Patents Assigned to Seagate Technologies
  • Magnetic head with integrated write driver
    Patent number: 9269377
    Abstract: An apparatus and associated method generally relate to data writing and more specifically to writing data to a rotating media. An embodiment of such an apparatus comprises a slider body, a transducer and a write driver. The transducer comprises a writer. The write driver is integrated on the slider body, and directly connected to the writer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Mark Anthony Gubbins, Todd Michael Lammers
  • Devices including a near field transducer (NFT), at least one cladding layer and interlayer there between
    Patent number: 9269380
    Abstract: A device that includes a near field transducer (NFT); at least one cladding layer adjacent the NFT; and a carbon interlayer positioned between the NFT and the at least one cladding layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Justin Glen Brons, Tong Zhao, Xiaoyue Huang, Michael C. Kautzky
  • User selectable caching
    Patent number: 9268692
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for intelligent data caching behavior. In an embodiment, a method may comprise receiving an indication a user has selected specific data for caching, and storing the specific data to a cache memory. In another embodiment, a system may comprise a host device including a driver configured to monitor the system for an indication a user has selected specific data for caching, and store the specific data to a cache memory. In yet another embodiment, an apparatus may a data storage device including a nonvolatile data storage medium, a cache memory, and a processor. The Processor may be configured to receive an indication a user has selected specific data for caching, and copy the specific data form the nonvolatile data storage medium to the cache memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: John Wehman, Daniel McLeran, Eric Heiney, James Winter, Joe Marley
  • Non-volatile memory channel control using a general purpose programmable processor in combination with a low level programmable sequencer
    Patent number: 9262084
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a device interface, a micro-sequencer, and a programmable sequence memory. The device interface may be configured to process a plurality of read/write operations to/from one or more non-volatile memory devices. The micro-sequencer may be configured to communicate with the device interface. The programmable sequence memory is generally readable by the micro-sequencer. In response to the apparatus receiving a command, (a) the micro-sequencer executes a set of instructions starting at a location in the programmable sequence memory according to the command and (b) the micro-sequencer is enabled to perform at least a portion of the command according to a protocol of the one or more non-volatile memory devices, when the one or more non-volatile memory devices are coupled to the device interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Seagate Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Brewer, Earl T. Cohen
  • Programming a memory cell using a dual polarity charge pump
    Patent number: 9263142
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for managing data in a memory, such as but not limited to a flash memory array. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes an array of memory cells and a dual polarity charge pump. The dual polarity charge pump has a positive polarity voltage source which applies a positive voltage to a charge storage device to program a selected memory cell to a first programming state, and a negative polarity voltage source which applies a negative voltage to the charge storage device to program the selected memory cell to a different, second programming state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: YoungPil Kim, Dadi Setiadi, Wei Tian, Antoine Khoueir, Rodney V. Bowman
  • Determining data retention time in a solid-state non-volatile memory
    Patent number: 9263158
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for managing data in a memory, such as a flash memory array. In accordance with some embodiments, a test pattern is written to a selected block of solid-state non-volatile memory cells. The test pattern is read from the selected block and a total number of read errors is identified. A data retention time is determined in response to the total number of read errors and an elapsed time interval between the writing of the test pattern and the reading of the test pattern. Data in a second block of the solid-state non-volatile memory cells are thereafter refreshed in relation to the determined data retention time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Thomas R. Prohofsky, Darren E. Johnston
  • Data writer with magnetically hard front shield
    Patent number: 9263066
    Abstract: A data writer can be configured with at least a write pole separated from a front shield by a non-magnetic gap layer. The front shield may consist of at least a seed layer and a shielding layer with the shielding layer having an easy axis coercivity along a first direction of 4 Oe or more and a hard axis coercivity along a second direction of 0.5 Oe or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Venkateswara Inturi, Lei Lu, Joseph M. Mundenar, Huaqing Yin
  • Method to distribute user data and error correction data over different page types by leveraging error rate variations
    Patent number: 9262268
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a memory and a controller. The memory includes a plurality of memory devices. Each memory device has a plurality of page types. The plurality of page types are classified based on error rate variations. The controller may be configured to write user data and error-correction data to the memory. The user data and the error-correction data are organized as a super-page. The super-page includes a plurality of sub-pages. The plurality of sub-pages are written across the plurality of memory devices such that the plurality of sub-pages are stored using more than one of the plurality of page types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Yu Cai, Ning Chen, Yunxiang Wu, Erich F. Haratsch, Earl T. Cohen, Timothy L. Canepa
  • Devices including at least one adhesion layer
    Patent number: 9263074
    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 arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), selenium (Se), tellurium (Te), polonium (Po), bismuth (Bi), sulfur (S), or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Xiaoyue Huang, Michael C. Kautzky
  • Systems and methods for dynamically programming a flash memory device
    Patent number: 9263138
    Abstract: The present inventions are related to systems and methods for storing data, and more particularly to systems and methods for writing data to a storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Seagate Technology
    Inventors: Bruce A. Wilson, Erich F. Haratsch
  • Heatsink for heat assisted magnetic recording media
    Patent number: 9263076
    Abstract: A magnetic stack includes a heatsink layer comprising (200) Cu or (200) CuX, a magnetic recording layer, and an interlayer disposed between the heatsink layer and the magnetic recording layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Yingguo Peng, Kai Chieh Chang, Yinfeng Ding, Ganping Ju, Yukiko Kubota, Timothy J. Klemmer, Jan-Ulrich Thiele, Qihong Wu, Xiaobin Zhu
  • Storage device with expansion slot
    Patent number: 9256567
