m NEAR-FIELD TRANSDUCER FOR HEAT ASSISTED MAGNETIC RECORDING WITH TRAILING EDGE TAPER AND SIDE TAPER By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 16 Feb 2017 08:00:00 EST Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a HAMR head. The HAMR head includes a main pole, a waveguide and a NFT disposed between the main pole and the waveguide. The NFT includes an antenna, and a portion of the antenna is disposed at a media facing surface. By increasing the volume of the antenna extending from the MFS, the temperature of the NFT during operation is reduced. Full Article
m TUNABLE CONTACT DETECTION SENSITIVITY TO DIRECTLY MEASURE CLEARANCE OF PROTRUSIONS IN MAGNETIC RECORDING HEADS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 16 Feb 2017 08:00:00 EST Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to contact at the disk by the recording head in a hard disk drive. In one embodiment, a direct current is applied to an element in a HAMR head. An alternating current is then applied to the element over top of the direct current to cause the HAMR head to dither. By monitoring the head signal at the dither frequency, a touchdown or contact of a NFT on a disk may be detected based upon variations in the produced signal. Full Article
m METHOD OF PERFORMING READ/WRITE PROCESS ON RECORDING MEDIUM, PARAMETER ADJUSTMENT METHOD, STORAGE DEVICE, COMPUTER SYSTEM, AND STORAGE MEDIUM EMPLOYING THE METHODS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 16 Feb 2017 08:00:00 EST Methods, apparatuses and systems for detecting defective sectors on a recording medium, the method including calculating a servo gain for each servo sector of a track of a recording medium of a storage device; determining whether the servo gain of each servo sector exceeds a threshold value; and upon determining that the servo gain of a servo sector exceeds the threshold value, determining data sectors included in the servo sector to be defective sectors. Full Article
m METHODS OF FORMING MAGNETIC DEVICES WITH VARIABLE OVERCOATS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 02 Mar 2017 08:00:00 EST Methods that include depositing a first layer over the entire surface of a structure, the structure having a magnetic reader and a magnetic writer, wherein the magnetic reader and the magnetic writer are positioned adjacent to each other on a substrate and the magnetic writer includes a near field transducer (NFT); depositing a second layer over the entire surface of the first layer; depositing a photoresist material layer over the entire surface of the second layer, the photoresist material layer having a bottom surface in contact with the second layer and an opposing top surface; exposing the photoresist material layer to radiation through the bottom surface of the photoresist material layer via the NFT to form a first exposed region; and exposing the photoresist material layer to radiation through the top surface of the photoresist material layer to form a second exposed region. Full Article
m MAGNETIC DISK DEVICE AND DEFECT DETECTION METHOD By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 02 Mar 2017 08:00:00 EST A magnetic disk device according to an embodiment includes a disk including a data area, a head configured to read and write data from and to the data area, and a controller configured to determine under a first condition whether the data area includes a defect, and to determine, under a second condition of a higher defect detection sensitivity than the first condition, whether a first area around a first defect area includes a defect, when detecting the first defect area under the first condition. Full Article
m MATERIALS FOR NEAR FIELD TRANSDUCERS, NEAR FIELD TRANDUCERS CONTAINING SAME, AND METHODS OF FORMING By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 09 Mar 2017 08:00:00 EST A device including a near field transducer, the near field transducer including gold (Au), silver (Ag), copper (Cu), or aluminum (Al), and at least two other secondary atoms, the at least two other secondary atoms selected from: boron (B), bismuth (Bi), indium (In), sulfur (S), silicon (Si), tin (Sn), manganese (Mn), tellurium (Te), holmium (Ho), lutetium (Lu), praseodymium (Pr), scandium (Sc), uranium (U), barium (Ba), chlorine (Cl), cesium (Cs), dysprosium (Dy), europium (Eu), fluorine (F), germanium (Ge), hydrogen (H), iodine (I), rubidium (Rb), selenium (Se), terbium (Tb), nitrogen (N), oxygen (O), carbon (C), antimony (Sb), gadolinium (Gd), samarium (Sm), thallium (Tl), cadmium (Cd), neodymium (Nd), phosphorus (P), lead (Pb), hafnium (Hf), niobium (Nb), erbium (Er), zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), palladium (Pd), vanadium (V), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), lithium (Li), nickel (Ni), platinum (Pt), sodium (Na), strontium (Sr), calcium (Ca), yttrium (Y), thorium (Th), beryllium (Be), thulium (Tm), erbium (Er), ytterbium (Yb), promethium (Pm), neodymium (Nd cobalt (Co), cerium (Ce), lanthanum (La), praseodymium (Pr), or combinations thereof. Full Article
