Patents by Inventor Nole D. German

Nole D. German 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).

  • Publication number: 20230071114
    Abstract: Devices including a substrate and a plurality of coil portions disposed on the substrate. The plurality of coil portions electrically coupled to form a coil structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: John L. Schumann, Nole D. German, Trent A. Johnson, Duane M. Jelkin, Matthew S. Lang, Ryan N. Ruzicka, Forrest A. Cravens, Todd A. Peter, Zachary A. Pokornowski
  • Publication number: 20230025354
    Abstract: A component is disclosed. A component includes an elongated body, with a first end and a second end; and one or more tabs at the first end and the second end, the tabs configured to have a lower tensile strength than other regions of the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Erich W. Bierbrauer, Nole D. German
  • Patent number: 11521785
    Abstract: Devices including a substrate and a plurality of coil portions disposed on the substrate. The plurality of coil portions electrically coupled to form a coil structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: John L. Schumann, Nole D. German, Trent A. Johnson, Duane M. Jelkin, Matthew S. Lang, Ryan N. Ruzicka, Forrest A. Cravens, Todd A. Peter, Zachary A. Pokornowski
  • Publication number: 20200090854
    Abstract: Devices including a substrate and a plurality of coil portions disposed on the substrate. The plurality of coil portions electrically coupled to form a coil structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: John L. Schumann, Nole D. German, Trent A. Johnson, Duane M. Jelkin, Matthew S. Lang, Ryan N. Ruzicka, Forrest A. Cravens, Todd A. Peter, Zachary A. Pokomowski
  • Patent number: 9240203
    Abstract: Various embodiments concern a gimbaled flexure having a dual stage actuation structure comprising flexure which comprises a gimbal. The gimbal comprises at least one spring arm and a tongue connected to the at least one spring arm. The dual stage actuation structure further comprises a motor mounted on the gimbal, the motor comprising a top side and a bottom side opposite the top side, the bottom side of the motor facing the flexure. The dual stage actuation structure further comprises a damper located between the motor and the flexure, the damper contacting the tongue and the bottom side of the motor. The damper comprises one or both of elastic and viscoelastic material. Various other features of a dual stage actuation structure are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Mark A. Miller, Jacob D. Bjorstrom, Nole D. German
  • Patent number: 9147413
    Abstract: Various embodiments concern a suspension having a DSA structure on a gimbaled flexure comprising a loadbeam having a load point dimple and a flexure attached to the loadbeam. The flexure comprising a metal layer having a pair of spring arms, a tongue located between the spring arms, and a pair of struts. The struts connect the pair of spring arms to the tongue. One of the struts is located distal of the other strut. The pair of struts has a midline centered between the pair of struts. The suspension further comprises a motor mounted on the flexure. Electrical activation of the motor bends the pair of struts to rotate the tongue about an axis of rotation. The axis of rotation is aligned with the dimple. The midline is offset distally or proximally with respect to the axis of rotation. The offset counters a mass in imbalance of the tongue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Mark A. Miller, Joseph C. Wheatley, Nole D. German
  • Publication number: 20150187376
    Abstract: Various embodiments concern a suspension having a DSA structure on a gimbaled flexure comprising a loadbeam having a load point dimple and a flexure attached to the loadbeam. The flexure comprising a metal layer having a pair of spring arms, a tongue located between the spring arms, and a pair of struts. The struts connect the pair of spring arms to the tongue. One of the struts is located distal of the other strut. The pair of struts has a midline centered between the pair of struts. The suspension further comprises a motor mounted on the flexure. Electrical activation of the motor bends the pair of struts to rotate the tongue about an axis of rotation. The axis of rotation is aligned with the dimple. The midline is offset distally or proximally with respect to the axis of rotation. The offset counters a mass in imbalance of the tongue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventors: Mark A. Miller, Joseph C. Wheatley, Nole D. German
  • Publication number: 20140362476
    Abstract: Various embodiments concern a gimbaled flexure having a dual stage actuation structure comprising flexure which comprises a gimbal. The gimbal comprises at least one spring arm and a tongue connected to the at least one spring arm. The dual stage actuation structure further comprises a motor mounted on the gimbal, the motor comprising a top side and a bottom side opposite the top side, the bottom side of the motor facing the flexure. The dual stage actuation structure further comprises a damper located between the motor and the flexure, the damper contacting the tongue and the bottom side of the motor. The damper comprises one or both of elastic and viscoelastic material. Various other features of a dual stage actuation structure are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Mark A. Miller, Jacob D. Bjorstrom, Nole D. German
  • Patent number: 8896970
