Patents Examined by A. J. Heinz
  • Patent number: 7983000
    Abstract: A removable hard disk device includes a handle, a first holder, a hard disk drive located between the handle and the first holder, and two second holders pivotally connected to ends of the first holder and detachably connected to ends of the handle with the two second holders firmly holding the hard disk drive there between and detachably connected to the disk drive. When the second holders are forced to pivotally move outwardly relative to each other, the second holders will be separated from the first holder and the handle such that the hard disk drive can be dismounted from the first holder without using any tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Universal Scientific Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Pin Chen, Te-Sheng Liu, Kuo-Kuang Liu, Shin-Hsun Yang
  • Patent number: 7974046
    Abstract: The present invention provides a thin-film magnetic head which surely improves the writing and reading characteristic with reducing the flying height and surely handles the contact or collision with the magnetic recording medium. A thin-film magnetic head is provided, which includes, an substrate with ABS; a read or write head element provided on an element-formed surface of the substrate; at least one protrusion adjustment portion whose end reaches a slider end surface on the ABS side, which provides on an element-formed surface of the substrate; at least one heating portion provided rear at least one protrusion adjustment portion viewed from the slider end surface on the ABS side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Norikazu Ota, Tetsuya Roppongi, Hiraku Hirabayashi, Yuichi Watabe
  • Patent number: 7974041
    Abstract: The base improves manufacturing efficiency and yield and has an advantage in cost. The base includes a panel having a through-hole, a motor holder, having a cylindrical shape that protrudes from a first face of the panel in a thickness direction of the panel, integrally formed on the panel corresponding to the through-hole, the motor holder holds a motor fitted to an inner circumferential surface of the motor holder through adhesives, and the motor holder is provided with at least one depression pressure-formed on the inner circumferential surface thereof, thereby eliminating cutting processing, facilitating accuracy control, suppressing nonconformity such as corrosion because no base material is exposed, requiring no measures against burs and the like, improving production capacity and yield, and resulting in cost advantages, too.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoru Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7961441
    Abstract: The exchange coupled film according to the present invention comprises a buffer layer including a laminate in which an amorphous layer and a hafnium layer are laminated in that order, an antiferromagnetic layer laminated on the hafnium layer of the buffer layer via an intermediate layer with a thickness of at least 2 nm, and a pinned magnetic layer laminated on the antiferromagnetic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Keita Kawamori, Satoshi Miura, Takumi Yanagisawa
  • Patent number: 7957107
    Abstract: A current-perpendicular-to-the-plane (CPP) magnetoresistive sensor has an antiparallel free (APF) structure as the free layer and a specific direction for the applied bias or sense current. The (APF) structure has a first free ferromagnetic (FL1), a second free ferromagnetic layer (FL2), and an antiparallel (AP) coupling (APC) layer that couples FL1 and FL2 together antiferromagnetically with the result that FL1 and FL2 have substantially antiparallel magnetization directions and rotate together in the presence of a magnetic field. The thickness of FL1 is preferably greater than the spin-diffusion length of the electrons in the FL1 material. The minimum thickness for FL2 is a thickness resulting in a FL2 magnetic moment equivalent to at least 10 ? Ni80Fe20 and preferably to at least 15 ? Ni80Fe20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Carey, Jeffrey R. Childress, Stefan Maat, Neil Smith
  • Patent number: 7957108
    Abstract: An MR element includes a free layer having a direction of magnetization that changes in response to an external magnetic field, a pinned layer having a fixed direction of magnetization, and a spacer layer disposed between these layers. The spacer layer includes a first region, a second region and a third region that are each in the form of a layer and that are arranged in a direction intersecting the plane of each of the foregoing layers. The second region is sandwiched between the first region and the third region. The first region and the third region are each composed of an oxide semiconductor, and the second region includes at least a nonmagnetic conductor phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Tsutomu Chou, Tomohito Mizuno
  • Patent number: 7957104
    Abstract: A flexure with improved temperature sensitivity is disclosed. An embodiment of the present invention includes a bi-layered flexure that raises or lowers a read/write element a distance that is approximately equal to the distance of protrusion and retraction at varying temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: SAE Magnetics (HK) Ltd.
