Patents Examined by Brian Miller
  • Patent number: 10043541
    Abstract: In a disk drive having a flexible circuit tail that is routed within a recess in the actuator arm, a dielectric spacer is added to the top of the tail in order to space the circuit traces within the tail further away from the electrically conductive actuator arm, and to make more repeatable that spacing. The added spacing reduces electrical coupling and thus increases the bandwidth of the circuit. The spacer can be in the form of a section of the same viscoelastic material that is used elsewhere as a vibration dampener on the suspension, the viscoelastic material being adhered to the tail before the tail is inserted within the recess. Alternatively, the spacer can be a thickened region of the flexible circuit covercoat in the area where the tail will reside within the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Magnecomp Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher G. Dunn, Benjapa Tanampee
  • Patent number: 10037772
    Abstract: A magnetic field-assisted magnetic recording (MAMR) head is provided, which includes a recording main pole, a seed layer, and a spin torque oscillator (STO) positioned over the main pole, in this order, in a stacking direction from a leading side to a trailing side of the recording head. The STO comprises a spin polarized layer (SPL), an interlayer with fcc structure, and a field generating layer (FGL), in this order in the stacking direction. The FGL comprises a low magnetic flux density interface (LMFDI) layer with bcc structure that directly contacts the interlayer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Susumu Okamura, Masashige Sato, Keiichi Nagasaka, Yo Sato
  • Patent number: 10032327
    Abstract: An access control system with facial recognition comprising a casing, a door handle, an interaction unit, a locking unit, a triggering unit controlling an unlock/lock state of the locking unit and a facial recognition unit. The interaction unit has an operation panel arranged above the door handle and protruded from the casing at an inclined acute angle relative to a vertical surface of the casing. The facial recognition unit comprises a data storage module, an image collection module comprising an infrared camera and an optical camera for user face scanning, an image processing module and a determination module. The infrared camera and the optical camera are fixed on the operation panel of the interaction unit, which enables authentication for users of different heights. Furthermore, the access control system can also be unlocked by passcode and/or a RFID card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: BEIJING JIALAN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mingjiang Xin
  • Patent number: 10028120
    Abstract: An ID card and/or cell phone holder provides position identification, 2-way communication, and panic control features for emergency communication. Contemplated holders include those configured as a wallet, arm band, belt clip, or money clip, and can additionally or alternatively be adapted for use with a key ring, lanyard, or other carrying adapter. Position identification circuitry, the communication circuitry, and the panic control interface can be physically distributed between or among at least first and second cards or other components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: GLOBAL LIFE-LINE, INC.
    Inventor: Robert Eisenman
  • Patent number: 10025917
    Abstract: A wearable device may include a sensor system capable of obtaining physiological from a user's body. Some wearable devices may include a substance delivery system. A sensor system of a wearable device may include at least one “bio-assurance sensor” capable of obtaining biometric data that may be used to identify a user. For example, the bio-assurance sensor may be used to ensure that the wearable device is not removed from the user's body and/or placed on or in another user's body. In some examples, the wearable device may be used with a second device, such as a smart phone, that includes at least one “authentication sensor,” such as a fingerprint sensor, that also may be used to identify a user. However, in some implementations the wearable device may include at least one authentication sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Muhammed Ibrahim Sezan, John Keith Schneider, Kenneth Kaskoun, Eugene Dantsker
  • Patent number: 10002627
    Abstract: A tape head including a body exhibiting a tape-bearing area is provided. The body includes at least one transducer that is a read element or a write element, configured in the tape head so as for the tape head to read from or write to a magnetic tape, in operation. The tape-bearing area is essentially covered by an electrically conducting layer of material. This way, the exposed surface of the electrically conducting layer essentially forms the tape-bearing surface of the tape head, which surface contacts the magnetic tape, in operation. A tape head apparatus for recording or reproducing multi-track tapes including the tape head is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert G. Biskeborn, Johan Engelen, Mark A. Lantz, Hugo E. Rothuizen
  • Patent number: 10002628
    Abstract: Various embodiments concern a gimbaled flexure having a dual stage actuation structure. The flexure comprises a gimbal on which a motor is mounted. The motor comprises a first terminal, one or more layers of piezoelectric material, and a metal stiffener disposed directly on the first terminal. The stiffener comprises a layer of metal defining a majority of a top side of the motor. The first terminal can be gold sputtered on the piezoelectric material while the stiffener can be nickel plated on the gold. The stiffener can cause the motor, and the flexure on which it is mounted, to curl upon electrical activation of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventor: Jacob D. Bjorstrom
  • Patent number: 9996716
    Abstract: A method of addressing one or more RFID devices within a group of RFID devices includes transmitting a command to respond to the group at a first modulation depth. The method further includes receiving a response from a first sub-group of RFID devices in the group that have a minimum modulation depth less than or equal to the first modulation depth. The method further includes transmitting the command to respond to the group at a second modulation depth higher than the first modulation depth. The method further includes receiving a response from a second sub-group of RFID devices within the group that have a minimum modulation depth less than or equal to the second modulation depth. The method is also directed to authenticating RFIDs by comparing a measured minimum modulation depth to a known minimum modulation depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: INTERMEC IP CORP.
