Patents Examined by Brian Miller
  • Patent number: 9792936
    Abstract: A gimbal assembly includes a flex circuit with a first end extending along a loadbeam and second end having bond pads configured to be electrically coupled to a slider. The gimbal assembly includes a metallic layer with a fixed portion fixably attached to the loadbeam and a movable portion fixably attachable to the slider. The movable portion has at least one extension arm coupled to and providing support to the second end of the flex circuit. First and second linear actuators are coupled between the fixed portion and the movable portion. The first and second linear actuators cause a rotation of the slider in response to an electric signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Vijay Kumar, Ravishankar Ajjanagadde Shivarama, Taiho Yeom, Razman Zambri, Bradley Ver Meer
  • Patent number: 9792933
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic head includes an air bearing surface, a first surface on which contact pads connected to elements are provided, a pair of second surfaces provided respectively with a connection terminal connected to the contact pad, a main pole with a distal end portion extending to the air bearing surface, a write shield opposing the distal end portion of the main pole with a write gap therebetween, and a high-frequency oscillator provided between the main pole and the write shield within the write gap and electrically connected to the main pole and the write shield. The high-frequency oscillator includes a spin injection layer and an oscillation layer, and at least the oscillation layer is recessed in a direction away from the air bearing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Gaku Koizumi, Tomoko Taguchi, Katsuhiko Koui
  • Patent number: 9786308
    Abstract: A slider of a magnetic recording head comprises a media-facing surface, an upper surface opposing the media-facing surface, a leading edge, and a trailing edge. A plurality of electrical bond pads is disposed in a spaced-apart relationship on the trailing edge of the slider. An interconnect interposer is connected to the trailing edge of the slider. The interposer comprises a back side comprising a plurality of electrical contacts in contact with the plurality of bond pads on the trailing edge of the slider. The interposer also comprises a front side comprising a plurality of electrical interposer pads corresponding in number to the plurality of electrical contacts on the back side. The interposer further comprises a plurality of conductors each of which electrically couples one of the plurality of electrical contacts on the back side with one of the plurality of interposer pads on the front side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Anthony McNeill, Lars Ahlen, Jason Bryce Gadbois, James Gary Wessel, Bradley Ver Meer
  • Patent number: 9767839
    Abstract: A multi-rack assembly with an inter-rack gear track system comprising a first rack, a second rack, and at least one intermediate rack positioned between the first and second racks and releasably interconnectable with each other. A segmented gear track extends from the first rack to the second rack. A compression segment is slidably coupled to the first rack and positioned against a biasing member. A clamping segment is slidably coupled to the second rack, and an intermediate segment is slidably coupled to the intermediate rack. A clamping mechanism moves the clamping segment against the intermediate segment forcing the compression segment against the biasing member and clamping the compression segment, the intermediate segment, and clamping segments together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventor: Jason David Adrian
  • Patent number: 9767832
    Abstract: A device that includes a near field transducer (NFT); at least one cladding layer adjacent the NFT; and a carbon interlayer positioned between the NFT and the at least one cladding layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Justin Glen Brons, Tong Zhao, Xiaoyue Huang, Michael C. Kautzky
  • Patent number: 9747933
    Abstract: A magneto-resistive effect element (MR element) has an upper shield that is magnetized in a cross track direction, a lower shield that is positioned at an interval relative to the upper shield in a down track direction, and a multilayer film that is positioned between the upper shield and the lower shield and that faces an air bearing surface (ABS). The multilayer film has a free layer where its magnetization direction fluctuates relative to an external magnetic field, a pinned layer where its magnetization direction is pinned against the external magnetic field, a nonmagnetic spacer layer that is positioned between the free layer and the pinned layer, and an insulating layer that is positioned at a back side of the free layer viewed from the ABS. The MR element further has a pair of side shields that are positioned at both sides of the free layer and the insulating layer in a cross track direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Hisayoshi Watanabe, Naomichi Degawa, Satoshi Miura, Masachika Hashino, Tetsuya Hiraki, Hidekazu Kojima
  • Patent number: 9741389
    Abstract: An apparatus includes one or more disc media cassettes configured to store multiple disc-based media. Multiple disc drives are configured to read and write data to the multiple disc-based media. A robotic delivery device is configured to transport a selected disc-based media to and from at least one disc drive of the multiple disc drives, and to transport the selected disc-based media directly to a spindle on the at least one disc drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Altknecht, John S. Best, Donald S. Bethune, William M. Dyer, A. David Erpelding, Steven R. Hetzler, Drew B. Lawson, Daniel F. Smith
  • Patent number: 9741390
    Abstract: An optical disc drive includes a spindle connected to an optical assembly. A disc clamp device is configured to hold an optical disc on the spindle. A contiguous opening on at least two adjacent sides in a plane of a disc mount position intersect at a common corner of the optical disc drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Altknecht, John S. Best, Donald S. Bethune, William M. Dyer, A. David Erpelding, Steven R. Hetzler, Drew B. Lawson, Daniel F. Smith
  • Patent number: 9734305
    Abstract: A fume extraction apparatus (1) which comprises an identifier module (20a; 20b) capable of communicating a credential signal over an air interface, a receiver (31) for receiving the credential signal and validating the same, the identifier module attached to a removable filter unit (5; 6); and the receiver is secured to a body of the apparatus, which body removably receives the filter unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: BOFA INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
    Inventor: David Lawrence Cornell
  • Patent number: 9725926
    Abstract: An illustrative access control system includes a locking assembly operable in locked and unlocked states, and a drive assembly operable to actuate the locking assembly. The drive assembly includes an electromechanical actuator, and energy storage device, and a control system. The electromechanical actuator is operable, upon receiving power, to transition the locking assembly between the locked state and the unlocked state. The energy storage device is electrically coupled to the electromechanical actuator, and configured to store electrical power from the power supply when the drive assembly is coupled to the power supply. The control system is configured to couple the drive assembly to the power supply in response to a first condition, and to thereafter transmit energy only from the energy storage device to power the electromechanical actuator, based at least in part upon a level of energy stored in the energy storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventors: John C. Carpenter, William B. Ainley
  • Patent number: 9727763
    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: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: INTERMEC IP CORP.
