A voltage regulator coupled to an unregulated DC input voltage source by an input terminal, and to a load by an output terminal is disclosed. The voltage regulator converts an input voltage at the input terminal to an output voltage at the output terminal. The voltage regulator includes one or more slaves, and each slave includes a switching circuit which serves as a power switch for alternately coupling and decoupling the input terminal to an intermediate node. The voltage regulator also includes a filter coupled to the slaves, the filter including one or more inductor banks each of which having a predetermined number of inductors.

A Low Forward Voltage Rectifier (LFVR) circuit includes a bipolar transistor, a parallel diode, and a capacitive current splitting network. The LFVR circuit, when it is performing a rectifying function, conducts the forward current from a first node to a second node provided that the voltage from the first node to the second node is adequately positive. The capacitive current splitting network causes a portion of the forward current to be a base current of the bipolar transistor, thereby biasing the transistor so that the forward current experiences a low forward voltage drop across the transistor. The LFVR circuit sees use in as a rectifier in many different types of switching power converters, including in flyback, Cuk, SEPIC, boost, buck-boost, PFC, half-bridge resonant, and full-bridge resonant converters. Due to the low forward voltage drop across the LFVR, converter efficiency is improved.

A high voltage full wave rectifier and doubler circuit having complementary serially connected low voltage MOSFET stacks to provide high voltage capability. The state of the MOSFETs in the MOSFET stacks is controlled by means of resistors coupled between the circuit's outputs and a time varying input signal. The resistance values of the resistors are selected to maintain operation of the stacked MOSFETs below their breakdown voltages.

System and method for regulating a power converter. A system for regulating a power converter includes a controller, a first switch, and a second switch. The controller is configured to generate a first switching signal and a second switching signal. The first switch is configured to receive the first switching signal, the first switch being coupled to an auxiliary winding of the power converter further including a primary winding and a secondary winding. The second switch is configured to receive the second switching signal and coupled to the primary winding of the power converter. The controller is further configured to, change, at a first time, the second switching signal to open the second switch, maintain, from the first time to a second time, the first switching signal to keep the first switch open, and change, at the second time, the first switching signal to close the first switch.

A controller for a power converter and method of operating the same employable with a bridge rectifier having first and second synchronous rectifier switches. In one embodiment, the controller includes an amplifier configured to enable a turn-on delay for the first synchronous rectifier switch. The controller also includes a discharge switch having first and second switched terminals coupled to gate and source terminals, respectively, of the first synchronous rectifier switch and configured to discharge a gate-to-source capacitance of the first synchronous rectifier switch to enable a turn off thereof.

An aspect of the present invention relates to glass for a magnetic recording medium substrate, which includes essential components in the form of SiO2, Li2O, Na2O, and one or more alkaline earth metal oxides selected from the group consisting of MgO, CaO, SrO, and BaO, wherein a molar ratio of a content of MgO to a combined content of MgO, CaO, SrO, and BaO (MgO/(MgO+CaO+SrO+BaO)) is equal to or greater than 0.80, and which has a Young's modulus of equal to or greater than 80 GPa, and a glass transition temperature of equal to or greater than 620° C.

An apparatus for energy assisted magnetic recording of a storage disk include a plurality of dielectric waveguide cores configured to direct received incident light energy to a target, and a near field transducer (NFT) configured to focus light energy received from the plurality of waveguide cores and to transmit the focused light energy onto the storage disk surface to generate a heating spot on the storage disk. The NFT includes a plurality of propagating surface plasmon polariton (PSPP) elements that are energized by the light energy from the waveguide cores. Each of the PSPP elements has a plasmonic metal bar disposed above a single waveguide core in a longitudinal alignment. Each metal bar has a width at least twice the width of the heating spot generated on the storage disk.

A thermally assisted magnetic recording medium (1) includes a substrate (101), an underlayer (3) that is formed above the substrate (101), and a magnetic layer (107) that is formed on the underlayer (3) and contains an alloy having an L10 structure as a main component. The underlayer (3) is formed by continuously laminating a first underlayer (104) having a BCC structure with a lattice constant that is 0.302 to 0.332 nm, a second underlayer (105) that has a NaCl structure including C, and a third underlayer (106) that is composed of MgO.

