Patents Examined by Angel A. Castro
  • Patent number: 8081405
    Abstract: A current-to-perpendicular-to-plane (CPP) read sensor with multiple reference layers and associated fabrication methods are disclosed. According to one embodiment, the multiple reference layers of a CPP read sensor include a first reference layer (e.g., Co—Fe) formed by a ferromagnetic polycrystalline film, a second reference layer (e.g., Co—Fe—Hf) formed by a ferromagnetic amorphous film, a third reference layer (e.g., Co—Fe—B) formed by a ferromagnetic amorphous film, and a fourth reference layer (e.g., Co—Fe) formed by a ferromagnetic polycrystalline film. A plasma treatment is applied to the fourth reference layer for surface smoothening, and no replenishment is needed as long as the fourth reference layer is not completely removed after the plasma treatment. The fourth reference layer protects the surface of the third reference layer from spin polarization deterioration caused by the plasma treatment, thereby maintaining a strong TMR or GMR effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands, B.V.
    Inventor: Tsann Lin
  • Patent number: 8081399
    Abstract: Write enhancement circuitry on the head carrier of a magnetic recording disk drive provides additional write current overshoot beyond that provided by the write driver circuitry. An enhancement capacitor is formed with a dielectric layer between two layers of electrically-conductive magnetically-permeable shield material that serve as the capacitor plates. The write enhancement circuitry may also include an enhancement resistor. The enhancement capacitor and resistor are connected between the two terminals on the head carrier that connect to the write head coil. The capacitor and resistor are fabricated on the head carrier at the same time and in the same process as the read head. The first and second capacitor plates are generally coplanar with and formed of the same electrically-conductive magnetically-permeable material that forms the first and second magnetic shields for the read head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: John Thomas Contreras, David John Seagle
  • Patent number: 8077433
    Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head is constructed such that a main magnetic pole layer having a magnetic pole end face on a side of a medium-opposing surface opposing a recording medium, a write shield layer opposing the main magnetic pole layer on the medium-opposing surface side, a gap layer formed between the main magnetic pole layer and write shield layer, and a thin-film coil wound about the write shield layer or main magnetic pole layer are laminated on a substrate. This thin-film magnetic head has an equidistant two-stage structure in which a first turn part of a first conductor layer and a second turn part of a second conductor layer overlap vertically along the medium-opposing surface while having the same front distance from respective front side faces closer to the medium-opposing surface to the medium-opposing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignees: Headway Technologies, Inc., SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Sasaki, Hiroyuki Ito, Atsushi Iijima
  • Patent number: 8072713
    Abstract: To provide a magnetic reading head that features high resolution and low noise, and that can support a hard disk with terabit-level surface recording density. A current is caused to flow from a pinned layer with its magnetization direction fixed by an antiferro magnetic material, to a non-magnetic thin wire having a portion affected by an external magnetic field and a portion not affected by the external magnetic field, so that spin polarized electrons are accumulated in the non-magnetic thin wire. A distance between voltage terminals of a voltmeter is set to less than the spin diffusion length of the non-magnetic thin wire. A change in the external magnetic field modulates some of the accumulated spin polarized electron, but does not others. Accordingly, an electrical potential difference depending on the external magnetic field is generated between the both end surfaces of the non-magnetic thin wire, and measured with the voltmeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Yamada, Hiromasa Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8064156
    Abstract: A disk drive having a magnetic recording disk with a transition zone is described. A surface texture of the transition zone induces the head to fly at a greater height than when operating over a data zone, while transitioning the head to a landing zone to park.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: WD Media, Inc.
    Inventors: Shoji Suzuki, Henry S. Nishihira
  • Patent number: 8060893
    Abstract: According to the invention, an electronic data storage cartridge for removable coupling to a computing system is disclosed. The electronic data storage cartridge includes a cartridge body, a connector, an optical waveguide, a hard disk drive, and a mechanical write-protect switch that prevents modification of information on the hard disk drive when active. The cartridge body includes at least two outer surfaces. The connector can be used for removable coupling to the computing system, where the connector couples information outside the cartridge body. The optical waveguide is configured to couple light between the two outer surfaces. The hard drive is coupled to the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Tandberg Data Holdings S.A.R.L.
