components, e.g., the spindle motor with attached disk, the voice coil motor actuator with attached read/write head, and the preamplifier/write driver electronics module. The composite base is a metal plate with a flange extending around its perimeter and a plastic frame that encapsulates the flange and surrounds the perimeter of the metal plate. The metal plate supports the disk drive spindle motor and voice coil motor actuator and is made of high magnetic permeability, low coercivity material so that it can form part of the magnetic circuit of the spindle motor and/or actuator. The flanges on the metal plate provide rigidity and allow the base to be fabricated by injection molding the plastic frame onto the metal base so that the plastic encapsulates the metal flanges to form the walls of the tub-shaped base. An electronics card is located beneath the metal plate and is electrically shielded from the read/write heads and electronics module by the metal plate. Top and bottom covers are attached to the frame to enclose the disk drive components and the electronics card. Because the frame is made of plastic the corners may be made with intricately shaped cutouts that allow elastomeric corner bumpers to be interlocked into the frame at the corners. The corner bumpers extend beyond the frame and the covers so as to provide shock protection if the miniature removable disk drive is dropped.
Abstract:
When an HDD is subjected to shock with a magnetic head (22) retracted to the parking zone, a suspension (34) having a magnetic head (36) at the free end thereof swings. When a lowest suspension (34) swings, the free end of the suspension (34) is brought into contact with a pin projection (50) and further displacement toward the base (12) is impeded. The suspension (34) that further swings in this condition presents not a swing in a primary mode (cantilever support mode) but a swing in a secondary mode (two-point support mode), and the maximum displacement of the suspension (34) occurs at the longitudinal intermediate portion of the suspension (34). The intermediate portion that is displaced is made to go into a groove (48), and the contact of the intermediate portion of the suspension (34) with the base (12) is impeded by the groove (48).
Abstract:
An on-board vehicle computing system stores values in a memory of a first engine control unit (ECU) and stores corresponding backup values in a memory of a second ECU. In this way, the second ECU provides data backup functionality for the first ECU's data. The system may retrieve a backup value from the first ECU and restore the corresponding value in the second ECU using the backup value. In one illustrative scenario, if an original engine ECU (EECU) fails and a replacement EECU is installed, the system can retrieve backup values for vehicle speed limiter (VSL) parameters from memory in a cab ECU (CECU) and update the corresponding data in the replacement EECU with the backup values.
Abstract:
Techniques are described that track the lines and pixels in a frame buffer in the host system that are being modified and transmit these modified scan lines and modified pixel locations to the self refresh display instead of entire contents of the frame buffer. The graphics adapter informs the self refresh display of the modified scan lines or pixel information and then sends the pixel data over the communications channel to the display. Custom codes can be used to identify and transmit modified scan lines and pixels to the self refresh display logic.
Abstract:
Techniques are described for facilitating access of computing system users to restricted or other functionality, such as internal functionality of a business or other organization. The functionality access may be facilitated by an access provider system that executes on a client computing system of an authorized user, such as a program operating in conjunction with another presentation program that presents publicly available information by modifying interactions available to the user when using the presentation program or otherwise providing additional information to the user. In some situations, the additional information is provided by temporarily modifying the information being presented by the presentation program, such as to provide additional information that is related to functionality corresponding to a subject area of the currently presented information and/or corresponding to an aspect of the currently presented information that is indicated by the user.
Abstract:
Techniques are described that track the lines and pixels in a frame buffer in the host system that are being modified and transmit these modified scan lines and modified pixel locations to the self refresh display instead of entire contents of the frame buffer. The graphics adapter informs the self refresh display of the modified scan lines or pixel information and then sends the pixel data over the communications channel to the display. Custom codes can be used to identify and transmit modified scan lines and pixels to the self refresh display logic.
Abstract:
A method of temperature control in a cryogenic temperature control apparatus. The method includes operating the cryogenic temperature control apparatus in a first mode, and delivering a first flow rate of cryogen from a storage tank to an evaporator coil in the first mode. The cryogenic temperature control apparatus is operated in a second mode after operating the cryogenic temperature control apparatus in the first mode for a predetermined time duration. A second flow rate of cryogen that is lower than the first flow rate is delivered to the evaporator coil in the second mode.
Abstract:
A technique for preventing damage to ball bearings in small form factor devices where the drive motor has at least one piezoelectric crash stop ring disposed about the shaft and inside the rotor of the motor. The crash stop ring must be dimensioned to permit only a small amount of movement of the rotor relative to the shaft. The permitted movement is less than the minimum movement which would cause damage to the elements of the ball bearing.
Abstract:
A disk drive includes a data storage disk rotatably mounted in a housing. An access arm is rotatably mounted in the housing and has an access head at a distal end thereof for travel over the disk to write data thereto and read data therefrom. A pair of counter imbalanced inertia locks are operatively joined between the housing and the access arm for inertia latching the access arm upon shock loading of the access arm to prevent movement thereof over the disk irrespective of combinations of linear and angular shock loading.
Abstract:
A mass to be levitated is provided with an electrically conductive surface that is acted upon by an oscillating electrical force field generated by a plurality of charged conductive plates. The levitated mass is kept in static equilibrium in the electric field by driving the resonant circuit with an applied time varying voltage that has a frequency greater than the natural frequency of the resonant circuit. Motion of the mass is accomplished by providing actuator elements that are selectively charged to attract the mass in a given direction. Alternatively, the mass may be moved by employing a plurality of levitation control circuits that are sequentially energized.