Patents by Inventor Curtis Randall

Curtis Randall 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: 7656602
    Abstract: A method for protecting a magnetic head according to one embodiment includes reducing a relative humidity in a vicinity of a magnetic head by passing an elevated bias current through a sensor of the head during at least some time periods when the sensor is not in use for reading data, the elevated bias current being chosen to be sufficient to heat the sensor to a level which will reduce the local relative humidity to below a threshold level for reducing or eliminating corrosion of the sensor. Additional methods are also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Icko E. Tim Iben, Wayne Alan McKinley, Lee Curtis Randall
  • Publication number: 20090274836
    Abstract: A method in one embodiment includes applying an organic coating to a magnetic head for reducing exposure of the head to oxidation promoting materials; and storing the magnetic head. A method in another embodiment includes applying an organic coating to a magnetic head for reducing exposure of the head to oxidation promoting materials, the organic coating being applied to the magnetic head after the head is installed in the magnetic storage system. Another method includes fabricating a tape having an applicator portion for applying an organic coating to a magnetic head for reducing exposure of the head to oxidation promoting materials; applying the organic coating to the applicator portion of the tape; and applying a lubricant to a data portion of the tape. A method in another embodiment includes fabricating a tape having a data portion, and a cleaning portion for removing an organic coating from a magnetic head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: Richard Lionel Bradshaw, Icko E. Tim Iben, Wayne Alan McKinley, Lee Curtis Randall
  • Publication number: 20090273857
    Abstract: A method for protecting a magnetic head according to one embodiment includes reducing a relative humidity in a vicinity of a magnetic head by passing an elevated bias current through a sensor of the head during at least some time periods when the sensor is not in use for reading data, the elevated bias current being chosen to be sufficient to heat the sensor to a level which will reduce the local relative humidity to below a threshold level for reducing or eliminating corrosion of the sensor. Additional methods are also presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: Icko E. Tim Iben, Wayne Alan McKinley, Lee Curtis Randall
  • Patent number: 7430799
    Abstract: A method for preforming of two or more flexible cables in an arrangement consisting of a combination of rigid printed circuit boards and flexible cable sections extending therebetween. Moreover, also provided is an apparatus for the preforming of two or more flexible cable sections of a combination of rigid printed circuit boards and therewith interposed flexible cable sections which are adapted to interconnect the rigid printed circuit boards. The apparatus consists of a tool constituted of an elongated cylindrical member having a tapered leading end which narrows into an ultra-thin flat end section of a blade-like configuration, and which is adapted to be pushed between the flexible cables and so as to preform the flexible cable sections and cause them to yield in a predetermined outwardly bowed permanently relationship between the rigid printed circuit boards at the opposite ends thereof to lengthen the fatigue life of the conductors in the flexible cable sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lee Curtis Randall, Thomas Stanley Truman, Daniel James Winarski, George G. Zamora
  • Publication number: 20070190508
    Abstract: The present invention is a detailed instructional method for mind, body, and spiritual integration. The instant invention is based on a concerted series of sessions that combine the components of yogic focusing, physical exercise, and inspirational music. The physical exercise component may be obtained via indoor cycling using a stationary cycling machine. Other exercise machines and meditation practices may be equivalently substituted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventor: Curtis Randall Dalton
  • Patent number: 6918179
    Abstract: A method for preforming of two or more flexible cables in an arrangement consisting of a combination of rigid printed circuit boards and flexible cable sections extending therebetween. Moreover, also provided is an apparatus for the preforming of two or more flexible cable sections of a combination of rigid printed circuit boards and therewith interposed flexible cable sections which are adapted to interconnect the rigid printed circuit boards. The apparatus consists of a tool constituted of an elongated cylindrical member having a tapered leading end which narrows into an ultra-thin flat end section of a blade-like configuration, and which is adapted to be pushed between the flexible cables and so as to preform the flexible cable sections and cause them to yield in a predetermined outwardly bowed permanently relationship between the rigid printed circuit boards at the opposite ends thereof to lengthen the fatigue life of the conductors in the flexible cable sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lee Curtis Randall, Thomas Stanley Truman, Daniel James Winarski, George G. Zamora
  • Patent number: 6744592
    Abstract: A strip with an exterior sticky surface is judiciously selected for its ability to entrap dust and other loose debris without interfering with the operation of moving parts contacted thereby. The strip is attached to the sides of a magnetic tape cartridge, with the sticky surface facing outward, in places contacted by rollers and/or belts during the process of handling the cartridge in an automated system. Thus, any loose debris in the rollers or belts is retained by the tacky surface of the strip as the cartridge passes through the rollers and belts of the robotic system. The strips of the invention may be removably adhered to the data cartridge, or may be permanently attached. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the strips may be incorporated into a cleaner cartridge for the periodic maintenance of loading equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Lee Curtis Randall
  • Patent number: 6676026
