Patents by Inventor Stephen J. Rothermel

Stephen J. Rothermel 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: 8947802
    Abstract: A method comprises generating first and second magnetic field components in a magnetic medium, the second magnetic field component substantially opposite the first. A pattern is written onto the magnetic medium, and a signal is generated by reading the pattern. The magnitude of the second magnetic field component is controlled based on an asymmetry of the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Douglas W. Johnson, Roni J. Dornfeld, Stephen J. Rothermel
  • Patent number: 8867167
    Abstract: A system comprises a first tapered core configured for positioning adjacent a first surface of a magnetic medium, and a second tapered core configured for positioning adjacent a second surface of the magnetic medium, opposite the first tapered core along a travel direction of the magnetic medium. Each of the first and second tapered cores has a transverse width defined with respect to the magnetic medium, where the transverse width decreases from a first end of the tapered core to a second end of the tapered core, the second end forming a pole face adjacent the magnetic medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Rothermel, Douglas W. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8867157
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a perpendicular pole head for creating a perpendicular magnetic moment in a concentrated pattern for writing the pattern on perpendicular magnetic media, such as BaFe based media. The pole head can have flux concentrators in the shape of the written pattern, which can be repeatedly applied to a moving magnetic medium to create a timing pattern on the media, e.g., a servo timing pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Douglas W. Johnson, Larold Olson, Yung Yip, Stephen J. Rothermel
  • Patent number: 8797681
    Abstract: An assembly comprises a plurality of laterally spaced front blocks, a magnetic post coupling each of the front blocks to a common back bar, and a common front bar magnetically coupled to the back bar. A write gap spacer is positioned between the front bar and each of the plurality of front blocks, and a write gap element comprising write gaps couples the front bar to each front block across the write gap spacer. A coil is configured to generate magnetic flux in each magnetic post, and the front blocks are configured to direct the magnetic flux across the write gaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventor: Stephen J. Rothermel
  • Patent number: 8760802
    Abstract: A system comprises a magnetic medium with a first magnetic gap adjacent a first side and a second magnetic gap adjacent a second side, opposite the first magnetic gap. The first magnetic gap generates first longitudinal and perpendicular field components. The second magnetic gap generates second longitudinal and perpendicular field components. The first and second longitudinal field components are substantially aligned along a recording layer of the magnetic medium, and the first and second perpendicular field components are substantially opposed across the recording layer of the magnetic medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Rothermel, Douglas W. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20140146412
    Abstract: A method comprises generating first and second magnetic field components in a magnetic medium, the second magnetic field component substantially opposite the first. A pattern is written onto the magnetic medium, and a signal is generated by reading the pattern. The magnitude of the second magnetic field component is controlled based on an asymmetry of the signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Douglas W. Johnson, Roni J. Dornfeld, Stephen J. Rothermel
  • Patent number: 8643968
    Abstract: A method comprises generating first and second magnetic field components in a magnetic medium, the second magnetic field component substantially opposite the first. A pattern is written onto the magnetic medium, and a signal is generated by reading the pattern. The magnitude of the second magnetic field component is controlled based on an asymmetry of the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Douglas W. Johnson, Roni J. Dornfeld, Stephen J. Rothermel
  • Publication number: 20130286501
    Abstract: A method comprises generating first and second magnetic field components in a magnetic medium, the second magnetic field component substantially opposite the first. A pattern is written onto the magnetic medium, and a signal is generated by reading the pattern. The magnitude of the second magnetic field component is controlled based on an asymmetry of the signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Douglas W. Johnson, Roni J. Dornfeld, Stephen J. Rothermel
  • Publication number: 20130286506
    Abstract: An assembly comprises a plurality of laterally spaced front blocks, a magnetic post coupling each of the front blocks to a common back bar, and a common front bar magnetically coupled to the back bar. A write gap spacer is positioned between the front bar and each of the plurality of front blocks, and a write gap element comprising write gaps couples the front bar to each front block across the write gap spacer. A coil is configured to generate magnetic flux in each magnetic post, and the front blocks are configured to direct the magnetic flux across the write gaps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: Imation Corp.
