Patents by Inventor Lance Eugene Stover
Lance Eugene Stover 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: 7898266Abstract: A supported probe device that has a probe tip and probe body, the probe body having a sample facing surface and an opposing surface. The probe tip and a first electrode are on the sample facing surface. A second electrode is present on the probe body opposing surface. A third electrode is spaced from the second electrode, so that the second electrode is between the third electrode and the probe body. A first DC voltage source is electrically coupled to the first electrode, as is a first sensing circuit. A second DC voltage source is electrically coupled to the second electrode, and an AC voltage source electrically coupled to the third electrode. The probe body may be cantilevered.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2008Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Wayne Allen Bonin, Dadi Setiadi, Lance Eugene Stover
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Publication number: 20100110746Abstract: A memory cell that includes a memory element configured for switching from a first data state to a second data state by passage of current therethrough. The memory cell includes a top electrode and a bottom electrode for providing the current through the memory cell, and an alignment element positioned at least between the top electrode and the top surface of the memory element, the alignment element having an electrically conductive body tapering from the top electrode to the top surface of the memory element. Methods for forming the memory cell are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2009Publication date: May 6, 2010Applicant: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLCInventors: Christina Laura Hutchinson, Insik Jin, Lance Eugene Stover
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Publication number: 20090302869Abstract: A supported probe device that has a probe tip and probe body, the probe body having a sample facing surface and an opposing surface. The probe tip and a first electrode are on the sample facing surface. A second electrode is present on the probe body opposing surface. A third electrode is spaced from the second electrode, so that the second electrode is between the third electrode and the probe body. A first DC voltage source is electrically coupled to the first electrode, as is a first sensing circuit. A second DC voltage source is electrically coupled to the second electrode, and an AC voltage source electrically coupled to the third electrode. The probe body may be cantilevered.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2008Publication date: December 10, 2009Applicant: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLCInventors: Wayne Allen Bonin, Dadi Setiadi, Lance Eugene Stover
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Patent number: 7387871Abstract: A method for creating a pattern on an exposure site of a material blank using an exposure apparatus includes providing a mask having a first mask pattern. The mask is positioned between the exposure apparatus and the material blank. The exposure site of the material blank is exposed. One or more additional exposure events are performed for patterning the exposure site of the material blank. Between each exposure event, the exposure site of the material blank is repositioned in a lateral direction with respect to the mask. Between successive exposure events involving the first mask pattern, there is a relative movement between the mask and the material blank of a distance less than or equal to a length of the first mask pattern.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2004Date of Patent: June 17, 2008Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Jianxin Zhu, Lance Eugene Stover
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Patent number: 7144484Abstract: A method for producing magneto resistive heads includes the steps of positioning at least two magneto resistive elements in spaced relation to one another and placing the at least two magneto resistive elements in an ion milling environment where material is removed nonselectively from items in the environment. A property of at least two of the plurality of magneto resistive elements is monitored. In response to monitoring, one of the at least two magneto resistive elements is dynamically covered to prevent additional removal of material from the covered magneto resistive element.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2001Date of Patent: December 5, 2006Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Edwin Frank Rejda, Joel William Hoehn, Shanlin Hao, Lance Eugene Stover, Todd Arthur Luse, James Richard Peterson
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Patent number: 7068457Abstract: A head for use in accessing data from an electrically conductive media surface is provided. The head has a slider body defining a bearing plane configured to face the media surface. A fly height control electrode is positioned on the raised portion. Further, the fly height control electrode and the media surface are adapted to form opposing plates of a capacitor with a dielectric layer of air supporting the head. Also, the fly height control electrode is electrically isolated from the slider body. A head electrical connection disposed on the slider body is electrically connected to the fly height control electrode. The head electrical connection is adapted to provide a fly height control voltage to the fly height control electrode.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2002Date of Patent: June 27, 2006Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Jason Wayne Riddering, Wayne Allen Bonin, Lance Eugene Stover, Zine-Eddine Boutaghou, Daniel Paul Burbank
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Patent number: 7064933Abstract: A slider includes a slider body having a trailing edge and a leading edge. The slider also includes a thin film structure deposited in layers on the trailing edge. The thin film structure includes a write transducer configured to read and write to a storage medium. The thin film structure also includes a non-thermally activated actuator at least partially formed with the write transducer and configured to move the write transducer relative to the trailing edge.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2003Date of Patent: June 20, 2006Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Declan Macken, Jeremy Adam Thurn, Lance Eugene Stover, Ned Tabat, John Robert Pendray
