Patents by Inventor Masashi Shiraishi

Masashi Shiraishi 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: 7253993
    Abstract: A head slider with a precise positioning actuator includes a thin plane shaped head section provided with a first surface that is substantially perpendicular to an ABS of the head slider, a second surface opposite to the first surface and at least one head element formed on the first surface, and an actuator section located at a side of the second surface of the head section and integrally fixed to the head section, for precisely positioning the at least one head element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignees: TDK Corporation, SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Wada, Masashi Shiraishi, Takashi Honda, Norikazu Ota
  • Patent number: 7240417
    Abstract: A framing assembly with lower stiffness design and a method of manufacturing that framing assembly are disclosed. In one embodiment, a framing assembly pattern is cut from a piece of a thin planar material, such as metal. The pattern is then bent to form a framing assembly with a base piece, two arms, and supports for a connection plate. In an alternate embodiment, the base piece includes a rear support and a support base. In a further embodiment, excess material surrounding the pattern is cut away so as to allow the most efficient use of the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming-Gao Yao, Masashi Shiraishi, Yi-Ru Xie
  • Publication number: 20070153429
    Abstract: A HGA of the present invention includes a slider; a micro-actuator comprising two thin film PZT pieces to define a notch; a suspension to load the slider and the micro-actuator. The suspension comprises: a flexure having an actuator loading portion with a slot corresponding to the notch of the micro-actuator, and a slider-loading portion to partially hold the slider; and a load beam having a first dimple to support the flexure at a position thereof corresponding to a central area of the slider, and a second dimple extending through both the slot of the flexure and the notch defined by the micro-actuator and toward an leading edge end portion of the slider to form a gap between the slider and the second dimple. The invention also discloses a disk drive unit having the improved HGA.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Applicant: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventors: MingGao Yao, Masashi Shiraishi, YiRu Xie
  • Publication number: 20070139823
    Abstract: A micro-actuator for a head gimbal assembly includes a support frame including a bottom support adapted to be connected to a suspension of the head gimbal assembly, a top support adapted to support a slider of the head gimbal assembly, and a leading beam that couples the bottom support and the top support. The leading beam includes weak points or notches that allow the top support to rotate about a rotational axis in use. A first PZT element is mounted between first sides of the top and bottom supports, and a second PZT element is mounted between second sides of the top and bottom supports. The first and second PZT elements are excitable to cause selective rotational movement of the top support about the rotational axis in use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Applicant: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventors: MingGao Yao, Masashi Shiraishi, Yiru Xie
  • Publication number: 20070137024
    Abstract: A method for building a slider into a product includes removably mounting a slider onto a test head suspension assembly, and conducting a dynamic performance test of the slider before the slider is built into the product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Applicant: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventors: MingGao Yao, Masashi Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 7225513
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an actuator includes applying at least one layer of electrically-conductive material and at least one layer of electrically-insulative material to an actuator block, and separating the actuator block into a plurality of actuators, each actuator having at least one actuator finger. The electrically-conductive material and the electrically-insulative material are applied one layer upon another in an alternating manner to the actuator block in at least one actuator finger location. The layer of insulative material is larger in area than the layer of conductive material such that an insulative layer, applied to the actuator block and sandwiching a conductive layer between the insulative layer and the actuator block, at least partially encloses and electrically isolates the electrically-conductive layer by covering the conductive material on at least three sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventors: Minggao Yao, Masashi Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 7224550
    Abstract: A hard disk drive device and method for assembling such a device are provided. The hard disk drive device includes storage medium components comprising a drive motor and disk for digital data storage, which are attached to a section of a casing that encloses the drive's mechanical components. Opposite the storage medium components, the read/write components including the actuator assembly, and heads are attached to a different section of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming Gao Yao, Masashi Shiraishi, Yi Ru Xie
  • Patent number: 7221542
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for hard drive damage prevention by improving the shock resistance of a hard disk micro-actuator. The interior angles of the micro-actuator are rounded and structurally supported by a reinforcing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: SAE Magnetics (H. K.) Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming Gao Yao, Masashi Shiraishi
  • Publication number: 20070109690
    Abstract: A micro-actuator for a head gimbal assembly includes a support structure and a PZT element. The support structure includes a bottom support integrated with a suspension flexure of the head gimbal assembly, a top support adapted to support a slider of the head gimbal assembly, and a leading beam that couples the bottom support and the top support. The leading beam includes a weak point that allows the top support to rotate about a rotational axis in use. The PZT element is mounted between the top and bottom supports. The PZT element is excitable to cause selective rotational movement of the top support about the rotational axis in use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Applicant: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventors: MingGao Yao, LiYan Zhu, Masashi Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 7218482
    Abstract: A head gimbal assembly comprising a slider having a read\write sensor; a suspension to load the slider; a micro-actuator; wherein the micro-actuator comprises a piezoelectric unit with two piezoelectric elements and a support base having a base to be coupled with the suspension physically, a moving plate to be coupled with the two piezoelectric elements, and a leading beam to connect with the base and the moving plate. Also disclosed is a micro-actuator comprising inter alia a piezoelectric unit with two piezoelectric elements. A method of forming a micro-actuator is also disclosed, which method comprising forming a piezoelectric unit having two piezoelectric elements; forming a support base having a base, a moving plate, and a leading beam to connect with the base and the moving plate; and bonding the piezoelectric unit to one side of the support base. Also disclosed is a method of forming a slider, a suspension and a micro-actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Sae Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming Gao Yao, Masashi Shiraishi
