Patents by Inventor Thomas Patrick Nolan

Thomas Patrick Nolan 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).

  • Publication number: 20190122695
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a first magnetic layer. A second magnetic layer overlies the first magnetic layer and is magnetically softer than the first magnetic layer. An exchange control layer is between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer. The exchange control layer is magnetic and increases vertical coupling between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas Young CHANG, Thomas Patrick NOLAN
  • Patent number: 10269381
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a first magnetic layer. A second magnetic layer overlies the first magnetic layer and is magnetically softer than the first magnetic layer. An exchange control layer is between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer. The exchange control layer is magnetic and increases vertical coupling between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Young Chang, Thomas Patrick Nolan
  • Patent number: 9443544
    Abstract: A magnetic stack includes multiple granular layers, at least one of the multiple granular layers is a magnetic layer that includes exchange coupled magnetic grains separated by a segregant having Ms greater than 100 emu/cc. Each of the multiple granular layers have anisotropic thermal conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Yingguo Peng, Jan-Ulrich Thiele, Ganping Ju, Thomas Patrick Nolan, Yinfeng Ding, Alexander Qihong Wu
  • Patent number: 9142240
    Abstract: An apparatus may include a first magnetic layer, a first exchange break layer formed on the first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer formed on the first exchange break layer, a second exchange break layer formed on the second magnetic layer, and a third magnetic layer formed on the second exchange break layer. The first magnetic layer has a first magnetic anisotropy energy, Hk1, the second magnetic layer has a second magnetic anisotropy energy, Hk2, and the third magnetic layer has a third magnetic anisotropy energy, Hk3. In some embodiments, Hk1?Hk2 is less than Hk2?Hk3. In some embodiments, the apparatus may be a perpendicular magnetic recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Patrick Nolan, Hans Jürgen Richter
  • Patent number: 8685547
    Abstract: Aspects are directed to recording media with enhanced magnetic properties for improved writability. Examples can be included or related to methods, systems and components that allow for improved writability while reducing defects so as to obtain uniform magnetic properties such as uniformly high anisotropy and narrow switching field distribution. Some examples include a recording medium with an exchange tuning layer inserted between the hard layer and the soft, semi-soft or thin semi-hard layer so as to maximize the writability improvement of the media. Preferably, the exchange tuning layer is granular and reduces or optimizes the vertical coupling between the hard layer and the soft, semi-soft or semi-hard layer of a magnetic recording or storing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Bo Bian, Shoutao Wang, Weilu Xu, Abebe Hailu, Miaogen Lu, Charles C. Chen, Thomas Patrick Nolan, Alexander Yulievich Dobin
  • Patent number: 8628867
    Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic media includes a substrate, a patterned template, a seed layer and a magnetic layer. The patterned template is formed on the substrate and includes a plurality of growth sites that are evenly spaced apart from each other. The seed layer is formed over the patterned template and the exposed areas of the substrate. Magnetic material is sputter deposited onto the seed layer with one grain of the magnetic material nucleated over each of the growth sites. The grain size distribution of the magnetic material is reduced by controlling the locations of the growth sites which optimizes the performance of the perpendicular magnetic media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Shuaigang Xiao, Thomas Young Chang, Yingguo Peng, David Kuo, Kaizhong Gao, Thomas Patrick Nolan, Ganping Ju
  • Patent number: 8507114
    Abstract: A magnetic stack includes multiple granular layers, at least one of the multiple granular layers is a magnetic layer that includes exchange coupled magnetic grains separated by a segregant having Ms greater than 100 emu/cc. Each of the multiple granular layers have anisotropic thermal conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Yingguo Peng, Jan-Ulrich Thiele, Ganping Ju, Thomas Patrick Nolan, Yinfeng Ding, Alexander Qihong Wu
  • Publication number: 20130004796
    Abstract: A magnetic stack includes multiple granular layers, at least one of the multiple granular layers is a magnetic layer that includes exchange coupled magnetic grains separated by a segregant having Ms greater than 100 emu/cc. Each of the multiple granular layers have anisotropic thermal conductivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Yingguo Peng, Jan-Ulrich Thiele, Ganping Ju, Thomas Patrick Nolan, Yinfeng Ding, Alexander Qihong Wu
  • Patent number: 8338005
    Abstract: A media for perpendicular recording and a method of creating the media is provided. The media includes a hard recording layer and a soft underlayer (SUL). The SUL is composed of at least two anti-ferromagnetically coupled (AFC) sub-underlayers. The sub-underlayers respond to a magnetic field established during dynamic reversal with respective magnetic fields. The sub-underlayers are formed and disposed to differ in one or more magnetic moment, anisotropy, and thickness, so that their respective magnetic fields constructively interfere in one or more points in the hard recording layer, thereby reducing a total SUL magnetic field response to the dynamic reversal field approximately to zero at one or more points in the hard recording layer, which reduces side track erasure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Kaizhong Gao, Qixu Chen, Chung-Hee Chang, Thomas Patrick Nolan
  • Patent number: 8313848
    Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording medium having a substrate, a Cr-doped Fe-alloy-containing underlayer containing about 8 to 18 at % Cr and a perpendicular recording magnetic layer, and a process for improving corrosion resistance of the recording medium and for manufacturing the recording medium are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Raj Nagappan Thangaraj, Mariana Rodica Munteanu, Erol Girt, Michael J. Stirniman, Thomas Patrick Nolan
  • Patent number: 8147996
    Abstract: A recording medium having a substrate, a first soft magnetic underlayer, a second soft magnetic underlayer and a perpendicular magnetic recording layer without a spacer layer between the first and second soft magnetic underlayers is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Qixu Chen, Charles Frederick Brucker, Chung-Hee Chang, Thomas Patrick Nolan, Samuel Dacke Harkness, IV
