Patents Examined by Carl E. Hall
  • Patent number: 5992004
    Abstract: A longitudinal bias layer and an electrode layer are formed on a non-magnetic material layer. The longitudinal bias layer and the electrode layer are partially removed by an etching technique so that a narrow gap defining the track width Tw is formed in the longitudinal bias layer and the electrode layer. Furthermore, a three-layer film consisting of, from bottom to top, a magnetoresistance effect layer, a non-magnetic layer, and a transverse bias layer, or otherwise a spin valve film consisting of a free magnetic layer, a non-magnetic layer, a fixed magnetic layer and a bias layer is formed on the above structure. The three-layer film or the spin valve film is then partially removed by an etching technique so that the three-layer film or the spin valve film remains only in the above-described narrow gap formed in the longitudinal bias layer and the electrode layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Sato, Yoshihiko Kakihara, Masamichi Saito, Toshihiro Kuriyama, Toshinori Watanabe
  • Patent number: 5991989
    Abstract: A compact, low height, low cost, and high reliability surface acoustic wave device, and its method of manufacture. The surface acoustic wave device consists of a substrate, a comb-electrode disposed on the main surface of the substrate, plural electrode pads disposed around the comb-electrode, protecting means covering the comb-electrode through a closed space produced by combining the comb-electrode and the electrode pads with the substrate by using substantially covalent bonding force acting between conductive bumps formed on the electrode bumps, a conductive adhesive layer disposed at least on the top of the conductive bumps, and a package adhered on the conductive bumps by means of the conductive adhesive, and insulation adhesive filled into the package contacting the conductive adhesive, the conductive bumps, and the protective means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiji Onishi, Shun-ichi Seki, Yutaka Taguchi, Kazuo Eda
  • Patent number: 5987733
    Abstract: A head suspension assembly includes a load beam, a flexure and a constraint structure for limiting range of motion of the flexure tongue. The constraint structure directly engages a free end of the flexure tongue to restrict the range of motion of the free end of the flexure tongue. This constraint structure is on the disk-confronting surface of the load beam to overlap the proximal end of the flexure tongue. The constraint structure may be formed in one piece with a proximal extension of the flexure.A method for manufacturing a head suspension assembly of the type including a load beam and a flexure, includes a step of incorporating into the suspension assembly a constraint structure for directly engaging the free end of the flexure tongue to restrict the range of motion of the flexure tongue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Lloyd C. Goss
  • Patent number: 5983485
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a dual actuator assembly for a disc drive. The dual actuator assembly has first and second rotatable actuator assemblies which are axially aligned for independent rotation about a common axis and support at least first and second read/write heads, respectively. The method comprises providing a dual bearing cartridge assembly with a stationary shaft aligned along the common axis having first and second ends, a first rotatable sleeve mounted for rotation about the stationary shaft toward the first end, a second rotatable sleeve mounted for rotation about the stationary shaft toward the second end, and first and second bearing assemblies supporting the first and second rotatable sleeves, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Nigel F. Misso
  • Patent number: 5983471
    Abstract: Pairs of laminated piezoelectric actuator (111) are arranged in plural rows on a base plate (110) to form a laminated piezoelectric actuator unit. A diaphragm (115) is bonded to the upper end surface of the laminated piezoelectric actuator unit, and a flow path plate (118) is bonded to the upper surface of the diaphragm (115). Here, a plurality of pressurizing chambers (116) and an ink flow path (117) are formed in the flow path plate (118) such that each pressurizing chamber (116) is disposed corresponding to each laminated piezoelectric actuator (111). Moreover, a nozzle plate (120) having nozzle holes (119) is connected to the upper surface of the flow path plate (118). Each laminated piezoelectric actuator (111) is deformed in the direction of thickness by applying voltage thereto for ejecting ink inside each pressurizing chamber (116) via each nozzle hole (119) in a direction perpendicular to the base plate (110).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seiichi Osawa
  • Patent number: 5983486
    Abstract: A process for producing an ink jet head comprising a liquid-discharge energy generating element for discharging a liquid, a discharge opening, a liquid-flow path, and a substrate for holding the liquid-discharge energy generating element, the process comprises the steps of: preparing the substrate; providing on the substrate the liquid-discharge energy generating element; providing a solid layer with a convex shape on the surface of the substrate where the liquid-discharge energy generating element has been provided and at the part where the liquid-flow path and the discharge opening are to be provided, the solid layer being formed of a resin capable of being dissolved away; applying on the substrate provided with the solid layer a curable material in a thickness larger than the thickness of the solid layer, to cover the solid layer; curing the curable material; evenly removing the cured material until the convex portion of the solid layer is laid bare; and dissolving away the solid layer to form the liquid-f
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiko Shimomura, Shoji Shiba, Isao Imamura, Kenji Aono
  • Patent number: 5974657
