Patents by Inventor Yoshitaka Sasaki

Yoshitaka Sasaki 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).

  • Magnetic head for perpendicular magnetic recording capable of preventing unwanted erasure
    Patent number: 9653100
    Abstract: A magnetic head includes a coil, a main pole, a write shield, and a return path section. The coil includes a coil element located on the trailing side of the main pole. The coil element has a front end face facing toward the medium facing surface. The return path section includes a first portion, a second portion, and an intermediate film interposed between the first portion and the second portion. Part of the first portion is interposed between the medium facing surface and the front end face of the coil element. Part of the second portion is interposed between the first portion and the front end face of the coil element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: HEADWAY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Sasaki, Hiroyuki Ito, Kazuki Sato, Shigeki Tanemura, Yukinori Ikegawa, Kenichi Takano
  • MAGNETIC HEAD FOR PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC RECORDING WITH A COIL INCLUDING A FIRST WINDING PORTION OF ONE TURN AND A SECOND WINDING PORTION OF LESS THAN ONE TURN
    Publication number: 20170125042
    Abstract: A magnetic head includes a coil, a main pole and a return path section. The return path section is located on the trailing side relative to the main pole so that a space is defined between the main pole and itself. The coil includes a first winding portion and a second winding portion connected in series. The first winding portion extends to pass through the aforementioned space, and extends once around the entire perimeter of the main pole as viewed from the medium facing surface. The second winding portion does not pass through the aforementioned space, and surrounds only a part of the entire perimeter of the main pole as viewed from the medium facing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Applicant: HEADWAY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka SASAKI, Hiroyuki ITO, Kazuki SATO, Yukinori IKEGAWA, Shigeki TANEMURA, Kenichi TAKANO
  • Method of manufacturing plasmon generator
    Patent number: 9640202
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a plasmon generator includes the steps of: forming an initial film made of a metal polycrystal and including a pre-plasmon-generator portion that later becomes the plasmon generator; heating the initial film with heating light so that a plurality of crystal grains constituting the metal polycrystal grow at least in the pre-plasmon-generator portion; stopping the heating of the initial film; and forming the plasmon generator by processing the initial film after the step of stopping the heating. The step of forming the plasmon generator includes the step of providing the pre-plasmon-generator portion with a front end face that generates near-field light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: HEADWAY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Shigeki Tanemura, Yoshitaka Sasaki, Hiroyuki Ito, Yukinori Ikegawa, Hironori Araki, Seiichiro Tomita
  • Magnetic head for perpendicular magnetic recording including a coil for individually driving a main pole and a yoke
    Patent number: 9620153
    Abstract: A magnetic head includes a coil, a main pole, a write shield and first and second yokes. The first and second yokes are connected to the write shield. The coil includes a main coil portion for driving the main pole, a first sub-coil portion for driving the first yoke, and a second sub-coil portion for driving the second yoke. A magnetic field produced in the main pole by the main coil portion and a magnetic field produced in each of the first and second yokes by the first and second sub-coil portions are in directions opposite to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: HEADWAY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Sasaki, Kazuki Sato, Hiroyuki Ito, Shigeki Tanemura, Masakazu Okada
  • THERMALLY-ASSISTED MAGNETIC RECORDING HEAD INCLUDING A MAIN POLE AND A PLASMON GENERATOR
    Publication number: 20170047087
    Abstract: A main pole has a front end face including a first end face portion and a second end face portion. A plasmon generator has a near-field light generating surface. A surrounding layer has a first surrounding layer end face and a second surrounding layer end face located on opposite sides of the first end face portion in the track width direction. A gap film has a first gap film end face and a second gap film end face located on opposite sides of the near-field light generating surface in the track width direction. Each of the first and second gap film end faces includes a portion located between the first and second surrounding layer end faces, but does not include any portion interposed between the first surrounding layer end face and the first end face portion or between the second surrounding layer end face and the first end face portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Applicant: HEADWAY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka SASAKI, Hiroyuki ITO, Shigeki TANEMURA, Hironori ARAKI, Seiichiro TOMITA, Hideo MAMIYA
  • Image processing apparatus and method to perform noise reduction on an image and determine an output pixel value
    Patent number: 9569682
    Abstract: In a case where a weighted mean value is calculated by calculating weights according to a degree of similarity based on a target pixel, the mean value is affected by noise included in the target pixel. The mean value thereby converges at a value different from a true pixel value without noise and this appears as a remaining noise. To solve this problem, an output value of the target pixel is determined based on a correlation established among a weighted mean value of multiple reference pixels, a pixel value of the target pixel, and the true value of the target pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Yahata, Yoshitaka Sasaki
  • Resist Reactive Ion Etch (RIE) Process for Plating
    Publication number: 20170011756