    Inventors: Pavel Nikitin, Stephen J. Kelly
  • Patent number: 9990942
    Abstract: A PMR writer is disclosed with an all wrap around (AWA) shield design in which one or more of the leading shield, side shields, and trailing shield (TS) structure (except the hot seed layer) at the air bearing surface (ABS) are comprised of an alloy having a damping parameter ? of ?0.04 to minimize wide area track erasure (WATE). The TS structure comprises two outer magnetic layers with an 8-16 kiloGauss (kG) saturation magnetic moment on each side of a center stack with a lower write gap, a middle hot seed layer having a 19-24 kG saturation magnetic moment, and an upper magnetic layer with a 16-24 kG saturation magnetic moment, and each having a first cross-track width. The hot seed layer, upper TS magnetic layer and an overlying PP3 trailing shield promote improved area density capability (ADC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yue Liu, Ying Liu, Yuhui Tang, Jiun-Ting Lee, Moris Dovek, Yiming Wang
  • Patent number: 9990948
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a stopper of a disk device includes a fixing member to be fixed to a supporter of the disk device, and a cushioning member formed of a fluorine rubber and attached to the fixing member. The cushioning member includes a contact surface which contacts the fixing member, a first contact surface which can contact the supporter of the disk device, and a second contact surface which can contact a movable member in the disk device, the first contact surface has a first surface adhesive force based on adhesion of the fluorine rubber, and the second contact surface is subjected to a non-adhesive surface treatment and has a second surface adhesive force which is less than or equal to 1/20 the first surface adhesive force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Hirofumi Kuribara
  • Patent number: 9990945
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a suspension assembly includes a support plate and a lift tab extending in a first direction. The lift tab has an arc-shaped cross section, and includes an arc-shaped outer circumferential surface, an arc-shaped inner circumferential surface, a first upper end surface located between one arc ends of the outer and inner circumferential surfaces, and a second upper end surface located between other arc ends of the outer and inner circumferential surfaces of the inner circumferential surface, and a first angle made between the outer circumferential surface and the first upper end surface is less than a second angle made between the inner circumferential surface and the first upper end surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kenichiro Aoki, Yasutaka Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9984722
    Abstract: A disc cassette includes a curved portion configured to hold multiple discs. A platform portion abuts the curved portion. A movable bale is configured to maintain discs securely in the disc cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Altknecht, Donald S. Bethune, William M. Dyer, A. David Erpelding, Steven R. Hetzler, Drew B. Lawson, Daniel F. Smith
  • Patent number: 9978265
    Abstract: A modular garage door opener system includes an accessory device including a first electronic processor, a first memory, and a load, and includes a garage door opener including an accessory port, a second memory, and a second electronic processor. The accessory port is configured to be removably coupled to the accessory device. The second electronic processor receives new status data from the accessory device indicating a change in a status of the accessory device to a new status, sends the new status data to a remote server to update an accessory data set, receives new settings data from the remote server indicating a requested change in a setting of the accessory device, and sends the new settings data to the accessory device to update the setting of the accessory device. The first electronic processor controls the load of the accessory device based on the new settings data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: TTI (MACAO COMMERCIAL OFFSHORE) LIMITED
    Inventors: William McNabb, Mark Huggins, J. Porter Whitmire
  • Patent number: 9977932
    Abstract: A method provides and manages information linked to RFID data storage media in a network with data transmission between an RFID data storage medium and an RFID reading unit, integrated in a mobile radio device, for reading the data stored on the RFID data storage medium. A data link is set up to a network server in a network via a radio interface of the mobile radio device. A data memory area on the network server is associated with the RFID data storage medium. An arrangement provides and manages information linked to RFID data storage media in a network. The arrangement includes an RFID data storage medium, a mobile radio device with an integrated RFID reading unit for reading RFID data records, and a network with a network server. The network server has a data memory area which is associated with the RFID data storage medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Inventor: Manfred Rietzler
  • Patent number: 9954692
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling devices, including controller and actuators are disclosed. Actuators may be devices where remote control of the device or devices is convenient, such as lights, window shades, fans and similar items. In one method, a user sends a command to a controller and to an actuator. The controller also sends a proxy update to a second controller that is also in communication with the actuator. The proxy controller, also in contact with the actuator, now has knowledge of the state or position of the actuator and is in a better position if the proxy controller is asked to assume control of the actuator. In another method, an actuator or controller may also receive a trigger setup, asking the actuator to tell the controller when an action occurs, but not to take action until receiving a further command from the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Sigma Designs, Inc.
