Patents Examined by Brian Butcher
  • Tape recording medium, information recording/reproducing device, and method of manufacturing tape recording medium
    Patent number: 9390743
    Abstract: Provided is an optically recordable or reproducible tape recording medium including tracking pattern groups and non-tracking pattern areas. The tracking pattern groups are repeatedly provided along a longitudinal direction of the tape, and each of the groups includes a plurality of tracking patterns. The non-tracking pattern areas are respectively provided between the tracking patterns. In addition, the non-tracking pattern areas have different lengths along the longitudinal direction of the tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akinaga Natsui, Takeshi Morita
  • Dynamically controlling tape velocity
    Patent number: 9361928
    Abstract: A maximum velocity is dynamically determined during a tape drive operation to obtain a statistical standard deviation of a position error signal (PES) that yields an amount of stopwrite (SW) operations that avoids backhitching. The tape velocity is adjusted to the maximum velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nhan X. Bui, Kevin B. Judd, Roger J. Justo, Hirokazu Nakayama, Tomoko Taketomi
  • Magnetic storage device with multiple read element arrays to determine quality of recorded data
    Patent number: 9355678
    Abstract: Determining quality metrics of recorded data on a magnetic recording medium. Each of two or more read element arrays include one or more read elements, each including a sensor. Each array differs from the other arrays in one or more construction characteristics such that each array has a different sensitivity to one or more characteristics of magnetic transitions recorded on a magnetic recording medium. Each array produces respective electrical signals that are characteristic of magnetic transitions recorded on a magnetic recording medium. A computer receives information from the electrical signals and analyzes the signal information to determine one or more values associated with one or more quality metrics of the magnetic transitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert G. Biskeborn, Gary M. Decad, Calvin S. Lo
  • Variable scoping capability for physical tape layout diagnostic structure of tape storage device
    Patent number: 9355675
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method includes collecting data relating to operation of a tape drive, storing the collected data in a tape map, and storing a subset of the collected data in a slice region upon at least one of experiencing a first trigger condition and reaching a predefined location on a tape. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Pamela R. Nylander-Hill
  • Near field transducer for heat-assisted magnetic recording
    Patent number: 9343088
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) employing a near-field transducer (NFT) made of plasmonic ceramic materials or intermetallics are disclosed. The NFT is made of a plasmonic material as well as a protective outer layer, which provides for longer usefulness and improved performance of the NFT and recording device. The plasmonic materials used include but are not limited to TiNx, ZrNx, HfNx, TaNx, VNx, TiSi2?x, TiAlxNy, TiZrxNy, ZnO, SnO2, In2O3, RuO2, Lu2O3, WO2, and MgB2. Such materials, in combination with a protective layer, provide higher resistances and greater performance at temperatures required for HAMR, ranging from 300 up to 500 degrees Celsius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: PURDUE RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Urcan Guler, Alexander Kildishev, Vladimir M. Shalaev, Alexandra Boltasseva, Donald Stocks, Gururaj Naik
  • Data recording medium, method for generating a reference clock signal, and data storage device
    Patent number: 9336829
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a recording medium. The recording medium may include: a dedicated servo layer for providing servo information, wherein the dedicated servo layer comprises a plurality of tracks, wherein a first track comprises a first servo signal of a first frequency, wherein a second track comprises a second servo signal of a second frequency, and wherein the first servo signal and the second servo signal comprise a common single tone signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Jingliang Zhang, Siang Huei Leong, Zhimin Yuan, Bo Liu
  • Adaptive control of tracking servo system of optical heads in optical storage devices
    Patent number: 9336812