An optical recording medium includes a recording and reading layer that is previously staked or formed afterword and has no concavo-convex pattern for tracking control, and a servo layer in which a concavo-convex pattern or a groove for tracking control is formed. Information can be recorded in the recording and reading layer while tracking is performed using the servo layer.

The present technology relates to an optical recording medium for realizing an optical recording medium capable of high-capacity recording. A groove and a land are formed, the groove being concave and the land being convex when seen from a side of a laser light incident surface, both of the groove and the land being recording tracks where recording or reproduction of information is performed. According to this recording layer, a pitch between the groove and the land that are adjacent recording tracks is within a range of 250 nm to 200 nm. Moreover, recording or reproduction of information is performed with respect to the recording tracks by irradiation of laser light whose wavelength is 400 nm to 415 nm by an optical system whose NA is 0.85±0.1.

A return path section includes first and second yoke portions and first, second and third columnar portions. The first and second yoke portions and the first columnar portion are located on the same side in the direction of travel of the recording medium relative to a wave guide core. The second and third columnar portions are located on opposite sides of a plasmon generator and connected to a shield. The first yoke portion connects a main pole to the first columnar portion. The second yoke portion connects the first columnar portion to the second and third columnar portions. A coil is wound around the first columnar portion.

A recording head for recording information on a rotating recording medium of a storage device includes a main magnetic pole which generates a recording magnetic field in a direction perpendicular to a recording medium facing surface of the magnetic recording head, and a light generating element which is provided on a leading side of the main magnetic pole, and generates light for heating the recording layer of the recording medium. The main magnetic pole includes an end surface facing the light generating element that is inclined with respect to the direction perpendicular to the recording medium facing surface toward the light generating element.

In a heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) hard disk drive, a heat-dissipating head slider assembly is described in which the slider is stepped on the disk-opposing side and a HAMR laser module is mounted on the lower surface to assist with dissipation of heat from the laser. The lower surface is a surface of the main body of the slider and is composed primarily of a first material, and the slider may include a heat-dissipating plate that forms the higher stepped surface, where the plate is composed of a second material that has a higher thermal conductivity than the first material, such as silicon.

A method for copy protection in which an audiovisual or audio data is divided into a plurality of portions. The plurality of portions is at least partly scrambled and prepared so as to be stored on a record carrier in the scrambled order. This is done so that a physical position on the record carrier, e.g., a sector of the record carrier, where a respective portions of the divided data is stored depends on the scrambled order.

Disclosed is an optical information recording and reproducing device capable of recording an interference fringe pattern as a hologram in an optical information recording medium, the interference fringe pattern being formed by a signal beam superimposed with signal information and a reference beam, and also capable of reproducing the signal information from the optical information recording medium, the device having a light source unit to emit light, a light splitting unit to split the light into the reference beam and the signal beam, a spatial light modulation unit to superimpose the signal information on the signal light, and a light detection unit to detect an image reproduced by the reference beam, wherein information about defects on the spatial light modulation unit is recorded in the optical information recording medium.

A wireless media player and a related system and methodology are disclosed. One aspect of the wireless media player system pertains to a virtual connector system, apparatus, and method for the automatic establishment of wireless connectivity with other electronic devices. In one embodiment, the media player device employs the use of integrated Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to exchange communication settings, media capability, and other parameters with an external device that also has integrated RFID technology. The automatic exchange of settings and other information via a proximity-based RFID data exchange allows a media player to quickly establish a secure communication link with another device via a commonly supported wireless protocol such as Ultra Wideband (UWB) or Bluetooth. Another aspect of the media player system pertains to a method of using the captured media capability of the connecting device to customize certain menu options and software parameters in the media player.

