Patents by Inventor Erik J. Hutchinson

Erik J. Hutchinson 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: 10844431
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods to a DNA sequencing device and related methods that includes a substrate, a nanochannel formed in the substrate, a first electrode, a second electrode arranged opposite the first electrode, a distance between the first and second electrodes defining an electrode gap that is exposed within the nanochannel, and at least one actuator operable to move at least one of the first and second electrodes to adjust a size of the electrode gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Young Chang, Kim Yang Lee, David S. Kuo, Erik J. Hutchinson
  • Patent number: 10446181
    Abstract: A transducing head having a media-facing surface includes a transducer element, a bottom shield positioned below the transducer element, a heater element positioned below the bottom shield, a heat transfer block positioned below the heater element, and a push block assembly. A first portion of the push block assembly is positioned below a bottom edge of the bottom shield, and a second portion of the push block assembly is located behind the bottom shield relative to the media-facing surface of the transducing head and extends above the bottom edge of the bottom shield, with the first and second portions of the push block assembly spaced from each other. The second portion of the push block assembly overlaps the heater element, and the heater element is positioned between the heat transfer block and at least the second portion of the push block assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventor: Erik J. Hutchinson
  • Patent number: 10332549
    Abstract: A slider includes a reader element, a bottom shield located adjacent to the reader element, a top shield located adjacent to the reader element, a heater, a substrate located below the reader element, the top shield, the bottom shield and the heater, and a cap substantially surrounding the reader element, the top shield, the bottom shield and the heater. The cap includes a base coat layer comprising a first electrically insulative cap material adjoining the substrate, and an overcoat layer comprising a second electrically insulative cap material adjoining the base coat layer opposite the substrate. The base coat layer and the overcoat layer meet at an interface located at or below the top shield. The first and second electrically insulative cap materials are different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Erik J Hutchinson, Paul J Sonda, Lihong Zhang, Xiong Liu
  • Patent number: 10255937
    Abstract: A contact sensor is provided at or near an air bearing surface of a slider and having a temperature coefficient of resistance. The contact sensor is coupled to a lead arrangement comprising a first lead and a second lead. The contact sensor comprises a sensor element, a first peripheral wing comprising an inner wing connected to the sensor element and an outer wing connected to the first lead, and a second peripheral wing comprising an inner wing connected to the sensor element and an outer wing connected to the second lead. An electrically conductive overlay covers at least the outer wings of the first and second peripheral wings and some or all of the first and second electrical leads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Gary Joseph Kunkel, Jin Fang, Erik J. Hutchinson
  • Patent number: 10204645
    Abstract: Implementations described and claimed herein includes a storage device comprising a transducer head including at least one pair of read/write elements and a heat element to thermally protrude regions of the transducer head including the read/write elements. According to one implementation, the heat element includes at least one conductive portion of locally decreased resistance proximal to and between the pair of read/write elements to direct the thermally protruded close point away from a midpoint between the read/write elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Erik J. Hutchinson, Paul J. Sonda, Richard E. Martin
  • Patent number: 10049693
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an apparatus comprising a slider. The slider comprises a substrate comprising a media-facing surface, a first side surface perpendicular to the media-facing surface, and a second side surface opposite the first side surface. A heat sink layer is formed proximate to and thermally coupled to the first side surface of the substrate. A write transducer comprises a waveguide core that at least partially extends from the top surface to the media-facing surface. The waveguide core is formed proximate to and thermally coupled to the heat sink layer. A read transducer is formed proximate to the write transducer such that the read transducer is closer to a trailing edge of the slider than the write transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Erik J. Hutchinson, John Wolf
  • Publication number: 20180223354
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods to a DNA sequencing device and related methods that includes a substrate, a nanochannel formed in the substrate, a first electrode, a second electrode arranged opposite the first electrode, a distance between the first and second electrodes defining an electrode gap that is exposed within the nanochannel, and at least one actuator operable to move at least one of the first and second electrodes to adjust a size of the electrode gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Young CHANG, Kim Yang LEE, David S. KUO, Erik J. HUTCHINSON
  • Publication number: 20180174603
    Abstract: Implementations described and claimed herein includes a storage device comprising a transducer heat including at least one pair of read/write elements and a heat shaped to thermally protrude regions of the transducer head including the read/write elements. According to one implementation, the heat element includes at least one conductive portion of locally decreased resistance proximal to and between the pair of read/write elements to direct the thermally protruded close point away from a midpoint between the read/write elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Erik J. Hutchinson, Paul J. Sonda, Richard E. Martin
  • Patent number: 9978405
    Abstract: A slider configured for heat-assisted magnetic recording comprises an air bearing surface (ABS), a writer, and a close point of the writer. A plurality of heat producing or dissipating components are situated a predetermined distance from a vertical plane that is normal to the ABS and aligned with the close point. A location of the writer close point remains substantially consistent irrespective of which of the plurality of heat producing or dissipating components are energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Zoran Jandric, Vasudevan Ramaswamy, Erik J. Hutchinson, John Charles Duda
  • Publication number: 20180040344