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Patent number: 7002779Abstract: A bond pad is elevated from a slider body by a conductive post. The bond pad is disposed atop the post, which typically possesses a cross-sectional area smaller than the surface are of the bond pad. Thus, rather than having the entire surface of the bond pad in contact with the slider body, only the cross-sectional area of the conductive post is in contact therewith. Alternatively, a bond pad may be split into two electrically coupled pads: one pad used for housing a permanent bond, and a second pad used for housing a temporary bond. The pad used to house the temporary wire bond may be disposed atop a sacrificial layer. After a lapping process, the sacrificial layer may be etched away, thereby permitting the temporary pad to be removed.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2002Date of Patent: February 21, 2006Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Jianxin Zhu, Lance Eugene Stover, Gordon Merle Jones
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Patent number: 6731463Abstract: The slider and method of the present invention relate to a slider for a disc drive. The slider includes a substrate having a cavity and a filler within the cavity. The slider further includes a transducer that is positioned near the filler. The design facilitates controlling the relative thermal expansion between the transducer and substrate of the slider that is near the transducer. Compensating for the thermal expansion of the transducer provides a more consistent fly height of the slider during operation of the disc drive. In addition, the design adjusts the air-bearing surface of the slider such that the transducer does not extend below the rest of the slider as the transducer expands.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2002Date of Patent: May 4, 2004Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Jane Katherine Gates, Youping Mei, James Richard Peterson, Lance Eugene Stover, Zine Eddine Boutaghou, Wayne Allen Bonin, Jason Wayne Riddering
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Patent number: 6658714Abstract: A clamping apparatus for holding elements includes a first spring member and a second spring member. The first spring member has a rigid portion that applies the majority of force to the elements. The second spring member is attached to the first spring member. The second spring member is more flexible than the first spring member. The second spring member has a structure that accommodates dimensional variations in elements held by the clamping member.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2001Date of Patent: December 9, 2003Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Youping Mei, Lance Eugene Stover, Jianxin Zhu
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Patent number: 6650519Abstract: A method and apparatus for protecting a thin film sensor such as a magnetoresistive head from damaging electrical transients, such as electrostatic discharge. A thin film sensor assembly includes a thin film sensor in electrical contact with a first and a second electrical contact. A shunting structure is deposited between and in electrical communication with the first and second electrical contacts such that the shunting structure as deposited is a high resistance path between the first and second electrical contacts and does not electrically short the first and second electrical contacts. Heat treating the shunting structure then forms a low resistance path between the first and second electrical contacts to provide protection of the sensor from electrostatic discharge.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2000Date of Patent: November 18, 2003Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Brian William Karr, Lance Eugene Stover, Michael Berry Hintz
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Publication number: 20030206370Abstract: A bond pad is elevated from a slider body by a conductive post. The bond pad is disposed atop the post, which typically possesses a cross-sectional area smaller than the surface are of the bond pad. Thus, rather than having the entire surface of the bond pad in contact with the slider body, only the cross-sectional area of the conductive post is in contact therewith. Alternatively, a bond pad may be split into two electrically coupled pads: one pad used for housing a permanent bond, and a second pad used for housing a temporary bond. The pad used to house the temporary wire bond may be disposed atop a sacrificial layer. After a lapping process, the sacrificial layer may be etched away, thereby permitting the temporary pad to be removed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2002Publication date: November 6, 2003Applicant: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Jianxin Zhu, Lance Eugene Stover, Gordon Merle Jones
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Patent number: 6535353Abstract: A disk drive system includes a base, a disk stack rotatably attached to the base, and an actuator assembly movably attached to the base. A ramp assembly includes a set of ramps for loading and unloading the sliders and transducing elements carried by the sliders to and from the disks in the disk stack. The ramp assembly is attached to the base. An actuator assembly is movably attached to the base of the disk drive. The actuator assembly moves the load springs and attached slider and transducers to various positions on the disk. The slider is a block of material having corners and edges. Sliders have a backside surface and an air-bearing surface. The slider also has at least one recess therein. One or more pads of shock absorbing material are positioned within at least one of the recesses in the slider. The pads are positioned within one or more recesses to prevent the corners or edges of the block of material near the air-bearing surface from contacting the disk.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 1998Date of Patent: March 18, 2003Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Zine Eddine Boutaghou, Joel David Limmer, Jorge Vicente Hanchi, Lance Eugene Stover
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Publication number: 20030043497Abstract: A head for use in accessing data from an electrically conductive media surface is provided. The head has a slider body defining a bearing plane configured to face the media surface. A fly height control electrode is positioned on the raised portion. Further, the fly height control electrode and the media surface are adapted to form opposing plates of a capacitor with a dielectric layer of air supporting the head. Also, the fly height control electrode is electrically isolated from the slider body. A head electrical connection disposed on the slider body is electrically connected to the fly height control electrode. The head electrical connection is adapted to provide a fly height control voltage to the fly height control electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2002Publication date: March 6, 2003Inventors: Jason Wayne Riddering, Wayne Allen Bonin, Lance Eugene Stover, Zine-Eddine Boutaghou, Daniel Paul Burbank
