Patents by Inventor Michael Steven Quam

Michael Steven Quam 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).

  • Electrical connection for testing head gimbal assemblies
    Patent number: 7684948
    Abstract: A method for forming an electrical connection with head gimbal assembly. At least a portion of an unmounted head gimbal assembly is placed on a surface. The unmounted head gimbal assembly includes a flexible portion, the flexible portion includes contact pads, and the surface includes electrical contacts and slots. A section of the flexible portion is pushed against the surface, and the contact pads are interconnected with the electrical contacts using a clamp assembly controlled by a computer. The clamp assembly includes a clamp with pins, and the interconnecting includes engaging the pins with the slots, rotating the clamp towards the surface, and clamping the contact pads against the electrical contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Justin Lee Holwell, Steven Ivars Palks, Andrew Michael Blair, Brett Robert Herdendorf, Michael Steven Quam, Michael Jon Roe, Dale Allen Blomgren
  • End effector for head gimbal assembly testing
    Patent number: 7546216
    Abstract: A method for testing head gimbal assemblies includes picking a first head gimbal assembly and holding the first head gimbal assembly with a first an end effector. The first end effector and the picked head gimbal assembly are positioned adjacent a nest using at least one actuator, and the first picked head gimbal assembly is released from the end effector to the nest. The first head gimbal assembly is tested on the nest by reading from and/or writing to a rotating disc. A second head gimbal assembly is held with a second end effector at the same time the first end effector holds the first head gimbal assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Brett Robert Herdendorf, Michael Steven Quam, Andrew Michael Blair
  • Head gimbal assembly loader
    Patent number: 7542868
    Abstract: A method of loading a head gimbal assembly on a disc includes attaching an unmounted head gimbal assembly to a four bar loader. The four bar loader includes a fixed plate, a pivot plate, and a four bar linkage connecting the fixed plate to the pivot plate. The four bar loader is then used to tilt the attached head gimbal assembly toward the surface of the disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, LLC.
    Inventors: Brett Robert Herdendorf, Michael Steven Quam, Andrew Michael Blair, Ronald Eldon Anderson, Kermit Ray Harmon
  • Method and apparatus for head gimbal assembly testing
    Patent number: 7529635
    Abstract: A method for dynamic electrical testing of head gimbal assemblies may include initiating an automated continuous process that includes selecting an unmounted head gimbal assembly; aligning the unmounted head gimbal assembly; loading the unmounted head gimbal assembly to a disc; and testing the unmounted head gimbal assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald Eldon Anderson, Andrew Michael Blair, Dale Allen Blomgren, Kermit Ray Harmon, Brett Robert Herdendorf, Justin Lee Holwell, Philip Louis Johnson, Mujahid Akbar Khan, Klaus Obergfell, Steven Ivars Palks, Michael Steven Quam, David Allen Reints, Michael John Roe, Steven Ernest Wheeler
  • Alignment of unmounted head gimbal assemblies for testing
    Patent number: 7505860
    Abstract: A method for dynamic electrical testing of head gimbal assemblies may include initiating an automated continuous process that includes selecting an unmounted head gimbal assembly; aligning the unmounted head gimbal assembly; loading the unmounted head gimbal assembly to a disc; and testing the unmounted head gimbal assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Brett Robert Herdendorf, Michael Steven Quam, Justin Lee Holwell, Andrew Michael Blair