Patents Examined by William J. Klimowicz
  • Asymmetric write head shields compatible with dual-free-layer (DFL) readers
    Patent number: 11682417
    Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed towards magnetic recording systems comprising a dual free layer (DFL) read head and a magnetic recording head having stable magnetization. The magnetic recording head comprises a main pole disposed at a media facing surface (MFS), and a plurality of shields, such as a lower leading shield, an upper leading shield, a pair of side shields, and a trailing shield. Each of the shields individually comprises a first leg disposed at and parallel to the MFS and a second leg coupled to the first leg, the second leg being recessed from the MFS. When the kind of magnetization initialization needed by the DFL read head is applied to the magnetic recording head during the manufacturing process, the second leg of each of the shields of the magnetic recording device causes the magnetization directions of the shields to individually switch to a stable state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Quan-Chiu Harry Lam
  • Magnetic recording head with stable magnetization of shields
    Patent number: 11676627
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to a magnetic recording head that includes a main pole, a leading shield, a first side shield disposed on a first side of the main pole, a second side shield disposed on a second side of the main pole, and a trailing shield. The trailing shield is disposed on a trailing side of the main pole. One or more approaches are disclosed to control return-fluxes. In some embodiments, at least one of the upper return pole, the leading shield, the trailing shield, the first side shield, and the second side shield includes a laminate structure having at least a pair of ferromagnetic layers, and a non-magnetic spacer layer disposed between adjacent ferromagnetic layers. In some embodiments, one or more shunts are positioned, such as connecting the leading shield to the upper return pole in order to create circuits to control magnetic flux.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Quan-Chiu Harry Lam
  • Tape head having joined modules
    Patent number: 11676626
    Abstract: The present disclosure is generally related to a tape head comprising a first module and a second module joined together along a seam. The first module comprises a plurality of data heads disposed in a first row parallel to the seam, and the second module comprises a plurality of data heads disposed in a second row parallel to the first row. The first row and the second row are spaced apart a distance of about 50 ?m to about 175 ?m. A via is disposed at a media facing surface (MFS) along a portion of the seam. The via has a length less than a width of the MFS and equal to or greater than a length of the first and second rows of data heads. The via is configured to create a vacuum effect to pull a magnetic media against the media facing surface when the tape head reads and writes data to the magnetic media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Biskeborn, Oscar J. Ruiz
  • Spindle motor and disk drive device including the same
    Patent number: 11676638
    Abstract: A spindle motor includes a base, a shaft arranged on the base and extending in a vertical direction, a stator having a coil defined by a wound conductive wire and arranged on an upper surface of the base, and a rotor rotatably supported around the shaft. The base has a through hole that penetrates the base from the upper surface to a lower surface. The conductive wire is drawn out to the lower surface side through the inside of the through hole. The through hole is sealed by a sealing material. The through hole includes a columnar lower column body and a columnar upper column body. The lower column body is arranged on the lower surface side of the base. A cross-sectional area of the upper column body orthogonal to an axial direction is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the lower column body orthogonal to the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Sato, Masahiro Imahori, Junya Mizukami, Shingo Suginobu, Tomoki Uchibori
  • Magnetic tape cartridge and magnetic tape device having characterized winding deviation occurrence load
    Patent number: 11676637
    Abstract: The magnetic tape cartridge includes a magnetic tape, and a cartridge reel. In the magnetic tape, a minimum winding deviation occurrence load measured after the magnetic tape is rewound around the cartridge reel by applying a tension of 0.40 N in a longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape is 300 N or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Norihito Kasada, Yusuke Kagawa
  • Magnetic tape having characterized coefficient of variation of e-iron oxide powder particle size, magnetic tape cartridge, and magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus
    Patent number: 11670333
    Abstract: The magnetic tape includes a non-magnetic support and a magnetic layer including ferromagnetic powder, in which the ferromagnetic powder is ?-iron oxide powder, and a coefficient of variation of particle size of the ?-iron oxide powder in a longitudinal direction of the magnetic layer is 0.50% or more and 5.00% or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Fujimoto, Norihito Kasada, Eiki Ozawa
  • Disk device with grease splash prevention
    Patent number: 11670327
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a disk device includes a first actuator assembly and a second actuator assembly which are respectively supported by a first bearing unit and a second bearing unit to be rotatable about a support shaft. The first bearing unit includes a first sleeve and a ball bearing. The second bearing unit includes a second sleeve and a ball bearing. The first sleeve includes a first end surface opposed to the second sleeve and an annular first step projecting from the first end surface, and the second sleeve includes a second end surface opposed to the first step with a gap and an annular second step projecting from the second end surface. The second step is opposed to the first step and the first end surface with a gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoto Akatsuka
