Patents Examined by A. Heinz
  • Patent number: 8264797
    Abstract: A novel head gimbal assembly (HGA) includes a piezoelectric microactuator having a first side and an opposing second side. The first side includes a plurality of anchor regions that extend radially from a center point and are bonded to the gimbal tongue. The first side also includes a first plurality of non-bonded regions lying between the anchor regions. The second side includes a plurality of link regions that extend radially from the center point and are bonded to a top surface of the read head. The second side also includes a second plurality of non-bonded regions lying between the link regions. Each of the plurality of link regions is angularly spaced between two of the plurality of anchor regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventor: Nathan C. Emley
  • Patent number: 8259415
    Abstract: A slider includes a slider body and a bond pad. The bond pad is positioned on the slider body and has a bonding surface with a recessed channel for directing solder flow. Separately related, an assembly includes a suspension assembly including a suspension mounting surface and a suspension pad on the suspension mounting surface. A slider is positioned adjacent the suspension mounting surface, with a slider pad aligned with the suspension pad. A recessed channel is in at least one of the slider pad or the suspension pad. A solder joint is formed between the suspension pad and the slider pad and extends into the recessed channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Erik Jon Hutchinson, Christopher Michael Unger
  • Patent number: 8259410
    Abstract: A method and system for providing a magnetic transducer for recording to media is described. The method and system include providing a first pole, a main pole, at least one coil and at least one auxiliary pole. The main pole is for providing a magnetic field for recording to the media. The coil(s) are for energizing the main pole. The auxiliary pole is magnetically coupled with the main pole. The shield(s) are for magnetically isolating a portion of the magnetic transducer. At least one of the first pole, the auxiliary pole, and the at least one shield includes a composite magnetic material including a plurality of ferromagnetic grains in an insulating matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Inventors: Zhigang Bai, Suping Song, Matthew R. Gibbons, Sining Mao
  • Patent number: 8254065
    Abstract: For a piezoelectric actuator in which, upon receiving electric power, a piezoelectric element causes a shear deformation to minutely move a movable member of the actuator relative to a base member of the actuator, a power supply includes a wiring member having an insulating layer, a wiring connector, a hole through at least the wiring member insulating layer, and a contact in the through hole. The wiring member has a conductive base layer, the insulating layer, and a conductor layer, the connector base layer having an insular part and a main part that is electrically isolated from the insular part. The wiring connector has a first face joined with an electrode of the piezoelectric element and a second face joined with the insular part. The contact electrically connects the conductor layer of the wiring member to the wiring connector and to the piezoelectric element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaru Inoue, Shogo Imuta
  • Patent number: 8248727
    Abstract: A magnetic head in one embodiment comprises a plurality of components separated from each other by insulative portions; and at least one connective element coupling the components together. A magnetic tape head in another embodiment comprises a substrate; a closure separated from the substrate by an insulative portion; and at least one connective element coupling the substrate and closure together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Glenn Biskeborn, Calvin Shyhjong Lo
  • Patent number: 8248735
    Abstract: In a magnetic head suspension, a piezoelectric element is disposed within a supporting part's open section so that at least a part of its distal-side end surface faces a distal-side wall surface of the supporting part's distal end section forming a distal-side gap between the distal-side end surface and the distal-side wall surface and at least a part of its proximal-side end surface faces a proximal-side wall surface of the supporting part's proximal end section forming a proximal-side gap between the proximal-side end surface and the proximal-side wall surface in a state where the piezoelectric element's upper and lower electrode layers do not face the supporting part and any rigid members that are fixed to the supporting part. The piezoelectric element is fixed to the supporting part by a distal-side insulative adhesive agent and a proximal-side insulative adhesive agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Suncall Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Fujimoto, Satoru Takasugi, Kenji Mashimo
  • Patent number: 8248731
