Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Walter W. Duft
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Patent number: 6985338Abstract: A GMR sensor is disclosed for sensing magnetically recorded information on a data storage medium. The sensor includes a ferromagnetic free layer and a ferromagnetic pinned layer sandwiching an electrically conductive spacer layer. An in-stack, electrically insulative hard biasing layer is adapted to bias the free layer to a neutral magnetic domain orientation when the sensor is in a quiescent state with no external magnetic fields.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2002Date of Patent: January 10, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Hardayal Singh Gill
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Patent number: 6976373Abstract: A locking mechanism for securing the cover of a thin-walled box to the box frame. The locking mechanism includes a clip bracket adapted to engage a wall of the box frame, a lock body adapted to latch to the clip bracket and engage the box cover, a locking member carried by the clip bracket and adapted to clamp the clip bracket to the box wall when the locking member is in a clamping position, and a pivotable actuating lever adapted to actuate the locking member into the clamping position. The locking member and the actuating lever can be implemented as a two-piece system comprising first and second pivoting members. Alternatively, the locking member and the actuating lever can be integrally formed as a one-piece system. The locking mechanism is capable of multiple mounting positions on the box without drilling, and uses a spring-loaded plunger assembly that allows for a quick, keyless, slam installation.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2004Date of Patent: December 20, 2005Assignee: McGard, LLCInventors: Jeffrey R. Sullivan, Eric R. Nolle
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Patent number: 6973595Abstract: A distributed fault detection system and method for diagnosing a storage network fault in a data storage network having plural network access nodes connected to plural logical storage units. When a fault is detected, the node that detects it (designated the primary detecting node) issues a fault information broadcast advising one or more other access nodes (peer nodes) of the fault. The primary detecting node also sends a fault report pertaining to the fault to a fault diagnosis node. When the peer nodes receive the fault information broadcast, they attempt to recreate the fault. Each peer node that successfully recreates the fault (designated a secondary detecting node) sends its own fault report pertaining to said fault to the fault diagnosis node. The fault diagnosis node performs fault diagnosis based on all of the fault reports.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2002Date of Patent: December 6, 2005Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: David L. Kaminsky, David M. Ogle
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Patent number: 6972928Abstract: An isotropic deposition method for trench narrowing of thin film magnetic write head features to be created by reactive ion etching. According to the method, a photolithographically defined photoresist trench is formed over a hardmask and underlying polymer layer as part of tri-layer resist process. Instead of performing the usual hardmask and polymer etching steps using the photoresist mask pattern, a spacer layer is deposited isotropically or directionally at an angle to cover the vertical side walls of the trench. The spacer layer is etchable by the hardmask etch process but resistant to the polymer etch process. When the hardmask etch process is performed, the spacer layer material applied to the trench side walls remains intact, thereby defining a narrowed trench that is extended by the subsequent base layer etch process.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2004Date of Patent: December 6, 2005Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Clinton David Snyder, Howard Gordon Zolla, Hong Xu, James Bernard Kruger
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Patent number: 6959399Abstract: A disk array storage system and error recovery method wherein recovery from disk errors is achieved using automated selective power cycling. Initially, identification is made of a faulty disk drive in the array that exhibits an error condition in which the drive fails to perform a requested operation. The faulty disk drive is selectively power cycled while power to other disk drives in the array is maintained. Following the power cycling sequence, the requested operation is retried.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2001Date of Patent: October 25, 2005Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Allen King, Davis Qi-Yu Chu
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Patent number: 6950265Abstract: A system and method for managing servo defects in a data storage device. During operation of the device, a servo sector recorded on a medium is identified. A lookup is performed in a servo defect table resource to determine whether the servo sector contains defective servo information. A responsive servo control action is taken if the servo sector is found to contain defective servo information. Media having servo defect information recorded thereon are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2002Date of Patent: September 27, 2005Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Steven Robert Hetzler, Daniel James Malone
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Patent number: 6940405Abstract: A portable security alarm system including a movement detecting and signal transmitting member for mounting on or proximate to the object whose movement is to be detected, a signal receiving and alarm generating member for receiving a signal from the movement detecting and signal transmitting member and producing a security response, a remote control for actuating and deactuating the signal receiving and alarm generating member, an environmental monitoring member for sensing an environmental condition and providing a signal to the signal receiving and alarm generating member, a visual information gathering member for gathering visual information and providing a signal to the signal receiving and alarm generating member, an audio output member for receiving a signal from the signal receiving and alarm generating member and generating an audio output, and components for delivering a security notification to remote recipients.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2003Date of Patent: September 6, 2005Assignee: Guardit Technologies LLCInventors: Michael H. Script, Henry J. Script