    Abstract: A magnetic write head has a plated coil with narrow pitch and is suitable for writing at high frequencies on magnetic media with high coercivity. The narrow pitch is obtained without such disadvantages as overplating that has adversely affected prior art attempts to produce such narrow pitches. The process that produces the magnetic write head is characterized by an RIE plasma etch using O2/N2 to etch plating trenches into a baked layer of photoresist with the ratio of gases being 5/45 sccm so that a dilute O2 concentration does not create unwanted side etching of the plating trenches. In addition, a Cu seed layer is coated with an insulating layer of Al2O3 which redeposits on the trench sidewalls to inhibit redeposition of any Cu from the seed layer and prevent outward growth of the plated Cu that would result in overplating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Hironori Araki, Yoshitaka Sasaki, Hiroyuki Ito, Seiichiro Tomita, Kazuki Sato, Hideo Mamiya
  • Thermally-assisted magnetic recording head including a main pole, a plasmon generator and two side shields
    Patent number: 9542960
    Abstract: A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head includes a main pole, a plasmon generator, and first and second side shields. The main pole has a front end face located in the medium facing surface. The plasmon generator has a near-field light generating surface located in the medium facing surface. The front end face of the main pole includes a first end face portion, and a second end face portion greater in width than the first end face portion. The first and second side shields have first and second side shield end faces located on opposite sides of at least part of the near-field light generating surface and at least part of the first end face portion in the track width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: HEADWAY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Sasaki, Hiroyuki Ito, Shigeki Tanemura, Kazuki Sato, Hideo Mamiya, Kenichi Takano
  • THERMALLY-ASSISTED MAGNETIC RECORDING HEAD INCLUDING A MAIN POLE, A PLASMON GENERATOR AND TWO SIDE SHIELDS
    Publication number: 20160343391
    Abstract: A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head includes a main pole, a plasmon generator, and first and second side shields. The main pole has a front end face located in the medium facing surface. The plasmon generator has a near-field light generating surface located in the medium facing surface. The front end face of the main pole includes a first end face portion, and a second end face portion greater in width than the first end face portion. The first and second side shields have first and second side shield end faces located on opposite sides of at least part of the near-field light generating surface and at least part of the first end face portion in the track width direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Applicant: HEADWAY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka SASAKI, Hiroyuki ITO, Shigeki TANEMURA, Kazuki SATO, Hideo MAMIYA, Kenichi TAKANO
  • Magnetic head for perpendicular magnetic recording with a trailing shield including a plurality of portions different in saturation flux density
    Patent number: 9502053
    Abstract: A magnetic head includes a main pole, a write shield, and a gap section. The write shield includes a trailing shield. The trailing shield includes a first portion, a second portion, a third portion and a fourth portion. The second portion and the third portion are located on opposite sides of the first portion in the track width direction. Top surfaces of the first to third portions are coplanar with each other. The fourth portion lies on the top surfaces of the first to third portions. The first portion is higher in saturation flux density than the second to fourth portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: HEADWAY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Sasaki, Hiroyuki Ito, Kazuki Sato, Shigeki Tanemura, Yukinori Ikegawa, Kazumasa Yasuda
  • Magnetic head for perpendicular magnetic recording with a coil including two coil portions
    Patent number: 9495980
    Abstract: A magnetic head includes a coil, a main pole and a return path section. The return path section includes a yoke section, and a coupling section coupling the yoke section to the main pole. The coil includes a first coil portion surrounding at least part of an outer peripheral surface of the coupling section, and a second coil portion surrounding at least part of the entire perimeter of the main pole as viewed from the medium facing surface. The winding of the coil includes a common portion used in common to form part of the first coil portion and part of the second coil portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: HEADWAY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Sasaki, Hiroyuki Ito, Kazuki Sato, Hironori Araki, Kazumasa Yasuda, Kenichi Takano
  • Magnetic head including a main pole and a write shield to provide improved write characteristics without compromising the function of the write shield
    Patent number: 9489969
    Abstract: A magnetic head includes a main pole, a write shield and a gap section. The write shield includes a leading shield having a top surface opposed to a bottom end of the main pole. The gap section includes a leading gap section for separating the leading shield from the bottom end of the main pole. The leading gap section is formed using a first nonmagnetic layer and a second nonmagnetic layer. The first nonmagnetic layer has a first front end located closest to but at a distance from the medium facing surface. The second nonmagnetic layer has a second front end located in the medium facing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: HEADWAY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Yukinori Ikegawa, Yoshitaka Sasaki, Kazuki Sato, Shigeki Tanemura, Hironori Araki, Seiichiro Tomita
  • Thermally-assisted magnetic recording head having inclined main magnetic pole and core
    Patent number: 9478241
    Abstract: A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head includes a main pole, a waveguide, and a plasmon generator. The waveguide includes a core and a cladding. The main pole and the core are located on the same side in the direction of travel of a recording medium relative to the plasmon generator. The main pole has a first end face located in the medium facing surface, and a second end face opposite to the first end face. The core has a front end face opposed to the second end face of the main pole. The cladding includes an interposition section interposed between the front end face of the core and the second end face of the main pole. The front end face of the core and the second end face of the main pole are inclined with respect to the medium facing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: HEADWAY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Shigeki Tanemura, Yoshitaka Sasaki, Hiroyuki Ito, Xuhui Jin, Hideo Mamiya, Yukinori Ikegawa
