Patents Assigned to Seagate Technologies LLC
  • Cavity sealing apparatus
    Patent number: 10199076
    Abstract: Certain exemplary aspects of the present disclosure are directed towards a manufacturing apparatus including a first chamber having a first cavity, and a first actuator. The first actuator aligns the opening of the first chamber to an opening in a second chamber having a second cavity, sealing the first cavity to the second cavity. The manufacturing apparatus further includes gas flow componentry that in conjunction with the first actuator and first chamber evacuate the second cavity by drawing a vacuum in the first cavity. After the second cavity is evacuated, the gas flow componentry fills the second cavity filled with a gas by introducing the gas to the first cavity. A second actuator seals the gas in the second cavity by applying a seal that covers the opening in the second chamber while the first and second cavity remains sealed to one another via the first actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Thomas M. Durrum, David Ray Lapp, Stephen G. Horning, Samuel Edward Severson
  • Data storage system with pre-boot interface
    Patent number: 10198388
    Abstract: A data storage system and associated method of using may generally have at least a data storage device that has independent first and second interfaces respectively connecting the data storage device to a host controller and an auxiliary controller. The auxiliary controller can be configured to provide system information to the data storage device prior to a synchronized connection being established between the data storage device and the host controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Michael Howard Miller
  • Near-field transducer having at least one secondary atom
    Patent number: 10190210
    Abstract: Devices having an air bearing surface (ABS), the device including a near field transducer, the near field transducer having a peg and a disc, the peg having a region adjacent the ABS, the peg including a plasmonic material selected from gold (Au), silver (Ag), copper (Cu), ruthenium (Ru), rhodium (Rh), aluminum (Al), or combinations thereof; and at least one other secondary atom selected from germanium (Ge), tellurium (Te), aluminum (Al), antimony (Sb), tin (Sn), mercury (Hg), indium (In), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), silver (Ag), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), and combinations thereof, wherein a concentration of the secondary atom is higher at the region of the peg adjacent the ABS than a concentration of the secondary atom throughout the bulk of the peg. Methods of forming NFTs are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Tong Zhao, Michael C. Kautzky, Sarbeswar Sahoo, Justin Brons, Jie Gong, Yuhang Cheng
  • Adaptive read threshold voltage tracking with gap estimation between default read threshold voltages
    Patent number: 10192614
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for adaptive read threshold voltage tracking with gap estimation between default read threshold voltages. A read threshold voltage for a memory is adjusted by estimating a gap between two adjacent default read threshold voltages; determining statistical characteristics of two adjacent memory levels based at least in part on a type of statistical distribution of the memory levels, a distribution of data values read from one or more cells using a plurality of read threshold voltages and the gap; computing an adjusted read threshold voltage associated with the two adjacent memory levels by using the statistical characteristics of the two adjacent memory levels; and updating the read threshold voltage with the adjusted read threshold voltage. The adjustment is optionally performed responsive to one or more read errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Sundararajan Sankaranarayanan, Erich F. Haratsch
  • Devices including metal layer
    Patent number: 10192573
    Abstract: Devices having an air bearing surface (ABS), the devices include a write pole; a near field transducer (NFT) including a peg and a disc, wherein the peg is at the ABS of the device; an overcoat, the overcoat including a low surface energy layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Yuhang Cheng, Ed F. Rejda, Andrew J. Boyne, Kurt W. Wierman, Michael Seigler, Scott Franzen, Jie Gong
  • Devices including a diffusion barrier layer
    Patent number: 10192574
    Abstract: Devices having an air bearing surface (ABS), the devices including a write pole; a near field transducer (NFT) that includes a peg and a disc, wherein the peg is at the ABS of the device; a heat sink positioned adjacent the disc of the NFT; a dielectric gap positioned adjacent the peg of the NFT at the ABS of the device; and a conformal diffusion barrier layer positioned between the write pole and the dielectric gap, the disc, and the heat sink, wherein the conformal diffusion barrier layer forms at least one angle that is not greater than 135°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Sarbeswar Sahoo, Martin Blaber, Hui Brickner, Tong Zhao, Yuhang Cheng, John Duda, Tae-Woo Lee
  • Scalable storage protection
    Patent number: 10191676
