Patents Examined by Brian E. Miller
  • Storage system with actuated media player
    Patent number: 11238894
    Abstract: A data storage library includes a number of storage cartridges arranged in a rack accessed by a actuated media player. The actuated media player is adapted to move the along a plane relative to a fixed subset of the storage cartridges in the rack to and to selectively couple to each storage cartridge of the fixed subset to facilitate selective read/write access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Brett R. Herdendorf, Jon D. Trantham, Anil J. Reddy, Riyan Alex Mendonsa, Krishnan Subramanian
  • Air-bearing surface (ABS) design with side flow blocker for mitigating lube and hydrocarbon accumulation in hard disk drives (HDD)
    Patent number: 11232812
    Abstract: A slider-mounted read/write transducer for a hard disk drive (HDD) has a topology that mitigates attraction and accumulation of lubricant and hydrocarbons during the HDD operation. The slider topology may include a pattern of cavities and channels symmetrically disposed about a central longitudinal axis. The slider may also have a transverse channel extending perpendicularly inward from an opening in each side edge of the slider to intersect a channel that extends longitudinally along a middle axis towards a leading-edge pad in which a read/write transducer is embedded. The ends of the transverse channel open into an air-carrying groove extending vertically upward in the side of the slider in which a side flow blocker (SFB) restricts the air flow into the channel portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignees: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd., Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Guoqiang Zheng, Ellis Cha
  • Offset swage baseplate for stacked assembly
    Patent number: 11232811
    Abstract: An approach to a head gimbal assembly, such as for a hard disk drive, includes an offset swage plate coupling a suspension to one side of an actuator arm and another offset swage plate coupling another suspension to an opposing second side of the actuator arm. Each offset swage plate includes a main body, a swage through-hole through a first lateral or longitudinal side of the main body, a swage boss around the perimeter of the swage through-hole and extending substantially normal to the main body, and a clearance through-hole through an opposing second lateral or longitudinal side of the main body, the clearance through-hole having no swage boss. Each offset swage plate is configured in the assembly in a position opposing the other, such that the corresponding swage bosses are positioned on different lateral/longitudinal sides of the arm tip so that there is no coaxial swage boss buildup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kia Moh Teo, Yanning Liu, Hiroyasu Tsuchida, Kathryn Tao
  • Systems for fingerprint sensor triggered voice interaction in an electronic device
    Patent number: 11232186
    Abstract: An electronic device includes an audio capture device operable to receive audio input, a fingerprint sensor operable to receive fingerprint data, and one or more processors, operable with the audio capture device and the fingerprint sensor. The fingerprint sensor can authenticate a person as an authorized user of an electronic device while device commands are being received in the form of audio input to allow for secure voice interactions without requiring a trigger phrase. The fingerprint sensor can be used in combination with the receipt of voice input to perform two-factor authentication. The fingerprint sensor and audio capture device can be used in combination to enroll, or update enrollment, of a user interacting with a voice assistant as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: John Gorsica, Thomas Merrell, Kathryn Thomas, James Wylder
  • Swage plate assembly with swage boss insert
    Patent number: 11227630
    Abstract: An approach to a head gimbal assembly (HGA), such as for a hard disk drive, includes a swage plate assembly coupling a suspension to one side of an actuator arm, where the swage plate assembly includes a baseplate having a through-hole and a swage boss insert comprising a flange and a swage boss extending from the flange through the baseplate through-hole. The HGA is configured such that the baseplate is positioned between the flange and the actuator arm, such that a distal surface of the flange is the surface closest to a corresponding recording medium, whereby the thickness of the suspension is effectively recessed within the material dimensional buildup of the other parts and a greater clearance is provided between the suspension and the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kia Moh Teo, Yanning Liu
  • Vehicle comprising a door opening warning system
    Patent number: 11214194
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a door, an inside door handle, and a door opening warning system having an object sensor that detects an object outside the vehicle in a door collision risk zone, a touchless sensor that detects if a part of a user is positioned in an opening zone at the inside door handle and a touch sensor that detects if the user touches the inside door handle, and a control unit. The control unit triggers a first alarm if the object sensor detects an object in the risk zone and the touchless sensor detects a part of the user in the opening zone at the inside door handle, and triggers a second alarm if the object sensor detects an object in the risk zone and the touch sensor detects that the user is touching the inside door handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: NINGBO GEELY AUTOMOBILE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CO.