    Abstract: An electrical connecting structure for a piezoelectric element enables wiring to the piezoelectric element to be carried out without deteriorating the productivity and reliability of the piezoelectric element. The electrical connecting structure is formed by facing a common electrode of the piezoelectric element to a terminal that supplies power to the common electrode and by injecting a conductive adhesive into a through hole, which is formed substantially at the center of the piezoelectric element, from an opening of the through hole that is on the opposite side of the common electrode, thereby securing electrical connection between the terminal and the common electrode of the piezoelectric element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideki Fuchino
  • Patent number: 8243399
    Abstract: A magnetic shield in which all domain patterns and orientations are stable and which are consistently repeated each time the shield is exposed to an initialization field, is disclosed. This is achieved by giving it a suitable shape which ensures that all closure domains can align themselves at a reduced angle relative to the initialization direction while still being roughly antiparallel to each other. Most, though not all, of these shapes are variations on trapezoids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Glen Garfunkel, Moris Dovek, Kenichi Takano, Joseph Smyth, Yuchen Zhou
  • Patent number: 8238062
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a magnetic reader comprises first and second shields extending from an air bearing surface (ABS), a magnetoresistive stack is located between the first and second shields, and a flux guide is separated from the magnetoresistive stack while connecting the first and second shields. The flux guide magnetically couples the distal end of the magnetoresistive stack to the first shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Yonghua Chen, Jiaoming Qiu, Xilin Peng, Kaizhong Gao
  • Patent number: 8233244
    Abstract: In a magnetic head suspension according to the present invention, each of paired right and left connecting beams that are positioned on both sides in a suspension width direction of an open section, with which piezoelectric elements are at least partially overlapped in a plan view, and connect a proximal end section directly or indirectly connected to a main actuator and a distal end section to which a load bending part is connected includes a convex portion projecting in a thickness direction that is perpendicular to the disk surface. The configuration makes it possible to improve the impact resistance and raise the resonance frequency of a magnetic head suspension capable of performing micro motion of a magnetic head slider by the piezoelectric elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Suncall Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuo Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 8233231
    Abstract: A method for verifying a tape cartridge is presented. One method includes introducing a tape cartridge into a tape library wherein when introduced, the tape cartridge can then be loaded in a tape drive in an attempt to bring the tape cartridge to a functionally ready state with the tape drive. In loading the tape cartridge in the tape drive, the loading performance of the first tape cartridge can be assessed based on bringing the first tape cartridge to a functionally ready state. A record of the performance information can then be stored on a central data base and/or on a medium auxiliary memory device located in the tape cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Spectra Logic Corp.
    Inventors: Nathan Christopher Thompson, Matthew Thomas Starr, Michael Jerard Goberis
  • Patent number: 8233232
    Abstract: A data storage apparatus and associated method is provided involving a data storage disc that is rotatable around a first axis. An actuator is rotatable around a second axis to operably position a data transfer member between an innermost radial location of the data storage disc and an outermost radial storage location of the data storage disc. A snubber is supported by the actuator and has a distal edge configured as being, in relation to a reference plane including the first axis and the second axis when the actuator is rotated to position the data transfer member at the innermost radial location, arcuate along a first radius on one side of the reference plane and arcuate along a second radius different than the first radius on the other side of the reference plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Seagate Technology
    Inventors: Chuen Buan Lee, Choon Kiat Lim, Xiong Liu, Jui Jing Lim
  • Patent number: 8228640
    Abstract: A tolerance ring has a band (16) with outwardly extending corrugated protrusions forming waves (2) which engage a surface (8) of the bore (4) in a housing (5). At one end of the tolerance ring is an outwardly flared guide surface (15) extending axially from the band (16). The guide surface (15) acts as an enlarged entrance to the band (16) for a shaft (3) to be mounted in the bore (4) by insertion into the tolerance ring. The use of the guide surface (15) assists assembly and reduces or eliminates particle production. It is also possible for the corrugated portions to extend inwardly, for the guide surface to be inwardly flared, and for the tolerance ring to be mounted on the shaft prior to insertion in the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Rencol Limited
    Inventors: Niki S. Woodhead, Andrew R. Slayne
  • Patent number: 8223454