An apparatus includes a write element configured to apply a magnetic field to write data on a portion of a heat-assisted magnetic recording media in response to an energizing current. An energy source is configured to heat the portion of the media being magnetized by the write element. A preheat energizing current is applied to the write element during an interval before writing the data to the portion of the media. The preheat energizing current does not cause data to be written to the media and brings at least one of the write element and driver circuitry into thermal equilibrium prior to writing the data on the portion.

A plasmon generator (PG) is disclosed with a laminated structure of non-planar X and Y layers formed between a waveguide and write pole. Each X layer is made of a noble metal such as Au while each Y layer is a non-noble metal or dielectric material to improve durability. As a result, the PG has a peg portion at an air bearing surface with improved reliability compared with pegs made entirely of a noble metal. Non-planarity of X and Y layers improves diffusion of Y material between X grains thereby minimizing X grain growth to enhance thermal stability. The laminated PG is formed by a process sequence that involves forming and filling a cavity, and concludes with a chemical mechanical polish process to form a planar top PG surface that faces a write pole leading side.

According to one embodiment, a multilayer optical recording medium including a substrate, a guide layer group that is provided on the substrate and has guide layers in which positional information in a radial direction is recorded, and a recording layer group that is provided on the substrate and has recording layers in which information can be recorded. In the recording layer group, positional information of the recording layers associated with the positional information recorded in the guide layers and control information of the optical device where reflected light volumes of the laser beams on the guide layers and the recording layers become maximum at the positions in the radial direction are recorded at the positions in the radial direction of the recording layers.

An optical disc having a region with pre-recorded data and a recordable region, a method of fabricating the disc, a stamper for forming a disc master, and a recording device for use with the disc are disclosed. Data recorded in the recordable region may be used for activation of the disc, providing unique identification or enhancing program content on the disc.

An apparatus for compensating for pixel distortion while reproducing hologram data includes an extraction unit, a determination and calculation unit, a table, and a compensation unit. The extraction unit extracts a reproduced data image from a reproduced image frame including the reproduced data image and borders. The determination and calculation unit determines position values of edges of the extracted reproduced data image, and calculates average magnification error values of pixels within line data from position values of start and end point pixels thereof, which are based on the determined position values of the edges. The table stores misalignment compensation values for the pixels within the line data, wherein the misalignment compensation values correspond to predetermined references for average magnification error values. The compensation unit compensates for pixel positions in the extracted reproduced data image using the misalignment compensation values that correspond to the calculated average magnification error values.

A method of storing data includes providing a write signal for a write head of a hard disk drive, generating a transition pulse signal derived from the write signal using a transition pulse generator, and generating a logic signal to drive a thermal source associated with the write head of the hard disk drive. The logic signal includes the logical summation of a cyclical base pulse signal and the transition pulse signal.

A data storage device is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk, wherein the head comprises a laser configured to heat the disk while writing data to the disk. A temperature is measured, and a first input power is generated based on a first function of the measured temperature, wherein the first function compensates for a temperature dependent output power of the laser. A second input power is generated based on a second function of the measured temperature, wherein the second function compensates for a temperature dependent coercivity of the disk. The first input power is combined with the second input power to generate a write power applied to the laser while writing data to the disk.

The present invention relates to a plasmon generator, in which a surface plasmon is excited by application of light. The plasmon generator extends along one direction. The plasmon generator includes a first end surface that is positioned on one end in the one direction and at which near-field light is generated along with the excitation of the plasmon; and a second cross section that is substantially parallel to the first end surface and is away from the first end surface. The first end surface has a polygonal shape that does not have a substantially acute inner angle. The second cross section has an upper part that has a shape substantially the same as or similar to that of the first end surface and a flare shaped lower part that is connected to the upper part and has a width that increases as it is far from the upper part.

In a heat-assisted magnetic recording hard disk drive, one or more thermally conductive features are incorporated to assist with dissipation of heat from a laser module that comprises a laser and a submount. The submount may be coupled to the slider with solder covering a wider adhesive area for enhanced conduction of heat away from the laser module and to the slider, one or both of the submount and the laser may include a surface coating that increases the thermal radiation of the corresponding component, and/or one or both of the submount and the laser may include fins configured to transfer heat from the corresponding component. Further, a HAMR HGA may be configured such that the submount is coupled directly to the suspension flexure using a thermally conductive material, for conduction of heat away from the laser module and to the flexure.