    Abstract: A data storage and retrieval system such as a robotic library has a large plurality of removable storage media, such as tape cartridges, for purposes of I/O. To enhance performance and reliability of the library, a thermodynamic model of the library is constructed and stored in the library, and environmental conditions such as the temperature, humidity, and flow rate of cooling air coming into, flowing through, and leaving the library are monitored. The thermodynamic model of the library includes an acceptable operating range for the library in a psychrometric chart; and the product of the effective thermodynamic mass and specific heat of the library.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne Alan McKinley, Lee Curtis Randall, Daniel James Winarski
  • Publication number: 20030205244
    Abstract: A strip with an exterior sticky surface is judiciously selected for its ability to entrap dust and other loose debris without interfering with the operation of moving parts contacted thereby. The strip is attached to the sides of a magnetic tape cartridge, with the sticky surface facing outward, in places contacted by rollers and/or belts during the process of handling the cartridge in an automated system. Thus, any loose debris in the rollers or belts is retained by the tacky surface of the strip as the cartridge passes through the rollers and belts of the robotic system. The strips of the invention may be removably adhered to the data cartridge, or may be permanently attached. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the strips may be incorporated into a cleaner cartridge for the periodic maintenance of loading equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Inventor: Lee Curtis Randall
  • Publication number: 20030194913
    Abstract: A method for preforming of two or more flexible cables in an arrangement consisting of a combination of rigid printed circuit boards and flexible cable sections extending therebetween. Moreover, also provided is an apparatus for the preforming of two or more flexible cable sections of a combination of rigid printed circuit boards and therewith interposed flexible cable sections which are adapted to interconnect the rigid printed circuit boards. The apparatus consists of a tool constituted of an elongated cylindrical member having a tapered leading end which narrows into an ultra-thin flat end section of a blade-like configuration, and which is adapted to be pushed between the flexible cables and so as to preform the flexible cable sections and cause them to yield in a predetermined outwardly bowed permanently relationship between the rigid printed circuit boards at the opposite ends thereof to lengthen the fatigue life of the conductors in the flexible cable sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lee Curtis Randall, Thomas Stanley Truman, Daniel James Winarski, George G. Zamora
  • Patent number: 6615435
    Abstract: A strip with an exterior sticky surface is judiciously selected for its ability to entrap dust and other loose debris without interfering with the operation of moving parts contacted thereby. The strip is attached to the sides of a magnetic tape cartridge, with the sticky surface facing outward, in places contacted by rollers and/or belts during the process of handling the cartridge in an automated system. Thus, any loose debris in the rollers or belts is retained by the tacky surface of the strip as the cartridge passes through the rollers and belts of the robotic system. The strips of the invention may be removably adhered to the data cartridge, or may be permanently attached. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the strips may be incorporated into a cleaner cartridge for the periodic maintenance of loading equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Lee Curtis Randall
  • Publication number: 20030056808
    Abstract: A strip with an exterior sticky surface is judiciously selected for its ability to entrap dust and other loose debris without interfering with the operation of moving parts contacted thereby. The strip is attached to the sides of a magnetic tape cartridge, with the sticky surface facing outward, in places contacted by rollers and/or belts during the process of handling the cartridge in an automated system. Thus, any loose debris in the rollers or belts is retained by the tacky surface of the strip as the cartridge passes through the rollers and belts of the robotic system. The strips of the invention may be removably adhered to the data cartridge, or may be permanently attached. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the strips may be incorporated into a cleaner cartridge for the periodic maintenance of loading equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventor: Lee Curtis Randall
  • Patent number: 5852587
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to sonic logging while drilling. A transmitter and at least one receiver are mounted on a drill collar for performing sonic investigations of the formation traversing a borehole. It has been discovered that a drill collar has a natural stop band or notch where acoustic energy propagating in this frequency range is severely attenuated. Thus, to reduce drill collar acoustic coupling, the transmitter is operated within this natural stop band of the drill collar. An imperforate stop band filter is also included between the transmitter and receiver to amplify the natural stop band. The transmitter is mounted transvere to the longitudinal axis of the drill collar, and is preferably mounted within means that reduce drill collar acoustic coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Sergio Kostek, Shu-Kong Chang, Gordon McDaniel, Thomas Plona, Curtis Randall
  • Patent number: 5796677
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to sonic logging while drilling. A transmitter and at least one receiver are mounted on a drill collar for performing sonic investigations of the formation traversed by a borehole. It has been discovered that a drill collar has a natural stop band or notch where acoustic energy propagating in this frequency range is severely attenuated. Thus, to reduce drill collar acoustic coupling, the transmitter is operated within this natural stop band of the drill collar. An imperforate stop band filter is also included between the transmitter and receiver to enhance the natural stop band. The transmitter is mounted transverse to the longitudinal axis of the drill collar, and is preferably mounted within means that reduce drill collar acoustic coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Sergio Kostek, Shu-Kong Chang, Gordon McDaniel, Thomas Plona, Curtis Randall, Jean-Pierre Masson, James C. Mayes, Kai Hsu