Patents by Inventor Thomas Roy Boonstra

Thomas Roy Boonstra 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: 10446176
    Abstract: A lateral spin valve reader includes a detector located proximate to a bearing surface of the reader, and a spin injector located away from the bearing surface. The lateral spin valve reader also includes a channel that extends from the detector to the spin injector. The channel includes a two-dimensional semiconducting layer that extends from the detector to the spin injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: David A. Deen, Thomas Roy Boonstra
  • Patent number: 9934798
    Abstract: A lateral spin valve reader includes a detector located proximate to a bearing surface of the reader, and a spin injector located away from the bearing surface. The lateral spin valve reader also includes a channel that extends from the detector to the spin injector. The channel includes a two-dimensional semiconducting layer that extends from the detector to the spin injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: David A. Deen, Thomas Roy Boonstra
  • Patent number: 9812157
    Abstract: A lateral spin valve reader and fabrication method thereof. The method includes forming an injector, a detector and a common channel layer that extends from the injector to the detector. The method also includes forming a first channel layer between the common channel layer and at least one of the injector or the detector with the first channel layer in contact with the common channel layer, thereby providing an interface between the first channel layer and the common channel layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Wonjoon Jung, Thomas Roy Boonstra, Sung-Hoon Gee, David A. Deen
  • Patent number: 9704515
    Abstract: A lateral spin valve reader includes a detector located proximate to a bearing surface of the reader, a spin injector located away from the bearing surface, and a channel layer that substantially extends from the detector to the spin injector. The channel layer and the detector are substantially in a same plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: David A. Deen, Levent Colak, Thomas Roy Boonstra
  • Patent number: 9672849
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a multi-reader can be manufactured so as to be able to read from multiple regions of a storage device contemporaneously during operation. Such a device can be configured, for example, by forming a first wall; forming a second wall; and utilizing the first wall and the second wall to form two adjacent reader stacks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Mark T. Kief, Thomas Roy Boonstra
  • Publication number: 20170092305
    Abstract: A lateral spin valve reader includes a detector located proximate to a bearing surface of the reader, a spin injector located away from the bearing surface, and a channel layer that substantially extends from the detector to the spin injector. The channel layer and the detector are substantially in a same plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: David A. Deen, Levent Colak, Thomas Roy Boonstra
  • Patent number: 9542961
    Abstract: Tolerances for manufacturing reader structures for transducer heads continue to grow smaller and storage density in corresponding storage media increases. Reader stop layers may be utilized during manufacturing of reader structures to protect various layers of the reader structure from recession and/or scratches while processing other non-protected layers of the reader structure. For example, the stop layer may have a very low polish rate during mechanical or chemical-mechanical polishing. Surrounding areas may be significantly polished while a structure protected by a stop layer with a very low polish rate is substantially unaffected. The stop layer may then be removed via etching, for example, after the mechanical or chemical-mechanical polishing is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Carolyn Pitcher Van Dorn, Thomas Roy Boonstra, Eric Walter Singleton, Shaun Eric McKinlay
  • Publication number: 20170004851
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a multi-reader can be manufactured so as to be able to read from multiple regions of a storage device contemporaneously during operation. Such a device can be configured, for example, by forming a first wall; forming a second wall; and utilizing the first wall and the second wall to form two adjacent reader stacks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Mark T. Kief, Thomas Roy Boonstra
  • Patent number: 9489967
    Abstract: A structure includes a channel waveguide and a pocket adjacent to an input facet of the channel waveguide. A laser having an output facet is positioned in the pocket. The structure includes a stop on either the laser or a wall of the pocket. The stop is positioned at an interface between the laser and the wall of the pocket such that the output facet of the laser and the input facet of the waveguide are separated by a gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Arkadi Goulakov, Thomas Roy Boonstra, Jon Paul Hurley
  • Publication number: 20160293186
    Abstract: Tolerances for manufacturing reader structures for transducer heads continue to grow smaller and storage density in corresponding storage media increases. Reader stop layers may be utilized during manufacturing of reader structures to protect various layers of the reader structure from recession and/or scratches while processing other non-protected layers of the reader structure. For example, the stop layer may have a very low polish rate during mechanical or chemical-mechanical polishing. Surrounding areas may be significantly polished while a structure protected by a stop layer with a very low polish rate is substantially unaffected. The stop layer may then be removed via etching, for example, after the mechanical or chemical-mechanical polishing is completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Carolyn Pitcher Van Dorn, Thomas Roy Boonstra, Eric Walter Singleton, Shaun Eric McKinlay
  • Patent number: 9406321
    Abstract: A read head includes a bottom shield configured as a bottom electrical contact. A bottom reader stack is disposed on and electrically coupled to the bottom shield. A middle electrical contact is electrically coupled to a top layer of the bottom reader stack. A top reader stack is disposed on the bottom reader stack. A bottom layer of the top reader stack electrically coupled to the middle electrical contact. A top shield is configured as a top electrical contact. The top shield is disposed on and electrically coupled to the top reader stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Mark Thomas Kief, Thomas Roy Boonstra, Victor Boris Sapozhnikov, Harry Sam Edelman