    Inventors: Pavel Nikitin, Stephen J. Kelly
  • Patent number: 9721608
    Abstract: A motor includes a rotating portion including a rotor magnet, and arranged to rotate about a central axis extending in a vertical direction; a bearing mechanism arranged to support the rotating portion such that the rotating portion is rotatable about the central axis; a stator portion arranged opposite to the rotor magnet; a housing arranged to accommodate the rotating portion, the bearing mechanism, and the stator portion therein; and a sealing member. The housing includes a base portion substantially in a shape of a plate and arranged to extend radially below the rotating portion. The base portion includes a first lower surface arranged to face downward, and a through hole arranged to pass through the base portion in the vertical direction and arranged to have a portion of the bearing mechanism arranged therein. The sealing member is arranged to cover a lower side of the through hole, and includes at least a metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsuya Takahashi, Masahiro Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 9721409
    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: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Muhammed Ibrahim Sezan, John Keith Schneider, Kenneth Kaskoun, Eugene Dantsker
  • Patent number: 9715894
    Abstract: Embodiments include systems and methods for providing throughput increase and/or physical expansion of a data storage library. Some embodiments include multiple robotic assemblies, each having its own hand assembly, which are electrically and mechanically integrated for concurrent use in a single storage library environment for increased throughput. Other embodiments include an active vertical pass-through assembly that operates to ferry cartridges from one storage library environment to another, vertically adjacent storage library environment. Some such embodiments use existing robotic mechanisms of the libraries to exploit a shared slot through which vertical pass-through functionality can be realized. Other embodiments include an active horizontal pass-through assembly that operates to ferry cartridges from one storage library environment to another, horizontally adjacent storage library environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy Craig Ostwald, Joseph Paul Manes
  • Patent number: 9715890
    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: January 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventor: Jacob D. Bjorstrom
  • Patent number: 9704512
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electromagnetic data storage device comprising a data storage medium including a magnetic material, and a write head including an electromagnetic element operable to generate a magnetic field that impinges on a selected portion of the magnetic material of the data storage medium adjacent the write head, so as to affect the magnetization direction of the selected portion of magnetic material. The electromagnetic element includes a magnetic structure including a matrix material, and a plurality of magnetic nanoparticles held in the matrix material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Peacekeepers (International) Ltd.
    Inventors: Christopher Binns, David Binns, John Kinmont
  • Patent number: 9697861
    Abstract: A magnetic disk substrate having a flat main surface, an end face, and a chamfered face formed between the main surface and the end face. The substrate has an offset portion, present on the main surface within a range of 92.0 to 97.0% in a radial direction from a center of the substrate. A distance from the center of the substrate to the end face of the substrate in a radial direction is 100%, the offset portion being raised or lowered with respect to a virtual straight line connecting two points on the main surface, set at positions of 92.0% and 97.0%. A maximum distance from the virtual straight line to the offset portion in a direction perpendicular to the virtual straight line is a “maximum offset value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignees: HOYA CORPORATION, HOYA GLASS DISK (Thailand) LTD.
    Inventors: Toshio Takizawa, Kraisorn Phandon, Kenichi Nishimori
  • Patent number: 9691434
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is one embodiment of an apparatus that includes a housing that defines an interior cavity. The housing also includes a spring aperture. The apparatus further includes a spring coupled to the housing over the spring aperture, with the spring having a deflection portion and a feedthrough aperture. The apparatus also has an electrical connector coupled to the spring and extending through the feedthrough aperture and the spring aperture. The electrical connector may have a plurality of electrical traces extending from a location external to the housing to a location within the interior cavity of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Toshiki Hirano, Vipin Ayanoor Vitikkate
  • Patent number: 9679430
    Abstract: A vehicle remote function system is provided for determining locations of a fob relative to a vehicle. The system may include a controller configured for communication with antennas mounted at different locations in the vehicle, the controller for use in determining locations of the fob based on ultra-wide band wireless signals transmitted between the antennas and the fob. The controller is configured to use a first filtering of the wireless signals to determine an initial location of the fob, and a second filtering of the wireless signals to determine a subsequent location of the fob. A method is also provided which may include transmitting ultra-wide band wireless signals between the fob and antennas mounted in the vehicle, using a first filtering of the wireless signals to determine an initial location of the fob, and using a second filtering of the wireless signals to determine a subsequent location of the fob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas O'Brien, Jason G. Bauman, Jian Ye
  • Patent number: 9679588
    Abstract: A structure includes an air bearing surface including a plurality of material layers arranged in at least one dimension on the air bearing surface. The structure further includes a microelectronic device and a resistive heating element, which each include at least one of the plurality of material layers. The resistive heating element is electrically isolated from the microelectronic device. The microelectronic device is heated by said resistive heating element. Optionally, a structure includes a tape reader or a tape writer, located at an air bearing surface. A resistive heating element is electrically isolated from the tape reader or writer and heats the tape reader or the tape writer. Optionally, a method includes identifying a microelectronic device located at an air bearing surface, identifying a resistive heating element, which is electrically isolated from the microelectronic device, applying a bias current through the resistive heating element to heat the microelectronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Icko E. T. Iben, Lee C. Randall