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling positioning of an optical pickup unit relative to at least one track of an optical data storage medium include an adaptive track position feedback controller that compensates for defocus of an optical beam relative to the optical data storage medium associated with movement across the medium and/or disturbances in distance between a lens of the optical pickup unit relative to the optical data storage medium. A track position feedback controller may include an adaptive term or parameter based on a focus (or defocus) error signal generated by a focus position feedback controller and associated sensors or detectors of a quadrature photodiode integrated circuit (PDIC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventor: Faramarz Mahnad
  • Near-field transducer peg encapsulation
    Patent number: 9336800
    Abstract: A near field transducer with a peg region, an enlarged region disposed adjacent the peg region, and a barrier material disposed between the peg region and the enlarged region. The barrier material reduces or eliminates interdiffusion of material between the peg region and the enlarged region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: James Gary Wessel, Sarbeswar Sahoo, Michael Christopher Kautzky
  • Optical recording and playback apparatus
    Patent number: 9330705
    Abstract: An optical recording and playback apparatus includes: a light source configured to emit a light beam; a tracking mirror configured to change a direction of the light beam; a collimator configured to form the light beam into a parallel light beam; an objective lens configured to collect the parallel light beam to the optical tape; a lens actuator configured to adjust a position of the objective lens in a focus direction of the optical tape and a position of the objective lens in a tracking direction of the optical tape; a polarization hologram plate configured to separate a reflected light beam of the light beam; a photodetector receiving elements configured to receive the plurality of light fluxes; and a control circuit configured to control the lens actuator and the tracking mirror. The tracking mirror is disposed near the light source, and movable in the tracking direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yohichi Saitoh, Hideki Hayashi, Jun-ichi Asada
  • System and method for using stainless steel as a data archiving medium
    Patent number: 9330725
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, and computer readable medium for writing data on a highly indestructible material is disclosed. A laser may write data on a first side of a highly indestructible material. The data may then be marked as non-rewriteable. The data may also be written on a second side of the highly indestructible material, with the second side being opposite the first side. The highly indestructible material may comprise a stainless steel storage medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Inventors: Steven Michael Lacey, John Currie, Gregory Pine, Noureddine Melikechi
  • Procedure that achieves a target areal density for a heat-assisted recording medium
    Patent number: 9330688
    Abstract: A recording head writes data to a recording medium for one or more iterations. Each iteration involves adjusting a linear data density, a track pitch, and a laser power. From the iterations, a selected linear data density, a selected track pitch, and a selected laser power are determined that together achieve a target areal density and are used to write user data to the recording medium during operation of a hard disk drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Wenzhong Zhu, Kaizhong Gao, Michael A. Cordle
  • Write once read forever archival data storage
    Patent number: 9330706
    Abstract: This invention teaches a methodology and an optical apparatus that provides long-term, archival storage using a chemically stable, high-resolution, photosensitive emulsion, such as silver halide, for the long-term, archival storage and retrieval of data, images and text. Multiple state data substantially increasing data density is stored as vertical diffraction gratings in the archival photosensitive emulsion. The data can be read out in parallel, substantially increasing retrieval speeds beyond that of current optical and magnetic techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Inventors: Eric Dean Rosenthal, Richard Jay Solomon, Clark Eugene Johnson, Brian David Solomon, Jonathan Michael Smith
  • Data recording medium and method for generating a reference clock signal
    Patent number: 9324369
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a recording medium. The recording medium may include a dedicated servo layer for providing servo information. The dedicated servo layer may include a plurality of tracks. A first track may include a first servo signal. A second track may include a second servo signal. The first servo signal and the second servo signal may include a plurality of common transitions. The transitions may be provided at a pre-determined frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: MARVELL INTERNATIONAL LTD.
