Patents by Inventor Joseph C. Wheatley
Joseph C. Wheatley 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: 10339966Abstract: Various embodiments concern a gimbaled flexure having a dual stage actuation structure. The flexure comprises a gimbal on which a motor is mounted. The motor comprises a first and second terminals and a plurality of actuator layers formed from a piezoelectric material. The plurality of actuator layers comprise serially stacked first, second, and third actuator layers. The plurality of actuator layers are respectively poled and connected to the first and second terminals such that both of the first and second actuator layers expand while the third actuator layer contracts in response to application of a signal across the first and second terminals. The differential motion of the plurality of layers in the motor cause the motor to curl about the contracting third actuator layer. The curling motion causes a portion of the flexure to preferentially curl.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2017Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: Hutchinson Technology IncorporatedInventors: Jacob D. Bjorstrom, Ryan N. Ruzicka, Joseph C. Wheatley
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Patent number: 10109305Abstract: A suspension having a DSA structure on a gimbaled flexure includes a loadbeam and a flexure attached to the loadbeam. The flexure includes a metal layer with a pair of spring arms, a tongue including a slider mounting surface, and a pair of struts connecting the pair of spring arms to the tongue. The suspension further includes a pair of traces including one or more insulated conductors and being routed around opposite sides of the slider mounting surface, over the pair of struts to a set of terminal contacts on a distal portion of the tongue. The suspension also includes a motor mounted on the flexure, the motor having opposite lateral ends, the motor orientated laterally across the flexure such that the opposite lateral ends of the motor are on opposite lateral sides of the flexure. Electrical activation of the motor rotates the slider mounting surface relative to the loadbeam.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2017Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: Hutchinson Technology IncorporatedInventors: Jacob D. Bjorstrom, Zachary A. Pokornowski, Joseph C. Wheatley
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Publication number: 20180068683Abstract: Various embodiments concern a gimbaled flexure having a dual stage actuation structure. The flexure comprises a gimbal on which a motor is mounted. The motor comprises a first and second terminals and a plurality of actuator layers formed from a piezoelectric material. The plurality of actuator layers comprise serially stacked first, second, and third actuator layers. The plurality of actuator layers are respectively poled and connected to the first and second terminals such that both of the first and second actuator layers expand while the third actuator layer contracts in response to application of a signal across the first and second terminals. The differential motion of the plurality of layers in the motor cause the motor to curl about the contracting third actuator layer. The curling motion causes a portion of the flexure to preferentially curl.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2017Publication date: March 8, 2018Inventors: Jacob B. Bjorstrom, Ryan N. Ruzicka, Joseph C. Wheatley
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Publication number: 20170330589Abstract: A suspension having a DSA structure on a gimbaled flexure includes a loadbeam and a flexure attached to the loadbeam. The flexure includes a metal layer with a pair of spring arms, a tongue including a slider mounting surface, and a pair of struts connecting the pair of spring arms to the tongue. The suspension further includes a pair of traces including one or more insulated conductors and being routed around opposite sides of the slider mounting surface, over the pair of struts to a set of terminal contacts on a distal portion of the tongue. The suspension also includes a motor mounted on the flexure, the motor having opposite lateral ends, the motor orientated laterally across the flexure such that the opposite lateral ends of the motor are on opposite lateral sides of the flexure. Electrical activation of the motor rotates the slider mounting surface relative to the loadbeam.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2017Publication date: November 16, 2017Inventors: Jacob D. Bjorstrom, Zachary A. Pokornowski, Joseph C. Wheatley
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Patent number: 9818437Abstract: Various embodiments concern a gimbaled flexure having a dual stage actuation structure. The flexure comprises a gimbal on which a motor is mounted. The motor comprises a first and second terminals and a plurality of actuator layers formed from a piezoelectric material. The plurality of actuator layers comprise serially stacked first, second, and third actuator layers. The plurality of actuator layers are respectively poled and connected to the first and second terminals such that both of the first and second actuator layers expand while the third actuator layer contracts in response to application of a signal across the first and second terminals. The differential motion of the plurality of layers in the motor cause the motor to curl about the contracting third actuator layer. The curling motion causes a portion of the flexure to preferentially curl.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2017Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Hutchinson Technology IncorporatedInventors: Jacob D. Bjorstrom, Ryan N. Ruzicka, Joseph C. Wheatley
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Patent number: 9646638Abstract: A suspension having a DSA structure on a gimbaled flexure includes a loadbeam and a flexure attached to the loadbeam. The flexure includes a metal layer with a pair of spring arms, a tongue including a slider mounting surface, and a pair of struts connecting the pair of spring arms to the tongue. The suspension further includes a pair of traces including one or more insulated conductors and being routed around opposite sides of the slider mounting surface, over the pair of struts to a set of terminal contacts on a distal portion of the tongue. The suspension also includes a motor mounted on the flexure, the motor having opposite lateral ends, the motor orientated laterally across the flexure such that the opposite lateral ends of the motor are on opposite lateral sides of the flexure. Electrical activation of the motor rotates the slider mounting surface relative to the loadbeam.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2016Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: Hutchinson Technology IncorporatedInventors: Jacob D. Bjorstrom, Zachary A. Pokornowski, Joseph C. Wheatley
