Patents by Inventor Ronald F. Hales
Ronald F. Hales 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).
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Patent number: 6718446Abstract: Data on a master is read into a master image file, and the master image file is manipulated to include a benchmark comprising tracking and verification information tied to at least a portion of the master image file. Thus, a copied-to storage media as copied from the master image file also includes such benchmark, a data alteration of the master image file causes a mis-match with regard to the benchmark in such master image file, and a data alteration of the copied-to storage media also causes a mis-match with regard to the benchmark in such storage media as copied from such master image file. The benchmark may include a part identifier and a security identifier.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2000Date of Patent: April 6, 2004Assignee: Iomega CorporationInventors: Eric Ryon Peters, Robert L. Short, Chad Adams, Ronald F. Hales
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Patent number: 6445523Abstract: A storage media is disclosed and comprises a storage body and a readable indelible mark formed in the body such that portions thereof are indelibly altered. The mark is read by writing first data to the body in the region of the mark, and reading second data from the body in such region. The written first data is not accepted where the portions of the body are indelibly altered. Accordingly, the read second data corresponds to the written first data with segments thereof missing. The missing segments of the first data correspond to the portions of the body indelibly altered. In a preferred embodiment, the storage media comprises a magnetic rotatable disk having a substantially planar substrate and a magnetizable layer deposited thereon. The reading and writing are therefore performed magnetically.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2001Date of Patent: September 3, 2002Assignee: Iomega CorporationInventors: Fred C. Thomas, III, Refael Bar, Daniel Alfonsi, Dai Feng, Jeff G. Carter, Charlie M. Monroe, Jr., Ronald F. Hales, George T. Krieger
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Publication number: 20010024337Abstract: A storage media is disclosed and comprises a storage body and a readable indelible mark formed in the body such that portions thereof are indelibly altered. The mark is read by writing first data to the body in the region of the mark, and reading second data from the body in such region. The written first data is not accepted where the portions of the body are indelibly altered. Accordingly, the read second data corresponds to the written first data with segments thereof missing. The missing segments of the first data correspond to the portions of the body indelibly altered. In a preferred embodiment, the storage media comprises a magnetic rotatable disk having a substantially planar substrate and a magnetizable layer deposited thereon. The reading and writing are therefore performed magnetically.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2001Publication date: September 27, 2001Applicant: Iomega CorporationInventors: Fred C. Thomas, Refael Bar, Daniel Alfonsi, Dai Feng, Jeff G. Carter, Charlie M. Monroe, Ronald F. Hales, George T. Krieger
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Patent number: 6274844Abstract: A process for assembling a disk cartridge is disclosed. The process includes the steps of snapping a top shell half of the disk cartridge over a bottom shell half of the disk cartridge; adjusting the shell halves until the shell halves are in abutment contact with each other at a weld site; and directing an energy beam at the weld site until a portion of the top shell half and a portion of the bottom shell half fuse so that the top shell half is fixed to the bottom shell half. The process is repeated for each of a plurality of weld sites located on the perimeter of the disk cartridge. A process for assembling a disk cartridge is disclosed in which an energy beam is split into a plurality of split energy beams. The plurality of split energy beams are focused on a plurality of weld sites until a portion of the top shell half and a portion of the bottom shell half fuse so that the top shell half is fixed to the bottom shell half.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 1999Date of Patent: August 14, 2001Assignee: Iomega CorporationInventors: Donald Beuch, Ronald F. Hales, Brian Schick, Carl Thomas Gucker, Michael William Nordmeyer
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Patent number: 6259575Abstract: A storage media is disclosed and comprises a storage body and a readable indelible mark formed in the body such that portions thereof are indelibly altered. The mark is read by writing first data to the body in the region of the mark, and reading second data from the body in such region. The written first data is not accepted where the portions of the body are indelibly altered. Accordingly, the read second data corresponds to the written first data with segments thereof missing. The missing segments of the first data correspond to the portions of the body indelibly altered. In a preferred embodiment, the storage media comprises a magnetic rotatable disk having a substantially planar substrate and a magnetizable layer deposited thereon. The reading and writing are therefore performed magnetically.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 1998Date of Patent: July 10, 2001Assignee: Iomega CorporationInventors: Fred C. Thomas, III, Refael Bar, Daniel Alfonsi, Dai Feng, Jeff G. Carter, Charlie M. Monroe, Jr., Ronald F. Hales, George T. Krieger
