Patents by Inventor Steven C. Rudy
Steven C. Rudy 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: 10460751Abstract: A method and system provide a storage device. A plurality of read sensor stacks for each reader of the storage device are provided. The read sensor stacks are distributed along a down track direction and offset in a cross-track direction. A plurality of electronic lapping guides (ELGs) are provided for the read sensor stacks. The read sensor stacks are lapped. Lapping is terminated based on signal(s) from the ELG(s).Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2018Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLCInventors: Steven C. Rudy, Christopher L. Beaudry, Shaoping Li
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Publication number: 20180268847Abstract: A method and system provide a storage device. A plurality of read sensor stacks for each reader of the storage device are provided. The read sensor stacks are distributed along a down track direction and offset in a cross-track direction. A plurality of electronic lapping guides (ELGs) are provided for the read sensor stacks. The read sensor stacks are lapped. Lapping is terminated based on signal(s) from the ELG(s).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2018Publication date: September 20, 2018Inventors: Steven C. RUDY, Christopher L. BEAUDRY, Shaoping LI
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Patent number: 10008222Abstract: A method and system provide a storage device. A plurality of read sensor stacks for each reader of the storage device are provided. The read sensor stacks are distributed along a down track direction and offset in a cross-track direction. A plurality of electronic lapping guides (ELGs) are provided for the read sensor stacks. The read sensor stacks are lapped. Lapping is terminated based on signal(s) from the ELG(s).Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2017Date of Patent: June 26, 2018Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLCInventors: Steven C. Rudy, Christopher L. Beaudry, Shaoping Li
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Publication number: 20170309300Abstract: A method and system provide a storage device. A plurality of read sensor stacks for each reader of the storage device are provided. The read sensor stacks are distributed along a down track direction and offset in a cross-track direction. A plurality of electronic lapping guides (ELGs) are provided for the read sensor stacks. The read sensor stacks are lapped. Lapping is terminated based on signal(s) from the ELG(s).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2017Publication date: October 26, 2017Inventors: Steven C. RUDY, Christopher L. BEAUDRY, Shaoping LI
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Patent number: 9786301Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for providing thin shields in a multiple sensor array are provided. One such apparatus is a magnetic read transducer including a first read sensor, a second read sensor, and a shield assembly positioned between the first read sensor and the second read sensor at an air bearing surface (ABS) of the magnetic read transducer, the shield assembly including a first shield layer assembly having a first footprint with a first area, and a second shield layer assembly having a second footprint with a second area, where the second area is greater than the first area.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2014Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLCInventors: Shaoping Li, Gerardo A. Bertero, Steven C. Rudy, Shihai He, Ming Mao, Haiwen Xi, Srikanth Ganesan, Qunwen Leng, Ge Yi, Rongfu Xiao, Feng Liu, Lei Wang
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Patent number: 9721595Abstract: A method for providing a storage device that includes a plurality of read sensor stacks for each reader of the storage device. The plurality of read sensor stacks are distributed along a down track direction and offset in a cross-track direction. A plurality of electronic lapping guides (ELGs) are provided for the read sensor stacks. The read sensor stacks are lapped. Lapping is terminated based on signal(s) from the ELG(s).Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2014Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLCInventors: Steven C. Rudy, Christopher L. Beaudry, Shaoping Li
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Patent number: 9715889Abstract: A magnetic read apparatus has a media-facing surface (MFS) and includes a read sensor, a magnetic bias structure and an insulating layer. The read sensor has a side, a front occupying part of the MFS and a back. The read sensor includes a free layer, a pinned layer and a barrier layer between the free and pinned layers. The barrier layer has a barrier layer coefficient of thermal expansion. The magnetic bias structure is adjacent to the side of the free layer. The insulating layer includes first and second portions. The first portion of the insulating layer is between the read sensor side and the magnetic bias structure. The second portion of the insulating layer adjoins the read sensor back. The insulating layer has an insulating layer coefficient of thermal expansion that is at least ? of and not more than 5/3 of the barrier layer coefficient of thermal expansion.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2016Date of Patent: July 25, 2017Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLCInventors: Shaoping Li, Gerardo A. Bertero, Ming Mao, Shihai He, Steven C. Rudy, Haiwen Xi, Zhipeng Li, Haifeng Wang, Jianxin Fang, Zhihong Zhang, Yingbo Zhang, Qunwen Leng, Christopher L. Beaudry, Ruisheng Liu
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Patent number: 9564150Abstract: A method and system provide a magnetic read apparatus. The magnetic read apparatus includes a substrate and an isolation circuit. The isolation circuit includes a bias resistor and a capacitor residing on the substrate. The bias resistor and the capacitor are connected in parallel through the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2015Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLCInventors: Savas Gider, Neil D. Knutson, Steven C. Rudy