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus including a first storage device. The apparatus also includes an expansion slot configured to receive a removable card with a second storage device. The removable card with the second storage device is configured to provide faster read/write times to the second storage device than read/write times of the first storage device. The first and second storage devices are seen as a single storage device by a host computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Michael Gene Morgan, Felix Markhovsky, Cuong Tran
  • Managed reliability of data storage
    Patent number: 9256566
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein that can facilitate the managed reliability of data storage, including management of device remanufacturing and masking from an operating system a failure or predicted failure of a device running on a computer or a networked cluster of computers having access to the device. The systems and methods may facilitate removal of a device by coordinating among computers or controllers in a network cluster the logical removal of a device. At a later time, a coordinated logical re-introduction of the device to the systems or computers from which the device was logically removed can be performed. This can be accomplished via a virtualization system that may include a device function driver (DFD), a device virtualization bus driver (DVBD), and a device management service (DMS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: James Dykes, Edward Jen-Yu Chen, Peter Viscarola, Scott Noone
  • Managed reliability of data storage
    Patent number: 9251025
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein that can facilitate the managed reliability of data storage, including management of device remanufacturing and masking from an operating system a failure or predicted failure of a device running on a computer or a networked cluster of computers having access to the device. The systems and methods may facilitate removal of a device by coordinating among computers or controllers in a network cluster the logical removal of a device. At a later time, a coordinated logical re-introduction of the device to the systems or computers from which the device was logically removed can be performed. This can be accomplished via a virtualization system that may include a device function driver (DFD), a device virtualization bus driver (DVBD), and a device management service (DMS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: James Dykes, Edward Jen-Yu Chen, Peter Viscarola, Scott Noone
  • Protection of data in memory
    Patent number: 9250995
    Abstract: A method for protecting data in a memory is disclosed. The method generally includes steps (A) to (D). Step (A) converts a logical address of one of a plurality of logical units to a physical address of a corresponding one of a plurality of physical units. Each physical unit is configured to store (i) data from a corresponding one of the logical units, (ii) respective error correction information and (iii) respective verification information. Step (B) writes a particular one of the physical units to the memory. Step (C) reads a portion of the particular physical unit from the memory. The portion includes the respective verification information. The respective verification information includes an indication of the logical address. Step (D) verifies the writing according to the respective verification information in the portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Jackson L. Ellis, Earl T. Cohen, Sivakumar Sambandan, Jeonghun Kim, Stephen D. Hanna
  • Flex circuit having a multiple layered structure and interconnect
    Patent number: 9253885
    Abstract: A flex circuit including a multiple layer structure is disclosed. The multiple layered structure includes a first or top layer and a second or base layer. Top traces and bond pads are fabricated on the top or obverse layer and interlayer traces and bond pads are fabricated between the first and second layers to provide an electrical interconnect to electrical components on a head assembly. In an illustrated embodiment, the flex circuit includes portions including the first or base layer and the second or top layer and one or more reduced thickness portion including the first or base layer and not the second layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Ravishankar Ajjanagadde Shivarama, Bradley J. Ver Meer, Razman Zambri
  • HAMR NFT materials with improved thermal stability
    Patent number: 9251837
    Abstract: An apparatus that includes a near field transducer, the near field transducer including silver (Ag) and at least one other element or compound, wherein the at least one other element or compound is selected from: copper (Cu), palladium (Pd), gold (Au), zirconium (Zr), zirconium oxide (ZrO), platinum (Pt), geranium (Ge), nickel (Ni), tungsten (W), cobalt (Co), rhodium (Rh), ruthenium (Ru), tantalum (Ta), chromium (Cr), aluminum (Al), vanadium (V), iridium (Ir), titanium (Ti), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), molybdenum (Mo), silicon (Si), or combinations thereof oxides of V, Zr, Mg, calcium (Ca), Al, Ti, Si, cesium (Ce), yttrium (Y), Ta, W or thorium (Th), Co, or combinations thereof; or nitrides of Ta, Al, Ti, Si, indium (In), Fe, Zr, Cu, W, boron (B), halfnium (Hf), or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Meng Zhu, Tong Zhao, Steven C. Riemer, Michael C. Kautzky
  • Magnetic sensor shield pinned by a high-coercivity ferromagnet
    Patent number: 9251816
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor may generally be configured as a data reader capable of sensing data bits from an adjacent data storage medium. Various embodiments of a magnetic element may have at least a magnetic stack that contacts at least a first shield. The first shield can have at least one synthetic antiferromagnetic structure (SAFS) that is pinned by a high-coercivity ferromagnetic (HCFM) layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Adam Andrzej Lapicki, Kevin A. McNeill, Marcus W. Ormston, Sameh Sayed Ali Hassan, Yuqing Du
  • Variable data recovery scheme hierarchy
    Patent number: 9244766
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for managing data in a memory, such as a flash memory. In accordance with some embodiments, a memory has a plurality of solid-state non-volatile memory cells. A processing circuit is connected to the memory and configured to direct the execution of a plurality of read error recovery routines in response to at least one uncorrectable read error in a data set retrieved from the memory. The recovery routines are executed in a selected order based on an elapsed recovery time parameter for each of the recovery routines and an estimated probability of success of each of the recovery routines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Ara Patapoutian, Bruce Douglas Buch, Ryan James Goss, Mark Allen Gaertner, Arvind Sridharan
  • Storage device with adaptive voltage generation system
    Patent number: 9245541
    Abstract: Apparatus for generating supply voltages in a data storage device. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a data transducer adjacent a rotatable magnetic recording medium, the data transducer having a write coil and an electromagnetic source for thermally assisted recording by the write coil. A preamplifier/driver circuit (preamp) has a write driver adapted to supply write currents to the write coil and a source driver adapted to supply source voltage to the electromagnetic source. A voltage regulation circuit applies a first positive supply voltage to the write driver and a different, second positive supply voltage to the source driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Jon Trantham, Todd Lammers