m OPTICAL INFORMATION RECORDING MEDIUM AND REPRODUCTION METHOD By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 23 Mar 2017 08:00:00 EDT In a case where (i) a reflectance calculated from a reflected light amount obtained from a longest pit (P1max) or a longest space (S1max) in a first pit row is defined as a first reflectance and (ii) a reflectance calculated from a reflected light amount obtained from a longest pit (P2max) or a longest space (S2max) in the second pit row is defined as a second reflectance, the first pit row is formed such that the first reflectance becomes substantially identical with the second reflectance. Full Article
m FREE-STANDING REFLECTOR USABLE IN HEAT ASSISTED MAGNETIC RECORDING TECHNOLOGY By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 30 Mar 2017 08:00:00 EDT A heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) write apparatus is described. The HAMR write apparatus is coupled with a laser that provides energy. The HAMR writer has a media-facing surface (MFS) and a laser-facing surface. The HAMR write apparatus includes a free-standing reflector and at least one waveguide. The free-standing reflector resides on the laser-facing surface and has a concave reflective surface oriented to receive the energy from the laser. The waveguide(s) are optically coupled with the free-standing reflector and direct energy from the laser toward the MFS. Full Article
m LASER ADJUSTMENT DURING FIELD OPERATION OF A HEAT-ASSISTED MAGNETIC RECORDING DATA STORAGE DEVICE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 30 Mar 2017 08:00:00 EDT During field operation of a heat-assisted magnetic recording data storage device, a laser adjustment procedure is performed. The laser adjustment procedure involves writing on a recording medium at least three tracks. If a bit error rate of a middle tracks has increased, the laser current is swept while recording test tracks to determine a new laser current that results in a minimum bit error rate. The new laser current is used for subsequent write operations. Full Article
m METHOD FOR DISPLAYING STATUS ASSOCIATED WITH A STORAGE DEVICE, COMPUTER SYSTEM AND STATUS-MONITORING DEVICE THEREOF By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 30 Mar 2017 08:00:00 EDT A method implemented by a status-monitoring device connected between a storage device and a corresponding output unit includes: a) determining presence of a storage device according to a first packet from the storage device; b) when it is determined that the storage device is present, generating a pulse signal according to a second packet from the storage device; c) generating a driving signal indicating a status associated with the storage device according to at least a logic level of the pulse signal; and d) sending the driving signal to the output unit for driving the output unit to output an output signal indicating the status. Full Article
m DISK DRIVE SUSPENSION ASSEMBLY HAVING A PARTIALLY FLANGELESS LOAD POINT DIMPLE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 06 Apr 2017 08:00:00 EDT Various embodiments concern a suspension assembly of a disk drive. The suspension assembly includes a load beam comprising a major planar area formed from a substrate. The load beam further comprises a window in the substrate, a dimple formed from the substrate, and a flange. The flange is a region of the major planar area that extends partially around the dimple but does not extend along an edge of the dimple. The edge of the dimple is adjacent to the window. The dimple is in contact with the flexure. A HAMR block or other element can extend through the window. The lack of a full flange can minimize the necessary clearance between the dimple and the HAMR block or other element and thereby allow the window to be enlarged to accommodate the HAMR block or other element. Full Article
m OPTICAL-INFORMATION RECORDING/REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND OPTICAL-INFORMATION RECORDING/REPRODUCING METHOD By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 06 Apr 2017 08:00:00 EDT An optical-information recording/reproducing apparatus of the present invention is capable of carrying out position detection of a reproduction image even if reproduction image data with incomplete alignment marks (markers) is obtained. A relative correlation value is calculated from a first correlation value retained by a first correlation-value retaining unit and a second correlation value retained by a second correlation-value retaining unit, and pass/fail of a position detection result of the marker is judged according to the relative correlation value. The pass/fail of the position detection result is judged by mutually comparing the detection positions of the markers judged as passes by the relative correlation-value judgement, the positions of the markers judged as fail by the relative correlation-value judgement or the mutual position judgement is complemented, and the position of two-dimensional data is detected based on the pass-judged markers and the complemented markers. Full Article
