Patents by Inventor Nobuyuki Okunaga

Nobuyuki Okunaga 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: 11924958
    Abstract: A hard disk drive flexible printed circuit (FPC) includes a plurality of fingers extending from a main portion, with each finger having a first wiring layer including a first electrically conductive trace layout, a second wiring layer including a second electrically conductive trace layout, and a base film interposed between the first and second wiring layers, where the first conductive trace layout includes at least one thermally conductive protective island overlaying a respective portion of the second trace layout to provide a protective thermal barrier to the base film. Hence, maximum temperatures across various layers of the FPC laminate can be reduced, damage to the FPC prevented, and manufacturing yields improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Teruhiro Nakamiya, Kazuhiro Nagaoka, Satoshi Nakamura, Nobuyuki Okunaga
  • Publication number: 20230276566
    Abstract: A hard disk drive flexible printed circuit (FPC) includes a plurality of fingers extending from a main portion, with each finger having a first wiring layer including a first electrically conductive trace layout, a second wiring layer including a second electrically conductive trace layout, and a base film interposed between the first and second wiring layers, where the first conductive trace layout includes at least one thermally conductive protective island overlaying a respective portion of the second trace layout to provide a protective thermal barrier to the base film. Hence, maximum temperatures across various layers of the FPC laminate can be reduced, damage to the FPC prevented, and manufacturing yields improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventors: Teruhiro Nakamiya, Kazuhiro Nagaoka, Satoshi Nakamura, Nobuyuki Okunaga
  • Patent number: 11657841
    Abstract: A hard disk drive flexible printed circuit (FPC) includes a plurality of fingers extending from a main portion, with each finger having a thermally-conductive stiffener, at least one wiring layer over the stiffener, and a cover film over the at least one wiring layer, where the centroid of the stiffener is offset from the centerline of the cover film. Thus, utilizing the heat-sink characteristics of the stiffener, temperature differences among the upper and lower electrical pads of the FPC resulting from a heat-based interconnection procedure can be reduced and the temperatures across the FPC finger made more uniform, damage to the FPC prevented, and soldering yields improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Teruhiro Nakamiya, Kazuhiro Nagaoka, Satoshi Nakamura, Nobuyuki Okunaga
  • Publication number: 20220418078
    Abstract: A hard disk drive flexible printed circuit (FPC) includes a plurality of fingers extending from a main portion, with each finger having a first wiring layer including a first electrically conductive trace layout, a second wiring layer including a second electrically conductive trace layout, and a base film interposed between the first and second wiring layers, where the first conductive trace layout includes at least one thermally conductive protective island overlaying a respective portion of the second trace layout to provide a protective thermal barrier to the base film. Hence, maximum temperatures across various layers of the FPC laminate can be reduced, damage to the FPC prevented, and manufacturing yields improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Teruhiro Nakamiya, Kazuhiro Nagaoka, Satoshi Nakamura, Nobuyuki Okunaga
  • Publication number: 20220415346
    Abstract: A hard disk drive flexible printed circuit (FPC) includes a plurality of fingers extending from a main portion, with each finger having a thermally-conductive stiffener, at least one wiring layer over the stiffener, and a cover film over the at least one wiring layer, where the centroid of the stiffener is offset from the centerline of the cover film. Thus, utilizing the heat-sink characteristics of the stiffener, temperature differences among the upper and lower electrical pads of the FPC resulting from a heat-based interconnection procedure can be reduced and the temperatures across the FPC finger made more uniform, damage to the FPC prevented, and soldering yields improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Teruhiro Nakamiya, Kazuhiro Nagaoka, Satoshi Nakamura, Nobuyuki Okunaga
  • Patent number: 10943614
    Abstract: A load/unload ramp assembly for a hard disk drive includes a support plate having at least one interlock slot and a plurality of ramp units interconnected with the support plate. At least one of the ramp units includes an interlock structure that protrudes into a corresponding interlock slot of the support plate, and is configured to move within the interlock slot in response to shrinkage of the ramp unit upon cooling associated with manufacturing of the ramp assembly. The ends of the interlock slot may be configured to manage the shrinkage and/or to maintain design dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianqian Xu, Hiroki Kitahori, Shin Nagahiro, Nobuyuki Okunaga
  • Patent number: 10468071
