Patents by Inventor Lealon Ray McKenzie

Lealon Ray McKenzie 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: 7936532
    Abstract: Various embodiments relate to selectively inhibiting output from a transducer in response to the rate of change of acceleration that is experienced by the transducer. The rate of change of an acceleration signal, which is indicative of transducer's acceleration, is detected. Output of a signal through the transducer is selectively inhibited in response to the detected rate of change of the acceleration signal. A related apparatus can include a circuit that detects the rate of change of an acceleration signal and generates a transducer output inhibit signal in response to the detected rate of change of the acceleration signal. The transducer writes data on a recordable media. The accelerometer generates an acceleration signal that is indicative of transducer vibration. The circuit selectively inhibits writing of data through the transducer in response to a rate of change of the acceleration signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Lealon Ray McKenzie, Steve M. Gaub, Sandeep D. Sequeira, Matthew McLeod Chadsey
  • Publication number: 20080278841
    Abstract: Various embodiments relate to selectively inhibiting output from a transducer in response to the rate of change of acceleration that is experienced by the transducer. The rate of change of an acceleration signal, which is indicative of transducer's acceleration, is detected. Output of a signal through the transducer is selectively inhibited in response to the detected rate of change of the acceleration signal. A related apparatus can include a circuit that detects the rate of change of an acceleration signal and generates a transducer output inhibit signal in response to the detected rate of change of the acceleration signal. Another related apparatus can include a transducer, an accelerometer, and a circuit. The transducer writes data on a recordable media. The accelerometer generates an acceleration signal that is indicative of transducer vibration. The circuit selectively inhibits writing of data through the transducer in response to a rate of change of the acceleration signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventors: Lealon Ray McKenzie, Steve M. Gaub, Sandeep D. Sequeira, Matthew McLeod Chadsey
  • Patent number: 6643080
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for identifying a resonance by changing a spindle speed, which has the effect of changing a corresponding sampling rate and Nyquist frequency. The invention discriminates (1) between plausible frequencies of true resonance and/or (2) aliased resonance from non-aliased resonances. This is accomplished by monitoring whether and/or how a resonance shifts during this speed change. Methods of the present invention monitor resonances by deriving a resonance indicator such as an apparent frequency (below the Nyquist frequency), a gain or error magnitude (compared to a derived threshold at a calculated frequency of interest), or similar criteria tested by values conventionally illustrated on a Bode plot. The present invention further includes steps or structural features for configuring a controller to attenuate or similarly limit an unwanted frequency component of an actuator control signal. In this way, resonances in the actuator can be reduced, and servo speed and accuracy thereby enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Clyde Everett Goodner, III, Roy Lynn Wood, Lealon Ray McKenzie
  • Patent number: 6570733
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for improving seek performance of a disc drive through adaptive servo gain adjustment. The disc drive comprises a head adjacent a rotatable disc and a servo circuit which controllably positions the head adjacent tracks defined on the disc. During a seek operation in which the servo circuit moves the head from an initial track to a destination track, the servo circuit accumulates a velocity error as a sum of a series of velocity errors each obtained as a difference between an actual velocity of the head and a corresponding desired velocity over a selected radial distance of the disc. The servo circuit additionally measures an elapsed time for the head to pass over a second selected radial distance of the disc as the head is decelerated toward the destination track. Thereafter, the servo circuit adjusts a gain of the servo circuit in relation to the accumulated velocity error and the measured elapsed time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: David Charles Waugh, Lealon Ray McKenzie
  • Patent number: 6318176
    Abstract: An inductive rotational accelerometer for assisting in servo control of a hard disc drive using a torsional mass-spring system in combination with an inductance sensitive circuit to detect and measure the rotational vibrations imposed on a hard disc drive. The inductive rotational accelerometer includes a frame member coupled to the disc drive, the frame member supporting a pin on which is disposed a rotational mass. The rotational mass supports conductive blocks which with the rotational mass and the frame member provide a path for inductance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Lealon Ray McKenzie, Ryan Todd Ratliff, Nigel Frank Misso
  • Patent number: 5835300
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for compensating for errors in the location of servo frames in a disc drive, the servo frames providing control inputs to a servo loop of the disc drive. Each servo frame includes an additional compensation field to which a compensation term is written, the compensation term indicative of the average radial error in the location of the servo frame. The compensation term is determined by measuring the radial distance between adjacent servo frames over a plurality of revolutions of the disc and averaging these measured radial distances. The compensation terms are thereafter used in conjunction with position information from the servo frames to control the position of the head. The compensation term facilitates the elimination of repeatable, random errors in the locations of the servo frames, causing the head to nominally follow a circular path about the disc, regardless of the errors in the locations of the servo frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Dale Murphy, Lealon Ray McKenzie, Randall David Hampshire