Patents Assigned to Seagate Technologies LLC
  • Hard drive assembly with onboard tuned data memory
    Patent number: 11133030
    Abstract: A hard disk assembly (HDAs) that include a tuning data memory at least including tuning data regarding the HDA. The HDAs may lack an internal disk controller, but rather may communicate the tuning data and/or other HDA-specific data (e.g., firmware, certification data, etc.) to a reader device comprising a disk controller. In this regard, the reader device may coordinate with the HDA once the tuning data is received to operate the HDA to perform TO commands in response to commands received at the reader device from a host. In turn, upon failure of an HDA, a new HDA may be swapped into place to communicate with the reader device. Because the HDAs may lack onboard disk controllers, the cost and complexity of each HDA may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Jin Quan Shen, Xiong Liu
  • Code rate adaptation
    Patent number: 11133831
    Abstract: A method includes programming data in a block of a storage device, and reading back the programmed data and determining a maximum error count for the block. A code rate index that satisfies correction of the maximum error count for the block is determined. A current code rate index is adjusted to the code rate index that satisfies correction of the maximum error count for the block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Shuhei Tanakamaru, Scott McClure, Erich Franz Haratsch
  • Block health checking
    Patent number: 11132244
    Abstract: A method includes determining a portion of a block of a storage device to read after programming, and reading the portion of the block and determining a maximum error count for the portion of the block. The maximum error count is compared to a threshold. When the maximum error count exceeds the threshold, a code rate of an error correction coding used to program the block is adjusted, or a code rate test is performed on the entire block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Shuhei Tanakamaru, Scott McClure, Erich Franz Haratsch
  • Apparatus for coating a lapping plate platen, and related methods of using
    Patent number: 11123758
    Abstract: The present disclosure involves apparatuses and methods for coating a lapping plate with an aqueous composition. The apparatus can be configured and the aqueous composition can be formulated so that the aqueous composition can flow to a spray nozzle device solely due to gravity in a batchwise manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Blum, Andrew Habermas, Ricky Anderson, Mihaela Ruxandra Baurceanu
  • Magnetic sensor manufacturing
    Patent number: 11125836
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor comprising a first shield and a second shield and a sensor stack between the first and the second shield, the sensor stack having a plurality of layers wherein at least one layer is annealed using in-situ rapid thermal annealing. In one implementation of the magnetic sensor a seed layer is annealed using in-situ rapid thermal annealing. Alternatively, one of a barrier layer, an antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer, and a cap layer is annealed using in-situ rapid thermal annealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Qing He, Wonjoon Jung, Mark William Covington, Mark Thomas Kief, Yonghua Chen
  • Write current switching using an effective size of a media thermal spot produced by a heat-assisted magnetic storage device
    Patent number: 11127418
    Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording device includes a write pole positionable adjacent a magnetic recording medium and configured to write data to the medium. A near-field transducer is situated proximate the write pole and configured to produce a thermal spot on the medium. A channel circuit is configured to generate a sequence of symbols having a length of nT, where T is a channel clock rate and n is an integer over a predetermined range. A write driver is configured to apply bi-directional write currents to the write pole to record the sequence of symbols at a location of the thermal spot on the medium, wherein a duration of applying the write currents to the write pole by the write driver is dependent on a length of the sequence of symbols and the effective thermal spot size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Xiong Liu, Quan Li
  • Devices including at least one adhesion layer and methods of forming adhesion layers
    Patent number: 11127423
    Abstract: Devices that include a near field transducer (NFT), the NFT having at least one external surface; and at least one adhesion layer positioned on at least a portion of the at least one external surface, the adhesion layer including oxides of yttrium, oxides of scandium, oxides of lanthanoids, oxides of actionoids, oxides of zinc, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Xiaoyue Huang, Michael C. Kautzky
  • Cooling station with integrated isolation valves
    Patent number: 11127606