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Publication number: 20160351213Abstract: A method of making a magnetic head is provided. The method includes forming a first read sensor and a first electrical contact formed with a first shunt region. The method further includes forming a first mid-shield layer on the first read sensor, the first mid-shield layer being electrically connected to the first electrical contact. Additionally the method also includes forming a second mid-shield layer over the first mid-shield layer. Further, the method also includes forming a second read sensor over the second mid-shield layer, the second read sensor having a second electrical contact formed with a second shunt region electrically connected to the first shunt region.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2016Publication date: December 1, 2016Inventors: STEVEN C. RUDY, LUC VING CHUNG, CHRISTOPHER L. BEAUDRY, SHAOPING LI, JIMMY J. SHEN, GUOLUN HAO, YINGBO ZHANG
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Patent number: 9441938Abstract: Systems and methods for using NFT disc test structures for controlling NFT disc length during manufacture of an HAMR writer are disclosed. An NFT is manufactured concurrently with one or more pairs of pin-disc and disc-less test structures. The NFT disc and pin dimensions may be substantially similar to the pin and disc dimensions of the pin-disc test structure. The disc length of the pin-disc test structure is measured as a function of the difference in resistance between the two test structures and other parameters. Capturing the disc length variation subsequently enables adjustment of the NFT electronic lapping guide stripe height to reduce length variation in the NFT pin.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2013Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLCInventors: Steven C. Rudy, Nurul Amin, Luc Ving Chung, Neil D. Knutson
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Patent number: 9437251Abstract: A method of making a magnetic head is provided. The method includes forming a first read sensor and a first electrical contact formed with a first shunt region. The method further includes forming a first mid-shield layer on the first read sensor, the first mid-shield layer being electrically connected to the first electrical contact. Additionally the method also includes forming a second mid-shield layer over the first mid-shield layer. Further, the method also includes forming a second read sensor over the second mid-shield layer, the second read sensor having a second electrical contact formed with a second shunt region electrically connected to the first shunt region.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2014Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLCInventors: Steven C. Rudy, Luc Ving Chung, Christopher L. Beaudry, Shaoping Li, Jimmy J. Shen, Guolun Hao, Yingbo Zhang
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Patent number: 9431032Abstract: A method and system provide a magnetic transducer including first and second read sensors, a shield and a conductive via. The shield is between the first and second read sensors. The magnetic transducer also includes first and second read shields. The shield has a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to the top surface. The bottom surface faces the first read sensor. The conductive via is isolated from the first read shield and the second read shield. The conductive via provides electrical contact to the shield and is electrically connected to the bottom surface of the shield.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2013Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLCInventors: Shaoping Li, Steven C. Rudy, Ge Yi, Gerardo A. Bertero, Qunwen Leng, Ming Mao
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Patent number: 9361916Abstract: A slider bar apparatus, and a method for lapping a back side surface of the slider bar, is provided. The slider bar includes a head part and a pair of sliders separated by the head part. Each of the sliders has an air bearing surface (ABS) and a back side surface opposite the ABS. Each of the sliders has a reader element and a writer element of a magnetic head for use in a magnetic hard disk drive. An electrical lapping guide is mounted on the back side surface and has a pair of terminals and a conductive material extending between the terminals. The conductive material is arranged on the slider bar such that the resistance between the terminals increases during a lapping of the back side of the sliders.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2014Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont)Inventors: Luc Ving Chung, Steven C. Rudy, Nurul Amin
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Patent number: 9321146Abstract: Systems and methods for shaping leads of electronic lapping guides to reduce calibration error are provided. One such system includes a device configured to generate predictable resistance for leads of an electronic lapping guide, the device including a lapping surface, and an ELG configured to provide information indicative of a degree of lapping performed on the lapping surface, the ELG including a first electrical lead, a second electrical lead spaced apart from the first electrical lead, and a resistive element between the first electrical lead and the second electrical lead, the resistive element including a right segment, a left segment, and a middle segment that abuts each of the right segment and the left segment, where the right segment is spaced apart from the left segment and the middle segment is adjacent to the lapping surface, where the first and second electrical leads are recessed from the middle segment.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2012Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLCInventors: Steven C. Rudy, Mahendra Pakala, Prakash Mani, Eric R. McKie
