Patents by Inventor Brian W. Sudman

Brian W. Sudman 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: 6538837
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method of aligning servo wedges of a plurality of disc surfaces in a disc drive. This process of aligning servo wedges in a disc drive includes writing multiple servo wedges, one adjacent another, continuously across an entire circumference of each disc surface. Subsequently, one of the disc surfaces is designated the master surface. Every nth servo wedge on the master surface is then designated as a master wedge, where n is a positive integer. Next, the servo wedges on the non-master surfaces which are most closely axially aligned with the master wedges are selected. Subsequently, all of the non-selected and non-master wedges are erased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Lealon R. McKenzie, Brian W. Sudman, Michael Baum, Dennis D. Duffy
  • Patent number: 5982578
    Abstract: An electrical circuit package including disk drive operation and control circuitry is formed in multiple layers, including a compliant circuitry layer coextensive with the package, and additional conductive and dielectric layers to form relatively stiff circuit panels bonded to the compliant layer and spaced apart from one another. Portions of the compliant layer, between confronting edges of adjacent circuit panels, provide compliant joinder segments. Each joinder segment electrically couples its associated pair of circuit panels, and structurally couples the panels in a manner that permits a selective, non-coplanar orientation of the panels relative to each other. Thus, the panels are electrically and structurally coupled in a manner that facilitates testing the circuit package as a single unit, followed by installation of the package to a disk drive housing with the circuit panels integral with the housing and in the desired non-coplanar arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent J. Forbord, Brian W. Sudman, John S. Putnam, Robert J. Nielsen
  • Patent number: 5859738
    Abstract: A magnetic disc storage system includes a magnetic storage disc and a transducing head. During periods of inactivity the transducing head is dithered whereby the head is moved to tracks on the disc according to a number of criteria. The criteria includes wear reduction, power reduction, avoidance of textured zones, head cycling, increased fly height and clearing of debris carried on the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Monty A. Forehand, William C. Little, Mukund C. Rao, Krishna R. Malakapalli, Mark A. Gaertner, Todd P. Fracek, Dallas W. Meyer, Brian W. Sudman, Joseph S. Stoutenburgh, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5606473
    Abstract: An electrical circuit package including disk drive operation and control circuitry is formed in multiple layers, including a compliant circuitry layer coextensive with the package, and additional conductive and dielectric layers to form relatively stiff circuit panels bonded to the compliant layer and spaced apart from one another. Portions of the compliant layer, between confronting edges of adjacent circuit panels, provide compliant joinder segments. Each joinder segment electrically couples its associated pair of circuit panels, and structurally couples the panels in a manner that permits a selective, non-coplanar orientation of the panels relative to each other. Thus, the panels are electrically and structurally coupled in a manner that facilitates testing the circuit package as a single unit, followed by installation of the package to a disk drive housing with the circuit panels integral with the housing and in the desired non-coplanar arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent J. Forbord, Brian W. Sudman, John S. Putnam, Robert J. Nielsen