Patents by Inventor Kurt W. Wierman

Kurt W. Wierman 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: 11749301
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods of using a sacrificial, protective head overcoat during the manufacture of sliders. In some embodiments, the final trailing edge topography of the transducer devices is formed before applying the sacrificial, protective head overcoat. In some embodiments, the final trailing edge topography of the transducer devices is formed after removing the sacrificial, protective head overcoat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Amy Jo Bergerud, Andrew Joseph Boyne, Daniel Richard Buettner, Kurt W. Wierman, Joel W. Hoehn
  • Publication number: 20220093122
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods of using a sacrificial, protective head overcoat during the manufacture of sliders. In some embodiments, the final trailing edge topography of the transducer devices is formed before applying the sacrificial, protective head overcoat. In some embodiments, the final trailing edge topography of the transducer devices is formed after removing the sacrificial, protective head overcoat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Amy Jo Bergerud, Andrew Joseph Boyne, Daniel Richard Buettner, Kurt W. Wierman, Joel W. Hoehn
  • Patent number: 11107499
    Abstract: A device including a near field transducer, the near field transducer including gold (Au) and at least one other secondary atom, the at least one other secondary atom selected from: boron (B), bismuth (Bi), indium (In), sulfur (S), silicon (Si), tin (Sn), hafnium (Hf), niobium (Nb), manganese (Mn), antimony (Sb), tellurium (Te), carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and oxygen (O), and combinations thereof; erbium (Er), holmium (Ho), lutetium (Lu), praseodymium (Pr), scandium (Sc), uranium (U), zinc (Zn), and combinations thereof; and barium (Ba), chlorine (Cl), cesium (Cs), dysprosium (Dy), europium (Eu), fluorine (F), gadolinium (Gd), germanium (Ge), hydrogen (H), iodine (I), osmium (Os), phosphorus (P), rubidium (Rb), rhenium (Re), selenium (Se), samarium (Sm), terbium (Tb), thallium (Th), and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Yuhang Cheng, Tong Zhao, Michael C. Kautzky, Ed F. Rejda, Kurt W. Wierman, Scott Franzen, Sethuraman Jayashankar, Sarbeswar Sahoo, Jie Gong, Michael Allen Seigler
  • Patent number: 11094340
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods of using a sacrificial, protective head overcoat during the manufacture of sliders. In some embodiments, the final trailing edge topography of the transducer devices is formed before applying the sacrificial, protective head overcoat. In some embodiments, the final trailing edge topography of the transducer devices is formed after removing the sacrificial, protective head overcoat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Amy Jo Bergerud, Andrew Joseph Boyne, Daniel Richard Buettner, Kurt W. Wierman, Joel W. Hoehn
  • Patent number: 10964347
    Abstract: A device including a near field transducer, the near field transducer including gold (Au), silver (Ag), copper (Cu), or aluminum (Al), and at least two other secondary atoms, the at least two other secondary atoms selected from: boron (B), bismuth (Bi), indium (In), sulfur (S), silicon (Si), tin (Sn), manganese (Mn), tellurium (Te), holmium (Ho), lutetium (Lu), praseodymium (Pr), scandium (Sc), uranium (U), barium (Ba), chlorine (Cl), cesium (Cs), dysprosium (Dy), europium (Eu), fluorine (F), germanium (Ge), hydrogen (H), iodine (I), rubidium (Rb), selenium (Se), terbium (Tb), nitrogen (N), oxygen (O), carbon (C), antimony (Sb), gadolinium (Gd), samarium (Sm), thallium (Tl), cadmium (Cd), neodymium (Nd), phosphorus (P), lead (Pb), hafnium (Hf), niobium (Nb), erbium (Er), zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), palladium (Pd), vanadium (V), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), lithium (Li), nickel (Ni), platinum (Pt), sodium (Na), strontium (Sr), calcium (Ca), yttrium (Y), thorium (Th), beryllium (Be), thulium (Tm), erbium
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Yuhang Cheng, Tong Zhao, Michael C. Kautzky, Ed F. Rejda, Kurt W. Wierman, Scott Franzen, Sethuraman Jayashankar, Sarbeswar Sahoo, Justin Glen Brons, Steve C. Riemer, Jie Gong, Michael Allen Seigler
  • Publication number: 20200227086
    Abstract: A device including a near field transducer, the near field transducer including gold (Au) and at least one other secondary atom, the at least one other secondary atom selected from: boron (B), bismuth (Bi), indium (In), sulfur (S), silicon (Si), tin (Sn), hafnium (Hf), niobium (Nb), manganese (Mn), antimony (Sb), tellurium (Te), carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and oxygen (O), and combinations thereof; erbium (Er), holmium (Ho), lutetium (Lu), praseodymium (Pr), scandium (Sc), uranium (U), zinc (Zn), and combinations thereof; and barium (Ba), chlorine (Cl), cesium (Cs), dysprosium (Dy), europium (Eu), fluorine (F), gadolinium (Gd), germanium (Ge), hydrogen (H), iodine (I), osmium (Os), phosphorus (P), rubidium (Rb), rhenium (Re), selenium (Se), samarium (Sm), terbium (Tb), thallium (Th), and combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Yuhang Cheng, Tong Zhao, Michael C. Kautzky, Ed F. Rejda, Kurt W. Wierman, Scott Franzen, Sethuraman Jayashankar, Sarbeswar Sahoo, Jie Gong, Michael Allen Seigler
