Patents Examined by Nabil Hindi
  • Data write deferral during hostile events
    Patent number: 9779764
    Abstract: Technology is disclosed for deferring storage operations (e.g., writes or reads) during hostile events. When a data storage device experiences a hostile event, e.g., a vibration, shock, etc. contact by a head of the data storage device with a disk surface can cause errors or indeed damage. The technology can cause a data storage device to suspend storage operations until the hostile event is no longer detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: NetApp, Inc.
    Inventors: David Anthony Slik, Maxim Gerard Smith, John William Haskins, Jr.
  • 3DMR media with multiple write field levels
    Patent number: 9779770
    Abstract: A three-dimensional magnetic recording media can consist of a single recording layer configured with three or more separate magnetization levels. A first magnetization level can be written to a selected region of said recording layer by applying a first write field to the grains of said region to form a “spin-up” magnetization in the grains of said region. A second magnetization level can be written by applying a second opposite write field to selected grains of said region to form a “spin-down” magnetization. At least a third intermediate magnetization level can be written by applying a weaker or alternating write field to grains of said region to form an intermediate magnetization comprising a mixture of spin-up and spin-down grains. By such method, said region may comprise a data bit capable of storing 3 or more units of information corresponding to the number of separate magnetization levels employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Thomas P. Nolan, Bruce Buch, Philip L. Steiner
  • Optical disk reproducing device, reproducing circuit of the same, and reproducing method of optical disk
    Patent number: 9779776
    Abstract: The present invention suppresses audio skipping. A frame number acquisition unit 102 acquires a current frame number S11. An audio data acquisition unit 104 acquires an audio data S12 of a current frame. A signal processing unit 110 holds the audio data S12 of the current frame in the sub-buffer 114 when the current frame number S11 is discontinuous with a last normal frame number. The signal processing unit 110 stores the audio data stored in the sub-buffer 114 into the main buffer 112 and sets it as a reproduction object, if the current frame number S11 matches an expected value S14 before audio data of N frames is stored in the sub-buffer 114, where N is a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kondo
  • Write signal adjustment
    Patent number: 9779763
    Abstract: A write signal may be adjusted, or modified, based on one or more read signals acquired, or read from, one or more portions proximate a target portion on a storage medium where the write signal is to be applied. The one or more read signals may be read from the storage medium in response to receiving a write data unit such that the read signals may not need to be buffered or later clock synchronized to the write signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Todd M. Lammers
  • Information recording method and information recording apparatus including switching of recording layer in shortage of free space
    Patent number: 9767844
    Abstract: An information recording method of recording information is provided in an information recording medium having a plurality of recording layers including a first recording layer and a second recording layer located to be closer to a surface than the first recording layer, each of the plurality of recording layers includes a user data area for recording user data, a spare area for alternatively recording data of failed recording into the user data area, and a management information area for recording management information. The first recording layer is used as a recording object layer at start of recording. When any one of the user data area, the spare area, and the management information area of the first recording layer runs short of a free space, then the recording object layer of the user data area, the spare area, and the management information area is switched over to the second recording layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisae Kato, Yoshikazu Yamamoto, Motoshi Ito
  • Pass-through tape access in a disk storage environment
    Patent number: 9767035
    Abstract: A command to write data to a virtual location is received at a disk storage system. The virtual location is mapped to a tape storage system. A record is generated including the data, the virtual location, and a sequence value. The sequence value indicates relative sequence when compared to other sequence values. The record is written to a record location on a tape cartridge loaded in a tape drive. Record metadata on the disk storage system is modified to indicate that the first record location contains the first record. The data on the record can be read from the tape cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua J. Crawford, Paul A. Jennas, II, Jason L. Peipelman, Matthew J. Ward
  • Record player
    Patent number: 9761250
    Abstract: A record player includes a base, a platter, a tonearm assembly and a monitoring unit. The monitoring unit is secured on the base, and includes a light emitter, an image capturing module and a processing module. The light emitter can emit light toward the platter or an acoustical record disposed on the platter. The image capturing module can receive the light reflected by the platter or the acoustical record, and capture images of the platter or the acoustical record. The processing module can receive the images from the image capturing module, and determine a current rotating speed of the platter or the acoustical record by analyzing and comparing the images captured by the image capturing module at successive time points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: YA HORNG ELECTRONIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jin-Yi Huang
