Patents Assigned to Imation Corp.
  • Patent number: 7729111
    Abstract: A hard drive includes an external hard drive and a stand integrally formed with the external hard drive. The external hard drive includes a housing maintaining a hard drive assembly configured to exchange data with a computer system, with the housing having opposing first and second major faces. The stand includes a first leg configured to project from the first major face of the housing and a second leg configured to project from the second major face of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Trung V. Le, Peter Madson, Lv Wang
  • Patent number: 7664961
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a wireless handheld device that securely accesses one or more remote devices subject to locally authenticating a user via biometrics. The device may be implemented as a wireless mouse with a biometric sensor incorporated with a scroll wheel that captures a biometric from the user and authenticates the user to the device using the captured biometric. More specifically, the captured biometric is compared to a template stored in memory. The device transmits a wireless signal, such as a command stream including the user's user name and password, to access the remote devices when the captured biometric matches the template. However, the device does not operate when the user is not authenticated. Accordingly, the invention may be particularly useful to log-on and log-off a user who frequently leaves and returns to a personal computer or various remote devices during the course of a day.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: George W. Blattner, Robert C. Martin, Trung V. Le
  • Patent number: 7660812
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a business technique for supplying customers with a set of data storage media and a database for tracking physical inventory of the set of data storage media. The media tracking database is generated by the media supplier from a proprietary manufacturer database that stores a unique identification number, volume/serial (VolSer) number, purchase order data, and other manufacturing data. Accordingly, the media tracking database includes a subset of the plurality of fields that form the manufacturer database. Specifically, the media tracking database is populated with the manufacturer assigned unique identification umber, VolSer number, and purchase order data for each of the data storage media prior to selling the database to the customer. When the customer receives the media tracking database, it can be relationally linked to tape management, library management, and off-site storage software thereby providing complete cradle-to-grave traceability of the set of data storage media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Brian D. Findlay, Purushotham G. Lala Balaji
  • Patent number: 7600992
    Abstract: A date storage master disk and method of making a data storage master disk. The data storage disk master is for use in a data storage disk replication process. The data storage disk molding processes produces replica disks having a surface relief pattern with replica lands and replica grooves. The method includes providing a master substrate. The master substrate is at least partially covered with a layer of photosensitive material. A surface relief pattern having master lands and master grooves is recorded in the data storage disk master, including the steps of exposing and developing the photosensitive material is controlled to form master grooves extending down to a substrate interface between the master substrate and the layer of photosensitive material, such that the width of the master grooves at the substrate interface corresponds to a desired width of the replica lands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Jathan D. Edwards, Donald J. Kerfeld
  • Patent number: 7597607
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing magnetic recording tape includes applying a front coat including a magnetic component to a substrate to provide a coated substrate. The coated substrate defines a first face and an opposing, second face, the first face extending between a first corner and an opposing, second corner, and the second face extending between a third corner and an opposing, fourth corner. An abrasive surface is moved against the first corner of the coated substrate to abrasively remove a volume of material from the first corner. In particular, the abrasive surface is angularly offset at a substantially non-orthogonal angle from the first face of the coated substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Douglas R. Plourde, William R. Qualls, Kerry D. Reimer, Siu-Yue Tam
  • Patent number: 7595950
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a data storage tape includes a first side including recorded data and a second side including recorded error correcting code data for the recorded data on the first side. In another embodiment, a data storage tape comprises a first side including recorded data and a second side including a copy of the recorded data. Embodiments of the invention may distribute related data across both sides of a data storage tape and as a result may reduce the probability that a location-dependent error in the data storage tape will result in irretrievable data loss. Embodiments of the invention may be particularly useful for systems that can simultaneously retrieve or record data on both sides of a dual-sided data storage tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Larold L. Olson, Brian D. Findlay, C. Thomas Jennings, Douglas W. Johnson, Denis J. Langlois, Richard W. Molstad
  • Patent number: 7556215
    Abstract: A data storage tape cartridge is disclosed. The data storage tape cartridge includes a housing, a reel assembly including a hub rotatably disposed within the housing, a storage tape wound onto the tape reel assembly, and a leader attached to a leading end of the storage tape. In this regard, the storage tape includes a primary tape portion extending from the hub to a first end and a transition tape coupled to the first end of the primary tape portion and extending to a leading end, wherein the transition tape is thicker than the primary tape portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Fred W Livermore, Saeed A Fahimi, G. Phillip Rambosek, Peter A. Ridl, William J. Vanderheyden
  • Patent number: 7558899
    Abstract: A dongle is provided for coupling a data storage cartridge with a host computing device. The data storage cartridge includes a data storage medium and an electrical connection providing access to the data storage medium. The dongle includes a first plug and a second plug. The first plug includes a first electrical data connector configured for insertion into a receptacle of the host computing device. The second plug includes a second electrical data connector and a clamp mechanism sized to grasp a portion of the data storage cartridge to maintain the second electrical data connector in a position to communicate with the electrical connection of the data storage cartridge. The second plug is in electrical communication with the first plug. As such, the dongle is configured to provide an electrical communication link between the host device and the data storage cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventor: Yung Yip
  • Patent number: 7549875
    Abstract: A flash memory device is disclosed. The flash memory device includes a housing enclosing a memory board, a serial port extending from the housing and electrically coupled to the memory board, and a swivel cap rotatably coupled and removably attached to the housing. In this regard, the swivel cap is rotatable between a closed position covering the serial port and an open position exposing the serial port, and the swivel cap is rotatable to at least one removal position enabling a separation of the swivel cap from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: G. Phillip Rambosek, Robert C. Martin, Allen Zadeh, Boris Kontorovich, Richard Whitehall