  • Patent number: 10699740
    Abstract: A device including a near field transducer, the near field transducer including gold (Au), silver (Ag), copper (Cu), or aluminum (Al), and at least two other secondary atoms, the at least two other secondary atoms selected from: boron (B), bismuth (Bi), indium (In), sulfur (S), silicon (Si), tin (Sn), manganese (Mn), tellurium (Te), holmium (Ho), lutetium (Lu), praseodymium (Pr), scandium (Sc), uranium (U), barium (Ba), chlorine (Cl), cesium (Cs), dysprosium (Dy), europium (Eu), fluorine (F), germanium (Ge), hydrogen (H), iodine (I), rubidium (Rb), selenium (Se), terbium (Tb), nitrogen (N), oxygen (O), carbon (C), antimony (Sb), gadolinium (Gd), samarium (Sm), thallium (Tl), cadmium (Cd), neodymium (Nd), phosphorus (P), lead (Pb), hafnium (Hf), niobium (Nb), erbium (Er), zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), palladium (Pd), vanadium (V), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), lithium (Li), nickel (Ni), platinum (Pt), sodium (Na), strontium (Sr), calcium (Ca), yttrium (Y), thorium (Th), beryllium (Be), thulium (Tm), erbium
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Yuhang Cheng, Tong Zhao, Michael C. Kautzky, Ed F. Rejda, Kurt W. Wierman, Scott Franzen, Sethuraman Jayashankar, Sarbeswar Sahoo, Justin Glen Brons, Steve C. Riemer, Jie Gong, Michael Allen Seigler
  • Patent number: 10636440
    Abstract: Devices having an air bearing surface (ABS), the devices include a write pole; a near field transducer (NFT) including a peg and a disc, wherein the peg is at the ABS of the device; an overcoat, the overcoat including a low surface energy layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Yuhang Cheng, Ed F. Rejda, Andrew J. Boyne, Kurt W. Wierman, Michael Seigler, Scott Franzen, Jie Gong
  • Patent number: 10482914
    Abstract: A device including a near field transducer, the near field transducer including gold (Au) and at least one other secondary atom, the at least one other secondary atom selected from: boron (B), bismuth (Bi), indium (In), sulfur (S), silicon (Si), tin (Sn), hafnium (Hf), niobium (Nb), manganese (Mn), antimony (Sb), tellurium (Te), carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and oxygen (O), and combinations thereof; erbium (Er), holmium (Ho), lutetium (Lu), praseodymium (Pr), scandium (Sc), uranium (U), zinc (Zn), and combinations thereof; and barium (Ba), chlorine (Cl), cesium (Cs), dysprosium (Dy), europium (Eu), fluorine (F), gadolinium (Gd), germanium (Ge), hydrogen (H), iodine (I), osmium (Os), phosphorus (P), rubidium (Rb), rhenium (Re), selenium (Se), samarium (Sm), terbium (Tb), thallium (Th), and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Yuhang Cheng, Tong Zhao, Michael C. Kautzky, Ed F. Rejda, Kurt W. Wierman, Scott Franzen, Sethuraman Jayashankar, Sarbeswar Sahoo, Jie Gong, Michael Allen Seigler
  • Patent number: 10424324
    Abstract: Methods that include forming at least a portion of a near field transducer (NFT) structure; depositing a material onto at least one surface of the portion of the NFT to form a metal containing layer; and subjecting the metal containing layer to conditions that cause diffusion of at least a portion of the material into the at least one surface of the portion of the NFT; and devices formed thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Yuhang Cheng, Sami Antrazi, Michael Seigler, Scott Franzen, Philip G. Pitcher, Edwin F. Rejda, Kurt W. Wierman
  • Publication number: 20190164571
    Abstract: Devices having an air bearing surface (ABS), the devices include a write pole; a near field transducer (NFT) including a peg and a disc, wherein the peg is at the ABS of the device; an overcoat, the overcoat including a low surface energy layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Yuhang Cheng, Ed F. Rejda, Andrew J. Boyne, Kurt W. Wierman, Michael Seigler, Scott Franzen, Jie Gong
  • Patent number: 10192573
    Abstract: Devices having an air bearing surface (ABS), the devices include a write pole; a near field transducer (NFT) including a peg and a disc, wherein the peg is at the ABS of the device; an overcoat, the overcoat including a low surface energy layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Yuhang Cheng, Ed F. Rejda, Andrew J. Boyne, Kurt W. Wierman, Michael Seigler, Scott Franzen, Jie Gong
  • Publication number: 20180366153
