Patents Examined by A. J. Heinz
  • Thin-film magnetic head with tunnel magnetoresistive effect element electrically connected in parallel with a resistor element
    Patent number: 7102859
    Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head includes a TMR element and a resistor element connected in parallel with the TMR element. A resistance value RTMR of the TMR element itself is RTMR?240 ?, a product RA of the resistance value of the TMR element itself and a cross-sectional area of the TMR element is RA?3 ?ยท?m2, and a resistance value RPARA of the resistor element is RPARA?480?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Inage, Shunji Saruki, Nozomu Hachisuka
  • Yoke structure with a step
    Patent number: 7102852
    Abstract: A planar top yoke in a magnetic write head is disclosed. The top yoke includes a backside region and a second pole tip region that is thinner than the backside region and forms a step at the ABS. Alternatively, a front section of the backside region includes a step with a thickness greater than the second pole tip region. Therefore, flux is directed from a thicker backside region toward the gap side of the second pole tip layer near the ABS. A lower flux density is formed at the top of the step at the ABS which reduces the flank field/gap field ratio and prevents unwanted erasure of adjacent data tracks. A high gap field is achieved while maintaining a low flank field during high write current conditions. The step recess from the ABS toward the backside region is about 0.2 to 2 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenichi Takano
  • Self-pinned abutted junction heads having an arrangement of a second hard bias layer and a free layer for providing a net net longitudinal bias on the free layer
    Patent number: 7099123
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enhancing thermal stability, improving biasing and reducing damage from electrical surges in self-pinned abutted junction heads. The head includes a sandwiched hard bias layer having a first hard bias layer coupled to a free layer and a second, anti-parallel hard bias layer disposed away form the free layer to provide a net longitudinal bias on the free layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies
    Inventors: Hardayal Singh Gill, Wen-Chien Hsiao, Jih-Shiuan Luo
  • Magnetic head, method for recording/reproducing tape-like magnetic recording medium, and rotary magnetic head mechanism
    Patent number: 7099119
    Abstract: To provide a magnetic head, a recording/reproducing method for a tape magnetic recording medium and a rotary magnetic head mechanism. A flat head FH1 is mounted on a rotary drum DR1 capable of allowing a magnetic tape MT to run thereon, and a smooth flat surface PL1 that faces the magnetic tape MT and produces hydrodynamic interference with the magnetic tape MT is provided on a flat head FH1, and a head element HE1 that contacts the magnetic tape MT and produces magnetic interference is provided in the area where the magnetic tape MT contacts the smooth flat surface PL1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Takayama, Yasuo Sugizaki, Masahiro Kanaguchi
  • Optical information recording medium
    Patent number: 7096479
    Abstract: An optical information recording medium 10 is composed of at least a reflective layer 2, a first protective layer 3, a phase-change type optical recording layer 4 and a second protective layer 5 being sequentially laminated on a substrate 1. The optical information recording medium 10 is conducted to record information by changing a phase of the phase-change type optical recording layer 4 by irradiating light from the second protective layer 5 side. The phase-change type optical recording layer 4 further contains at least Ti, In, Ge, Sb and Te. When each content amount of the Ti, In, Ge, Sb and Te is defined as v, w, x, y and z in atomic percent respectively, each content amount of v, w, x, y and z in atomic percent satisfies following relations: 0.3?v?4, 0.3?w?3, 3.4?x?14.5, 2.1?y/z?4 and 98.8?v+w+x+y+z?100.?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Akutsu, Masaru Hatakeyama, Satoru Yamashita
  • Head gimbal assembly and method for manufacturing the same
    Patent number: 7095590
    Abstract: A head gimbal assembly has a gimbal suspension that includes a metal flexure bonded to a slider having a magnetic head element. This head gimbal assembly prevents damage from electrostatic discharge more efficiently. In the head gimbal assembly, a region of an oxide film on a slider-bonding surface of the flexure is completely or incompletely removed to form a film-removed region, and conductive adhesive resin is disposed between the film-removed region and the slider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michiharu Motonishi, Mitsuru Watanabe
  • Disk clamp assembly
    Patent number: 7092204
    Abstract: An assembly for coupling a disk to a spindle includes a lower layer adapted to engage the disk and an upper layer constructed of a material having a stiffness greater than that of the lower layer. The upper and/or lower layer has protrusions extending therefrom for mating with receiving areas of the other layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Norbert A. Feliss, Donald Ray Gillis, Reinhard F. Wolter
  • Thin-film magnetic head having a high recording density and frequency
    Patent number: 7088549
    Abstract: A gap depth determining insulating layer is formed on a lower core layer. A curved face is formed on a front edge face of the gap depth determining insulating layer so as to gradually depart from an ABS surface from the bottom at the lower core layer to the top of the curved face. A back end of an upper magnetic layer can be formed on the gap depth determining insulating layer, whereby the volume of the upper magnetic layer can be increased while a gap depth is maintained at a predetermined length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisayuki Yazawa, Naruaki Oki, Kiyoshi Kobayashi, Akira Koyama, Yoshihiro Kanada, Hiromi Ikegami, legal representative, Chiaki Ikegami, legal representative, Masaki Ikegami, deceased
  • Disk cartridge
    Patent number: 7089574
