What is claimed is:
1. A data disc support assembly for supporting a data disc spinning around a central axis relative to a head disposed in a data reading and writing relationship with the disc, the data disc support assembly comprising:
a hub comprising first and second axial ends and a flange depending from the second axial end, the flange comprising a contact surface extending radially from the central axis between an inner contact surface radius and an outer contact surface radius and imparting a clamping force toward one surface of the disc; and
a clamp connected to the hub and comprising a contact surface imparting a clamping force toward an opposing surface of the disc, the clamp contact surface extending radially from the central axis between in inner contact surface radius and an outer contact surface radius, wherein the flange contact surface and the clamp contact surface are substantially equivalent and radially offset.
2. The data disc support assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of the contact surfaces comprises an arcuate surface acting along a substantially common radial distance from the central axis.
3. The data disc support assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of the contact surfaces comprises an annular surface acting along a substantially common radial distance from the central axis.
4. The data disc support assembly of claim 1 wherein the contact surfaces are offset such that the clamp contact surface acts along a radial distance relative to the central axis that is greater than that of the flange contact surface.
5. A disc drive comprising:
an enclosure;
a motor supported by the enclosure;
a data disc support assembly connected to the motor and spinning, in turn, a data disc in fixed rotation with the motor, the data disc support assembly comprising:
a hub comprising first and second axial ends and a flange depending from the second axial end, the flange comprising a contact surface extending radially from the central axis between an inner contact surface radius and an outer contact surface radius and imparting a clamping force toward one surface of the disc; and
a clamp connected to the hub and comprising a contact surface imparting a clamping force toward an opposing surface of the disc, the clamp contact surface extending radially from the central axis between an inner contact surface radius and an outer contact surface radius, wherein the flange contact surface and the clamp contact surface are substantially equivalent and radially offset.
6. The data disc support assembly of claim 5 wherein at least one of the contact surfaces comprises an arcuate surface acting along a substantially common radial distance from the central axis.
7. The data disc support assembly of claim 5 wherein at least one of the contact surfaces comprises an annular surface acting along a substantially common radial distance from the central axis.
8. The data disc support assembly of claim 5 wherein the contact surfaces are offset such that the clamp contact surface acts along a radial distance relative to the central axis that is greater than the flange contact surface.
9. A disc drive comprising:
a motor spinning a data disc in a data reading and writing relationship with a readwrite head; and
connecting means for connecting the data disc to the motor by offsetting opposing axial forces to reduce disc deformation.
10. The disc drive of claim 9 wherein the motor comprises a spinable hub having a first axial end and a second axial end, the second axial end comprising a flange contact surface defining the radial plane at which clamping axial force is imparted to the data disc in attaching the data disc in a fixed rotation with the motor.
11. The disc drive of claim 10 wherein the first axial end of the hub supports a clamp, the clamp comprising a contact surface defining the radial plane at which clamping axial force is imparted to the data disc in attaching the data disc in a fixed rotation with the motor.
12. The disc drive of claim 11 wherein the flange contact surface radial plane is substantially different than the clamp contact surface radial plane providing the offsetting opposing axial forces.
13. The disc drive of claim 12 wherein the contact surfaces extend radially from the central axis substantially an equivalent length.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1-7. (canceled)
8. An apparatus for managing traffic lights, comprising:
a sampling device configured to sample a first signal having a predefined characteristic and emitted by a vehicle;
a processing system configured to perform:
receiving a route to be taken by the vehicle;
identifying an intersection on the route;
identifying a first traffic light controlling, at the intersection, traffic going in a direction to be followed by the vehicle upon arriving at the intersection, according to the route;
identifying a second traffic light controlling, at the intersection, traffic going in another direction;
receiving a first signal sample of the first signal received by the sampling device;
determining, from an analysis of the first signal sample, whether the vehicle is approaching;
upon the vehicle approaching,
instructing the second traffic light to change its state to block traffic and
instructing the first traffic light to change its state to authorize traffic to facilitate passage of the vehicle at the intersection.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein
the analysis of the first signal sample is based upon a function of a measure of a Doppler Effect in the first signal sample.
10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processing system is further configured to perform:
determining, from an analysis of a second signal sample, whether the vehicle is going away from the intersection; and
upon a determination that the vehicle is going away from the intersection, instructing the first and second traffic lights to resume normal behaviour.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein
the analysis of the second signal sample is based upon a function of a measure of the Doppler Effect in the second signal sample.
12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein
the first signal is an audio signal have a predefined frequency, and
the sampling device includes a microphone including a band pass filter centred on the predefined frequency.
13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein
the first signal is a light signal pulsed at a predefined frequency, and
the sampling device includes a camera.
14. A computer program product comprising a computer usable storage medium having stored therein computer usable program code for managing traffic lights, the computer usable program code, which when executed by a computer processing system, causes the computer processing system to perform:
receiving a route to be taken by a vehicle equipped to emit a first signal having a predefined characteristic;
identifying an intersection on the route, the intersection including a sampling device configured to sample the first signal emitted by the vehicle;
identifying a first traffic light controlling, at the intersection, traffic going in a direction to be followed by the vehicle upon arriving at the intersection, according to the route;
identifying a second traffic light controlling, at the intersection, traffic going in another direction;
receiving a first signal sample of the first signal received by the sampling device;
determining, from an analysis of the first signal sample, whether the vehicle is approaching;
upon the vehicle approaching,
instructing the second traffic light to change its state to block traffic and
instructing the first traffic light to change its state to authorize traffic to facilitate passage of the vehicle at the intersection.
15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein
the analysis of the first signal sample is based upon a function of a measure of a Doppler Effect in the first signal sample.
16. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the computer processing system is further configured to perform:
determining, from an analysis of a second signal sample, whether the vehicle is going away from the intersection; and
upon a determination that the vehicle is going away from the intersection, instructing the first and second traffic lights to resume normal behaviour.
17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein
the analysis of the second signal sample is based upon a function of a measure of the Doppler Effect in the second signal sample.
18. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein
the first signal is an audio signal have a predefined frequency, and
the sampling device includes a microphone including a band pass filter centred on the predefined frequency.
19. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein
the first signal is a light signal pulsed at a predefined frequency, and
the sampling device includes a camera.
20. The computer program product of claim 14, further comprising
broadcasting, using a broadcasting device positioned at the intersection, a second signal including information about the vehicle, wherein
the information comprises:
current GPS coordinates of the vehicle; andor
an estimate of a current speed of the vehicle.