    Abstract: A method is provided for resetting the magnetization of the pinned and hard biasing layers of a spin valve read head at the row level. In a first embodiment of the invention a first magnetic field is applied substantially perpendicular to the air bearing surface (ABS) at room temperature for setting the magnetic moment of the pinned layer substantially perpendicular to the ABS followed by applying a second magnetic field substantially parallel to the ABS for setting the magnetic moments of the hard biasing layers substantially parallel to the ABS. In a second embodiment of the invention the antiferromagnetic pinning layer is also reset. This is done by heating the pinning layer with a current pulse conducted through the leads to the conductive layers of the spin valve head so that localized heating takes place adjacent the pinning layer as contrasted to ambient heating of the spin valve head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ciaran Fox, Hardayal Singh Gill, Virgil Simon Speriosu, Jila Tabib
  • Patent number: 5970603
    Abstract: A tool, and associated method, for batch processing the definition of air bearing surfaces on rows comprising a plurality of sliders is disclosed. The tool has a main body member having a length defining a y-axis direction, a width defining an x-axis direction, and a thickness defining a z-axis direction. The main body member has a top surface defining an upwardly facing z-axis base surface. The main body also defines a y-axis alignment reference surface, and an x-axis alignment reference surface. The rows are positioned on the tool for processing, where the upper surface of the platform engages the lower surface of the plurality of rows to provide proper z-axis positioning on the tool. The y-axis alignment reference engages one longitudinal side of an anchor row to provide proper y-axis positioning, and the x-axis alignment reference surface abuts the second end of the plurality of rows to provide proper x-axis positioning. The top surfaces of the rows lie in a common plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Quantum Peripherals Colorado, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan W. Quintana, Chris Broussalian, John Keil, Jr., Georgene Nielsen, Jorg Jemelka, Robert Chestnutt, William Trowbridge
  • Patent number: 5970600
    Abstract: A brushless permanent magnet DC motor for use in a traction drive system has power density and high efficiency. The motor includes a multiple turn, fast insertion, double wave winding which does not have distinct interconnection wires between the coils (the interconnections are part of the coils), and the end turns are distributed on both sides of the stator core so as to minimize the size of the end turns. The housing is part of the stator and has integral, radially extending, circumferentially spaced cooling fins so that there is no thermal gap, or thermal contact, resistance between separate housing and stator components. The motor includes bearings mounting a shaft of the rotor of the motor, and structures for positively maintaining the bearings concentric with the stator to provide optimized service life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: SL Montevideo Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hao Huang, Darwin Caskey, Ed Lipinski
  • Patent number: 5970607
    Abstract: A method of making an electrical subassembly and a subassembly formed by the method which includes the steps of providing a conductive member having a predetermined configuration and a housing for receiving the conductive member, connecting the conductive member to the housing, and removing a portion of the conductive member so as to separate it into a plurality of discrete contacts, each contact being connected to the housing and thereby providing a desired circuit path through the subassembly. The subassembly includes one or more electrical components mounted thereto and can be readily attached to a support and wired to a desired circuit without soldering while enabling removal and replacement of an electrical component as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Richard R. Herzog
  • Patent number: 5964028
    Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing an encapsulated magnet carrier by forming a wax pattern of the magnet carrier with an annular conducting ring annular chamber section, placing the conducting ring over the wax pattern in the annular chamber section, and forming an investment casting shell mold around the wax pattern and conducting ring. The magnet carrier is then cast with the conductor ring in place by pouring molten casting material into the mold, solidifying the casting material, and then separating the cast magnet carrier with the cast in place conductor ring from the surrounding mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Dresser Pump Company
    Inventor: Frederic W. Buse
  • Patent number: 5960532
    Abstract: In a process, a self-supporting winding is prefabricated independently from the soft magnetic body, the wire windings are impregnated with an insulating compound, compressed from the center of the teeth, and clamped before the insulating compound sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Inventor: Wolfgang Hill
  • Patent number: 5956829
    Abstract: An ink jet recording head including a vibrating plate made of ceramic, a pressure producing chamber forming member, made of ceramic, for forming a plurality of pressure producing chambers in rows, and drive electrodes formed on a surface of the vibrating plate so as to confront the pressure producing chambers. A width W2 of each drive electrode is smaller than a width W1 of each pressure producing chamber. A width W3 of a piezoelectric vibrating element is larger than the width W2 of each drive electrode and smaller than the width W1 of each pressure producing chamber, so that an operation region of the piezoelectric vibrating element is regulated by the width W2 of the drive electrode, and peripheral portions of the piezoelectric vibrating element are reliably bonded to peripheral portions of the drive electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kohei Kitahara, Toshiki Usui, Tomoaki Abe, Keiichi Mukaiyama
  • Patent number: 5950291