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an apparatus comprising a slider. The slider comprises a substrate comprising a media-facing surface, a first side surface perpendicular to the media-facing surface, and a second side surface opposite the first side surface. A heat sink layer is formed proximate to and thermally coupled to the first side surface of the substrate. A write transducer comprises a waveguide core that at least partially extends from the top surface to the media-facing surface. The waveguide core is formed proximate to and thermally coupled to the heat sink layer. A read transducer is formed proximate to the write transducer such that the read transducer is closer to a trailing edge of the slider than the write transducer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Erik J. Hutchinson, John Wolf
  • Patent number: 9842614
    Abstract: Implementations described and claimed herein includes a storage device comprising a transducer heat including at least one pair of read/write elements and a heat shaped to thermally protrude regions of the transducer head including the read/write elements. According to one implementation, the heat element includes at least one conductive portion of locally decreased resistance proximal to and between the pair of read/write elements to direct the thermally protruded close point away from a midpoint between the read/write elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Erik J. Hutchinson, Paul J. Sonda, Richard E. Martin
  • Patent number: 9842618
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a slider of a heat-assisted magnetic recording head. The slider comprises an air bearing surface, a substrate, and a plurality of electrical bond pads coupled to bias sources. A writer is positioned proximate the substrate. The writer comprises write coils coupled between first and second bond pads. At least one heater is coupled between the first and second bond pads. The at least one heater is disposed within the writer and is configured to thermally actuate the air bearing surface of the writer. A reader is disposed on the slider such that the writer is between the substrate and the reader. Write induced protrusion of the air bearing surface of the writer is moderated by stiffness of the substrate proximate the writer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Erik J. Hutchinson, John Wolf, Todd Michael Lammers
  • Publication number: 20170256275
    Abstract: Implementations described and claimed herein includes a storage device comprising a transducer heat including at least one pair of read/write elements and a heat shaped to thermally protrude regions of the transducer head including the read/write elements. According to one implementation, the heat element includes at least one conductive portion of locally decreased resistance proximal to and between the pair of read/write elements to direct the thermally protruded close point away from a midpoint between the read/write elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: Erik J. Hutchinson, Paul J. Sonda, Richard E. Martin
  • Patent number: 9697852
    Abstract: A data writer may be configured with at least a write pole continuously extending from an air bearing surface to a via. The write pole can contact at least one yoke that contacts the write pole. The write pole and yoke may each be disposed between and separated from a write coil that has a single turn and continuously extends to opposite sides of the write pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: JianHua Xue, Debin Wang, Huaqing Yin, John M. Wolf, Erik J. Hutchinson, Wei Tian, Yonghua Chen
  • Publication number: 20170133043
    Abstract: A data writer may be configured with at least a write pole continuously extending from an air bearing surface to a via. The write pole can contact at least one yoke that contacts the write pole. The write pole and yoke may each be disposed between and separated from a write coil that has a single turn and continuously extends to opposite sides of the write pole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: JianHua Xue, Debin Wang, Huaqing Yin, John M. Wolf, Erik J. Hutchinson, Wei Tian, Yonghua Chen
  • Patent number: 8760808
    Abstract: An apparatus that includes a writer that includes a write pole, at least one return pole, a writer coil and a write pole tip, wherein the write coil wraps around the write pole such that the flow of electrical current through the write coil generates a magnetic flux at the write pole tip, and wherein the write coil has a writer coil shape; and a heater that includes a resistive material, wherein the heater has a heater shape that substantially matches the writer coil shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Richard Heim, Erik J. Hutchinson, Steve A. Mastain, Jay A. Loven, Anthony M. Mack
  • Patent number: 8724263
    Abstract: A head using heaters or actuators to control head media spacing is disclosed. In embodiments disclosed the heaters are selectively energized to control a close point of the head for read and/or write operations. As disclosed power is supplied to multiple heaters to generate heat induced protrusion data and the heat induced protrusion data is used to apply power to the multiple heaters for head media spacing control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Erik J. Hutchinson, Daniel P. Burbank, Ladislay R. Pust
  • Publication number: 20130188281
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a head includes a write coil having multiple coil turns. A portion of the multiple coil turns are positioned near an air bearing surface and form a v- or u-shape. In certain embodiments, a head includes a write coil having multiple coil turns. The coil turns closets to an air bearing surface are tapered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventor: Erik J. Hutchinson
  • Publication number: 20120327529
    Abstract: A head using heaters or actuators to control head media spacing is disclosed. In embodiments disclosed the heaters are selectively energized to control a close point of the head for read and/or write operations. As disclosed power is supplied to multiple heaters to generate heat induced protrusion data and the heat induced protrusion data is used to apply power to the multiple heaters for head media spacing control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Erik J. Hutchinson, Daniel P. Burbank, Ladislav R. Pust
  • Publication number: 20110267715
    Abstract: An apparatus that includes a writer that includes a write pole, at least one return pole, a writer coil and a write pole tip, wherein the write coil wraps around the write pole such that the flow of electrical current through the write coil generates a magnetic flux at the write pole tip, and wherein the write coil has a writer coil shape; and a heater that includes a resistive material, wherein the heater has a heater shape that substantially matches the writer coil shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Richard Heim, Erik J. Hutchinson, Steve A. Mastain, Jay A. Loven, Anthony M. Mack