Patents by Inventor Al Morton

Al Morton has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Active read/write head circuit with interface circuit
    Patent number: 7095594
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for collocating an interface circuit with a disk drive read/write head is described. In one embodiment the interface circuit is attached to the load arm on one side and the miniflex interconnect on the other. The read/write head is mounted on the miniflex directly below the interface circuit. The interface circuit comprises a read signal preamplifier, a write driver, and head selection circuitry. A common multiplexer circuit is used to perform the other conventional read/write circuit functions. The common multiplexer circuit includes a head selection block to determine which heads are activated, a head driver block, and a read receiver block. The common multiplexer circuit is mounted at the base of the miniflex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Peter Maimone, Al Morton, Chi-Fa Chiou
  • Method and apparatus for an active read/write head
    Publication number: 20040207956
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for collocating an interface circuit with a disk drive read/write head is described. In one embodiment the interface circuit is attached to the load arm on one side and the miniflex interconnect on the other. The read/write head is mounted on the miniflex directly below the interface circuit. The interface circuit comprises a read signal preamplifier, a write driver, and head selection circuitry. A common multiplexer circuit is used to perform the other conventional read/write circuit functions. The common multiplexer circuit includes a head selection block to determine which heads are activated, a head driver block, and a read receiver block. The common multiplexer circuit is mounted at the base of the miniflex.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: Peter Maimone, Al Morton, Chi-Fa Chiou
  • Method and apparatus for an active read/write head
    Publication number: 20030142445
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for collocating an interface circuit with a disk drive read/write head is described. In one embodiment the interface circuit is attached to the load arm on one side and the miniflex interconnect on the other. The read/write head is mounted on the miniflex directly below the interface circuit. The interface circuit comprises a read signal preamplifier, a write driver, and head selection circuitry. A common multiplexer circuit is used to perform the other conventional read/write circuit functions. The common multiplexer circuit includes a head selection block to determine which heads are activated, a head driver block, and a read receiver block. The common multiplexer circuit is mounted at the base of the miniflex.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Peter Maimone, Al Morton, Chii-Fa Chiou