  • Two-dimensional magnetic recording (TDMR) to counter tape dimensional stability (TDS) errors in a tape media
    Patent number: 11670329
    Abstract: The present disclosure is generally related to a tape drive including a tape head configured to read shingled data on a tape. The tape head comprises a first module head assembly aligned with a second module head assembly. Both the first and second module head assemblies comprises a plurality of data heads. Each data head comprises a write head, a first read head aligned with the write head, a second read head offset from the first read head in both a cross-track direction and a down-track direction, and a third read head offset from the first and/or second read heads in the cross-track and down-track directions. By utilizing three read heads within each data head, data can be read from a tape that has experienced tape dimensional stability, as at least one read head will be near a center of each data track of the tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Quang Le, Xiaoyong Liu, Hongquan Jiang, Cherngye Hwang, Kuok San Ho, Hisashi Takano
  • Low profile suspension design
    Patent number: 11664046
    Abstract: A baseplate for a disk drive suspension is provided. The baseplate includes a receiving space at a distal end configured to mate with a spring of a load beam. The receiving space partially extends a length of the baseplate. The baseplate also includes a swage hub at a proximal end and an indented surface surrounding the swage hub. The proximal end is opposite the distal end. The indented surface is at least partially defined by a baseplate support section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Magnecomp Corporation
    Inventors: Kuen Chee Ee, David Glaess
  • Manufacturing method for magnetoresistive element
    Patent number: 11664045
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for a magnetoresistive element includes: a step of forming a stack; a step of forming an insulating film to cover the stack; a step of forming an initial magnetic layer to cover the stack and the insulating film so that a thickness of the initial magnetic layer in a first direction is greater than a thickness of the stack in the first direction; a step of forming an organic material film on the initial magnetic layer; and an etching step of etching a part of the initial magnetic layer and the organic material film by ion beam etching so that the initial magnetic layer becomes a pair of magnetic layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: HEADWAY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Hironori Araki, Yoshitaka Sasaki, Yoji Nomura, Shigeki Tanemura, Yukinori Ikegawa
  • Tuned edge profile of a disk substrate for use in magnetic recording media
    Patent number: 11664050
    Abstract: A disk for a magnetic recording apparatus is described. The disk includes a first surface extending along a first plane, a second surface extending along a second plane parallel to the first plane, and a disk thickness between the first surface and the second surface, measured along a first direction substantially normal to the first surface. The disk further includes an edge surface disposed along a perimeter of the disk and between the first surface and the second surface, where the edge surface extends along a third plane substantially perpendicular to the first surface, a first chamfer disposed between the first surface and the edge surface, and a second chamfer disposed between the second surface and the edge surface. In an aspect, a length of the edge surface measured along the first direction may be between 40% and 80% of the disk thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Shoji Suzuki, Kirk B. Cheng
  • System and method for cleaning advanced LTO tape systems
    Patent number: 11664052
    Abstract: A tape cartridge for use in cleaning a head assembly of a tape drive includes a cartridge housing and a tape that is retained within the cartridge housing. The tape includes a cleaning section having a tape surface and an abrasive coating that is coupled to the tape surface. The tape has a tape thickness of between approximately three microns and seven microns. The abrasive coating has a surface roughness of at least approximately two nanometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: QUANTUM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Turguy Goker, James P. Peng
  • Decorative CD/radio player
    Patent number: 11657853
    Abstract: The tractor and trailer radio with. CD Player is the only product of its kind that has the capability of functioning as an alarm clock, a speaker, a charger, and a radio, yet showcases as an automotive small-scale accessory. This avant-garde product is uniquely designed with durable materials to ensure long term sustainability, and includes cutting-edge features such as wireless charging, illuminated cab lights and interchangeable volume and tune headlights for any AM/FM radio with the station numbers in the grill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Inventor: Dale Ruby
  • Suspension assembly and disk device
    Patent number: 11657840
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a suspension assembly includes a support plate, a wiring member disposed on the support plate, and a head supported on the support plate through the wiring member. The wiring member includes a distal end portion electrically connected to the head, a connection end portion extending outside the support plate, and a plurality of wirings extending between the distal end portion and the connection end portion. The connection end portion includes an opening with predetermined length and width and thirteen or more connection terminals disposed in the opening and arranged at intervals in a direction of the length. A percentage of an area of the opening occupied by areas of the thirteen or more connection terminals is 40% to 65% inclusive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenichiro Aoki