  • High density timing based servo format
    Patent number: 9761257
    Abstract: A product according to one embodiment includes a magnetic recording tape having opposite ends and at least one servo track, a longitudinal axis of the magnetic recording tape being defined between the ends. The at least one servo track has a plurality of straight first magnetic bars, and a plurality of straight second magnetic bars spaced from the first magnetic bars. A width of each of the at least one servo track is defined in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the magnetic recording tape between sides of the servo track. Lengths of the second magnetic bars between outermost ends thereof are less than 80% of the width of the associated servo track, straight portions of the second magnetic bars each having a longitudinal axis oriented substantially 90 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the magnetic recording tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert G. Biskeborn, Mark A. Lantz
  • Method of detecting tampering of data in tape drive, and file system
    Patent number: 9753664
    Abstract: A method of detecting whether data in a tape drive used in a file system is tampered is described according to one embodiment. The method includes the steps of: (a) preparing a first tape cartridge including a tape on which multiple files and archival records of index information are stored in a WORM partition, and index information is stored in the R/W partition; (b) reading and comparing the index information of the R/W partition and the last index information of the WORM partition; and (c) when these two pieces of index information do not match, determining that the index information of the R/W partition is tampered in case these two pieces of index information do not match.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Tohru Hasegawa, Takamasa Hirata, Naoki Imai, Masanori Kamiya, Yutaka Oishi
  • Plasmon generator including a heat sink layer interposed between two portions formed of different metal materials
    Patent number: 9754614
    Abstract: A plasmon generator includes: a first portion formed of a first metal material and including a front end face configured to generate near-field light; a second portion formed of a second metal material and located at a distance from the front end face; and a heat sink layer formed of a third metal material, located at a distance from the front end face and interposed between the first portion and the second portion. The second metal material is lower in Vickers hardness and higher in thermal conductivity than the first metal material. The third metal material has a thermal conductivity higher than that of each of the first and second metal materials, and has a Vickers hardness lower than that of the first metal material and higher than that of the second metal material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: HEADWAY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Sasaki, Hiroyuki Ito, Yukinori Ikegawa, Shigeki Tanemura, Hideo Mamiya, Seiichiro Tomita
  • Heat assisted magnetic recording writer having pole coupled with the NFT
    Patent number: 9747935
    Abstract: A heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) write apparatus has a media-facing surface (MFS) and is coupled with a laser that provides energy. The HAMR write apparatus includes a waveguide, a near-field transducer (NFT), a pole and coil(s) for energizing the pole. The waveguide is optically coupled with the laser and directs a first portion of the energy toward the MFS. The NFT is optically coupled with the waveguide. The pole writes to a region of the media and includes a pole tip. A first portion of the pole tip is at the MFS and is separated from the NFT in a down track direction. A second portion of the pole tip is recessed from the MFS and between the first portion and the NFT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLC
    Inventors: Barry Stipe, Yi Wang, Zhigang Bai, Stanley Burgos
  • Disc recorder and player apparatus including multiple recorder and player subsystems
    Patent number: 9747938
    Abstract: A disc recorder and player apparatus includes a plurality of recorder and player subsystems, a disc motor, and a controller. Each of the recorder and player subsystems includes a pickup and a traverse motor. When one of the recorder and player subsystems writes or reads data on or from a first track on the disc recording medium, the controller prohibits the other of the recorder and player subsystems from writing and reading data on and from a second track on the disc recording medium as well as moving the pickup to the second track, the second track being at a position different from a position of the first track, and the second track being to be accessed at a rotational speed different from a rotational speed for the first track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eiichi Igami, Takeo Oosaki, Eiji Ueda
  • Multi-purpose resistive sensor for a heat-assisted magnetic recording device
    Patent number: 9747937
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a slider having an air bearing surface (ABS) and a near-field transducer (NFT) at or near the ABS. An optical waveguide is configured to couple light from a laser source to the NFT. A resistive sensor comprises an ABS section situated at or proximate the ABS and a distal section extending away from the ABS to a location at least lateral of or behind the NFT. The resistive sensor is configured to detect changes in output optical power of the laser source and contact between the slider and a magnetic recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: John Charles Duda, Zoran Jandric
