Patents Examined by Angel A. Castro
  • Patent number: 9099102
    Abstract: Approaches to improving the signal-to-noise ratio in a microwave-assisted magnetic recording hard disk drive over the entire region from the inner diameter to the outer diameter of the disk, especially in the context of shingled magnetic recording, include a narrower side gap on the side opposing a spin torque oscillator offset direction than the side gap in the offset direction, thereby increasing the gradient of the recording magnetic field in the cross-track direction and reducing the track edge noise of the recording pattern. Embodiments include use of a side shield on the side opposing the offset direction that has a higher saturation magnetization than the side shield on the side in the offset direction, thereby further increasing the gradient of the recording magnetic field in the cross-track direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Katada, Masato Shiimoto, Maki Maeda
  • Patent number: 9099153
    Abstract: A disk drive assembly having a base, a cover, a post extending from the base toward the cover, and a latch movably mounted on the post such that the post extends there through, wherein the post comprises a cover supporting portion configured to support the cover, and prevent the cover from compressing the latch and causing the latch from contacting both the cover and the base simultaneously when a load is applied to a portion of the cover above the latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas D. Smyth, Daniel T. Nguyen, David K. Myers
  • Patent number: 9099110
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a magnetic write head. The magnetic write head includes a write pole, a shield and a first coil disposed around the write pole. The magnetic write head further includes a magnetic circuit and the magnetic circuit includes a loop of magnetic material and a second coil disposed around the loop of magnetic material. The magnetic circuit magnetically resets the shield to improve far track interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: HGST NETHERLANDS, B.V.
    Inventors: Venkatesh Chembrolu, Wen-Chien David Hsiao, Quan-Chiu Harry Lam, Supradeep Narayana
  • Patent number: 9093098
    Abstract: An apparatus and associated methodology contemplating a slider body defining longitudinal extents at a leading end and a trailing end. A fluid bearing surface is formed in part by a side rail extending substantially longitudinally along the slider body and joined to a cross rail extending substantially laterally along the slider body. The side rail and the cross rail define at least a portion of a positive pressure recess. A vent is defined in the fluid bearing surface that is in fluid communication with ambient pressure fluid on one side of the side rail but is not in fluid communication with the positive pressure recess on the other side of the side rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Ajaykumar Rajasekharan, Narayanan Ramakrishnan, James Ronald Krolnik
  • Patent number: 9087532
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a spin torque oscillator formed between a main magnetic pole and auxiliary magnetic pole. The spin torque oscillator includes a transmission-type spin transfer layer, first interlayer, oscillation layer, second interlayer, and reflection-type spin transfer layer. The transmission-type spin transfer layer includes a first perpendicular magnetization film and first interface magnetic layer. The first interface magnetic layer contains at least one element selected from Fe, Co, and Ni, and at least one element selected from Cr, V, Mn, Ti, and Sc. The reflection-type spin transfer layer includes a second perpendicular magnetization film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Mariko Shimizu, Katsuhiko Koui, Shuichi Murakami, Hiromi Yuasa
  • Patent number: 9087533
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a spin torque oscillator formed between a main magnetic pole and auxiliary magnetic pole. The spin torque oscillator includes a transmission-type spin transfer layer, first interlayer, oscillation layer, second interlayer, and reflection-type spin transfer layer. The transmission-type spin transfer layer includes a first perpendicular magnetization film and first interface magnetic layer. The first interface magnetic layer contains at least one element selected from Fe, Co, and Ni, and at least one element selected from Cr, V, Mn, Ti, and Sc. The reflection-type spin transfer layer includes a second perpendicular magnetization film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Mariko Shimizu, Katsuhiko Koui, Shuichi Murakami, Hiromi Yuasa
  • Patent number: 9082423
    Abstract: A magnetic transducer has an ABS, a pole, coil(s) and a trailing shield. The pole includes a trailing surface having first and second portions. The first portion adjoins the ABS and is oriented at a first bevel angle from perpendicular to the ABS. The first bevel angle is nonzero and acute. The second portion adjoins the first portion, is recessed from the ABS and oriented at a second bevel angle from perpendicular to the ABS. The second bevel angle is less than the first bevel angle and nonzero. The trailing shield has a pole-facing surface part of which adjoins the ABS and is oriented at the first bevel angle. A write gap is between the trailing shield and the pole. The write gap has a constant thickness for the first portion of the trailing surface and a thickness that increases with increasing distance from the ABS for the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventors: Feng Liu, Zhigang Bai, Weimin Si, Yugang Wang, Fenglin Liu, Tao Pan, Samuel W. Yuan
