Patents by Inventor Robert L. Horn

Robert L. Horn 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: 11915728
    Abstract: A data storage disk cartridge library system includes a rack having an array of bays, at least some housing disk media cartridges and/or media drives, and a pair of horizontal and vertical guide rails bordering each bay. A media transport robot includes fixed-position drive wheels at each corner for driving the robot along the guide rails, and pivoting guide wheels corresponding to each drive wheel for guiding the drive wheel horizontally along a horizontal guide rail and vertically along a vertical guide rail. With each guide wheel coupled with a horizontal guide rail the robot can travel horizontally on the rack, and with each guide wheel coupled with a vertical guide rail the robot can travel vertically on the rack. Electrical power can be supplied to the robot via the guide rails, and gear portions of the wheels mechanically interface with a mechanical portion of the guide rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert L. Horn
  • Patent number: 11862203
    Abstract: A data storage disk cartridge library includes a media drive having a clean internal environment, a disk cartridge bay positioned adjacent to the media drive, and a disk cartridge positioned in the disk cartridge bay and having clean compartments for housing a clean disk trays supporting clean magnetic recording disk media. The media drive has a disk tray extractor including a seal plate positioned at times flush with a surrounding shroud, and a set of pins for extending through the seal plate and a disk tray and for moving to a tray locking position. The seal plate covers a disk tray faceplate to physically isolate the faceplate from the clean portion of the disk tray, the corresponding clean compartment, and the clean environment of the media drive. The shroud is configured to cover surfaces of the disk cartridge adjacent to the faceplate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert L. Horn
  • Publication number: 20230238028
    Abstract: A data storage disk cartridge library system includes a rack having an array of bays, at least some housing disk media cartridges and/or media drives, and a pair of horizontal and vertical guide rails bordering each bay. A media transport robot includes fixed-position drive wheels at each corner for driving the robot along the guide rails, and pivoting guide wheels corresponding to each drive wheel for guiding the drive wheel horizontally along a horizontal guide rail and vertically along a vertical guide rail. With each guide wheel coupled with a horizontal guide rail the robot can travel horizontally on the rack, and with each guide wheel coupled with a vertical guide rail the robot can travel vertically on the rack. Electrical power can be supplied to the robot via the guide rails, and gear portions of the wheels mechanically interface with a mechanical portion of the guide rails.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventor: Robert L. Horn
  • Publication number: 20230238036
    Abstract: A data storage disk cartridge library includes a media drive having a clean internal environment, a disk cartridge bay positioned adjacent to the media drive, and a disk cartridge positioned in the disk cartridge bay and having clean compartments for housing a clean disk trays supporting clean magnetic recording disk media. The media drive has a disk tray extractor including a seal plate positioned at times flush with a surrounding shroud, and a set of pins for extending through the seal plate and a disk tray and for moving to a tray locking position. The seal plate covers a disk tray faceplate to physically isolate the faceplate from the clean portion of the disk tray, the corresponding clean compartment, and the clean environment of the media drive. The shroud is configured to cover surfaces of the disk cartridge adjacent to the faceplate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventor: Robert L. Horn
  • Patent number: 11599305
    Abstract: A data storage device configured to access a magnetic tape comprising a plurality of data tracks is disclosed, wherein the data storage device comprises at least one head configured to access the magnetic tape. A mapping table is generated having a predetermined number of segment entries per data track, wherein each segment entry corresponds to a data segment of the data track, each segment entry comprises a first logical address corresponding to a first logical data block stored in the corresponding data segment, and at least one of the data segments stores multiple logical data blocks. A target segment entry in the mapping table corresponding to a logical address of a read command is located, and the head is positioned at a beginning of a target data segment of a target data track corresponding to the target segment entry in order to execute the read command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert L. Horn
  • Patent number: 11557321
