Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Bose Corporation

Imation Corporation

Ta Instruments-waters LLC

Steven R Seeman

Troy D Nickel

David Louis Dingmann

Richard W Molstad

Theodore A Schwarz

Gregory H Johnson

Andrew D White

Aaron M Owens

Leslie M Collins

Gary D Moeller

John T Gianfagna

Alan R Olson

Christopher L Hill

Eric Thomas Gagner

Stacy A Henneberger

Randolph L Carlson

Eric T Gagner

A multi-axis fatigue testing device includes a multi-axis test fixture having a multiple input, multiple output mechanical linkage driven by a plurality of actuators and a controller operating each of the plurality of actuators in real time and in synchronization to produce user-defined multiple fatigue cycle profiles. At least one of the actuators driving the mechanical linkage acts against an artificial load characterized by a stiffness. The stiffness is selected to increase a resonance frequency of the test fixture to allow fatigue testing at higher frequencies for a wider range of samples.

High frequency multi-axis simulation system

A multi-sample conditioning system may include a sample chamber for each sample or a sample chamber holding one or more samples. Multiple samples enable replication for statistical analysis and individual sample chambers enable individual nutrient flow profiles for each sample. A mechanical imbalance may be created when a sample chamber is removed or when samples of different stiffness are conditioned together. The mechanical imbalance may result in an undesired alteration of the desired conditioning profile and increase the variation in the conditioning profile applied to each sample. An asymmetric-loading support assembly provides a low friction support to reduce the undesired alteration of the desired conditioning profile applied to the samples and reduce unwanted reaction loads on the conditioning drive mechanisms. The asymmetric-loading support assembly preferably includes a flexure as the low-friction, high-stiffness support. Other examples that can provide low-friction, high-stiffness support include air bearings, magnetic bearings, and hydraulic bearings.

Multi-sample conditioning system

Data storage tape cartridge

The tape in a data cartridge has a beginning of tape (BOT) zone adjacent a leading end, a load point (LP) zone adjacent the BOT zone, an end of tape (EOT) zone adjacent a trailing end, an early warning (EW) zone adjacent the EOT zone, and a data recording (DR) zone between the LP and EW zones. Servo tracks extending between the BOT and EOT enable the closed-loop servo operation of a tape deck during the recording of data at data flux transition densities within a predetermined range of flux transition densities. A BOT indicator includes a first type magnetic marker extending throughout the BOT zone and has a BOT flux density. An LP indicator includes spaced second type magnetic markers on the servo tracks at the border of the LP and DR zones. An EW indicator which is identical to the LP indicator is located on the servo tracks at the border of the DR and EW zones. An EOT indicator includes a first type marker extending throughout the EOT zone and has an EOT flux density. Digitally encoded cartridge information indicators including the spaced second type markers are located in each of the BOT and EOT zones. The BOT and EOT flux densities are different from one another, and sufficiently different from the data flux transition densities to enable the BOT and EOT indicators to be distinguished from the data. The second type markers of the LP and EW and cartridge information indicators are sufficiently different from the servo carrier flux density to enable the indicators to be distinguished from the servo carrier.

Data cartridge with magnetic tape markers

A data cartridge includes a length of magnetic tape which is formed at each end with a first pattern of holes to enable identification of the end of the tape and a second pattern of holes located within the first pattern of holes and configured to provide a binary code to enable automatic identification of the cartridge type or tape type. The first pattern of holes is different at each end of the tape to further enable the automatic differentiation of one end of the tape from the other end.

Magnetic tape cartridge identification

A method and apparatus for magnetically detecting the edge of a magnetic recording tape to enable accurate positioning of a tranversely movable recording/playback unit at any of a plurality of track locations across the width of the tape. The gain of a playback amplifier is first dynamically adjusted in response to a played back periodic test signal based on the number of flux transitions detected during playback of a given length of tape, and an edge of tape reference position thereafter establishing by comparing the number of flux transitions detected during the playback of a periodic test signal recorded along the edge of a given length of tape when the recording/playback unit is successively stepped toward the edge of the tape.

Method and apparatus for locating the edge of a magnetic tape

Growing community of inventors

Stillwater, MN, United States of America

Steven R Seeman