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Patent number: 9153260Abstract: A slider includes a transducer including a magnetic structure having a front edge and a back edge. The slider further includes an electronic lapping guide (ELG) substantially coplanar with the magnetic structure and having a top edge and a bottom edge. The slider further includes a plurality of pads configured to calibrate a sheet resistance of the ELG and an offset of the ELG.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2012Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLCInventors: Steven C. Rudy, Matthew R. Gibbons, Curtis V. Macchioni, Yun-Fei Li, Changhe Shang, Carlos Corona
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Patent number: 9087527Abstract: A read transducer having a first read sensor, a second read sensor, and a first middle shield is provided. The second read sensor is disposed in a down track direction from the first read sensor. The first middle shield is disposed between the first read sensor and the second read sensor. The first middle shield includes a first metallic middle shield layer disposed between the first read sensor and the second read sensor, a second metallic middle shield layer disposed between the first metallic middle shield layer and the second read sensor, and a first magnetic-spacer layer disposed between the first metallic middle shield layer and the second metallic middle shield layer. The first metallic middle shield layer and the second metallic middle shield layer have substantially the same polarity.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2014Date of Patent: July 21, 2015Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLCInventors: Shaoping Li, Steven C. Rudy, Gerardo A. Bertero, Yunfei Ding, Christopher L. Beaudry
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Patent number: 9087537Abstract: A system for providing transducer(s) including a disk structure and having an air-bearing surface (ABS) are described. The disk structure resides a distance from the ABS and has a disk dimension substantially perpendicular to the ABS. Lapping control and disk windage ELGs are provided. The lapping control ELG has first and second edges first and second distances from the ABS. The disk windage ELG has edges different distances from the ABS. A difference between these edges corresponds to the disk dimension. A windage resistance of the disk windage ELG is measured and a disk windage determined. The disk windage corresponds to a difference between designed and actual disk dimensions perpendicular to the ABS. A lapping ELG target resistance is determined based on the disk windage. The transducer is lapped. Lapping is terminated based on a resistance of the lapping control ELG and the lapping ELG target resistance.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2014Date of Patent: July 21, 2015Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLCInventors: Steven C. Rudy, Changqing Shi, Yufeng Hu, Mark D. Moravec, Eric R. McKie, Nurul Amin
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Patent number: 8970988Abstract: A method and system provide a magnetic transducer having an air-bearing surface (ABS) and at least two read sensors. The magnetic transducer also includes a first read shield, a first read sensor, a middle shield, a second read sensor, a second read shield, a first electric gap and a second electric gap. The first read sensor is in a down track direction from the first read shield. The middle shield is in a down track direction from the first read sensor. The middle shield is between the first read sensor and the second read sensor. A first portion of the first electric gap is in a direction opposite to the down track direction from the first read sensor. The first read sensor and the second read sensor are between the first electric gap and the second electric gap in a cross-track direction.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2014Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLCInventors: Shaoping Li, Gerardo A. Bertero, Changhe Shang, Ge Yi, Steven C. Rudy, Guolun Hao, Qunwen Leng, Shihai He, Yingbo Zhang, Ming Mao, Lien-Chang Wang
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Patent number: 8908333Abstract: A method and system provide a magnetic transducer having an air-bearing surface (ABS) and including first and second read sensors and a shield. The shield is in a down track direction from the first read sensor and between the first and second read sensors. The shield includes a first shield layer, a second shield layer and an insulating layer between the first and second shield layers. The first shield layer is between the first read sensor and the second shield layer. The second shield layer is between the first shield layer and the second read sensor. The first shield layer has a first footprint. The second shield layer has a second footprint. The second shield layer overlaps the first shield layer in the down track direction. The overlap is not more than fifty percent of the first footprint and not more than fifty percent of the second footprint.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2013Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLCInventors: Steven C. Rudy, Shaoping Li, Gerardo A. Bertero, Michael L. Mallary, Donghong Li, Yingbo Zhang
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Patent number: 8891207Abstract: A method and system provide a magnetic transducer including first and second read sensors, a shield and a conductive via. The shield is between the first and second read sensors. In one aspect, the magnetic transducer also includes first and second read shields. In this aspect, the first read shield has a read shield aperture. The conductive via extends through the read shield aperture, provides electrical contact to the shield and is insulated from the first read shield. In another aspect, the shield has first and second shield layers separated by an insulating layer. In this aspect, the second shield layer has an aperture therein. The conductive via extends through this aperture, provides electrical contact to the first shield layer and is insulated from the second shield layer.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2013Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLCInventors: Shaoping Li, Gerardo A. Bertero, Michael L. Mallary, Ge Yi, Steven C. Rudy