Patents by Inventor Norman K. Frater

Norman K. Frater 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).

  • Disk drive suspension for increasing the arm to disk clearance
    Patent number: 5838518
    Abstract: A suspension for use in a magnetic disk drive comprised of a load beam having a first wing and a second wing which wrap around the actuator arm and provide a site for attachment of a wiring tail. A mount plate is positioned over the actuator arm for securing the load beam to the actuator arm. The first wing and the second wing are positioned within the thickness of the actuator arm so that the thickness of the actuator arm/load beam assembly is minimized and the shock loading threshold is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Norman K. Frater
  • Transducer suspension system
    Patent number: 5570261
    Abstract: A suspension system comprises a load beam connecting a transducer element to a support member. The load beam has a stiffener member which forms an enclosed interior chamber. The stiffener member adds rigidity to the suspension. The transducer element is connected to the load beam by a pivoting assembly. The pivoting assembly is comprised of a plurality of thin plate members which are stacked together. The result is a low profile suspension system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Norman K. Frater, Alan P. Giorgi, Oscar J. Ruiz
  • Etched suspension system
    Patent number: 5353181
    Abstract: A head suspension assembly comprises a load beam, flexure, and a transducer assembly. The transducer assembly is attached to a gimbal section of the flexure. A flexible section comprising two legs, supports the gimbal section. Two longitudinal grooves are etched into the center portions of each of the legs. A flexure is obtained which provides for adequate vertical bending, while at the same time provides rigidity to prevent horizontal bending.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Norman K. Frater, Alan P. Giorgi
  • Circuitry for measuring magnetic head flying characteristics
    Patent number: 4479090
    Abstract: A method for monitoring characteristics of a magnetic recording head which is flying in an air bearing relationship over a rotating magnetic recording disk containing Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 detects triboelectric charges generated by intermittent contact between the head and the disk and also detects modulations in the spacing between the head and the disk surface when the two are not in contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1984
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Norman K. Frater, Stanley S. Hoo, William H. McConnell
  • Magnetic head arm assembly
    Patent number: 4443824
    Abstract: A magnetic head arm that supports suspensions and head sliders is formed as an integral die cast rigid structure having two coextensive C-shaped channels along the sides terminating in a thick base. Bridge elements formed between the two channels support the head suspensions and sliders. Apertures in the walls of the channels provide air flow for cooling, and serve to reduce mass thereby enabling faster access to data tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1984
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Norman K. Frater, Gregory G. Gill, Robert B. Watrous