Patents by Inventor Mark Toffle

Mark Toffle 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: 8174796
    Abstract: An actuator and associated method is provided, the actuator having an arm defining an aperture, an electrical circuit supported by the arm and terminating at a contact, a flexure assembly defining a boss and supporting a second electrical circuit terminating at a second contact, wherein the contacts are resultingly positioned in operable mating engagement with each other placing the electrical circuit in electrical communication with the second electrical circuit when the boss is operably disposed within the aperture and there affixed to the arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Toffle, Wayne Allen Bonin, Vincent John Reis, Brent Marvin Weichelt, Jason Paul Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20090323225
    Abstract: An actuator and associated method is provided, the actuator having an arm defining an aperture, an electrical circuit supported by the arm and terminating at a contact, a flexure assembly defining a boss and supporting a second electrical circuit terminating at a second contact, wherein the contacts are resultingly positioned in operable mating engagement with each other placing the electrical circuit in electrical communication with the second electrical circuit when the boss is operably disposed within the aperture and there affixed to the arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Mark Toffle, Wayne Allen Bonin, Vincent John Reis, Brent Marvin Weichelt, Jason Paul Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 7382571
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to attenuating excitation energy of a rotatable storage medium using one or more plates each having a plurality of parallel channels to buffer fluid flow across an associated medium surface. A preferred embodiment includes a plurality of channels in facing relation to a common surface of a rotatable storage medium. Further included in a preferred embodiment, the plurality of channels are sequentially arranged into a first, second, and third channels with differing sidewall characterizations. In an alternative embodiment, a plurality of storage mediums which are axially aligned have a plurality of channels in facing relation to either a top or bottom surface of a rotatable storage medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Xu Zuo, Mark Toffle, Xiaohong Sun
  • Publication number: 20060288808
    Abstract: A mechanism provides compliance between a tool and a robotic arm and includes a base with a first face. The mechanism includes a post assembly with a thrust washer and a mounting post attached to the thrust washer. The thrust washer engages the first face to form a compliance joint that permits a compliance range of sliding translational motion along the first face. The mechanism comprises springs that slideably engage an outer rim surface of the post assembly and providing a compliance force resisting the sliding translational motion. A retainer is mounted to the base and compresses the thrust washer against the first face and limits rotational motion of the assembly out of a plane of the first face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Publication date: December 28, 2006
    Inventors: Mark Anderson, Mark Toffle
  • Publication number: 20060028760
    Abstract: A fluid flow stripper for attenuating excitation energy in a data writing device comprising a first zone defining opposing spatially disposed planar surfaces substantially parallel to the disc and comprising a second zone comprising a protuberant surface defining a radially disposed channel. A method for equalizing a static pressure of a fluid flow created by the rotating disc, comprising admitting the fluid flow to an inlet of the fluid stripper, and passing the fluid in the stripper past the radially extending baffle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Publication date: February 9, 2006
    Inventors: Xu Zuo, Mark Toffle, Xiaohong Sun
  • Publication number: 20050007704
    Abstract: A vertically-oriented servo track writer assembly and method for recording servo pattern on a disc surface includes a spindle hub assembly that rotates one or more discs in a substantially vertical plane and an actuator assembly that pivots an E-block about a substantially horizontal axis. The E-block includes one or more actuator arms and associated flexures, with each flexure including a servo recording head. Pivoting motion of the E-block moves each servo recording head in a substantially vertical plane adjacent a surface of an associated disc to record servo pattern information on the disc surface. The method further includes laterally moving the actuator assembly into and out of engagement with the spindle hub assembly to simplify loading and unloading discs from the spindle hub assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Publication date: January 13, 2005
    Applicant: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Mark Toffle, Lon Buske, Brent Weichelt, Thomas Sexton