A mark having a length nT (n being an integer equal to or greater than 3 and T being a clock period) is formed by modulating irradiation laser power with three values of recording power Pw, erase power Pe, and bias power Pb (Pw>Pe>Pb). Constant strength periods (At) of the recording power Pw are set as AtT, A1T, . . . , and AmT and constant strength periods (B) of the bias power Pb are set as BtT, B1T, . . . , BmT, and CT (C=−1 to 3). The application of laser is divided into pulses in order of AtT, BtT, A1T, B1T, . . . , AmT, BmT, and CT (m=(n−k)/2, k=3 (if n is an odd number), or k=4 (if n is an even number)). (Here, the constant strength period of the recording power Pw for n=3, n=4, n≧5 (odd number), and n≧6 (even number) is set as At3, At4, Atod, and Atev, the constant strength period of the bias power Pb for n=3, n=4, n≧5 (odd number), and n≧6 (even number) is set as Bt3, Bt4, Btod, and Btev, and then, At3+Bt3=Atod+Btod=Am+Bm=2T and At4+Bt4=Atev+Btev=3T).

In an optical information recording device and optical information recording method for angularly multiplexing and recording data on pages on the same recording region on a hologram disk, data on each page is sequentially generated by sequentially dividing input data in predetermined units, the pages to be recorded on the same recording region are divided into page groups so that pages to be recorded adjacently by the angular multiplexing may not belong to the same group, each page group is individually subjected to inter-page coding processing for computing an error-correcting code and adding the computed error-correcting code, and data on the pages subjected to the inter-page coding processing is angularly multiplexed and recorded on the hologram disk.

An optical disc having a region with pre-recorded data and a recordable region, a method of fabricating the disc, a stamper for forming a disc master, and a recording device for use with the disc are disclosed. Data recorded in the recordable region may be used for activation of the disc, providing unique identification or enhancing program content on the disc.

The invention relates to recording on a medium, and in particular, to laser control during recording data on an optical medium. A laser control method for dynamically adjusting laser power during recording data onto an optical disc comprises: recording normal data onto the optical disc according to an initial laser power; stopping recording when a trigger is generated; reading back the recorded normal data and generating a first recording quality index; recording a test pattern at a test pattern starting point according to a selected laser power; reading back the test pattern and generating a second recording quality index; and determining an adaptive laser power to continually record the normal data according to the first recording quality index and the second recording quality index.

A machine readable information storage medium, a reproducing method and apparatus which reproduces data from the storage medium, and a recording method and apparatus for recording data on the storage medium. The information storage medium includes a control area which stores within a data structure information usable by the recording or reproducing apparatus to record or reproduce the data on or from the storage medium. The information stored within the data structure includes a version corresponding to a specification.

A servo processor for an optical disk drive is provided that includes: an analog-to-digital converter for converting versions of photodetector output signals into digital signals; and a digital signal processor configured to receive the digital signals, the digital signal processor being further configured to determine a focus error signal (FES) and a tracking error signal (TES) from the digital signals, the digital signal processor being further configured to process TES and FES through servo algorithms to produce tracking and focus control signals.

A device and method for using the device arranged to maintain anatomical alignment between a joint by creating a dynamic load around the joint to restore and maintain the anatomical alignment. The orthotic device uses a hinge to create a directed force on a tibia by maintaining misalignment of an instant center of rotation (ICoR) of the hinge at a position relative to an anatomical knee joint.

Orthopedic devices, systems, and methods of using the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, an orthopedic device intended for use with at least one moveable body part of a user may comprise a tubular body forming an interior surface and an exterior surface. The tubular body may include at least one opening and one or more shrinkable materials. The tubular body may be moveable between a first position, wherein the tubular body is configured to at least partially receive and at least partially surround the at least one moveable body part of the user, and a second position, wherein one or more portions of the tubular body are configured to generally conform to and at least partially restrict movement of the at least one moveable body part in one or more directions. The tubular body may be configured to move from the first position to the second position in response to a treatment.