    Inventors: Yen Fu, Ellis T. Cha, Chao-Hui Yang
  • Patent number: 7944647
    Abstract: An optical path or waveguide for a laser-assisted transducing head is disclosed. The optical path extends between the poles of the transducing head to near the write gap. A solid-state laser is attached to or incorporated into the slider or head and is positioned to direct thermal energy through a waveguide and onto a track of a read/write surface to lower the coercivity of the recording medium to facilitate the write process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Advanced Research Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew P. Dugas, Jeffrey A. Wallhoff
  • Patent number: 7936533
    Abstract: A hard disk drive bypass channel architecture incorporates enhanced cooling for voice coil motors. A cooling slot formed in a bypass channel component that is adjacent to the VCM alleviates VCM overheating problems. The slot compromises airflow from the bypass channel to provide sufficient secondary flow to cool the VCM and actuator coil area. The slot may be formed in the integrated wall of the spoiler or diverter. The spoiler has an extension in which the cooling slot is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Andre S. Chan, Chisin Chang, Ferdinand Hendriks
  • Patent number: 7936534
    Abstract: Apparatus for supporting a disk drive with a rotating disk about a disk axis and an arm which pivots over the disk about an arm axis. The disk axis and the arm axis are perpendicular to the plane of the disk. The apparatus includes a disk drive carrier having a disk drive receiving portion where disk drive can be received, and a housing in which the carrier can be received. A mounting arrangement is provided for supporting the carrier within the housing such that the center of rotation of the carrier is outside the disk drive receiving portion of the carrier. Additionally, a mounting arrangement is provided for supporting the carrier within the housing, comprising a forced pivot at or towards the opposite end of the disk drive carrier, and about which the carrier is fixed for pivotal movement in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Xyratex Technology Limited
    Inventors: David John Orriss, Alexander Stephen Kay, Matthew Roy Hill
  • Patent number: 7933100
    Abstract: A tunneling magnetic sensor includes a pinned magnetic layer of which the magnetization is pinned in one direction, an insulating barrier layer, and a free magnetic layer of which the magnetization is varied by an external magnetic field, these layers being arranged in that order from the bottom. A first protective layer made of magnesium (Mg) is disposed on the free magnetic layer. The tunneling magnetic sensor has a larger change in reluctance as compared to conventional magnetic sensors including no first protective layers or including first protective layers made of Al, Ti, Cu, or an Ir—Mn alloy. The free magnetic layer has lower magnetostriction as compared to free magnetic layers included in the conventional magnetic sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Ryo Nakabayashi, Kazumasa Nishimura, Yosuke Ide, Masahiko Ishizone, Masamichi Saito, Naoya Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 7933098
    Abstract: A thin film magnetic head is disclosed that is capable of improving the thermal efficiency of a heater. A thin film magnetic head includes: a lower shield layer; an upper shield layer; a reproducing element that is provided between the lower shield layer and the upper shield layer; a recording element that is formed on the upper shield layer; a heater that generates heat to expand at least one of the reproducing element and the recording element such that the reproducing element and/or the recording element protrude toward a recording medium; and a shunt line that applies a reference potential that is equal to the potentials of the lower shield layer and the upper shield layer to a magnetic layer of the recording element. In the thin film magnetic head, the shunt line is connected to the magnetic layer of the recording element at a position that deviates from the center of a heat generating region of the heater in a track width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoo Otsuka, Manabu Usui
  • Patent number: 7929253
    Abstract: A method is provided for maintaining the aggregate stiffness of a pivot bearing assembly generally employed along with an actuator assembly of a magnetic disk drive, while increasing the stiffness in a predetermined direction. More specifically, bearing cartridges used in conjunction with actuator assemblies of the prior art employ at least one ball bearing assembly positioned about a stationary shaft. A modification is presented herein that generally concerns repositioning and maintaining the balls of the ball bearing along a predetermined axis for efficient reaction of loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Freeman Fisher, Gerry Woods
