Patents by Inventor Michael K. Liebman
Michael K. Liebman 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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Shock sensor on an external surface of a disk drive base adjacent a disk drive printed circuit board
Patent number: 8964328Abstract: A disk drive includes a disk drive base, a disk drive top cover, and a head actuator pivotably attached to the disk drive base. The disk drive base and the disk drive top cover together form a disk drive enclosure that encloses the head actuator. At least one read head is attached to the head actuator. A disk drive printed circuit board (PCB) is attached to the disk drive base outside the disk drive enclosure. A motion sensor is attached to the disk drive base outside the disk drive enclosure. The motion sensor is disposed between the disk drive PCB and the disk drive base. The first motion sensor is electrically connected to the disk drive PCB by a plurality of resilient conductive prongs that are preloaded between the disk drive PCB and the first motion sensor.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2013Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Robert P. Ryan, John E. Scura, Erik J. Eklund, May C. Kung, Albert J. Guerini, Michael K. Liebman -
Patent number: 8870507Abstract: A fastener comprises a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis, and a sleeve wrapped partially around the shaft. The sleeve comprises an inner surface adjacent the shaft, an outer surface, an upper extent, a lower extent, a first circumferential extent, a second circumferential extent, and a gap extending longitudinally from the upper extent to the lower extent and separating the first circumferential extent from the second circumferential extent. The sleeve has a first thickness adjacent the first circumferential extent that is less than a second thickness between the second circumferential extent and the first circumferential extent. A cross-sectional centroid of the shaft between the upper extent and the lower extent is in substantially the same location, with the sleeve in different first and second rotational positions.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2009Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Nils E. Larson, Michael K. Liebman, Jonathan M. Garbarino
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Patent number: 8477460Abstract: There is provided a disk drive that includes a base, a limiting member, an actuator, and a latch. The actuator includes an actuator catch with a catch path. The latch contacts the limiting member with the latch in an open position. The latch is biased to rotate to a defeat position. An arresting portion is in the catch path with the latch in a closed position. The arresting portion is not in the catch path with the latch in the open position, and not in the catch path with the latch in the defeat position. A crash stop portion contacts the actuator with the latch in the closed position and with the actuator in a stop position. The crash stop portion does not contact the actuator with the latch in the defeat position.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2009Date of Patent: July 2, 2013Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Michael K. Liebman
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Patent number: 7926167Abstract: A method to assemble a disk drive having a spindle that includes a hub. At least one disk is placed on the hub. A clamp is fastened to the hub by a plurality of threaded fasteners. Each of the plurality of threaded fasteners is initially tightened. After initial tightening, an initial couple imbalance of the spindle is determined. After the initial couple imbalance is determined, a first selected threaded fastener of the plurality of threaded fasteners is selected and rotated by a first amount of rotation that is significantly different from a second amount of rotation of a second selected threaded fastener of the plurality of threaded fasteners. The selection and rotation of the first selected threaded fastener of the plurality of fasteners is determined based on the initial couple imbalance of the spindle.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2008Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Michael K. Liebman, Antony Tuyen Nguyen, Thomas Anthony Tacklind, August L. Klerks, Amir Norton
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Patent number: 7715149Abstract: A disk drive includes an actuator rotatably coupled to a disk drive base. A fixed member is in fixed spatial relation to the base. A latch is rotatably coupled to the base. The latch includes a catch portion in contact with the actuator with the latch closed and not in contact the actuator with the latch open. The catch portion comprises a first material. The latch includes a crash stop portion comprising a second material having a lesser stiffness than the first material. The crash stop portion includes a stop portion and a pusher portion. The stop portion is in contact with the fixed member with the latch closed and not in contact with the fixed member with the latch open. The pusher portion is in contact with the actuator with the latch closed and with the actuator in an extreme rotational position.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2006Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Michael K. Liebman, Scott E. Watson
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Patent number: 7686555Abstract: A fastener that includes a shaft and a sleeve is provided. The shaft extends along a longitudinal axis that passes through a central portion, e.g., the centroid of a head of the shaft. The sleeve is wrapped partially around the shaft. The sleeve has a gap that separates first and second circumferential extents thereof, a first thickness adjacent the first circumferential extent, and a second thickness between the second circumferential extent and the first circumferential extent. The first thickness is less than the second thickness. The sleeve has a first rotational position relative to the shaft and a second rotational position relative to the shaft different form the first rotational position. The longitudinal axis is in substantially the same location in both the first and second rotational positions.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2007Date of Patent: March 30, 2010Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Nils E. Larson, Michael K. Liebman, Jonathan M. Garbarino
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Patent number: 7633722Abstract: A head stack assembly for use in a disk drive is provided that includes an actuator body, a rotary bearing, a sleeve, and a cam member. The actuator body is pivotable about an axis of rotation. The actuator body has an actuator bore that extends along the axis of rotation. The actuator bore includes an actuator bore surface. The sleeve is disposed between the rotary bearing and the actuator body and comprises a first surface that engages the actuator bore surface. The cam member has a second surface eccentric to said first surface. The second surface engages the actuator bore surface.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2006Date of Patent: December 15, 2009Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Nils E. Larson, Michael K. Liebman, Jonathan M. Garbarino
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Patent number: 7610672Abstract: There is provided a disk drive that includes a base, a limiting member, an actuator, and a latch. The actuator includes an actuator catch with a catch path. The latch contacts the limiting member with the latch in an open position. The latch is biased to rotate to a defeat position. An arresting portion is in the catch path with the latch in a closed position. The arresting portion is not in the catch path with the latch in the open position, and not in the catch path with the latch in the defeat position. A crash stop portion contacts the actuator with the latch in the closed position and with the actuator in a stop position. The crash stop portion does not contact the actuator with the latch in the defeat position. Also provided is a method of reworking a disk drive having the latch.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2006Date of Patent: November 3, 2009Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Michael K. Liebman