    Inventor: Stephen J. Rothermel
  • Publication number: 20130286504
    Abstract: A system comprises a first tapered core configured for positioning adjacent a first surface of a magnetic medium, and a second tapered core configured for positioning adjacent a second surface of the magnetic medium, opposite the first tapered core along a travel direction of the magnetic medium. Each of the first and second tapered cores has a transverse width defined with respect to the magnetic medium, where the transverse width decreases from a first end of the tapered core to a second end of the tapered core, the second end forming a pole face adjacent the magnetic medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: IMATION CORP.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Rothermel, Douglas W. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20130286510
    Abstract: A system comprises a magnetic medium with a first magnetic gap adjacent a first side and a second magnetic gap adjacent a second side, opposite the first magnetic gap. The first magnetic gap generates first longitudinal and perpendicular field components. The second magnetic gap generates second longitudinal and perpendicular field components. The first and second longitudinal field components are substantially aligned along a recording layer of the magnetic medium, and the first and second perpendicular field components are substantially opposed across the recording layer of the magnetic medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Rothermel, Douglas W. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20130265672
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a perpendicular pole head for creating a perpendicular magnetic moment in a concentrated pattern for writing the pattern on perpendicular magnetic media, such as BaFe based media. The pole head can have flux concentrators in the shape of the written pattern, which can be repeatedly applied to a moving magnetic medium to create a timing pattern on the media, e.g., a servo timing pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Douglas W. Johnson, Larold Olson, Yung Yip, Stephen J. Rothermel
  • Patent number: 8016194
    Abstract: A mobile reader configured to compile a list of data storage devices for transport includes an interface electrically coupled to circuitry modules including RFID scanning circuitry configured to read a unique storage device identifier from each of the data storage devices, and barcode scanning circuitry configured to read the unique storage device identifier from each of the data storage devices. The barcode scanning circuitry communicates with the RFID scanning circuitry. The interface includes a user operable function that enables selectively reading the unique storage device identifier with one of the RFID scanning circuitry or the barcode scanning circuitry to compile a scan list of in-transit data storage devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Curtis B. Hause, Sanjay Gupta, Stephen J. Rothermel, Jody L. Gregg
  • Publication number: 20090237221
    Abstract: A label programming system configured to initialize a radiofrequency (RF)-enabled label for attachment to a data storage device includes a platform, an RF read/write assembly disposed on a first side of the platform, and an optical reader assembly in electrical communication with the RF read/write assembly. The optical reader assembly is disposed on a second side of the platform opposite the first side. The optical reader assembly is configured to optically read information from the RF-enabled label and communicate the information to the RF read/write assembly that is configured to write the information to a chip of the RF-enabled label.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventors: Kevin G. Battles, Curtis B. Hause, G. Phillip Rambosek, Stephen J. Rothermel
  • Publication number: 20090224039
    Abstract: A mobile reader configured to compile a list of data storage devices for transport includes an interface electrically coupled to circuitry modules including RFID scanning circuitry configured to read a unique storage device identifier from each of the data storage devices, and barcode scanning circuitry configured to read the unique storage device identifier from each of the data storage devices. The barcode scanning circuitry communicates with the RFID scanning circuitry. The interface includes a user operable function that enables selectively reading the unique storage device identifier with one of the RFID scanning circuitry or the barcode scanning circuitry to compile a scan list of in-transit data storage devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventors: Curtis B. Hause, Sanjay Gupta, Stephen J. Rothermel
  • Publication number: 20080122623
    Abstract: An electronic data storage device tracing system includes at least one data storage device and a reader system. The data storage device includes a housing having an optical label and a device RFID tag coupled to the housing. In this regard, the optical label is printed with a VOLSER number and the device RFID tag includes a chip that electronically stores the VOLSER number. The reader system is configured to read the VOLSER number from the chip and trace the at least one data storage device entering/exiting the reader system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventors: Curtis B. Hause, Stephen J. Rothermel, Jody L. Gregg, G. Phillip Rambosek, Yung Yip, Robert C. Martin, Christopher Caprio, Karen E. Conroy, Sanjay Gupta, Kevin G. Battles, Denis J. Langlois
  • Publication number: 20080061979
    Abstract: An RFID enabled data storage device configured to be traced by an electronic data storage device tracing system includes a housing defining an enclosure, data storage media disposed within the enclosure, a label coupled to the housing, and an RFID tag coupled to the housing. The label includes a VOLSER number configured to identify the contents of the data storage media, and the RFID tag is programmed with a unique identification number and at least the label VOLSER number. In this regard, the label and the RFID tag combine to uniquely identify an in-transit data storage device to the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: Curtis B. Hause, Stephen J. Rothermel, Jody L. Gregg, G. Phillip Rambosek, Yung Yip, Robert C. Martin, Kevin G. Battles
  • Publication number: 20080065676
    Abstract: An electronic data storage device tracing system includes at least one data storage device and a reader system. The data storage device includes a housing having an optical label and a device RFID tag coupled to the housing. In this regard, the optical label is printed with a volser number and the device RFID tag includes a chip that electronically stores the volser number. The reader system is configured to read the volser number from the chip and trace the at least one data storage device entering/exiting the reader system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: Curtis B. Hause, Stephen J. Rothermel, Jody L. Gregg, G. Phillip Rambosek, Yung Yip, Kevin G. Battles, Sanjay Gupta, Robert C. Martin, Christopher Caprio, Karen E. Conroy
  • Patent number: 7199957
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a servo writing apparatus having accurate alignment of write gaps of servo write heads. In particular, the write gaps substantially align in a servo channel corresponding to a servo band of a magnetic data storage tape. The servo band is fully magnetized (a.k.a. DC erased) in one direction by a direct current (DC) magnetic field across the write gap of one of the servo write heads. Time-based servo markings magnetized in a second direction are recorded on the fully magnetized servo band by a pulsed magnetic field across the write gaps of the other servo write head. The servo write heads may be mounted in a mounting structure within the servo writing apparatus. Maintaining a large mounting structure width to servo write head separation distance ratio improves write gap alignment accuracy, which assures full servo signal strength across the servo band without magnetizing adjacent data bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Rothermel, Richard E. Jewett
  • Patent number: 7072133
    Abstract: The invention presents techniques for verifying patterns, such as time-based servo marks, recorded on magnetic media. Patterns of this kind can be recorded on a magnetic medium using a recording head that includes a surface having a flux gap with a defined shape. The patterns may be verified with a verify head, having a surface with a flux gap with the defined shape or part of the defined shape. The verify head may include two or more ferromagnetic cores, with a flux gap associated with each core. Each core can independently verify part of the recorded pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Yung Yip, Stephen J. Rothermel