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Publication number: 20020145829Abstract: The slider and method of the present invention relate to a slider for a disc drive. The slider includes a substrate having a cavity and a filler within the cavity. The slider further includes a transducer that is positioned near the filler. The design facilitates controlling the relative thermal expansion between the transducer and substrate of the slider that is near the transducer. Compensating for the thermal expansion of the transducer provides a more consistent fly height of the slider during operation of the disc drive. In addition, the design adjusts the air-bearing surface of the slider such that the transducer does not extend below the rest of the slider as the transducer expands.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2002Publication date: October 10, 2002Applicant: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Jane Katherine Gates, Youping Mei, James Richard Peterson, Lance Eugene Stover, Zine Eddine Boutaghou, Wayne Allen Bonin, Jason Wayne Riddering
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Publication number: 20020122275Abstract: An information handling system, such as a disk drive, including a base, a disk stack rotatably attached to the base, and an actuator assembly movably attached to the base. The actuator assembly also includes a load spring and a slider attached to said load spring. The slider and load spring are attached to form a gimballing connection between the slider and the load spring. The slider includes an air-bearing surface which has a contact area. The slider also includes a transducer. The transducer is typically located near said contact area. The contact area includes a roughened surface portion and a smooth surface portion. The smooth surface portion is adjacent the transducer. The roughened surface portion is rougher than the smooth surface portion. The roughened surface portion is also rougher than the other surfaces associated with the air-bearing surface of the slider. The roughened surface portion of the contact area is formed by one of several techniques.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2002Publication date: September 5, 2002Applicant: Seagate Technology, Inc.Inventors: Lance Eugene Stover, Maher Abdullah Alodan, Daniel Paul Burbank, Dale Eugene Egbert, Zine Eddine Boutaghou
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Publication number: 20020066170Abstract: A clamping apparatus for holding elements includes a first spring member and a second spring member. The first spring member has a rigid portion that applies the majority of force to the elements. The second spring member is attached to the first spring member. The second spring member is more flexible than the first spring member. The second spring member has a structure that accommodates dimensional variations in elements held by the clamping member.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2001Publication date: June 6, 2002Inventors: Youping Mei, Lance Eugene Stover, Jianxin Zhu
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Publication number: 20020057537Abstract: A method for producing magneto resistive heads includes the steps of positioning at least two magneto resistive elements in spaced relation to one another and placing the at least two magneto resistive elements in an ion milling environment where material is removed nonselectively from items in the environment. A property of at least two of the plurality of magneto resistive elements is monitored. In response to monitoring, one of the at least two magneto resistive elements is dynamically covered to prevent additional removal of material from the covered magneto resistive element.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2001Publication date: May 16, 2002Applicant: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Edwin Frank Rejda, Joel William Hoehn, Shanlin Hao, Lance Eugene Stover, Todd Arthur Luse, James Richard Peterson
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Patent number: 6366429Abstract: An information handling system, such as a disk drive, including a base, a disk stack rotatably attached to the base, and an actuator assembly movably attached to the base. The actuator assembly also includes a load spring and a slider attached to said load spring. The slider and load spring are attached to form a gimballing connection between the slider and the load spring. The slider includes an air-bearing surface which has a contact area. The slider also includes a transducer. The transducer is typically located near said contact area. The contact area includes a roughened surface portion and a smooth surface portion. The smooth surface portion is adjacent the transducer. The roughened surface portion is rougher than the smooth surface portion. The roughened surface portion is also rougher than the other surfaces associated with the air-bearing surface of the slider. The roughened surface portion of the contact area is formed by one of several techniques.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 1999Date of Patent: April 2, 2002Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Lance Eugene Stover, Maher Abdullah Alodan, Daniel Paul Burbank, Dale Eugene Egbert, Zine Eddine Boutaghou
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Patent number: 6359754Abstract: An air bearing slider for a disc drive has an overcoat localized on the air bearing surface to provide a continuous covering over a leading portion of the air bearing surface. The overcoat terminates in a trailing cut-off line, and a trailing portion of the air bearing surface is not covered by overcoat. The overcoat also covers the pole tips of the transducer at a pole tip recession from the air bearing surface. The leading portion covered by the overcoat includes all of the air bearing surface that contacts the disc during contact/start/stop, which is protected by a uniform continuous overcoat layer. The trailing cut-off line is disposed at an angle to expose the trailing corners of the air bearing surface, such that all of the overcoat is elevated above the lowermost portion of the air bearing surface through pitch and roll angles of flying at inner and outer radii. Methods of applying the localized overcoat include subtractive and additive photolithographic deposition processes.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 1999Date of Patent: March 19, 2002Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Jason W. Riddering, Zine-Eddine Boutaghou, Lance Eugene Stover, Peter Raymond Segar, Daniel Paul Burbank