m RECORDING CONTROL APPARATUS AND METHOD, DRIVE CONTROLLING CONTROLLER AND METHOD, RECORDING MEDIUM, AND PROGRAM By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 13 Apr 2017 08:00:00 EDT The present technology relates to a recording control apparatus, a recording control method, a drive controlling controller, a drive controlling method, a recording medium, and a program capable of reading information more reliably. A manager generates DMSs as management information for managing user data areas and spare areas of an optical disc. Further, the manager records the generated DMS in a DMA area of DS0 of the optical disc, and, in addition, records the generated DMS in a DMA mirror area of the DS1 surface of the optical disc. As described above, since DMSs as management information are recorded in the different areas of the optical disc, even if DMS cannot be read from one area, DMS can be read from the other area. The present technology is applicable to a recording and reproducing apparatus. Full Article
m OPTICAL DISK, OPTICAL DISK RECORDING METHOD, OPTICAL DISK RECORDING DEVICE, AND INTEGRATED CIRCUIT By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 13 Apr 2017 08:00:00 EDT There are provided an optical disk and an optical disk recording method which are capable of stable data reading in a case where a recording linear density is increased. According to an optical disk of the present disclosure, a run-in pattern recorded in a groove track and a run-in pattern recorded in a land track are made different patterns so that no great change is caused in the amplitude of an acquired signal due to interference between adjacent recording patterns, and thus, data may be stably read. Full Article
m PREDICTION OF COMPONENT MAINTENANCE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 13 Apr 2017 08:00:00 EDT One or more processors determine wear for a robotic device. The one or more processors divide a direction of travel of a robotic device into zones. Each zone has an associated counter that counts how many times the robotic device has entered a given zone. The one or more processors update a count for a zone in response to the robotic device entering that zone. The one or more processors determine a level of wear for a component associated with the robotic device. The level of wear is based, at least in part, on a total of counts for the zones. Full Article
m DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MEASURING PITCH AND ROLL TORQUES By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 20 Apr 2017 08:00:00 EDT Embodiments of the invention provide a device for measuring pitch and roll torques. The device comprises a sensor plate having a horizontal cross member, a vertical cross member and a surrounding member connecting ends of the horizontal and vertical cross members, wherein the horizontal cross member and the vertical cross member intersect each other at a centre region of the sensor plate; a VCM coil attached to the sensor plate and configured to generate a pitch and a roll torque when an electrical current is applied to the VCM coil; a first strain gauge attached to a surface of the horizontal cross member and configured to detect a horizontal strain caused by the pitch and roll torques; and a second strain gauge attached to a surface of the vertical cross member and configured to detect a vertical strain caused by the pitch and roll torques. Full Article
m OPTICAL MEDIUM REPRODUCTION APPARATUS AND OPTICAL MEDIUM REPRODUCTION METHOD By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 27 Apr 2017 08:00:00 EDT The present disclosure relates to a reproduction apparatus. The reproduction apparatus may comprise an optical filter and electric filters. The optical filter may be configured to provide electrical signals corresponding to regions of an optical beam returning from an optical medium, the optical beam being incident on the optical filter, the regions of the optical beam corresponding to different bands in a line density direction and/or a track density direction. The electric filters may be configured to provide outputs based, at least in part, on the electrical signals provided by the optical filter, wherein the reproduction apparatus is configured to obtain a reproduced signal by combining the outputs of the electric filters. Full Article
m PORTABLE TURNTABLE DEVICE, SYSTEM, AND METHOD By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 04 May 2017 08:00:00 EDT A turntable device, comprising: a spindle and two arms. The two arms may comprise: a housing; one or more buttons; a spindle engagement portion; a stylus cartridge; a power supply; one or more wireless communication devices; a linear actuator; a motor; and a vertical solenoid. The spindle may receive a phonographic record, and the spindle engagement portion may engage with the spindle, such that the arms are entirely supported via said spindle and only the spindle. Full Article
m DEVICES INCLUDING A MULTILAYER GAS BARRIER LAYER By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 04 May 2017 08:00:00 EDT Devices that include a near field transducer (NFT); a multilayer gas barrier layer positioned on at least a portion of the NFT, the multilayer gas barrier layer including at least a first and a second sublayer, where the second gas barrier sublayer is positioned on the first gas barrier sublayer, the first gas barrier sublayer is positioned adjacent the NFT and the second gas barrier sublayer is positioned adjacent the wear resistant layer, the first and second sublayers independently have thicknesses from 0.01 nm to 5 nm; and a wear resistance layer positioned on at least a portion of the gas barrier layer. Full Article
