Patents by Inventor William C. Messner
William C. Messner 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: 11099210Abstract: A method of carrying out sub-resonant tapping in an atomic force microscope includes causing a probe that is disposed above a sample to be translated in a direction parallel to a horizontal plane defined by the sample and to oscillate in a vertical direction that is perpendicular to the horizontal plane about an equilibrium line that is separated from the horizontal plane by a vertical offset. As a result, the probe repeatedly taps a surface of the sample. Each tap begins with a first contact of the probe on the surface followed by a progressive increase in force exerted by the sample on the probe until a peak force is attained. The vertical offset is controlled by relying at least in part on a feature other than the peak force as a basis for controlling the vertical offset.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2018Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: Trustees of Tufts CollegeInventors: Piers Echols-Jones, William C. Messner, Igor Sokolov
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Publication number: 20190391178Abstract: A method of carrying out sub-resonant tapping in an atomic force microscope includes causing a probe that is disposed above a sample to be translated in a direction parallel to a horizontal plane defined by the sample and to oscillate in a vertical direction that is perpendicular to the horizontal plane about an equilibrium line that is separated from the horizontal plane by a vertical offset. As a result, the probe repeatedly taps a surface of the sample. Each tap begins with a first contact of the probe on the surface followed by a progressive increase in force exerted by the sample on the probe until a peak force is attained. The vertical offset is controlled by relying at least in part on a feature other than the peak force as a basis for controlling the vertical offset.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2018Publication date: December 26, 2019Inventors: Piers Echols-Jones, William C. Messner, Igor Sokolov
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Patent number: 8695618Abstract: Methods of controllably creating three-dimensional (3D) combined-flow-interface patterns in multi-lane fluidic devices, and systems, apparatuses and software therefor. In one example, the 3D-pattern is created and varied as a function of one or more of the geometry of the inlets to a main fluidic channel in which the 3D-pattern is formed, the Reynolds number of the flows, the dimensions of the main fluidic channel and the inlets, and the spacing of adjacent inlets. In one embodiment particularly disclosed, differing 3D combined-flow-interface patterns are created using a three-lane fluidic device having a fixed inlet geometry. In another embodiment particularly disclosed, differing 3D combined-flow-interface patterns are created using a five-lane fluidic device having a fixed inlet geometry that can be used to effectively mimic variable inlet geometries.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2011Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Carnegie Mellon UniversityInventors: Yong Tae Kim, William C. Messner, Philip R. LeDuc
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Publication number: 20130014828Abstract: Methods of controllably creating three-dimensional (3D) combined-flow-interface patterns in multi-lane fluidic devices, and systems, apparatuses and software therefor. In one example, the 3D-pattern is created and varied as a function of one or more of the geometry of the inlets to a main fluidic channel in which the 3D-pattern is formed, the Reynolds number of the flows, the dimensions of the main fluidic channel and the inlets, and the spacing of adjacent inlets. In one embodiment particularly disclosed, differing 3D combined-flow-interface patterns are created using a three-lane fluidic device having a fixed inlet geometry. In another embodiment particularly disclosed, differing 3D combined-flow-interface patterns are created using a five-lane fluidic device having a fixed inlet geometry that can be used to effectively mimic variable inlet geometries.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2011Publication date: January 17, 2013Applicant: CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITYInventors: Yong Tae Kim, William C. Messner, Philip R. LeDuc
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Patent number: 8289659Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the position of a magnetic head element and/or the magnetic head element to media spacing in a data storage device. At least one microactuator is embedded in a hard disk drive slider laterally displaced from the magnetic head element. Activation of the microactuator translates the magnetic head element in a lateral direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2010Date of Patent: October 16, 2012Assignee: Carnegie Mellon UniversityInventors: James A. Bain, William C. Messner
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Patent number: 8243397Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a micromachined rotary actuator constructed of a central portion and an outer portion at least partially surrounding the central portion and separated from the central portion by an in-plane gap. A plurality of arms are each connected at one end to the central portion and at another end to the outer portion so as to span the in-plane gap. The arms are constructed of a plurality of horizontally stacked materials positioned to enable the arms to bend in-plane when heated. Conductors are positioned within the actuator for heating the arms. Because of the rules governing abstracts, this abstract should not be used to construe the claims.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2007Date of Patent: August 14, 2012Assignee: Carnegie Mellon UniversityInventors: William C. Messner, James A. Bain, Gary K. Fedder