    Abstract: A data storage device configured to access a magnetic tape is disclosed, wherein the data storage device comprises at least one head configured to access the magnetic tape. A first plurality of data blocks are encoded into a first plurality of ECC sub-blocks including a first ECC sub-block, and the first plurality of ECC sub-blocks are encoded into a first ECC super-block. The first ECC sub-block is written to the magnetic tape, and a write-verify of the first ECC sub-block is executed by reading the first ECC sub-block. When the write-verify passes, a second plurality of data blocks are encoded into a second ECC super-block, and when the write-verify fails, a third plurality of data blocks and the first ECC sub-block are encoded into the second ECC super-block, wherein the second ECC super-block is written to the magnetic tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Horn, Derrick E. Burton
  • Publication number: 20220366938
    Abstract: A data storage device configured to access a magnetic tape is disclosed, wherein the data storage device comprises at least one head configured to access the magnetic tape. A first plurality of data blocks are encoded into a first plurality of ECC sub-blocks including a first ECC sub-block, and the first plurality of ECC sub-blocks are encoded into a first ECC super-block. The first ECC sub-block is written to the magnetic tape, and a write-verify of the first ECC sub-block is executed by reading the first ECC sub-block. When the write-verify passes, a second plurality of data blocks are encoded into a second ECC super-block, and when the write-verify fails, a third plurality of data blocks and the first ECC sub-block are encoded into the second ECC super-block, wherein the second ECC super-block is written to the magnetic tape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Applicant: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. HORN, Derrick E. BURTON
  • Publication number: 20220365715
    Abstract: A data storage device configured to access a magnetic tape comprising a plurality of data tracks is disclosed, wherein the data storage device comprises at least one head configured to access the magnetic tape. A mapping table is generated having a predetermined number of segment entries per data track, wherein each segment entry corresponds to a data segment of the data track, each segment entry comprises a first logical address corresponding to a first logical data block stored in the corresponding data segment, and at least one of the data segments stores multiple logical data blocks. A target segment entry in the mapping table corresponding to a logical address of a read command is located, and the head is positioned at a beginning of a target data segment of a target data track corresponding to the target segment entry in order to execute the read command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventor: Robert L. Horn
  • Patent number: 11211094
    Abstract: A data storage device configured to access a magnetic tape is disclosed, wherein the data storage device comprises at least one head configured to access the magnetic tape. A first plurality of data blocks are encoded into a first plurality of ECC sub-blocks including a first ECC sub-block, and the first plurality of ECC sub-blocks are encoded into a first ECC super-block. The first ECC sub-block is written to the magnetic tape, and a write-verify of the first ECC sub-block is executed by reading the first ECC sub-block. When the write-verify passes, a second plurality of data blocks are encoded into a second ECC super-block, and when the write-verify fails, a third plurality of data blocks and the first ECC sub-block are encoded into the second ECC super-block, wherein the second ECC super-block is written to the magnetic tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Robert L. Horn, Derrick E. Burton
  • Patent number: 10740242
    Abstract: Data is received from a sensing device of a plurality of sensing devices in communication with a device for storage in at least one memory of the device. A first cache memory or a second cache memory of the device is selected for caching the received data based at least in part on the sensing device sending the data. According to another aspect, data is received from a sensing device for storage in at least one memory of a device. It is determined whether to cache the received data based on at least one of the sensing device sending the data and information related to the received data. A cache memory is selected from among a plurality of cache memories of the device for caching the received data based at least in part on the sensing device sending the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert L. Horn
  • Patent number: 10372344
    Abstract: A collective latency indicator is determined that is associated with a latency in retrieving multiple erasure coded shards generated from an erasure coding on initial data. The collective latency indicator is compared to a latency limit, and a number of erasure coded shards to retrieve is adjusted based on the comparison of the collective latency indicator to the latency limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James N. Malina, Robert L. Horn, Kent Anderson, James C. Alexander, Albert H. Chen
  • Patent number: 10374634
    Abstract: An individual latency indicator is determined for each Data Storage Device (DSD) or memory portion of a DSD storing one or more erasure coded shards generated from an erasure coding on initial data. Each individual latency indicator is associated with a latency in retrieving an erasure coded shard stored in a respective DSD or memory portion. At least one collective latency indicator is determined using determined individual latency indicators, with the at least one collective latency indicator being associated with a latency in retrieving multiple erasure coded shards. The at least one collective latency indicator is compared to a latency limit, and a subset of erasure coded shards is selected to retrieve based on the comparison of the at least one collective latency indicator to the latency limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James N. Malina, Robert L. Horn, Kent Anderson, James C. Alexander, Albert H. Chen
