A method for controlling a centrifuge blood component separation system for separating components of a blood product, the separation system comprising a centrifuge and a separation bag and at least one transfer bag. The method comprises selecting a nominal hematocrit value such that an actual hematocrit value is expected to be less than said nominal hematocrit; centrifuging a separation bag containing a volume of composite liquid so as to cause the sedimentation of at least a first component and a second component; transferring some of the first component to a first transfer bag; detecting time of passage of a red blood cell interface at a pre-selected location in the separation bag; and adjusting a predicted processing time based on the time of passage of the red blood cell interface.

A heat-sensitive color-developing composition containing a hydroxyquinoline compound having a methyl group and an acid anhydride compound represented by general formula (1): wherein ring A represents a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon ring, and n represents an integer of 1 to 3, and a heat-sensitive recording material containing the composition in a recording layer.

Systems and methods for controlling the damping of magnetic media for heat assisted magnetic recording are provided. One such system includes a heat sink layer, a growth layer on the heat sink layer, a magnetic recording layer on the growth layer, where the growth layer is configured to facilitate a growth of a preselected crystalline structure of the magnetic recording layer, and a capping magnetic recording layer on the magnetic recording layer, the capping recording layer including a first material configured to increase a damping constant of the capping recording layer to a first preselected level.

A hermetic terminal for an active implantable medical device (AIMD), includes an RF distance telemetry pin antenna, a capacitor conductively coupled between the antenna and a ground for the AIMD, and an inductor electrically disposed in parallel with the capacitor and conductively coupled between the antenna and a ground for the AIMD. The capacitor and the inductor form a band pass filter for attenuating electromagnetic signals through the antenna except at a selected frequency band. Values of capacitance and inductance are selected such that the band pass filter is resonant at the selected frequency band. In an alternative form, the band pass filter is coupled in series with the telemetry pin antenna for attenuating MRI signals of a selected frequency band.

The burr hole plug comprises a plug base configured for being mounted around a burr hole, and having an aperture through which an elongated medical device exiting the burr hole may pass. The burr hole plug further comprises a retainer configured for being mounted within the plug base aperture. The retainer includes a retainer support, a slot formed in the retainer support for receiving the medical device, and a clamping mechanism having a clamping bar and a flange slidably engaged with the retainer support to laterally slide the clamping bar to secure the medical device. A method comprises introducing the medical device through the burr hole, mounting the plug base around the burr hole, mounting the retainer within the plug base aperture, receiving the medical device into the slot, and sliding the slidable flange relative to the retainer support to laterally slide to secure the medical device.

In a wet spinning spinneret comprising a housing which, together with a spinneret plate mounted to the underside thereof, forms a chamber adapted to be supplied with a spinning solution, the spinneret plate having nozzle openings in at least an annular region, and a displacing member arranged inside the chamber above the spinneret plate, which member directs the spinning solution towards the annular zone, it is provided that the displacing member (VK) is attached at a support (TP) arranged upstream of the spinneret plate (SP), seen in the flow direction of the spinning liquid.

A core-pin assembly composed of a primary core-pin and at least one secondary core-pin. The primary core-pin has a primary core-pin body defining at least one element for coupling with a mating end of at least one secondary core-pin. The secondary core-pin has a mating end and a secondary core-pin body. The mating end is configured to fit with the element defined in the primary core-pin body such that the primary core-pin and the secondary core-pin(s) reversibly join together to form a branching structure. The assembly may further include at least one tertiary core-pin and the secondary core-pin body may define at least one element for coupling with a mating end of at least one tertiary core-pin. The mating end of the tertiary core pin is configured to fit with the secondary core-pin body such that the primary core-pin, secondary and tertiary core-pin(s) reversibly join together forming a branching structure.

An apparatus and method for the shaping of plastics material pre-forms into plastics material containers with at least one blow moulding station which is arranged on a conveying device rotatable about a pre-set axis of rotation (D). The blow moulding station has a blow mould and this blow mould forms a cavity in the interior of which the plastics material pre-forms are capable of being expanded by being acted upon with a gaseous medium to form the plastics material containers, with a stressing device, which acts upon the plastics material pre-forms with the gaseous medium in order to expand them, and with a clean room, which surrounds the blow moulding station at least in part. The clean room is bounded off from an environment by at least two walls which are movable relative to one another.