m MAGNETIC DEVICES WITH OVERCOATS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 04 May 2017 08:00:00 EDT A magnetic device including a magnetic writer; and an overcoat positioned over at least the magnetic writer, the overcoat including oxides of yttrium, oxides of scandium, oxides of lanthanoids, oxides of actionoids, oxides of zinc, or combinations thereof. Full Article
m ENCODING, DISTRIBUTION AND REPRODUCTION OF AUDIO MEDIA USING MECHANICAL IMAGE DIGITIZATION By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 04 May 2017 08:00:00 EDT The system and corresponding process includes a system for producing a mechanical image of original audio source media and a system for encoding the mechanical image information into a digital file. A processing system recovers the mechanical image information from the digital file at a receiving end. Audio processing is used to produce the original audio source material without the standard losses associated with digital encoding of audio material Full Article
m STORAGE DEVICE CARRIER AND MOUNTING APPARATUS FOR STORAGE DEVICE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 04 May 2017 08:00:00 EDT A storage device carrier includes a first frame and a second frame. The first frame includes two opposite sidewalls. Two through holes are defined in each of the sidewalls, for allowing screws to extend therethrough. The second frame is detachably mounted in the first frame. The second frame includes two opposite side plates. Each side plate defines two through slots for allowing screws and unthreaded fasteners to extend therethrough. When the second frame is mounted in the first frame, the side plates of the second frame respectively abut against the sidewalls of the first frame, and the through slots of the side plates respectively align with the through holes of the sidewalls. A mounting apparatus having the storage device is also provided. Full Article
m OPTICAL MEDIUM REPRODUCTION DEVICE AND OPTICAL MEDIUM REPRODUCTION METHOD By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 11 May 2017 08:00:00 EDT An optical medium reproduction device includes: a detection unit configured to form detection signals of respective channels by dividing a cross-section of a beam returning from the optical medium into a plurality of regions and performing division into at least one channel corresponding to the region at an outer side in a radial direction, at least one channel corresponding to the region that is different in position in a tangential direction, and a channel corresponding to the other regions, and, in a case of forming the detection signals of the channels, form the detection signal of at least one of the channels by weighting and adding a signal in a predetermined region among the plurality of regions; a multi-input equalizer unit configured to include a plurality of equalizer units to which the respective detection signals of the plurality of channels are supplied, and configured to form an equalized signal on the basis of the detection signals of the plurality of channels; and a binarization unit configured to perform a binarization process on the equalized signal to obtain binary data. Full Article
m OPTICAL INFORMATION RECORDING MEDIUM AND OPTICAL INFORMATION RECORDING MEDIUM REPRODUCING DEVICE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 11 May 2017 08:00:00 EDT Provided is an optical information recording medium including: a continuously wobbling groove formed in advance by a CAV or a zone CAV. Information is allowed to be recorded on the groove and a land adjacent to the groove, address information is recorded by modulating the wobble, the address information includes a sync pattern indicating a position of the address information and address data, and the sync pattern includes a plurality of first wobble patterns and a second wobble pattern between the first wobble patterns, and at least part of intervals of the first wobble patterns are set to unequal intervals. Full Article
m DATA READOUT DEVICE FOR READING OUT DATA FROM A DATA CARRIER By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 18 May 2017 08:00:00 EDT A data readout device (114) for reading out data from at least one data carrier (112) having data modules (116) located at least two different depths within the at least one data carrier (112) is disclosed. The data readout device (114) comprises: —at least one illumination source (122) for directing at least one light beam (124) onto the data carrier (112); -at least one detector (130) adapted for detecting at least one modified light beam modified by at least one of the data modules (116), the detector (130) having at least one optical sensor (132), wherein the optical sensor (132)has at least one sensor region (134), wherein the optical sensor (132)is designed to generate at least one sensor signal in a manner dependent on an illumination of the sensor region (134)by the modified light beam, wherein the sensor signal, given the same total power of the illumination,is dependent on a beam cross-section of the modified light beam in the sensor region (134); and -at least one evaluation device (136) adapted for evaluating the at least one sensor signal and for deriving data stored in the at least one data carrier (112) from the sensor signal. Further, a data storage system (110), a method for reading out data from at least one data carrier (112) and a use of an optical sensor (132) for reading out data are disclosed. Full Article
