Patents Examined by Hoa T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8559128
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a servo pattern writing method includes: moving a head from a first one of innermost and outermost circumferences of a medium to the remainder other than the first one while controlling a position of the head in accordance with a temporary pattern preliminarily written on the medium; calculating a junction between a servo pattern to be written from the innermost circumference and a servo pattern to be written from the outermost circumference based on a movement distance of the head; first writing the servo pattern from a second one of the innermost and outermost circumferences to the junction, while controlling the position of the head in accordance with the temporary pattern; and second writing the servo pattern from the remainder other than the second one to the junction, while controlling the position of the head in accordance with the temporary pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Noboyuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8542566
    Abstract: A method for recording information in form of a hologram. The method can generate a displacement signal by detecting a displacement of a holographic recording medium. The method can perform an exposure control operation that, if the sampling value of the displacement signal falls within an allowable displacement range, records the information item in the holographic recording medium, and if the sampling value of the displacement signal falls outside the allowable displacement range, blocks or reduces at least one of the information light and the reference light to a light intensity with which the information item is not recorded in the holographic recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takashi Usui, Kazuo Watabe, Hideaki Okano
  • Patent number: 8542457
    Abstract: A thin film magnetic recording head is fabricated by forming a substrate from opposing ferrite blocks which have a ceramic member bonded between them. This structure is then diced to form a plurality of columns, wherein each column has a ferrite/ceramic combination. Each column represents a single channel in the completed head. A block of ceramic is then cut to match the columned structure and the two are bonded together. The bonded structure is then cut or ground until a head is formed, having ceramic disposed between each channel. A ferrite back-gap is then added to each channel, minimizing the reluctance of the flux path. The thin film is patterned on the head to optimize various channel configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Advanced Research Corporation
    Inventor: Matthew P. Dugas
  • Patent number: 8531934
    Abstract: In order to achieve further cost reduction while the package size of an optical pickup having two objective lenses and the restriction on the disposition of the two objective lenses are maintained, an optical system for laser light emitted from a red/infrared dual-wavelength laser diode is disposed such that a parallel plate beam splitter is disposed to be inclined with respect to the optical axis of focused light of the laser light reflected by an optical disk and the optical axis of the laser light between a rising mirror and the parallel plate beam splitter is inclined from the signal track direction of the optical disk. The laser light to which astigmatism is given by transmission through the parallel plate beam splitter is caused to be directly incident on a light detector without passing through an astigmatism adjustment optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignees: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd., SANYO Optec Design Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasufumi Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 8526134
    Abstract: A servo system according to one embodiment includes at least one servo sensor for sensing a lateral position of a magnetic head with respect to at least one defined servo track of a longitudinal tape; a fine actuator configured to translate the magnetic head laterally with respect to the longitudinal tape; a coarse actuator configured to translate the fine actuator laterally with respect to the longitudinal tape; and a servo control. The servo control is configured to perform various operations that may be used to estimate a midpoint of lateral tape excursion of a flangeless tape path for calibrating a tape drive. Additional systems are also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Nhan X. Bui, Reed A. Hancock, Randy C. Inch
  • Patent number: 8525802
    Abstract: A mobile terminal is provided. The mobile terminal includes a touch screen for generating input signals in response to a proximity touch or a direct touch of an input medium and displaying a first menu and a controller for determining the proximity touch of the input medium on the touch screen for a predetermined period of time and displaying on the touch screen a second menu for providing a function associated with the first menu.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jong Hwan Kim, Seon Hwi Cho
  • Patent number: 8525814
    Abstract: The invention discloses a method of distinguishing multiple touch points applied to an optical touch system which includes a panel for indicating a first touch point and a second touch point thereon and a camera unit for capturing an image relative to the first touch point and the second touch point. The image has a first dark area and a second dark area corresponding to the first touch point and the second touch point respectively. In the method, if it is observed that the first dark area and the second dark area merge into a first single dark area and a second single dark area at current time and previous time respectively, the respective positions of the first dark area and the second dark area are determined and the respective coordinates of the first touch point and the second touch point are also determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Quanta Computer Inc.