    Inventor: Anders T. Brandt
  • Patent number: 9953479
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to securing physical compartments and allowing users access via a mobile device configured to use a mobile authentication system. In some embodiments, a locking device for a physical container is configured to unlock only if both a transaction authentication system confirms successful authentication of a mobile device and an auxiliary key is present. The locking device may receive encrypted data from the mobile device via a short-range wireless connection, transmit the data to the transaction authentication system, and receive a message indicating whether authentication was successful. The mobile device may encrypt the data using a replenishment key from the transaction authentication system; therefore the authentication may decrypt the received encrypted data to confirm an identity of the mobile device. In some embodiments, disclosed techniques may allow users to use their mobile device to unlock a safety deposit box without requiring extensive infrastructure investment, e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: CA, Inc.
    Inventors: Yashwant Ramkishan Sawant, Banisetti Sandeep, Mohammed Mujeeb Kaladgi, Ruqiya Nikhat Kaladgi
  • Patent number: 9947157
    Abstract: A method of operating an appliance includes enabling an operation restriction. The operation restriction limits activation of the appliance and requires an authorization prior to activating the appliance. The method also includes receiving a request to activate the appliance. The method further includes receiving an override key via a user interface physically connected to the appliance. The method further includes disabling the operation restriction after the override key is received, and activating the appliance after the override key is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Mark William Thomas Worley
  • Patent number: 9940960
    Abstract: A slider design for a hard disk drive (HDD) features an air-bearing surface (ABS) topography with arrays of micro-dots formed on bases of a multiplicity of cavities at different depths. The design eliminates the accumulation of hydrocarbons (e.g., spindle oil and disk lubricant) deposits in regions of air stagnation within the cavities where backflows and foreflows of air meet and cancel during HDD operation. The micro-dots are small raised regions of various shapes having sizes and spacings in the range between 2 and 100 microns and, in a preferred embodiment, heights of 0.15 microns above the cavity bases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignees: SAE Magnetics (HK) Ltd., Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ellis Cha, Sindy Yeung, Penny Wan Ting Looi, Ben Kwun Pan Ng
  • Patent number: 9940976
    Abstract: A data storage library system and method comprising at least one data storage library, the at least one data storage library comprising one or more library frames associated with the one or more library frames and at least one environmental conditioning unit configured to control one or more environmental conditions within the one or more library frames. At least one component locker is housed in an interior portion of the one or more library frames, and the at least one component locker is configured to retain one or more replacement components for use in the at least one data storage library.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ernest S. Gale, Icko E. T. Iben, Leonard G. Jesionowski, James M. Karp, Michael P. McIntosh, Shawn M. Nave, Lee C. Randall
  • Patent number: 9934807
    Abstract: A magnetic recording head includes a plurality of writers and at least one reader. The plurality of writers and the reader define a plurality of close points of the head. The plurality of writers are spaced apart from one another in a cross-track direction and positioned in the same plane of the head. A plurality of contact sensors are positioned proximate the plurality of writers and the reader. The contact sensors are coupled together and to a pair of electrical bond pads of the head and configured to sense for head-disk contact at each of the close points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Declan Macken, Paul Sonda, Erik Hutchinson, Jin Fang, John Wolf