The present invention involves compensating for the irregularity in the torque constant of an electric motor used to move an actuator arm carrying a magnetic read/write head in a disk drive. The torque constant of an electric motor varies across the operating range on a given drive as a function of head location. The present invention provides an apparatus and method for determining the torque constant versus position function of a given disk drive during the servo write process.

An at least aesthetically integral orthodontic appliance which is formed from an orthodontic base and a separately formed orthodontic body, as well as a method for making the same. In one embodiment, a base and body are separately formed by metal injection molding, the upper surface of the base having a pair of preferably mesio-distally extending alignment rails formed thereon. The lower portion of the body is positioned between these rails and forced into engagement with the base. The resulting...

A rotary mount flexural pivot is disclosed which is integrally formed from a single piece of feed stock and which uses no mechanical connections. Two hollow cylindrical mounts are axially aligned and at least two flexural members are disposed on the interior of these two mounts, are integrally interconnected with each of these two mounts, and cross to define an intersection. These two flexural members are integrally interconnected with each other along the entire extent of this intersection. The...

A storage system (10) is disclosed that provides random access storage/retrieval of data on data cartridges within the storage system (10). In one embodiment, the storage system (10) includes a storage array (20), a player/recorder device (22), a guard device (80) and a cartridge transport device (40). The player/recorder device (22) and the transport device (40) are positioned on substantially opposite sides of the storage array. The transport device (40) moves cartridges between the storage ar...

A combustion engine having a combustion chamber with a side port in a sidewall thereof interconnecting the combustion chamber with a side manifold. The side port is positioned between about 25% and about 75% of the stroke length from the bottom dead center position of the pistons. The engine includes a fluid injection system which provides an alcohol-water mixture to the side manifold to maintain the manifold at an elevated pressure. The pressure manifold is heated to provide for expansion of th...

A respiratory system drug applicator for a patient is disclosed which may include a number of features to enhance the administration of the aerosolized drug to the patient. For instance, an adjustable flow regulator may be utilized which regulates the air flow during inhalation by the patient (during which the aerosolized drug is also administered to the patient's respiratory system), and thus affects the patient's breathing pattern. Moreover, a distensible drug reservoir which changes shape dur...

A supply system for fuel cells of the solid polymer electrolyte type for vehicles, including a primary cooling and humidifying circuit with demineralised, pressurised water with a small volumetric capacity and a secondary liquid cooling circuit with plate exchangers for cooling the demineralised water of the primary circuit and air/liquid exchangers for cooling compressed air for supply to the cells, the system further including an electric heater for heating the liquid in the secondary circuit ...

A forward chaining expert system is disclosed for use in analyzing categorization problems such as in diagnosing device malfunctions. The expert system is particularly useful in diagnosing malfunctions in a knowledge domain having a hierarchical functional decomposition. In such a knowledge domain, the hierarchical decomposition is used in constructing a collection hierarchically related rule sets which constitute the rule base for the expert system. The novel inferencing engine of the expert sy...

A process for producing metalized packaging films comprises the step of sputtering a metal, such as aluminum, gold, silver, copper, platinum, nickel, titanium or tantalum onto a biodegradable poly(hydroxy acid), preferably poly(lactic acid) film, which may then be adhered to a cellulosic substrate if desired.

A hybrid inflator for an automotive inflatable safety system is disclosed. In one embodiment, a mixture of an inert gas (e.g., argon) and oxygen are contained within the inflator housing and a hybrid propellant (i.e., ballistic properties similar to double-base and long-term stability similar to LOVA) is included in the gas generator.