The disclosure provides an apparatus and method utilizing fuel reactor comprised of a fuel section, an oxygen carrier section, and a porous divider separating the fuel section and the oxygen carrier section. The porous divider allows fluid communication between the fuel section and the oxygen carrier section while preventing the migration of solids of a particular size. Maintaining particle segregation between the oxygen carrier section and the fuel section during solid fuel gasification and combustion processes allows gases generated in either section to participate in necessary reactions while greatly mitigating issues associated with mixture of the oxygen carrier with char or ash products. The apparatus and method may be utilized with an oxygen uncoupling oxygen carrier such as CuO, Mn3O4, or Co3O4, or utilized with a CO/H2 reducing oxygen carrier such as Fe2O3.

A combustion chamber is provided and includes a combustion device and a supply circuit arranged to feed fuel at a plurality of locations of the combustion device. The supply circuit includes manifolds collecting fuel to be distributed among at least some of the locations, ducts extending from the manifolds and feeding the locations. Some of the ducts carry valves having a plurality of predetermined working positions, each working position corresponding to a different fuel flow through the valve.

A tuning pin having a threaded portion is provided with grooves formed in the direction substantially perpendicular to a screw winding direction of the threaded portion. In accordance with another embodiment, the pitch of the screw threads varies on at least part of the threaded portion.

For use with a percussion instrument, the combination comprises a clamp base to support the percussion instrument, a clamp jaw, adjustable connector structure connecting the jaw to the base for displacing the jaw toward and away from the base, and clamping structure carried on at least one of the jaw and the base to be clamped against a support member in response to relative clamping displacement of the jaw and base, whereby adjustment of the structure accommodates to clamping of different size support members by clamping structure.

A method includes selecting a subset k of N accessible antennas to use to process a transmission received at the N antennas and sent by a user equipment, and processing the transmission from the user equipment at least by using baseband information from the k antennas. An apparatus includes one or more processors and one or more memories including computer program code. The one or more memories and the computer program code are configured to, with the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: selecting a subset k of N accessible antennas to use to process a transmission received at the N antennas and sent by a user equipment; and processing the transmission from the user equipment at least by using baseband information from the k antennas. Additional apparatus, computer programs, and computer program products are disclosed.

Methods and systems for conveying or transmitting to any given user in an OFDMA-MU-MIMO system scheduling information of other co-scheduled users to permit the user to perform error-correction on received data and/or interference reduction on its received signals. The scheduling information can include resource block assignment, modulation constellations employed, coding rates employed, power levels utilized and precoder matrix indices used. Further, the scheduling information can be conveyed in part through dedicated reference symbol layers or pilot streams. Moreover, a base station may transmit a preliminary estimate of the total number of users the base station expects to schedule, or an upper-bound on the total number of users, to the MU-MIMO users to permit the MU-MIMO users to determine preferred precoder matrix indices and indications of channel quality indices.

A hydraulic damper for providing fluid damping to a tensioner in a drive system that includes a damper cup, which is mounted to the tensioner and configured to rotate about a central axle in tandem with the tensioner, an end plate having an outer face and an inner face, which is attached to the damper cup forming a fluid chamber, a peg attached to the end plate and extending away from the inner face and toward the damping cup, a damping fluid, which is contained within the fluid chamber, a plurality of shear plates housed within the fluid chamber comprising alternating fixed plates engaged with a fixed component of the tensioner and rotatable plates engaged with a rotatable component of the tensioner where the peg extends through openings in each of the shear plates allowing for rotation of the rotatable plate with the rotation of the peg.

The disclosed apparatus, system and method relate to a shaft-actuated spindle mixer where the spindle mixer includes a motor and at least one motor switch enclosed in a mixer housing. A spindle shaft extends from the housing and is mechanically connected to the motor. The motor is mounted to a moveable mixer component such that the spindle shaft can be displaced to thereby causing the associated movement of the enclosed motor and moveable mixer component to which the motor is mounted. Movement of the movable mixer component actuates a switch. Actuating the switch causes the selective activation of the mixer motor. Activating the mixer motor rotates the spindle shaft. The disclosed apparatus and method provide for the optional one-handed operation of a spindle mixer, eliminate the need for a user or a cup to directly contact a switch to engage the spindle mixer, and further provides for the sanitary operation of a spindle mixer.