    Inventors: Chih-Chieh Hsiao, Chin-Chin Chen
  • Patent number: 8520332
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes sensing a servo sensor while a longitudinal tape is moved past a magnetic head, determining position error between the magnetic head and a desired position related to the at least one defined servo track; providing signals to operate a fine actuator to translate the magnetic head laterally in a manner to reduce the determined position error; transitioning from a write state to a monitor state when the determined position error is greater than a threshold error value; transitioning from the monitor state to a stop write state when the determined position error is greater than the threshold error value for a first predetermined period; and transitioning from the monitor state to the write state when the determined position error is less than the threshold error value for a second predetermined period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Nhan X. Bui, Reed A. Hancock, Tomoko Taketomi
  • Patent number: 8508483
    Abstract: A character input apparatus and method in a terminal are provided, in which a touch screen displays a first key set and a second key set. The first key set includes first letter keys with all consonants and a second letter key with symbols indicating Tone Marks (Tms) and positions of predetermined vowels, for inputting all vowels and Tms. The second key set includes the predetermined vowels or Tms. Upon selection of a symbol by the second letter key, the controller controls the touch screen to display the second key set and receives at least one letter by the first key set and the second key set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Se-Hwan Park
  • Patent number: 8503133
    Abstract: A flexure with conductors is provided with a flexure tail portion. The flexure tail portion includes a metal base, an electrically insulating layer, and a conductive member. The metal base is formed with a plurality of apertures. A damper is attached to the flexure tail portion. The damper includes a viscoelastic member and a metallic constrained plate. The viscoelastic member has first and second surfaces. The first surface of the viscoelastic member is secured to the flexure tail portion. The constrained plate is secured to the second surface of the viscoelastic member. The constrained plate extends longitudinally relative to the metal base along the conductive member. The conductive member and the constrained plate face each other with the viscoelastic member therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Arai, Hideki Fuchino
  • Patent number: 8498076
    Abstract: In an embodiment of the present invention, a disk drive comprises a head actuated over a disk including a plurality of spiral tracks, wherein each spiral track comprises a high frequency signal interrupted at a predetermined interval by a sync mark. The read signal from the head is processed to detect a plurality of the sync marks in spiral track crossings. A plurality of timing recovery measurements are generated corresponding to the detected sync marks, and the timing recovery measurements are biased based on a radial location of the head. A servo write clock is generated in response to the biased timing recovery measurements, and the servo write clock is used to write product servo sectors to the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Edgar D. Sheh, Yakov M. Lifchits, Charles A. Park
  • Patent number: 8493684
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, are described for calibrating voice coil motors. In one aspect, a method is provided that includes seeking toward an outer diameter of a machine readable medium from a target servo track to a blank portion of the machine readable medium. A radial velocity of an actuator is determined after accelerating the actuator to a target radial velocity. The radial velocity is compared to the target radial velocity, and a current, that is used to controllably modify the radial velocity of the actuator if the radial velocity is different from the target radial velocity, is calibrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Luan Ton-That, David Rutherford
  • Patent number: 8490122
    Abstract: Provided are a disc chucking method of preventing mis-chucking from occurring according to a state and direction of a disc loaded onto a tray when the tray is closed, and a disc driving apparatus for performing the disc chucking method. The method include: opening a tray on which a disc in which a first magnet is installed is loadable; moving a feeding unit to a position where attraction between a second magnet installed in the feeding unit and the first magnet is relatively low; and if the tray is closed, placing a center of the disc in a turn table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-cheol Kim, Chung-ung Kim, Ki-ju Lee, Jong-jin Park, Dong-hwi Cho, Su-bong Bae
  • Patent number: 8482877
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a servo write medium, method and device for writing servo information by self servo write on the servo region formed from a flat section of the discrete track medium. The recording or write device yields the same servo characteristics as magnetic servo writing, is superior to pre-patterned servo, and delivers a greater write storage capacity with an even higher recording density. According to one embodiment, a self servo write method is used to write servo information on a flat section formed on a patterned disk on which discrete tracks are formed. Timing detection patterns (grooves) required for controlling the timing along the periphery during self servo write are formed by pre-patterning on the disk, and RRO error signals used for positioning control along the radius are written in the servo information on a flat section of the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Kyo Akagi, Hiroshi Ikekame