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Patent number: 6256168Abstract: A disk cartridge has a rotary inner shell, or shutter, to permit access to a data-storage medium disposed within the shell. A driving-access opening is located in a bottom surface of the cartridge's outer shell to allow a drive mechanism to rotate the storage medium. A portion of the inner shell projects into the driving-access opening to aid in the rotational alignment of the shell. The outer shell has a wedge-shaped disk-access opening. The inner shell rotates over a predefined arc to expose the data storage medium via the disk-access opening. A liner is disposed between the inner and outer shells to reduce sliding friction between the shells.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 1998Date of Patent: July 3, 2001Assignee: Iomega CorporationInventors: Ronald F. Hales, Richard Tolan Brown, Brian Schick
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Patent number: 6185803Abstract: A non-woven fabric liner comprising a plurality of bonded fibers is attached to the inner surface of one of the upper and lower shells of a disk cartridge. A main body of the fabric liner lies against the inner surface of the shell and is spaced a predetermined distance from a corresponding surface of the storage media within the cartridge. A region of the fabric liner is subjected to a fuzzing process in which the bonded fibers in that region are loosened to form a region of upstanding fibers that extend from the main body of the liner to the surface of the disk. The upstanding fibers wipe the surface of the disk while the main body of the liner remains spaced from the disk, thereby reducing drag.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 1996Date of Patent: February 13, 2001Assignee: Iomega CorporationInventors: Yiping Ma, Theodore D. Hodapp, Ronald F. Hales, Wayne Miller
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Patent number: 6166884Abstract: An apparatus and system for improving the contact between the heads of a disk drive and the storage media of the disk by improving disk stability. The apparatus comprises a disk having a disk stability pattern disposed proximate a center region of the disk. The disk stability pattern improves disk stability by reducing vibration modes in the spinning disk, thereby minimizing the formation of standing waves in the spinning disk media, and by improving disk compliance, thereby minimizing disk anisotropic curl and tilt.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 1998Date of Patent: December 26, 2000Assignee: Iomega CorporationInventors: James Eggebeen, Ronald F. Hales, Tolan Brown, Robert Allen Bruce
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Patent number: 6160680Abstract: A disk cartridge has a hub with an inner ring that engages an annular groove in a drive motor. The hub can be constructed of either one piece or two pieces of joined sheet metal. In either embodiment, the hub has an outer peripheral edge that has an angled surface. The hub can be attached to the medium via adhesive or mechanically by way of a retainer.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 1998Date of Patent: December 12, 2000Assignee: Iomega CorporationInventors: Don Beuch, Ronald F. Hales, Tolan Brown, Shawn Ray Isaacson, Brian Schick
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Patent number: 6148495Abstract: A non-woven fabric liner comprising a plurality of bonded fibers is attached to the inner surface of one of the upper and lower shells of a disk cartridge. A main body of the fabric liner lies against the inner surface of the shell and is spaced a predetermined distance from a corresponding surface of the storage media within the cartridge. A region of the fabric liner is subjected to a fuzzing process in which the bonded fibers in that region are loosened to form a region of upstanding fibers that extend from the main body of the liner to the surface of the disk. The upstanding fibers wipe the surface of the disk while the main body of the liner remains spaced from the disk, thereby reducing drag.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 1998Date of Patent: November 21, 2000Assignee: Iomega CorporationInventors: Yiping Ma, Theodore D. Hodapp, Ronald F. Hales, Wayne Miller
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Patent number: 6133544Abstract: A process for assembling a disk cartridge is disclosed. The process includes the steps of snapping a top shell half of the disk cartridge over a bottom shell half of the disk cartridge; adjusting the shell halves until the shell halves are in abutment contact with each other at a weld site; and directing an energy beam at the weld site until a portion of the top shell half and a portion of the bottom shell half fuse so that the top shell half is fixed to the bottom shell half. The process is repeated for each of a plurality of weld sites located on the perimeter of the disk cartridge. A process for assembling a disk cartridge is disclosed in which an energy beam is split into a plurality of split energy beams. The plurality of split energy beams are focused on a plurality of weld sites until a portion of the top shell half and a portion of the bottom shell half fuse so that the top shell half is fixed to the bottom shell half.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 1999Date of Patent: October 17, 2000Assignee: Iomega CorporationInventors: Donald Beuch, Ronald F. Hales, Brian Schick, Carl Thomas Gucker, Michael William Nordmeyer