    Abstract: Various embodiments concern a suspension having a DSA structure on a gimbaled flexure comprising a loadbeam having a load point dimple and a flexure attached to the loadbeam. The flexure comprising a metal layer having a pair of spring arms, a tongue located between the spring arms, and a pair of struts. The struts connect the pair of spring arms to the tongue. One of the struts is located distal of the other strut. The pair of struts has a midline centered between the pair of struts. The suspension further comprises a motor mounted on the flexure. Electrical activation of the motor bends the pair of struts to rotate the tongue about an axis of rotation. The axis of rotation is aligned with the dimple. The midline is offset distally or proximally with respect to the axis of rotation. The offset counters a mass in imbalance of the tongue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Mark A. Miller, Joseph C. Wheatley, Nole D. German
  • Patent number: 8896968
    Abstract: Various embodiments concern a gimbaled flexure having a dual stage actuation structure comprising flexure which comprises a gimbal. The gimbal comprises at least one spring arm and a tongue connected to the at least one spring arm. The dual stage actuation structure further comprises a motor mounted on the gimbal, the motor comprising a top side and a bottom side opposite the top side, the bottom side of the motor facing the flexure. The dual stage actuation structure further comprises a damper located between the motor and the flexure, the damper contacting the tongue and the bottom side of the motor. The damper comprises one or both of elastic and viscoelastic material. Various other features of a dual stage actuation structure are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Mark A. Miller, Jacob D. Bjorstrom, Nole D. German
  • Patent number: 8885297
    Abstract: Various embodiments concern a dual stage actuation flexure having a motor contact paddle for connecting to a terminal of a piezoelectric motor. The flexure comprises a paddle having a top side and a bottom side, the paddle comprising at least one void, each void extending through the paddle from the bottom side to the top side. The paddle further comprises a stainless steel base, a conductor comprising a layer of metal, and a dielectric layer having a first section and a second section, the first section positioned between the conductor and the stainless steel base to overlap the stainless steel base and the second section extending beyond the stainless steel base to not overlap the stainless steel base. The bottom side of the paddle is configured to connect to the terminal with electrically conductive adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Jacob D. Bjorstrom, Nole D. German, Paul V. Pesavento, Zachary A. Pokornowski, Ryan N. Ruzicka, Kurt C. Swanson, Allan D. Tokuda
  • Patent number: 8792214
    Abstract: Various embodiments concern a dual stage actuation flexure having a motor contact paddle for connecting to a terminal of a piezoelectric motor. The flexure comprises a paddle having a top side and a bottom side, the paddle comprising at least one void, each void extending through the paddle from the bottom side to the top side. The paddle further comprises a stainless steel base, a conductor comprising a layer of metal, and a dielectric layer having a first section and a second section, the first section positioned between the conductor and the stainless steel base to overlap the stainless steel base and the second section extending beyond the stainless steel base to not overlap the stainless steel base. The bottom side of the paddle is configured to connect to the terminal with electrically conductive adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Jacob D. Bjorstrom, Nole D. German, Paul V. Pesavento, Zachary A. Pokornowski, Ryan N. Ruzicka, Kurt C. Swanson, Allan D. Tokuda
  • Publication number: 20140098440
    Abstract: Various embodiments concern a gimbaled flexure having a dual stage actuation structure comprising flexure which comprises a gimbal. The gimbal comprises at least one spring arm and a tongue connected to the at least one spring arm. The dual stage actuation structure further comprises a motor mounted on the gimbal, the motor comprising a top side and a bottom side opposite the top side, the bottom side of the motor facing the flexure. The dual stage actuation structure further comprises a damper located between the motor and the flexure, the damper contacting the tongue and the bottom side of the motor. The damper comprises one or both of elastic and viscoelastic material. Various other features of a dual stage actuation structure are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Inventors: Mark A. Miller, Jacob D. Bjorstrom, Nole D. German
  • Patent number: 8130471
    Abstract: An integrated lead flexure includes traces with windowed or reduced width portions. The flexure includes a metal base layer with a plurality of apertures, an insulating layer on the metal base layer, and one or more conductive traces formed on the insulating layer and extending over the metal base layer and the plurality of apertures. Backed portions of the one or more conductive traces that extend over the metal base layer have a first width, and unbacked portions of the one or more conductive traces that extend over the plurality of apertures have a second width that is less than the first width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Nole D. German, Michael E. Roen