Patents by Inventor Frank A. Goodknight
Frank A. Goodknight 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).
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Patent number: 7965472Abstract: A transducer for a digital storage apparatus that reads and writes data to a tape as the tape is moved in a tape drive path across the transducer. The transducer comprises a base and a head assembly that is attached to the base and movable relative to the base in a linear path that is perpendicular to the tape drive path. A guide assembly guides the movement of the head assembly that has a track that is partially defined by the head and partially defined by the base. The guide assembly includes at least two balls that are disposed in the track between the base and the head assembly. A magnetic coupling retains the balls within the track. A linear motor operatively engages the head assembly to move the head assembly to follow the tape.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2007Date of Patent: June 21, 2011Assignee: Oracle America, Inc.Inventors: Darryl W. Yeakley, Frank A. Goodknight
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Patent number: 7944649Abstract: A transducer positioning apparatus is provided that supports a read/write head on a data storage machine and biases the head against rotation. The transducer positioning apparatus may comprise a base that includes a linear drive motor and a support frame to which the read/write head is secured. The support frame is reciprocally driven by the linear drive motor relative to the base. A magnetic coupling is provided between the base and the support frame that resists movement of the frame other than the reciprocal movement of the support frame relative to the base. A method is also disclosed for magnetically biasing a movable head of a transducer against rotation.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2007Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignee: Oracle America, Inc.Inventors: Darryl W. Yeakley, Frank A. Goodknight
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Patent number: 7542234Abstract: Apparatus is provided for a tape head actuator having a guide bearing preload mechanism, wherein the preload mechanism utilizes a magnet or magnets and an elongated steel member. These magnetic components interact to produce a force that is selectively directed to preload the guide bearings. In addition, the magnetic components produce a field used to shield the tape head from stray magnetic fields. In a useful embodiment of the invention, directed to apparatus for a tape transducer positioning mechanism, a carriage is disposed for movement along a path of travel relative to a support structure, to selectively position a tape transducer. One or more bearings are joined to the carriage, to support the carriage for movement along the path of travel.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2005Date of Patent: June 2, 2009Assignee: Storage Technology CorporationInventors: Frank Goodknight, Darryl Wayne Yeakley
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Publication number: 20080253031Abstract: A transducer positioning apparatus is provided that supports a read/write head on a data storage machine and biases the head against rotation. The transducer positioning apparatus may comprise a base that includes a linear drive motor and a support frame to which the read/write head is secured. The support frame is reciprocally driven by the linear drive motor relative to the base. A magnetic coupling is provided between the base and the support frame that resists movement of the frame other than the reciprocal movement of the support frame relative to the base. A method is also disclosed for magnetically biasing a movable head of a transducer against rotation.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2007Publication date: October 16, 2008Applicant: SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Darryl W. Yeakley, Frank A. Goodknight
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Publication number: 20080253029Abstract: A transducer for a digital storage apparatus that reads and writes data to a tape as the tape is moved in a tape drive path across the transducer. The transducer comprises a base and a head assembly that is attached to the base and movable relative to the base in a linear path that is perpendicular to the tape drive path. A guide assembly guides the movement of the head assembly that has a track that is partially defined by the head and partially defined by the base. The guide assembly includes at least two balls that are disposed in the track between the base and the head assembly. A magnetic coupling retains the balls within the track. A linear motor operatively engages the head assembly to move the head assembly to follow the tape. A method is provided for retaining a movable head of a transducer on a base of the transducer with a magnetic coupling.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2007Publication date: October 16, 2008Applicant: SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Darryl W. Yeakley, Frank A. Goodknight
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Patent number: 7218480Abstract: In a tape data storage arrangement, a magnetic detent is provided to maintain a tape read/write head in selected positions with respect to the tape, during data transfer. The tape is mounted on a carriage movable between first and second positions, with respect to a support structure, and a detent member is fixably joined to the support structure. First and second detent components mounted on the carriage engage the detent member by means of a magnetic force, when the carriage is moved to the first and second positions, respectively. Usefully, the detent member is a magnet and the first and second components comprise steel. Alternatively, the detent member comprises steel, and the first and second components are both magnets.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2004Date of Patent: May 15, 2007Assignee: Storage Technology CorporationInventors: Darryl Wayne Yeakley, Frank Goodknight
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Patent number: 6246549Abstract: The reaction force decoupling system, as implemented in a tape drive, reduces the motion that is coupled back into the tape cartridge from the reaction force that is generated by the operation of the read/write head actuator. The read/write head actuator consists of a magnet assembly which produces a large magnetic field in an annular gap and a coil of wire which operates freely in the magnetic field of the gap. The magnet assembly is mounted to the base of the drive and the coil is attached to the read/write head carriage. When current is applied to the coil, a force is produced between the coil and the magnet assembly to move the read/write head carriage. The magnet assembly is disconnected from the base of the drive and mounted on dual flexures arranged in a four bar linkage parallel guide arrangement. The reaction forces that are generated by the operation of the read/write head actuator must deflect the flexures to apply a load to the base of the drive.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 1999Date of Patent: June 12, 2001Assignee: Storage Technology CorporationInventors: Christian Allen Todd, Donovan Milo Janssen, Lester Marvin Yeakley, Frank Goodknight
