Patents by Inventor Donald Ray Gillis

Donald Ray Gillis 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: 7247136
    Abstract: A medical monitor is disclosed for implantation in a human body for monitoring biological activity and states as detected by implanted sensors. The medical monitor includes at least one hard disk drive. A transmitter and receiver produces and receives signals. The medical monitor is in communication with the sensors, by which information on biological activity and states is stored on the at least one disk drive. An enclosure surrounds the at least one hard disk drive. An alert mechanism which is used to signal the user of medical and maintenance conditions is included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands, B.V.
    Inventors: Norbert Feliss, Donald Ray Gillis, Karl Arthur Flechsig
  • Patent number: 7225031
    Abstract: A medical monitor is disclosed for implantation in a human body for monitoring biological activity and states as detected by implanted sensors. The medical monitor includes at least one hard disk drive an enclosure surrounding the at least one hard disk drive, and a transmitter and receiver for producing and transmitting signals. The medical monitor is in communication with the sensors, by which information on biological activity and states is stored on the at least one hard disk drive, wherein transmissions are encrypted as encrypted information for security of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands, B.V.
    Inventors: Norbert Feliss, Donald Ray Gillis
  • Patent number: 7221537
    Abstract: An assembly for coupling a disk to a spindle includes an annular spacer ring adapted to engage the disk and an annular clamp. The spacer ring is constructed at least in part of a plastic material. The clamp is constructed of a material having a modulus and stiffness greater than that of the spacer ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Norbert A. Feliss, Donald Ray Gillis, Reinhard F. Wolter
  • Patent number: 7214188
    Abstract: A medical monitor is disclosed for implantation in a human body for monitoring biological activity and states as detected by implanted sensors. The medical monitor includes at least one hard disk drive. A transmitter and receiver for produces and transmits signals. The medical monitor is in communication with the sensors, by which information on biological activity and states is stored on the at least one disk drive. An enclosure surrounds the at least one hard disk drive, where the enclosure includes sound-proofing materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands, B.V.
    Inventors: Norbert Feliss, Donald Ray Gillis
  • Patent number: 7201719
    Abstract: A medical monitor is disclosed for implantation in a human body for monitoring biological activity and states as detected by implanted sensors. The medical monitor includes an enclosure surrounding at least one hard disk drive, and also includes a transmitter and a receiver for producing and transmitting signals in the radio frequency range. The medical monitor is in communication with the sensors, by which information on biological activity and states is stored on the one or more hard disk drives. It also includes a recharging system including at least one rechargeable battery and an induction electronics interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands, B.V.
    Inventors: Norbert Feliss, Donald Ray Gillis, Andrei Khrushudov, Remmelt Pit
  • Patent number: 7201718
    Abstract: A medical monitor is disclosed for implantation in a human body for monitoring biological activity and states as detected by implanted sensors. The medical monitor includes at least one hard disk drive. A transmitter and receiver produces and receives signals. The medical monitor is in communication with the sensors, by which information on biological activity and states is stored on the at least one disk drive. An enclosure surrounds the at least one hard disk drive, and an electrical grounding system is included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands, B.V.
    Inventors: Norbert Feliss, Donald Ray Gillis, Karl Arthur Flechsig
  • Patent number: 7196869
    Abstract: An assembly for coupling a disk to a spindle includes an annular spacer ring adapted to engage the disk and an annular clamp. The spacer ring is constructed at least in part of a plastic material. The clamp is constructed of a material having a modulus and stiffness greater than that of the spacer ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Norbert A. Feliss, Donald Ray Gillis, Reinhard F. Wolter
  • Patent number: 7192398
    Abstract: A medical monitor is disclosed for implantation in a human body for monitoring biological activity and states as detected by implanted sensors. The medical monitor includes at least one hard disk drive. An enclosure surrounds the at least one hard disk drive. The medical monitor is in communication with the sensors, by which information on biological activity and states is stored on the at least one hard disk drive. A transmitter and receiver produces and transmits signals, and include a GPS transmitter and a receiver for producing and receiving transmission signals in the radio frequency range, where the GPS sends satellite communication signals via the public GPS frequencies and protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands, B.V.