    Inventor: Steven P. Georgis
  • Patent number: 8060900
    Abstract: Apparatus in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention includes a data storage cartridge and/or a receiver configured to receive the cartridge in facilitation of data transfer to and/or from the cartridge. The cartridge and the receiver each include respective connector portions configured to connect when the cartridge is inserted into the receiver. The cartridge and/or the receiver also include guide features configured to facilitate alignment of the connector portions for connection as the cartridge is inserted into the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Leslie G. Christie, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8049992
    Abstract: The present invention provides a tape reel, a recording tape cartridge, a take-up reel, a pullout member and a drive device that can control fluctuation of a recording tape in the axial direction of a hub and can, even when the recording tape is thinned in accompaniment with an increase in recording capacity, prevent the occurrence of tape edge damage. A tape reel 20 includes: a hub 22 on which is wound a recording tape T on which is recorded servo signals S that are a reference for tracking by a recording/playback head 88 of a drive device 70; and flanges 24 and 26 provided integrally at both end portions of the hub 22, wherein the diameter of a substantially central portion of the hub 22 is formed larger than the diameters of each of the end portions of the hub 22.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Hideaki Shiga
  • Patent number: 8046784
    Abstract: An optical disc record system comprising an optical pickup actuator unit for transferring data to and/or from a rotating optical disc. The optical pickup actuator unit comprises a fixed part (1) and a movable part (2) carrying an objective lens (4) for focusing a light beam on the optical disc. The movable part (2) is connected to the fixed part (1) by a number of substantially parallel elastic suspension wires (5). The movable part (2) is provided with a number of coils (8, 9, 15, 16, 17) of electrically conductive wires, which coils (8, 9, 15, 16, 17) are at least partly present in a magnetic field generated by magnets (10, 11, 18). At least one electrically conductive stranded wire (22, 23) is present between said fixed part (1) and said movable part (2) in order to feed electric current to at least one coil (16, 17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Arima Devices Corporation
    Inventors: Pushpakath Madan, Peter M. S. M. Heijmans, Michael Maris
  • Patent number: 8040639
    Abstract: An integrated microactuator slider. The microactuator includes a substrate having a fixed portion and a moveable portion. The microactuator also includes a slider communicatively integrated within the moveable portion of the substrate. The slider includes a read/write head for reading data from or writing data to a data storage device. The microactuator further includes a force generator communicatively integrated within the substrate. The force generator is for causing movement of the moveable portion of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Jia-Yang Juang, Toshiki Hirano, Fu-Ying Huang, Jifang Tian
  • Patent number: 8035921
    Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording head includes a main pole, a return yoke forming a magnetic path with the main pole, and a coil encompassing the main pole in a solenoid structure to allow the main pole to generate a magnetic field that records information on a recording medium is provided. When a side of the main pole toward the return yoke is an upper portion of the main pole and a side of the main pole opposite to the return yoke is a lower portion of the main pole, the coil includes a lower wire portion passing through the lower portion of the main pole, an upper wire portion passing through the upper portion of the main pole, and a connection portion electrically connecting the lower wire portion and the upper wire portion, and the upper wire portion includes an upper wire layer having at least two layers. The structure may improve a high frequency recording characteristics required for achieving a high recording density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kook-hyun Sunwoo
  • Patent number: 8035918
    Abstract: A spindle motor includes a spindle motor hub that supports one or more disks, and has a contact area reduction portion that minimizes the area of contact between the hub and a disk when the disk is mounted to the hub. The spindle motor hub includes a hub body having a cylindrical sidewall that includes a contact section around which the disk extends and a non-contact section. The non-contact section is constituted by the contact area reduction portion. An outer diameter of the cylindrical hub body at the contact section is greater than an outer diameter of the cylindrical hub body at the contact area reduction portion of the non-contact section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hong Kwon Lee
  • Patent number: 8035930
    Abstract: A side shield structure for a PMR write head is disclosed that narrows write width and minimizes adjacent track and far track erasure. The side shield structure on each side of the write pole has two sections. One section along the ABS and adjacent to the pole tip has a height (SSH1) defined by SSH1?[(0.6×neck height)+0.08] microns. There is a non-magnetic gap layer between the first section and a second section that is formed adjacent to the flared sides of the main pole layer and serves to suction leakage flux from the flared portion and prevent unwanted flux from reaching the first side shield sections. A fabrication method is provided that includes electroplating the first side shield sections, depositing the non-magnetic gap layer, and then electroplating the second side shield sections. Subsequently, a main pole layer and a trailing shield are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenichi Takano, Lijie Guan, Yiu Liu, Joe Smyth, Moris Dovek
  • Patent number: 8023231
