Patents by Inventor Mark Covington

Mark Covington 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: 11251067
    Abstract: Implementations described herein provide a pedestal lift assembly for a plasma processing chamber and a method for using the same. The pedestal lift assembly has a platen configured to couple a shaft of a pedestal disposed in the plasma processing chamber. An absolute linear encoder is coupled to a fixed frame wherein the absolute linear encoder is configured to detect incremental movement of the platen. A lift rod is attached to the platen. A motor rotor encoder brake module (MRBEM) is coupled to the fixed frame and moveably coupled to the lift rod, the motor encoder brake module configured to move the lift rod in a first direction and a second direction, wherein the movement of the lift rod results in the platen traveling vertically relative to the fixed frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian T. West, Miroslav Gelo, Yan Rozenzon, Roger M. Johnson, Mark Covington, Soundarrajan Jembulingam, Simon Nicholas Binns, Vivek Vinit
  • Patent number: 11170998
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for forming a metal containing material onto a substrate with good film uniformity and stress profile across the substrate. In one embodiment, a method of sputter depositing a metal containing layer on a substrate includes supplying a gas mixture into a processing chamber, forming a first portion of a metal containing layer on a substrate, transferring the substrate from the processing chamber, rotating the substrate, transferring the substrate back to the processing chamber, and forming a second portion of the metal containing layer on the first portion of the metal containing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Lizhong Sun, Xiaodong Yang, Mark Covington, Vivek Vinit, Vishal Agrawal
  • Publication number: 20200343126
    Abstract: Implementations described herein provide a pedestal lift assembly for a plasma processing chamber and a method for using the same. The pedestal lift assembly has a platen configured to couple a shaft of a pedestal disposed in the plasma processing chamber. An absolute linear encoder is coupled to a fixed frame wherein the absolute linear encoder is configured to detect incremental movement of the platen. A lift rod is attached to the platen. A motor rotor encoder brake module (MRBEM) is coupled to the fixed frame and moveably coupled to the lift rod, the motor encoder brake module configured to move the lift rod in a first direction and a second direction, wherein the movement of the lift rod results in the platen traveling vertically relative to the fixed frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Brian T. WEST, Miroslav GELO, Yan ROZENZON, Roger M. JOHNSON, Mark COVINGTON, Soundarrajan JEMBULINGAM, Simon Nicholas BINNS, Vivek VINIT
  • Publication number: 20200335332
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for forming a metal containing material onto a substrate with good film uniformity and stress profile across the substrate. In one embodiment, a method of sputter depositing a metal containing layer on a substrate includes supplying a gas mixture into a processing chamber, forming a first portion of a metal containing layer on a substrate, transferring the substrate from the processing chamber, rotating the substrate, transferring the substrate back to the processing chamber, and forming a second portion of the metal containing layer on the first portion of the metal containing layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Lizhong SUN, Xiaodong YANG, Mark COVINGTON, Vivek VINIT, Vishal AGRAWAL
  • Patent number: 9218826
    Abstract: A data storage device may be constructed as a data reader in various embodiments with a magnetic stack that has a barrier layer disposed between first and second magnetically free layers. The magnetic stack may have a horizontally symmetrical configuration that provides negative exchange coupling between the magnetically free layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Qing He, Mark Covington, Wonjoon Jung
  • Patent number: 9082958
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a tunneling magneto-resistive (TMR) sensor includes a sensor stack positioned between a seed layer and a cap layer. The seed layer includes a first buffer layer that includes a non-magnetic nickel alloy. In certain embodiments, a sensor stack includes a top and bottom shield and a seed layer positioned adjacent to the bottom shield. The seed layer has a first buffer layer that includes a nickel alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Bin Lu, Qing He, Mark Covington, Yunhao Xu, Wei Tian
  • Publication number: 20150097255
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a tunneling magneto-resistive (TMR) sensor includes a sensor stack positioned between a seed layer and a cap layer. The seed layer includes a first buffer layer that includes a non-magnetic nickel alloy. In certain embodiments, a sensor stack includes a top and bottom shield and a seed layer positioned adjacent to the bottom shield. The seed layer has a first buffer layer that includes a nickel alloy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Bin Lu, Qing He, Mark Covington, Yunhao Xu, Wei Tian
  • Patent number: 8922956
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a tunneling magneto-resistive (TMR) sensor includes a sensor stack positioned between a seed layer and a cap layer. The seed layer includes a first buffer layer that includes a non-magnetic nickel alloy. In certain embodiments, a sensor stack includes a top and bottom shield and a seed layer positioned adjacent to the bottom shield. The seed layer has a first buffer layer that includes a nickel alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Bin Lu, Qing He, Mark Covington, Yunhao Xu, Wei Tian
  • Publication number: 20110298456
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a tunneling magneto-resistive (TMR) sensor includes a sensor stack positioned between a seed layer and a cap layer. The seed layer includes a first buffer layer that includes a non-magnetic nickel alloy. In certain embodiments, a sensor stack includes a top and bottom shield and a seed layer positioned adjacent to the bottom shield. The seed layer has a first buffer layer that includes a nickel alloy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: BIN Lu, Qing He, Mark Covington, Yunhao Xu, Wei Tian
  • Publication number: 20070195452
    Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes a metallic bar coupled to a substrate. Current leads are adapted to provide current to the ferromagnetic bar. Voltage leads are coupled to the ferromagnetic bar to sense an induced Hall voltage therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Applicant: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Mark Covington, Thomas Ambrose, Michael Seigler, Hua Zhou