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a chamber configured to receive a medium. The chamber comprises a first cooled structure having a first surface and a second cooled structure having a first surface. The first surface of the first cooled structure faces the first surface of the second cooled structure and is positioned a predetermined distance therefrom to form a gap, and the gap is configured to receive the medium. The chamber further includes a first gas inlet positioned proximate the center of the first cooled structure, a first slidable structure configured to seal a first side of the chamber when in a closed position, and a second slidable structure, positioned opposite the first slidable structure, and configured to seal a second side of the chamber when in a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Samuel Lewis Tanaka
  • Thermal spot-dependent write method and apparatus for a heat-assisted magnetic storage device
    Patent number: 11127419
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a write pole for writing data to a magnetic recording medium and a near-field transducer (NFT) optically coupled to a laser source and configured to produce a thermal spot on the medium. A laser driver applies laser operation power (Iop) to the laser source. A channel circuit generates symbols having a length of nT, where T is a channel clock rate and n is an integer. The laser driver applies Iop to the laser source and a write driver applies bi-directional write currents to the write pole to record the symbols at a location of the thermal spot on the medium, wherein a duration of applying Iop to the laser source by the laser driver is dependent on a length of the symbols and the effective thermal spot size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Xiong Liu, Quan Li
  • Electrical connector with flexible circuit and stiffener
    Patent number: 11121489
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a flexible circuit with a flexible material and traces at least partially embedded in the flexible material. The electrical connector further includes a first set of conductive bumps, a second set of conductive bumps, and a stiffener. The first set of conductive bumps is coupled to respective first end portions of the traces and extends from a first side of the flexible circuit. The second set of conductive bumps is coupled to respective second end portions of the traces. The stiffener is coupled to the flexible circuit on a second side of the flexible circuit opposite the first side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Peng Peng, William A. Casey, Dennis L. Buster, Kerry J. Johnson, Ruth LeMon, Ronald E. Anderson
  • Method and apparatus to perform a function level reset in a memory controller
    Patent number: 11119691
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to perform a function level reset in a memory controller, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, an apparatus may comprise a storage controller circuit configured to receive a function reset indicator from a host device, the function reset indicator identifying a selected storage controller function executing at a storage controller of the apparatus. The circuit may abort each command associated with the selected function and pending at the apparatus based on the function reset indicator, verify that no commands associated with the selected function remain pending at the apparatus, and clear registers associated with the selected function based on the determination that no commands associated with the selected function remain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Shashank Nemawarkar, Balakrishnan Sundararaman, Chris Randall Stone, Charles Edward Peet, Allen Vestal, Siddharth Krishna Kumar
  • Multiplying data storage device read throughput
    Patent number: 11119937
    Abstract: A data storage system includes a logical space having logical block addresses (LBAs) divided into non-overlapping LBA ranges, and a physical space having pairs of physical bands. The system also includes a map in which first successive alternate LBAs of each different one of the non-overlapping LBA ranges are mapped to successive adjacent physical blocks of a first physical band of each different pair of the pairs of physical bands, and second successive alternate LBAs of each different one of the non-overlapping LBA ranges are mapped to successive adjacent physical blocks of a second physical band of each different pair of the pairs of physical bands. A controller employs the map to concurrently read data from a first physical block of the first physical band of one pair of physical bands and from a first physical block of the second physical band of the same pair of physical bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Xiong Liu, Li Hong Zhang
  • Bolometric sensor for a heat-assisted magnetic recording device
    Patent number: 11120824
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a slider configured for heat-assisted magnetic recording comprising an air bearing surface (ABS). The slider comprises a write pole at or near the ABS, and a near-field transducer (NFT) at or near the ABS and proximate the write pole. A main waveguide is configured to receive light from a laser source and communicate the light to the NFT. An optical power sensor comprises a tap waveguide optically coupled to the main waveguide and comprising a first end and an opposing second end. The optical power sensor also comprises a bolometer optically coupled to the tap waveguide and configured to receive a portion of the light extracted from the main waveguide by the tap waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Chubing Peng, Vivek Krishnamurthy, Nils Jan Gokemeijer
  • Digital storage system that includes sensor and circuit to determine contact and/or distance between read/write head and data storage medium