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Patent number: 6940677Abstract: Distinct servo patterns are written on data storage media of a data storage device. Servo patterns of a first type are written for transducers of the data storage device having a first transducer characteristic. Servo patterns of a second type are written for transducers that do not have the transducer characteristic. The transducer characteristic can be a geometric criterion such as read head and write head track width, an operating characteristic such as frequency response, or otherwise. The first servo pattern may be a seamless untrimmed PES burst and the second servo pattern may be a seamed trimmed PES burst.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2002Date of Patent: September 6, 2005Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Craig N. Fukushima, Scott A. Thomas
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Patent number: 6934108Abstract: A system and method of controlling tape tension during operation of a tape drive by making use of pre-existing timing based servo patterns formatted on the media. Changes in servo pattern timing are read at regular intervals and used to calculate changes in tension, with the torque of the tape reel motors being adjusted accordingly.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2003Date of Patent: August 23, 2005Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: David H. Harper, Mark A. Taylor
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Patent number: 6927946Abstract: A technique for electrically interconnecting a disk drive suspension assembly and a micro-actuator mounting a transducer-carrying slider. A first set of termination pads is provided on a generally planar surface of the micro-actuator, adjacent a front edge portion of the micro-actuator. A set of leads is provided on the suspension assembly so as to extend generally orthogonally to the first set of termination pads and in adjacent relationship therewith. Electrical connections are provided between the first set of termination pads and the suspension assembly leads. A second set of termination pads can be provided on the micro-actuator planar surface adjacent to a front edge portion of the slider and a third set of termination pads can be provided on the slider front edge portion. The second and third sets of termination pads are then electrically connected.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2004Date of Patent: August 9, 2005Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Victor Wing Chun Shum, Surya Pattanaik
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Patent number: 6909915Abstract: A hybrid battery power source for implantable medical use provides relatively stable resistance during discharge and avoids the voltage delays that develop as a result of variable resistance increase in Li/SVO cells. The hybrid battery power source utilizes two batteries or cells, one being a primary battery of relatively high energy density and the other being a rechargeable secondary battery of low relatively stable internal resistance. The primary and secondary batteries are connected in a parallel arrangement, preferably via an intermediate voltage boost circuit having an inductor and a pulse generating control circuit therein. The energy storage capacitors of the medical device in which the hybrid battery power source is situated are driven in whole or substantial part by the secondary battery. The primary battery is used to as an energy source for recharging the secondary battery.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2003Date of Patent: June 21, 2005Assignee: GentCorp Ltd.Inventors: Wilson Greatbatch, Jeffrey Deal
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Patent number: 6880176Abstract: An improved headgear includes an outer shell and an inner liner providing a head receiving cavity. A headband has a forward portion and lateral portions secured to the inner liner and a rearward portion extending rearwardly of said lateral portions. A first vent aperture is centrally formed in the outer shell. A second vent aperture is centrally formed in the inner liner. Third vent apertures are formed in the inner liner in spaced relationship with the second vent aperture.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2001Date of Patent: April 19, 2005Assignee: Troxel Cycling & Fitness LLCInventors: Richard M. Timms, Michael J. Yokota, John W. Montello
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Patent number: 6877213Abstract: A method for reducing feature size in a thin film magnetic write head includes plating a seed layer over a selected base layer, spinning a photoresist layer onto the seed layer, defining a trench in the photoresist layer, depositing an insulative spacer layer to cover the trench side walls using a low temperature chemical vapor deposition process, anisotropically etching to remove spacer layer material from the bottom of the trench and thereby expose the plating seed layer while leaving intact vertical portions of the spacer layer that cover the trench side walls and narrow its width, forming a structure of reduced feature size by electroplating metallic material into the narrowed trench, stripping away the photoresist layer and the spacer layer vertical portions, and milling or sputter etching the plating seed layer to leave a structure of reduced feature size.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2002Date of Patent: April 12, 2005Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Howard Gordon Zolla
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Patent number: 6833978Abstract: A technique for electrically interconnecting a disk drive suspension assembly and a micro-actuator mounting a transducer-carrying slider. A first set of termination pads is provided on a generally planar surface of the micro-actuator, adjacent a front edge portion of the micro-actuator. A set of leads is provided on the suspension assembly so as to extend generally orthogonally to the first set of termination pads and in adjacent relationship therewith. Electrical connections are provided between the first set of termination pads and the suspension assembly leads. A second set of termination pads can be provided on the micro-actuator planar surface adjacent to a front edge portion of the slider and a third set of termination pads can be provided on the slider front edge portion. The second and third sets of termination pads are then electrically connected.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2002Date of Patent: December 21, 2004Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage TechnologiesInventors: Victor Wing Chun Shum, Surya Pattanaik
