Author: claimsbot

1. An electronic device comprising:
a piezoelectric element;
a sound generating unit that is vibrated by the piezoelectric element and generates a vibration sound to be transmitted while vibrating part of a human body; and
a detection unit that detects contact of the part of the human body with the sound generating unit, wherein
a volume of the vibration sound is changed corresponding to a detection result of the detection unit.
2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein
the detection unit detects a contact position of the part of the human body with the sound generating unit, and
the volume of the vibration sound is changed corresponding to the contact position detected by the detection unit.
3. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein
the volume of the vibration sound increases as the contact position approaches one end of the sound generating unit, and
the volume of the vibration sound decreases as the contact position approaches the other end of the sound generating unit.
4. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the volume of the vibration sound is changed to a sound volume associated with a position on the sound generating unit.
5. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the volume of the vibration sound is changed corresponding to a movement amount of the contact position with time.
6. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein
the detection unit detects a pressing force of the part of the human body against the sound generating unit, and
the volume of the vibration sound is changed corresponding to the pressing force.
7. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein
the volume of the vibration sound increases as the pressing force increases, and
the volume of the vibration sound decreases as the pressing force decreases.
8. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein
the detection unit detects a contact area of the part of the human body with the sound generating unit, and
the volume of the vibration sound is changed corresponding to a size of the contact area detected by the detection unit.
9. The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein
the volume of the vibration sound increases as the contact area increases, and
the volume of the vibration sound decreases as the contact area decreases.
10. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein
the volume of the vibration sound is changed corresponding to a change in the contact position in a first direction, and
tone of the vibration sound is changed corresponding to a change in the contact position in a second direction.
11. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein
the piezoelectric element is provided near an end in a longitudinal direction of the sound generating unit,
the first direction is the longitudinal direction of the sound generating unit, and
the second direction is a lateral direction of the sound generating unit.
12. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the volume of the vibration sound is changed when the part of the human body is an ear.
13. The electronic device according to claim 12, wherein
the detection unit detects a contact range of the part of the human body with the sound generating unit, and
the detection unit determines whether the part of the human body is the ear based on the detected contact range.
14. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein a region of the sound generating unit to be vibrated is larger than a region having a length corresponding to a distance between an inferior crus of antihelix and an antitragus of a human ear and a width corresponding to a distance between a tragus and an antihelix.
15. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the sound generating unit configures part of or the entire of any of a display panel, an operation panel, a cover panel, and a lid panel for enabling a rechargeable battery to be removable.
16. The electronic device according to claim 15, wherein
the sound generating unit is the display panel, and
the piezoelectric element is arranged outside of a display region for a display function of the display panel.
17. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein deformation for transmitting an air conduction sound and a human body vibration sound is generated at any portion of the sound generating unit.
18. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein
the sound generating unit comprises a plurality of portions vibrated in a direction intersecting with a principal plane of the sound generating unit in a vibrating region thereof, and
a value of an amplitude of the vibration is changed from positive to negative or vice versa with time, at each of the portions.
19. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the sound generating unit is vibrated by the piezoelectric element and generates an air conduction sound and the vibration sound.
20. A control method performed by an electronic device comprising a sound generating unit and a piezoelectric element, the control method comprising:
vibrating the sound generating unit with the piezoelectric element to cause the sound generating unit to generate a vibration sound to be transmitted while vibrating part of a human body;
detecting contact of the part of the human body with the sound generating unit; and changing a volume of the vibration sound corresponding to a detection result at the detecting.
21. A non-transitory storage medium that stores a control program that causes, when executed by an electronic device comprising a sound generating unit and a piezoelectric element, the electronic device to execute:
vibrating the sound generating unit with the piezoelectric element to cause the sound generating unit to generate a vibration sound to be transmitted while vibrating part of a human body;
detecting contact of the part of the human body with the sound generating unit; and changing a volume of the vibration sound corresponding to a detection result at the detecting.

