A magnetic recording medium exhibiting improved glide and CSS characteristics is produced by depositing a metallic layer on a non-magnetic substrate, as by sputtering, so that the deposited metallic layer has a textured surface. In one embodiment, a Ti-base alloy layer having a textured surface comprising a plurality of relatively uniform protrusions is sputter-deposited directly onto a non-magnet...

A system and method for characterizing a surface are disclosed. The system includes a light source and source optics which direct a beam of light toward the surface. A first optical integrating device is positioned and configured to receive a first portion of the scattered light which corresponds to a first range of spatial frequencies. A second optical integrating device is positioned and configu...

PCT No. PCT/JP97/02761 Sec. 371 Date Mar. 13, 1998 Sec. 102(e) Date Mar. 13, 1998 PCT Filed Aug. 7, 1997 PCT Pub. No. WO98/06589 PCT Pub. Date Feb. 19, 1998The present invention provides a heat-sensitive recording material high in sensitivity and whiteness. That is, a heat-sensitive recording material which comprises a support and a recording layer between which an intermediate layer is provided a...

PCT No. PCT/JP97/02840 Sec. 371 Date Apr. 13, 1998 Sec. 102(e) Date Apr. 13, 1998 PCT Filed Aug. 15, 1997 PCT Pub. No. WO98/06885 PCT Pub. Date Feb. 19, 1998The present invention provides a method of removing a hard carbon film (15) from the inner surface of a guide bush (11) through etching. The method comprises the steps of inserting an auxiliary electrode (71) in the center bore (11j) of the gu...

PCT No. PCT/JP97/02982 Sec. 371 Date Apr. 28, 1998 Sec. 102(e) Date Apr. 28, 1998 PCT Filed Aug. 27, 1997 PCT Pub. No. WO98/09062 PCT Pub. Date Mar. 5, 1998A control apparatus for a cylinder-injection spark-ignition internal combustion engine switches control mode in accordance with an engine operating state between compression stroke injection mode control, in which fuel is injected during the co...

The apparatus comprises a set of test strips each containing a reagent which reacts in a physically detectable manner with a sample containing the analyte, a testing instrument (21) used to read a test strip (11), and calibration information uniquely characteristic to the reagent, stored in the instrument or in a calibration chip (40) accompanying the test-strip set. A docking port in the instrume...

A test strip for use in determining the presence or concentration of an analyte in whole blood is disclosed. The test strip is a porous membrane having disposed thereon (a) a separating agent capable of separating from whole blood, red blood cells and a fluid component substantially free of red blood cells; (b) an indicating reagent system capable of indicating the presence or concentration of an ...

A constant velocity joint of a tripod type comprising a housing formed with three recesses having first and second guide grooves each extending axially in the housing, a tripod comprising trunnions with a bearing assembly having an inner roller and an outer roller in a rolling contact relationship and the first and second guide grooves formed such that the outer roller is tightly pressed on the fi...

PCT No. PCT/JP97/04130 Sec. 371 Date Jul. 8, 1998 Sec. 102(e) Date Jul. 8, 1998 PCT Filed Nov. 13, 1997 PCT Pub. No. WO98/22829 PCT Pub. Date May 28, 1998In an IC device tester for testing IC devices held in contact with a test head, optical signals are employed for all signal exchanges between a tester mainframe and the test head and signal transmission lines therebetween are all formed by optica...

An apparatus (10) for calcining a material comprises a calcination vessel (10) which houses a heat exchanger (12). The heat exchanger (12) is arranged to transfer heat to the material from a liquid metal heat exchange fluid arranged to flow through the heat exchanger (12).

A charging valve for the pressure regulator of a pneumatic-type air gun comprises a closure element (50) in the form of a steel ball which is arranged to become accommodated within an elastomeric O-ring (48) to close the valve. The ball is of slightly greater diameter than the internal diameter of the O-ring, whereby a seal is created between the ball and an interior external surface of the O-ring...

A disinfectant, based on surfactant, lower alcohol and water, contains surfactant in the form of dodecyl-dimethyl ammonium bromide-urea clathrate (I), at ratio of components 18-22 wt.% (I), 18-22 wt.% lower alcohol and 54-64 wt.% water.

The invention concerns a pipe coupling comprising a couple of complementary coaxial elements (11, 12) one of which (12) includes a seal (52) the mobile cap (54) of which comprises a rear guide section (104) for enabling it to slide inside the tubular body (14) of the element and the peripheral wall of which comprises at least an axial adjusting passage which communicates the two elements (11, 12) ...

The invention concerns a pipe coupling (10) comprising a couple of complementary elements (11, 12) one of which (11) includes a tubular body (13) the rear end (15) of which is closed by a connecting piece (17) and by a seal (51) normally closed comprising a fixed cap (53) arranged at the free front end of a central rod (59) of the element; said central rod (59) comprises an internal axial channel ...

A data reader and method for data reading, such as a barcode scanner, wherein the scan pattern generating optics and other features are optimized for different modes of operation. In a preferred embodiment, different patterns are projected from different apertures in the scanner housing, one scan pattern optimized for handheld operation and the other optimized for fixed operation. Other optimizabl...

The present application relates to a boron compound in the form of fine particles characterized by being obtainable by dissolving one or more boron compounds selected from (1) to (3) described below in an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent and then precipitating in an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent: (1) a boron compound represented by the general formula: BQ1Q2Q3, (2) a boron compound represented by th...

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for measuring exercise condition, especially a method for measuring an exertion endurance indicator representing exercise condition of a subject to be measured, such as maximal oxygen uptake or any such exertion endurance indicator representing exercise condition. The method is characterized in that, in the method a predetermined calculati...

A method and an apparatus for protecting an integrated circuit from electrostatic discharge. In one embodiment, a voltage reduction circuit coupled to a termination circuit are coupled between a power supply and ground. The disclosed voltage reduction circuit utilizes a cantilevered diode string coupled to a clad network. Coupled to the voltage reduction circuit and the termination circuit is a vo...

A process for producing a vinyl polymer which comprises carrying out anionic polymerization under the condition that the polymerization temperature is not lower than 45° C. and not higher than 250° C. and the concentration of the vinyl monomer based on the polymerization solvent is 45-100% by weight, wherein the metal of the cation forming a counterpart to the carbonic anion at the polymerization ...

The present disclosure pertains to our discovery that residual stress residing in a tantalum film or tantalum nitride film can be controlled (tuned) by controlling particular process variables during film deposition. By tuning individual film stresses within a film stack, it is possible to balance stresses within the stack. Process variables of particular interest include: power to the sputtering ...