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to protecting data of a scalable storage system. A scalable storage system includes a plurality of nodes, each of the nodes having directly-attached storage (DAS), such as one or more hard-disk drives and/or solid-state disk drives. The nodes are coupled via an inter-node communication network, and a substantial entirety of the DAS is globally accessible by each of the nodes. The DAS is protected utilizing intra-node protection to keep data stored in the DAS reliable and globally accessible in presence of a failure within one of the nodes. The DAS is further protected utilizing inter-node protection to keep data stored in the DAS reliable and globally accessible if at least one of the nodes fails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Earl T. Cohen, Robert F. Quinn
  • Split actuator with multiple head stack assemblies bonded to bearing sleeves
    Patent number: 10192575
    Abstract: An apparatus includes at least one actuator shaft. First and second head stack assemblies are coaxially located on the actuator shaft(s). The first and second head stack assemblies each include: at least one bearing having an inner race coupled to an outer surface of the actuator shaft(s); an E-block surrounding an outer race of the at least one bearing; an annular gap is between the E-block and the outer race of the at least one bearing; a ring of bonding material filling the annular gap; and an access gap providing a fluid path to the annular gap from at least one of a top and a bottom of the E-block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Roger A. Resh
  • Sensorless monitoring of laser power instability in a heat-assisted magnetic recording head
    Patent number: 10192578
    Abstract: A slider configured for heat-assisted magnetic recording includes a laser diode optically coupled to a waveguide of the slider. A power supply is coupled to the laser diode. A preamplifier is coupled to the power supply. The preamplifier is configured to monitor a forward voltage across the laser diode while operating the laser diode at a constant current during a write operation, detect a change in the forward voltage indicative of laser power instability, and generate a signal in response to detecting the forward voltage change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Declan Macken, Tyler Lenn Perry, Karim Tatah, Andrei Dorobantu, Todd Michael Lammers
  • Write pole coating layer
    Patent number: 10192577
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a slider having a media-facing surface and that is configured for heat-assisted magnetic recording. The slider comprises a write pole, a heatsink layer, and a diffusing metal. The write pole includes two or more sides extending into the slider and a pole tip at the media-facing surface. The heatsink layer is proximate at least part of the two or more sides of the write pole, and a first portion of the heatsink layer is proximate the pole tip. The diffusing metal is disposed proximate the write pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Peter Kevin McGeehin, Mark Anthony Gubbins
  • Write current switching in a data storage device using an effective footprint of a write pole
    Patent number: 10192580
    Abstract: A sequence of symbols is generated to describe a set of write data, the symbols having a length of nT, where T is a channel clock rate and n is an integer over a predetermined range. Bi-directional write currents are applied to a write pole to record the sequence of symbols to a magnetic storage medium. The write pole has an effective footprint with a downtrack length of mT, where m is an integer. The write currents are switched between a first rail current and a second rail current for alternating symbols, the write currents further transitioning to an intermediate current value for at least one channel clock period for symbols longer than 1T. Write currents are applied to the write pole when recording symbols having a length longer than mT using the effective footprint of the write pole as an interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Xiong Liu, Quan Li, Ralph William Cross
  • Method and apparatus that modifies seeks to remediate inter-actuator coupling in a storage drive
    Patent number: 10192576
    Abstract: A faulty tracking condition affecting a first head driven by a first actuator of a hard disk drive is determined. The faulty tracking condition is caused by a second actuator of the hard disk drive that is moving while the first actuator is performing a tracking operation. Responsive to the determination of the faulty tracking condition, seek forces of the second actuator that cause the faulty tracking condition affecting the first head are reduced. A controller verifies that similar faulty tracking conditions are reduced with the first head in response to the reduction in seek forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Mark Allen Gaertner, Evgeny Kharisov, Josiah Natan Wernow
  • Fluid dynamic bearing motors with different width pump seals and journal bearings
    Patent number: 10192579
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a motor includes a shaft positioned adjacent a sleeve for relative rotation. The sleeve includes a first radial recirculation channel. The shaft and sleeve form first and second gaps. The first gap is configured to form a pump seal, is positioned above the first radial recirculation channel, and has a width measured between the shaft and sleeve. The second gap is configured to form a journal bearing, is positioned below the first radial recirculation channel, and has a width measured between the shaft and sleeve. The width of the first gap is greater than the width of the second gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Jeffry A Le Blanc, Troy M Herndon, Robert A Nottingham