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus 1 in which is mounted an electronic unit having a plurality of heat-generating sections including at least a first heat-generating section and a second heat-generating section includes: a hold frame 9 for holding the electronic unit, a first heat-conducting member 11 for transmitting heat generated by the first heat-generating section, a second heat-conducting member 11 for transmitting heat generated by the second heat-generating section, and a cooling unit 8 for releasing the heat transmitted through the first and second heat-generating sections; in which apparatus, the first heat-conducting member 11 is heat-connected to the cooling unit 8, and the second heat-conducting member 11 is heat-connected to the cooling unit 8 via the hold frame 9.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuaki Tanaka, Takeshi Hizono, Hironori Oikawa
  • Patent number: 8218267
    Abstract: A flexure has a substrate made of a thin conductive metal plate, a base insulating layer made of flexible resin formed on the substrate, wiring patterns formed on the base insulating layer and connected to a slider mount, and a cover insulating layer formed over the wiring patterns. The flexure is substantially coated with a conductive polymer layer having a thickness in the range of 18 to 130 nm. The flexure prevents electrostatic accumulation and ion migration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Arai, Eijiro Furuta, Koichi Kusakawa
  • Patent number: 8213112
    Abstract: There is provided a motor. The motor includes a shaft rotatably installed and supported by a sleeve, a rotor case coupled with the shaft and on which a disk is mounted, and a pressure difference generation portion disposed in a space between the disk and the rotor case and generating a pressure difference using airflow in the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong Kwan Lee, Elr Soo Youn, Soo Woong Park, Chang Keun Jun
  • Patent number: 8213128
    Abstract: A head-gimbal assembly (HGA). The HGA includes a deformable plate affixed to a load beam, a piezoelectric element affixed to the deformable plate, and a base plate affixed to the deformable plate. The deformable plate includes: a hole; a first section in front of the hole and affixed to the load beam; a second section behind the hole and affixed to the base plate; and, first and second spring members that join the first section and the second section, can deform in a front-back direction, and are positioned to sandwich the hole in a left-right direction. The piezoelectric element is affixed between the first section and the second section. The base plate includes projection members on a front edge of the plate and projecting out toward the first section. The front edges of the projection member are positioned further to a front edge than a back edge of the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Eiji Soga, Hiroyasu Tsuchida
  • Patent number: 8213109
    Abstract: A storage apparatus includes at least one device insertion section, at least one robot, a replacement detection section, a first determination section, and a movement section. A device can be inserted into the device insertion section. The robot has a moving mechanism. The replacement detection section detects a start of the replacement of the device. When it is detected by the replacement detection section that the replacement of the device is started, the first determination section determines a position of the device insertion section at which the device is replaced. The movement section moves the robot so as to close an opening formed by removal of the device from the device insertion section based on the determination result of the first determination section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Shinobu Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8213114
    Abstract: The disk drive device includes a base member, a hub, a bearing unit which is arranged on the base member and which rotatably supports the hub, and a spindle drive unit which drives the hub to rotate. The spindle drive unit includes a stator core having a salient pole, a coil wound around the salient pole and a magnet opposed to the salient pole. The hub formed of magnetic material includes an outer cylinder portion engaged with an inner circumference of a recording disk and an inner cylinder portion to which an outer circumference of the magnet is fixed. The diameter of the inner cylinder portion is larger than the diameter of the outer cylinder portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Alphana Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takanori Watanabe, Hiroshi Iwai, Tomoyuki Tashiro
  • Patent number: 8213132
    Abstract: A narrow track-width magnetoresistive sensor by defining a trench formed between first and second hard bias layers and depositing the sensor into the trench. The sensor can include a sensor stack sandwiched between first and second electrically conductive lead layers. First and second electrically insulating side walls are formed at either side of the sensor stack. First and second hard bias layers extend from the sides of the sensor stack, being separated from the sensor stack by the first and second electrically insulating side walls. First and second physically hard insulation layers are provided over each of the hard bias layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: David Eugene Heim, Kim Y. Lee, Tsann Lin, Jih-Shiuan Luo