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. An apparatus comprising an optical element for receiving an input of optical energy and distributing the optical energy into a first output and a second output, wherein the optical element comprises;
(a) a first surface;
(b) a second surface; and
(c) a movable membrane, wherein the movable membrane interposes the first surface and the second surface;
wherein the first surface and the membrane are substantially parallel and form a first optically resonant cavity having a first cavity length, and wherein the first cavity length varies in response to an environmental stimulus;
wherein the second surface and the membrane are substantially parallel and form a second optically resonant cavity having a second cavity length, and wherein the second cavity length varies in response to the environmental stimulus; and
wherein the ratio of optical energy in the first output to the optical energy in the second output is a function of the first cavity length and the second cavity length.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a first photodetector for providing a first electrical signal based on the optical energy in the first output.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:
a second photodetector for providing a second electrical signal based on the optical energy in the second output; and
a processor for receiving the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal and providing a composite output signal based on the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the optical element interposes the first photodetector and the second photodetector.
5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the first photodetector and the second photodetector are disposed on the same side of the optical element, and wherein the first output is a beam of optical energy that is reflected from the optical element, and further wherein the second output is a beam of optical energy that transits at least one of the first cavity and the second cavity.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a substrate that is at least partially transmissive to the optical energy, wherein the substrate comprises the first surface and a third surface, and wherein the first surface is proximate to the membrane and the third surface is distal to the membrane and further wherein the third surface comprises a mirror that is at least partially reflective for the optical energy.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the first surface is substantially anti-reflective for the optical energy.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the environmental stimulus is selected from the group consisting of acoustic energy, pressure, and acceleration.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the optical element further comprises a proof mass, wherein the proof mass and the movable membrane are mechanically coupled.
10. An optical displacement sensor comprising:
(1) a source of input light, wherein the input light is characterized by a first wavelength;
(2) an optical element for receiving the input light and distributing it into a first optical output and a second optical output, wherein the ratio of the first optical output to the second optical output is a function of an environmental stimulus, and wherein the optical element comprises;
(a) a first optical cavity that is optically resonant at the first wavelength, wherein said first optical cavity has a first cavity length that is a function of the environmental stimulus; and
(b) a second optical cavity that is optically resonant at the first wavelength, wherein said second optical cavity has a second cavity length that is a function of the environmental stimulus;
wherein the first optical cavity and the second optical cavity are mechanically coupled such that the sum of the first cavity length and the second cavity length is substantially constant; and

(3) a first photodetector for providing a first electrical output based on one of the first optical output and the second optical output.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising:
(4) a second photodetector for providing a second electrical output based on the other one of the first optical output and the second optical output; and
(5) a processor for receiving the first electrical output and the second electrical output and providing a third electrical output based on the first electrical output and the second electrical output.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the environmental stimulus is selected from the group consisting of acoustic energy, pressure, and acceleration, and nuclear energy.
13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the optical element further comprises (c) a first substrate, wherein the first substrate comprises a first surface and a membrane that is physically-adapted to move in response to the environmental stimulus, and wherein the first surface and the membrane collectively define the first optical cavity.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the optical element further comprises (d) a second surface, wherein the membrane interposes the first surface and the second surface, and wherein the second surface and the membrane collectively define the second optical cavity.
15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the optical element further comprises (d) a second substrate, wherein the second substrate comprises a second surface, and wherein the second surface and the membrane collectively define the second optical cavity.
16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the first substrate further comprises a second surface, and wherein the first substrate is at least partially transmissive for light characterized by the first wavelength, and wherein the first surface is proximate to the membrane and the second surface is distal to the membrane, and further wherein the second surface comprises a first mirror that is at least partially reflective for light characterized by the first wavelength.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the first surface is substantially anti-reflective for light characterized by the first wavelength.

