Patents by Inventor Brian Johnson

Brian Johnson 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: 20250124950
    Abstract: A data storage device may include one or more disks; a voice coil motor (VCM) driver for driving a VCM and having a programmable transconductance (Gm); an actuator arm assembly comprising one or more disk heads and the VCM, wherein the VCM is configured to operate in a first mode and a second mode; and one or more processing devices configured to control the actuator arm assembly to actuate the disk heads over corresponding disk surfaces of the disks, and further configured to: determine a current mode of operation of the VCM, the current mode of operation comprising the first mode; and transition the VCM from the current mode of operation to a new mode of operation, the new mode of operation comprising the second mode, wherein the transitioning comprises tuning the Gm from a first transconductance value to a second, different transconductance value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2023
    Publication date: April 17, 2025
    Inventor: Brian Johnson
  • Patent number: 12272388
    Abstract: A data storage device comprises a disk; a head configured to read data from and write data to the disk; and a current balancer configured to receive a first voltage supply having a load limit and to receive a second voltage supply. The current balancer is further configured, to mitigate rotational vibration (RV) noise, to sample a first current IH5V drawn from the first voltage supply, to maintain a difference between the first current IH5V and a current balancer threshold parameter IThreshold to be at least twice a minimum peak current minCurrentLimitpk amount required for turn on of the current balancer (IH5V?IThreshold?2*minCurrentLimitpk), and to draw a second current from the second voltage supply to satisfy a part of a total load on the first voltage supply that exceeds the load limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Johnson, Peng Huang, Christopher B. Larsen
  • Patent number: 12266385
    Abstract: A data storage device comprises a lead actuator that actuates a first read-write head over a first disk and a support actuator that actuates a second read-write head over a second disk. A spindle motor rotates the first and second disks. In response to an emergency power off (EPO) event, a processing device retracts and parks the actuators using an internal supply voltage generated from a back electromotive force (BEMF) voltage of the spindle motor, and brakes the spindle motor. The spindle motor is not braked until both the lead and support actuators have been retracted and parked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Johnson, Jaesoo Byoun, Gaku Ikedo, Hideaki Ito, Naoyuki Kagami, Hiroki Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20250102065
    Abstract: A lubricant seal includes a sensor that utilizes the principles of diffraction gratings. The sensor is molded into the rubber structure of the lubricant seal and is disposed above the main sealing lip of the lubricant seal. The sensor may have a single or multiple diffraction gratings. The sensor measures wear of the lubricant seal, misalignment of the lubricant seal relative to a rotating shaft, or both. The sensor can be used for real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2023
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Applicant: SEALSENSE LIMITED
    Inventors: Brian JOHNSON, Duncan VALENTINE, Dietmar TEISMANN
  • Patent number: 12254909
    Abstract: Various illustrative aspects are directed to a data storage device comprising one or more disks, an actuator arm assembly comprising one or more disk heads and a voice coil motor (VCM), the VCM configured to operate in a PWM mode and a linear mode, and one or more processing devices configured to: seek the VCM towards a target track in the PWM mode; transition the VCM from the PWM mode to the linear mode, wherein the transitioning comprises switching an offset compensation value from a first offset compensation value to a second compensation offset value to compensate for a transition offset induced while transitioning the VCM from the PWM to the linear mode, wherein the first and the second offset compensation values correspond to the PWM and linear modes, respectively, and seek the VCM towards the target track in the linear mode for a linear mode time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jaesoo Byoun, Brian Johnson, Hideaki Ito, Gaku Ikedo, Naoyuki Kagami
  • Patent number: 12249216
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine includes a display device and a game controller configured to initiate a feature game that uses a plurality of mechanical reels and the display device, identify a number of feature game symbols initially available for use during the feature game, display a plurality of symbol columns, each symbol column of the plurality of symbol columns is associated with a reel, perform a spin of the reels, in response to the player initiating the play, distribute the number of feature game symbols into the plurality of symbol columns based on an output of a random number generator, each feature game symbol being displayed in a determined symbol column of the plurality of symbol columns, evaluate an outcome of the feature game based on attributing the feature game symbols to associated reels, and award credit to the player based on the evaluating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Allon Englman, Gary Penacho, Brian Johnson
  • Patent number: 12243610
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for memory with parallel main and test interfaces are described. A memory die may be configured with parallel interfaces that may individually (e.g., separately) support evaluation operations (e.g., before or as part of assembly in a multiple-die stack) or access operations (e.g., after assembly in a multiple die stack). For example, a memory die may include a first set of one or more contacts that support communicating signaling with or via another memory die in a multiple-die stack. The memory die may also include a second set of one or more contacts that support probing for pre-assembly evaluations, which may be electrically isolated from the first set of contacts. By implementing such parallel interfaces, evaluation operations may be performed using the second set of contacts without damaging the first set of contacts, which may improve capabilities for supporting a multiple-die stack in a memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James Brian Johnson, Kunal R. Parekh, Brent Keeth, Eiichi Nakano, Amy Rae Griffin