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Patent number: 6828909Abstract: A portable security alarm system which can be installed on a temporary basis and removed from an object whose movement is to be detected including a motion detecting and radio signal transmitting member for mounting proximate the object whose movement is to be detected, a member for selectively coupling and decoupling the motion detecting and radio signal transmitting member relative to the object whose movement is to be detected, a combined radio signal receiving and alarm generating member for receiving a signal from the combined motion detecting and radio signal transmitting member and producing an alarm, a remote control for actuating and deactuating the radio signal receiving and alarm generating member, and components for providing object identification information identifying the object whose movement is to be detected and distance measurement information for measuring the distance moved by the object.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2002Date of Patent: December 7, 2004Assignee: Guardit Technologies LLCInventors: Michael H. Script, Henry J. Script
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Patent number: 6796737Abstract: An applicator and closure cap assembly includes a container adapted to carry a fluid therein and which is formed with a neck portion. A porous applicator tip is secured to the container. An orifice provides a fluid pathway from a fluid holding portion of the container to the applicator tip. A closure cap is slidably disposed in non-locking interfacial engagement with the container's neck so as to cover the applicator tip. A removable seal is provided to secure the closure cap to the neck and to seal the cap-container interface prior to use.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2003Date of Patent: September 28, 2004Assignee: TMP Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Gary Ashe
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Patent number: 6793961Abstract: A method for fabricating a soft ferromagnetic film structure with reduced edge stress anisotropy and enhanced magnetization switching speed. A soft ferromagnetic film structure is formed over an underlying structure. The soft ferromagnetic film structure has one or more edges exhibiting edge stress anisotropy. A non-ferromagnetic film structure is formed along the one or more edges to induce stress contributions therein that control the edge stress anisotropy.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2003Date of Patent: September 21, 2004Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Vladimir Nikitin, Jeffrey Gregory McCord, Murali Ramasubramanian
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Patent number: 6786803Abstract: An onboard electronic lapping guide for lapping a magneto-resistive head having a magneto-resistive sensor element disposed for electrical communication with a pair of sensor electrical leads. The lapping guide includes an electronic lapping guide resistive element disposed for electrical communication with the sensor electrical leads. The resistive element has a predetermined height in a lapping direction and is adapted to produce an electrical resistance in the presence of a lapping current that increases as said resistive element height is reduced during lapping. A lapping method and a method of forming the onboard electronic lapping guide are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2002Date of Patent: September 7, 2004Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Linden J. Crawforth, Douglas J. Werner, Benjamin L. Wang, Timothy J. Minvielle
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Patent number: 6785094Abstract: A suspension assembly is designed to carry a slider and read/write head elements in a magnetic data storage device. The suspension assembly is formed from a composite laminate structure that includes first, second, third, fourth and fifth material layers. The layers are arranged such that the second layer is disposed between the first and third layers, and the fourth layer is disposed between the third and fifth layers. The laminate structure is configured using a suitable removal process, such as partial chemical etching, to define a mount plate, a hinge, a load beam functional end, and an electrical lead system. The laminate structure may be further formed with a flexure gimbal system that comprises the third, fourth and fifth layers.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2002Date of Patent: August 31, 2004Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage TechnologiesInventors: Satya Prakash Arya, Tzong-Shii Pan, Surya Pattanaik, Victor Wing Chun Shum
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Patent number: RE38742Abstract: The present invention is an expanding device for supporting grinding sleeves. The device has a cylindrical member with an outer bushing unit, an interior bushing unit, an upper control unit, an expanding unit, and a locking mechanism. The outer bushing unit receives the grinding sleeve, and has a first outer diameter of D, and a height H. The interior bushing unit receives a rotatable shaft, has a second outer diameter of I, which is less than D, and a height J, which is less than H. The expanding unit extends from within the upper control unit and between the outer and interior bushing units with protrusions below the outer and interior bushing units. The locking mechanism is interconnected to the upper control unit. And when the locking mechanism is in the unlocked position, a grinding sleeve, which can have diamonds thereon, can be placed on or taken off the outer bushing unit and the device can be placed on or taken off a rotatable shaft.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2002Date of Patent: June 14, 2005Assignee: Techniglass CorporationInventor: Michael Hacikyan