  • Patent number: 10162521
    Abstract: A Data Storage Device (DSD) is in communication with a plurality of sensing devices. Data is received for storage in the DSD from a sensing device of the plurality of sensing devices. The received data is associated with at least one storage hint assigned to the sensing device. A media region of the DSD is selected from a plurality of media regions for storing the received data based on the at least one storage hint and at least one characteristic of the media region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert L. Horn
  • Patent number: 10140067
    Abstract: A data storage device (DSD) including a first non-volatile memory (NVM) media type for storing data and a second NVM media type for storing data. Metadata is obtained related to operation of the second NVM media type. The metadata is evaluated and data stored in the first NVM media type is managed based on the evaluated metadata.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Horn, Robert M. Fallone, David Norman Steffen
  • Publication number: 20180307611
    Abstract: Data is received from a sensing device of a plurality of sensing devices in communication with a device for storage in at least one memory of the device. A first cache memory or a second cache memory of the device is selected for caching the received data based at least in part on the sensing device sending the data. According to another aspect, data is received from a sensing device for storage in at least one memory of a device. It is determined whether to cache the received data based on at least one of the sensing device sending the data and information related to the received data. A cache memory is selected from among a plurality of cache memories of the device for caching the received data based at least in part on the sensing device sending the data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventor: Robert L. Horn
  • Patent number: 10055171
    Abstract: Embodiments of compression and formatting of data for data storage systems are disclosed. In some embodiments, a data storage system can compress fixed sized data before storing it on a media and format obtained variable sized compressed data for storing on the media that typically has fixed size storage granularity. One or more modules compress the incoming host data and create an output stream of fixed sized storage units that contain compressed data. The storage units are stored on the media. Capacity, reliability, and performance are thereby increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert L. Horn
  • Patent number: 10019372
    Abstract: Data is received from a sensing device for storage in at least one memory of a Data Storage Device. It is determined whether to cache the received data in at least one cache memory of the DSD based on at least one of the sensing device sending the data and information related to the received data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert L. Horn
  • Publication number: 20180165015
    Abstract: An individual latency indicator is determined for each Data Storage Device (DSD) or memory portion of a DSD storing one or more erasure coded shards generated from an erasure coding on initial data. Each individual latency indicator is associated with a latency in retrieving an erasure coded shard stored in a respective DSD or memory portion. At least one collective latency indicator is determined using determined individual latency indicators, with the at least one collective latency indicator being associated with a latency in retrieving multiple erasure coded shards. The at least one collective latency indicator is compared to a latency limit, and a subset of erasure coded shards is selected to retrieve based on the comparison of the at least one collective latency indicator to the latency limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: James N. MALINA, Robert L. HORN, Kent ANDERSON, James C. ALEXANDER, Albert H. CHEN
  • Publication number: 20180165016
    Abstract: A collective latency indicator is determined that is associated with a latency in retrieving multiple erasure coded shards generated from an erasure coding on initial data. The collective latency indicator is compared to a latency limit, and a number of erasure coded shards to retrieve is adjusted based on the comparison of the collective latency indicator to the latency limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: James N. MALINA, Robert L. HORN, Kent ANDERSON, James C. ALEXANDER, Albert H. CHEN
  • Patent number: 9898406
    Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed that varies its caching policy for caching data in non-volatile solid-state memory as the memory degrades. As the non-volatile memory degrades, the caching policy can be varied such that the non-volatile memory is used more as a read cache and less as a write cache. Performance improvements and slower degradation of the non-volatile memory can thereby be attained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Robert L. Horn