    Abstract: A disk cartridge includes a case which receives a disk thereon, a cover which is installed on the case and includes an opening, and a shutter which is movably installed in the case, in a lower direction of the disk, to open and close an aperture formed on the case. The disk cartridge has guide holes formed on the case along a trace of the shutter, and support members formed on the shutter. The support members are guided along the guide holes while having ends thereof interfering with peripherals of the guide holes. Therefore, since the peripherals of the guide holes interfere with the ends of the support members, the shutter is prevented from being deformed even where an external force is applied to the shutter through the aperture, in a closed state of the shutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Han-kook Choi, Yong-hoon Lee, Hong-kyun Yim, Jae-yong Eum
  • Optical pickup device
    Patent number: 7086070
    Abstract: A light emitting unit A includes a base member 1, a holder 3 for holding a laser diode 7 and a coupling tool 5 which is a leaf spring material. A pair of circular surfaces 32, 32 of the holder 3 are respectively abutted on a pair of flat surfaces 14, 14 of the base member 1 on the overlapping place of the base member 1 and the holder 3. The center axis line of the circular surfaces 32, 32 coincides with a center axis line O passing the light emission point P of the laser diode 7. Projected pieces 55, 55 of the coupling tool are elastically contacted with the laser diode at the back of the center axis line O.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Kimura
  • Thin film magnetic head having spiral coils and manufacturing method thereof
    Patent number: 7085099
    Abstract: The invention is directed to improvement of a write element of a thin film magnetic head. In the write element, a lower coil surrounds in a spiral form a back gap portion, arranged within a height of a lower pole. An upper coil is disposed above the lower coil, surrounding in a spiral form the back gap portion and arranged within a height of an upper pole. A gap film is at an intermediate level in the pole length that is defined by the height of the lower pole and the height of the upper pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignees: Headway Technologies, Inc., SAE Magnetics (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Sasaki, Kazuo Ishizaki, Takehiro Kamigama
  • Method and apparatus for embedding a chip in a substrate to form a composite air bearing surface
    Patent number: 7082013
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for embedding a chip in a substrate to form a composite air bearing surface. An example of the method includes securing the substrate in a fixed position, aligning the chip in a first direction with a chip receiving slot in the substrate, depositing adhesive in the chip receiving slot, and aligning the chip in a second direction with the chip receiving slot. The chip is pushed into the adhesive in the chip receiving slot until the air bearing surface of the chip is substantially at a desired protrusion in a third direction in relation to the air bearing surface of the substrate. The adhesive is cured with the air bearing surface of the chip substantially at the desired protrusion in the third direction, and with the chip substantially aligned in the first and second directions with chip receiving slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Annayya P. Deshpande, Hoodin Hamidi, Icko E. Iben, Kevin Thuy Luong, Sassan K. Shahidi, Abel J. Taina
  • Magnetic head having a write coil structure with a reduced electrical resistance for reducing thermal protrusion
    Patent number: 7079353
    Abstract: Magnetic heads having write coil structures with reduced electrical resistances for reducing thermal protrusion are disclosed. In one illustrative example, a magnetic head includes a magnetic yoke; a write gap layer formed between upper and lower poles of the magnetic yoke; and a write coil having a plurality of coil layers. Each coil layer of the write coil extends continuously between the upper and the lower poles through a plane defined by the write gap layer. Preferably, the write coil is formed using a damascene process, such that each coil layer is wider than each coil separating layer. Such a structure provides for a relatively large amount of coil materials to be used, which reduces the coil's electrical resistance. This, in turn, reduces the heat generated by the write coils during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Wen-chien David Hsiao, Edward Hin Pong Lee, Vladimir Nikitin, Samuel Weisan Yuan
  • Power transmitting device for stepping motor and disk drive provided with the same
    Patent number: 7080390
    Abstract: A power transmitting device for a stepping motor comprises: a stepping motor commonly serving as a power source for a pickup moving mechanism of a light load and a power source for a disk transferring mechanism of a heavy load; switching mechanism for a switching path for transmitting the power from the motor between the first path, via which the power is transmitted to the pickup moving mechanism, and a second path, via which the power is transmitted to the disk transferring mechanism via power transmitting gear mechanisms; and transmission prohibiting mechanism for prohibiting the transmission of the power from the stepping motor to the disk transferring mechanism at the beginning of the power transmission via the second path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.,
    Inventors: Yasunari Toyama, Makoto Kambayashi, Youtarou Yamauchi
  • Planar magnetic head
    Patent number: 7079354
    Abstract: A magnetic head including a second magnetic pole (P2 pole) that is fabricated upon a write gap layer that is deposited upon a flat surface. To achieve the flat surface, a P1 pole pedestal is formed upon the P1 pole layer with a sufficient thickness that the induction coil structure can be fabricated beneath the write gap layer. In the preferred embodiment, an etch stop layer is formed upon the P1 pole layer and an ion etching process is utilized to form the induction coil trenches in an etchable material that is deposited upon the etch stop layer. Following the fabrication of the induction coil structure a CMP process is conducted to obtain a polished flat surface upon which to deposit the write gap layer, and the P2 pole is then fabricated upon the flat write gap layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands, B.V.