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a magnetic storage device that comprises a housing defining an interior cavity. The magnetic storage device also comprises at least one magnetic disk in the interior cavity of the housing. The magnetic storage device further comprises at least one read-write head in the interior cavity and configured to read data from and write data to the magnetic disk. The read-write head comprises a heat-assisted magnetic storage (HAMR) head. The magnetic storage device additionally comprises a gas, comprising oxygen and helium, sealed in the interior cavity of the housing. A percent concentration of oxygen in the gas is greater than or equal to 3%. A pressure of the gas is between 10% and 70%, inclusive, of atmospheric pressure. A relative humidity within the interior cavity is less than 5%, inclusive. A percent concentration of helium in the gas is less than or equal to 90%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kenji Tasaka, Yuichiro Sano, Ehsan Rismaniyazdi, Barry Stipe, Nobuyuki Okunaga, Erhard Schreck, Oscar Ruiz, Qing Dai, Sripathi V. Canchi, Weidong Huang, Yong Hu, Kenji Kuroki
  • Publication number: 20160365105
    Abstract: A hard disk drive actuator pivot-base tower clearance spacer mechanism may be positioned at least in part between an enclosure base tower structure, on which a pivot shaft of a pivot bearing assembly is disposed, and the pivot shaft. The spacer mechanism is positioned to affect the clearance between an actuator of which the pivot bearing assembly is part and the base tower structure, such as to limit unwanted tilting of the actuator relative to the tower. The clearance spacer mechanism may comprise an elastic cap or may comprise a spring mechanism configured to fit over the top of the base tower structure so as to compress the spacer mechanism while positioned between the tower structure and the pivot shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: Shinichi Kimura, Nobuyuki Okunaga, Hiroki Kitahori, Hitoshi Inomata
  • Patent number: 8493686
    Abstract: A disk-enclosure cover for a low-profile, hard-disk drive (HDD). The disk-enclosure cover includes a substantially flat, plate-like portion that includes a periphery, and a peripheral flange that is disposed at the periphery. The peripheral flange includes a recessed portion that is configured to be recessed from a SATA connector in proximity to the SATA connector. In addition, the recessed portion is configured to allow a top portion of the SATA connector to be disposed in close proximity to the peripheral flange when the SATA connector is seated on a receiving connector of the low-profile HDD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Shinichi Kimura, Hiroki Kitahori, Nobuyuki Okunaga, Takao Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8320085
    Abstract: A disk drive. The disk drive includes: a head for accessing a data recording area of a disk; an actuator for pivoting to move the head; a voice coil motor; and, a latch configured to lock the actuator from pivoting toward the data recording area in response to an external force. The voice-coil motor includes a voice coil, a magnet, and a yoke. The latch is positioned at a closed position when the actuator is positioned at a stand-by position, and is configured to pivot by application of a magnetic bias force with pivoting of the actuator from the stand-by position into proximity with the data recording area such that the latch is configured to stop at an open position. The yoke includes a protrusion which protrudes toward the magnetic body at the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Takao Suzuki, Nobuyuki Okunaga, Hiroki Kitahori, Kohji Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20110292541
    Abstract: A disk-enclosure cover for a low-profile, hard-disk drive (HDD). The disk-enclosure cover includes a substantially flat, plate-like portion that includes a periphery, and a peripheral flange that is disposed at the periphery. The peripheral flange includes a recessed portion that is configured to be recessed from a SATA connector in proximity to the SATA connector. In addition, the recessed portion is configured to allow a top portion of the SATA connector to be disposed in close proximity to the peripheral flange when the SATA connector is seated on a receiving connector of the low-profile HDD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventors: Shinichi Kimura, Hiroki Kitahori, Nobuyuki Okunaga, Takao Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20110109997
    Abstract: A disk drive. The disk drive includes: a head for accessing a data recording area of a disk; an actuator for pivoting to move the head; a voice coil motor; and, a latch configured to lock the actuator from pivoting toward the data recording area in response to an external force. The voice-coil motor includes a voice coil, a magnet, and a yoke. The latch is positioned at a closed position when the actuator is positioned at a stand-by position, and is configured to pivot by application of a magnetic bias force with pivoting of the actuator from the stand-by position into proximity with the data recording area such that the latch is configured to stop at an open position. The yoke includes a protrusion which protrudes toward the magnetic body at the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventors: Takao Suzuki, Nobuyuki Okunaga, Hiroki Kitahori, Kohji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6657822