  • Publication number: 20070003792
    Abstract: A magnetic recording system is disclosed in which the magnetization dynamics of the write head and recording medium are highly damped. The system may comprise a perpendicular recording head having a write pole, and a recording medium including a hard magnetic recording layer and a soft magnetic underlayer (SUL). The increased magnetic damping in the write pole and SUL suppresses precessional motion of the respective magnetizations, leading to a reduction in transition jitter caused by spurious head field fluctuations. The damping may be increased by providing films or multilayer structures that are doped with rare earth or transition metal elements. Exchange coupled laminates of doped and undoped layers may optimize both the effective damping and write field in the recording system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Applicant: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Mark Covington, Ganping Ju, Werner Scholz, Michael Minor
  • Publication number: 20060232892
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a ferromagnetic free layer having a first magnetic moment and having a magnetization that rotates in response to an external magnetic field, a first ferromagnetic reference layer positioned adjacent to a first side of the ferromagnetic free layer and having a second magnetic moment that is greater than the first magnetic moment of the ferromagnetic free layer, a second ferromagnetic reference layer positioned adjacent to a second side of the ferromagnetic free layer and having a third magnetic moment that is greater than the first magnetic moment of the ferromagnetic free layer, a first non-magnetic spacer layer positioned between the ferromagnetic free layer and the first ferromagnetic reference layer, a second non-magnetic spacer layer positioned between the ferromagnetic free layer and the second ferromagnetic reference layer, and a source of magnetic field for biasing the first and second ferromagnetic reference layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Publication date: October 19, 2006
    Applicant: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Mark Covington, Nils Gokemeijer
  • Patent number: 7042685
    Abstract: A system and method of reducing noise due to thermally activated spin waves in a magnetoresistive (MR) element is disclosed. The MR element includes a free layer, a reference layer, and a spacer layer, the spacer layer being positioned between the free layer and the reference layer. To reduce noise, a magnetization of the reference layer is pinned in a fixed direction. A spin polarized current perpendicular to a plane of the free layer, reference layer, and spacer layer is subsequently produced such that the current exerts a spin momentum transfer torque on localized electron spins to reduce noise due to thermally activated spin waves. The spin momentum transfer torque opposes the intrinsic damping of the free layer, thereby reducing noise in the MR element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Mark Covington
  • Publication number: 20050289577
    Abstract: A data writing system includes an array of cells for storing data and a write transducer that moves over a selected cell in the array of cells. The write transducer includes a writer producing a write magnetic field that intersects the selected cell. The write transducer also includes a plasmon resonator that is adjacent the writer. The plasmon resonator is shaped to receive lower power density radiation and to provide plasmon radiation at a higher power density to an optical spot intersecting with the selected cell. The plasmon radiation heats the selected cell above a write temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Publication date: December 29, 2005
    Applicant: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Michael Seigler, Thomas Clinton, Mark Covington, Christophe Mihalcea
  • Publication number: 20050280935
    Abstract: A magnetic recording head comprises a write pole having a tip adjacent to an air bearing surface of the recording head, a return pole magnetically coupled to the write pole, a conductor positioned adjacent to an edge of the write pole at the air bearing surface, a first conductive heat sink connected to the conductor, and a second conductive heat sink connected to the conductor, wherein at least a portion of each of the first and second conductive heat sinks is positioned adjacent to the air bearing surface and wherein each of the first and second conductive heat sinks includes a structure for augmenting confinement of a magnetic write field adjacent to the write pole. Magnetic storage devices that include the magnetic recording head are also included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Publication date: December 22, 2005
    Applicant: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Clinton, Petrus van der Heijden, Michael Seigler, Mark Covington, Werner Scholz, Sharat Batra
  • Publication number: 20050111129
    Abstract: A write driver for use with a magnetic recording head includes a photoconductive switch that is positioned adjacent a magnetic recording head for switching current waveforms. Both light and a DC voltage are applied to the photoconductive switch to switch the applied current waveforms. The write driver further includes means for writing to a storage medium in response to current waveforms switched by the photoconductive switch. The write driver may also include a suspension that supports at least one photoconductive switch, DC conductors for supplying a DC voltage, means for supplying light, and recording head means for writing to a storage medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Publication date: May 26, 2005
    Applicant: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Crawford, Mark Covington, Thomas Clinton
  • Publication number: 20040061981
    Abstract: A system and method of reducing noise due to thermally activated spin waves in a magnetoresistive (MR) element is disclosed. The MR element includes a free layer, a reference layer, and a spacer layer, the spacer layer being positioned between the free layer and the reference layer. To reduce noise, a magnetization of the reference layer is pinned in a fixed direction. A spin polarized current perpendicular to a plane of the free layer, reference layer, and spacer layer is subsequently produced such that the current exerts a spin momentum transfer torque on localized electron spins to reduce noise due to thermally activated spin waves. The spin momentum transfer torque opposes the intrinsic damping of the free layer, thereby reducing noise in the MR element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicant: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Mark Covington