Patents by Inventor Brian D. Strom

Brian D. Strom 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).

  • Publication number: 20170005116
    Abstract: A display may be provided with display layers and a backlight unit. The display layers may include a thin-film transistor layer having a ledge. The display layers may include an upper polarizer layer and a lower polarizer layer. A color filter layer, liquid crystal layer, and the thin-film transistor layer may be interposed between the upper and lower polarizer layers. A display cover layer may overlap the display layers to serve as a protective layer. Gap filler may be placed between the thin-film transistor ledge and the display cover layer to help prevent the ledge from bending upwards. Support structures may be placed between the thin-film transistor structures and the backlight unit to help prevent the ledge from bending downwards. The support structures may include an extended edge portion of the lower polarizer, a stiffener layer, gap filler, adhesive layers, and other supporting structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Rohit Ambekar, Brian D. Strom, Tyler R. Kakuda
  • Patent number: 8582232
    Abstract: A hard disk drive with a spindle motor that rotates a disk. When the disk drive is exposed to low temperatures a current can be provided to the spindle motor to heat the motor. For example, a DC current can be provided to the spindle motor. The current flowing through the spindle motor coil generates heat. The current can be provided for a predetermined time interval to sufficiently heat the spindle motor so that the fluid bearings of the motor can operate. The current is terminated and then an AC current is provided to the spindle motor to cause motor rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Brian D. Strom, SungChang Lee, Joerg Ferber
  • Patent number: 7760469
    Abstract: A slider operating air bearing surface (ABS) to remove a front saturation water vapor pressure peak near a front bulwark and a bad flow pattern area the between front bulwark and a central island. The ABS implementing these operations. Alternatively, ABS includes a front bulwark channel in the front bulwark and a central fin between the front bulwark and the central island. Slider includes an embodiment of the ABS. Head gimbal assembly (HGA) includes the slider. Head stack assembly includes at least one HGA. Hard disk drive includes the head stack assembly. Manufacturing methods for the slider, the HGA, the head stack assembly, the hard disk drive, and these items as products of their manufacturing processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuyu Zhang, Brian D. Strom, SungChang Lee, George Tyndall
  • Patent number: 7719792
    Abstract: Hard disk drive (HDD) including humidity sensor measuring interior and second humidity sensor measuring exterior with door actuator controlling door for mass transfer between interior and exterior based upon determination of whether or not to transfer. HDD may further include and use temperature sensors for interior and/or exterior to further control door. An embedded circuit and processor at least partly implementing these operations. External cover including door and door actuator, possibly second sensors. Manufacturing methods and these items as their products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Brian D. Strom, SungChang Lee, Shuyu Zhang
  • Patent number: 7715150
    Abstract: The head gimbal assembly includes a slider and a micro-actuator assembly sharing power for the micro-actuator assembly to aid in positioning the slider and for an amplifier included in the slider to generate an amplified read signal when the slider read accesses data on a rotating disk surface included in a hard disk drive. The slider includes a read-write head providing a read differential signal pair to an amplifier to generate an amplified read signal reported when read accessing a rotating disk surface near the slider, which includes a read head employing a spin valve or employing a tunneling valve. Hard disk drive including a head stack assembly, which includes at least one of the head gimbal assemblies. Manufacturing the head gimbal assembly, the head stack assembly, and the hard disk drive, as well as these items as products of the invention's manufacturing processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Brian D. Strom, Na Young Kim, Sung Chang Lee, Vinod Sharma, Joseph Chang
  • Patent number: 7688543
    Abstract: A disk drive that regenerates a desiccant within the drive. The drive includes a housing that encloses a head and a disk. A first desiccant is located adjacent to a hole of the housing. A second desiccant is coupled to the first desiccant. The second desiccant is also coupled to a source of heat. Heat is transferred through the second desiccant to the first desiccant. The heat evaporates fluid within the first desiccant. The evaporated fluid flows into and through the second desiccant. The evaporation of fluid regenerates the first desiccant so that is can continuously absorb humidity within the drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: SungChang Lee, Brian D. Strom
  • Patent number: 7646566