    Inventors: Mats Thorngren, Max Olle Cavallin
  • Tape cartridge including reel lock member
    Patent number: 11217278
    Abstract: A tape cartridge according to an embodiment of the present technology includes: a tape reel; a cartridge case; and a reel lock member. The tape reel includes a reel hub having a bottomed cylindrical shape, a tape having been wound on the reel hub. The cartridge case includes a first protruding portion and a plurality of second protruding portions, the first protruding portion protruding toward a center of a bottom portion of the reel hub, the plurality of second protruding portions being arranged around the first protruding portion. The reel lock member is disposed inside the reel hub. The reel lock member includes a first tubular portion and a plurality of second tubular portions, the first tubular portion fitting with the first protruding portion, the plurality of second tubular portions fitting with the plurality of second protruding portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Iwahashi, Takeshi Saito, Hiroshi Kumagai
  • Electronic device and control method therefor
    Patent number: 11205339
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus according to the present invention includes: a communicator configured to communicate with a plurality of electronic devices; and a controller configured to determine a second electronic device capable of displaying information of a user interface (UI) for controlling a first electronic device, among the plurality of electronic devices, based on at least one of information about the plurality of electronic devices and information about a user, in response to an event of the user which makes a request for controlling the first electronic device among the plurality of electronic devices, and control the information of the UI to be transmitted to the determined second electronic device. In such an electronic apparatus, states of a user and peripheral devices are determined to provide a UI optimized to control a device-to-be-controlled, thereby improving user convenience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Min Shik Sohn, Dong Seok Kim, Sun A Kim, Se Hyun Park, Ga Eun Lee, Ye Nah Lee, Eun Bi Cho
  • Spin-orbit torque induced magnetization switching in a magnetic recording head
    Patent number: 11205446
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to magnetic media devices, and more specifically, to a magnetic media drive employing a magnetic recording head. The recording head includes a main pole, a trailing shield hot seed layer, a spin Hall layer disposed between the main pole and the trailing shield hot seed layer, and a spin-torque layer disposed between the main pole and the trailing shield hot seed layer. Spin-orbit torque (SOT) is generated from the spin Hall layer. The spin-torque layer magnetization switching or precession is induced by the SOT. The SOT based head reduces the switching current and the Vjump due to higher spin polarization ratio, which improves energy efficiency. In addition, the spin Hall layer and the spin-torque layer are easier to form compared to the conventional pseudo spin-valve structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Zhanjie Li, Suping Song, Kuok San Ho
  • Fluid line connector and assembly with securement detection
    Patent number: 11199282
    Abstract: A fluid line connector and assembly provides remote securement detection capabilities and is hence equipped for initial assembly, subsequent quality inspection, and subsequent service techniques that are automated, robotic, and/or autonomous. The fluid line connector includes a body, a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag, one or more actuator members, and one or more switches. The body has a passage for fluid-flow therethrough. The RFID tag can communicate with an RFID interrogator. The actuator member(s) changes the state of the switch(es) when the actuator member(s) actuates. The switch(es) is electrically coupled with the RFID tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Norma U.S. Holding LLC
    Inventors: Brian T. Ignaczak, René Schindler, Thomas A. Puvogel
  • Facility reservation management system that controls facility devices
    Patent number: 11182994
    Abstract: A system includes an operation receiving unit and an operation control apparatus. The operation receiving unit is operated by a user. The operation control apparatus controls a first device at a facility to enter into an operating state in response to a user operation being performed at the operation receiving unit during a first time period determined by reservation information. The operation control apparatus also controls a second device at the facility to enter into an operating state at a start time associated with the first time period, regardless of presence of a user operation at the operation receiving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Funo, Satoru Tsuto, Naoyasu Terao
  • Suspension assembly and disk device
    Patent number: 11176961
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a suspension assembly includes a support plate including a distal end and a proximal end portion, a wiring member including a gimbal portion and provided on the support plate, and a magnetic head mounted on the gimbal portion. The gimbal portion includes a first end portion located on a side of the proximal end portion with respect to the magnetic head and welded to the support plate, a second end located on a side of the distal end portion with respect to the magnetic head and welded to the support plate, a tongue portion on which the magnetic head is mounted, located between the first end portion and the second end portion, and supported so as to be displaceable relative to the support plate, and a limiter opposing the tongue portion with a gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuo Suzuki, Takuma Kido
  • Systems and methods for vehicle backup warning notification
    Patent number: 11176825
    Abstract: Vehicle backup warning notification systems and methods are disclosed herein. An example method can include determining a hazardous condition in an operating area around a vehicle based on user input of a first user at a first point in time, storing a warning message that indicates that the hazardous condition is present in the operating area, determining a second user driving the vehicle at a second point in time, determining that the stored warning message exists, and presenting the warning message for the second user driving the vehicle to notify the second user that the hazardous condition is present in the operating area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, Brian Bennie, Tony Mark Phillips
