Patents Examined by David J. Severin
  • Patent number: 5418657
    Abstract: A disk file subsystem is disclosed which utilizes a track address decoding circuit which converts the track address which is recorded on the magnetic media in Gray code according to a 1/6 (2,8) run-length-limited recording code to its corresponding binary track address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael G. Machado, Ronald R. Moon, Richard K. Oswald, Avraham Perahia
  • Patent number: 5237471
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an integrated driving system for signal-processing devices, especially video devices (recorders), disk drives, and other, preferably magnetic pulse recording devices, wherein the device chassis (1) and the mounting provision for at least two motors (20, 21, 22) are formed integrally with each other. The device chassis (1) proper also includes all mounting or bearing bores (e.g. 2, 50, 55) for all mounting shafts (e.g. 4, 8, 18) in a precise positional relation to each other. The bores (2, 50, 55) for all mounting shafts (4, 8, 18) and axles are formed in the metal-cast device chassis (1) in one or more machining operations without the necessity of re-chucking, ensuring that not only the active and passive driving sections of the driving system, but also the reference surfaces and bearing or supporting points are precisely positioned relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Assignee: Papst Motorem GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Heinrich Cap, Georg F. Papst, Edgar Zuckschwert
  • Patent number: 5202809
    Abstract: This system makes use of a tape cassette helical scan tape transport and a modified 3480-type magnetic tape cartridge as the data storage media. The merging of these two incompatible elements is accomplished by the use of a novel interface that implements a "virtual tape cassette" by providing a takeup reel positioned with the magnetic tape cartridge in a relationship that substantially matches the format of a magnetic tape cassette. A short tape threading arm is used to retrieve the leader block from the tape cartridge and thread the magnetic tape over a short tape threading path to the takeup reel. Once the tape is affixed to the takeup reel, the helical scan tape loading mechanism transports the length of tape that is now exposed between the tape cartridge and the takeup reel to the rotary heads. The helical scan magnetic tape cartridge has the same exterior dimensions as a conventional 3480-type magnetic tape cartridge but is implemented in the inverse configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Assignee: Storage Technology Corporation
    Inventors: William C. Dodt, Donald F. McCarthy
  • Patent number: 5200865
    Abstract: A tape loading apparatus for a video tape recorder is disclosed. The apparatus adopts a movable plate which rectilinearly moves along a couple of guiders by the swiveling of a lever, instead of a conventional loading gear. Therefore, the present invention effect a simple structure and does not requires high accuracy in assembly, thus provides a tape loading apparatus of low power loss and production cost and high productivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ki-chay Yoon
  • Patent number: 5196975
    Abstract: A head carriage apparatus includes an upper arm provided with a magnetic head and a head carriage main unit that supports the upper arm in the state where it can be displaced in the upwards and downwards direction. The head carriage apparatus also includes an engagement member that engages with the upper arm when the upper arm is displaced by a predetermined amount in the upwards direction and around the center of displacement formed by the position of support to the head carriage main unit, wherein the upper arm is rotationally displaced further around the center of displacement formed by the engagement position of this engagement member and the upper arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: TEAC Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Inoue
  • Patent number: 5196978
    Abstract: A cartridge case for containing a disk-shaped recording medium has a shutter attached slidably thereon. The shutter is U-shaped sectionally and the edge sections where the shutter contacts the surface of the cartridge case are rounded so that friction therebetween is reduced when the shutter slides on the surface of the cartridge case. The cartridge case is provided with a notch and an indentation on at least one of its side surfaces corresponding to protruding pieces in the device into which the cartridge case is inserted such that a sensor in the device can be activated only when a cartridge case compatible with the device is inserted and these protruding pieces properly engage with the notch and the indentation on the cartridge case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junichi Washo, Kenji Ohta, Shigeo Terashima, Masahiro Horii, Takao Hyuga, Toshihisa Deguchi
  • Patent number: 5195004
    Abstract: A magnetic head comprises a pair of magnetic core halves, heat-resistant thin films and ferromagnetic thin films, the pair of magnetic core halves being opposed to each other through a non-magnetic material such as SiO.sub.2 to form a magnetic gap. The magnetic core halves are made of a ferromagnetic oxide such as ferrite and have gap forming faces to be opposed to each other to form the magnetic gap. The gap forming faces are etched by phosphoric acid solution and then purified by reverse sputtering, so that a grown crystal of the ferromagnetic oxide is exposed on the gap forming faces. A heat-resistant thin film of a heat-resistant material such as SiO.sub.2 is formed on each of the gap forming faces. A ferromagnetic thin film of a ferromagnetic metal material such as sendust is formed on each heat-resistant thin film. Preferably, the thickness of the heat-resistant thin film to be formed is 1 nm or more and one tenth or less of the width of the magnetic gap. For example, SiO.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Okuda, Yoshiaki Shimizu, Kazuo Ino, Kousou Ishihara, Takashi Ogura
