Patents by Inventor Garold W. Plonczak

Garold W. Plonczak 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: 10930307
    Abstract: An approach to a reduced-head hard disk drive (HDD) involves an actuator elevator assembly for moving an actuator assembly along at least one support feature to provide a head slider access to at least two different disk media of a disk stack. The HDD includes a piezoelectric-based locking mechanism, including at least one piezoelectric actuator, movably coupled with the support feature, such that actuation of the actuator either locks or unlocks the locking mechanism relative to the support feature. When unlocked, the actuator assembly can be translated along the length of the disk stack via the actuator elevator assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bikash Sukla, David K. Myers, Jon M. Garbarino, Garold W. Plonczak
  • Publication number: 20200227077
    Abstract: An approach to a reduced-head hard disk drive (HDD) involves an actuator elevator assembly for moving an actuator assembly along at least one support feature to provide a head slider access to at least two different disk media of a disk stack. The HDD includes a piezoelectric-based locking mechanism, including at least one piezoelectric actuator, movably coupled with the support feature, such that actuation of the actuator either locks or unlocks the locking mechanism relative to the support feature. When unlocked, the actuator assembly can be translated along the length of the disk stack via the actuator elevator assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Bikash Sukla, David K. Myers, Jon M. Garbarino, Garold W. Plonczak
  • Patent number: 4743987
    Abstract: A dual motor linear actuator is disclosed for use in a magnetic disc drive device. It includes a carriage reciprocatably guided between a pair of guide rails, with the accessing transducers being mounted to its inner end. Separate rectangular drive coils are affixed in symmetrical outboard relationship at the sides of the body of the carriage. The actuator assembly further includes two pairs of slab shaped magnets mounted to E-shaped magnet support structures that are integrally formed with the base of the disc drive device. The magnets are mounted to form two air gaps that are symmetrically disposed relative to a center plane and so that they respectively cooperate with the drive coils to apply motive forces on the carriage generally along two lines that are equidistantly spaced from the aforesaid plane of symmetry. The outer ends of pole pieces of the two magnet support structures are rigidly interconnected by a single plate that acts as an end pole piece for both magnet support structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1988
    Assignee: Atasi Corporation
    Inventors: Paul L. Farmer, Frank C. Gibeau, Stanley F. Brown, Garold W. Plonczak
  • Patent number: 4553183
    Abstract: A fixed disc drive type of memory storage devices includes an annular elastomeric pad that is engaged between the actuator base plate and a bowl-shaped lower casing. The pad is concentric with the spindle axis and forms an air-tight seal at the edge of a circular opening in the lower casing that prevents dust from entering the housing. The base plate has a circular platform portion with the hub for the spindle shaft being formed at its center. The circular form of the opening and platform portion are such that any temperature differential across the lower housing induces an oil-scanning type of deformation in the base plate so that the spindle does not tilt relative to the plane of motion of the transducers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1985
    Assignee: Atasi Corporation
    Inventors: Stanley F. Brown, Garold W. Plonczak
  • Patent number: 4491888
    Abstract: A fixed disc drive type of rotating disc memory storage device includes an annular elastomeric pad that is engaged between the actuator base plate and a bowl-shaped casing. The base plate has a circular platform portion with the boss for the spindle shaft for the discs being formed at its center. The annular pad forms an air-tight seal at the edge of a circular opening in the lower casing to prevent dust from entering the housing. The annular pad is engaged against the entire side marginal area of the base plate so that it dampens resonant vibrations in the base plate thus providing stable servo response within the range of said resonant vibration range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1985
    Assignee: Atasi Corporation
    Inventors: Stanley F. Brown, Garold W. Plonczak
  • Patent number: 4414594
    Abstract: A dual motor linear actuator is disclosed for use in a magnetic disc drive device. It includes a carriage reciprocatably guided between a pair of guide rails, with the accessing transducers being mounted to its inner end. Separate rectangular drive coils are affixed in symmetrical outboard relationship at the sides of the body of the carriage. The actuator assembly further includes two pairs of slab shaped magnets mounted to E-shaped magnet support structures that are integrally formed with the base of the disc drive device. The magnets are mounted to form two air gaps that are symmetrically disposed relative to a center plane and so that they respectively cooperate with the drive coils to apply motive forces on the carriage generally along two lines that are equidistantly spaced from the aforesaid plane of symmetry. The outer ends of pole pieces of the two magnet support structures are rigidly interconnected by a single plate that acts as an end pole piece for both magnet support structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1983
    Assignee: Atasi Corporation
    Inventors: Paul L. Farmer, Frank C. Gibeau, Stanley F. Brown, Garold W. Plonczak
  • Patent number: RE32285
    Abstract: A dual motor linear actuator is disclosed for use in a magnetic disc drive device. It includes a carriage reciprocatably guided between a pair of guide rails, with the accessing transducers being mounted to its inner end. Separate rectangular drive coils are affixed in symmetrical outboard relationship at the sides of the body of the carriage. The actuator assembly further includes two pairs of slab shaped magnets mounted to E-shaped magnet support structures that are integrally formed with the base of the disc drive device. The magnets are mounted to form two air gaps that are symmetrically disposed relative to a center plane and so that they respectively cooperate with the drive coils to apply motive forces on the carriage generally along two lines that are equidistantly spaced from the aforesaid plane of symmetry. The outer ends of pole pieces of the two magnet support structures are rigidly interconnected by a single plate that acts as an end pole piece for both magnet support structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1986
    Assignee: Atasi Corporation
    Inventors: Paul L. Farmer, Frank C. Gibeau, Stanley F. Brown, Garold W. Plonczak