Patents Assigned to Seagate Technology, Inc.
  • Process for fabricating thin film magnetic head including crater for recessed structure
    Patent number: 6059984
    Abstract: A method for pattern-etching thick alumina layers in the manufacture of thin film heads (TFH) by using compatible metallic mask layers and a wet chemical etchant. The deep alumina etching facilitates a studless TFH device where the coil and bonding pads are deposited and patterned simultaneously, and vias are later etched through the alumina overcoat layer to expose the bonding pads. The method also enables the etching of scribe-line grooves of street and alleys across the wafer for sawing and machining of sliders. These grooves eliminate most alumina chipping due to stress and damage introduced by the sawing and machining operations. Similarly, pattern-etching of the alumina undercoat facilitates the formation of precise craters for recessed structures. These can improve planarity and alleviate problems related to adverse topography and elevated features of TFH devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Uri Cohen, Gene Patrick Bonnie
  • Data storage system having an improved surface micro-machined mirror
    Patent number: 6061323
    Abstract: A data storage and retrieval system includes a micro machined mirror assembly (.mu.MM) having a plate layer defining a surface micro machined mirror supported at a central axis by two opposed torsional frame members connected to inner edges of a surrounding frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Jerman, Joseph Drake, Joseph E. Davis, Jeffrey P. Wilde, Kurt E. Petersen
  • Flying magneto-optical head with a steerable mirror
    Patent number: 6058094
    Abstract: An optical head for transmission of light between a source of light and a storage location along an optical path that includes at least one offset optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Seagate Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph E. Davis, Jeffrey P. Wilde
  • Stator interconnect ring
    Patent number: 6057616
    Abstract: A spindle motor incorporates a hollow shaft and a prewound stator having an interconnect ring attached to one end of the stator assembly. The interconnect ring is preferably a printed circuit or flexible printed circuit; it is bonded to the stator stack before the coils are wound, and the start and finish of each phase winding is terminated to the interconnect ring. Once the stator is assembled onto the shaft, connector wires can be fed up through the shaft and terminated at the interconnect ring. Traces on the interconnect ring join the wires to the proper phases and to the commons to control motor operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Michael Pelstring
  • Product information identification in a head disc assembly
    Patent number: 6057981
    Abstract: An apparatus for improving the operational performance of a disc drive through the identification of vital product information associated with a head-disc assembly (HDA) of the disc drive. The disc drive comprises a printed wiring assembly (PWA) housing control circuitry for the disc drive. The HDA of the disc drive is operably coupled to the printed wiring assembly and includes a rotatable disc to which data are written by a controllably positionable head. A non-volatile memory device is mounted on the HDA and operably coupled to the PWA so that, when the disc drive is initialized, the PWA verifies the configuration of the HDA before proceeding with the initialization of the disc drive, thereby preventing errors and damage to the disc drive as a result of the installation of a new, replacement PWA in the disc drive, or the downloading of new, incorrect firmware to the PWA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Wilson Massey Fish, David Christopher Pruett
  • Fly height adjustment in magnetic storage system
    Patent number: 6057975
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting fly height between a disc surface of a magnetic storage system disc and a slider supported on a flexure arm in a magnetic disc drive. The slider carries a transducing head. The disc drive is rotated at a reduced testing RPM. The flexure arm is heated using a laser to achieve a desired flexure arm bend which corresponds to a desired fly height. Desired bend is achieved at the point when the slider is just in contact with asperities on the disc surface. Following heating, the disc is operated at a normal RPM rate of rotation which is greater than the testing RPM, thereby insuring that the slider flies in close proximity to the disc surface but without contacting the disc surface. Contact between the slider and the disc surface is determined by detecting acoustic noise on the flexure arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Yaeger, Lawrence W. Gollbach, John E. Jones
  • Disc drive head disc assembly and printed circuit board connected with flexible connectors
    Patent number: 6057982
    Abstract: A disc drive has a head disc assembly and a printed circuit board. The head disc assembly has a first connector block with a plurality of first conductors, transmitting signals to and from the head disc assembly. The printed circuit board has a plurality of first electrical pads and a first cutout, the printed circuit board connected to the head disc assembly. A first flexible connection means electrically connects the first conductors of the first connector block of the head disc assembly to the first electrical pads of the printed circuit board, with the first cutout providing wiggle space and permitting accessing, positioning and mating of the first flexible connection means with the first connector block. In a specific embodiment, the first flexible connection means includes a third connector block and a first alignment means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Klaus D. Kloeppel