1. A method of converting energy from one form to another by passing a working material through a closed liquid-vapor thermodynamic cycle, comprising:
expanding at least a portion of the working material from a liquid phase into a vapor phase by addition of heat;
recovering heat from the working material after expanding; condensing the working material, after recovering heat, from the vapor phase into the liquid phase, in a condenser, thus restoring the working material to a state where the working material awaits expansion to start a new cycle;
varying the quantity of heat recovered by varying a bypass of the working material during recovering heat from the working material, so as to vary thermodynamic efficiencies and select desired specific work output; and
adding the recovered heat to working material awaiting expansion, without changing the phase thereof; whereby efficiency of the method is improved over a method lacking recovering heat.
2. An engine comprising:
a chamber defined by at least one fixed wall and at least one movable wall, the volume of the chamber variable with movement of the movable wall;
an injector arranged to inject liquid without expansion into the chamber while the chamber has a substantially minimum volume;
apparatus constructed and arranged to introduce energy into the chamber at a rate sufficient to explosively vaporize the liquid, performing work on the movable wall;
apparatus constructed and arranged to return the movable wall to a position prior to the work being performed thereon so the chamber has the substantially minimum volume; and
a valve constructed and arranged to substantially evacuate the chamber of vaporized fluid without substantially compressing the vaporized fluid,
wherein the moveable wall comprises a face of a piston, the piston including a groove, the piston configured such that the groove is aligned with an exhaust port in the fixed wall of the chamber after work is performed on the moveable wall, and
wherein the apparatus constructed and arranged to return the movable wall to a position prior to the work being performed thereon comprises a spring constructed and arranged to exert a force on the piston in a direction toward a portion of the fixed wall.
3. The engine of claim 2, wherein the spring is constructed and arranged to rotate the piston upon a movement of the piston through the chamber.
4. An engine comprising:
a chamber defined by at least one fixed wall and at least one movable wall, the volume of the chamber variable with movement of the movable wall;
an injector arranged to inject liquid without expansion into the chamber while the chamber has a substantially minimum volume;
apparatus constructed and arranged to introduce energy into the chamber at a rate sufficient to explosively vaporize the liquid, performing work on the movable wall;
apparatus constructed and arranged to return the movable wall to a position prior to the work being performed thereon so the chamber has the substantially minimum volume; and
a valve constructed and arranged to substantially evacuate the chamber of vaporized fluid without substantially compressing the vaporized fluid, and
further comprising a heat recovery jacket surrounding at least a portion of the engine and in fluid communication with a heat exchanger, an input to the heat exchanger in fluid communication with the valve, and an output of the heat exchanger in fluid communication with the injector.
5. The engine of claim 4, further comprising a bypass splitter in fluid communication with the injector, the heat recovery jacket, and a bypass line, the bypass splitter constructed and arranged to divide a portion of the liquid to be injected into the chamber into a portion flowing through the heat recovery jacket and a portion flowing through the bypass line.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the working material is expanded within a chamber and the working material is not compressed in the chamber prior to expanding the working material.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein heating the working material in the liquid phase takes place at near constant volume and the expansion takes place while heat is being input.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein expanding the working material from a liquid phase into a vapor is performed at a constant temperature and pressure.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein expanding the working material from a liquid phase into a vapor is performed in a reversible, adiabatic cycle, wherein internal energy within the cycle is converted to mechanical work.
10. The method of claim 8, further comprising exhausting working material in the vapor phase from the chamber, the working material in the vapor phase maintaining at a constant volume.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein recovering heat from the working material in the vapor phase is performed with the working material in the vapor phase maintained at a constant temperature and pressure.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein recovering heat from the working material in the vapor phase is performed with the working material in the vapor phase maintained at a constant volume.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the working material in the vapor phase is condensed at a constant pressure and temperature.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein recovering heat from the working material in the vapor phase comprises adding the recovered heat to working material awaiting expansion while maintaining a constant volume of the working material awaiting expansion.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the temperature of the system is maintained at a constant level as energy is added to the system.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein varying a bypass of the working material during recovering heat from the working material comprises varying a ratio of feed liquid mass flow in a heat recovery jacket to a total feed liquid mass flow, the heat recovery jacket surrounding a portion of an engine in which the method is performed.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising decreasing a specific power output of the engine while increasing the thermodynamic efficiency of the engine by increasing the ratio of feed liquid mass flow in the heat recovery jacket to the total feed liquid mass flow.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the working material is water.
19. The method of claim 18, further comprising putting the water in a supercritical state.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

I claim:

1. A method of making a magnetic read head which has an air bearing surface (ABS), comprising the steps of:
making a tunnel junction sensor including the steps of:
forming a ferromagnetic pinned layer structure with a magnetic moment;
forming an antiferromagnetic pinning layer exchange coupled to the pinned layer structure for pinning the magnetic moment of the pinned layer structure;
forming a ferromagnetic free layer structure with a magnetic moment;
forming a nonmagnetic electrically insulative barrier layer between the free layer structure and the pinned layer structure; and
forming the pinned layer structure or the free layer structure with an oxidized monolayer that interfaces the barrier layer.
2. A method of making a magnetic read head as claimed in claim 1 wherein any oxidized monolayer is formed in a sputtering chamber with an oxygen partial pressure of 5105 Torr.
3. A method of making a magnetic read head as claimed in claim 2 wherein the pinned layer structure includes a cobalt based layer which is formed with said oxidized monolayer.
4. A method of making a magnetic read head as claimed in claim 3 wherein the cobalt based layer is cobalt iron (CoFe).
5. A method of making a magnetic read head as claimed in claim 4 including the steps of:
forming ferromagnetic first and second shield layers; and
forming the tunnel junction sensor between the first and second shield layers.
6. A method of making a magnetic read head as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of forming the barrier layer includes the steps of:
forming at least a first portion of the barrier layer in an unoxidized state;
forming said at least a first portion of the barrier layer with an oxidized monolayer;
forming at least a second portion of the barrier layer in an unoxidized state on said oxidized monolayer of said at least a first portion of the barrier layer; and
oxidizing said at least first and second portions of the barrier layer.
7. A method of making a magnetic read head as claimed in claim 6 wherein any oxidized monolayer is formed in a sputtering chamber with an oxygen partial pressure of 5105 Torr.
8. A method of making a magnetic read head as claimed in claim 7 wherein the barrier layer is formed of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) after oxidizing said at least first and second said portions of the barrier layer.
9. A method of making a magnetic read head as claimed in claim 8 wherein the pinned layer structure includes a cobalt based layer which is formed with said oxidized monolayer.
10. A method of making a magnetic read head as claimed in claim 9 wherein the cobalt based layer is cobalt iron (CoFe).
11. A method of making a magnetic read head as claimed in claim 10 including the steps of:
forming ferromagnetic first and second shield layers; and
forming the tunnel junction sensor between the first and second shield layers.
12. A method of making a magnetic head assembly having an air bearing surface (ABS), comprising the steps of:
making a write head including the steps of:
forming ferromagnetic first and second pole piece layers that have a yoke portion between a pole tip portion and a back gap portion;
forming a nonmagnetic write gap layer located between the pole tip portions of the first and second pole piece layers;
forming an insulation stack with at least one coil layer embedded therein between the yoke portions of the first and second pole piece layers; and
forming the first and second pole piece layers at their back gap portions; and

making a read head including the steps of:
forming a first shield layer;
forming a tunnel junction sensor located between the first shield layer and the first pole piece layer;

making the tunnel junction sensor including the steps of:
forming a ferromagnetic pinned layer structure that has a magnetic moment;
forming an antiferromagnetic pinning layer structure exchange coupled to the pinned layer structure for pinning the magnetic moment of the pinned layer structure;
forming a ferromagnetic free layer structure which has a magnetic moment; and
forming a nonmagnetic electrically insulative barrier layer between the free layer structure and the pinned layer structure; and
forming the pinned layer structure or the free layer structure with an oxidized monolayer that is adjacent the barrier layer.
13. A method of making a magnetic head assembly as claimed in claim 12 wherein any oxidized monolayer is formed in a sputtering chamber at or less than 5105 Torrminute.
14. A method of making a magnetic head assembly as claimed in claim 13 wherein the barrier layer is formed of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) after oxidizing said first and second said portions of the barrier layer.
15. A method of making a magnetic head assembly as claimed in claim 14 wherein the pinned layer structure includes a cobalt based layer which is formed with said oxidized monolayer.
16. A method of making a magnetic head assembly as claimed in claim 15 wherein the cobalt based layer is cobalt iron (CoFe).
17. A method of making a magnetic head assembly as claimed in claim 16 including the steps of:
forming ferromagnetic first and second shield layers; and
forming the tunnel junction sensor between the first and second shield layers.
18. A magnetic read head which has an air bearing surface (ABS), comprising:
a tunnel junction sensor including:
a ferromagnetic pinned layer structure that has a magnetic moment;
an antiferromagnetic pinning layer exchange coupled to the pinned layer structure for pinning the magnetic moment of the pinned layer structure;
a ferromagnetic free layer structure which has a magnetic moment;
a nonmagnetic electrically insulative barrier layer located between the free layer structure and the pinned layer structure; and
the pinned layer structure or the free layer structure having an oxidized monolayer that is adjacent the barrier layer.
19. A magnetic read head as claimed in claim 18 wherein the pinned layer structure includes a cobalt based layer that has said oxidized monolayer.
20. A magnetic read head as claimed in claim 19 wherein the cobalt based layer is cobalt iron (CoFe).
21. A magnetic read head as claimed in claim 20 including:
ferromagnetic first and second shield layers; and
the tunnel junction sensor being located between the first and second shield layers.
22. A magnetic head assembly having an air bearing surface (ABS), comprising:
a write head including:
ferromagnetic first and second pole piece layers that have a yoke portion located between a pole tip portion and a back gap portion;
a nonmagnetic write gap layer located between the pole tip portions of the first and second pole piece layers;
an insulation stack with at least one coil layer embedded therein located between the yoke portions of the first and second pole piece layers; and
the first and second pole piece layers being connected at their back gap portions; and