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Patent number: 5992782Abstract: A high torsional stiffness, low axial, angular and radial deflection stiffness tape drive coupling apparatus is used for driving a cassette reel with a drive motor. The apparatus includes a base which is attached to the drive motor, a compression spring disposed against the base, and a flexure member positioned adjacent the base. The flexure member includes a plurality of orthogonally extending flexible arms, at least two of the arms having a distal end connected with the base. A driver is engageable with the cassette reel and is connected with at least two of the flexible arms. An apparatus is provided for limiting axial separation of the base and driver while allowing radial and angular misalignment therebetween. Accordingly, the driver is movable axially and angularly with respect to the base by compression of the spring between the driver and base. The driver is movable radially with respect to the drive axis by flexion of at least two of the plurality of flexible arms.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 1997Date of Patent: November 30, 1999Assignee: Storage Technology CorporationInventor: Frank A. Goodknight
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Patent number: 5303034Abstract: A robotic arm calibration system is described which comprises a video line scan camera vision system used in conjunction with a plurality of novel "N"-shaped targets in an automated tape storage library. The targeting system of the present invention provides, with a single horizontal video scan of the target, all of the data necessary to enable calculation of a reference point of the robotic arm with respect to each target to thereby obtain precise robotic arm calibration in relationship to the library system workspace. The position of the robotic arm is determined using the vision system in conjunction with calibration targets which are located within the tape cartridge library, in addition to a target located on the robotic arm. The present system functions independently of the spacing between the arm retrieval mechanism and the tape cartridge storage cells.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 1992Date of Patent: April 12, 1994Assignee: Storage Technology CorporationInventors: Larry K. Carmichael, Frank A. Goodknight, Michael E. Moy, Robert W. Schmidt
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Patent number: 4932826Abstract: A storage and retrieval subsystem in a data processing system includes a plurality of magnetic tape cartridges, a host computer, and a library storage module storing the plurality of magnetic tape cartridges in substantially upright positions. The library storage module includes a first cylindrical array of storage cells centered about a vertical axis, a second cylindrical array concentrically arranged about the first array, and a library tape unit including a plurality of tape drives, each of the tape drives being adapted to receive one of the magnetic tape cartridges in a substantially horizontal transducing position. A robot within the library storage module is used to transfer selected ones of the magnetic tape cartridges between their substantially upright positions and the substantially horizontal transducing positions at a selected tape drive.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 1989Date of Patent: June 12, 1990Assignee: Storage Technology CorporationInventors: Michael E. Moy, Kelly J. Beavers, Stuart W. Bray, Frank A. Goodknight, Paul Kummli, Eugene Kutasy, Raymond L. Lucchesi, Frederick G. Munro, Richard G. Sellke, Thomas J. Studebaker
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Patent number: 4928245Abstract: A storage and retrieval subsystem in a data processing system includes a plurality or magnetic tape cartridges, a host computer, and a library storage module storing the plurality of magnetic tape cartridges in substantially upright positions. The library storage module includes a first cylindrical array of storage cells centered about a vertical axis, a second cylindrical array concentrically arranged about the first array, and a library tape unit including a plurality of tape drives, each of the tape drives being adapted to receive one of the magnetic tape cartridges in a substantially horizontal transducing position. A robot within the library storage module is used to transfer selected ones of the magnetic tape cartridges between their substantially upright positions and the substantially horizontal transducing positions at a selected tape drive.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 1989Date of Patent: May 22, 1990Assignee: Storage Technology CorporationInventors: Michael E. Moy, Kelly J. Beavers, Stuart W. Bray, Frank A. Goodknight, Paul Kummli, Eugene Kutasy, Raymond L. Lucchesi, Frederick G. Munro, Richard G. Sellke, Thomas J. Studebaker
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Patent number: 4864511Abstract: A storage and retrieval subsystem in a data processing system includes a plurality of magnetic tape cartridges, a host computer, and a library storage module storing the plurality of magnetic tape cartridges in substantially upright positions. The library storage module includes a first cylindrical array of storage cells centered about a vertical axis, a second cylindrical array concentrically arranged about the first array, and a library tape unit including a plurality of tape drives, each of the tape drives being adapted to receive one of the magnetic tape cartridges in a substantially horizontal transducing position. A robot within the library storage module is used to transfer selected ones of the magnetic tape cartridges between their substantially upright positions and the substantially horizontal transducing positions at a selected tape drive.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 1987Date of Patent: September 5, 1989Assignee: Storage Technology CorporationInventors: Michael E. Moy, Stuart W. Bray, Paul Kummli, Kelly J. Beavers, Frank Goodknight, James R. Baer, Timothy C. Hughes, John L. Seabury, Steven F. Nugent, Thomas J. Studebaker, Eugene Kutasy, Richard G. Sellke