Patents by Inventor William W. Garrett

William W. Garrett 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: 7484291
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a disk drive for use with a host electronic unit (HEU). The HEU including a printed circuit board having a socket and HEU disk drive circuitry. The method includes providing a lead frame. The lead frame is a single component having material continuity rather than an assembly of subcomponents. The method includes forming a plurality of leads in the lead frame by removing material of the lead frame, and attaching the lead frame to a housing body. The housing body defines a housing periphery sized and configured to be engaged within the socket. The leads extend to the housing periphery. The method includes attaching a disk drive electrical component to the housing body, and electrically connecting the disk drive electrical component to at least one of leads. The disk drive circuitry is located on the HEU printed circuit board rather than within the housing periphery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Ostrander, William W. Garrett
  • Patent number: 6996893
    Abstract: A method of assembling a plurality of disk drives comprising providing an assembly-plate comprising a plate alignment feature (PAF) and a plurality of cells wherein each cell has a cell alignment feature (CAF) and is adapted to receive and retain a disk drive; determining a valid alignment of the assembly-plate in relation to a disk drive assembly device based on PAF; selecting a disk drive for assembly; determining a valid alignment of a selected cell in relation to disk drive assembly device based on CAF of selected cell; placing an initial component of selected disk drive in selected cell wherein the initial component is retained by the cell via a retention feature of cell; repeating the selecting, determining a valid alignment of a selected cell, and placing for each of disk drives; and completing the assembling of each disk drive during which each disk drive remains in its cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Ostrander, William W. Garrett
  • Patent number: 6908330
    Abstract: A storage peripheral, such as disk drive, having a robust PCB connector configured in accordance with a SATA standard. The disk drive has a disk, a disk controller system, and a PCB for mounting the disk controller system, and a housing attached to the PCB. A first electrical contact arrangement in accordance with a SATA standard is connected to the PCB and is supported by a first blade connector. Both the first blade connector and the first electrical contact arrangement are enclosed by the housing. The housing further defines a cable connector receiving area around the first blade connector for the receipt of a cable connector. A pair of laterally-opposed guide arm receiving cavities are integrally formed with the housing and are disposed outside of the cable connector receiving area. The guide arm receiving cavities are adapted for the receipt of guide arms from a mating cable connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William W. Garrett, Marc B. Goldstone, Dalwinder Singh, Colin W. Morgan, Mark A. Baskovich
  • Patent number: 6839199
    Abstract: A disk drive for use with a host electronic unit including spindle motor drive circuitry. The disk drive includes a disk drive housing, and a spindle motor rotatably attached to the disk drive housing. The spindle motor includes a stator. The disk drive further includes a host connector attached to the disk drive housing which is operably connectable to the spindle motor drive circuitry for receiving electrical signals from the spindle motor drive circuitry for controlling the spindle motor. The disk drive further includes a stator electrical trace integrally formed upon the disk drive housing from the stator to the host connector for electrically connecting the stator and the host connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: McMahan Coyle Alexander, Jr., William W. Garrett
  • Patent number: 6832929
    Abstract: A printed circuit board (PCB) connector configured in accordance with a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) standard. The PCB connector is for connection to a PCB. The PCB connector includes a first blade connector for supporting a first electrical contact arrangement in accordance with a SATA standard, a housing for supporting the first blade connector and the first electrical contact arrangement, and a pair of laterally-opposed guide arm receiving cavities being integrally formed with the housing. The housing defines a cable connector receiving area around the first blade connector for receipt of a cable connector. Further, the guide arm receiving cavities are disposed outside of the cable connector receiving area and are adapted for the receipt of guide arms from a mating cable connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William W. Garrett, Marc B. Goldstone, Dalwinder Singh, Colin W. Morgan, Mark A. Baskovich
  • Patent number: 6811427
    Abstract: A cable connector configured in accordance with a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) standard. The cable connector includes a first electrical contact arrangement in accordance with a SATA standard and is configured to mate with a first blade connector having a second electrical contact arrangement also in accordance with the SATA standard. The cable connector includes a first blade-receiving portion for enclosing the first electrical contact arrangement, a housing for supporting the first blade-receiving portion and the first electrical contact arrangement, and a pair of laterally-opposed guide arms being integrally formed with the housing. The housing has a cable entrance end and a mating end. The guide arms project from the mating end of the housing and are disposed outside of the first blade-receiving portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William W. Garrett, Marc B. Goldstone, Dalwinder Singh, Colin W. Morgan, Mark A. Baskovich
  • Publication number: 20040097124
    Abstract: A robust cable connector configured in accordance with a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) standard. The cable connector includes a first electrical contact arrangement in accordance with a SATA standard and is configured to mate with a first blade connector having a second electrical contact arrangement also in accordance with the SATA standard. The cable connector includes a first blade-receiving portion for enclosing the first electrical contact arrangement, a housing for supporting the first blade-receiving portion and the first electrical contact arrangement, and a pair of laterally-opposed guide arms being integrally formed with the housing. The housing has a cable entrance end and a mating end. The guide arms project from the mating end of the housing and are disposed outside of the first blade-receiving portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: William W. Garrett, Marc B. Goldstone, Dalwinder Singh, Colin W. Morgan, Mark A. Baskovich
  • Publication number: 20040097123
    Abstract: A robust printed circuit board (PCB) connector configured in accordance with a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) standard. The PCB connector is for connection to a PCB. The PCB connector includes a first blade connector for supporting a first electrical contact arrangement in accordance with a SATA standard, a housing for supporting the first blade connector and the first electrical contact arrangement, and a pair of laterally-opposed guide arm receiving cavities being integrally formed with the housing. The housing defines a cable connector receiving area around the first blade connector for receipt of a cable connector. Further, the guide arm receiving cavities are disposed outside of the cable connector receiving area and are adapted for the receipt of guide arms from a mating cable connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: William W. Garrett, Marc B. Goldstone, Dalwinder Singh, Colin W. Morgan, Mark A. Baskovich
  • Publication number: 20040097122
    Abstract: A storage peripheral, such as disk drive, having a robust PCB connector configured in accordance with a SATA standard. The disk drive has a disk, a disk controller system, and a PCB for mounting the disk controller system, and a housing attached to the PCB. A first electrical contact arrangement in accordance with a SATA standard is connected to the PCB and is supported by a first blade connector. Both the first blade connector and the first electrical contact arrangement are enclosed by the housing. The housing further defines a cable connector receiving area around the first blade connector for the receipt of a cable connector. A pair of laterally-opposed guide arm receiving cavities are integrally formed with the housing and are disposed outside of the cable connector receiving area. The guide arm receiving cavities are adapted for the receipt of guide arms from a mating cable connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: William W. Garrett, Marc B. Goldstone, Dalwinder Singh, Colin W. Morgan, Mark A. Baskovich
  • Patent number: 6654200
    Abstract: A disk drive for use with a host electronic unit including spindle motor drive circuitry. The disk drive includes a disk drive housing, and a spindle motor rotatably attached to the disk drive housing. The spindle motor includes a stator. The disk drive further includes a host connector attached to the disk drive housing which is operably connectable to the spindle motor drive circuitry for receiving electrical signals from the spindle motor drive circuitry for controlling the spindle motor. The disk drive further includes a stator electrical trace integrally formed upon the disk drive housing from the stator to the host connector for electrically connecting the stator and the host connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: McMahan Coyle Alexander, William W. Garrett