Patents by Inventor Masahito Kobayashi

Masahito Kobayashi 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: 11935562
    Abstract: The present disclosure is generally related to a tape drive comprising a tape head and a controller coupled to the tape head. The tape head comprises one or more modules, each module comprising a plurality of write heads aligned in a first row, a plurality of read heads aligned in a second row parallel to the first row, and at least four first servo heads aligned in the second row. Two or more first servo heads of the at least four first servo heads are configured to concurrently read first servo data from a first servo track. The controller is configured to concurrently process the first servo data, to compute the position of the tape head based on a known spacing between the at least two servo heads, and to dynamically adjust a position of the tape head based on the processed first servo data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Biskeborn, Masahito Kobayashi, Junzo Noda
  • Patent number: 11796400
    Abstract: A lifetime estimation system for estimating a lifetime of a heating source is provided in an apparatus for heating a target object using the heating source and performing a feedback control of a target object temperature using a temperature controller based on a temperature measurement value of the target object measured by a temperature measuring device. The temperature controller controls a power supplied to the heating source and performs a temperature control using a state space model to perform the feedback control of the temperature of the target object. The lifetime estimation system includes a temperature monitor unit that monitors the temperature measurement value of the target object, a hunting amount detection unit that detects a hunting amount in a stable region of the monitored temperature of the target object, and a lifetime estimation unit that estimates a lifetime of the heating source from the detected hunting amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Masahito Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11768236
    Abstract: There is provided a control method of a test device, the test device comprising a chuck on which an object to be tested is mounted, a tester configured to supply electric power to the object to be tested to test the object to be tested, and a controller configured to control a temperature of the chuck. The control method comprises: when an actual temperature of the object to be tested cannot be fed back, estimating a temperature difference between the temperature of the chuck and the temperature of the object to be tested on the basis of a heat amount of the object to be tested; correcting a target temperature of the chuck on the basis of a target temperature of the object to be tested and the temperature difference; and controlling the temperature of the chuck on the basis of the corrected target temperature of the chuck and an actual temperature of the chuck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Hiroaki Agawa, Masahito Kobayashi, Shigeru Kasai
  • Patent number: 11740643
    Abstract: A temperature control device for controlling a temperature of a temperature control object is provided. The temperature control device includes a heating mechanism having a heating source configured to heat the temperature control object, a cooling mechanism having a cooling source configured to cool the temperature control object, an infrared sensor configured to measure the temperature of the temperature control object, and a temperature controller configured to allow a control system including a sliding mode control to control the heating mechanism and the cooling mechanism based on a measurement signal from the infrared sensor and perform a feedback control of the temperature of the temperature control object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Masahito Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20230267964
    Abstract: The present disclosure is generally related to a tape drive comprising a tape head and a controller coupled to the tape head. The tape head comprises one or more modules, each module comprising a plurality of write heads aligned in a first row, a plurality of read heads aligned in a second row parallel to the first row, and at least four first servo heads aligned in the second row. Two or more first servo heads of the at least four first servo heads are configured to concurrently read first servo data from a first servo track. The controller is configured to concurrently process the first servo data, to compute the position of the tape head based on a known spacing between the at least two servo heads, and to dynamically adjust a position of the tape head based on the processed first servo data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Robert G. BISKEBORN, Masahito KOBAYASHI, Junzo NODA
  • Patent number: 11735223
    Abstract: A storage device comprises, a head assembly, motor(s) configured to actuate the head assembly. The storage device may optionally include tape reel(s) holding tape media for storing data and a casing. The head assembly and its suspension system comprises a support structure, a head housing having an upper attachment bracket and a lower attachment bracket, a first flat spring attached to the upper attachment bracket, a second flat spring attached to the lower attachment bracket, and a head bar attached on an upper side to the first flat spring and attached on a lower side to the second flat spring. The head bar includes at least one read head and at least one write head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Inventors: Koumei Hanaoka, Masahito Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11688420