    Inventors: Jingliang Zhang, Lin Lin Thi, Zhimin Yuan, Bo Liu
  • Recording device
    Patent number: 9305585
    Abstract: The present invention provides a recording device that offers a large displacement control effect. The recording device includes a recording medium 224, a motor 222 that drives the recording medium, and a recording device head M1 that records and reproduces a signal to and from the recording medium. The recording device also has a displacement control mechanism M2. The displacement control mechanism M2 includes a vibrating plate 226 that has two opposing surfaces facing the recording medium, the vibrating plate being displaced in the rotation axis direction of the recording medium; and an oscillator 232 that is positioned away from the two opposing surfaces of the vibrating plate facing the recording medium, the oscillator driving and displacing the vibrating plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jiro Hashidume, Yoshiaki Yamauchi
  • Thermally assisted magnetic recording head with magnetic circuit parallel to substrate
    Patent number: 9293165
    Abstract: A recording head has a near field light (NF light) generator generating NF light on a generator end surface that irradiates a magnetic recording (MR) medium; a main magnetic pole including a pole end surface facing an air bearing surface (ABS) that emits magnetic flux to the MR medium from the pole end surface; and a return shield having a shield end surface facing the ABS, that is magnetically linked with the main magnetic pole, and absorbs magnetic flux from the MR medium at the shield end surface. The pole end surface and the shield end surface are on the same side of the generator end surface in the down track direction, and are close to each other in the track crossing direction. A center line in the down track direction of the generator end surface extends between opposing sides of the pole end surface and the shield end surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Susumu Aoki, Takafumi Kobayashi, Ryo Hosoi, Kei Hirata
  • Thermally assisted magnetic recording head with optical spot-size converter attached two dimensional thin waveguide
    Patent number: 9280994
    Abstract: One embodiment generally relates to a magnetic recording head. The magnetic recording head has a body having an upper surface and a media bearing surface, a spot size converter disposed in the body and extending from the upper surface to the media bearing surface. The spot size converter has a core, comprising a first portion having a rectangular wall extending below the upper surface; and a second portion having a trapezoidal wall extending below the first portion. The magnetic recording head additionally has a first cladding adjacent to the spot size converter in an in-surface direction of the spot size converter, wherein the first cladding has a first refractive index lower than a refractive index of the spot size converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Iwanabe
  • Thermally-assisted magnetic recording head including a plasmon generator
    Patent number: 9275658
    Abstract: A return path section includes first and second yoke portions and first, second and third columnar portions. The first and second yoke portions and the first columnar portion are located on the front side in the direction of travel of a recording medium relative to a waveguide core. The second and third columnar portions are located on opposite sides of a plasmon generator and connected to a shield. The first yoke portion connects a main pole to the first columnar portion. The second yoke portion connects the first columnar portion to the second and third columnar portions. A coil is wound around the first columnar portion. A heater and an expansion layer are located on the rear side in the direction of travel of the recording medium relative to the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignees: HEADWAY TECHNOLOGIES, INC., SAE MAGNETICS (H.K.) LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Sasaki, Hiroyuki Ito, Shigeki Tanemura, Kazuki Sato, Hironori Araki, Ryuji Fujii
  • Dynamically controlling tape velocity
    Patent number: 9251840
    Abstract: A maximum velocity is dynamically determined during a tape drive operation to obtain a statistical standard deviation of a position error signal (PES) that yields an amount of stopwrite (SW) operations that avoids backhitching. The tape velocity is adjusted to the maximum velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nhan X. Bui, Kevin B. Judd, Roger J. Justo, Hirokazu Nakayama, Tomoko Taketomi
  • Storage device with adaptive voltage generation system
    Patent number: 9245541
    Abstract: Apparatus for generating supply voltages in a data storage device. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a data transducer adjacent a rotatable magnetic recording medium, the data transducer having a write coil and an electromagnetic source for thermally assisted recording by the write coil. A preamplifier/driver circuit (preamp) has a write driver adapted to supply write currents to the write coil and a source driver adapted to supply source voltage to the electromagnetic source. A voltage regulation circuit applies a first positive supply voltage to the write driver and a different, second positive supply voltage to the source driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Jon Trantham, Todd Lammers
  • Laser subassembly metallization for heat assisted magnetic recording
    Patent number: 9227257
    Abstract: A heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) assembly includes a slider, a laser diode and solder connections between the laser diode and the slider. The solder connections mechanically and electrically attach the laser diode to the slider. Each solder connection has a total volume per unit area (i.e., height) of less than or equal to about 15 ?m. The solder connections have a first intermetallic zone adjacent to the laser diode, a second intermetallic zone adjacent to the slider, and a eutectic zone of eutectic material between the first and second intermetallic zones. The eutectic zone occupies greater than or equal to about 35% of the total volume per unit area of the solder connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Jon Paul Hurley, Bernard W. Bell, Jr., Steven Harlow Anderson Axdal