  • Patent number: 12230967
    Abstract: A method for energy management in a mobile medical unit, including: using a microgrid assessment tool to capture both granular load profiles and power quality data for a mobile medical unit powered by a microgrid; modeling a plurality of scenarios, using the data captured by the microgrid assessment tool to determine hybrid power system optimization; and supplying power to the mobile medical unit from one or more of a plurality of energy sources in the hybrid microgrid based on the optimization results. The plurality of energy sources includes at least one renewable energy source and at least one non-renewable energy source. A mobile medical system that includes a mobile medical unit and a hybrid microgrid configured to provide power to the mobile medical unit. The hybrid microgrid includes a measurement, verification, and control module, at least one renewable energy source, at least one energy storage device, and a generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Inventors: Kevon R. Makell, Brian Johnson, David R. Ellis, Myron Williams
  • Publication number: 20250050977
    Abstract: A dock line management system for attachment to watercraft is disclosed. The dock line management system includes a loop holder with a loophole and a clip holder both positioned apart on one side of a gunwale of the watercraft. The clip holder is configured to hold both ends of a dock line at the clip holder and the dock line is folded back at the loophole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2024
    Publication date: February 13, 2025
    Inventors: Brian Johnson, Justin Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20250045388
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for row hammer mitigation for stacked memory architectures are described. A semiconductor system, such as a memory system, may distribute operations for row hammer mitigation across circuitry of the semiconductor system. A first interface block of a first die of the semiconductor system may exchange signaling with a second interface block of a second die of the semiconductor system to perform row hammer mitigation operations. The second die may implement counters to track quantities of access operations associated with respective rows of memory cells of the second die. The second interface block may transmit alert signaling to the first interface block based on a value of a counter, and the first interface block may evaluate the alert signaling and transmit refresh signaling to the second interface block to perform one or more refresh operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2024
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Inventors: Nathan A. Eckel, Chun-Yi Liu, Lance P. Johnson, James Brian Johnson, Yang Lu
  • Publication number: 20250045389
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for row hammer mitigation reliability in stacked memory architectures are described. A spare counter may be implemented at a first interface block of a logic die to enable increased reliability and efficiency in row hammer mitigation. The first interface block may use a spare counter in case of an error associated with a counter at a memory array die. A second interface block of an array die may identify an error associated with a counter of a memory array and may transmit an indication of the error to the first interface block. The first interface block may receive the indication and may activate a spare counter to track access operations on (e.g., activations of) the row based on the indication. The first interface block may use the spare counter to evaluate whether to transmit refresh signaling to the second interface block for row hammer mitigation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2024
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Inventors: Chun-Yi Liu, Lance P. Johnson, Nathan A. Eckel, James Brian Johnson
  • Patent number: 12198722
    Abstract: A disk drive may include a disk, a head actuated over the disk, a spindle motor comprising a plurality of windings and operable to rotate the disk and coupled to a first and a second spindle driver, the first and the second spindle driver coupled in parallel to the plurality of windings. The disk drive further includes one or more processing devices that are configured to detect a BEMF signal corresponding to a velocity and/or a position of the spindle motor, control, based on detecting the BEMF signal, commutation of the plurality of windings of the spindle motor using the first and the second spindle driver, and wherein the plurality of windings are commutated at or near the same time or in a sequential manner during one or more of a spin up and a spin down routine of the spindle motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Johnson, Ryan Mayo
  • Publication number: 20240428319
    Abstract: According to aspects of the disclosed subject matter, a taste graph comprising likely content collection nodes with corresponding likely digital content items is generated through one or more analyses of a corpus of content collections that is maintained by the online content service. As should be understood, this corpus of content collections is comprised of a plurality of curated content collections, with each content collection comprising a plurality of digital content items. With this taste graph available, as a user generates (or in response to a user generating) a content collection of digital content items, reference can be made to the taste graph to identify one or more digital content items that may be added to the content collection, where the one or more digital content items have a probabilistic likelihood of being complimentary and/or compatible with the other digital content items of the content collection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2024
