Patents by Inventor Satomitsu Imai

Satomitsu Imai 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).

  • Patent number: 7643245
    Abstract: A magnetic disc unit includes a rotating disc type magnetic disc, a head for recording and reproducing data to and from the magnetic disc, and a head support mechanism for supporting the head. The magnetic disc unit includes a shroud surrounding an outer periphery of the magnetic disc other than at least at an inserting part of a carriage arm which is linked to the magnetic head support mechanism. A gap between an end face of the outer periphery of the magnetic disc and the shroud is set in a range not less than 0.1 mm but not greater than 0.4 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Japan, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikio Tokuyama, Hayato Shimizu, Satomitsu Imai, Shozo Saegusa, Masahiko Sega, Toshihisa Okazaki, Yuzo Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20080106819
    Abstract: A magnetic disc unit includes a rotating disc type magnetic disc, a head for recording and reproducing data to and from the magnetic disc, and a head support mechanism for supporting the head. The magnetic disc unit includes a shroud surrounding an outer periphery of the magnetic disc other than at least at an inserting part of a carriage arm which is linked to the magnetic head support mechanism. A gap between an end face of the outer periphery of the magnetic disc and the shroud is set in a range not less than 0.1 mm but not greater than 0.4 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Inventors: Mikio Tokuyama, Hayato Shimizu, Satomitsu Imai, Shozo Saegusa, Masahiko Sega, Toshihisa Okazaki, Yuzo Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7336440
    Abstract: A magnetic disc unit includes a rotating disc type magnetic disc having an outer periphery, and a carriage arm linked to a head support mechanism for a recording/reproducing head. A base has an outer periphery and mounts the rotating disc type magnetic disc and the carriage arm, and has a side wall with an inner wall surface having an opening for inserting the carriage arm. The inner wall surface of the side wall defines a shroud surrounding the outer periphery of the magnetic disc, except at the opening in the side wall where the shroud is projected inwardly so as to decrease an opening angle of the opening in the side wall. A gap between the outer periphery of the magnetic disc and the shroud is set in a range not less than 0.1 mm but not greater than 0.6 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Japan, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikio Tokuyama, Hayato Shimizu, Satomitsu Imai, Shozo Saegusa, Masahiko Sega, Toshihisa Okazaki, Yuzo Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7330334
    Abstract: A magnetic disk apparatus includes a plurality of magnetic disks driven to rotate by a spindle motor, arms supporting magnetic heads on the magnetic disks, an actuator for moving the arms on the magnetic disks by a voice coil motor, and a housing which surrounds the magnetic disks, the arms and the actuator. A shroud which arcuately surrounds the magnetic disks along the outer periphery thereof has an opened portion for inserting the arms is formed in a part of the housing. The shroud on an upstream side of the arms relative to airflow generated by the magnetic disks when rotating is provided with an opening having a greater width than that of a gap defined between the shroud and the outer periphery of the magnetic disks. An empty bypass channel is provided which communicates from the opening through a rear side of the voice coil motor to the downstream side of the arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Japan, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hayato Shimizu, Masao Iwakura, Shigeo Nakamura, Kazuo Sakai, Shigenori Togashi, Masayuki Kaiho, Toshiaki Kobari, Mikio Tokuyama, Satomitsu Imai, Shozo Saegusa, Masahiko Sega, Toshihisa Okazaki, Yuzo Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20060164754
    Abstract: A magnetic disc unit includes a rotating disc type magnetic disc having an outer periphery, and a carriage arm linked to a head support mechanism for a recording/reproducing head. A base has an outer periphery and mounts the rotating disc type magnetic disc and the carriage arm, and has a side wall with an inner wall surface having an opening for inserting the carriage arm. The inner wall surface of the side wall defines a shroud surrounding the outer periphery of the magnetic disc, except at the opening in the side wall where the shroud is projected inwardly so as to decrease an opening angle of the opening in the side wall. A gap between the outer periphery of the magnetic disc and the shroud is set in a range not less than 0.1 mm but not greater than 0.6 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Publication date: July 27, 2006
