Patents Examined by Angel Castro
  • Disk drive device with versatile shaped core for rotating a disk
    Patent number: 8416523
    Abstract: A disk drive device comprises a hub on which a magnetic recording disk is to be mounted; a base rotatably supporting the hub through a bearing unit; a sintered core fixed to the base, the sintered core having a ring portion and nine teeth that extend radially from the ring portion; coils wound around nine teeth; and a cylindrical magnet fixed to the hub. The sintered core is formed by heat-treating an iron powder. At least one of (a) the surfaces of particles of the iron powder and (b) the surfaces of the sintered core is insulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Alphana Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Tashiro
  • Recording head with tilted orientation
    Patent number: 8416537
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a read sensor for a recording head for a magnetic media storage system, has first and second shields, and a magneto-resistive sensor disposed between and shielded by the first and second shields in which the sensing axis of the sensor is tilted with respect to the recording surface of the head. In one embodiment, the sensing axis is oriented at an angle between 10 and 60 degrees with respect to the normal of the recording surface. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David Berman, Robert G. Biskeborn, Michel Despont, Philipp Herget, Wayne Isami Imaino, Pierre-Olivier Jubert, Peter V. Koeppe, Chandrasekhar Narayan
  • Disk drive with stepped motor hub
    Patent number: 8416522
    Abstract: A disk drive motor hub includes a top cylindrical portion defining a longitudinal axis, a middle cylindrical portion proximate the top cylindrical portion, and a bottom cylindrical portion proximate the middle cylindrical portion. The middle cylindrical portion defines an upper mounting surface substantially normal to the longitudinal axis, the upper mounting surface extending radially beyond the top cylindrical portion, and the bottom cylindrical portion defines a lower mounting surface substantially normal to the longitudinal axis, the lower mounting surface extending radially beyond the middle cylindrical portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian P. Schott, Nils E. Larson
  • Disk drive fluid dynamic bearing spindle
    Patent number: 8411389
    Abstract: Described herein is a disk drive with a fluid bearing having a sleeve defining a bore that extends through a portion of the sleeve along an axis defined by the bore. The sleeve can have a first contact surface that extends in a direction transverse to the axis. A spindle is rotationally received within the bore, and the spindle and the sleeve permit relative rotational movement when the spindle is positioned within the bore. The spindle has a stopper with a second contact surface that extends in a direction transverse to the axis when the spindle is positioned within the bore. A portion of at least one of the first and second contact surfaces includes a softer material than that of the spindle and the bearing sleeve, and the first and second contact surfaces are configured to engage each other upon relative axial movement between the spindle and the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jifang Tian, Jian Yang
  • Electronic apparatus and disk drive suspension
    Patent number: 8405934
    Abstract: A microactuator element as an example of an electrical component is disposed on a metallic, electrically conductive plate member. A conductive resin member is disposed on a current-carrying part of the conductive plate member and a conduction part of the microactuator element. A thin porous plating layer of thickness 100 nm or less includes a large number of gold particles is formed in a region of a surface of the conductive plate member which covers the current-carrying part. The conductive resin member is secured to the conductive plate member through the thin porous gold plating layer and electrically connected to the conductive plate member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideki Fuchino
  • Process to make PMR writer with leading edge shield (LES) and leading edge taper (LET)
    Patent number: 8400733
    Abstract: Methods for fabrication of leading edge shields and tapered magnetic poles with a tapered leading edge are provided. The leading edge shield may be formed by utilizing a CMP stop layer. The CMP stop layer may aid in preventing over polishing of the magnetic material. For the tapered magnetic poles with a tapered leading edge, a magnetic material is deposited on a planarized surface, a patterned resist material is formed, and exposed magnetic material is etched to form at least one tapered surface of the magnetic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Kyusik Shin, Qiping Zhong, Honglin Zhu, Yingjian Chen, Liubo Hong, Fenglin Liu
  • Thin-film magnetic head, method of manufacturing the same, head gimbal assembly, and hard disk drive
    Patent number: 8390955
    Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head is constructed such that a main magnetic pole layer, a write shield layer, a gap layer, and a thin-film coil are laminated on a substrate. The thin-film magnetic head has a leading shield part opposing the main magnetic pole layer on the substrate side of the main magnetic pole layer. The thin-film magnetic head has a substrate side coil layer disposed between the main magnetic pole layer and the substrate. In the thin-film magnetic head, a space between a lower end face of the leading shield part and the substrate and a space between an upper end face in the substrate side coil layer and the substrate are formed equal to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignees: Headway Technologies, Inc., SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Sasaki, Hiroyuki Ito, Shigeki Tanemura, Kazuki Sato, Atsushi Iijima
  • Actuator with non-moving mass
    Patent number: 8390959
    Abstract: An actuator for a tape drive is disclosed. The actuator has a moving mass and a non-moving mass. The non-moving mass is at least 107 grams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Donald J Fasen, James C Anderson
  • Magnetic writer having multiple gaps with more uniform magnetic fields across the gaps
    Patent number: 8385018
    Abstract: A magnetic device according to one embodiment includes a source of flux; a magnetic pole coupled to the source of flux, the magnetic pole having two or more gaps; and a low reluctance path positioned towards at least one of the gaps and not positioned towards at least one other of the gaps for affecting a magnetic field formed at the at least one of the gaps when the source of flux is generating flux. Other disclosed embodiments include devices having coil turns with a non-uniform placement in the magnetic yoke for altering a magnetic field formed at the at least one of the gaps during writing. In further embodiments, a geometry of the magnetic pole near or at one of the gaps is different than a geometry of the magnetic pole near or at another of the gaps to help equalize fields formed at the gaps when the source of flux is generating flux.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert G. Biskeborn, Philipp Herget, Bucknell C. Webb
  • Optical disc player with proctecting structure for decreasing noise
    Patent number: 8370864
    Abstract: An optical disc player includes a main body, a lid, a rotator, and a protective structure. The lid is pivotably connected to the main body. The rotator is disposed in the main body for rotating discs and can be covered by the lid. The protective structure is disposed between the rotator and the lid. The protective structure is capable of suppressing noise and/or damage caused by contact between the rotator and the lid when the rotator operates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hong Li, Ting-Ting Zhao, Yun-Feng Zhang, Wei Liu
  • Disk stabilizer to prevent disk sticking and method thereto
    Patent number: 8365210
    Abstract: A disk stabilizing plate is disposed oppositely below a thin disk for the purpose of allowing the thin disk to rotate stably, in a recording and reading device that uses a flexible thin disk for recording and reading. The disk stabilizing plate has a movable disk support member, relative to the prescribed rotation condition of the thin disk, that is caused to protrude upward from the surface of the disk stabilizing plate to touch and support the thin disk, or that is drawn downward from the surface of the disk stabilizing plate from the state touching and supporting the thin disk so that the state wherein the thin disk is touched and supported is terminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Kenji Tagami
  • Disk drive flexure
    Patent number: 8363357
    Abstract: A flexure is provided with a metal base of stainless steel, an insulating layer, and a pair of copper conductors. An opening region including an opening and a non-opening region without an opening are formed in a longitudinal part of the metal base. One of the conductors is provided with a first slit extending longitudinally relative to the conductor, first band-like portions on the opposite sides of the first slit, and a first junction connecting the first band-like portions. The other conductor is provided with a second slit extending longitudinally relative to the conductor, second band-like portions on the opposite sides of the second slit, and a second junction connecting the second band-like portions. These conductors are arranged covering both the opening and non-opening region of the metal base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hajime Arai
  • Optical disc drive
    Patent number: 8365209
    Abstract: An optical disc drive is disclosed. The optical disc drive comprises a housing including an upper housing and a lower housing; and a herringbone pattern that is protruded toward the inner space of the housing on the inner surface of the upper housing and causes an air flow generated by the rotation of an optical disc to be switched to the direction of the optical disc. The herringbone pattern comprises at least one inflection point, and makes an acute angle at the inflection point relative to the direction of the air flow formed along the inner surface of the upper housing. Accordingly, the optical disc can be stably chucked and rotated by switching the air flow generated by the rotation of the optical disc to the direction of the optical disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi-LG Data Storage Korea, Inc.
