Patents by Inventor Kuok San Ho

Kuok San Ho 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).

  • Publication number: 20220005498
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to spin-orbital torque (SOT) differential reader designs. The SOT differential reader is a multi-terminal device that comprises a first shield, a first spin hall effect layer, a first free layer, a gap layer, a second spin hall effect layer, a second free layer, and a second shield. The gap layer is disposed between the first spin hall effect layer and the second spin hall effect layer. Electrical lead connections are located about the first spin hall effect layer, the second spin hall effect layer, the gap layer, the first shield, and/or the second shield. The electrical lead connections facilitate the flow of current and/or voltage from a negative lead to a positive lead. The positioning of the electrical lead connections and the positioning of the SOT differential layers improves reader resolution without decreasing the shield-to-shield spacing (i.e., read-gap).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Applicant: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Quang LE, Xiaoyong LIU, Zhigang BAI, Zhanjie LI, Kuok San HO, Hisashi TAKANO
  • Publication number: 20220005502
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a magnetic media drive employing a magnetic recording head. The magnetic recording head comprises a first write head and a second write head each coupled to a first pad and a second pad of a slider pad and an electrical circuit coupled to the first and second pads. The first write head is a wide writing write head, and the second write head a narrow writing write head. The electrical circuit comprises a first sub-circuit and a second sub-circuit connected in parallel. The first sub-circuit comprises a capacitor and a connection to a first thermal fly height control (TFC) of the first write head. The second sub-circuit comprises an inductor and a connection to a second TFC of the second write head. The electrical circuit is further connected to a third TFC of a read head, the second write head comprising the read head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Applicant: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Quang LE, Jih-Shiuan LUO, Thao A. NGUYEN, Kuok San HO
  • Publication number: 20210409601
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to optical devices and related methods that facilitate independent control of movement of lenses and image sensors in camera systems. In one example, an image sensor is movable independently of and relative to a lens, and the lens is movable independently of the image sensor. In one example, an optical device includes a lens, and an image sensor disposed below the lens. The image sensor is movable relative to the lens. The optical device includes a plurality of magnets disposed about the lens, a plurality of vertical coil structures coiled in one or more vertical planes, and one or more horizontal coil structures coiled in one or more horizontal planes. The plurality of vertical coil structures are configured to, when powered, move the image sensor relative to the lens. The one or more horizontal coil structures are configured to, when powered, move the lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Quang LE, Zhigang BAI, Xiaoyong LIU, Zhanjie LI, Kuok San HO, Rajeev NAGABHIRAVA
  • Publication number: 20210405131
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to sensor device, such as a magnetic sensor bridge, that utilizes a dual free layer (DFL) structure. The device includes a plurality of resistors that each includes the same DFL structure. Adjacent the DFL structure is a magnetic structure that can include a permanent magnet, an antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer having a synthetic AFM (SAF) structure thereon, a permanent magnetic having a SAF structure thereon, or an AFM layer having a ferromagnetic layer thereon. The DFL structures are aligned with different layers of the magnetic structures to differentiate the resistors. The different alignment and/or different magnetic structures result in a decrease in production time due to reduced complexity and, thus, reduces costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Xiaoyong LIU, Quang LE, Zhigang BAI, Daniele MAURI, Zhanjie LI, Kuok San HO, Thao A. NGUYEN, Rajeev NAGABHIRAVA
  • Publication number: 20210409602
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to optical devices and related methods that facilitate tilt in camera systems, such as tilt of a lens. In one example, an optical device includes a lens, an image sensor disposed below the lens, a plurality of magnets disposed about the lens, and a plurality of: (1) vertical coil structures coiled in one or more vertical planes and (2) horizontal coil structures coiled in one or more horizontal planes. When power is applied, the coil structures can generate magnetic fields that, in the presence of the magnets, cause relative movement of the coil structures and associated structures. The plurality of vertical coil structures are configured to horizontally move the lens. The plurality of horizontal coil structures are configured to tilt the lens when differing electrical power is applied to at least two of the plurality of horizontal coil structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Quang Le, Rajeev Nagabhirava, Kuok San Ho, Zhigang Bai, Zhanjie Li, Xiaoyong Liu, Daniele Mauri