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a tape head and a tape drive including a tape head. The tape head comprises servo heads configured to read servo data from a tape, a plurality of write heads configured to: write user data to a plurality of data tracks of the tape and write embedded servo data into one or more data fields of the tape, the embedded servo data comprising servo positioning information, and a plurality of read heads configured to read the user data and the embedded servo data from the tape. The embedded servo data may be embedded servo fields or embedded servo tracks. The embedded servo data allows the tape head to be accurately controlled and positioned above the tape, and for new data to be accurately appended to the tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James N. Malina, Masahito Kobayashi, Derrick E. Burton, Robert G. Biskeborn, Mark L. Watson
  • Patent number: 11676630
    Abstract: The present disclosure is generally related to a servo track writer (STW) head for writing a rotated servo pattern. The STW head comprises a first writer stripe having a first length tilted at a first angle and a second writer stripe having a second length tilted at a second angle. The STW head may be tilted at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the edge of a tape configured to pass under the STW head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Yamamoto, Masahito Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11662367
    Abstract: An inspection apparatus includes: a probe card having a probe to be in contact with an object to be inspected; an upper module having a mounting portion on which the object to be inspected is mounted; a movement mechanism that is configured to support the upper module to be liftable and lowerable and that is able to move the upper module in a horizontal direction; and a lifting and lowering mechanism that is provided under the movement mechanism and that is able to push up the upper module toward the probe card, wherein an axis passing through a point of action of a pushing force when the lifting and lowering mechanism pushes up the upper module and an axis passing through a point of action of a load received by the probe card are arranged at positions to be common.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Masahito Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20230141431
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a tape head and a tape drive including a tape head. The tape head comprises servo heads configured to read servo data from a tape, a plurality of write heads configured to: write user data to a plurality of data tracks of the tape and write embedded servo data into one or more data fields of the tape, the embedded servo data comprising servo positioning information, and a plurality of read heads configured to read the user data and the embedded servo data from the tape. The embedded servo data may be embedded servo fields or embedded servo tracks. The embedded servo data allows the tape head to be accurately controlled and positioned above the tape, and for new data to be accurately appended to the tape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventors: James N. MALINA, Masahito KOBAYASHI, Derrick E. BURTON, Robert G. BISKEBORN, Mark L. WATSON
  • Publication number: 20230110797
    Abstract: A stage includes a base on which an object to be transported or tested is placed, four movable bodies configured to support the base in a manner so that the base can be raised and lowered, four driving motors, provided in correspondence with the four movable bodies, and configured to independently raise and lower the four movable bodies, respectively, four guides configured to guide the four movable bodies, respectively, and a support frame, having wall surfaces parallel to a raising and lowering direction of the base and continuous along a direction perpendicular to the raising and lowering direction of the base, and the four guides fixed to the wall surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Masahito KOBAYASHI, Hiroto KOBAYASHI, Hiroaki AGAWA
  • Patent number: 11557494
    Abstract: A substrate support includes a supporting unit and a light irradiation mechanism. The supporting unit includes a plate member on which an inspection target is placed and a transparent member. The light irradiation mechanism is configured to irradiate light to increase a temperature of the inspection target. Each of the plate member and the transparent member is made of a low thermal expansion material having a linear expansion coefficient of 1.0×10?6/K or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Masahito Kobayashi, Hiroyuki Nakayama, Dai Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20220415358
    Abstract: A storage device comprises, a head assembly, motor(s) configured to actuate the head assembly. The storage device may optionally include tape reel(s) holding tape media for storing data and a casing. The head assembly and its suspension system comprises a support structure, a head housing having an upper attachment bracket and a lower attachment bracket, a first flat spring attached to the upper attachment bracket, a second flat spring attached to the lower attachment bracket, and a head bar attached on an upper side to the first flat spring and attached on a lower side to the second flat spring. The head bar includes at least one read head and at least one write head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Koumei HANAOKA, Masahito KOBAYASHI
  • Patent number: 11488626
    Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising at least one head configured to access a magnetic tape comprising a plurality of servo frames each comprising an A servo burst, a B servo burst, a C servo burst, and a D servo burst. The A servo burst in a first servo frame is read using the head to generate a first read signal which is sampled to generate first signal samples. A first matched filter matched to the A servo burst filters the first signal samples to generate first filtered samples within a first burst window, and the first burst window is updated based on the first filtered samples. The first filtered samples within the first burst window are processed to generate a position error signal (PES), and a position of the head is controlled relative to the magnetic tape based on the PES.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Yamamoto, Derrick E. Burton, Masahito Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11488625
    Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising at least one head configured to access a magnetic tape comprising a plurality of servo frames each comprising a plurality of servo bursts. A first servo burst is read using the head to generate a read signal which is sampled to generate signal samples. A first matched filter matched to the first servo burst is used to generate filtered samples in response to the signal samples, and at least part of the filtered samples are interpolated to generate interpolated samples. The interpolated samples are processed to generate a position error signal (PES), and a position of the head relative to the magnetic tape is controlled based on the PES.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Yamamoto, Derrick E. Burton, Masahito Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11430480
    Abstract: A data storage device configured to access a magnetic tape wound around a first reel and a second reel is disclosed, wherein the data storage device comprises at least one head configured to access the magnetic tape. A distortion of the magnetic tape is measured, and the magnetic tape is rewound so that the first and second reels have a respective first and second radius of the wound magnetic tape based on the measured distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenji Kuroki, Oscar J. Ruiz, Masahito Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20220262661
    Abstract: This temperature control device for controlling the temperature of an object that is subject to temperature control is provided with: a heating mechanism which has a heat source for heating said object subject to temperature control; a temperature measuring instrument for measuring the peripheral temperature of said object subject to temperature control; a temperature estimation unit for dynamically estimating the temperature of said object subject to temperature control on the basis of power inputted to the heat source, power supplied to said object subject to temperature control, and the peripheral temperature; and a temperature controller for performing control on the temperature of said object subject to temperature control by controlling the power inputted to the heat source on the basis of the estimated temperature of said object subject to temperature control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Shigeru KASAI, Masahito KOBAYASHI
  • Patent number: 11417360
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a magnetic recording device having a magnetic recording media guide support system with a load-unload mechanism. The magnetic recording media guide is positioned between the magnetic head assembly and at least one guide roller, and moves a magnetic recording media surface closer to and further from the magnetic head assembly. The magnetic recording media guide is movable in a direction perpendicular to a direction that the magnetic recording media moves past the magnetic head assembly. The magnetic recording media guide is stationary in relation to the magnetic recording media when the magnetic recording media moves past the magnetic head assembly while a magnetic head is positioned to read data from or write data to the magnetic recording media. Additionally, the magnetic recording media guide can planarize the magnetic recording media surface on the magnetic head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Minoru Shimada, Masahito Kobayashi, Kenji Kuroki
  • Patent number: 11393498
    Abstract: A storage device comprises tape reel(s) holding tape media for storing data, a head assembly, motor(s) configured to actuate the head assembly, a sealed casing, and a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) configured to control operations of the motor(s). The head assembly comprises a support structure, a head bar with read head(s) and write head(s), and a suspension system connecting the head bar to the support structure. The sealed casing encloses in its interior the tape reel(s), the head assembly, and the motor(s). Meanwhile, the PCBA is mounted on an external surface of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Masahito Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11386928
    Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising at least one head configured to access a magnetic tape comprising a plurality of servo frames each comprising a plurality of servo bursts, wherein each servo burst comprises a plurality of servo stripes. The servo stripes in a first servo burst are read using the head to generate a first read signal that is processed using a first matched filter matched to the first servo burst in order to generate an average time stamp for the servo stripes in the first servo burst. A position error signal (PES) is generated based on the average time stamp of the first servo burst, and the head is positioned relative to the magnetic tape based on the PES.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Satoshi Yamamoto, Derrick E. Burton, Masahito Kobayashi