  • Near-field transducer having edges aligned with waveguide core
    Patent number: 10186292
    Abstract: A recording head has a waveguide core layer that delivers light from a light source to a region proximate a magnetic write pole. A near-field transducer is formed of a thin film of Rh or Ir deposited over the waveguide core layer. The near-field transducer includes an enlarged part with two straight edges facing a media-facing surface and at obtuse angles relative to the media-facing surface. A peg extends from the enlarged part towards the media-facing surface. The waveguide core layer has a terminating end with terminating edges that align with the two straight edges of the near-field transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Vivek Krishnamurthy, Tae-Woo Lee, Michael Allen Seigler, Peng Zhang
  • Carrier for mounting a bar of sliders or a stack of such bars to be lapped
    Patent number: 10183376
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include carriers for a row bar or stack of row bars to be lapped. In some embodiments, the ratio of the coefficient of thermal expansion of at least the bridge of a carrier to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the slider row bar or stack of slider row bars is less than 1.6. In some embodiments, a carrier can include a bridge having a length longer than the row bar or stack of row bars. In some embodiments, one or more bridge bending members can have junction centerlines offset from the corresponding bridge bending members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Yuhong Xiong, Joel W. Hoehn, Yeoh Hooi Sze, Ng Kok Cheong
  • Data reader with front shield coupling structure
    Patent number: 10186285
    Abstract: A data reader may consist of at least a magnetoresistive stack positioned on an air bearing surface. A portion of the magnetoresistive stack may be set to a first fixed magnetization by a pinning structure separated from the air bearing surface by a front shield that is set to a second fixed magnetization by a biasing structure. The front shield may be separated from the biasing structure by a coupling structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Adam A. Lapicki, Sameh Hassan, YuQing Du, Mark T. Kief, Marcus W. Ormston
  • Methods of forming near field transducers (NFTS) and portions thereof
    Patent number: 10186283
    Abstract: A method of forming a peg of a NFT, the peg having a tapered portion, the method including depositing a layer of dielectric material; forming a three dimensional shape from at least a portion of the dielectric material the three dimensional shape having two side surfaces and two end surfaces; and depositing plasmonic material on at least one side surface of the three dimensional shape of dielectric material, wherein the plasmonic material deposited on the at least one side surface forms the tapered portion of the peg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Sridhar Dubbaka, YongJun Zhao, David Michael Grundman
  • Cache management in data storage systems
    Patent number: 10180792
    Abstract: Data storage devices may store selected data received from a data source to a buffer memory. The selected data may be copied from the buffer to a non-volatile memory configured for sequential storage. The selected data may then be copied from the buffer to a solid state memory, such as dynamic random access memory. The selected data may be copied from the solid state memory to a main store, such as a magnetic disc memory. If the selected data cannot be found in the solid state memory, the selected data in the non-volatile memory can be copied to the main store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Mark Gaertner, James D Sawin
  • Adaptive read threshold voltage tracking with bit error rate estimation based on non-linear syndrome weight mapping
    Patent number: 10180868
    Abstract: Adaptive read threshold voltage tracking techniques are provided that employ bit error rate estimation based on a non-linear syndrome weight mapping. An exemplary device comprises a controller configured to determine a bit error rate for at least one of a plurality of read threshold voltages in a memory using a non-linear mapping of a syndrome weight to the bit error rate for the at least one of the plurality of read threshold voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: AbdelHakim S. Alhussien, Sundararajan Sankaranarayanan, Erich F. Haratsch
  • Multi-level data block error detection code
    Patent number: 10176886
    Abstract: A data storage system can consist of a number of data storage devices each having a non-volatile memory, a memory buffer, and an error detection module. The memory buffer may store a first data block comprising a front-end first-level error detection code assigned by the error detection module. The non-volatile memory can consist of a second data block having a back-end first-level error detection code and a second-level error detection code each assigned by the error detection module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Thomas V. Spencer, Ryan James Goss, Mark A. Gaertner