  • Dual free layer reader head with magnetic seed layer decoupled from shield
    Patent number: 11170808
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to magnetic read heads comprising a dual free layer (DFL) structure. The magnetic read head comprises a first shield, a second shield, and a DFL structure disposed between the first and second shields. The DFL structure comprises a magnetic seed layer, a first free layer, and a second free layer. A non-magnetic spacer layer is disposed between and in contact with the first shield and the magnetic seed layer of the DFL structure at a media facing surface. A material and a thickness of the non-magnetic spacer layer is selected to control the coupling between the first shield and the magnetic seed layer of the DFL structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Xiaoyong Liu, Ji Li, Goncalo Marcos Baião de Albuquerque, Daniele Mauri, Yukimasa Okada
  • Systems and methods for wireless unlocking a lock associated with an enclosed space within a vehicle
    Patent number: 11170591
    Abstract: Systems and methods for wireless unlocking of lock systems on enclosures within a vehicle are provided. A lock system may be unlocked via a digital key communicated to the lock system via any suitable communication protocol, for example, a short range communication protocol. The digital key can be embedded or otherwise stored and accessed in an application accessible via a user interface device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC AVIONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven Bates, Philip Watson
  • System and method for access control
    Patent number: 11170595
    Abstract: An access control system comprising a first detector, a second detector, and a processor. The first detector is operable to detect presence of a subject in proximity of the access control system. The second detector operable to detect an object identifier associated with an object carried by the subject in proximity of the access control system. The processor is operably connected with the first detector and the second detector. The processor is operable to receive, from the first detector, a first signal indicative of the detection of the presence of the subject, and receive, from the second detector, a second signal containing the detected object identifier. During operation, the processor is arranged to determine that an access event has occurred when it receives both the first signal and the second signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Hong Kong R&D Centre for Logistics and Supply Chain Management Enabling Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Jing Tian Xi, Chin Chiu Chung, Chi Hung Tong, Kwong Yeung Simon Wong
  • Storage container with remote monitoring and access control
    Patent number: 11160409
    Abstract: A remotely managed lockable storage container includes a lid, an electronically controlled lock, an internal temperature sensor; an electronic communication module comprising a processor, a communication interface, a camera system, an interior motion detector; a computer memory containing machine instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to transmit a container interior temperature reading and a lock status to a remote computing device via the communication interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Inventor: Kevin Bowman
  • Method and system for detecting parking spaces which are suitable for a vehicle
    Patent number: 11158192
    Abstract: A method and a system (100) for detecting parking spaces (32) suitable for a vehicle (1). In order to determine a parking space (32), radar signals (11) are directed to a plurality of vehicles (301, 302, . . . 30M) parked in a parking area (13) and also to surrounding elements (34). The radar signals (12) reflected by the parked vehicles (301, 302, . . . 30M) and also the surrounding elements (34) are processed in a computing unit (15). A gap (29) in a calculated periodicity (51) of a projection profile (24) is determined with an autoregressive prediction filter (53). A prediction error function (26) has the highest value (55) at the location of a parking space (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: VEONEER SWEDEN AB
    Inventors: Christopher Unverdorben, Andreas Schmid, Christian Pfaffenzeller, Uwe Siart
  • Manufacturing method regulating a relative position between a flexure and a load beam of a disc device suspension, and suspension assembly used in said manufacturing method
    Patent number: 11152023
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a disc device suspension includes forming a load beam blank including the load beam and a first frame continuous to the load beam, forming a flexure blank including the flexure and a second frame continuous to the flexure, forming a convex portion in the first frame, forming an opening in the second frame in a position corresponding to the convex portion to receive the convex portion, overlapping the load beam blank with the flexure blank to insert the convex portion into the opening, fixing the flexure to the load beam, and separating the load beam from the first frame and the flexure from the second frame after the fixing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koichi Imoto, Kunihiro Tsutsumi, Kazuhiro Sugiyama, Masaki Matsuzawa
  • Sharing system using valet key
    Patent number: 11142166
    Abstract: A sharing system includes a sharing device arranged in a shared subject and a valet key that is allowed to operate the shared subject. The sharing system further includes a portable terminal that obtains key information required to use the shared subject and is allowed to operate the shared subject when the key information is authenticated through communication with the sharing device. The sharing system further includes a privilege granting unit that grants privilege to operate the shared subject from the portable terminal to the valet key, and a restriction imposing unit that imposes a restriction on use of the portable terminal when the operation privilege for the shared subject is granted from the portable terminal to the valet key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Masahiro Arakawa, Masahiko Oya, Junji Murase, Shinya Saguchi, Yuji Fukano, Shinya Watanabe, Yosuke Doi, Takanori Matsuyama