Disclosed is a tap driver and tap driver system for rigid tapping, which includes a unique flexure system. In some embodiments, an integrated flexure component and housing configuration provides and may provide both a more economical and a universal configuration of the tap driver flexure component that allows the central body to be integrated with and into different types of tap drivers.

A clinch-type fastener is formed by simultaneously creating an undercut during the same forging that creates the head and displacer of the fastener. A fastener blank is compressed end-to-end between top and bottom dies whereby the axial compression of a blank causes the outward bulging of the shank at its midline. Simultaneously, a tapered end point and a tangential interference band are formed provided by a curvilinear-shaped bulge in the shank. As the bulge is formed an undercut is created between the bulge and a shoulder which extends downwardly from a head of the fastener. This method of formation and the fastener produced thereby are particularly suited to the manufacture of small clinch pins having a diameter in the range of 1.0 mm.

A radial tapping attachment for a motor-driven tool includes an enclosed, box-shaped housing, a main shaft assembly adapted to retain a tap, a drive mechanism rotatably driven by the tool and a guide member assembly for supporting an object to be tapped. The main shaft assembly includes a main shaft rotatably coupled to the housing by a pair of bearings, a pair of spaced apart discs fixedly mounted on the main shaft, and a pair of axially mounted compression springs that allow for slight, bi-directional, axial displacement of the main shaft relative to the housing. The drive mechanism includes a drive shaft rotatably coupled to the housing at an approximate right angle relative to the main shaft and a drive wheel mounted on the drive shaft that selectively engages the pair of discs to rotate the main shaft in either direction when an axial force is applied to the tap.

Methods of shaping a glass sheet each include a step of removing a first portion of the glass sheet to form a first beveled surface. The methods further include the step of removing a second portion of the glass sheet to form a second beveled surface. The methods still further include the step of removing a third portion of the glass sheet comprising a remainder of an end surface of an edge portion of the glass sheet. In further examples, glass sheets are also provided with a first bevel surface intersecting a first glass-sheet surface and an apex surface, and a second bevel surface intersecting a second glass-sheet surface and the apex surface. The glass sheet exhibits a probability of failure of less than 5% at an edge stress of 135 MPa.

An abrasive article including a base having an annular shape defining a central opening; and a mounting assembly coupled to the base, wherein a portion of the mounting assembly is under a compressive force, and a grinding segment coupled to the mounting member.

Flat-surfaced workpieces such as semiconductor wafers or sapphire disks are attached to a rotatable floating workpiece holder carrier that is supported by a pressurized-air flexible elastomer sealed air-chamber device and is rotationally driven by a lug-pin device. The rotating wafer carrier rotor is restrained by a set of idlers that are attached to a stationary housing to provide rigid support against abrading forces. The abrading system can be operated at the very high abrading speeds used in high speed flat lapping with raised-island abrasive disks. The range of abrading pressures is large and the device can provide a wide range of torque to rotate the workholder. Vacuum can also be applied to the elastomer chamber to quickly move the wafer away from the abrading surface. Internal constraints limit the axial, lateral and circumferential motion of the workholder. Wafers can be quickly attached to the workpiece carrier with vacuum.

An apparatus for shaping an edge of an aerofoil, the apparatus having first and second brushes and each brush having a plurality of bristles. A first motor rotates the first brush about a first axis and a second motor rotates the second brush about a second axis. The axes are arranged substantially parallel to the bristles of the respective brush. A support structure holds the first brush such that the first axis intersects a first surface of the edge of the aerofoil and holds the second brush such that the second axis intersects a second surface of the edge of the aerofoil. There are means to produce relative movement the first and second brushes and the aerofoil such that the first and second brushes move longitudinally along the edge of the aerofoil to shape the edge of the aerofoil.

A shaping machine system including a shaping device and a computer is provided. The shaping device includes at least one jig mount body configured for mounting a jig; a shaping tool support body configured for supporting a shaping tool; a first drive device configured for rotating the shaping tool; and a second drive device configured for driving the shaping tool support body or the at least one jig mount body or changing a posture of the shaping tool relative to the workpiece. The computer is configured for controlling the first and second drive devices according to predetermined shaping data. The computer includes a jig position measuring unit configured for measuring a position of the jig; a position error detecting unit configured for detecting a position error of the jig, and a shaping data correcting unit configured for correcting the predetermined shaping data according to a jig position error.