  • PLASMON GENERATOR INCLUDING A MAIN BODY AND A FRONT PROTRUSION
    Publication number: 20160307592
    Abstract: A plasmon generator includes a main body, and a front protrusion protruding from the main body. The front protrusion has a proximal portion which is a boundary with the main body, and a near-field light generating surface located in the medium facing surface of a magnetic head. The main body has a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface each facing toward the medium facing surface. The first inclined surface and the second inclined surface are at a distance from each other and aligned in the track width direction. The proximal portion of the front protrusion is located between the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Applicant: HEADWAY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka SASAKI, Hiroyuki ITO, Shigeki TANEMURA, Hideo MAMIYA, Hironori ARAKI, Seiichiro TOMITA
  • Plasmon generator including a main body and a front protrusion
    Patent number: 9472230
    Abstract: A plasmon generator includes a main body, and a front protrusion protruding from the main body. The front protrusion has a proximal portion which is a boundary with the main body, and a near-field light generating surface located in the medium facing surface of a magnetic head. The main body has a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface each facing toward the medium facing surface. The first inclined surface and the second inclined surface are at a distance from each other and aligned in the track width direction. The proximal portion of the front protrusion is located between the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: HEADWAY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Sasaki, Hiroyuki Ito, Shigeki Tanemura, Hideo Mamiya, Hironori Araki, Seiichiro Tomita
  • IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM
    Publication number: 20160284069
    Abstract: A non-local means method is insufficient in its noise reduction effect or edge retainability due to a perfect match between blocks in a case where a reference pixel matches a target pixel. Therefore, information on a target region and plural reference regions is obtained for the target pixel. Whether the target region matches any one of the reference regions is determined from the obtained information. Switching between weight derivation methods based on similarity between the target region and the reference region is performed according to a determined result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Yahata, Yoshitaka Sasaki
  • MAGNETIC HEAD FOR PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC RECORDING INCLUDING A COIL HAVING AN INCLINED SURFACE
    Publication number: 20160275970
    Abstract: A magnetic head includes a coil, a main pole, a write shield, a gap section, and a return path section. The main pole has a top surface including an inclined portion and a flat portion. The coil includes a specific coil element. The specific coil element has a front end portion, and an inclined surface contiguous with the front end portion. The write shield includes a top shield layer located on the front side in the direction of travel of a recording medium relative to the main pole, and located closer to a medium facing surface than the specific coil element. The top shield layer is located on the rear side in the direction of travel of the recording medium relative to an imaginary plane including the inclined surface of the specific coil element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Applicant: HEADWAY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka SASAKI, Hiroyuki ITO, Kazuki SATO, Yukinori IKEGAWA, Hironori ARAKI, Shigeki TANEMURA
  • HEADREST DEVICE
    Publication number: 20160250952
    Abstract: A headrest device comprising: a left and right pair of headrest stays that are fixed to a seatback frame in a state projecting out toward an upper side of a seatback of a vehicle seat; a headrest main body that has the pair of headrest stays inserted inside from a lower face of the headrest main body and that is supported by the pair of headrest stays; and a removal restricting mechanism that is provided inside the headrest main body, that restricts removal of the headrest main body from the pair of headrest stays, and that releases the restriction by a release operation portion positioned inside the headrest main body being press-operated from an outside of the headrest main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Sasaki, Yusuke Ohkawara
  • Image processing apparatus and image processing method
    Patent number: 9432596
    Abstract: Noise in RAW image data is reduced by determining parameters including pixels used as a target area and reference pixels in the RAW image data, based on color filter information for the RAW image data. The RAW image data is corrected based on the parameters thus determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Sasaki, Kazuhiro Yahata
  • Method of forming a magnetic write head
    Patent number: 9412397
    Abstract: A magnetic write head has a plated coil with narrow pitch and is suitable for writing at high frequencies on magnetic media with high coercivity. The narrow pitch is obtained without such disadvantages as overplating that has adversely affected prior art attempts to produce such narrow pitches. The process that produces the magnetic write head is characterized by an RIE plasma etch using O2/N2 to etch plating trenches into a baked layer of photoresist with the ratio of gases being 5/45 sccm so that a dilute O2 concentration does not create unwanted side etching of the plating trenches. In addition, a Cu seed layer is coated with an insulating layer of Al2O3 which redeposits on the trench sidewalls to inhibit redeposition of any Cu from the seed layer and prevent outward growth of the plated Cu that would result in overplating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hironori Araki, Yoshitaka Sasaki, Hiroyuki Ito, Seiichiro Tomita, Kazuki Sato, Hideo Mamiya