  • Patent number: 7548418
    Abstract: A data storage cartridge includes housing, a hard drive, and a connection assembly. The hard drive is stored within the housing and includes a non-tape storage medium and an electrical data connector configured to provide access to the non-tape storage medium. The electrical data connector includes a first number of connection terminals. The connection assembly is positioned within the housing and is coupled with each of the connection terminals of the electrical data connector. The connection assembly includes a second number of electrical targets spaced from and in electrical communication with the electrical data connector wherein the first number is greater than the second number. The electrical targets provide an interface for externally accessing the storage medium via the connection assembly and the electrical data connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Robert C. Martin, Gregory H. Johnson, G. Phillip Rambosek, Leo W. Spychalla
  • Patent number: 7545594
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a data storage system that includes a signal defect correction system for removing signal defects in magnetoresistive head playback signals. The signal defect correction system utilizes a matched finite impulse response (FIR) filter and digital signal processing algorithms. The matched FIR filter is designed with an impulse response that is the time reversed, complex conjugate of a signal defect model. The signal defect model is generated from a number of sample playback signals. The matched FIR filter is applied to the playback signal and digital signal processing techniques are applied to the filter response to detect a signal defect in the playback signal and estimate the amplitude and location of the signal defect. The signal defect model is retrieved from memory and applied to the playback signal using the amplitude and location estimates to substantially remove the signal defect from the playback signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventor: Alan R. Olson
  • Patent number: 7538969
    Abstract: Data storage tape comprises one or more data tracks and a servo band. The servo band stores a plurality of servo patterns within a servo frame to facilitate head positioning relative to the data tracks. Spacings between the servo patterns within the servo frame vary to encode information in the servo frame. A number of bits in the information is greater than a number of servo patterns within the frame. Servo patterns in different servo bands on the data storage tape may be different to provide band identification information. The different servo patterns of the different servo bands may allow lateral position calculations using the same formula for each servo pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Mark P. Weber, Alan R. Olson
  • Patent number: 7535718
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a memory card that includes two or more connectors that conform to different connector standards. In one embodiment, the first connector conforms to a device communication connector (DCC) standard to facilitate direct coupling of the memory card to a portable device such as a voice recorder, a digital video camcorder, a digital camera, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular phone, a video game, a digital television, a photo printer, or the like. The second connector may comprise a host computer connector (HCC) for direct coupling to a computing device without an adapter or reader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventor: Trung V. Le
  • Patent number: 7530517
    Abstract: A data storage tape cartridge has a housing, at least one tape reel assembly rotatably disposed within the housing, a storage tape wound about a tape winding surface of the tape reel assembly, and a brake assembly. The brake assembly includes a brake plate and a brake button. When the brake assembly is an unlocked position, a depression in the brake plate mates with a protruding member of the brake button to limit vibration of the brake assembly, thereby limiting noisy vibration of cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Jason E. Moses, James L. Albrecht, Jason D. Hanzlik, Peter A. Ridl
  • Patent number: 7530515
    Abstract: A data storage tape cartridge is disclosed. The data storage tape cartridge includes a housing, at least one tape reel assembly, a storage tape, and a radio frequency write medium. The housing defines first and second housing sections that are reciprocally mated to form an enclosed region. The tape reel assembly/ies is/are rotatably disposed within the enclosed region, and the storage tape is wound about a hub of the tape reel assembly/ies. The radio frequency write medium is coupled to one of the housing and the tape reel assembly and has cartridge initialization information stored thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Kevin G. Battles, Michael A. Mewes
  • Patent number: 7518828
    Abstract: A data storage diskette is disclosed. The diskette includes a housing and a media disk enclosed within the housing. The housing includes a base and a cover mated to the base. In this regard, the base defines an exterior surface that includes a base shutter zone that defines a base window, a drive zone that defines a drive window, and a base rib separating the base shutter zone from the drive zone, where the drive zone is recessed relative to the base rib; and the cover defines a cover window aligned with the base window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Anthony O. Banal, Melyssa L. Evanson, Loryn D. Klumper, Travis C. Neumann
  • Patent number: 7508622
    Abstract: A data storage cartridge comprising a hard drive and a cartridge housing. The hard drive includes a non-tape storage medium and an electronic data connector including a plurality of connection pads for accessing the non-tape storage medium. The cartridge housing substantially encloses the hard drive. The plurality of connection pads are transversely accessible by a cartridge drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Robert C. Martin, Peter L. Groel, Jack L. Marion, Leo W. Spychalla
  • Patent number: 7495859
    Abstract: In general, the invention is directed to servo techniques that utilize servo patterns to facilitate head positioning relative to the data tracks. For example, the servo techniques may include a first series of servo patterns configured to allow calculation of a position error signal that substantially mitigates error resulting from a variation in velocity of the data storage tape during detection of the at least one of the servo patterns in the first series. The servo techniques may also include a second series of servo patterns interleaved within the first series of servo patterns in order to encode data. The encoded data may include linear position information. Embodiments may allow a data storage tape meeting a currently accepted data storage tape specification, e.g., an LTO Ultrium specification, to record data in a higher density than currently implemented with the specification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Mark P. Weber, Richard E. Jewett, Douglas W. Johnson, Richard W. Molstad, Alan R. Olson
  • Patent number: D600679
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Adriana G. Upham, Joshua K. Goldstein, Kuni Goda, Raul Febles, Matthew Paprocki, Jayson Pegler
  • Patent number: D610570
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Adriana G. Upham, Joshua K. Goldstein, Kuni Goda, Raul Febles, Jayson Pegler, Tom Kwon, Matthew Paprocki