Apparatus is described for measuring and displaying the magnitude of traction forces applied to a patient's lower limbs during surgery, and for measuring the direction and magnitude of counter-traction forces applied to the patient's body by the perineal post located at the patient's groin to oppose traction forces applied to the patient's lower limbs.

A custom brace and method for fabricating the custom brace includes marking a body with reference points and/or other indicators. Multiple images of the body from multiple angles are then obtained. The images are used to determine the contours of the body and the other markings are located and used to design the custom brace. Fenestrations can be added to the brace design. The custom brace can be fabricated with the fenestrations as a single piece structure or in multiple pieces that are assembled to complete the custom device.

An improved orthotic has a strap that secures the orthotic to a wearer, and comprises a tension indicator coupled to the strap. The tension indicator includes a first element disposed to produce a tactile signal when a tension in the strap reaches a threshold that is less than a permanent deformation threshold.

A back support apparatus intended for use during emergency transport of a patient suffering an actual or suspected spine injury is disclosed. The device provides a solid support for the arched portion of the spine that molds to the shape of the individual patient's back. The device comprises a bag or other container into which a solid curable material and a liquid activator are introduced, which is then placed beneath the patient's spine on a back board or like support. The device may be deployed quickly without the need for additional straps, belts, or the like, and may be treated as disposable due to its low cost.

To ensure easy and secure placement of a belt for KAATSU muscle training on a target compressed site near the proximal portion of a limb. A belt 100B has a longer first band-shaped member 110 and a shorter second band-shaped member 120 both of which have a band shape and are connected to a ring-shaped joint member 130 at their respective ends. In order to place the belt 100B on the target compressed site, the limb (right leg in this case) on which the belt 100B is expected to be placed is inserted into a loop of the first band-shaped member 110 formed by passing the end of the first band-shaped member 110 through an opening in the joint member 130, and the belt is moved up to the target compressed site. Then, the first band-shaped member 110 and the second band-shaped member 120 are pulled with both hands in the opposite directions. The belt 100B is placed on the target compressed site with the belt 100B being tensioned appropriately.

A shoulder orthosis is provided having an arm support and an optional arm spacer connected to the arm support. The arm support includes an arm retainer and a supportive strapping system. One optional arm spacer includes a pair of individual pillows which are attachably combinable with one another at a first face of the first individual pillow and a face of the second individual pillow to form one combined pillow having a first shape. The individual pillows are alternately attachably combinable with one another at a second face of the first individual pillow and the face of the second individual pillow to form another combined pillow having a second shape different from the first shape.

A bandage and method for securing a tension member comprising a central body and a plurality of tabs disposed about the central body. A tension member may be disposed across or through a slit or aperture of the central body. A body adhesive on the lower surface of the central body may secure the bandage to the patient. The tension member may then be pulled across the upper surface of the central body and a first tab may be folded over and adhered to the tension member and central body. The tension member may then be pulled back across the first tab and a second tab may be folded over and adhered to the tension member and first tab. Likewise, the tension member may then be pulled back across the second tab and a third tab may be folded over and adhered to the tension member and second tab.

The limb supporting system is an on the go wrist support pad that is designed to give the user cushion and support while free you move from PC to laptop, keyboard, gaming and mousing without pain and discomfort often associated with such movements. Made from soft stretchable elastic that conforms to any size wrist giving you total comfort during repetitive computer use.

An orthopedic device for correcting abnormalities in the wrist, hand, fingers and thumb of a newborn baby comprises a lightweight glove shaped semi rigid shell constructed and dimensioned to fit a newborn baby within a few hours of birth. A wrist or lower arm and hand engaging portion are rotatably connected and adjustable in one millimeter increments. The adjustments are made with no more than one millimeter correction per 24 hour period. The shell includes a wrist and lower forearm engaging portion, a hand engaging portion and a finger engaging portion and is adjustable for rotationally clockwise or counterclockwise about the longitudinal axis of the lower arm bone. Further adjustments may be made to rotate the fingers upwardly or downwardly, to the left or right and rotationally and/or rotational movement between the hand and lower arm. The invention also contemplates an orthopedic method for correcting skeletal abnormalities of the wrist, hand, fingers and thumb of a newborn baby.