m MAGNETIC DISK DEVICE AND READING METHOD By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 25 May 2017 08:00:00 EDT According to one embodiment, when an access destination of a reading request is a second region, a controller performs a first retry reading process by use of a second reading condition in first parameter information. The second region is adjacent to a first region, which is adjacent to a defect region and has a particular width, and is present as a region other than the defect region on a magnetic disk. When the access destination of the reading request is the first region, the controller performs a second retry reading process by use of a fourth reading condition in second parameter information. The second parameter information is set such that a grown defect is registered at an earlier time in the second retry reading process, as compared with that in the first retry reading process. Full Article
m MONITORING HEAD WEAR By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 01 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A computer system for monitoring head wear includes reading from a cartridge a high frequency pattern and a low frequency pattern, determining a first read amplitude corresponding to the high frequency pattern and a second read amplitude corresponding to the low frequency pattern, and determining a head wear metric according to the first read amplitude and the second read amplitude. Full Article
m APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SETTING SLIDER SURFACE POTENTIAL By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 01 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus includes a slider body of a disk drive. The slider body is electrically coupled to a plurality of end bond pads. A voltage applied to one more of the end bond pads sets a surface potential of the slider body. Full Article
m INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE AND METHOD, RECORDING MEDIUM, AND PROGRAM By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 01 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The present technology relates to an information processing device and method, a recording medium, and a program, which can improve a data transfer speed. In the recording medium, a recording area is divided into a plurality of simulated zones and a set of the plurality of simulated zones composes a simulated zone group. Then, an address is set to each area in the simulated zones so that the addresses are interleaved between the simulated zones composing the simulated zone group. By interleaving the addresses between the simulated zones in this manner, a local seek operation or a rotational delay can be reduced and the data transfer speed can be improved when recording or reproducing data to the recording medium in more than one channel at the same time. The present technology can be applied to an optical disk. Full Article
m LASER MODE HOPPING DETECTION FOR HEAT-ASSISTED MAGNETIC RECORDING DEVICE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 08 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Methods and apparatuses for detecting mode hopping in a laser diode or other optical energy source in heat-assisted magnetic recording. An output power of the laser diode or other optical energy source is measured and the output power is differentiated over time to determine a rate of change. If it is determined that the rate of change exceeds a threshold value, a fault signal is asserted indicating a potential mode hopping event. Full Article
m USING HEAD AND/OR DRIVE PERFORMANCE INFORMATION FOR PREDICTING AND/OR ASCERTAINING FAILURES By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A computer-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: collecting performance data corresponding to a tape drive and/or a magnetic tape head, storing the performance data in memory, and using the data to perform problem analysis. The performance data includes a resistance of the tape drive and/or magnetic tape head and a resolution of the tape drive and/or the magnetic tape head. Moreover, performing the problem analysis includes: determining a condition of the tape drive and/or the magnetic tape head, wherein the condition is selected from a group consisting of: wear, corrosion, defective leads and wire bonds. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments. Full Article
m OPTICAL INFORMATION RECORDING/REPRODUCING APPARATUS, OPTICAL INFORMATION RECORDING/REPRODUCING METHOD By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An optical information recording/reproducing apparatus and method thereof which compensate for the effect of mechanical instability on holographic data storage. A time dependent deviation profile of an optical beam during recording is determined. The time dependent deviation profile is related to a phase profile to be applied to a reference beam during recording or reproduction of a hologram, and the related phase profile is applied to the reference beam during recording or reproduction of the hologram. Full Article