    Inventors: Mikio Tokuyama, Hayato Shimizu, Satomitsu Imai, Shozo Saegusa, Masahiko Sega, Toshihisa Okazaki, Yuzo Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7072141
    Abstract: A magnetic disc unit having a rotating disc type magnetic disc, a head for recording and reproducing data to and from the magnetic disc, and a shroud surrounding an end surface of an outer periphery of the magnetic disc, except a part where a carriage arm is inserted, wherein a gap between the outer peripheral end surface of the magnetic disc and the shroud is set in a range which is greater than 0.1 mm but not greater than 0.6 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Japan, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikio Tokuyama, Hayato Shimizu, Satomitsu Imai, Shozo Saegusa, Masahiko Sega, Toshihisa Okazaki, Yuzo Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20050219741
    Abstract: A magnetic disk apparatus includes a plurality of magnetic disks driven to rotate by a spindle motor, arms supporting magnetic heads on the magnetic disks, an actuator for moving the arms on the magnetic disks by a voice coil motor, and a housing which surrounds the magnetic disks, the arms and the actuator. A shroud which arcuately surrounds the magnetic disks along the outer periphery thereof has an opened portion for inserting the arms is formed in a part of the housing. The shroud on an upstream side of the arms relative to airflow generated by the magnetic disks when rotating is provided with an opening having a greater width than that of a gap defined between the shroud and the outer periphery of the magnetic disks. An empty bypass channel is provided which communicates from the opening through a rear side of the voice coil motor to the downstream side of the arms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2005
    Publication date: October 6, 2005
    Inventors: Hayato Shimizu, Masao Iwakura, Shigeo Nakamura, Kazuo Sakai, Shigenori Togashi, Masayuki Kaiho, Toshiaki Kobari, Mikio Tokuyama, Satomitsu Imai, Shozo Saegusa, Masahiko Sega, Toshihisa Okazaki, Yuzo Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6927936
    Abstract: A magnetic disk device having a magnetic disk for recording information, a spindle motor for driving the magnetic disk for rotation, a magnetic head for reading information from the magnetic disk, a carriage arm for supporting the magnetic disk, a voice coil motor for moving the carriage arm, a loading/unloading mechanism for retracting the carriage arm from a position on the magnetic disk, and a shroud for forming a peripheral wall. The magnetic device includes an air passage positioned between the loading/unloading mechanism and the shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satomitsu Imai, Takashi Kouno, Marutomo Goto, Shigeo Nakamura, Masahiko Sega
  • Patent number: 6898049
    Abstract: A magnetic disk apparatus includes magnetic disks stacked on a rotating shaft, arms supporting magnetic heads, a rotary actuator for moving the arms, and a housing forming at least a part of an arcuate-shaped shroud which substantially surrounds a portion of side surfaces of the magnetic disks so as to define a gap between the shroud and the portion of the side surfaces of the magnetic disks. The arcuate-shaped shroud has portions delimiting an open space adjacent to another portion of the side surfaces of the magnetic disks which is located on a downstream side of the arms relative to an air flow which moves on surfaces of the magnetic disks. A bypass channel provides air flow to the disks in a region of the open space at a reduced pressure on the downstream side of the arms with respect to pressure at an upstream side of the arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hayato Shimizu, Masao Iwakura, Shigeo Nakamura, Kazuo Sakai, Shigenori Togashi, Masayuki Kaiho, Toshiaki Kobari, Mikio Tokuyama, Satomitsu Imai, Shozo Saegusa, Masahiko Sega, Toshihisa Okazaki, Yuzo Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20040141254
    Abstract: A magnetic disk device having a magnetic disk for recording information, a spindle motor for driving the magnetic disk for rotation, a magnetic head for reading information from the magnetic disk, a carriage arm for supporting the magnetic disk, a voice coil motor for moving the carriage arm, a loading/unloading mechanism for retracting the carriage arm from a position on the magnetic disk, and a shroud for forming a peripheral wall. The magnetic device includes an air passage positioned between the loading/unloading mechanism and the shroud.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventors: Satomitsu Imai, Takashi Kouno, Marutomo Goto, Shigeo Nakamura, Masahiko Sega
