Patents by Inventor Bernhard E. Knigge

Bernhard E. Knigge 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).

  • Patent number: 12347465
    Abstract: A data storage device comprises a first resistive temperature detector (RTD) and a second RTD coupled to a first voltage source. A tuning bridge coupled between the first and second RTDs and a second voltage source reduces offset between a first bias voltage across the first RTD and a second bias voltage across the second RTD. A low noise amplifier (LNA) receives the first and second bias voltages as a differential bias voltage. A modulator coupled between the first and second RTDs and the LNA modulates the differential bias voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Contreras, Joey M. Poss, Bernhard E. Knigge
  • Publication number: 20250157495
    Abstract: A data storage device comprises a first resistive temperature detector (RTD) and a second RTD coupled to a first voltage source. A tuning bridge coupled between the first and second RTDs and a second voltage source reduces offset between a first bias voltage across the first RTD and a second bias voltage across the second RTD. A low noise amplifier (LNA) receives the first and second bias voltages as a differential bias voltage. A modulator coupled between the first and second RTDs and the LNA modulates the differential bias voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2023
    Publication date: May 15, 2025
    Inventors: John T. Contreras, Joey M. Poss, Bernhard E. Knigge
  • Patent number: 12230304
    Abstract: Various illustrative aspects are directed to a data storage device, comprising one or more disks; an actuator mechanism configured to position one or more heads proximate to a corresponding disk surface of the one or more disks; and one or more processing devices. The one or more processing devices are configured to receive signals indicative of conditions of a write operation by the selected head. The one or more processing devices are further configured to determine, based on the signals, a verification status indicating whether the write operation was successful. The one or more processing devices are further configured to output the verification status within a selected time limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Bernd Lamberts, Bernhard E. Knigge, Erhard Schreck, Qing Dai
  • Patent number: 12190924
    Abstract: Various illustrative aspects are directed to a data storage device comprising a disk, a read/write head configured to read data from and write data to the disk, a laser diode (LD) coupled to a nearfield transducer configured to heat an area of the disk near the read/write head, a first resistive temperature detector (RTD), a second RTD, and one or more processing devices configured to: apply a laser bias to the LD during a write operation; obtain a plurality of differential signal measurements, based at least in part on a plurality of measurements from each of the first and second RTDs; and adjust the laser bias applied to the LD, based at least in part on comparing the plurality of differential signal measurements to a target value for the differential signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joey M. Poss, Bernhard E. Knigge
  • Patent number: 12176015
    Abstract: A data storage device comprises a disk and a head having a read and write elements. A read heater is powered based on a dual heater ratio (DHR) to thermally adjust a spacing of the read element from a disk surface, and a write heater is powered based on the DHR to thermally adjust a spacing of the write element from the disk surface. A read spacing slope profile is determined comprising read touchdowns (TDs) over a range of DHRs, and a write spacing slope profile is determined comprising write TDs over the range of DHRs. An operating DHR of the head is set to be where the read spacing slope profile intersects the write spacing slope profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernhard E. Knigge, Qinghua Zeng, Noureddine Kermiche
  • Patent number: 12154606
    Abstract: Various illustrative aspects are directed to a data storage device, comprising one or more disks; an actuator mechanism configured to position a selected head among one or more heads proximate to a corresponding disk surface among the one or more disks; and one or more processing devices. The one or more processing devices are configured to generate a map of laser mode hop effects across the corresponding disk surface, for the selected head. The one or more processing devices are further configured to apply a laser mode hop mitigation in operating the selected head, based on the map of laser mode hop effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Bernhard E. Knigge, Phillip S. Haralson, Naoto Ito, Derrick Burton
  • Patent number: 12140485
    Abstract: Various illustrative aspects are directed to a data storage device comprising a slider with a resistive temperature detector (RTD) having a first resistance electrically connected to a first amplifier and a plurality of controlled current sources and switches, and one or more processing devices configured to: control the switches to generate an alternating-bias signal having a first clock frequency for biasing the first resistance, modulate an input signal of the first amplifier using the first clock frequency to generate a modulated signal, demodulate an amplified modulated signal at an output of a second amplifier using the first clock frequency to generate a resistance detection signal, the second amplifier coupled to the first amplifier, and process the resistance detection signal to determine the first resistance and/or a change in value of the first resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Contreras, Joey M. Poss, Ronald Chang, Bernhard E. Knigge
  • Publication number: 20240304214