m Light Information Device and Light Information Processing Method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Provided is a light information device, and the like, that records header information on an information recording medium, after preventing screen burn of a spatial light modulator. One example of the solution in the present invention is a light information device that records two-dimensional page data on an information recording medium and is provided with a first information generation unit, a second information generation unit that generates a second bit string on the basis of a first bit string, and a spatial light modulation unit that displays a pattern corresponding to the second bit string. The second information generation unit: performs a first processing, on the first bit string corresponding to first identification information, that inverts each bit at a prescribed cycle; generates the second bit string corresponding to the first identification information; performs a second processing, different from the first processing, on the first bit string corresponding to second identification information that includes bits which are switched at the same cycle as the prescribed cycle; and generates the second bit string corresponding to the second identification information. Full Article
m Driven member positioner By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT In one aspect, a method of operating a movable barrier operator includes engaging a flexible driven member with a drive of the movable barrier operator. The method includes moving the flexible driven member in a first direction to move a movable barrier connected to the driven member and monitoring the position of the movable barrier. In response to the movable barrier reaching a given position, the driven member is moved in a second direction without moving the movable barrier to remove slack from the driven member. A movable barrier apparatus includes a movable barrier controller operatively coupled to the movable barrier operator. The movable barrier controller is configured to cause the movable barrier operator to reverse direction of the flexible driven member a distance after stopping movement of the movable barrier without moving the movable barrier. Full Article
m Panel attachment system and a method of using the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A panel attachment system comprises a panel and a casing. The panel has a fixed mount bracket, and a sliding mount bracket. The casing has a first fixed mount boss, and a sliding mount boss. When the panel attachment system is in use, the fixed mount bracket is fixedly secured to the first fixed mount boss, and the sliding mount bracket is slidingly engaged with the sliding mount boss. This enables the panel to be detachably connected to the casing, such that any relative in-plane thermal expansion between the panel and the casing is accommodated by corresponding relative movement between the sliding mount bracket and the sliding mount bosses. Full Article
m Adjustment device and system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention includes an alignment device and system having a guide member, a support member and a connector which engages the guide member and the support member. The guide member may be a relatively flat piece attachable to and edge of a frame. In one aspect the guide member includes a perimeter slot. The support member may have a first portion generally perpendicular with a second portion and the first portion may be attached to an object (or integral with an object such as a window or door casing) which is to be aligned with a frame. The second portion may have a connector portion or threaded hole for receiving a connector. The connector may also engage the slot of the guide member. The device allows for desired alignment of an object within a frame by transferring rotational movement to linear movement. Full Article
m Vehicle side door structure and method of making and using the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT In an embodiment, a side door for a vehicle can comprise: a structure comprising a plastic inner shell comprising a fiber strip, and a plastic outer shell comprising an outer shell support beam positioned across a width of the outer shell. The outer shell support beam can comprise a fiber strip with ≧50 wt. % fibers oriented at an angle of less than or equal to ±45° to a main axis. In an embodiment, a method for making the side door for a vehicle can comprise: flow molding a fiber-reinforced polymer over a fiber strip to form a plastic inner shell; flow molding a fiber-reinforced polymer over a fiber strip deposited to form a plastic outer shell, wherein the outer shell comprises an outer shell support beam positioned across a width of the outer shell; and joining the inner shell and the outer shell together to form a composite structure. Full Article