    Inventors: Jaesung Lee, Moonho Choi, Seunghon Yoo, Yoonchul Rhim, Hyeonggi Kim
  • Thermal solution for drive systems such as hard disk drives and digital versatile discs
    Patent number: 8355221
    Abstract: A drive system including: a printed circuit board; a first integrated circuit mounted onto the printed circuit board; a drive assembly case that is connected to the printed circuit board; and a first thermal interface material thermally coupled between i) the printed circuit board and ii) the drive assembly case. Thermal energy generated by the first integrated circuit is dissipatable by the drive assembly case through the first interface material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Chenglin Liu, Shiann Liou
  • Tunneling magnetoresistance read head having a cofe interface layer and methods for producing the same
    Patent number: 8351163
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for producing a Tunneling Magnetoresistance (TMR) read head includes forming a fixed layer, forming an insulating barrier layer above the fixed layer, forming a free layer above the insulating barrier layer, and annealing the free layer, the fixed layer, and the insulating barrier layer. The fixed layer includes a first ferromagnetic layer having a CoxFe (0?x?15) interface layer and a Co-based amorphous metallic layer between the CoxFe interface layer and the insulating barrier layer, an antiparallel coupling layer below the first ferromagnetic layer, and a second ferromagnetic layer below the antiparallel coupling layer. In another embodiment, a TMR read head includes the layers described above, and may be included in a magnetic data storage system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Koji Sakamoto, Koichi Nishioka
  • Disc identifying device
    Patent number: 8347324
    Abstract: A disc identifying device has sliders moving relatively in a direction such that a gap therebetween widens, one sensing switch switching-operated when a large diameter disc or a small diameter disc is inserted, the other sensing switch switching-operated only when the large diameter disc is inserted, and an actuating plate permitting the slider to move from an the initial position via a first position corresponding to the sensing switch to a second position corresponding to the sensing switch only when the large diameter disc is inserted. One end portion of the actuating plate has a stopper portion for preventing the slider from moving to the second position. The other end portion thereof is engaged with the slider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: JVC Kenwood Corporation
    Inventor: Motoharu Ogawa
  • Disk drive with transverse plane damper
    Patent number: 8345387
    Abstract: Described herein is a disk drive having an actuator arm constrained layer damper, for reducing, during use, vibration of the actuator arm. The damper can include a first substantially planar portion that is configured to be positioned on and coupled to a top surface of an actuator arm. The damper can also include a second substantially planar portion extending in a plane transverse to the first planar portion and configured to be coupled to at least one of a side surface of the actuator arm or a surface of an adjacent actuator body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Tu Nguyen
  • Optical disc apparatus
    Patent number: 8341654
    Abstract: A control unit makes the slot control mechanism execute an failure recovery operation to repeat the insertion operation and the ejection operation alternately for a predetermined amount at a first point of time when the below fact is found, if it is found that there is an error in insertion operation or ejection operation of a slot control mechanism. Afterwards, the control unit makes the slot control mechanism execute an restoration operation for a predetermined amount after a second point of time when the below fact is found, if it is found that the slot control mechanism has returned to normal, thereby making the slot control mechanism return to the state at the first point of time. Then, the control unit makes the slot control mechanism execute the insertion operation or the ejection operation again. With this arrangement, it is possible to ensure reliable insertion operation or ejection operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi-LG Data Storage, Inc.
    Inventor: Shinichi Nakata
  • TMR or CPP structure with improved exchange properties
    Patent number: 8339754
    Abstract: An insertion layer is provided between an AFM layer and an AP2 pinned layer in a GMR or TMR element to improve exchange coupling properties by increasing Hex and the Hex/Hc ratio without degrading the MR ratio. The insertion layer may be a 1 to 15 Angstrom thick amorphous magnetic layer comprised of at least one element of Co, Fe, or Ni, and at least one element having an amorphous character selected from B, Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, Si, or P, or a 1 to 5 Angstrom thick non-magnetic layer comprised of Cu, Ru, Mn, Hf, or Cr. Preferably, the content of the one or more amorphous elements in the amorphous magnetic layer is less than 40 atomic %. Optionally, the insertion layer may be formed within the AP2 pinned layer. Examples of an insertion layer are CoFeB, CoFeZr, CoFeNb, CoFeHf, CoFeNiZr, CoFeNiHf, and CoFeNiNbZr.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kunliang Zhang, Hui-Chuan Wang, Tong Zhao, Min Li
  • Suspension assembly having a microactuator bonded to a flexure
    Patent number: 8339748
    Abstract: Disclosed is a suspension assembly for a disk drive that includes: a mounting plate having a top-side and a bottom-side; a microactuator mounting structure formed in the mounting plate; a microactuator mounted in the microactuator mounting structure in which the microactuator has a top-side and a bottom-side; and a flexure attached to the bottom-side of the of mounting plate and the microactuator. The flexure includes a pad layer and a through-hole, in which the through-hole extends through the pad layer. An epoxy on the pad layer bonds widely to the microactuator and extends through the through-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wing C. Shum, Yanning Liu, John E. Scura