  • Tape drive with head-gimbal assembly and contact plate
    Patent number: 11657842
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a tape embedded drive having a head-gimbal assembly (HGA) and a contact plate. By using a support structure or contact plate beneath the tape, read and write heads can be designed to be narrower than the tape. The support structure or contact plate can stretch or relax the tape so that the spacing between servo tracks on the tape corresponds to the servo to servo spacing on the head. HGAs, which are narrower than the tape, can fly over the tape and read data from and write data to the tape. The HGA can have a single head or multiple heads. Additionally, multiple independent head assemblies can also be used for reading from and writing to the same tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Diane L. Brown, Trevor W. Olson
  • Magnetic recording devices having negative polarization layer to enhance spin-transfer torque
    Patent number: 11657836
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to a magnetic recording head of a spintronic device, such as a write head of a data storage device, for example a magnetic media drive. In one example, a magnetic recording head includes a main pole, a trailing shield, and a spin torque layer (STL) between the main pole and the trailing shield. The magnetic recording head includes a first layer structure on the main pole, and the first layer structure includes a negative polarization layer. The magnetic recording head also includes a second layer structure disposed on the negative polarization layer and between the negative polarization layer and the STL. The negative polarization layer is an FeCr layer. The second layer structure includes a Cr layer disposed on the FeCr layer, and a Cu layer disposed on the Cr layer and between the Cr layer and the STL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Mac Freitag, Susumu Okamura, Alexander Goncharov, Zheng Gao
  • Actuators for an elevator drive
    Patent number: 11651784
    Abstract: A data storage device includes a base, a shaft that extends perpendicular from the base, and a head stack assembly (HSA) having a first end to which a head is coupled and a second end that is movably mounted on the shaft. The data storage device also includes either a first actuator assembly or a second actuator assembly. The first actuator assembly includes a first coil-permanent magnet assembly that rotatably moves the HSA about the shaft, and a second coil-permanent magnet assembly that serves as a first elevator to linearly move the HSA along the shaft. The second actuator assembly includes a third coil-permanent magnet assembly that rotatably moves the HSA about the shaft, and a second elevator that linearly moves the HSA along the shaft and also moves a data storage device ramp in unison with the HSA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Brett R. Herdendorf, Riyan A. Mendonsa, Wolfgang Rosner, Jonathan Lewis Kemnitz, Krishnan Subramanian, Kurt LeRoy Erickson
  • Heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) head with tapered main pole and heat sink material adjacent the pole
    Patent number: 11651791
    Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) head for recording data in data tracks of a HAMR disk has a gas-bearing slider that supports a near-field transducer (NFT) and a main magnetic pole formed of two layers. The first main pole layer has a cross-track width at the slider's gas-bearing surface (GBS) that tapers down in the direction towards the NFT where the optical spot is formed. The second main pole layer is located away from the NFT and has a substantially wider cross-track width than the first main pole layer so as to provide sufficient magnetic field for writing. Layers of heat sink material are located on the sloped cross-track sides of the tapered first main pole layer to reduce the temperature and thus the likelihood of oxidation of the main pole layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Takuya Matsumoto, Muhammad Asif Bashir, Hamid Balamane, Petrus Antonius Van Der Heijden, Barry C. Stipe
  • Base member and method of manufacturing the same, spindle motor, and hard disk drive device
    Patent number: 11651798
    Abstract: A base member serving as a part of a housing of a hard disk drive device. The base member includes a base body being a cast product, a machined surface obtained by machining a part of the base body at a side of an interior of the housing, an impregnating agent filled into a casting cavity exposed at the machined surface, and a coating film covering a surface including the machined surface of the base body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: MINEBEA MITSUMI Inc.
    Inventors: Akihiko Suzuki, Tadashi Akahori
  • Base plate, spindle motor, disk drive apparatus and manufacturing method of base plate
    Patent number: 11646061
    Abstract: A base plate is a portion of a housing of a disk drive apparatus, including a base body being a casting product, and an electrodeposition coating film covering at least a portion of a surface of the base body. The base body includes a bottom plate rectangular as viewed from an axial direction, a pivot post, and a protrusion. The bottom plate extends perpendicular to a rotation axis of a disk that extends vertically and a swing axis of a head that is disposed in a different position from the rotation axis and that extends vertically. The head reads or writes information from or to the disk. The pivot post protrudes upward from an upper surface of the bottom plate along the swing axis. The protrusion is provided protruding radially outward from a peripheral surface of the pivot post and protruding to the upper surface of the bottom plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michihiro Ito, Ryo Furuya