m Method and apparatus for controlling a movable barrier system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT In one embodiment, a method conducted by a movable barrier gateway device is disclosed for controlling a movable barrier, comprising receiving, by a communication interface, a remote command from a remote control device to move the movable barrier, the remote command sent over a network, delaying transmission of a signal to a movable barrier controller to move the movable barrier, by a processor, for a predetermined time period after the remote command is received, detecting movement of the movable barrier within the predetermined time period by a barrier movement detector, and ignoring the remote command by the processor in response to detecting movement of the movable barrier within the predetermined time period. Full Article
m Security shutter assembly By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An invention is provided for a security shutter assembly. The security shutter assembly includes a shutter door having a plurality of operable louvers pivotally mounted between vertical stiles. A locking element is attached to the first vertical stile, and can be set in a locked position that secures the shutter door closed, and an open position that allows the shutter door to be opened. The locking element includes a louver flange portion that extends over the louvers when the louvers are in the closed position and the locking element is in the open position. However, the louvers block the louver flange from being positioned over the louvers when the louvers are in the open position, thus preventing the locking element from being placed in the open, and unlocked, position while the louvers are in the open position. Full Article
m Path-controlled adjustment device with a multipart carrier assembly By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a path-controlled adjustment device for a window pane of a motor vehicle, with a carrier assembly, with at least two guideways provided at the carrier assembly, which define an adjustment path for an adjustable window pane and which are spaced from each other transversely to the adjustment path, and with a driver which on the one hand includes means for connection of the window pane to be adjusted and which on the other hand is in engagement with the guideways so as to be longitudinally movable. The carrier assembly consists of at least two carrier elements which are connected with each other at a plurality of fixing points. On at least one carrier element fixing points, via which that carrier element is to be fixed at a further carrier element of the carrier assembly, are connected with each other by reinforcement paths. Full Article
m Heat recovery steam generator access door kit By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A heat recovery steam generator access door kit comprising a door assembly comprising an insulation box; a door face attached to the insulation box that is larger in width and length than the insulation box and projects around the perimeter of the insulation box; at least one cross beam; a frame assembly comprising a frame and at least one swing bolt assembly attached to the frame. Full Article
m Exit device mount with closed termination By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An exit device includes a rail having opposite first and second ends and a rear portion with a first opening adjacent the first rail end for attachment to the door surface, the first rail end further having a front portion that inhibits access to the first rail opening in a direction normal to the rail rear portion. The method for installing it includes securing a mount having a cantilevered portion extending therefrom to the door at the surface first end such that the mount cantilevered portion provides a space between the cantilevered portion and the door and placing the rail against the door surface such that the mount extends through the first rail opening, sliding the rail to engage the rail rear portion adjacent the first rail opening between the mount cantilevered portion and the door and securing the second rail end to the door surface. Full Article
m Two-stage interlocked sliding door for machining tank of electric discharge machine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A door for attachment on the front of a machining tank of an electric discharge machine includes a door frame and first and second lifting doors that move up and down with respect to the door frame. When the first lifting door is lifted, pulleys attached on the first lifting door also move up, causing a belt wound around the pulleys and fixed to the door frame via a first belt-attaching member to rotate. As a result, the second lifting door, fixed to the belt via a second belt-attaching member, moves up with respect to the first lifting door. Full Article
m Glass run with applique assembly By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A trim or weatherstrip assembly secured to an associated vehicle. The assembly includes a cover portion that overlies an associated vehicle adjacent an edge. A connection member is defined on the cover portion. A fastener portion includes a detent connection member having first and second portions for operatively and alternatively engaging the connection member in a shipping, first position and in an installed, second position. Full Article