  • Patent number: 8477574
    Abstract: An optical disk device is configured such that when an optical disk including three or more recording layers on one side is inserted into the optical disk device, a movable lens position adjustment device performs adjustment using as an index a tracking error signal provided with a limit to an amount of movement of a movable lens for spherical aberration correction at start-up of the optical disk device and sets an upper limit to the number of retries of the adjustment at the recording layer farthest away from the side on which the laser beam is incident to 1 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Futoshi Takeda
  • Patent number: 8477575
    Abstract: Before tracking control is turned on, there is determined a correction formula for correcting a balance value of a tracking error signal depending on a position of a movable lens for spherical aberration correction. Then, after the tracking control has been turned on, using an RF signal as an index, the adjustment of the position of the movable lens for spherical aberration correction is performed, while the balance value of the tracking error signal is corrected by use of the correction formula. An adjustment value for adjusting the balance value of the tracking error signal at a time point of completing the adjustment of the position of the movable lens for spherical aberration correction is stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Futoshi Takeda
  • Patent number: 8472150
    Abstract: A giant magneto-resistive effect device (CPP-GMR device) having the CPP (current perpendicular to plane) structure comprising a spacer layer, and a first ferromagnetic layer and a second ferromagnetic layer stacked one upon another with the spacer layer interposed between them, with a sense current applied in a stacking direction, wherein the spacer layer comprises a first nonmagnetic metal layer and a second nonmagnetic metal layer, each made of a nonmagnetic metal material, and a semiconductor oxide layer interposed between the first nonmagnetic metal layer and the second nonmagnetic metal layer, the semiconductor oxide layer that forms a part of the spacer layer contains zinc oxide as its main component wherein the main component zinc oxide contains an additive metal, and the additive metal is less likely to be oxidized than zinc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Tsuchiya, Tomohito Mizuno, Kei Hirata, Koji Shimazawa, Shinji Hara
  • Patent number: 8472134
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a magnetic head includes at least one magnetic head element for reading from and/or writing to a magnetic medium, the element having an air bearing surface (ABS) facing toward a magnetic medium, an adhesive film including silicon nitride above the ABS having a characteristic of being formed under a water vapor partial pressure, and a protective film above the adhesive film, the protective film including carbon. Also, in another embodiment, a method includes forming an ABS of a magnetic head, the ABS being a surface of the magnetic head which is closest to a magnetic medium when in use, forming an adhesive film above the ABS of the magnetic head, the adhesive film being formed under a water vapor partial pressure, and forming a protective film above the adhesive film, the protective film including carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Mineaki Kodama, Hiroshi Ishizaki, Atsuko Okawa, Hiroshi Inaba
  • Patent number: 8472149
    Abstract: The invention provides a giant magneto-resistive effect device of the CPP (current perpendicular to plane) structure (CPP-GMR device) comprising a spacer layer, and a first ferromagnetic layer and a second ferromagnetic layer stacked together with said spacer layer sandwiched between them, with a sense current passed in the stacking direction, wherein the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer function such that the angle made between the directions of magnetizations of both layers change relatively depending on an external magnetic field, said spacer layer contains a semiconductor oxide layer, and a nitrogen element-interface protective layer is provided at a position where the semiconductor oxide layer forming the whole or a part of said spacer layer contacts an insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Hara, Daisuke Miyauchi, Koji Shimazawa, Yoshihiro Tsuchiya, Tomohito Mizuno, Takahiko Machita
  • Patent number: 8467147
    Abstract: A magnetic head comprises a pole layer, a first coil, a second coil, and a shield. The shield incorporates: a first portion located backward of the pole layer along the direction of travel of a recording medium; a second portion located forward of the pole layer along the direction of travel of the recording medium; and two coupling portions. The first portion has an end face located in a medium facing surface. The two coupling portions couple the first and second portions to each other without touching the pole layer. Part of the first coil passes through a space surrounded by the pole layer and the first portion. Part of the second coil passes through a space surrounded by the pole layer and the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignees: Headway Technologies, Inc., SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Sasaki, Hiroyuki Itoh, Shigeki Tanemura, Tatsushi Shimizu, Tatsuya Shimizu