  • Patent number: 6751050
    Abstract: A magnetic disc unit which can restrain occurrence of flutter so as to countermeasure such a problem that the larger the rotational speed of discs, the higher the flutter, causing heat positioning errors, in order that the high rotational speed and high positioning accuracy are consistent with each other. Discs are surrounded along their outer peripheries by a shroud (outer wall) while a gap between end faces of the discs and the shroud is decreased to a predetermined distance, thereby to eliminate air pressure differential between opposite surfaces of each of the discs in order to reduce flutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikio Tokuyama, Hayato Shimizu, Satomitsu Imai, Shozo Saegusa, Masahiko Sega, Toshihisa Okazaki, Yuzo Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20040070866
    Abstract: A magnetic disc unit having a rotating disc type magnetic disc, a head for recording and reproducing data to and from the magnetic disc, and a shroud surrounding an end surface of an outer periphery of the magnetic disc, except a part where a carriage arm is inserted, wherein a gap between the outer peripheral end surface of the magnetic disc and the shroud is set in a range which is greater than 0.1 mm but not greater than 0.6 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventors: Mikio Tokuyama, Hayato Shimizu, Satomitsu Imai, Shozo Saegusa, Masahiko Sega, Toshihisa Okazaki, Yuzo Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6665139
    Abstract: In a magnetic disc apparatus including a plurality of magnetic discs mounted on a spindle, arms supporting magnetic heads, a rotary actuator for the arms, and a housing having an arcuate-shaped shroud, the improvement wherein gaps between the shroud and the sides of outer peripheries of the magnetic discs are larger than 0.1 mm and less than 0.6 mm. An open space is located, downstream of the arms with respect to the air flow on surfaces of the magnetic discs, the open space being devoid of the shroud. An opening is provided in the shroud, upstream of the arms with respect to the air flow and having a greater width than a width of the gaps defined between the magnetic discs and the shroud, and a bypass channel is provided which communicates between the opening and open space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikio Tokuyama, Hayato Shimizu, Satomitsu Imai, Shozo Saegusa, Masahiko Sega, Toshihisa Okazaki, Yuzo Yamaguchi, Masao Iwakura, Shigeo Nakamura, Kazuo Sakai, Shigenori Togashi, Masayuki Kaiho, Toshiaki Kobari
  • Publication number: 20030189785
    Abstract: A magnetic disk apparatus includes magnetic disks stacked on a rotating shaft, arms supporting magnetic heads, a rotary actuator for moving the arms, and a housing forming at least a part of an arcuate-shaped shroud which substantially surrounds a portion of side surfaces of the magnetic disks so as to define a gap between the shroud and the portion of the side surfaces of the magnetic disks. The arcuate-shaped shroud has portions delimiting an open space adjacent to another portion of the side surfaces of the magnetic disks which is located on a downstream side of the arms relative to an air flow which moves on surfaces of the magnetic disks. A bypass channel provides air flow to the disks in a region of the open space at a reduced pressure on the downstream side of the arms with respect to pressure at an upstream side of the arms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Inventors: Hayato Shimizu, Masao Iwakura, Shigeo Nakamura, Kazuo Sakai, Shigenori Togashi, Masayuki Kaiho, Toshiaki Kobari, Mikio Tokuyama, Satomitsu Imai, Shozo Saegusa, Masahiko Sega, Toshihisa Okazaki, Yuzo Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6600626
    Abstract: A magnetic disk apparatus arranged in a housing having a plurality of magnetic disks stacked on a rotating shaft, arms supporting thereon magnetic heads and adapted to be inserted between said magnetic disks, a rotary actuator for moving the arms, a housing forming at least a part of an arcuate-shaped shroud which substantially surrounds a portion of side surfaces of the magnetic disks so as to permit movement of the arms and which is concentric with the magnetic disks so as to define a gap between the shroud and the portion of the side surfaces of said magnetic disks. The gap defined between the outer peripheral end surfaces of the magnetic disks and the shroud is in a range of 0.1 mm to 0.6 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hayato Shimizu, Masao Iwakura, Shigeo Nakamura, Kazuo Sakai, Shigenori Togashi, Masayuki Kaiho, Toshiaki Kobari, Mikio Tokuyama, Satomitsu Imai, Shozo Saegusa, Masahiko Sega, Toshihisa Okazaki, Yuzo Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6560066