  • Thermally-assisted magnetic recording head and manufacturing method therefor
    Patent number: 9741374
    Abstract: A head includes a head body having a medium facing surface, and a protective film covering the medium facing surface. The head body includes a main pole, a waveguide, a plasmon generator, and a main light-blocking section. The waveguide has an entrance end face and an exit end face. The plasmon generator has a near-field light generating surface. The medium facing surface includes a first region including neither of the exit end face and the near-field light generating surface, and a second region including the exit end face and the near-field light generating surface. The protective film includes a first portion covering the first region, and a second portion covering the second region. The main light-blocking section is located to intersect an imaginary straight line connecting the entrance end face and the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Makoto Isogai, Masahiro Saito
  • Non-rotating optical storage
    Patent number: 9741384
    Abstract: Systems and methods for long-term non-volatile non-rotating optical storage of digital information rely on storage elements that include optical storage media, an access subsystem configured to access bits of information from one of the storage elements, and a support structure configured to support multiple storage elements. A laser used to retrieve and/or record bits of digital information may be moved along two orthogonal dimensions while the storage element is non-rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Inventor: Jasmin Ajanovic
  • Write driver DC resistance calibration
    Patent number: 9741365
    Abstract: An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes: a controller having: a first circuit having a reference resistance, a second circuit having an adjustable resistance, and logic integrated with the controller, executable by the controller, or integrated with and executable by the controller to perform the following process: compare output voltages of the first and second circuits, alter the resistance of the second circuit until the output voltage of the first circuit is less than or equal to the output voltage of the second circuit, and extract setting information in response to determining that the output voltage of the first circuit is less than or equal to the output voltage of the second circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Larry L. Tretter
  • Setting laser current based on modulation level of an optical power sensor measurement
    Patent number: 9741386
    Abstract: Before writing to a heat-assisted magnetic recording medium, a current of a laser is modulated about a default threshold current level. A modulation level of an optical power sensor is measured, the optical power sensor being coupled to detect optical output of the laser in response to the modulated current. A bias current for subsequent activation of the laser is adjusted based on the modulation level of the optical power sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Tim Rausch, Edward Charles Gage, Joshua Ward Christensen, Todd Michael Lammers
  • On the fly formatting
    Patent number: 9741391
    Abstract: The disclosure is related to systems and methods of On the Fly Formatting. Various parameters that influence areal density of hard disc regions can be changed on the fly based on storage capacity and reliability needs. Further adjustments can be made to the formatting of the region to fine tune achievable storage capacity and reliability values. In some cases, the formatting can include error correction code strength, gap widths between user data sectors and servo data sectors, other characteristics or parameters, or any combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Heungtae Jin, Mansik Shim, Mingyeong Son, Eunyeong Hong
  • Apparatuses and methods for absorbing optical energy
    Patent number: 9734856
    Abstract: Provided herein is an apparatus including a substrate and a magnetic recording layer over the substrate. In addition, a thermochromic layer is over the substrate, wherein the thermochromic layer includes a first optical absorbance at a first temperature and a second optical absorbance at a second temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Paul M. Jones, Timothy J. Klemmer, Ruoxi Yang, Martin Giles Blaber, Xiaoding Ma, ZhaoHui Z. Fan, Michael J. Stirniman, Yang Yang, XiaoPing Yan, Fujian Huang, Emil John C. Esmenda, Emir R. Kazazic, Florin Zavaliche, Hongbo Wang, Huan H. Tang, Kyoumarss Damavandi
  • Magnetic recording apparatus and controlling method of magnetic recording apparatus
    Patent number: 9734846
    Abstract: In case of deleting shingle-recorded data on a recording medium, it enables to completely delete the data with the number of writing times less than the number of writing times in data recording. To do so, a magnetic recording apparatus, which records the data on the recording medium in a first direction with a writing unit, controls movement of a relative position of the recording medium and the writing unit such that a quantity of the movement in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction in the data deletion by overwriting another data is larger than a quantity of the movement in the second direction in the data recording.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Umeda