  • Patent number: 5191493
    Abstract: A cassette ejecting mechanism of a tape player includes a cassette holder having a portion to be locked and a head drum withdrawal lever having a lock portion. When the cassette holder is moved to a loading position, the lock portion of the head drum withdrawal lever prevents the cassette holder from moving toward an ejecting position and locks it at a loading position. When the head drum withdrawal lever is retracted, the lock is released to permit the cassette holder to move to the ejecting position. At the same time, the portion to be locked of the cassette holder is located in front of the lock portion of the head drum withdrawal lever and prevents the head drum withdrawal lever from returning to a forward position, that is, the head drum is locked at the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Masafumi Tamura
  • Patent number: 5189581
    Abstract: The specification disclosed a drying apparatus for removing excess moisture from a housing of a video cassette camera recorder comprising: a hollow casing having at least one passageway formed therein; desiccant material inside the casing; and a screen for covering the at least one passageway to prevent the desiccant material from passing through the passageway while allowing moisture to pass therethrough. The configuration of the casing corresponds to the general shape of a video tape container that may be inserted into an orifice in the housing designed to receive such containers. Recesses and contact surfaces are preferrably formed at strategic locations on the casing to accommodate mechanical parts of the video camera and trigger sensors designed to monitor the presence and condition of a video tape container within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Inventors: Robert L. Schroder, Willard B. Moffitt
  • Patent number: 5189657
    Abstract: A circuit capable of simply writing a specified modulation signal, for example, eight to fourteen modulated signals onto a writable optical disk, by utilizing rising and falling edges of the signal. The circuit includes a first pulse generator for generating a first write pulse upon each rising edge of the first format of modulation signal; a second pulse generator for generating a second write pulse upon each falling edge of the first format of modulation signal; a gating circuit for providing either one of the first and second pulses, in sequence of occurrence, to a laser power controller, so as to enable to write the first format of modulation signal onto the disk; a signal reproducing circuit for reproducing the first format of modulation signal retrieved from the disk into the original modulation signal; and a switching circuit for selecting either one of the second type of reproduced modulation signal and output of the signal reproducing circuit for a demodulating circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae-Hong Lee
  • Patent number: 5189577
    Abstract: A magnetic disk apparatus has a base member and a cover mounted on the base member to form an enclosure having at least six magnetic disks rotatably supported therein. First and second transducers are included for writing information on and reading information from upper and lower surfaces of adjacent ones of the magnetic disks. The transducers are supported by leaf springs in close proximity to both surfaces of adjacent ones of the magnetic disks. The leaf springs extend in a radial direction with respect to the magnetic disks and are supported on one end by a plurality of head arms. The leaf springs are arranged substantially within the same plane parallel to the magnetic disks so they do not overlie one another. A voice coil motor is provided for moving the head arms in order to position the transducer pairs in predetermined positions. A circuit board is included for controlling the magnetic disk apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nishida, Tatsuya Ishigaki, Atsushi Ito, Yoshinobu Kudou, Hiroshi Katou, Kousuke Fujii
  • Patent number: 5187621
    Abstract: Apparatus providing improved RFI/EMI shielding includes a base of conductive material, such as cast or forged aluminum alloy, the base defining a substantially continuous floor and integrally formed base sidewalls extending upwardly from the floor along the periphery thereof. The base sidewalls define an inset-stepped region above an upper outer peripheral ledge extending around the periphery of the base sidewalls. A plurality of closely spaced apart, knife-blade protrusions formed along the edge extend upwardly from the ledge and angle inwardly toward the base sidewalls within the inset-stepped region. A cover, substantially congruent with the base defines a ceiling and integral cover sidewalls extending downwardly to fit closely over the inset-stepped region so as to come into engagement with the knife-blade protrusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Assignee: Quantum Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas A. Tacklind
  • Patent number: 5187624
    Abstract: To reduce the number of parts of a floppy disk drive as well as the steps required for assembling the floppy disk drive, a shielding ring for protecting a magnetic head from the influence of an external magnetic field, and an engaged portion to be engaged with a feed screw so as to drive the magnetic head, are formed integrally with a carriage for carrying the magnetic head, for example, by press working sheet metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuhiko Shigemoto