  • Patent number: 7929256
    Abstract: A thin film magnetic head is disclosed that is capable of preventing the contact between an element portion and a recording medium and a variation in the amount of protrusion of the element portion. A thin film magnetic head includes: a reproducing element; a recording element that is formed on the reproducing element; a heater that is supplied with power and generates heat to expand at least one of the reproducing element and the recording element such that the reproducing element and/or the recording element protrude toward a recording medium; and a temperature correcting resistor that is connected in parallel to the heater and has a negative resistance temperature coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Yamashita, Yuya Kakuhari
  • Patent number: 7924532
    Abstract: A head gimbal assembly (HGA) of a hard disk drive (HDD) includes a flexure, a slider attached to the flexure and including a magnetic head, a plurality of pads at a side of the slider, a plurality of traces attached to and supported by the flexure and respectively bonded to the pads to form an electrically continuous circuit therebetween, and an insulating support element covering a bonding region between the pads and the traces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ki-tag Jeong, Yong-chul Yoo, Yoon-gyu Kam
  • Patent number: 7924530
    Abstract: A punched gimbal dimple with a coined, frusto-conical base in a head suspension and a method for producing such a dimple. The dimple has an apex and a base, the base having outer and inner surfaces which generally conform to conical frustums. The conical frustum half-cone angles differ by at least 2 degrees. The dimple and its coined base are fabricated by a dimple punch and die with mismatched punch tangent and chamfer angles. The coined dimple base can be more easily seen by optical systems for aligning a slider to the dimple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Magnecomp Corporation
    Inventor: David Chocholaty
  • Patent number: 7916424
    Abstract: A magnetic head according to one embodiment includes a substrate; at least one transducer formed above the substrate, the at least one transducer being selected from a group consisting of a reader and a writer; an overcoat portion formed above the at least one transducer; and a wear resistant portion formed between the overcoat portion and a media-proximal surface of the magnetic head, the wear resistant portion being formed of a material having a greater resistance to media wear than a material from which the overcoat portion is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Glenn Biskeborn
  • Patent number: 7911731
    Abstract: A tape library system includes a plurality of conductive track assemblies including at least one linear conductive strip, and at least one guide track. The system further includes a first fiber brush assembly and a second fiber brush assembly separated from each other by a predetermined separation distance, each of the first and second fiber brush assemblies comprising a spring biasing a track wheel, and a fiber brush attached to the fiber brush assembly and in electrical contact with the conductive strip. The fiber brush assembly linearly translates along the conductive track assembly on an axis parallel to the conductive strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Shawn M. Nave, George G. Zamora, Lee C. Randall
  • Patent number: 7907369
    Abstract: A novel method and device to align a flexure tail of a head gimbal assembly (HGA) to a flex cable of a head stack assembly (HSA) is disclosed and claimed. An alignment pin is passed through a first alignment hole in the flex cable, and a second alignment hole in the flexure tail. The second alignment hole is disposed in a region of the flexure tail that lies in a flexure tail plane that is approximately parallel to the flex cable plane adjacent the first alignment hole. A novel head gimbal assembly (HGA) has a flexure tail that includes a first bend line. The flexure tail is bent out-of-plane about the first bend line to create a residual bend angle in the range 10° to 80°. The first alignment tab is abutted against a first guide surface of an alignment fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Tzong-Shii Pan
  • Patent number: 7907367
    Abstract: A punched gimbal dimple with an annular coined periphery extending outward from the dimple in a head suspension and a method for producing such a dimple. The dimple and its coined periphery are fabricated from a dimple punch and a die with a raised coining surface. The coined area on the dimple periphery can be seen by optical systems as a shiny ring, which is useful for aligning a slider to the dimple. The coined periphery is also less distorted by dimple punching than a non-coined periphery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Magnecomp Corporation
    Inventors: David Chocholaty, Leroy Wielenga, Chu Wong