  • Publication number: 20210409600
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to optical devices and related methods that facilitate independent control of movement of lenses and image sensors in camera systems. In one example, an image sensor is movable independently of and relative to a lens, and the lens is movable independently of the image sensor. In one example, an optical device includes a lens, and an image sensor disposed below the lens. The image sensor is movable relative to the lens. The optical device includes a plurality of magnets disposed about the lens, a plurality of vertical coil structures coiled in one or more vertical planes, and one or more horizontal coil structures coiled in one or more horizontal planes. The plurality of vertical coil structures are configured to, when powered, move the image sensor relative to the lens. The one or more horizontal coil structures are configured to, when powered, move the lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Quang Le, Zhigang BAI, Xiaoyong LIU, Zhanjie LI, Kuok San HO, Rajeev NAGABHIRAVA
  • Patent number: 11212447
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to optical devices and related methods that facilitate tilt in camera systems, such as tilt of a lens. In one example, an optical device includes a lens, an image sensor disposed below the lens, a plurality of magnets disposed about the lens, and a plurality of: (1) vertical coil structures coiled in one or more vertical planes and (2) horizontal coil structures coiled in one or more horizontal planes. When power is applied, the coil structures can generate magnetic fields that, in the presence of the magnets, cause relative movement of the coil structures and associated structures. The plurality of vertical coil structures are configured to horizontally move the lens. The plurality of horizontal coil structures are configured to tilt the lens when differing electrical power is applied to at least two of the plurality of horizontal coil structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Quang Le, Rajeev Nagabhirava, Kuok San Ho, Zhigang Bai, Zhanjie Li, Xiaoyong Liu, Daniele Mauri
  • Patent number: 11205446
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to magnetic media devices, and more specifically, to a magnetic media drive employing a magnetic recording head. The recording head includes a main pole, a trailing shield hot seed layer, a spin Hall layer disposed between the main pole and the trailing shield hot seed layer, and a spin-torque layer disposed between the main pole and the trailing shield hot seed layer. Spin-orbit torque (SOT) is generated from the spin Hall layer. The spin-torque layer magnetization switching or precession is induced by the SOT. The SOT based head reduces the switching current and the Vjump due to higher spin polarization ratio, which improves energy efficiency. In addition, the spin Hall layer and the spin-torque layer are easier to form compared to the conventional pseudo spin-valve structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Zhanjie Li, Suping Song, Kuok San Ho
  • Publication number: 20210390976
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a magnetic media drive employing a magnetic recording head. The magnetic recording head comprises a first write head, a second write head, at least one read head, and a thermal fly height control element. The first write head is a wide writing write head comprising a first main pole and a first trailing shield. The second write head a narrow writing write head comprising a second main pole, a trailing gap, a second trailing shield, and one or more side shields. The first main pole has a shorter height and a greater width than the second main pole. The second main pole has a curved or U-shaped surface disposed adjacent to the trailing gap. The thermal fly height control element and the at least one read head are aligned with a center axis of the second main pole of the second write head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Applicant: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thao A. NGUYEN, Michael Kuok San HO, Zhigang BAI, Zhanjie LI, Quang LE
  • Patent number: 11172131