m Pinch-relief hinged assemblies and children's products including pinch-relief hinged assemblies By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Hinged assemblies, and children's products including at least one hinged assembly, include a base member and a hinged member operatively and pivotally coupled to the base member to define a hinge. The hinge is configured to release if an obstruction is positioned between the hinged member and the base member while the hinged member is being closed and if a closing torque is greater than or equal to a release torque. The hinge also may be configured to not release when an opening torque is applied when the hinged member is in its open position even when the opening torque is greater than the release torque. Full Article
m Storm panel locking device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A universal locking device for securing flat or corrugated hurricane storm panels in place to avoid unauthorized removal and entry into a building. The locking device includes a combination of brackets removably secured between the building and the storm panels, and an adjustable locking bar locking these elements securely together. Full Article
m Safety enhanced design of rail type garage door opener with over the door drive assembly By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A novel electric door opener for a garage, or equivalent structure, which uses a rail fixed at one end to a drive assembly and the other end to a mounting support, in which the drive assembly is mounted on the wall over the garage doorway with a pivotable mount, rather than the uniform practice wherein the drive assembly is suspended from the garage ceiling, thus significantly enhancing safety during installation and over the lifetime of the unit. In addition, the means whereby prior art rail type garage door openers, including their drive assemblies and overall mounting methods, are redesigned to reduce the invention to practice. The simplification of mounting hardware and process with this design makes it much easier and safer to install, remove, and replace an assembled rail type garage door opener, using only three removable pins. Full Article
m Modifiable slider glass assemblies for utility cabs and vehicles, and/or methods of making the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Certain example embodiments relate to a sliding window assembly (e.g., of the type found in utility cabs or other vehicles), and methods of making the same. A slidable window panel includes at least one top pin and at least one bottom pin attached thereto. A single fixed window panel includes a hole being defined therein for receiving the slidable panel. Elongated upper and lower rails connected to the fixed panel include upper and lower rail channels defined therein for slidingly receiving the at least one top and bottom pin attached to the slidable panel. Forward and rear end details are provided to each of the upper and lower rails proximate to the hole for slidingly receiving, in respective channels formed therein, the at least one top and bottom pins. The slidable panel is laterally movable when being opened via the respective rail channels provided to the upper and lower rails. The channels in the forward and rear end details are formed so that the slidable panel is movable slightly outwardly towards the hole when the slidable window is being closed and slightly inwardly away from the hole when the slidable window is being opened. Full Article
m Sealing member By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A sealing member for a vehicle opening includes a first co-extrusion layer formed from a first elastomeric composition, a second co-extrusion layer formed from a second elastomeric composition, and a third co-extrusion layer formed from a thermoplastic vulcanizate composition. The first co-extrusion layer defines a mounting channel, a window channel, and a front face spaced from the mounting channel and the window channel. The second co-extrusion layer has a portion disposed on the front face of the first co-extrusion layer and a sealing lip disposed on the first co-extrusion layer abutting the portion and extending away from the first co-extrusion layer towards a distal end. The third co-extrusion layer is disposed on the portion and the sealing lip of the second co-extrusion layer for covering segments of the second co-extrusion layer that are visible from an exterior of the vehicle. Full Article
m Method of producing vehicle door frame By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A door frame and a frame body including a glass opposing portion, a design portion positioned on one side of the glass opposing portion on the vehicle exterior side, a tubular portion positioned on the other side of the glass opposing portion on the vehicle interior side, and a glass guide portion having a concave cross section surrounding the edge of the door glass. All portions are collectively structured as a single member who is continuous and uniform from the upper sash portion to the side sash portion. A corner portion is created by a bending process at a boundary between the upper sash portion and the side sash portion. The width of the design portion of the frame varies in at least one area along the length thereof and the design portion of the frame body is covered with an exterior member. Full Article