In one aspect, an ankle foot orthosis generally comprises a leg member, a foot member, and a drive assembly. The leg member is configured to be releasably fastened to a leg of the wearer. The foot member is configured to be releasably fastened to a foot of a wearer, the foot member having anterior and posterior ends. The drive assembly includes a link member hingedly secured to the foot member at a hinge location adjacent to the posterior end of the foot member.

A kit of parts for forming an orthotic head support. The kit includes at least one frame having a plurality of arms extending from a central region. Examples of such frames are W-frames, Y-frames and H-frames. The kit further includes at least one extension connectable to a frame. Such extension members include straight extensions, L-shaped extensions, and extension with two elements at an acute angle to one another. The kit has elements for attaching the extensions to the frames. The frames and extensions may have lines of reduced stiffness formed therein about which they are preferentially bendable to conform the support to the shape of a wearer's head and/or neck. The kit further includes padding members connected, or connectable, to the frames and/or extensions on the surfaces thereof which in use are to be adjacent the wearer.

A surgical tourniquet cuff that includes a stabilizer component that facilitates application of an overlapping cuff around the limb of a patient. The stabilizer is fixed to the cuff, and requires no tying or similar user manipulation to secure the overlapping cuff in alignment with the underlying cuff. The stabilizer improves the stability of the inflated cuff to prevent sideways shifting motion of overlapping cuff portions as the cuff is applied to the limb. The stabilizer also provides a handle mechanism to enable the user to snugly apply the overlapping cuff around the patient's limb while the overlapping portions remain properly aligned along their long axes. The stabilizer is designed to also facilitate attaching together two tourniquet cuffs end-to-end, with respective bladders overlapping and in proper alignment so that those attached cuffs can be used as a single, extended surgical cuff applied around a patient's limb.

The invention is directed to an adhesive strip, particularly an adhesive strip or bandage for use in periodontal treatments. The biocompatible adhesive strip comprises a flexible barrier with a biocompatible adhesive for use in an oral environment, wherein the adhesive is in a non-tacky state when dry and becomes adherent upon contact with liquids.

An orthopedic device has a main body panel including a longitudinal length with a curved cross-section, and opposed lateral and medial sides. A posterior panel is secured to the lateral and medial sides of the main body panel, and is sized longitudinally shorter than the main body panel in a non-stretched condition. The posterior panel is secured to the main body panel in a pretensioned condition and spans the longitudinal length of the main body panel along the lateral and medial sides thereof.

An improved skin substitute is presented comprised of a silicone layer backed up with a woven nylon fabric layer, the silicone layer possessing a regular pattern of slits that permit the porosity of the skin substitute to be adjusted by clinicians by means of applying tension to the skin substitute that differentially opens the slits. A variety of therapeutic substances can be applied to the skin substitute to promote healing, including aloe and other medicinal preparations.

A bandage includes a reservoir filled with a perfluorochemical fluid, saturated with oxygen. Oxygen passes through a permeable membrane to the skin or wound to promote healing, and carbon dioxide travels from the skin or wound to the reservoir.

An apparatus is provided for mounting to a support for modifying an ankle-foot orthosis. The apparatus comprises a tooling device having a plurality of holes spaced over an outer surface of the tooling device. The tooling device includes a first portion having a longitudinal axis, and a second portion integral with the first portion and having a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first portion. The second portion of the tooling device defines an opening for receiving the support. A peg is configured to be inserted into one of more holes of the tooling device. The peg comprises a body portion and a post depending from the body portion and configured to be received in the holes in the outer surface of the tooling device. In one embodiment, the body portion of the peg has a convex outer surface.