  • Patent number: 9076957
    Abstract: A terminal extending from a wiring member to face an electrode of a piezoelectric element and including a proximal end part and a distal end part with respect to the wiring member, the distal end part being connected to the electrode of the piezoelectric element through a conductive adhesive, comprising an insulating layer that faces the electrode of the piezoelectric element; a wiring layer laid on the insulating layer and connected to the electrode at the distal end part; and at least one liquid stopping recess provided on a surface facing the electrode at the proximal end part, the liquid stopping recess spanning between both edges of the insulating layer in an direction intersecting an extending direction of the proximal end part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Ikeji, Jun Soga, Hideki Fuchino, Hiroshi Ono, Hiroaki Kamijo
  • Patent number: 9076468
    Abstract: A scissor type magnetic sensor having a soft magnetic side shields for improved sensor stability. The soft magnetic side shield structure extends from the side of the sensor and although being constructed of a low coercivity soft magnetic material it has a shape the causes the magnetization of the side shield layer to remain oriented in a desired direction parallel to the media facing surface. The side shields include first and second magnetic layers with an antiparallel coupling layer sandwiched between them. Each of the magnetic layers of the side shield structure has a width measured perpendicular to the media facing surface and a thickness measured perpendicular to the width and parallel with the media facing surface, both the width and the thickness being less than 10 times an intrinsic exchange length of the magnetic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Keener, Quang Le, David J. Seagle, Neil Smith, Petrus A. Van Der Heijden
  • Patent number: 9076470
    Abstract: A suspension substrate of the present invention includes an insulating layer, a spring material layer, and a plurality of wirings, wherein one wiring of the plurality of wirings includes a head-side wiring part and a plurality of division wiring parts, respectively bifurcated from the head-side wiring part. The spring material layer includes a spring-material-layer main body, a first spring-material-layer separated body and a second spring-material-layer separated body. The division wiring parts of the one wiring are respectively connected with the first spring-material-layer separated body, via a pair of conductive connection parts, respectively extending through the insulating layer. The first spring-material-layer separated body is located on one side relative to the longitudinal axis, while the second spring-material-layer separated body is located on the other side relative to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoichi Miura
  • Patent number: 9064508
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a structure for a perpendicular microwave-assisted magnetic recording head used in a magnetic disk drive. A first spin-torque oscillator and a second spin-torque oscillator are positioned between the main pole of a recording head and a trailing shield, and are separated by a spin torque shield layer. The first spin-torque oscillator comprises a first magnetic layer, a first non-magnetic interlayer, and a second magnetic layer. The second spin-torque oscillator comprises a third magnetic layer, a second non-magnetic interlayer, and a fourth magnetic layer. An applied current is adapted to flow in a direction from the second magnetic layer to the first magnetic layer, and from the fourth magnetic layer to the third magnetic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: HGST NETHERLANDS B.V.
    Inventors: Masato Shiimoto, Masukaza Igarashi, Masashige Sato
  • Patent number: 9066182
    Abstract: A ZONE4 left audio signal Z4L is output without releasing a connection of a surround left speaker SSL. When determining that a playback of the ZONE4 left audio signal Z4L is set by a user manipulation, a controller 2 controls switches S11b and S13b in an on state, and controls switches S11a, S13a, and S13c in an off state. Accordingly, the ZONE4 left audio signal Z4L is supplied from a DSP to an amplifier 12a through the switch S11b, amplified by the amplifier 12a, and supplied to a surround back left/ZONE4 left SP terminal 14b through the switch S13b. A surround left SP terminal 14a is an output terminal dedicated to a surround left audio signal, so that the ZONE4 left audio signal Z4L can be output without releasing the connection of the surround left speaker SSL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Onkyo Corporation
    Inventor: Tadaharu Sunaga
  • Patent number: 9047910
    Abstract: There are provided a spindle motor including a lower thrust member fixed to a base member; and a shaft fixed to the lower thrust member, wherein the lower thrust member includes a fitting protrusion protruding upwardly in the axial direction and fitted into a fixing groove formed in a lower end of the shaft so as to be depressed upwardly in the axial direction, a thrust bearing surface forming a thrust bearing between the thrust bearing surface and a lower surface of the sleeve, and an extension part protruding from an outer edge of the lower thrust member in a radial direction upwardly in the axial direction to form a liquid-vapor interface between the extension part and an outer surface of the sleeve while enclosing the sleeve, and the thrust bearing surface has inner and outer concave parts depressed in one of inner and outer diameter directions thereof, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Song Bon Oh, Shin Young Cheong, Kum Kyung Lee
