Patents by Inventor Terrance J. Willis

Terrance J. Willis 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: 9390736
    Abstract: A magnetic hard disk drive apparatus includes a first slider with a magnetic head for recording to the disk, the first slider supported by a first suspension arm, and a second slider having a magnetic head, the second slider supported by a second suspension arm. The apparatus further includes a ramp configured to guide and hold the first and second suspension arms in place when parked, and a separator configured to be suspended beyond leading edges of the first and second sliders, such that the first and second sliders are suspended between the separator and the ramp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Davidson, David K. Myers, Terrance J. Willis
  • Patent number: 9196275
    Abstract: An apparatus for a magnetic storage drive includes a magnetic head assembly having a first slider and a second slider arranged with a gap between the first and second sliders, the first slider comprising a first magnetic head and the second slider comprising a second magnetic head. The apparatus includes a ramp constructed of a first material, the ramp being configured to guide and hold the magnetic head assembly in place when parked; and a fin constructed of a second material different than the first material, the fin arranged with the ramp to protect the first slider from contacting the second slider when the magnetic head assembly is parked on the ramp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Davidson, David K. Myers, Terrance J. Willis
  • Patent number: 8164760
    Abstract: A method and system for interrogating a thickness of a carbon layer are described. The carbon layer resides on at least one of a magnetic recording head and a magnetic recording disk. The method and system include providing an enhancement film on the carbon layer. The enhancement film is continuous across a portion of the carbon layer. The method and system also include exposing the enhancement film to light from a light source and detecting scattered light from the carbon layer to provide a surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) spectrum. The enhancement film resides between the light source and the carbon layer. The method and system also include determining the thickness of the carbon layer based on the SERS spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventor: Terrance J. Willis
  • Publication number: 20110222180
    Abstract: A method and system for interrogating a thickness of a carbon layer are described. The carbon layer resides on at least one of a magnetic recording head and a magnetic recording disk. The method and system include providing an enhancement film on the carbon layer. The enhancement film is continuous across a portion of the carbon layer. The method and system also include exposing the enhancement film to light from a light source and detecting scattered light from the carbon layer to provide a surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) spectrum. The enhancement film resides between the light source and the carbon layer. The method and system also include determining the thickness of the carbon layer based on the SERS spectrum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLC
    Inventor: TERRANCE J. WILLIS