  • Publication number: 20070097554
    Abstract: A micro-actuator for a head gimbal assembly includes a metal frame including a bottom support adapted to be connected to a suspension, a top support adapted to support a slider, and a pair of side arms that interconnect the bottom and top supports. The side arms extend vertically from respective sides of the bottom and top supports. A PZT element is mounted to each of the side arms. Each PZT element includes two PZT portions supported by a PI substrate base. The PI substrate base includes one or more bridges that physically and electrically couple the two PZT portions. The bridges are bendable so that the two PZT portions sandwich the respective side arm when mounted thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Applicant: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventors: MingGao Yao, Masashi Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 7205484
    Abstract: A plurality of bonding structures and their forming methods for bonding a FPC to a bonding pad, in particular a bonding pad of a wireless suspension in a head gimbal assembly, using anisotropic conductive adhesive; such structures eliminate the spring-back force in typical anistropic bonding to ensure durable bonding. At the same time, these structures also allow for reworkability under which the bonded parts can be separated easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: SAE Magnetics (H.K.), Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Shiraishi, Ichiro Yagi
  • Patent number: 7199978
    Abstract: A system and method for connecting an actuator to a suspension element is disclosed. The actuator is electrically coupled using a silver paste. The silver paste is further covered by a coating application to provide structural support. A step, attached to either the actuator base or the suspension tongue, provides further structural support and maintains a gap between the actuator and the suspension element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming Gao Yao, Masashi Shiraishi
  • Publication number: 20070070552
    Abstract: A micro-actuator for a head gimbal assembly includes a metal frame including a bottom support adapted to be connected to a suspension of the head gimbal assembly, a top support adapted to support a slider of the head gimbal assembly, and a pair of side arms that interconnect the bottom support and the top support. The side arms extend vertically from respective sides of the bottom support and the top support. A PZT element is mounted to each of the side arms. Each PZT element includes multiple PZT portions. Each PZT element is excitable to cause selective movement of the side arms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Publication date: March 29, 2007
    Applicant: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventors: MingGao Yao, Masashi Shiraishi
  • Publication number: 20070065974
    Abstract: There is provided a method for producing a field effect semiconductor device, e.g., a field effect transistor 6 using carbon nanotubes in a channel layer 5, wherein the method includes the step of subjecting the carbon nanotubes to plasma treatment to change a physical or chemical state of the carbon nanotubes. Thus, there can be provided a method which is advantageous in that the method easily produces a field effect semiconductor device which has a current path, e.g., a channel layer, having carbon nanotubes uniformly dispersed therein, and which is prevented from suffering deterioration of the device characteristics due to the formation of bundles of carbon nanotubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Publication date: March 22, 2007
    Inventors: Masashi Shiraishi, Masafumi Ata
  • Patent number: 7181825
    Abstract: A fixture with a shaped molding may hold a first micro-actuator part and a second micro-actuator part in place for coupling while maintaining the structure of the first micro-actuator part. The first micro-actuator part and the second micro-actuator part may be a frame or a strip of piezoelectric material. A vacuum nozzle system embedded in the fixture may hold the first micro-actuator part in place. A mobile vacuum nozzle system may hold the second micro-actuator in place and positions the second micro-actuator part relative to the first micro-actuator part. A camera system may monitor the process. A dispense may apply epoxy between the first and second micro-actuator part. An ultraviolet source may provide ultraviolet radiation for curing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming Gao Yao, Masashi Shiraishi, Yi Ru Xie
  • Patent number: 7184245
    Abstract: A head slider provided with at least one head element, to be fixed to an actuator for precisely positioning the at least one head element, including adhering sections to be adhered to the actuator, and recesses for receiving an adhesive. At least one of the recesses is positioned at each of the adhering sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventors: Tamon Kasajima, Masashi Shiraishi
  • Publication number: 20070025025
    Abstract: A micro-actuator of the invention includes a support base having two actuator side arms and a rotatable bottom plate positioned between the actuator side arms; wherein at least one of the actuator side arms having a back-turned extension in a first end thereof; a pair of connection elements that connects the rotatable bottom plate to the actuator side arms in a second end thereof, respectively; at least one PZT elements bonded to the actuator side arms in its length and the back-turned extension. The rotatable plate rotates in a first direction when the at least one PZT elements expand, and a second direction when the at least one PZT elements contract. The invention also discloses a HGA and disk drive unit with such a micro-actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Applicant: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventors: MingGao Yao, Masashi Shiraishi
  • Publication number: 20070025020
    Abstract: A HGA includes a slider, a suspension to load the slider, and a particle filter device to fix in leading side of the slider. The particle filter device is made of power material or porous material. The HGA further comprise a micro-actuator to connect with the slider. Because the particle filter device is positioned on the leading edge of the slider that is a passage of the particles, so the particles generating from the components in the disk drive unit, such as the HGA will be catched by the particle filter device. Thus the particles will be prevented from flying on the disk and deposited on ABS of the slider, this will ensure the slider to read from/write to data information to the disk successfully and eliminate a possibility to damage the slider/the disk. A disk drive unit with such an HGA is also disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Applicant: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd
    Inventors: MingGao Yao, Masashi Shiraishi
  • Publication number: 20070019329
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for a subambient pressure air bearing slider utilizing negative pressure grooves. In one embodiment, a groove extends from a slider's leading edge, splits, and terminates in two locations at the slider's trailing edge. In one embodiment, a groove is provided in a slider's compression pad near the trailing edge of the slider.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Publication date: January 25, 2007
    Inventors: Ming Gao Yao, Masashi Shiraishi, Yi Ru Xie