    Abstract: Various illustrative aspects are directed to a data storage device, comprising one or more disks; an actuator mechanism configured to position one or more heads proximate to a corresponding disk surface of the one or more disks; and one or more processing devices. The one or more processing devices are configured to receive signals indicative of conditions of a write operation by the selected head. The one or more processing devices are further configured to determine, based on the signals, a verification status indicating whether the write operation was successful. The one or more processing devices are further configured to output the verification status within a selected time limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2023
    Publication date: September 12, 2024
    Inventors: Bernd Lamberts, Bernhard E. Knigge, Erhard Schreck, Qing Dai
  • Patent number: 12032434
    Abstract: Methods are provided for utilizing machine learning operations configured for use in processing missing pieces of visual data in image data to predict potential location of defects and/or damage in storage device disks. These predictions can allow for a sufficient ability to categorize disks during storage device quality inspections. This can allow for quality inspections to conclude before all areas of the disk surface are scanned. Because less surface area of the disks within the storage device require scanning, the time required for quality inspection scanning prior to deployment can be greatly reduced. Additionally, the partial scans occurring prior to deployment may be supplemented or updated after deployment through the performance of a dense scan. These secondary scans can be configured to scan all previously unscanned areas during storage device downtimes or in response to an environmental trigger such that the storage device will not exhibit any loss in performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Abhishek Srivastava, Karthik Venkatesh, Bernhard E. Knigge
  • Publication number: 20240177735
    Abstract: Various illustrative aspects are directed to a data storage device, comprising one or more disks; an actuator mechanism configured to position a selected head among one or more heads proximate to a corresponding disk surface among the one or more disks; and one or more processing devices. The one or more processing devices are configured to generate a map of laser mode hop effects across the corresponding disk surface, for the selected head. The one or more processing devices are further configured to apply a laser mode hop mitigation in operating the selected head, based on the map of laser mode hop effects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2023
    Publication date: May 30, 2024
    Inventors: Bernhard E. Knigge, Phillip S. Haralson, Naoto Ito, Derrick Burton
  • Publication number: 20240175765
    Abstract: Various illustrative aspects are directed to a data storage device comprising a slider with a resistive temperature detector (RTD) having a first resistance electrically connected to a first amplifier and a plurality of controlled current sources and switches, and one or more processing devices configured to: control the switches to generate an alternating-bias signal having a first clock frequency for biasing the first resistance, modulate an input signal of the first amplifier using the first clock frequency to generate a modulated signal, demodulate an amplified modulated signal at an output of a second amplifier using the first clock frequency to generate a resistance detection signal, the second amplifier coupled to the first amplifier, and process the resistance detection signal to determine the first resistance and/or a change in value of the first resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2023
    Publication date: May 30, 2024
    Inventors: John T. Contreras, Joey M. Poss, Ronald Chang, Bernhard E. Knigge
  • Patent number: 11961542
    Abstract: Various illustrative aspects are directed to a data storage device comprising a slider with a resistive temperature detector with a first resistance, a resistance detection circuit electrically coupled to the first resistance and comprising a low and high frequency path corresponding to a DC and AC mode, respectively, and one or more processing devices configured to: bias the first resistance with a voltage bias, where the first resistance is coupled to a first and second amplifier, control a pulse generator to add a bias pulse on the HF path to generate a HF resistance detection signal, where the second amplifier is biased using the voltage bias and the bias pulse, control a clock to chop a LF signal at the first amplifier on the LF path, demodulate the chopped LF signal to generate a LF resistance detection signal, and concurrently process the HF and LF resistance detection signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John Contreras, Joey M. Poss, Ronald Chang, Bernhard E. Knigge
  • Publication number: 20240038260
    Abstract: Various illustrative aspects are directed to a data storage device comprising a disk; a read/write head having read and write portions configured to read data from and write data to the disk; read and write heaters configured to thermally adjust read and write spacings of the read and write portions from the disk surface; and a controller configured to control power applied to the read and write heaters based on a dual heater power ratio (DHR) of the respective power applied to each heater. The DHR is set based on a point during touchdown at which a reader shield and a writer shield have maximum contact with the surface of the disk (DHRmax).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Qinghua Zeng, Noureddine Kermiche, Kazuhiro Saito, Bernhard E. Knigge
  • Patent number: 11874182