  • Patent number: 5184256
    Abstract: A write-data signal compensastion apparatus for disk storage including a number of write signal compensation circuits having different compensation amounts. Write signal compensation is achieved by the disk storage itself using one of the compensation circuit. A compensation amount selecting device is provided for designating whether write signal compensation should be performed or not, and in the case of compensation, the selecting device generates a selection signal designating the compensastion amount in response to the radial position of the data write head on a disk. A compensation amount switching circuit, receives the selection signal from the compensation amount selecting device and transmits the write signal to the disk storage. When the compensation amount designated by the selection signal is zero, the original write signal is transmitted without change; otherwise, the original signal is compensated by the amount designated by the compensation amount selecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Eiji Chikusa
  • Patent number: 5184261
    Abstract: In a cassette housing shelf for accommodating various sized cassettes in cassette auto-changers or the like, a guiding block for guiding a small-sized cassette is provided near to a cassette inlet of a cassette housing portion formed upon the shelf. When a large-sized cassette is inserted into the cassette housing portion, the guiding block is automatically removed from the cassette housing portion, and when a small-sized cassette is inserted, the guiding block securely leads the cassette to a predetermined space within the cassette housing portion, so that it is easy to insert the small-sized cassette into the cassette housing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hideaki Noguchi
  • Patent number: 5181149
    Abstract: A magnetic recording/reproducing head assembly comprising a first magnetic path forming member on which a coil is mounted, a second magnetic path forming member which forms a magnetic path in cooperation with the first magnetic path forming member, and a film laminate formed at a front gap portion between the first magnetic path forming member and the second magnetic path forming member. The film laminate includes a magnetic detecting element for detecting a change in a magnetic field and a soft magnetic film or films. This magnetic head assembly is prepared by forming the film laminate on a head base of the head assembly, bonding a core member to the head base with the film laminate formed thereon, and mounting a coil on the core member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1993
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Katsumata, Kazuhiro Momata, Kazuyoshi Adachi, Tooru Takeura, Masahiro Kitada, Yoshihisa Kamo, Toshikane Yoshimatsu
  • Patent number: 5179484
    Abstract: A mechanism for attaching and detaching a disk cartridge in a disk drive unit has a receiver for holding the disk cartridge having a disk for record and reproduction therein; a carrier having cam portions arranged on right-hand and left-hand sides of the receiver and engaged with rollers, the carrier being moved forward and backward to raise and lower the receiver; and inclination angle of the cam portions being small in a contructional portion thereof corresponding to a height of the rollers when the disk cartridge is separated from a magnet for attracting the disk at an ejecting time of the cartridge; the inclination angle of the cam portions being small in a constructional portion thereof corresponding to a height of the rollers when the disk cartridge is pressed against a guide pin at a loading time of the cartridge; and the inclination angle of the other constructional portions of the cam portions being large. The cam portions are arranged forward and backward on sides of the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1993
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuji Nakajima
  • Patent number: 5177650
    Abstract: A disc drive assembly includes a brushless direct current drive motor having a stationary shaft and a hub rotatably mounted about the stationary shaft by upper and lower bearings. The hub includes an interior space for housing a stator which has magnetically active parts for magnetic interaction with a permanent magnet mounted on an inner surface of the hub. The brushless drive motor is releasably mounted on a disc drive base member having a centrally located boss. The boss cooperates with a lower surface of a stator support for maintaining the stator of the drive motor in spaced relation with respect to the disc drive base member so that a printed circuit connector may be disposed between the stator and the disc drive base member proximate the stator winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Iraj Jabbari, Brian L. Phillips
  • Patent number: 5175655
    Abstract: In method and apparatus for recording information, an information signal to be recorded is encoded, the enclosed signal is stored in a memory and also recorded on a recording medium, the signal recorded on the medium is read, and the read signal is compared with the signal stored in the memory to detect a recording error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Seiichiro Satomura
  • Patent number: 5173821
    Abstract: A ring-type magnetic recording and reading head having a saturable pole tip that defines a narrow gap for reading and saturates in response to normal write current so as to define a wide gap for recording.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1992
    Assignee: Unisys Corporation
    Inventor: William T. Maloney