The invention relates to a machine tool (1), comprising a plurality of fixed tool spindles (3) and such that can optionally be displaced from a retracted idle position to an extended working position and can be positioned at different positions in a frame-like rack (2), and a workpiece carrier (4) with at least one workpiece holder (5), with the workpiece (4) carrier being movable at least in several axes in a translational manner and preferably also in a rotational manner. In order to provide advantageous constructional conditions it is proposed that at least one of the tool spindles (3) is associated with a tool magazine (7) plus tool changer (8).

Loads that act on all the bearings that support a main spindle are derived from a variation in the state of the main spindle and, in addition, raceway surface contact pressures of the respective bearings are analyzed, so it is possible to accurately keep track of the state of each bearing. Then, when the raceway surface contact pressure exceeds a corresponding threshold, a machining condition is changed to execute control such that the raceway surface contact pressure does not exceed the corresponding threshold, and, furthermore, when the raceway surface contact pressure exceeds the corresponding threshold even when the machining condition is changed, the main spindle is controlled to stop, so it is possible to prevent a seizure of each bearing. Thus, it is possible to improve machining accuracy by controlling the main spindle with high accuracy.

In a cutting tool for chip removing machining a holder for a cutter has a body received therein and movable with surfaces to bear against the cutter for defining the position of the cutter in the direction of an intended axis of rotation of the holder as well as a screw which may be screwed in a threaded bore in the holder. Spring members are arranged to act between the holder and the body for biasing the body against said screw portions.

The invention relates to an indexable insert (1) for fitting in supporting tools (5) for the machining of workpieces, with an upper side (2) and an underside (3), on which clamping recesses are arranged, and with a circumferential geometry (4) joining the upper side (2) and the underside (3), wherein cutting corners and cutting edges (6) are arranged at the transition from the upper side (2) and the underside (3) to the circumferential geometry (4). In order that the clamping situation during machining is improved significantly, and at the same time the introduction of the clamping recesses is made easier, it is proposed that the clamping recess consists of grooves (10) which are arranged on two crossing straight lines (11), wherein the two straight lines (11) run at right angles in relation to each other and all the grooves (10) are arranged at the same distance from the center axis or longitudinal axis (12) of the indexable insert (1), and the crossing point (13) of the two straight lines (11) lies on the center axis or longitudinal axis (12) of the indexable insert (1).

A cutting insert (14) is formed with an insert aperture (32) opening out to insert top and bottom surfaces (14A, 14B) of the cutting insert (14). In a plan view of the insert top surface (14A), the cutting insert (14) and the insert aperture (32) both have oblong shapes which are elongated along a common insert longitudinal axis (AIL). The aperture (32) includes first and second side surfaces (32A1, 32A2) which each extend along the insert longitudinal axis (AIL), and aperture first and second end surfaces (32B1, 32B2) which each extend transverse relative to the insert longitudinal axis (AIL). At least one of the aperture first and second end surfaces (32B1, 32B2) is formed with a clamping lip (32C1, 32C2).

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.

The present invention relates generally to a home therapy system for aiding spinal cord decompression and for treating related health issues. More specifically, the present invention teaches a garment system combining an upper portion and lower portion. According to a preferred embodiment, the upper portion includes a head band and yoke for cervical vertebra disc decompression and for aiding in treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea by repositioning and opening up breathing airways. Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment, the lower portion includes vertical decompression straps attached to leg bands and extending over the shoulders for thoracic and lumbar disc decompression by arching the spinal column back and opening the vertebra.

A polyester resin is a polycondensate obtained by reacting a divalent alcohol, a divalent carboxylic acid, and a mono- or divalent rosin by the use of a zinc compound as a reaction catalyst.

A spinal implant includes a wave spring configured to surround a nucleus. The spring may be formed from a shape memory material. The implant may further include an artificial nucleus configured to simulate a disc nucleus.

A spinal fixation device includes a housing and a plurality of blades. Each blade includes a body having a central opening configured to rotate on a shaft within the housing. Control openings on opposing sides of the central opening are sized to engage prongs of a rotating tool. At least one cutting extension with a sharp leading edge extends from the body in an orientation about an axis of the shaft. Upon rotation of the blade by the rotating tool about the shaft in a direction in which the at least one cutting extension is oriented, the at least one cutting extension will break an endplate of a vertebra and hook into the vertebra.