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Patent number: 7948708Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method comprise a magnetoresistive head configured to respond to magnetization states of patterned cells formed on a patterned medium. The magnetoresistive head detects the magnetization states of at least two patterned cells formed on a patterned medium. The magnetoresistive head generates a readback signal based on the magnetization state of the at least two patterned cells. A detector circuit coupled to the head determines a bit pattern corresponding to the readback signal. A processor circuit coupled to the detector circuit determines positional information associated with the magnetoresistive head relative to the at least two patterned cells based on the bit pattern. The system further comprises a patterned medium.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2009Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: Carnegie Mellon UniversityInventors: William C. Messner, Hiroyuki Suzuki, James A. Bain, Vijayakumar Bhagavatula, Sheida Nabavi
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Publication number: 20100238584Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method comprise a magnetoresistive head configured to respond to magnetization states of patterned cells formed on a patterned medium. The magnetoresistive head detects the magnetization states of at least two patterned cells formed on a patterned medium. The magnetoresistive head generates a readback signal based on the magnetization state of the at least two patterned cells. A detector circuit coupled to the head determines a bit pattern corresponding to the readback signal. A processor circuit coupled to the detector circuit determines positional information associated with the magnetoresistive head relative to the at least two patterned cells based on the bit pattern. The system further comprises a patterned medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2009Publication date: September 23, 2010Inventors: William C. Messner, Hiroyuki Suzuki, James A. Bain, Vijayakumar Bhagavatula, Sheida Nabavi
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Publication number: 20080314040Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a micromachined rotary actuator constructed of a central portion and an outer portion at least partially surrounding the central portion and separated from the central portion by an in-plane gap. A plurality of arms are each connected at one end to the central portion and at another end to the outer portion so as to span the in-plane gap. The arms are constructed of a plurality of horizontally stacked materials positioned to enable the arms to bend in-plane when heated. Conductors are positioned within the actuator for heating the arms. Because of the rules governing abstracts, this abstract should not be used to construe the claims.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2007Publication date: December 25, 2008Inventors: William C. Messner, James A. Bain, Gary K. Fedder
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Patent number: 6754016Abstract: The invention relates to control systems for data storage media. More particularly, the invention relates to a system, method and apparatus for forming various frequency modulation patterns on storage media for providing position error signals. The invention also relates to forming various frequency modulation patterns on storage media for providing position error signals having a continuously varying frequency that is proportional to the position of a read/write transducer head within a track defined on a storage medium. The invention also relates to providing a demodulated signal that is proportional to a continuously varying position error signal frequency and thus to the position of the read/write head within a track defined on a storage medium.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2001Date of Patent: June 22, 2004Assignee: Carnegie Mellon UniversityInventors: William C. Messner, Jian-Gang Zhu, Xiangdong Lin
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Patent number: 6480323Abstract: A device that includes a projection element positioned between first and second beam scanners configured in series and a two-dimensional display plane. An apparatus for controlling the first and second beam scanners is provided so that the angle of incidence and the point of incidence of a beam output from the series connected beam scanners onto the projection element are controlled. In that manner, each point on the projection element can be mapped to a line in the display plane. A method of mapping a point in the projection element to a line in the display plane is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 1998Date of Patent: November 12, 2002Assignee: Carnegie Mellon UniversityInventors: William C. Messner, Daniel D. Stancil, Tuviah E. Schlesinger
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Publication number: 20020154432Abstract: The invention relates to control systems for data storage media. More particularly, the invention relates to a system, method and apparatus for forming various frequency modulation patterns on storage media for providing position error signals. The invention also relates to forming various frequency modulation patterns on storage media for providing position error signals having a continuously varying frequency that is proportional to the position of a read/write transducer head within a track defined on a storage medium. The invention also relates to providing a demodulated signal that is proportional to a continuously varying position error signal frequency and thus to the position of the read/write head within a track defined on a storage medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2001Publication date: October 24, 2002Inventors: William C. Messner, Jian-Gang Zhu, Xiangdong Lin