    Abstract: A device including a near field transducer, the near field transducer including gold (Au) and at least one other secondary atom, the at least one other secondary atom selected from: boron (B), bismuth (Bi), indium (In), sulfur (S), silicon (Si), tin (Sn), hafnium (Hf), niobium (Nb), manganese (Mn), antimony (Sb), tellurium (Te), carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and oxygen (O), and combinations thereof; erbium (Er), holmium (Ho), lutetium (Lu), praseodymium (Pr), scandium (Sc), uranium (U), zinc (Zn), and combinations thereof; and barium (Ba), chlorine (Cl), cesium (Cs), dysprosium (Dy), europium (Eu), fluorine (F), gadolinium (Gd), germanium (Ge), hydrogen (H), iodine (I), osmium (Os), phosphorus (P), rubidium (Rb), rhenium (Re), selenium (Se), samarium (Sm), terbium (Tb), thallium (Th), and combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Yuhang Cheng, Tong Zhao, Michael C. Kautzky, Ed F. Rejda, Kurt W. Wierman, Scott Franzen, Sethuraman Jayashankar, Sarbeswar Sahoo, Jie Gong, Michael Allen Seigler
  • Patent number: 10020011
    Abstract: Devices that include a near field transducer (NFT); an amorphous gas barrier layer positioned on at least a portion of the NFT; and a wear resistance layer positioned on at least a portion of the gas barrier layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Yuhang Cheng, Kurt W. Wierman, Michael Seigler, Xiaoyue Huang, Scott Franzen
  • Publication number: 20180102137
    Abstract: Methods that include forming at least a portion of a near field transducer (NFT) structure; depositing a material onto at least one surface of the portion of the NFT to form a metal containing layer; and subjecting the metal containing layer to conditions that cause diffusion of at least a portion of the material into the at least one surface of the portion of the NFT; and devices formed thereby.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Yuhang Cheng, Sami Antrazi, Michael Seigler, Scott Franzen, Philip G. Pitcher, Edwin F. Rejda, Kurt W. Wierman
  • Publication number: 20180090159
    Abstract: Devices having an air bearing surface (ABS) and including a write pole; a near field transducer (NFT) that includes a peg and a disc, wherein the peg includes a rear peg portion and a peg tip, the rear peg portion and the peg tip are different materials and the peg tip includes: one or more metals; one or more nanoparticles comprising oxides, nitrides, carbides or combinations thereof; one or more conducting oxides, conducting nitrides, conducting bromides, conducting carbides, or combinations thereof; one or more semiconductors; or combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: Tong Zhao, Yuhang Cheng, Martin Giles Blaber, Jie Gong, Edwin F. Rejda, Michael A. Seigler, Seung-Yeul Yang, Michael Kautzky, Yongjun Zhao, Justin Brons, Andrew J. Boyne, Kurt W. Wierman, Scott Franzen
  • Patent number: 9842613
    Abstract: Methods that include forming at least a portion of a near field transducer (NFT) structure; depositing a material onto at least one surface of the portion of the NFT to form a metal containing layer; and subjecting the metal containing layer to conditions that cause diffusion of at least a portion of the material into the at least one surface of the portion of the NFT; and devices formed thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Yuhang Cheng, Sami Antrazi, Michael Seigler, Scott Franzen, Philip G. Pitcher, Edwin F. Redja, Kurt W. Wierman
  • Patent number: 9799353
    Abstract: A device that includes a near field transducer (NFT), the NFT having a disc and a peg, and the peg having an air bearing surface thereof; and at least one adhesion layer positioned on at least the air bearing surface of the peg, the adhesion layer including one or more of platinum (Pt), iridium (Ir), ruthenium (Ru), rhodium (Rh), palladium (Pd), yttrium (Y), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), and scandium (Sc).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Yuhang Cheng, Tong Zhao, Michael C. Kautzky, Ed F. Rejda, Kurt W. Wierman, Scott Franzen, Andrew J. Boyne, Michael Allen Seigler, Sethuraman Jayashankar
  • Publication number: 20170213570
    Abstract: Devices that include a near field transducer (NFT); an amorphous gas barrier layer positioned on at least a portion of the NFT; and a wear resistance layer positioned on at least a portion of the gas barrier layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Yuhang Cheng, Kurt W. Wierman, Michael Seigler, Xiaoyue Huang, Scott Franzen
  • Publication number: 20170125043
    Abstract: Devices that include a near field transducer (NFT); a multilayer gas barrier layer positioned on at least a portion of the NFT, the multilayer gas barrier layer including at least a first and a second sublayer, where the second gas barrier sublayer is positioned on the first gas barrier sublayer, the first gas barrier sublayer is positioned adjacent the NFT and the second gas barrier sublayer is positioned adjacent the wear resistant layer, the first and second sublayers independently have thicknesses from 0.01 nm to 5 nm; and a wear resistance layer positioned on at least a portion of the gas barrier layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: Yuhang Cheng, Kurt W. Wierman, Michael Seigler, Scott Franzen