The present invention relates to an image-based, patient-specific medical spinal surgery technique and to a spinal prosthesis used in the surgery, and particularly, to an image-based, patient-specific medical spinal surgery technique and to a spinal prosthesis which are intended to solve a problem of damage to a spine caused by installing a spinal prosthesis used in spinal surgery, by introducing an image of a patient to manufacture an insertable spinal prosthesis that is customized for a shape of a spine of an individual patient in a polymer-based material.

Spinal fixation plates for maintaining adjacent vertebrae in and fixed position are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the plate includes opposed superior and inferior portions that are angled in a direction anterior to an anterior face of a mid-portion of the plate. The plate also includes a curvature formed therein about a longitudinal axis in a sagittal plane thereof. In use, when the plate is attached to adjacent vertebrae, the angle of the superior and inferior portions and the curvature in the plate are effective to position one or more thru-bores formed in the superior and inferior portions at the anterior rims of the adjacent vertebrae. In another embodiment, a spinal fixation plate is provided that is adapted to engage and mate to a fusion cage or other vertebral implant disposed between adjacent vertebra. The present invention also provides spinal fixation kits or assemblies, and methods for implanting the same.

An induction melting furnace having an asymmetrical sloping bottom. The melting furnace includes: an induction coil member provided on the melting furnace so as to melt waste contained in the furnace by vitrification; a bottom unit provided in a lower part of the melting furnace, the bottom unit asymmetrically sloping downward in a direction toward a glass discharge port that is formed through the bottom unit; and a cooling member integrated with the bottom unit. Due to the asymmetrical sloping bottom of the furnace, waste in the furnace can be completely melted and can be easily discharged to the outside and, accordingly, the time and cost required to treat the waste are reduced and this improves work efficiency when treating the waste. Further, due to the insulation material, the melting furnace can be protected from electric damage that may be caused by electric arc.

A device for damping vibrations in a drive train, in particular for plug screws in the pulp and paper industries. The device is principally characterized in that a cylindrical shaft, preferably designed as a hollow shaft, is provided, wherein the cylindrical shaft is arranged between the halves of a coupling and at least one ring having friction surfaces is arranged around the cylindrical shaft. Stick-slip vibrations that occur can thereby be favorably eliminated, and thus the gearbox and the motor of the drive train can be protected.

A system and methods are provided for controlling a motor of a rod pumping system using previous RPMs of the motor and predicting an RPM of the motor; correcting a power factor of a motor of a rod pumping system; allocating energy consumption and allocating energy generation for a set of wells connected to an electricity meter using an amount of energy generated by each well; and generating an alert if a set of data is beyond a threshold for the set of data.

A spindle structure for an optical disc and an optical disc drive employing the spindle structure are provided. The spindle structure includes a spindle motor having a rotation axis, a spindle that is coupled to the rotation axis, and a sliding cone coupled to the spindle and inserted into a center hole of the optical disc. The sliding cone includes a plurality of hook-shaped guide rods extended toward the spindle, and the spindle includes guide holes, to which the plurality of hook-shaped guide rods are inserted into and coupled.

A turn table for a spindle motor and a spindle motor having the turn table are provided, the turn table for a spindle motor according to an exemplary embodiment comprising a clamping plate configured to have a locking protrusion protruding from an inner surface of a first recess thereof, the first recess being concavely formed in an outer circumference of the clamping plate; and a turn-table body configured to have a second recess to receive the clamping plate, and a plurality of protrusions protruding from an inner surface defined by the second recess towards the first recess to lock the locking protrusion.

A turn table of a spindle motor is provided, wherein an outer diameter of a vertical portion at the disk insertion unit facing an inner periphery of a small-diameter disk is smaller by 0.01% to 0.15% than the inner periphery of the small-diameter disk to enable a chucking of the small-diameter disk having an inner diameter of an inner periphery smaller than 15 mm.

A machine which provides for both leaf stripping and grading can be used to process plants, such as burley tobacco plants, by continuously moving the plants in a first direction while simultaneously varying the position of the plants in a second direction relative to a defoliating apparatus. The plants may be moved horizontally through a machine by a transporter engaging the plant stalks while the vertical distance between the transporter (and thus the plants) is varied relative to the defoliating apparatus. The transporter and defoliating apparatus may be positioned at an angle to one another. Due to the changing amount of vertical distance, leaves from different sections of the plants, such as leaves at different stalk heights, can be contacted and removed at different corresponding horizontal locations in the machine. Accordingly, leaves can be graded based on the location(s) from which they are retrieved after removal.