    Inventors: Norbert Feliss, Donald Ray Gillis, Karl Arthur Flechsig
  • Patent number: 7187517
    Abstract: A magnetic brake to prevent rotation of the spindle motor and disk(s). The magnetic brake includes two magnets, one attached to the spindle, clamp, disk, or motor, and the other magnet is coupled to the drive housing or to a movable member. Before the drive is installed in a computer, storage array, etc., the magnet coupled to the housing is removed externally, or the movable member is moved to free rotation of the spindle motor and disk(s). The movable member can also be caused to move automatically when a cable is attached to the drive. An alternate embodiment wraps a wire coil around one of the magnets to counter its magnetism upon energization, freeing the spindle motor and disk(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Norbert A. Feliss, Donald Ray Gillis, Reinhard F. Wolter
  • Patent number: 7176703
    Abstract: An electrical test probe has a thermally activated, configurable shape probe tip. At low temperatures, the probe tip is in a generally hooked configuration. Upon heating, the probe tip is converted to a generally straight configuration. The probe tip is composed of a spring component bonded to a shape memory alloy component. The straight configuration allows placement of the probe between tightly spaced circuit pins, while the hooked configuration provides for tight gripping of a circuit pin during measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Karl Arthur Flechsig, Donald Ray Gillis, Sylvia Lui Lee
  • Patent number: 7164549
    Abstract: A system and method for loading a head onto a specified load zone of a disk includes reading positional index information for determining a position of a pre-specified load zone of a disk. When to load a head is determined based on the positional index information so that the head will load onto the load zone, the load zone having an arc of less than 360 degrees. The head is loaded from a ramp onto the load zone at the proper time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Karl Arthur Flechsig, Donald Ray Gillis, Shozo Saegusa, Reinhard F. Wolter
  • Patent number: 7154698
    Abstract: A system and method for loading a head onto a specified load zone of a disk includes reading positional index information for determining a position of a pre-specified load zone of a disk. When to load a head is determined based on the positional index information so that the head will load onto the load zone, the load zone having an arc of less than 360 degrees. The head is loaded from a ramp onto the load zone at the proper time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Karl Arthur Flechsig, Donald Ray Gillis, Shozo Saegusa, Reinhard F. Wolter
  • Patent number: 7146710
    Abstract: A method for creating a hard drive includes installing a slider in a disk drive having at least one disk lubricated with a first stage lubricant. The slider is designed to be in contact with the disk at initial use. The slider is burnished. A second stage lubricant is added to the disk after the burnishing step. The first stage lubricant provides less lubrication than the second stage lubricant, allowing the slider to be burnished in a controllable manner during the burnishing step. The second stage lubricant then provides lubrication to the disk during use by the end consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Walton Fong, Donald Ray Gillis, Remmelt Pit, Mike Suk
  • Patent number: 7142390
    Abstract: An assembly for coupling a disk to a spindle includes a lower layer adapted to engage the disk and an upper layer constructed of a material having a stiffness greater than that of the lower layer. The upper and/or lower layer has protrusions extending therefrom for mating with receiving areas of the other layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Norbert A. Feliss, Donald Ray Gillis, Reinhard F. Wolter
  • Patent number: 7119979
    Abstract: A method for measuring the clearance of a slider over a rotating disk by inducing a collision between the slider and the disk is described. After the normal flying height of the slider is established, the slider is driven into a collision with the rotating disk surface by applying a DC or AC voltage between the slider and the disk. The clearance data can be extracted from the induced collision by measuring a parameter, such as the change in the amplitude of the readback signal from the magnetic sensor, which is related to fly-height at the normal fly-height and at the disk surface. The two data points can then be used to derive the clearance. One embodiment uses a single beam interferometer to derive the vibrational displacement of the collision event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Walton Fong, Donald Ray Gillis, Bernhard E. Knigge, Remmelt Pit, Mike Suk
  • Patent number: 7094129
    Abstract: A slider burnishing method is introduced, in which the slider is brought into a predetermined surface contact with the rotating disk for a specified period. The predetermined surface contact end the specified time period are selected together with the surface condition of the rotating hard disk, such that smoothened slider surface is abrasively formed. The smoothened slider surface is substantially parallel to the disk surface and thus provides reduced contact pressure during eventual operational contacting. In addition, the smoothened slider surface creates a constant gap together with the disk surface, which enhances the aerodynamic properties of the air bearing surface and stabilizes a small fly height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Donald Ray Gillis, Kris Victor Schouterden
  • Patent number: 7092204
    Abstract: An assembly for coupling a disk to a spindle includes a lower layer adapted to engage the disk and an upper layer constructed of a material having a stiffness greater than that of the lower layer. The upper and/or lower layer has protrusions extending therefrom for mating with receiving areas of the other layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Norbert A. Feliss, Donald Ray Gillis, Reinhard F. Wolter
  • Patent number: 7052786
    Abstract: A magnetic disk having a low surface microwaviness at a scale of about 200 microns and higher, and a high surface roughness at a scale of less than about a length of a pad of a slider for writing to the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Global StorageTechnologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Donald Ray Gillis, Remmelt Pit, Vedantham Raman, Reinhard F. Wolter
  • Patent number: 7012788
    Abstract: A hard disk drive utilizes a spacer ring at its inner diameter to load and unload the read/write heads. During relatively small shock events, the actuator is retained relative to the disk through a circumferential groove in the spacer ring. A complementary protrusion on the load/unload tab extends from the actuator into the groove to complete the retention. A tribological coating on the spacer ring and/or protrusion significantly reduces wear therebetween. However, during large shock events an inertial latch is used by the system to hold the actuator in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Donald Ray Gillis, Mike Suk
  • Patent number: 6954327
    Abstract: A method of thermally bonding lubricant over a surface of a magnetic disk in a disk drive involves providing a heat source at an air bearing surface (ABS) of a magnetic head; causing the heat source to be energized to produce heat; and causing the magnetic head to be moved across a surface portion of a magnetic disk so that lubricant is thermally bonded over the surface portion from the heat produced by the heat source. Preferably, this lubricant bonding mode of operation is performed on a regular or periodic basis. Alternatively, the mode is activated based on a predetermined environmental condition (e.g. temperature or humidity) or from an external signal. In one example, the heat source is comprised of first and/or second pole pieces of the magnetic head through which an electrical current is passed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, B.V.
    Inventors: Donald Ray Gillis, Andrei Khurshudov