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to optical devices and related methods that facilitate tilt in camera systems, such as tilt of a lens. In one example, an optical device includes a lens, an image sensor disposed below the lens, a plurality of magnets disposed about the lens, and a plurality of: (1) vertical coil structures coiled in one or more vertical planes and (2) horizontal coil structures coiled in one or more horizontal planes. When power is applied, the coil structures can generate magnetic fields that, in the presence of the magnets, cause relative movement of the coil structures and associated structures. The plurality of vertical coil structures are configured to horizontally move the lens. The plurality of horizontal coil structures are configured to tilt the lens when differing electrical power is applied to at least two of the plurality of horizontal coil structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Quang Le, Rajeev Nagabhirava, Kuok San Ho, Zhigang Bai, Zhanjie Li, Xiaoyong Liu, Daniele Mauri
  • Publication number: 20210336127
    Abstract: A spin-orbit torque (SOT) magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) device includes a substrate, a seed layer over the substrate, and a bismuth antimony (BiSb) layer having (0120) orientation on the seed layer. The seed layer includes a silicide layer and a surface control layer. The silicide layer includes a material of NiSi, NiFeSi, NiFeTaSi, NiCuSi, CoSi, CoFeSi, CoFeTaSi, CoCuSi, or combinations thereof. The surface control layer includes a material of NiFe, NiFeTa, NiTa, NiW, NiFeW, NiCu, NiCuM, NiFeCu, CoTa, CoFeTa, NiCoTa, Co, CoM, CoNiM, CoNi, NiSi, CoSi, NiCoSi, Cu, CuAgM, CuM, or combinations thereof, in which M is Fe, Cu, Co, Ta, Ag, Ni, Mn, Cr, V, Ti, or Si.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: Quang LE, Cherngye HWANG, Brian R. YORK, Andrew CHEN, Thao A. NGUYEN, Yongchul AHN, Xiaoyong LIU, Hongquan JIANG, Zheng GAO, Kuok San HO
  • Publication number: 20210327462
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a data storage device comprising a slider comprising an embedded contact sensor, an electronics module, and a plurality of lines disposed between and coupled to the slider and the electronics module, wherein at least one line of the plurality of lines is configured to both (a) couple a slider bias voltage to a body of the slider to control a potential of the slider, and (b) provide a signal to the embedded contact sensor. The slider may also include a shunt circuit for mitigating radio-frequency interference by shunting it to ground. The slider may include a write element, which may include a write-field enhancement structure. The slider may include a read element for reading from a recording media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Applicant: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John Contreras, Yunfei Ding, Kuok San Ho, Ian Robson McFadyen, Joey Martin Poss
  • Patent number: 11127417
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a magnetic media drive employing a magnetic recording head. The magnetic recording head comprises a first write head, a second write head, at least one read head, and a thermal fly height control element. The first write head is a wide writing write head comprising a first main pole and a first trailing shield. The second write head a narrow writing write head comprising a second main pole, a trailing gap, a second trailing shield, and one or more side shields. The first main pole has a shorter height and a greater width than the second main pole. The second main pole has a curved or U-shaped surface disposed adjacent to the trailing gap. The thermal fly height control element and the at least one read head are aligned with a center axis of the second main pole of the second write head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Thao A. Nguyen, Michael Kuok San Ho, Zhigang Bai, Zhanjie Li, Quang Le
  • Publication number: 20210280208
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to data storage devices, and more specifically, to a magnetic media drive employing a magnetic recording head. The head includes a main pole at a media facing surface (MFS), a trailing shield at the MFS, and a heavy metal layer disposed between the main pole and the trailing shield at the MFS. Spin-orbit torque (SOT) is generated from the heavy metal layer and transferred to a surface of the main pole as a current passes through the heavy metal layer in a cross-track direction. The SOT executes a torque on the surface magnetization of the main pole, which reduces the magnetic flux shunting from the main pole to the trailing shield. With the reduced magnetic flux shunting from the main pole to the trailing shield, write-ability is improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicant: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Suping SONG, Zhanjie LI, Michael Kuok San HO, Quang LE, Alexander M. ZELTSER
  • Patent number: 11100946
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to spin-orbital torque (SOT) differential reader designs. The SOT differential reader is a multi-terminal device that comprises a first shield, a first spin hall effect layer, a first free layer, a gap layer, a second spin hall effect layer, a second free layer, and a second shield. The gap layer is disposed between the first spin hall effect layer and the second spin hall effect layer. Electrical lead connections are located about the first spin hall effect layer, the second spin hall effect layer, the gap layer, the first shield, and/or the second shield. The electrical lead connections facilitate the flow of current and/or voltage from a negative lead to a positive lead. The positioning of the electrical lead connections and the positioning of the SOT differential layers improves reader resolution without decreasing the shield-to-shield spacing (i.e., read-gap).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Quang Le, Xiaoyong Liu, Zhigang Bai, Zhanjie Li, Kuok San Ho, Hisashi Takano
