Patents by Inventor Brent M. Weichelt
Brent M. Weichelt has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 9236083Abstract: Storing data to a storage medium with a device that has moving parts supported by a bearing and which maintains separation between opposing bearing surfaces in the bearing with a pressurized working fluid.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2008Date of Patent: January 12, 2016Assignee: Seagate Technology, LLCInventors: Mark A. Toffle, Xu Zuo, Brent M. Weichelt, Louis J. Fioravanti
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Publication number: 20080158728Abstract: Storing data to a storage medium with a device that has moving parts supported by a bearing and which maintains separation between opposing bearing surfaces in the bearing with a pressurized working fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2008Publication date: July 3, 2008Applicant: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLCInventors: Mark A. Toffle, Xu Zuo, Brent M. Weichelt, Louis J. Fioravanti
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Patent number: 7345844Abstract: A servo track writer assembly and method are provided for recording servo pattern information on a disc. The servo track writer assembly includes a spindle assembly, an actuator assembly and a servo recording head. The spindle assembly has a hub, which supports the disc and a spindle motor for rotating the hub. The actuator assembly has an actuator arm supported by an actuator bearing for positioning the actuator arm relative to the disc. At least one of the spindle motor and the actuator bearing has a gas-lubricated bearing with a working fluid, which includes helium. The servo recording head is supported by the actuator arm relative to the disc to record the servo pattern information on the disc as the spindle motor rotates the disc and the actuator bearing positions the actuator arm.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2003Date of Patent: March 18, 2008Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Mark A. Toffle, Xu Zuo, Brent M. Weichelt, Louis J. Fioravanti
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Publication number: 20040136114Abstract: A servo track writer assembly and method are provided for recording servo pattern information on a disc. The servo track writer assembly includes a spindle assembly, an actuator assembly and a servo recording head. The spindle assembly has a hub, which supports the disc and a spindle motor for rotating the hub. The actuator assembly has an actuator arm supported by an actuator bearing for positioning the actuator arm relative to the disc. At least one of the spindle motor and the actuator bearing has a gas-lubricated bearing with a working fluid, which includes helium. The servo recording head is supported by the actuator arm relative to the disc to record the servo pattern information on the disc as the spindle motor rotates the disc and the actuator bearing positions the actuator arm.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2003Publication date: July 15, 2004Inventors: Mark A. Toffle, Xu Zuo, Brent M. Weichelt, Louis J. Fioravanti
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Patent number: 6757136Abstract: An actuator assembly including one or more actuator arms, wherein each of the actuator arms defines a clasp hole and a clamp-opening hole and a slot running between the clasp hole and clamp-opening hole, and optionally, a second slot running from the clasp hole to a distal end of the actuator arm, thereby creating two clasp fingers. A flex suspension assembly is included with a protrusion, such as a boss and a head on a distal end. The flex suspension assembly is coupled to the actuator arm by resiliently increasing the diameter of the clasp hole so as to allow the boss on the flex suspension assembly to be inserted into the clasp hole. With the boss is inserted, the clasp hole is allowed to revert to its original diameter, thereby clamping the boss in the clasp hole. A method for assembly is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2001Date of Patent: June 29, 2004Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Lon R. Buske, Rodney D. Dahlenburg, Aldeen R. Goehring, Niandong Liu, Kevin Lambert Mayer, William J. Raphael, Daniel Richard Smith, Mark A. Toffle, Brent M. Weichelt
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Publication number: 20020181161Abstract: An actuator assembly including one or more actuator arms, wherein each of the actuator arms defines a clasp hole and a clamp-opening hole and a slot running between the clasp hole and clamp-opening hole, and optionally, a second slot running from the clasp hole to a distal end of the actuator arm, thereby creating two clasp fingers. A flex suspension assembly is included with a protrusion, such as a boss and a head on a distal end. The flex suspension assembly is coupled to the actuator arm by resiliently increasing the diameter of the clasp hole so as to allow the boss on the flex suspension assembly to be inserted into the clasp hole. With the boss is inserted, the clasp hole is allowed to revert to its original diameter, thereby clamping the boss in the clasp hole. A method for assembly is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2001Publication date: December 5, 2002Inventors: Lon R. Buske, Rodney D. Dahlenburg, Aldeen R. Goehring, Niandong Liu, Kevin Lambert Mayer, William J. Raphael, Daniel Richard Smith, Mark A. Toffle, Brent M. Weichelt
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Patent number: 6445540Abstract: One aspect of the invention relates to an apparatus and method for loading and securing a disc drive head disk assembly (HDA) in a servo track writing apparatus. The HDA includes a base, a disc stack coupled to a spindle rotatably attached to the base by a spindle shaft, and an actuator assembly pivotally attached to the base at a pivot shaft. Attached to one end of the actuator assembly proximal the disc stack is at least one transducer for reading/writing information from/to the discs. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a vacuum block having an air bearing and a vacuum stiffener. The vacuum stiffener is selectively used simultaneously with the air bearing to preload the latter. Alternatively, the vacuum stiffener is used independently of the air bearing to vacuum couple the vacuum block to a guide surface. By allowing both vacuum preload and vacuum coupling, the vacuum block of the present invention provides precise HDA placement and retainment with little or no manual operator intervention.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 1999Date of Patent: September 3, 2002Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Mark A. Toffle, Brent M. Weichelt
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Patent number: 6407878Abstract: One aspect of the invention relates to an apparatus and method for retaining a disc drive head disk assembly (HDA) during a servo track writing procedure. The HDA includes a base, a disc stack coupled to a spindle rotatably attached to the base by a spindle shaft, and an actuator assembly pivotally attached to the base at a pivot shaft. Attached to one end of the actuator assembly proximal the disc stack is one or more transducers for reading/writing information from/to the discs. In one embodiment, the method includes restraining the ends of the spindle shaft and pivot shaft during servo track writing so that relative deflection therebetween is minimized. That is, all but rotational motion of the components is substantially eliminated. An apparatus for restraining the ends of the spindle shaft and pivot shaft is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 1999Date of Patent: June 18, 2002Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Brent M. Weichelt, Mark A. Toffle, Jason Zimmerman
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Patent number: 6018437Abstract: A servo writer support assembly supports a disc drive storage device relative to an orthogonal coordinate system comprising X, Y and Z axes during servo writing. The support assembly includes a support body, a yaw registration feature, a pitch registration feature and a locating post. The yaw registration feature is engageable with the disc drive storage device for limiting rotation of the disc drive storage device about the Z axis. The pitch registration feature is engageable with the disc drive storage device for limiting rotation of the disc drive storage device about the X and Y axes. The locating post extends from the support body parallel to the Z axis and includes a registration surface having a tangent that is oblique to the Z axis. The registration surface is engageable with the disc drive storage device for limiting translational movement of the disc drive storage device along the X, Y and Z axes.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 1998Date of Patent: January 25, 2000Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.Inventors: Brent M. Weichelt, Mark A. Toffle, Lon R. Buske