    Abstract: Return channels 45a, 45b, 45c, and 50 are formed to guide air flowing through a clearance between a magnetic disk (11) and a shroud (41) so that the air flows behind a voice coil motor, bypasses a loading/unloading mechanism (31) and flows toward a region on the lower side of the loading/unloading mechanism 31 with respect to the rotating direction of the magnetic disk (11). Thus, production of turbulent flow in the vicinity of the loading/unloading mechanism 31 is controlled. Fluttering of the magnetic disk (11) can be controlled by placing a filter 60 in one of the return channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satomitsu Imai, Takashi Kouno, Marutomo Goto, Shigeo Nakamura, Masahiko Sega
  • Publication number: 20030058575
    Abstract: A magnetic disk device includes a magnetic disk for recording information, a spindle motor for driving the magnetic disk for rotation, a magnetic head for writing information to and reading information from the magnetic disk, a carriage arm supporting the magnetic head, a voice coil motor for moving the carriage arm, a shroud forming a peripheral wall, an air passage passing between the voice coil motor and the shroud and connecting an upper side of the carriage arm with respect to the direction of rotation of the magnetic disk to a lower side of the carriage arm, and a filter. The filter is placed away from an outer edge of the magnetic disk and wholly within the air passage to clean air inside the disk drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Satomitsu Imai, Takashi Kouno, Marutomo Goto, Shigeo Nakamura, Masahiko Sega
  • Patent number: 6504683
    Abstract: A magnetic disk apparatus of the present invention comprises a head slider with a magnetic head mounted thereon, a disk on which information is recorded/regenerated by the magnetic head, a spindle motor, integrally structured with the disk, for rotating the disk, a suspension for elastically supporting the magnetic head slider, a carriage arm for supporting the suspension and positioning the magnetic head, and a base plate for attaching the spindle motor and the carriage arm. An out-of-plane primary natural frequency of a base plate part to which the spindle is to be attached is set to be substantially the same as that of a base plate part to which the carriage arm is to be attached. An out-of-plane primary natural frequency of the carriage arm is detached from that of the base plate part to which the carriage arm is to be attached to such an extent that no resonance occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satomitsu Imai, Toshihisa Okazaki, Mikio Tokuyama, Shigeo Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20020181149
    Abstract: A magnetic disk apparatus arranged in a housing having a plurality of magnetic disks stacked on a rotating shaft, arms supporting thereon magnetic heads and adapted to be inserted between said magnetic disks, a rotary actuator for moving the arms, a housing forming at least a part of an arcuate-shaped shroud which substantially surrounds a portion of side surfaces of the magnetic disks so as to permit movement of the arms and which is concentric with the magnetic disks so as to define a gap between the shroud and the portion of the side surfaces of said magnetic disks. The gap defined between the outer peripheral end surfaces of the magnetic disks and the shroud is in a range of 0.1 mm to 0.6 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: Hayato Shimizu, Masao Iwakura, Shigeo Nakamura, Kazuo Sakai, Shigenori Togashi, Masayuki Kaiho, Toshiaki Kobari, Mikio Tokuyama, Satomitsu Imai, Shozo Saegusa, Masahiko Sega, Toshihisa Okazaki, Yuzo Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20020075592
    Abstract: In a magnetic disk apparatus including a plurality of magnetic disks mounted on a spindle, arms supporting magnetic heads, a rotary actuator for the arms, and a housing having an arcuate-shaped shroud, the improvement wherein gaps between the shroud and the sides of outer peripheries of the magnetic disks are larger than 0.1 mm and less than 0.6 mm. An open space is located, downstream of the arms, with respect to an air flow on surfaces of the magnetic disks, the open space being devoid of the shroud. An opening is provided in the shroud, upstream of the arms with respect to the air flow and having a greater width than a width of the gaps defined between the magnetic disks and the shroud, and a bypass channel is provided which communicates between the opening and the open space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventors: Mikio Tokuyama, Hayato Shimizu, Satomitsu Imai, Shozo Saegusa, Masahiko Sega, Toshihisa Okazaki, Yuzo Yamaguchi, Masao Iwakura, Shigeo Nakamura, Kazuo Sakai, Shigenori Togashi, Masayuki Kaiho, Toshiaki Kobari