A method and a system for separating the spinal column from a carcass middle part, comprising the steps of providing a digital representation of an outer surface of the carcass middle on the basis of, e.g., an optical scan, determining a cutting path (1c) for a cutting device for the separation of the spinal column from the carcass middle on the basis of digital processing of the scan, and subsequently separating the spinal column from the carcass middle by causing a relative movement between the middle and the cutting device and simultaneously causing the cutting device to engage the carcass middle, wherein the relative movement between the middle and the cutting device during the spinal column separation to achieve a cut along the predetermined cutting path (1c).

The present invention provides a shipping method for guaranteeing that an article for shipping has remained sealed with a seal and has remained unopened. Specifically, first, the sender is asked to enter a signature on a seal. Because of the pressure from a writing implement at time of entering, the signature is copied to a sheet for verification. An article for shipping is sealed with a seal and transported to a recipient. The signature on the seal is verified against the signature on the sheet for verification. By confirming that the two match, it is confirmed that the seal has not been replaced. Thus it is guaranteed that the article for shipping has remained sealed with the seal and has remained unopened.

Mechanisms and methods for clamping force generation are described. In one embodiment, a clamping force generator system includes a permanent magnet bearing coupled to a traction ring and to a torque coupling. The traction ring can be provided with an electromagnetic bearing rotor and the torque coupling can be provided with an electromagnetic bearing stator. In some embodiments, a mechanical load cam, a permanent magnet bearing, and an electromagnetic bearing cooperate to generate a clamping force between the traction rings, the power rollers, and the idler. In other embodiments, a series of permanent magnet bearings and a mechanical bearing are configured to produce a clamping force. In one embodiment an electromagnetic bearing is coupled to a control system and produces an optimal clamping force that is associated with a torque transmitted in the transmission during operation. In some embodiments, a mechanical load cam produces a clamping force proportional to torque, while a permanent magnet bearing provides a minimum clamping force.

A novel information storage device is disclosed and claimed. The information storage device includes a device housing with a generally rectangular bay to accommodate a disk drive. The generally rectangular bay includes a base portion and a plurality of side portions. The information storage device further includes a damping insert sheet disposed between the disk drive and the base portion. The damping insert sheet has a plurality of elastomeric cushions, for example with a cushion thickness in the range 0.5 mm to 10 mm, and a spanning sheet, for example having a sheet thickness in the range 0.02 mm to 0.35 mm. Each of the plurality of elastomeric cushions is attached to the spanning sheet. Each of the plurality of elastomeric cushions contacts and is compressed between the generally rectangular bay and the disk drive.

In one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a lower shield, a magnetoresistive (MR) film positioned above the lower shield, the MR film including a pinned layer, an intermediate layer positioned above the pinned layer, and a free layer positioned above the intermediate layer, the free layer being configured for sensing data on a magnetic medium, wherein a track width of the MR film is defined by a width of the free layer in a cross-track direction, a bias layer positioned on both sides of the MR film in the cross-track direction, a track insulating film positioned on both sides of the MR film in the cross-track direction and between the MR film and the bias layer, and an upper shield positioned above the bias layer and the MR film, wherein a length of the free layer in an element height direction perpendicular to an air bearing surface of the magnetic head is less than a length of the pinned layer in the element height direction.

A magnetic read sensor having an antiferromagnetic located embedded within a magnetic shield of the sensor so that the antiferromagnetic layer can pin the magnetization of the pinned layer without contributing to read gap thickness. The sensor is configured with a pinned layer having a free layer structure located within an active area of the sensor and a pinned layer that extends beyond the free layer and active area of the sensor. The antiferromagnetic layer can be located outside of the active and exchange coupled with the extended portion of the pinned layer.

A vibration-damping plain bearing composite comprising a sliding layer, a dimensionally stable support layer and an elastic layer. In one embodiment, the dimensionally stable support layer is arranged between the sliding layer and the elastic layer; in another embodiment, the elastic layer is arranged between the sliding layer and the dimensionally stable support layer. The bearing composites are characterized that a ratio of the thickness of the elastic layer tEL to a thickness of the sliding layer tSL is at least 3.