    Abstract: Methods for fabricating a conformable composite acoustic transducer panel including a conformable composite body having upper and lower planar faces and upper and lower thin, flexible electrodes bonded to the upper and lower faces, respectively. The composite body includes an array of individual piezoelectric or electrostrictive ceramic elements extending normal to the upper and lower faces and through the composite body from the upper face to the lower face to electrically contact the electrodes. Stiff integral face plates are bonded to the side surfaces of the elements at their upper and lower ends. Alternatively, a conformable, stiff, voided polymer matrix is bonded to the element sides over their entire length. Flexible circuit boards may be bonded to the electrodes to provide electrical contact thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Materials Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Richard L. Gentilman, Leslie J. Bowen
  • Patent number: 5950292
    Abstract: Applique circuits suitable for advanced packaging applications are introduced. These structures are particularly suited for the simple integration of large amounts (many nanoFarads) of capacitance into conventional integrated circuit and multichip packaging technology. In operation, applique circuits are bonded to the integrated circuit or other appropriate structure at the point where the capacitance is required, thereby minimizing the effects of parasitic coupling. An immediate application is to problems of noise reduction and control in modern high-frequency circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Duane B. Dimos, Terry J. Garino
  • Patent number: 5950302
    Abstract: A improved stator apparatus for use in the ignition system of an internal combustion engine. The stator apparatus comprises a magnetically permeable core having a coil housing mounted to a leg portion thereof. A coil assembly including a voltage transformer is maintained in the coil housing. The various coils of the coil assembly are mounted about a central chimney member of the housing coaxial with the portion of the core extending therethrough. A circuit grounding member is electrically connected between the voltage transformer and the core by frictional contact therebetween. The circuit grounding member is constructed of a generally flat conductive piece having a longitudinal ridge defined along a portion of its length. In exemplary constructions, the longitudinal ridge extends along side a portion of the core and is biased into frictional contact therewith. The ridge facilitates assembly of the stator apparatus as well as enhancing electrical connection of the grounding member with the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Power Parts, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney G. Delves, Steven L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5950301
    Abstract: A thin film magnetic head is provided in which a magnetic yoke assembly is built up, layer by layer, atop a substrate using semiconductor thin film techniques. A lower yoke assembly is first fabricated including a lower magnetic layer situated on the substrate and first and second side poles built up vertically from the ends of the lower magnetic layer. An insulative pedestal surrounded by a frame is formed at the top of the lower yoke assembly and extends above the uppermost lateral plane of the yoke assembly. A diamond-like carbon (DLC) wear layer is deposited atop the pedestal. First and second pole support wells are excavated in the DLC layer so as to expose the first and second side poles therebelow, and further to receive first and second pole supports, respectively, therein. First and second pole extension members are situated on the first and second pole support members, respectively, with a non-magnetic gap region being situated between the first and second pole extension members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: AIWA Research and Development, Inc.
    Inventors: G. Robert Gray, Arun Malhotra
  • Patent number: 5950300
    Abstract: For use with a robot having an end effector for connecting stator coil lead wires to trough-shaped terminals, tamper members are slidably mounted on a terminal crimping and lead wire cutting member. Air actuators drive the tamper members toward the terminals when the end effector is manipulated to place the lead wires into the terminal troughs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Globe Products Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence E. Newman
  • Patent number: 5946792
    Abstract: Stator coils are wound on a stator winding station and at least some of the coil leads are aligned, at the winding station, with terminal members on the distal end of the stator (opposite the winding head). The leads are held in temporary wire clamps adjacent the proximal end of the stator (closest to the winding head), and the stator and the wire clamps are transferred together to a lead terminating station where tooling is provided to terminate coil leads to the terminal members on the distal end of the stator without reorientation of the stator's longitudinal axis. Terminations are also made to the proximal end of the stator. The coil lead termination tooling serves both to connect the coil leads to the terminal member on the distal end of the stator and to sever the leads closely adjacent their respective terminal members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Globe Products Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Beakes
  • Patent number: 5946793
    Abstract: At a time of disassembling and assembling stator windings of a dynamo-electric machine in which the stator windings fitted in slots formed to an inner periphery of a stator core disposed inside a stator frame are disassembled therefrom and conveyed outside the stator core successively and new stator windings are then conveyed into the stator core and assembled into the slots successively, a mounting apparatus is arranged between the slot and an inside conveyer for mounting the stator winding into the slot. The stator winding is disassembled from the slot into which the stator winding is inserted while receiving and holding the stator winding by a receiving member provided for the mounting apparatus. The stator winding is then moved to the inside conveyer from the mounting apparatus and then conveyed from the inside conveyer to an outside conveyer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoshiteru Noshita, Tadashi Washizuka, Shigehiro Hayashi, Katsune Zaitsu, Kazuo Tashiro