Patents by Inventor Michael J. Lerdal

Michael J. Lerdal 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: 5844754
    Abstract: An actuator assembly includes a first actuator arm and a second actuator arm, each having a first end and a second end, a support member, and a bearing assembly coupled to the arms and the support member, and supporting the arms and support member for rotation about an axis. The bearing assembly has a first portion abutting the first actuator arm and second portion abutting the second actuator arm, with the first and second arms being secured against movement away from each other by the bearing cartridge. Also provided is a retainer for preventing rotation of the first actuator arm about said axis relative to the second arm. The retainer may comprise first and second fasteners provided at opposite sides of the axis. In an alternative embodiment, the retainer comprises a leaf spring having a notch provided therein on the first and second actuator arms, and a fastener member provided on the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick Mark Stefansky, Karl E. Hase, William J. Bryan, Michael J. Lerdal
  • Patent number: 5805377
    Abstract: A member securing electrical conductors coupled to a read/write head in a storage device over termination pads of an electrical flex circuit. Generally, the storage device includes an actuator having at least one actuator arm securing the read/write head, and the apparatus is coupled to the actuator arm. The apparatus may comprise a member having a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to the arm and the second end positioning the conductors over conductive pads of the flex circuit, with the second end including a window securing the conductors in fixed positions over the conductive pads of the flex circuit. In another arrangement, the second end comprises a solderless coupling assembly electrically connected to the conductors, wherein the conductive pads of the flex circuit are arranged to electrically couple to the solderless coupling assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Lerdal, William J. Bryan, Karl E. Hase
  • Patent number: 5404636
    Abstract: The method for assembling the drive includes: providing an assembly member; stacking a first actuator arm and a second actuator arm in an orientation where the axes of the arms are non-parallel; inserting a comb assembly between the first and second arms; rotating the arms about the assembly member to a position where the radials are in parallel; and securing the arms against rotation relative to each other. In another aspect, wherein each arm includes a read/write head having wires coupled thereto, the method further including the step of attaching a wire carrier to the arm prior to the stacking step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: Conner Peripherals, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick M. Stefansky, Karl E. Hase, Michael J. Lerdal, William J. Bryan, William Repphun, Thomas Hogan, Walter Wong