Patents by Inventor Haven A. Mercer

Haven A. Mercer 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: 9524739
    Abstract: Various embodiments concern a suspension assembly of a disk drive. The suspension assembly includes a load beam comprising a major planar area formed from a substrate. The load beam further comprises a window in the substrate, a dimple formed from the substrate, and a flange. The flange is a region of the major planar area that extends partially around the dimple but does not extend along an edge of the dimple. The edge of the dimple is adjacent to the window. The dimple is in contact with the flexure. A HAMR block or other element can extend through the window. The lack of a full flange can minimize the necessary clearance between the dimple and the HAMR block or other element and thereby allow the window to be enlarged to accommodate the HAMR block or other element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeffry S. Bennin, Rick R. Drape, Thomas J. Glaeser, Corey S. Hartmann, Haven A. Mercer, Daniel P. Noga
  • Publication number: 20150356987
    Abstract: Various embodiments concern a suspension assembly of a disk drive. The suspension assembly includes a load beam comprising a major planar area formed from a substrate. The load beam further comprises a window in the substrate, a dimple formed from the substrate, and a flange. The flange is a region of the major planar area that extends partially around the dimple but does not extend along an edge of the dimple. The edge of the dimple is adjacent to the window. The dimple is in contact with the flexure. A HAMR block or other element can extend through the window. The lack of a full flange can minimize the necessary clearance between the dimple and the HAMR block or other element and thereby allow the window to be enlarged to accommodate the HAMR block or other element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Applicant: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeffry S. Bennin, Rick R. Drape, Thomas J. Glaeser, Corey S. Hartmann, Haven A. Mercer, Daniel P. Noga
  • Patent number: 9007726
    Abstract: Various embodiments concern a suspension assembly of a disk drive. The suspension assembly includes a load beam comprising a major planar area formed from a substrate. The load beam further comprises a window in the substrate, a dimple formed from the substrate, and a flange. The flange is a region of the major planar area that extends partially around the dimple but does not extend along an edge of the dimple. The edge of the dimple is adjacent to the window. The dimple is in contact with the flexure. A HAMR block or other element can extend through the window. The lack of a full flange can minimize the necessary clearance between the dimple and the HAMR block or other element and thereby allow the window to be enlarged to accommodate the HAMR block or other element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeffry S. Bennin, Rick R. Drape, Thomas J. Glaeser, Corey S. Hartmann, Haven A. Mercer, Daniel P. Noga
  • Patent number: 9001469
    Abstract: Various embodiments concern a head suspension system having a load beam. The lead beam comprises a metal base having a proximal portion and a distal portion. Two opposing rails extend along the proximal and distal portions. The load beam has a void in the metal base separating the proximal portion from the distal portion, the void extending between the rails. A pair of microactuators is coupled to each of the proximal portion and the distal portion such that each microactuator extends across the void. The microactuators bend the rails to move the distal portion along a X-Y plane relative to the proximal portion. Additionally, the rails stiffen the load beam to resist movement between the first portion and the second portion along a Z-axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Jacob D. Bjorstrom, Mark A. Miller, Haven A. Mercer
  • Publication number: 20150016235
    Abstract: Various embodiments concern a suspension assembly of a disk drive. The suspension assembly includes a load beam comprising a major planar area formed from a substrate. The load beam further comprises a window in the substrate, a dimple formed from the substrate, and a flange. The flange is a region of the major planar area that extends partially around the dimple but does not extend along an edge of the dimple. The edge of the dimple is adjacent to the window. The dimple is in contact with the flexure. A HAMR block or other element can extend through the window. The lack of a full flange can minimize the necessary clearance between the dimple and the HAMR block or other element and thereby allow the window to be enlarged to accommodate the HAMR block or other element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeffry S. Bennin, Rick R. Drape, Thomas J. Glaeser, Corey S. Hartmann, Haven A. Mercer, Daniel P. Noga
  • Patent number: 8717712
    Abstract: Various embodiments concern a suspension assembly of a disk drive. The suspension assembly includes a load beam comprising a major planar area formed from a substrate. The load beam further comprises a window in the substrate, a dimple formed from the substrate, and a flange. The flange is a region of the major planar area that extends partially around the dimple but does not extend along an edge of the dimple. The edge of the dimple is adjacent to the window. The dimple is in contact with the flexure. A HAMR block or other element can extend through the window. The lack of a full flange can minimize the necessary clearance between the dimple and the HAMR block or other element and thereby allow the window to be enlarged to accommodate the HAMR block or other element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeffry S. Bennin, Rick R. Drape, Thomas J. Glaeser, Corey S. Hartmann, Haven A. Mercer, Daniel P. Noga
  • Publication number: 20130242434
    Abstract: Various embodiments concern a head suspension system having a load beam. The lead beam comprises a metal base having a proximal portion and a distal portion. Two opposing rails extend along the proximal and distal portions. The load beam has a void in the metal base separating the proximal portion from the distal portion, the void extending between the rails. A pair of microactuators is coupled to each of the proximal portion and the distal portion such that each microactuator extends across the void. The microactuators bend the rails to move the distal portion along a X-Y plane relative to the proximal portion. Additionally, the rails stiffen the load beam to resist movement between the first portion and the second portion along a Z-axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: HUTCHINSON TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Jacob D. Bjorstrom, Mark A. Miller, Haven A. Mercer