    Abstract: Various illustrative aspects are directed to a data storage device comprising a slider with a resistive temperature detector (RTD) having a first resistance electrically connected to a first amplifier and a plurality of controlled current sources and switches, and one or more processing devices configured to: control the switches to generate an alternating-bias signal having a first clock frequency for biasing the first resistance, modulate an input signal of the first amplifier using the first clock frequency to generate a modulated signal, demodulate an amplified modulated signal at an output of a second amplifier using the first clock frequency to generate a resistance detection signal, the second amplifier coupled to the first amplifier, and process the resistance detection signal to determine the first resistance and/or a change in value of the first resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John Contreras, Joey M. Poss, Ronald Chang, Bernhard E. Knigge
  • Patent number: 11869546
    Abstract: Various illustrative aspects are directed to a data storage device comprising a disk; a read/write head having read and write portions configured to read data from and write data to the disk; read and write heaters configured to thermally adjust read and write spacings of the read and write portions from the disk surface; and a controller configured to control power applied to the read and write heaters based on a dual heater power ratio (DHR) of the respective power applied to each heater. The DHR is set based on a point during touchdown at which a reader shield and a writer shield have maximum contact with the surface of the disk (DHRmax).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Qinghua Zeng, Noureddine Kermiche, Kazuhiro Saito, Bernhard E. Knigge
  • Publication number: 20240005957
    Abstract: Various illustrative aspects are directed to a data storage device comprising a slider with a resistive temperature detector with a first resistance, a resistance detection circuit electrically coupled to the first resistance and comprising a low and high frequency path corresponding to a DC and AC mode, respectively, and one or more processing devices configured to: bias the first resistance with a voltage bias, where the first resistance is coupled to a first and second amplifier, control a pulse generator to add a bias pulse on the HF path to generate a HF resistance detection signal, where the second amplifier is biased using the voltage bias and the bias pulse, control a clock to chop a LF signal at the first amplifier on the LF path, demodulate the chopped LF signal to generate a LF resistance detection signal, and concurrently process the HF and LF resistance detection signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: John Contreras, Joey M. Poss, Ronald Chang, Bernhard E. Knigge
  • Publication number: 20240003750
    Abstract: Various illustrative aspects are directed to a data storage device comprising a slider with a resistive temperature detector (RTD) having a first resistance electrically connected to a first amplifier and a plurality of controlled current sources and switches, and one or more processing devices configured to: control the switches to generate an alternating-bias signal having a first clock frequency for biasing the first resistance, modulate an input signal of the first amplifier using the first clock frequency to generate a modulated signal, demodulate an amplified modulated signal at an output of a second amplifier using the first clock frequency to generate a resistance detection signal, the second amplifier coupled to the first amplifier, and process the resistance detection signal to determine the first resistance and/or a change in value of the first resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: John Contreras, Joey M. Poss, Ronald Chang, Bernhard E. Knigge
  • Publication number: 20230367667
    Abstract: Methods are provided for utilizing machine learning operations configured for use in processing missing pieces of visual data in image data to predict potential location of defects and/or damage in storage device disks. These predictions can allow for a sufficient ability to categorize disks during storage device quality inspections. This can allow for quality inspections to conclude before all areas of the disk surface are scanned. Because less surface area of the disks within the storage device require scanning, the time required for quality inspection scanning prior to deployment can be greatly reduced. Additionally, the partial scans occurring prior to deployment may be supplemented or updated after deployment through the performance of a dense scan. These secondary scans can be configured to scan all previously unscanned areas during storage device downtimes or in response to an environmental trigger such that the storage device will not exhibit any loss in performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Abhishek Srivastava, Karthik Venkatesh, Bernhard E. Knigge
  • Patent number: 9786309
    Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk, wherein the head comprises a fly height actuator (FHA). A FHA control signal is applied to the FHA, wherein the FHA control signal comprises a DC component and an AC component. A fly height metric is measured representing a fly height of the head over the disk for different levels of the DC component. A modulation amplitude of the fly height metric is detected, and a minimum in the modulation amplitude of the fly height metric is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernhard E. Knigge, Noureddine Kermiche, Robert E. Eaton, Puneet Bhargava
  • Patent number: 9153268
    Abstract: A novel lubricant comprising a fluorinated graphene nanoribbon for a magnetic recording media structure is disclosed. The magnetic recording media structure includes a substrate, a magnetic recording layer for recording information disposed over the substrate, a protective overcoat layer for protecting the magnetic recording layer disposed over the magnetic recording layer, and a lubricant layer disposed over the protective overcoat layer and comprising a fluorinated graphene nanoribbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: WD Media, LLC
    Inventors: Bernhard E. Knigge, Mousumi M. Biswas