  • Patent number: 11094338
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to spin-orbital torque (SOT) differential reader designs. The SOT differential reader is a multi-terminal device comprising a first seed layer, a first spin hall effect (SHE) layer, a first interlayer, a first free layer, a gap layer, a second seed layer, a second SHE layer, a second free layer, and a second interlayer. The gap layer is disposed between the first SHE layer and the second SHE layer. The materials and dimensions used for the first and second seed layers, the first and second interlayers, and the first and second SHE layers affect the resulting spin hall voltage converted from spin current injected from the first free layer and the second free layer, as well as the ability to tune the first and second SHE layers. Moreover, the SOT differential reader improves reader resolution without decreasing the shield-to-shield spacing (i.e., read-gap).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Cherngye Hwang, Xiaoyong Liu, Quang Le, Kuok San Ho, Hisashi Takano, Brian R. York
  • Publication number: 20210249038
    Abstract: A spin-orbit torque (SOT) magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) device includes a substrate, a buffer layer formed over the substrate, and a bismuth antimony (BiSb) layer formed over the buffer layer, the BiSb layer having a (012) orientation. In certain embodiments, the SOT MTJ device is part of a microwave assisted magnetic recording (MAMR) write head. In certain embodiments, the SOT MTJ device is part of a magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Quang LE, Cherngye HWANG, Brian R. YORK, Thao A. NGUYEN, Zheng GAO, Kuok San HO, Pham Nam Hai
  • Patent number: 11087789
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a magnetic media drive employing a magnetic recording head. The magnetic recording head comprises a first write head and a second write head each coupled to a first pad and a second pad of a slider pad and an electrical circuit coupled to the first and second pads. The first write head comprises a first main pole and a first thermal fly height (TFH) element, and the second write head comprises a second main pole and a second TFH element. The electrical circuit comprises a capacitor and a connection to the first TFH element of the first write head, and an inductor and a connection to the second TFH element of the second write head. The electrical circuit is configured to independently power the first TFH element and the second TFH element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Quang Le, Jih-shiuan Luo, Thao A. Nguyen, Kuok San Ho
  • Patent number: 11087784
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a data storage device comprising a recording media, a slider comprising a write head having a write-field enhancement structure for recording data to the recording media, an electronics module, and a plurality of lines disposed between and coupled to the slider and the electronics module, wherein at least one line of the plurality of lines is configured to both couple a bias voltage to a body of the slider, and carry a bias current for the write-field enhancement structure. Also disclosed herein is a data storage device comprising a slider with an embedded contact sensor, an electronics module, and a plurality of lines disposed between and coupled to the slider and the electronics module, wherein at least one line of the plurality of lines is configured to both couple a bias voltage to a body of the slider, and provide a signal to the embedded contact sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John Contreras, Yunfei Ding, Kuok San Ho, Ian Robson McFadyen, Joey Martin Poss
  • Publication number: 20210233559
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to data storage devices, and more specifically, to a magnetic media drive employing a magnetic recording head. The head includes a trailing shield, a main pole, an STO disposed between the trailing shield and the main pole, and a non-magnetic conductive structure (or non-magnetic conductive layers) adjacent to the main pole and in contact with the STO. The non-magnetic conductive structure provides additional paths for electrical currents to flow to the STO. The non-magnetic conductive structure enables higher current density to the STO without creating hot spots at the MFS. Maximum current efficiency and uniformity can be achieved with the non-magnetic conductive structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicant: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Quang LE, Michael Kuok San HO, Suping SONG, Goncalo Marcos BAIÃO DE ALBUQUERQUE