  • Rigid disc plastic substrate with high stiffness insert
    Patent number: 6055140
    Abstract: An injection molded plastic disc substrate incorporating a stiff insert made of a very stiff material (metal, ceramic, composite . . . e.g. silicon) embedded in the plastic matrix. Preferably, the insert has a circular center region and radially extending fingers. Additional features of the web may include one or more chordal connecting elements extending between the fingers. In this way, both vibration or flutter in the circumferential or radial direction is suppressed by the insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruno J. Marchon
  • Holding automatic gain control levels during read error recovery in a disc drive
    Patent number: 6055118
    Abstract: An apparatus and associated method are disclosed for recovering user data from a data block in a disc drive in which user data are stored by way of a plurality of blocks on tracks of a disc, the blocks including data blocks in which the user data are stored in predefined increments. A head generates readback signals from the blocks and a read channel reconstructs the user data from the readback signals. An automatic gain control stage establishes a gain used to amplify the readback signal to a level suitable for use by the read channel. When an uncorrected read error is detected, the disc drive proceeds to read a previous block sequentially preceding the affected data block and sets the gain to a fixed value based upon the readback signals determined from the previous block. The fixed value of gain is then used to recover the user data from the affected data block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Ke Du
  • Disc head slider having surface discontinuities to minimize fly stiction
    Patent number: 6055127
    Abstract: A slider supports a transducer proximate to a lubricated recording medium. The slider includes a slider body, a raised rail formed on the slider body and a fluid flow pattern across the slider body which has at least one stagnant flow region. A surface discontinuity is formed on the slider body and is positioned within the stagnant flow region to inhibit lubrication collected within the stagnant flow region from migrating to the raised rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Zine-Eddine Boutaghou, Jih-Ping Peng
  • Optimizing track address detection in a disc drive
    Patent number: 6055121
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for optimizing detection thresholds used to identify addresses of tracks in a disc drive having a head and a disc upon which a plurality of tracks are defined, the tracks including track address fields in which track address information is stored. A comparator is provided which generates track address sequence signals in response to a corresponding plurality of readback signals obtained as the head is maintained in a fixed relationship to a selected track. A demodulator identifies erroneous track address sequence signals therefrom and increments a count in an accumulator for each detected, erroneous signal. A detection threshold circuit sequentially provides the comparator with a set of detection thresholds from a population of detection thresholds, each of which are used in turn by the comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Seagate Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Ke Du, William C. Little, Matthew C. Burton
  • Radially loaded disc mounting system for a disc drive
    Patent number: 6055123
    Abstract: A disc mounting system for mounting the discs of a disc drive in a fixed radial relationship to the hub of a spindle motor. The disc mounting system includes curved spring elements, having a substantially C-shaped axial cross section, which are curved on a radius greater than the radius of the central opening of the discs. One or more spring elements are utilized with each disc, and assembly tooling is used to bend the spring elements so that the discs, with the opening of the C-shaped springs engaging the inner diameter of the discs, can fit over the hub of the spindle motor. The assembly tooling is then removed to allow the spring elements to partially straighten, firmly engaging the discs relative to the spindle motor hub in the radial direction. In a first embodiment of the invention, alternative mechanisms are disclosed for establishing the axial positions of the discs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick Frank Kazmierczak, Michael John Raffetto
  • Combined load/unload ramp and snubber for disc drives
    Patent number: 6055134
    Abstract: A load/unload ramp includes a ramp surface for engaging the actuator arm to lift the transducer from operational relation to the disc surface, and a snubbing mechanism to prevent an edge of the disc from axially moving beyond a design limit. The snubbing mechanism includes an engaging mechanism for engaging the disc when the edge of the disc moves the design limit; the engaging mechanism operating to engage the disc without affecting the recording surface. In one form, the snubbing mechanism includes a slot to receive an edge of the disc. The engaging mechanism is supported within the slot to engage the disc, such as a chamfer surface between the edge and the recording surface, when the edge of the disc moves the design limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Zine-Eddine Boutaghou