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Publication number: 20170117008Abstract: Various embodiments concern a gimbaled flexure having a dual stage actuation structure. The flexure comprises a gimbal on which a motor is mounted. The motor comprises a first and second terminals and a plurality of actuator layers formed from a piezoelectric material. The plurality of actuator layers comprise serially stacked first, second, and third actuator layers. The plurality of actuator layers are respectively poled and connected to the first and second terminals such that both of the first and second actuator layers expand while the third actuator layer contracts in response to application of a signal across the first and second terminals. The differential motion of the plurality of layers in the motor cause the motor to curl about the contracting third actuator layer. The curling motion causes a portion of the flexure to preferentially curl.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2017Publication date: April 27, 2017Inventors: Jacob D. Bjorstrom, Ryan N. Ruzicka, Joseph C. Wheatley
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Patent number: 9564154Abstract: Various embodiments concern a gimbaled flexure having a dual stage actuation structure. The flexure comprises a gimbal on which a motor is mounted. The motor comprises a first and second terminals and a plurality of actuator layers formed from a piezoelectric material. The plurality of actuator layers comprise serially stacked first, second, and third actuator layers. The plurality of actuator layers are respectively poled and connected to the first and second terminals such that both of the first and second actuator layers expand while the third actuator layer contracts in response to application of a signal across the first and second terminals. The differential motion of the plurality of layers in the motor cause the motor to curl about the contracting third actuator layer. The curling motion causes a portion of the flexure to preferentially curl.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2016Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: Hutchinson Technology IncorporatedInventors: Jacob D. Bjorstrom, Ryan N. Ruzicka, Joseph C. Wheatley
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Publication number: 20160196843Abstract: Various embodiments concern a gimbaled flexure having a dual stage actuation structure. The flexure comprises a gimbal on which a motor is mounted. The motor comprises a first and second terminals and a plurality of actuator layers formed from a piezoelectric material. The plurality of actuator layers comprise serially stacked first, second, and third actuator layers. The plurality of actuator layers are respectively poled and connected to the first and second terminals such that both of the first and second actuator layers expand while the third actuator layer contracts in response to application of a signal across the first and second terminals. The differential motion of the plurality of layers in the motor cause the motor to curl about the contracting third actuator layer. The curling motion causes a portion of the flexure to preferentially curl.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2016Publication date: July 7, 2016Inventors: Jacob D. Bjorstrom, Ryan N. Ruzicka, Joseph C. Wheatley
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Patent number: 9318136Abstract: Various embodiments concern a gimbaled flexure having a dual stage actuation structure. The flexure comprises a gimbal on which a motor is mounted. The motor comprises a first and second terminals and a plurality of actuator layers formed from a piezoelectric material. The plurality of actuator layers comprise serially stacked first, second, and third actuator layers. The plurality of actuator layers are respectively poled and connected to the first and second terminals such that both of the first and second actuator layers expand while the third actuator layer contracts in response to application of a signal across the first and second terminals. The differential motion of the plurality of layers in the motor cause the motor to curl about the contracting third actuator layer. The curling motion causes a portion of the flexure to preferentially curl.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2014Date of Patent: April 19, 2016Assignee: Hutchinson Technology IncorporatedInventors: Jacob D. Bjorstrom, Ryan N. Ruzicka, Joseph C. Wheatley
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Patent number: 9147413Abstract: Various embodiments concern a suspension having a DSA structure on a gimbaled flexure comprising a loadbeam having a load point dimple and a flexure attached to the loadbeam. The flexure comprising a metal layer having a pair of spring arms, a tongue located between the spring arms, and a pair of struts. The struts connect the pair of spring arms to the tongue. One of the struts is located distal of the other strut. The pair of struts has a midline centered between the pair of struts. The suspension further comprises a motor mounted on the flexure. Electrical activation of the motor bends the pair of struts to rotate the tongue about an axis of rotation. The axis of rotation is aligned with the dimple. The midline is offset distally or proximally with respect to the axis of rotation. The offset counters a mass in imbalance of the tongue.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2014Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: Hutchinson Technology IncorporatedInventors: Mark A. Miller, Joseph C. Wheatley, Nole D. German
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Publication number: 20150187376Abstract: Various embodiments concern a suspension having a DSA structure on a gimbaled flexure comprising a loadbeam having a load point dimple and a flexure attached to the loadbeam. The flexure comprising a metal layer having a pair of spring arms, a tongue located between the spring arms, and a pair of struts. The struts connect the pair of spring arms to the tongue. One of the struts is located distal of the other strut. The pair of struts has a midline centered between the pair of struts. The suspension further comprises a motor mounted on the flexure. Electrical activation of the motor bends the pair of struts to rotate the tongue about an axis of rotation. The axis of rotation is aligned with the dimple. The midline is offset distally or proximally with respect to the axis of rotation. The offset counters a mass in imbalance of the tongue.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2014Publication date: July 2, 2015Inventors: Mark A. Miller, Joseph C. Wheatley, Nole D. German
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Patent number: 8896970Abstract: Various embodiments concern a suspension having a DSA structure on a gimbaled flexure comprising a loadbeam having a load point dimple and a flexure attached to the loadbeam. The flexure comprising a metal layer having a pair of spring arms, a tongue located between the spring arms, and a pair of struts. The struts connect the pair of spring arms to the tongue. One of the struts is located distal of the other strut. The pair of struts has a midline centered between the pair of struts. The suspension further comprises a motor mounted on the flexure. Electrical activation of the motor bends the pair of struts to rotate the tongue about an axis of rotation. The axis of rotation is aligned with the dimple. The midline is offset distally or proximally with respect to the axis of rotation. The offset counters a mass in imbalance of the tongue.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2013Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Hutchinson Technology IncorporatedInventors: Mark A. Miller, Joseph C. Wheatley, Nole D. German