    Abstract: A disk drive includes a drive circuitry, a storage disk, a suspension and a slider. The slider is supported by the suspension and receives electrical current from the drive circuitry. The slider includes a flying side that generally faces the storage disk, a read/write head, and a slider deformer that is electrically decoupled from the drive circuitry. In one embodiment, the slider deformer is formed from a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion that is greater than a coefficient of thermal expansion of other portions of the slider. In this embodiment, the slider deformer causes a deformation of a portion of the flying side when the temperature of the slider deformer changes. Thus, when the read/write head expands or contracts due to a change in temperature of the slider, the slider deformer at least partially offsets the expansion and/or contraction of the read/write head to maintain a substantially consistent head-to-disk spacing of the disk drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Maxtor Corporation
    Inventors: Francis P. Crimi, Timothy A. Riener, Stephen P. Williams, Brian D. Strom
  • Patent number: 7639449
    Abstract: A disk drive includes a drive circuitry, a suspension, a slider assembly that includes a read/write head, and a pressure compensator. The pressure compensator is electrically decoupled from the drive circuitry. A portion of the pressure compensator has a volume that passively changes when an ambient pressure near the pressure compensator changes. The pressure compensator at least partially offsets a change in a head-to-disk spacing that occurs when an ambient pressure near the pressure compensator changes. The pressure compensator can exert a force on the slider assembly to change a pivot angle between the suspension and the slider assembly, and/or to change a pitch angle between the slider assembly and the storage disk. In alternate embodiments, the pressure compensator can include a piston that moves or a resilient membranous material that changes shape based on changes in ambient pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Maxtor Corporation
    Inventors: Rickmer Kose, Brian D. Strom
  • Patent number: 7599142
    Abstract: A hard disk drive including an electrical property meter sensing a spindle control signal to create an electrical property reading. Spindle control signal stimulates spindle motor to rotate at least one disk, creating rotating disk surface accessed by slider. Control circuit receives electrical property reading to create contact indication of slider contacting rotating disk surface, which may further include determining contact indication as spike in electrical property history of the readings. The electrical property meter may include ammeter and/or voltmeter. The control circuit, printed circuit board assembly, and/or motor control interface may include the electrical property meter. The control circuit may also include processor receiving electrical property reading to create contact indication. The hard disk drive may update contact log when contact indicated and may further update access parameter list for the slider accessing the rotating disk surface based upon the contact log.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: SungChang Lee, Brian D. Strom
  • Publication number: 20090195923
    Abstract: A hard disk drive with a spindle motor that rotates a disk. When the disk drive is exposed to low temperatures a current can be provided to the spindle motor to heat the motor. For example, a DC current can be provided to the spindle motor. The current flowing through the spindle motor coil generates heat. The current can be provided for a predetermined time interval to sufficiently heat the spindle motor so that the fluid bearings of the motor can operate. The current is terminated and then an AC current is provided to the spindle motor to cause motor rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Brian D. Strom, SungChang Lee, Joerg Ferber
  • Publication number: 20090174962
    Abstract: A hard disk drive including an electrical property meter sensing a spindle control signal to create an electrical property reading. Spindle control signal stimulates spindle motor to rotate at least one disk, creating rotating disk surface accessed by slider. Control circuit receives electrical property reading to create contact indication of slider contacting rotating disk surface, which may further include determining contact indication as spike in electrical property history of the readings. The electrical property meter may include ammeter and/or voltmeter. The control circuit, printed circuit board assembly, and/or motor control interface may include the electrical property meter. The control circuit may also include processor receiving electrical property reading to create contact indication. The hard disk drive may update contact log when contact indicated and may further update access parameter list for the slider accessing the rotating disk surface based upon the contact log.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventors: SungChang Lee, Brian D. Strom
  • Publication number: 20090059414
    Abstract: A hard disk drive with a head, and a disk that is rotated by a spindle motor. The drive includes a controller that operates in a low-speed idle mode where the spindle motor speed is reduced and the head is moved to a contact start-stop zone of the disk. Reducing the speed of the spindle motor, instead of spinning down the disk allows the disk drive to rapidly resume normal operation. Parking the head at a certain area of the disk, instead of a position off disk, allows the drive to more readily re-establish a mode where data can be retrieved or stored.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kang Seok Lee, Brian D. Strom