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Applicant: Pinterest, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Johnson, John Milinovich, Lance Alan Riedel, Andrew Look, Mukund Narasimhan, Yu Liu
  • Publication number: 20240400166
    Abstract: A watercraft with a hull having an upper side and a bottom side, a seat for a rider located on the upper side of the hull and straddling a centerline of the hull, a steering device movably attached to a fore side of the hull, wherein the steering device controls a speed and direction of movement of the watercraft, a footrest surface where the rider put on a foot that is located on a side of the seat, a gunwale located on the upper side of the hull and side of the footrest, and a rail attached on the gunwale configured to accommodate at least one accessory that has a protruding portion that fits inside of the rail is disclosed. The rail has U shaped opening with flat tops at both ends of the U shape opening configured to accommodate the protruding portion of the accessory. And a kit with the mounting assembly is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2024
    Publication date: December 5, 2024
    Inventors: Brian Johnson, Justin Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20240404581
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for interface techniques for stacked memory architectures are described. A semiconductor system, such as a memory system, may distribute memory access circuitry among multiple semiconductor dies of a stack. A first die of the system may include logic circuitry operable to configure a set of multiple first interface blocks of the first die. Each first interface block may include circuitry operable to communicate with one or more second interface blocks of one or more second dies of the system to access a respective set of one or more memory arrays of the one or more second dies. In some examples, the system may include a respective controller for each first interface block to support access operations via the first interface block. The system may also include non-volatile storage, one or more sensors, or a combination thereof to support various operations of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2024
    Publication date: December 5, 2024
    Inventors: Ameen D. Akel, Brent Keeth, James Brian Johnson, Chun-Yi Liu, Shivasankar Gunasekaran, Paul A. Laberge, Gregory A. King, Sai Krishna Mylavarapu, Su Wei Lim, Nathan A. Eckel, Lance P. Johnson, Nathan D. Henningson
  • Publication number: 20240403165
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for information broadcast techniques for stacked memory architectures are described. A semiconductor system may include multiple instances of interface circuitry of a semiconductor die that are each operable for accessing a respective set of one or more memory arrays of one or more other semiconductor dies, as well as read-only storage for storing information that is common to the multiple instances of the interface circuitry. In some implementations, such read-only storage may include one-time programmable memory elements (e.g., fuses, antifuses) that are located in at least one of the one or more other semiconductor dies, and are accessible by each of the multiple instances of interface circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2024
    Publication date: December 5, 2024
    Inventors: Nathan A. Eckel, James Brian Johnson, Paul A. Laberge
  • Patent number: 12148446
    Abstract: A data storage device or disk drive may include a plurality of regulators, a first voltage rail associated with a first regulator of the plurality of regulators, a second voltage rail associated with a second regulator of the plurality of regulators, wherein a switching frequency of the second regulator is greater than a switching frequency of the first regulator, the first voltage rail is associated with a higher voltage than the second voltage rail, or a combination thereof. The data storage device may include one or more processing devices configured to: determine a minimum switching frequency, identify a start time of a switching cycle for the first regulator, based at least in part on determining the minimum switching frequency; and, at or near the start time of the new switching cycle, couple the first regulator to the second regulator to initiate the switching cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Johnson, Nathaniel Dupler, Ryan Mayo
  • Publication number: 20240379123
    Abstract: A disk drive may include a disk, a head actuated over the disk, a spindle motor comprising a plurality of windings and operable to rotate the disk and coupled to a first and a second spindle driver, the first and the second spindle driver coupled in parallel to the plurality of windings. The disk drive further includes one or more processing devices that are configured to detect a BEMF signal corresponding to a velocity and/or a position of the spindle motor, control, based on detecting the BEMF signal, commutation of the plurality of windings of the spindle motor using the first and the second spindle driver, and wherein the plurality of windings are commutated at or near the same time or in a sequential manner during one or more of a spin up and a spin down routine of the spindle motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Publication date: November 14, 2024
    Inventors: Brian Johnson, Ryan Mayo
  • Patent number: D1064264
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Midwest Can Company, LLC
    Inventors: Jerry Burris, Brian Johnson, Adrian Bytyqi, Anisa Choksi, Brian Federico, Tony Glatz, Joanna Wu
  • Patent number: D1064265
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Midwest Can Company, LLC
    Inventors: Jerry Burris, Brian Johnson, Adrian Bytyqi, Anisa Choksi, Brian Federico, Tony Glatz, Joanna Wu