    Patent number: 11120826
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes systems and methods for using a comparator-based, relaxation oscillator circuit to detect capacitance of a capacitor formed between a metallic feature in a read/write head and a metallic feature in a storage medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Michael Thomas Johnson, Peng Peng, Declan Macken
  • Actuators for an elevator drive
    Patent number: 11120834
    Abstract: A data storage device includes a base, a shaft that extends perpendicular from the base, and a head stack assembly (HSA) having a first end to which a head is coupled and a second end that is movably mounted on the shaft. The data storage device also includes either a first actuator assembly or a second actuator assembly. The first actuator assembly includes a first coil-permanent magnet assembly that rotatably moves the HSA about the shaft, and a second coil-permanent magnet assembly that serves as a first elevator to linearly move the HSA along the shaft. The second actuator assembly includes a third coil-permanent magnet assembly that rotatably moves the HSA about the shaft, and a second elevator that linearly moves the HSA along the shaft and also moves a data storage device ramp in unison with the HSA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Brett R. Herdendorf, Riyan A. Mendonsa, Wolfgang Rosner, Jonathan Lewis Kemnitz, Krishnan Subramanian, Kurt LeRoy Erickson
  • Active drive API
    Patent number: 11119797
    Abstract: An application programming interface (API) that enables installation of an application as one or more key-value objects on a data storage drive such as a hard disk drive, a solid state drive or a hybrid drive. The API also enables execution of the application within a controlled environment of the data storage drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Jon D. Trantham, Timothy T. Walker, Mark A. Gaertner, Christopher A. Markey, Chiaming Yang, Bryan D. Wyatt
  • Systems and methods for unlocking self-encrypting data storage devices
    Patent number: 11120151
    Abstract: Security of computers, data storage devices, and servers can be improved with a multiple key access system. In some embodiments, a local key management device can be a locally (or virtually) located data storage device such as a HDD or SDD. The key management device may be part of a computer or server system and can have a first secure area protected by a cryptographic module (e.g. hardware integrated circuit). The first secure area can store a key to access a second secure area, which may function as a local key management server (LKMS) and store access information to securely communicate with and unlock another data storage device coupled to the computer. For example, the LKMS may store an access key to provide the computer with access to another data storage device. Communications between the LKMS and the other data storage device may be encrypted using a communication key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Nicholas Allo
  • Read channel buffer management for higher throughput decoding
    Patent number: 11121729
    Abstract: An error recovery process provides for identifying a set of failed data blocks read from a storage medium during execution of a read command, populating sample buffers in a read channel with data of a first subset of the set of failed data blocks, and initiating an error recovery process on the data in the sample buffers. Responsive to successful recovery of one or more data blocks in the first subset, recovered data is released from the sample buffers and sample buffers locations previously-storing the recovered data are repopulated with data of a second subset of the set of failed data blocks. The error recovery process is then initiated on the data of the second subset of the failed data blocks while the error recovery process is ongoing with respect to data of the first subset of failed data blocks remaining in the sample buffers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Deepak Sridhara, Jason Bellorado, Ara Patapoutian, Marcus Marrow
  • Recording head with transfer-printed laser diode unit formed of non-self-supporting layers
    Patent number: 11120830
    Abstract: A recording head includes a substrate, a read transducer, a waveguide core, and a near-field transducer at an end of the waveguide core proximate a media-facing surface. The recording head includes a magnetic write pole and coil. A laser diode unit with one or more non-self-supporting layers of crystalline material region is transfer printed between layers of the recording head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Aidan Dominic Goggin, Mark Anthony Gubbins, Paula Frances McElhinney, Roger L. Hipwell, Jr., John Wolf
  • Modifying seek operations mid-seek
    Patent number: 11120825
    Abstract: Illustrative systems and methods disclosed herein may change or modify a seek during mid-seek for various reasons and may set seek speeds for various seeks to less than the maximum possible seek speed to, for example, facilitate seek target change or modifications mid-seek. For instance, the seek speeds for lower priority commands or commands at risk for deprioritization may be set to speeds less than the maximum possible seek speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Raye A. Sosseh, Brian Thomas Edgar, Josiah Natan Wernow, Paul Michael Wiggins