    Abstract: A magnetic disk apparatus includes a magnetic disk, a magnetic head for writing data into and reading data from the magnetic disk, a carriage pivoted on a pivot bearing while holding the magnetic head at its one end, the pivot bearing being constituted by a cylindrical sleeve serving as a fixed axle, bearing units each having an outer race fitted to the inside of the sleeve, bearing balls, and an inner race, and a shaft having the outside fitted to the inner races of the bearing units, thus, change of a pre-load caused by a heat expansion difference between the shaft and sleeve is an axial direction is compensated with a change of a pre-load caused thereby the same is a radius direction. Hence, the weight of a pivotally movable portion of an actuator is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Gentaro Nakamura, Nobuyuki Okunaga, Toshihisa Okazaki, Isao Kobayashi, Toshihiro Arisaka
  • Patent number: 6490123
    Abstract: A magnetic disk drive has a housing for a 3.5 inch form factor and disk media of a diameter for a 2.5 inch form factor. The smaller disk media rotate at a high speed while consuming low electric lower and generating less heat while providing for quick access speeds. Usually, when the magnetic disk media are rotated at a higher speed, the electric power consumption and heat generation are increased because of the load increase. This problem is avoided with the use of cooling fins placed about the periphery of the disk media. Further, the smaller size disk media enable a decrease in torque loss during on-load rotation with the media, and a decrease of electric current to the spindle motor during rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Okunaga, Masao Iwakura, Kazuo Nakagoshi, Takuji Ogawa, Chuma Akira, Fumio Kugiya, Tomio Suzuki, Toshiaki Kojima, Kazuo Sakai, Naoki Kodama, Tatsuya Ishigaki
  • Patent number: 6445549
    Abstract: There is disclosed a support structure for a magnet-yoke assembly which prevents the magnet-yoke assembly, when vibrated on receipt of the driving reaction of a carriage, from causing a magnetic head and a magnetic disk to vibrate and which is independent of temperature. In a magnetic disk drive having a magnetic circuit which gives a driving force to a carriage 7 holding a magnetic head so as to position the magnetic head, the magnetic circuit comprises a driving coil 9 attached fixedly to the carriage and a magnet-yoke assembly 8, and the magnet-yoke assembly 8 is supported in a housing at one point thereof so as to be able to rotate in the direction parallel to the surface of the magnetic disk. The assembly is rotatably supported by means of a bearing 14 and the bearing is given with an initial displacement so as to increase the axial bearing rigidity thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Okunaga, Toshihisa Okazaki
  • Publication number: 20020093760
    Abstract: A magnetic disk drive that shape coefficient is 3.5 inches are provided, which is designed as rotating magnetic media in a high speed in order to consume a low electric power, to generate a less heat, and to access more quickly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Okunaga, Masao Iwakura, Kazuo Nakagoshi, Takuji Ogawa, Chuma Akira, Fumio Kugiya, Tomio Suzuki, Toshiaki Kojima, Kazuo Sakai, Naoki Kodama, Tatsuya Ishigaki
  • Publication number: 20020093758
    Abstract: A magnetic disk drive that shape coefficient is 3.5 inches are provided, which is designed as rotating magnetic media in a high speed in order to consume a low electric power, to generate a less heat, and to access more quickly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Okunaga, Masao Iwakura, Kazuo Nakagoshi, Takuji Ogawa, Chuma Akira, Fumio Kugiya, Tomio Suzuki, Toshiaki Kojima, Kazuo Sakai, Naoki Kodama, Tatsuya Ishigaki
  • Publication number: 20020093759
    Abstract: A magnetic disk drive that shape coefficient is 3.5 inches are provided, which is designed as rotating magnetic media in a high speed in order to consume a low electric power, to generate a less heat, and to access more quickly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Okunaga, Masao Iwakura, Kazuo Nakagoshi, Takuji Ogawa, Chuma Akira, Fumio Kugiya, Tomio Suzuki, Toshiaki Kojima, Kazuo Sakai, Naoki Kodama, Tatsuya Ishigaki
  • Publication number: 20020034053
    Abstract: There is disclosed a support structure for a magnet-yoke assembly which prevents the magnet-yoke assembly, when vibrated on receipt of the driving reaction of a carriage, from causing a magnetic head and a magnetic disk to vibrate and which is independent of temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Publication date: March 21, 2002
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Okunaga, Toshihisa Okazaki
  • Patent number: 6353517
    Abstract: In a magnetic disk drive having a magnetic circuit which provides a driving force to a carriage 7 holding a magnetic head so as to position the magnetic head, the magnetic circuit includes a driving coil 9 attached fixedly to the carriage and a magnet-yoke assembly 8. The magnet-yoke assembly 8 is supported in a housing at one point thereof so as to be able to rotate in the direction parallel to the surface of the magnetic disk. The assembly is rotatably supported by means of a bearing 14 and the bearing is provided with an initial displacement so as to increase the axial bearing rigidity thereof. A base 10 is provided with a slip guide 16 which allows the magnet-yoke assembly 8 to rotate with low friction and serves to provide the initial displacement to the bearing. A visco-elastic member 17 is provided for restricting the rotation of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Okunaga, Toshihisa Okazaki