  • Patent number: 9047911
    Abstract: A disk drive unit includes a stationary body; a rotating body rotatably supported on the stationary body, a seal part configured to form a first gas-liquid interface of a lubricant existing in a gap between the stationary body and the rotating body, and a groove-shaped opening opposing the seal part and communicating to the gap via a communication hole. The seal part has a shape such that the gap gradually increases towards an aperture opposing the groove-shaped opening, and the groove-shaped opening has a shape such that the gap gradually increases towards an aperture opposing the seal part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS JAPAN ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ryusuke Sugiki
  • Patent number: 9030774
    Abstract: A magnetic recording medium according to one embodiment includes at least a ground layer above a non-magnetic substrate; a magnetic recording layer above the ground layer; and an overcoat above the magnetic recording layer, the overcoat characterized in that said overcoat is an amorphous carbon film, wherein a hydrogen content in the overcoat in a center layer thereof in a film thickness direction of said overcoat is from 0.1 atom % to 1.0 atom %. Additional products and methods are also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Toru Matsumura, Hiroshi Inaba, Hiroyuki Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 9025284
    Abstract: A disk drive enclosure includes a cover and a base having a first hole therethrough. A head actuator is pivotably attached to the base by an actuator pivot bearing having a pivot bearing shaft with a lower internally threaded section and a flat annular support surface that is facing and in preloaded contact with a flat mating surface of the disk drive base around the first hole. A bearing member is disposed around the pivot bearing shaft and between the pivot bearing shaft and the bore of the actuator. A first screw has an externally threaded section that is engaged with the lower internally threaded section of the pivot bearing shaft. The first screw has a screw head with an external annular seating surface in contact with and forming a continuous annular seal with an internal annular seating surface of the first hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Sill, Aaron D. Little
  • Patent number: 9025279
    Abstract: A pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet according to the present invention includes a base including a metal layer, a first plastic film layer A, and a second plastic film layer B and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer on a surface of the second plastic film B. The metal layer is positioned between the first plastic film layer A and the second plastic film layer B. The metal layer has a thickness of 2 ?m to 15 ?m. A total of a thickness Ta of the first plastic film layer A and a thickness Tb of the second plastic film layer B is within a range of 25 ?m to 70 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Furuta, Rie Nakahira, Yoshihisa Furuta, Koichi Ikeda
  • Patent number: 9013836
    Abstract: A method and system provide a magnetic head having an air-bearing surface (ABS). The magnetic head includes a read transducer and a write transducer. The read transducer includes a first shield and a read sensor. The write transducer includes a main pole, at least one coil for energizing the main pole and a return pole between the read sensor and the main pole. The return pole includes an antiparallel coupling (AC) pole structure. The AC pole structure includes a plurality of ferromagnetic layers interleaved with at least one nonmagnetic layer. The ferromagnetic layers and the nonmagnetic spacer layer(s) are substantially parallel. The ferromagnetic layers and the nonmagnetic spacer layer(s) are substantially perpendicular to the ABS. The magnetic moment of each of the ferromagnetic layers is aligned antiparallel with the magnetic moment of a nearest neighbor of the ferromagnetic layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventors: Feng Liu, Daniele Mauri
  • Patent number: 8995086
    Abstract: A write head has a pole tip, a write yoke connected to the pole tip, a write return yoke, a write shield, and one or more side shields disposed in close proximity to the pole tip. The write return yoke connects to the write yoke on one end and the write shield on a different end. The one or more side shields are separated from the pole tip and write shields by a non-magnetic material and therefore are “floating” and not directly coupled to the write shield or pole tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Mourad Benakli, Michael Mallary
  • Patent number: 8988830
    Abstract: A slider comprises a slider trailing edge; a lubricant blocker having a disk facing surface and a lubricant blocker trailing edge, the lubricant blocker trailing edge having a lateral end trailing a central end; and a lubricant guiding channel recessed from the disk facing surface and extending from the slider trailing edge to the lubricant blocker trailing edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventors: Jih-Ping Peng, Biao Sun