  • Patent number: 9218823
    Abstract: A read head includes a bottom shield and a bottom isolation layer that electrically isolates the bottom shield. The read head includes left and right reader stacks having respective bottom layers disposed on at least a portion of the bottom isolation layer. The left and right reader stacks are cross-track adjacent to one another. The read head also includes left and right bottom contacts electrically coupled to respective left and right bottom layers. A top shield is configured as a common top contact electrically coupled to respective top layers of the left and right reader stacks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Mark Thomas Kief, Dimitar Velikov Dimitrov, Thomas Roy Boonstra
  • Patent number: 9165574
    Abstract: An apparatus and associated method may be used to provide a data sensing element capable of detecting changes in magnetic states. Various embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to a magnetically responsive lamination of layers and means for generating a high magnetic moment region proximal to an air bearing surface (ABS) and a low magnetic moment region proximal to a hard magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Mark William Covington, Qing He, Thomas Roy Boonstra
  • Publication number: 20150287424
    Abstract: A structure includes a channel waveguide and a pocket adjacent to an input facet of the channel waveguide. A laser having an output facet is positioned in the pocket. The structure includes a stop on either the laser or a wall of the pocket. The stop is positioned at an interface between the laser and the wall of the pocket such that the output facet of the laser and the input facet of the waveguide are separated by a gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Arkadi Goulakov, Thomas Roy Boonstra, Jon Paul Hurley
  • Publication number: 20150243301
    Abstract: A read head includes a bottom shield and a bottom isolation layer that electrically isolates the bottom shield. The read head includes left and right reader stacks having respective bottom layers disposed on at least a portion of the bottom isolation layer. The left and right reader stacks are cross-track adjacent to one another. The read head also includes left and right bottom contacts electrically coupled to respective left and right bottom layers. A top shield is configured as a common top contact electrically coupled to respective top layers of the left and right reader stacks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Mark Thomas Kief, Dimitar Velikov Dimitrov, Thomas Roy Boonstra
  • Publication number: 20150243302
    Abstract: A read head includes a bottom shield configured as a bottom electrical contact. A bottom reader stack is disposed on and electrically coupled to the bottom shield. A middle electrical contact is electrically coupled to a top layer of the bottom reader stack. A top reader stack is disposed on the bottom reader stack. A bottom layer of the top reader stack electrically coupled to the middle electrical contact. A top shield is configured as a top electrical contact. The top shield is disposed on and electrically coupled to the top reader stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Mark Thomas Kief, Thomas Roy Boonstra, Victor Boris Sapozhnikov, Harry Sam Edelman
  • Patent number: 8896971
    Abstract: Various apparatus and associated method embodiments are generally directed to a magnetic stack positioned on an air bearing surface (ABS) and biased to a predetermined magnetization by a bias magnet. The bias magnet can be separated from the magnetic stack and at least one magnetic shield by a self-aligned magnetic insulating feature that is comprised of first and second insulating layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Thomas Roy Boonstra
  • Publication number: 20140302345
    Abstract: Tolerances for manufacturing reader structures for transducer heads continue to grow smaller and storage density in corresponding storage media increases. Reader stop layers may be utilized during manufacturing of reader structures to protect various layers of the reader structure from recession and/or scratches while processing other non-protected layers of the reader structure. For example, the stop layer may have a very low polish rate during mechanical or chemical-mechanical polishing. Surrounding areas may be significantly polished while a structure protected by a stop layer with a very low polish rate is substantially unaffected. The stop layer may then be removed via etching, for example, after the mechanical or chemical-mechanical polishing is completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Carolyn Pitcher Van Dorn, Thomas Roy Boonstra, Eric Walter Singleton, Shaun Eric McKinlay
  • Patent number: 8786987
    Abstract: Apparatus for two dimensional reading. In accordance with some embodiments, a magnetic read element has a bias magnet disposed between a plurality of read sensors. The bias magnet may be configured to concurrently bias each read sensor to a predetermined magnetization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Harry Sam Edelman, Thomas Roy Boonstra
  • Patent number: 8771847
    Abstract: Tolerances for manufacturing reader structures for transducer heads continue to grow smaller and storage density in corresponding storage media increases. Reader stop layers may be utilized during manufacturing of reader structures to protect various layers of the reader structure from recession and/or scratches while processing other non-protected layers of the reader structure. For example, the stop layer may have a very low polish rate during mechanical or chemical-mechanical polishing. Surrounding areas may be significantly polished while a structure protected by a stop layer with a very low polish rate is substantially unaffected. The stop layer may then be removed via etching, for example, after the mechanical or chemical-mechanical polishing is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Seagate Technology
    Inventors: Carolyn Pitcher Van Dorn, Thomas Roy Boonstra, Eric Walter Singleton, Shaun Eric McKinlay