Methods and systems for automatically aligning a power-transmitting inductor with a power-receiving inductor. One embodiment includes multiple permanent magnets coupled to and arranged on a surface of a movable assembly accommodating a power-transmitting inductor. The permanent magnets encourage the movable assembly to freely move and/or rotate via magnetic attraction to correspondingly arranged magnets within an accessory containing a power-receiving inductor.

A method for fabricating magnetic cores, wherein the magnetic cores have at least two materials with different magnetic properties. The materials are selected from a ferrite material, an oxide ceramic material and a superparamagnetic material and are formed alternately in individual regions along the magnetic core.

A conductor assembly and method for making an assembly of the type which, when conducting current, generates a magnetic field or which, in the presence of a changing magnetic field, induces a voltage. In one series of embodiments the assembly comprises a spiral configuration, positioned along paths in a series of concentric cylindrical planes, with a continuous series of connected turns, each turn including a first arc, a second arc and first and second straight segments connected to one another by the first arc. Each of the first and second straight segments in a turn is spaced apart from an adjacent straight segment in an adjoining turn.

A method and apparatus discloses a tray configured to house a hard-disk drive (“HDD”) using at least one semi-flexible anchoring strip. An HDD assembly device, in one aspect, includes a tray, a U-shaped semi-flexible anchoring frame, and an HDD. The tray has a base, a front panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel, wherein the first side panel and the second side panel includes tracks along longitudinal edges of the first and the second side panels. The U-shaped semi-flexible anchoring frame includes a front piece, a first strip, and a second strip, wherein the first strip is configured to fit in the track of the first side panel allowing the first strip to slide along the track of the first side panel. The HDD has at least two mounting holes on each side and able to seat in the U-shaped semi-flexible anchoring frame.

Methods for manufacturing magnetoresistive devices are presented in which isolation of magnetic layers in the magnetoresistive stack is achieved by oxidizing exposed sidewalls of the magnetic layers prior to subsequent etching steps. Etching the magnetic layers using a non-reactive gas further prevents degradation of the sidewalls.

An HGA loader provides HGAs, in succession, to a multiple workstation head tester. An HGAs carrier station receives HGAs to be tested. An alignment station on the base includes an alignment surface which selectively rotates about an alignment axis. A camera generates images of an HGA on the alignment surface, which is rotated so that the HGA has a desired spatial orientation which is maintained as the HGA is transferred to an HGA testing workstation. A received, oriented HGA is positioned to enable read/write test operations on a disk rotating on an adjacent spinstand. To effect the successive position operations, a transporter includes a track overlying the workstations, and a carriage movable along the track, to pass from workstation to workstations. The loader is automatically operative under the control of a controller.

A retaining clip that provides a method for securing electrical connections between male and female electrical connectors is disclosed. Current locking mechanisms are on both the electrical plug and the connector. These locking mechanisms often break when disconnecting the plug. Some embodiments of the present invention eliminate the need for the locking mechanisms. Furthermore, in cases where the mechanisms have been broken, some embodiments provide a method for reusing the electrical plug and/or the connector.

A modulated inductance module includes an inductor including one or more electrical conductors disposed around a ferromagnetic ceramic element formed on a semiconductor die, wherein the inductor further has two or more metal oxides having fluctuations in metal-oxide compositional uniformity less than or equal to 1.50 mol % throughout said ceramic element, the ceramic element has crystalline grain structure having a diameter that is less than or equal to 1.5× a mean grain diameter, and the semiconductor die contains active semiconductor switches or rectifying components that are in electrical communication with the one or more electrical conductors of the inductor.

An integrated transformer includes a primary winding and a secondary winding each having a spiral planar arrangement coils. A dielectric portion of dielectric material is interposed between the primary winding and the secondary winding. A field plate winding is electrically coupled with the primary winding. The field plate winding includes at least one field plate coil having a first lateral extension greater than a second lateral extension of a primary outer coil of the primary winding. The field plate coil is superimposed in plan view to the primary outer coil of the primary winding.

A method according to one embodiment includes forming at least two write transducers for writing to a magnetic medium, the at least two write transducers being positioned adjacent each other and aligned along a line; and forming a shield structure having shields adjacent at least three sides of each of the at least two write transducers, the shields being formed of a magnetically-permeable material.