  • Publication number: 20120070694
    Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording medium having a substrate, a Cr-doped Fe-alloy-containing underlayer containing about 8 to 18 at % Cr and a perpendicular recording magnetic layer, and a process for improving corrosion resistance of the recording medium and for manufacturing the recording medium are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Raj Nagappan Thangaraj, Mariana Rodica Munteanu, Erol Girt, Michael J. Stirniman, Thomas Patrick Nolan
  • Patent number: 8119263
    Abstract: A magnetic recording medium having a substrate, a first magnetic layer and a second magnetic layer, in this order, wherein an exchange coupling in the first magnetic layer is lower than an exchange coupling in the second magnetic layer, and the first and second magnetic layers are in a film stack so that magnetic grains in the first magnetic layer are exchange coupled by a pathway through the second magnetic layer is disclosed. A method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium by obtaining a substrate, depositing a first magnetic layer at a first sputter gas pressure and depositing a second magnetic layer at a second sputter gas pressure, in this order, wherein the first sputter gas pressure is higher than the second sputter gas pressure, and an exchange coupling in the first magnetic layer is lower than an exchange coupling in the second magnetic layer is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Patrick Nolan, Samuel D. Harkness, IV
  • Publication number: 20120026626
    Abstract: An apparatus may include a first magnetic layer, a first exchange break layer formed on the first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer formed on the first exchange break layer, a second exchange break layer formed on the second magnetic layer, and a third magnetic layer formed on the second exchange break layer. The first magnetic layer has a first magnetic anisotropy energy, Hk1, the second magnetic layer has a second magnetic anisotropy energy, Hk2, and the third magnetic layer has a third magnetic anisotropy energy, Hk3. In some embodiments, Hk1?Hk2 is less than Hk2?Hk3. In some embodiments, the apparatus may be a perpendicular magnetic recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Patrick Nolan, Hans Jürgen Richter
  • Patent number: 8070926
    Abstract: A multi-chamber treatment/processing apparatus includes: a means for controlling/regulating operation of the apparatus providing the following operational sequence: performing a treatment/processing of at least one magnetic and/or magneto-optical disk in treatment/processing chambers, while each inlet gate and each outlet gate of each treatment/processing chamber is in a closed position and gas is exhausted from each buffer/isolation chamber; opening each of the inlet and outlet gates of each of the treatment/processing chambers and transporting the at least one magnetic and/or magneto-optical disk therein to the adjacent buffer/isolation chamber; closing the outlet gate of each of the treatment/processing chambers; transporting each of the magnetic and/or magneto-optical disk through a respective buffer/isolation chamber and initiating a flow of a respective gas to each treatment/processing chamber; and closing the inlet gate of each treatment/processing chamber immediately upon completion of entry of the at
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Patrick Nolan, Jeffrey Shane Reiter
  • Publication number: 20110223445
    Abstract: A method of forming a uniform thickness layer of a selected material on a surface of a substrate comprises steps of: (a) providing a multi-stage cathode sputtering apparatus comprising a group of spaced-apart cathode/target assemblies and a means for transporting at least one substrate/workpiece past each cathode/target assembly, each cathode/target assembly comprising a sputtering surface oriented substantially parallel to the first surface of the substrate during transport past the group of cathode/target assemblies, the group of cathode/target assemblies adapted for providing different angular sputtered film thickness profiles; and (b) transporting the substrate past each cathode/target assembly while providing different sputtered film thickness profiles from at least some of the cathode/target assemblies, such that a plurality of sub-layers is deposited on the surface of the substrate/workpiece which collectively form a uniform thickness layer of the selected material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Rajiv Yadav Ranjan, Jeffrey Shane Reiter, Thomas Patrick Nolan
  • Patent number: 7998606
    Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording medium having a substrate, a Cr-doped Fe-alloy-containing underlayer containing about 8 to 18 at % Cr and a perpendicular recording magnetic layer, and a process for improving corrosion resistance of the recording medium and for manufacturing the recording medium are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Raj Nagappan Thangaraj, Mariana Rodica Munteanu, Erol Girt, Michael J. Stirniman, Thomas Patrick Nolan
  • Publication number: 20110143167
    Abstract: Magnetic recording media having a magnetic layer with an easy magnetization axis lying about 35° out of plane of the magnetic layer is disclosed. This media has a reduced total magnetic layer thickness and higher signal, while improving the media signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventor: Thomas Patrick Nolan
  • Publication number: 20110129692
    Abstract: A magnetic recording medium comprises: (a) a non-magnetic substrate having a surface; and (b) a stack of thin film layers on the substrate surface, including a layer of a magnetic alloy material with a stabilized hexagonal close-packed (“hcp”) crystal structure, comprising: (i) a major amount of a ferromagnetic element with a first hcp crystal structure having a first c/a ratio, where “c” is a lattice parameter of the unique symmetry axis of the hcp structure along which a preferred direction of magnetization lies and “a” is a lattice parameter along a direction perpendicular to the c axis; (ii) a minor amount of a non-magnetic element with a face-centered cubic (fcc) crystal structure; and (iii) a minor amount of at least one hcp-stabilizing element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: Seagate Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Thomas Patrick Nolan
  • Patent number: 7851014
    Abstract: Magnetic recording media having a magnetic layer with an easy magnetization axis lying about 35° out of plane of the magnetic layer is disclosed. This media has a reduced total magnetic layer thickness and higher signal, while improving the media signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Thomas Patrick Nolan