Patents by Inventor C. Douglas Richards

C. Douglas Richards 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: 7016157
    Abstract: An improved E-block for positioning one or more transducer assemblies proximate one or more rotating storage disks of a disk drive is provided herein. The E-block includes an actuator hub and one or more actuator arms which cantilever away from the actuator hub for holding the transducer assemblies proximate the rotating storage disks. As provided herein, at least one of the actuator arms is a depopulated actuator arm which retains less than two transducer assemblies. Each depopulated actuator arm includes at least one, weighted segment integrally formed into the depopulated actuator arm. Further, each depopulated actuator arm has an arm thickness which is less than an arm thickness for a double head actuator arm. The weighted segment and the reduced arm thickness allow the depopulated actuator arm(s) to vibrate similar to a populated actuator arm(s). This allows the disk drive to be designed and tuned to improve fragility and resonance characteristics of the E-block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Maxtor Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen P. Williams, C. Douglas Richards, Jonathan C. Hofland
  • Patent number: 6775106
    Abstract: An improved E-block for positioning one or more transducer assemblies proximate one or more rotating storage disks of a disk drive is provided herein. The E-block includes an actuator hub and one or more actuator arms which cantilever away from the actuator hub for holding the transducer assemblies proximate the rotating storage disks. As provided herein, at least one of the actuator arms is a depopulated actuator arm which retains less than two transducer assemblies. Each depopulated actuator arm includes at least one, weighted segment integrally formed into the depopulated actuator arm. Further, each depopulated actuator arm has an arm thickness which is less than an arm thickness for a double head actuator arm. The weighted segment and the reduced arm thickness allow the depopulated actuator arm(s) to vibrate similar to a populated actuator arm(s). This allows the disk drive to be designed and tuned to improve fragility and resonance characteristics of the E-block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Maxtor Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen P. Williams, C. Douglas Richards, Jonathan C. Hofland
  • Patent number: 6538853
    Abstract: An improved E-block for positioning one or more transducer assemblies proximate one or more rotating storage disks of a disk drive is provided herein. The E-block includes an actuator hub and one or more actuator arms which cantilever away from the actuator hub for holding the transducer assemblies proximate the rotating storage disks. As provided herein, at least one of the actuator arms is a depopulated actuator arm which retains less than two transducer assemblies. Each depopulated actuator arm includes at least one, weighted segment integrally formed into the depopulated actuator arm. Further, each depopulated actuator arm has an arm thickness which is less than an arm thickness for a double head actuator arm. The weighted segment and the reduced arm thickness allow the depopulated actuator arm(s) to vibrate similar to a populated actuator arm(s). This allows the disk drive to be designed and tuned to improve fragility and resonance characteristics of the E-block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Maxtor Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen P. Williams, C. Douglas Richards, Jonathan C. Hofland