    Inventors: Robert E. Fontana, Richard Hsiao, Yuexing Zhao
  • Supplementary shield for CPP GMR read head
    Patent number: 7075758
    Abstract: Increases in the AP1 and AP2 thickness cause the free layer to be off-center in a CPP magnetic read head. This problem has been overcome by inserting supplementary magnetic shields within the spin valve, located as close as possible to the stack. These supplementary shields enable the read gap width to be reduced by about 430 ? and the free layer to shift back towards the center by about 30 ?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kunliang Zhang, Kochan Ju, Min Li, Youfeng Zheng, Simon Liao, Yue Liu
  • Objective lens driving device and optical pickup device employing the objective lens driving device
    Patent number: 7073185
    Abstract: The present invention is relative with an objective lens driving device used in an optical pickup device, and includes a stationary unit, a lens bobbin provided with an objective lens, at least one magnet provided on one of the lens bobbin and the stationary unit, a coil unit provided on the other of the lens bobbin and the stationary unit for causing movement of the lens bobbin in a direction parallel to the optical axis of the objective lens and in a planar direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the objective lens, and an elastic supporting unit of a stainless material, provided between a stationary unit and the lens bobbin. The elastic supporting unit supports the lens bobbin for movement in a direction parallel to the optical axis of the objective lens and in a planar direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the objective lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Shimada, Tadayasu Nishikawa
  • Apparatus for providing transverse magnetic bias proximate to a pole tip to speed up the switching time of the pole-tip during the writing operation
    Patent number: 7072142
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing transverse magnetic bias proximate to a pole tip to speed up the switching time of the pole-tip during the writing operation is disclosed. The transverse field disposed proximate the pole-tip helps the conventional driving field in rotating the magnetization through the first 90-degrees, especially at small angle where the effective anisotropy-field is strongest in opposing the conventional driving field. By offsetting the magnetization from its easy-axis, the transverse field also increases the torque that the collinear driving field would have on the magnetization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Quan-Chiu Harry Lam
  • Hard drive actuator arm with reduced skew variation
    Patent number: 7072147
    Abstract: A rotary actuator system includes an actuator block, a head mounting block, and a linkage arm connecting the actuator block and the head mounting block. The system further includes an actuator motor operatively connected to the actuator block for rotating a link. The linkage arm includes a drive link which is rotated by the actuator motor and a guide link spaced apart from the drive link. The drive link has a first end and a second end; the drive link is pivotally connected to the actuator block at the first end and connected to the head mounting block at the second end. The guide link has a first end and a second end; the guide link is connected to the actuator block at the first end and connected to the head mounting block at the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Joel David Limmer, Zine-Eddine Boutaghou, Wayne Allen Bonin
  • Method for providing transverse magnetic bias proximate to a pole tip to speed up the switching time of the pole-tip during the writing operation
    Patent number: 7070716
    Abstract: A method for providing transverse magnetic bias proximate to a pole tip to speed up the switching time of the pole-tip during the writing operation is disclosed. The transverse field disposed proximate the pole-tip helps the conventional driving field in rotating the magnetization through the first 90-degrees, especially at small angle where the effective anisotropy-field is strongest in opposing the conventional driving field. By offsetting the magnetization from its easy-axis, the transverse field also increases the torque that the collinear driving field would have on the magnetization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Quan-Chiu Harry Lam