  • Disc drive having hydrodynamic labyrinth seal and magnet shield
    Patent number: 6055126
    Abstract: A disc drive system includes a disc drive chassis, a magnetic storage disc, a read/write transducer adjacent to the disc for reading and writing information on the disc, and a hydrodynamic bearing assembly. The hydrodynamic bearing assembly rotatably couples the magnetic storage disc to the disc drive chassis. The hydrodynamic bearing assembly includes a fluid path therethrough for circulating a fluid. A labyrinth seal and magnet shield is provided proximate the hydrodynamic bearing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Kennedy, Norbert S. Parsoneault
  • System and method for write location defect compensation in computer storage media
    Patent number: 6052348
    Abstract: A system and method for write location defect compensation in computer storage media comprises a reflectivity channel containing a detector device and counter device, an error threshold device coupled to the reflectivity channel for determining if the write location defect requires compensation, and memory devices coupled to a processor for storage of the defective write locations. A processor responsively reallocates write data to a different write location and thus maintains an efficient and reliable data storage system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl A. Belser, Aihua Edward Li
  • Data transfer optimization through sector evaluation and reallocation during a disc drive idle mode
    Patent number: 6052804
    Abstract: An apparatus and associated method are disclosed for optimizing the data transfer performance of a disc drive in which user data is stored in data blocks arranged on tracks of at least one rotating disc. When a selected, uninterrupted amount of time passes since the most recently performed disc drive operation, the disc drive enters an idle mode and selectively evaluates the data blocks for uncorrected read errors. During the idle mode, at such time that a selected data block is found having an uncorrected error, a sequence of corrective operations are performed in an attempt to resolve the error and the selected data block is reallocated when at least selected one of the corrective actions are unsuccessful.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Merle E. Thowe, Mark A. Heath
  • Head suspension mounting system with positive orthogonal alignment features
    Patent number: 6052260
    Abstract: A mounting system attaches head suspensions to actuator head mounting arms of a disc drive actuator. The mounting system includes head suspension mounting plates and features on both the head suspension mounting plates and on the actuator head mounting arms that facilitate snap-fitting or press-fitting of the mating components, as well as features that ensure both accurate alignment and maintenance of the position of the mounted head suspensions in and about the major orthogonal axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Raymond Segar, Zine-Eddine Boutaghou
  • System and scheme for maximum transition run length codes with location dependent constraints
    Patent number: 6052072
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding data produces a code stream of code words, where each code word includes two subsets of code bits. Each subset of code bits is constrained by a different maximum transition run constraint. In an alternative embodiment, the method and apparatus produces a code stream comprised of alternating even bit locations and odd bit locations, where the even bit locations are constrained by a different maximum run length constraint than the odd bit locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kinhing P. Tsang, Bernardo Rub
  • Actuator arm integrated piezoelectric microactuator
    Patent number: 6052251
    Abstract: A system for positioning a transducing head in a disc drive device over a selected track of a rotatable disc includes an actuator arm which is rotatable about an axis, a head suspension mechanism connected to the actuator arm, and a slider carrying a transducing head and supported by the head suspension mechanism. A low resolution motor moves the actuator arm about the axis to effect coarse movement of the head between tracks of the disc. A piezoelectric element is embedded in the actuator arm to distort the arm to effect fine positioning of the head. Control circuitry distributes electrical signals to the low resolution motor and the piezoelectric element to selectively control movement thereof. The piezoelectric element is embedded in the actuator arm by removing a predetermined amount of material from the actuator arm and bonding the piezoelectric element in the resulting space it the actuator arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Khosrow Mohajerani, Joseph M. Sampietro, Anoush M. Fard, Jeffrey G. Barina, Muhammad A. Hawwa, LeRoy A. Volz, Tien Q. Le, Daniel R. Vigil
  • Dual channel readback recovery system
    Patent number: RE36671
    Abstract: A dual channel readback recovery circuit includes a high resolution channel and a low resolution channel and a data latch. A logical filter in one or both channels rejects signals that are followed by other signals if they are spaced apart less than the rejection time interval allowed by the code used. Polarity qualifying logic rejects signals in the channel that are not matched in polarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Vadim Minuhin, Robert E. Caddy, Jr.