  • Publication number: 20080310052
    Abstract: A ferroelectric disk is disclosed including disk surfaces and an electrode coupling formed on at least one of the disk surfaces and electrically coupled to an electrode sheet covered by a probe surface. A slider is disclosed including a resistive probe and an electrical coupling. A head gimbal assembly, head stack assembly and ferroelectric disk drive are disclosed including the slider. The ferroelectric disk drive is disclosed including at least one of the ferroelectric disks. Access operations for a track on the disk surface of a ferroelectric disk are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventor: Brian D. Strom
  • Patent number: 7420760
    Abstract: A slider with an intake heater near front edge heating air passing between air bearing surface and rotating disk surface to reduce change in flying height caused by water condensation. Method of operating the slider. Head gimbals assembly including slider. Head stack assembly including at least one HGA. Operating hard disk drive by receiving temperature and humidity reading to determine heater control and asserting heater control to stimulate intake heater to heat air. Embedded processor directing hard disk drive at least partly implementing operations. Embedded circuit including embedded processor. A hard disk drive including temperature, humidity sensors, embedded circuit and head stack assembly. Manufacturing methods for slider, head gimbals assembly, head stack assembly, embedded processor, embedded circuit and hard disk drive, and these items as products of their manufacturing processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuyu Zhang, Brian D. Strom, SungChang Lee
  • Publication number: 20080180835
    Abstract: Hard disk drive (HDD) including humidity sensor measuring interior and second humidity sensor measuring exterior with door actuator controlling door for mass transfer between interior and exterior based upon determination of whether or not to transfer. HDD may further include and use temperature sensors for interior and/or exterior to further control door. An embedded circuit and processor at least partly implementing these operations. External cover including door and door actuator, possibly second sensors. Manufacturing methods and these items as their products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventors: Brian D. Strom, SungChang Lee, Shuyu Zhang
  • Publication number: 20080165447
    Abstract: A disk drive that regenerates a desiccant within the drive. The drive includes a housing that encloses a head and a disk. A first desiccant is located adjacent to a hole of the housing. A second desiccant is coupled to the first desiccant. The second desiccant is also coupled to a source of heat. Heat is transferred through the second desiccant to the first desiccant. The heat evaporates fluid within the first desiccant. The evaporated fluid flows into and through the second desiccant. The evaporation of fluid regenerates the first desiccant so that is can continuously absorb humidity within the drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung Chang Lee, Brian D. Strom
  • Patent number: 7369348
    Abstract: Hard Disk Drive (HDD) including a humidity sensor. Humidity sensor communicating with embedded circuit to provide humidity reading to alter flying height control asserted to control vertical positioning of slider above disk surface. Method operating HDD using humidity sensor and apparatus implementing method. Methods of manufacturing embedded circuit and HDD, and their products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Brian D. Strom, SungChang Lee
  • Publication number: 20080074794
    Abstract: A pitch actuator coupling to at least the flexure finger of a head gimbal assembly, flexing the flexure finger to alter the pitch angle between slider and disk surface. Operating a head gimbal assembly by stimulating the pitch actuator to alter slider pitch angle and the head gimbal assembly implementing this method. Head stack assembly including at least one head gimbal assembly. CSS hard disk drive and embedded circuit controlling head stack assembly and its motion over disk surface. Manufacturing methods for head gimbal assembly, head stack assembly, embedded circuit and CSS hard disk drive and these items as products of these processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Inventors: SungChang Lee, Brian D. Strom
  • Patent number: 7349169
    Abstract: CSS hard disk drive providing improved take-off and/or touchdown by asserting pitch actuation control signal stimulating a pitch actuator to flex a flexure finger, altering the pitch angle of slider coupling through flexure finger to pitch actuator. Method implemented by embedded circuit and/or embedded processor. Manufacturing embedded processor, embedded circuit, CSS hard disk drive, and these process products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: SungChang Lee, Brian D. Strom, Shuyu Zhang, George Tyndall
  • Publication number: 20080024929
    Abstract: Parking sliders on disk surfaces by a load tab contacting a tab ramp to engage sliders into secure contact. Head gimbal assemblies including these load tabs; the disk clamp, disk spacer, spindle motors, each including at least one tab ramp; the hard disk drive, their manufacturing processes and the products of those processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Andrei Khurshudov, Brian D. Strom