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Patent number: 6021031Abstract: A data-storage cartridge has a rotary inner shell, or shutter, to selectively permit access to a data-storage disk disposed within the shell. The shutter is equipped with a wedge-shaped opening through which access to the data-storage disk is attained. A fabric liner is affixed to the inner surface of the shutter to isolate the disk from direct contact with the shutter. The ends of the liner extend beyond, i.e., overhang, the edges of the shutter which form the disk-access opening, thereby preventing direct contact between the data-storage disk and the edges.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 1998Date of Patent: February 1, 2000Assignee: Iomega CorporationInventors: Ronald F. Hales, Richard T. Brown, Brian Schick, Robert H. Lundgreen
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Patent number: 5951890Abstract: A process for assembling a disk cartridge is disclosed. The process includes the steps of snapping a top shell half of the disk cartridge over a bottom shell half of the disk cartridge; adjusting the shell halves until the shell halves are in abutment contact with each other at a weld site; and directing an energy beam at the weld site until a portion of the top shell half and a portion of the bottom shell half fuse so that the top shell half is fixed to the bottom shell half. The process is repeated for each of a plurality of weld sites located on the perimeter of the disk cartridge. A process for assembling a disk cartridge is disclosed in which an energy beam is split into a plurality of split energy beams. The plurality of split energy beams are focused on a plurality of weld sites until a portion of the top shell half and a portion of the bottom shell half fuse so that the top shell half is fixed to the bottom shell half.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 1997Date of Patent: September 14, 1999Assignee: Iomega CorporationInventors: Donald Beuch, Ronald F. Hales, Michael William Nordmeyer, Brian Schick, Carl Thomas Gucker
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Patent number: 5677818Abstract: A disk cartridge comprises a rotatable disk having upper and lower surfaces and an outer casing for rotatably housing the disk. The casing comprises upper and lower shells that mate to form the casing. Each of the upper and lower shells has an inner surface disposed in facing relation to a respective surface of the disk. The cartridge has a head access opening on its front peripheral edge, and the upper and lower shells have grooves formed therein to provide sufficient space for the magnetic heads of a disk drive to move across the surface of the disk. A non-woven fabric liner comprising a plurality of bonded fibers is attached to the inner surface of one of the upper and lower shells. A main body of the fabric liner lies against the inner surface of the shell and is spaced a predetermined distance from the corresponding surface of the disk.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 1996Date of Patent: October 14, 1997Assignee: Iomega CorporationInventors: Yiping Ma, Theodore D. Hodapp, Mark S. Thayne, Ronald F. Hales
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Patent number: 5419733Abstract: The current invention substantially removes particulate waste materials or debris from the floptical medium after laser etching. A low-temperature gas containing ice crystals is applied at a predetermined angle while the floptical medium is being rotated to improve the cleaning effect. The temperature of the disk is maintained above freezing to maintain the cleaning effect.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 1994Date of Patent: May 30, 1995Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Paul R. Johnson, James Bero, Jeff G. Carter, Anthony M. Candia, George T. Kieger, Ronald F. Hales, Fred C. Thomas, III
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Patent number: 5285077Abstract: A system for differentiating magnetic recording media of varying shades of black comprises a controller 10, first and second amplifiers 12A, 12B, and first and second fiber optic cables 14A, 14B. The sensitivity of the first fiber optic unit is adjusted such that it detects gamma ferric oxide media but not metal particle or barium ferrite media. The sensitivity of the second unit is adjusted such that it detects both barium ferrite and gamma ferric oxide media, but not metal particle media. The controller employs binary logic to determine which type of media is being viewed by the fiber optic units.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 1993Date of Patent: February 8, 1994Assignee: Iomega CorporationInventor: Ronald F. Hales
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Patent number: D414977Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 1998Date of Patent: October 12, 1999Assignee: Iomega CorporationInventors: Ronald F. Hales, Robert W. Jones, Donald R. Rochelo
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Patent number: RE44969Abstract: Data on a master is read into a master image file, and the master image file is manipulated to include a benchmark comprising tracking and verification information tied to at least a portion of the master image file. Thus, a copied-to storage media as copied from the master image file also includes such benchmark, a data alteration of the master image file causes a mis-match with regard to the benchmark in such master image file, and a data alteration of the copied-to storage media also causes a mis-match with regard to the benchmark in such storage media as copied from such master image file. The benchmark may include a part identifier and a security identifier.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2006Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Bozak Investments, LLCInventors: Eric Ryon Heiser, Robert L. Short, Chad Adams, Ronald F. Hales