a read head including:
a first shield layer;
a tunnel junction sensor located between the first shield layer and the first pole piece layer;

the tunnel junction sensor including:
a ferromagnetic pinned layer structure that has a magnetic moment;
an antiferromagnetic pinning layer structure exchange coupled to the pinned layer structure for pinning the magnetic moment of the pinned layer structure;
a ferromagnetic free layer structure which has a magnetic moment; and
a nonmagnetic electrically insulative barrier layer located between the free layer structure and the pinned layer structure; and
the pinned layer structure or the free layer structure having an oxidized monolayer that is adjacent the barrier layer.
23. A magnetic head assembly as claimed in claim 22 wherein the pinned layer structure includes a cobalt based layer that has said oxidized monolayer.
24. A magnetic head assembly as claimed in claim 23 wherein the cobalt based layer is cobalt iron (CoFe).
25. A magnetic head assembly as claimed in claim 24 including:
ferromagnetic first and second shield layers; and
the tunnel junction sensor being located between the first and second shield layers.
26. A magnetic disk drive including at least one magnetic head assembly that has an a write head, a read head and an air bearing surface (ABS) comprising:
the write head including:
ferromagnetic first and second pole piece layers that have a yoke portion located between a pole tip portion and a back gap portion;
a nonmagnetic write gap layer located between the pole tip portions of the first and second pole piece layers;
an insulation stack with at least one coil layer embedded therein located between the yoke portions of the first and second pole piece layers; and
the first and second pole piece layers being connected at their back gap portions; and

the read head including:
a first shield layer;
a tunnel junction sensor located between the first shield layer and the first pole piece layer;

the tunnel junction sensor including:
a ferromagnetic pinned layer structure that has a magnetic moment;
an antiferromagnetic pinning layer exchange coupled to the pinned layer structure for pinning the magnetic moment of the pinned layer structure;
a ferromagnetic free layer structure which has a magnetic moment;
a nonmagnetic electrically insulative barrier layer located between the free layer structure and the pinned layer structure; and
the pinned layer structure or the free layer structure having an oxidized monolayer that interfaces the barrier layer;

a housing;
a magnetic disk rotatably supported in the housing;
a support mounted in the housing for supporting the magnetic head assembly with said ABS facing the magnetic disk so that the magnetic head assembly is in a transducing relationship with the magnetic disk;
a spindle motor for rotating the magnetic disk;
an actuator positioning means connected to the support for moving the magnetic head assembly to multiple positions with respect to said magnetic disk; and
a processor connected to the magnetic head assembly, to the spindle motor and to the actuator for exchanging signals with the magnetic head assembly, for controlling movement of the magnetic disk and for controlling the position of the magnetic head assembly.
27. A magnetic disk drive as claimed in claim 26 wherein the pinned layer structure includes a cobalt based layer that has said oxidized monolayer.
28. A magnetic disk drive as claimed in claim 27 wherein the cobalt based layer is cobalt iron (CoFe).
29. A magnetic disk drive as claimed in claim 27 including:
ferromagnetic first and second shield layers; and
the tunnel junction sensor being located between the first and second shield layers.