    Abstract: Improved writability and a substantial reduction in adjacent track erasure are achieved by incorporating a composite shield structure in a PMR writer. There is a trailing shield formed a certain distance above the top surface of a write pole, a leading shield formed a certain distance below the bottom surface of the write pole, and a partial side shield having a side shield section formed on each side of the write pole. The partial side shield thickness is less than that of the write pole. Each partial side shield section has a side that is parallel to the nearest write pole side and a top surface that is offset from the write pole top surface by 0 to 0.15 microns. A plurality of magnetic connections between two or more shield elements is employed to ensure correct magnetic potential. The large write pole has a flare angle of 45 to 75 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lijie Guan, Moris Dovek, Joe Smyth, Yoshitaka Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8018676
    Abstract: Improved writability and a reduction in adjacent track erasure are achieved in a PMR writer with a large flare angle of 45 and 90 degrees in the main write pole and a full side shield or partial side shield configuration around the narrow write pole section and write pole tip. A trailing shield is formed above the write pole's top surface and a full or partial side shield section is spaced a certain distance from each side of the write pole. The partial side shield has a thickness less than that of the write pole and a top or bottom surface about coplanar with the pole tip's top or bottom edge, respectively. The partial side shield may include two sections on each side of the write pole wherein the bottom surface of a top section is separated by a certain distance from the top surface of a bottom section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Lijie Guan
  • Patent number: 8009384
    Abstract: A disk drive includes a cast baseplate, and a disk having a major surface and an outer circumference. The cast baseplate includes a casting inlet gate region, a planar area underlying the disk, an arcuate shroud wall that is substantially orthogonal to the planar area, and an arcuate groove immediately adjacent the planar area. The planar area is separated from the disk major surface by less than 0.8 mm. The arcuate shroud wall is disposed less than 0.8 mm from the disk outer circumference, and includes a first shroud wall portion and a second shroud wall portion. The first shroud wall portion is more proximate to the casting inlet gate region than is the second shroud wall portion. The arcuate groove is immediately adjacent the first shroud wall portion, and defines a groove depth in the range 0.2 mm to 2 mm relative to the planar area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron D. Little
  • Patent number: 8006256
    Abstract: A recording layer is described that is at least partially or entirely positioned at a distance T7 of less than 0.4 mm with respect to the second surface. When the optical recording medium is clamped in a drive, the recording layer has a “higher” position than a recording layer of a known DVD. The layer structure of the described optical recording medium reduces the thickness of the disc in an area of the recording layer. In particular, a thickness T1 of only 0.4 to 0.7 mm is possible while maintaining the reliability of the optical recording medium (i.e. without reading problems in most or all drives). Further, the optical recording medium may have only one substrate, i.e. only one disc of polycarbonate, whereas the other side of the recording layer is only covered by a protective lacquer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Ecodisc Technology AG
    Inventors: Al Fetouhi, Roger Nute
  • Patent number: 7995309
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnetic recording medium comprising a magnetic layer comprising a ferromagnetic powder and a binder on one surface of a nonmagnetic support and a backcoat layer comprising a granular material and a binder on the other surface of the nonmagnetic support, wherein the backcoat layer has an average surface roughness ranging from 15 to 25 nm, as measured by an atomic force microscope, and a density of protrusions equal to or greater than 50 nm in height ranges from 1 to 50/mm2 on the backcoat layer surface, as measured by a three-dimensional surface roughness meter with a contact needle. The present invention further relates to a method of reproducing magnetic signals and a magnetic signal reproduction system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Kakuishi, Ryota Suzuki, Masayuki Usui
  • Patent number: 7995311
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a magnetic shield composed of size-controlled small crystal grains and provide a more after-write read noise free thin film magnetic head. According to one embodiment of the present invention, an upper magnetic shield uses a multi-layered magnetic film formed by alternately stacking a face-centered cubic (fcc) crystalline magnetic thin layer and a body-centered cubic (bcc) crystalline magnetic thin layer by plating. The plating bath is such that the temperature is 30±1° C., pH is about 2.0?1.0 to 2.0+0.5, metal ion concentrations are about 5 to 25 (g/l) for Ni2+ and 5 to 15 (g/l) for Fe2+, saccharin sodium concentration is about 1.5±1.0 (g/l), sodium chloride concentration is about 25±5 (g/l), and boric acid concentration is about 25±5 (g/l). Each layer's crystal structure is different from that of its upper and lower layers, which results in size-controlled small crystal grains since the epitaxial growth is broken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands BV
    Inventors: Kazue Kudo, Gen Oikawa, Yohji Maruyama, Noriyuki Saiki, Hiromi Shiina
  • Patent number: 7986491
    Abstract: A hard disk drive (HDD) has a stack of disks mounted on a rotatable spindle with the disks being movable axially, i.e., in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the spindle. A disk separator is located inside the spindle and separates axially-adjacent disks in a pair to create an axial gap. Any pair of axially-adjacent disks can be separated so that different axial gaps are created. A single head-arm assembly with at least one and preferably two read write heads is movable axially so that it can be rotated by the rotary actuator into any one of the axial gaps. The read/write heads can thus access data on the disk surfaces in the axial gaps. When it is desired to have the disk separator create an new axial gap and thus a new pair of disk surfaces to be accessed, the actuator rotates the head-arm assembly away from the outer perimeters of the disks and moves the read/write heads onto a head support structure that supports the read/write heads off the disks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Thomas R Albrecht, Hal J. Rosen