Patents by Inventor Yoshiyuki Hirono

Yoshiyuki Hirono 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: 11615810
    Abstract: A hard disk drive enclosure base includes a non-uniform disk shroud surface extending from a top to a floor, the shroud surface including a first portion having a first radius and clearance along the circumference of the shroud surface and a second portion having a lesser second radius and clearance. The second portion of the shroud surface may be positioned at multiple locations where the drive form factor is especially constraining and in view of the need for a sufficient seal land surface for applying a gasket seal around the perimeter of the inner cavity of the base part. Widening the disk shroud clearance where possible can reduce the shear stress exerted at the disk edges thereby reducing the windage drag and associated disk spindle motor power consumption, especially in the context of helium-filled drives in which disk flutter is less of an issue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Andre Chan, Yoshiyuki Hirono, Yuichi Arai
  • Publication number: 20220315442
    Abstract: A titanium-niobium oxide achieves suppressed adulteration with TiO2 and Ti2Nb10O29 and suppressed growth of crystal grains, and an electrode and a lithium-ion secondary cell include such a titanium-niobium oxide. The titanium-niobium oxide contains less than 0.30 at % of an alkali metal element and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Y, La, Ce, Pr, and Sm. A ratio of thea total atomic weight of Al, Y, La, Ce, Pr, and Sm to thea total atomic weight of Ti and Nb is equal to or more than 0.001.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 25, 2020
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Kenji HIGASHI, Masafumi YASUDA, Hiroshi OKUMURA, Yoshiyuki HIRONO
  • Patent number: 10559819
    Abstract: A titanium oxide compound according to the present invention comprises bronze-type titanium oxide or titanium oxide mainly composed of bronze-type titanium oxide, and contains calcium and/or silicon. The titanium oxide compound contains 0.005 to 2.5 mass % inclusive of calcium or 0.15 to 0.55 mass % inclusive of silicon, or contains 0.005 to 1.2 mass % inclusive of calcium and 0.15 to 0.2 mass % inclusive of silicon, or contains 0.005 to 0.1 mass % inclusive of calcium and 0.15 to 0.5 mass % inclusive of silicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Higashi, Hiroshi Okumura, Yoshiyuki Hirono
  • Publication number: 20180226645
    Abstract: A titanium oxide compound according to the present invention comprises bronze-type titanium oxide or titanium oxide mainly composed of bronze-type titanium oxide, and contains calcium and/or silicon. The titanium oxide compound contains 0.005 to 2.5 mass % inclusive of calcium or 0.15 to 0.55 mass % inclusive of silicon, or contains 0.005 to 1.2 mass % inclusive of calcium and 0.15 to 0.2 mass % inclusive of silicon, or contains 0.005 to 0.1 mass % inclusive of calcium and 0.15 to 0.5 mass % inclusive of silicon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Kenji HIGASHI, Hiroshi OKUMURA, Yoshiyuki HIRONO
  • Patent number: 9972840
    Abstract: A titanium oxide compound according to the present invention comprises bronze-type titanium oxide or titanium oxide mainly composed of bronze-type titanium oxide, and contains calcium and/or silicon. The titanium oxide compound contains 0.005 to 2.5 mass % inclusive of calcium or 0.15 to 0.55 mass % inclusive of silicon, or contains 0.005 to 1.2 mass % inclusive of calcium and 0.15 to 0.2 mass % inclusive of silicon, or contains 0.005 to 0.1 mass % inclusive of calcium and 0.15 to 0.5 mass % inclusive of silicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Higashi, Hiroshi Okumura, Yoshiyuki Hirono
  • Publication number: 20160043393
    Abstract: A titanium oxide compound according to the present invention comprises bronze-type titanium oxide or titanium oxide mainly composed of bronze-type titanium oxide, and contains calcium and/or silicon. The titanium oxide compound contains 0.005 to 2.5 mass % inclusive of calcium or 0.15 to 0.55 mass % inclusive of silicon, or contains 0.005 to 1.2 mass % inclusive of calcium and 0.15 to 0.2 mass % inclusive of silicon, or contains 0.005 to 0.1 mass % inclusive of calcium and 0.15 to 0.5 mass % inclusive of silicon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Applicant: KUBOTA Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji HIGASHI, Hiroshi OKUMURA, Yoshiyuki HIRONO
  • Publication number: 20150009591
    Abstract: Approaches to improving head positioning accuracy in a hard disk drive, by reducing air pressure fluctuations that would otherwise cause unwanted coil torsion in a voice coil actuator, include a voice coil actuator having a streamlined structure configured to affect the flow of air acting upon a coil-supporting arm. The streamlined structure comprises an upper surface and a lower surface, where the upper surface is sloped downward toward the lower surface and the lower surface is sloped upward toward the upper surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Akiko Kagatsume, Taisuke Sugii, Yoshiyuki Hirono, Hajime Eguchi, Takashi Kouno
  • Patent number: 8705202
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention help to prevent leakage of low-density gas during low-density gas injection into a disk drive device and to perform low-density gas injection efficiently. In a hard disk drive (HDD) according to one embodiment of the present invention, an injection hole filter with a valve function is attached to a helium injection hole in order to inject helium gas in an enclosure. The injection hole filter has a valve member configured to operate in an open state or closed state. The open state is a state while the helium gas is being injected and the closed state is a state after the helium gas has been finished to be injected. The valve member is in the open state if the outside pressure is higher than the inside pressure and is in the closed state if the inside pressure is higher than the outside pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Hirono, Kouki Uefune, Takashi Kouno, Takako Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 8630061
    Abstract: A hard disk drive comprising, a base plate comprising a pin, a top cover, a plurality of magnetic disks, and a spoiler. The spoiler includes a first spring fastener for temporary spring fastening the spoiler on the base plate, and a second spring fastener for resiliently fastening the spoiler when the top cover is attached to the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Kimihiko Sudo, Hiromitsu Masuda, Kouki Uefune, Yoshiyuki Hirono
  • Patent number: 8564900
    Abstract: In a disk drive device having a double cover structure with low-density gas enclosed therein, embodiments of the present invention help to securely perform leak inspection on an outer cover and to prevent defects caused in joining the outer cover. According to one embodiment, a hard disk drive (HDD) comprises a flow amount adjuster on a base-facing side of its inner cover. Helium gas in an enclosure goes out through a ventilation hole via diffusion channel of a flow amount adjuster. The emitted helium gas remains in the space between the inner cover and an outer cover. This achieves easier detection of the leakage of helium gas from the joining section of the outer cover and prevention of emission of too much helium gas from the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Hirono, Takashi Kouno, Kouki Uefune
  • Publication number: 20130021695
    Abstract: A magnetic disk device including: one or more disk-shaped magnetic disks; a spindle motor; a magnetic head; an arm for supporting the magnetic head; an enclosure base for housing the above components; an adjacent facing surface which lies in the enclosure base adjacent to the magnetic disk; a non-adjacent facing surface which lies in the enclosure opposite the magnetic disk and is further from the magnetic disk than the adjacent facing surface; a connecting surface for connecting the adjacent facing surface and the non-adjacent facing surface; and a groove which extends in the circumferential direction of the magnetic disk on the magnetic disk inner circumferential side of the adjacent facing surface, wherein one end of the groove is exposed at the connecting surface, while the other end has an end face which is perpendicular to the direction of rotation of the magnetic disk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventors: Taisuke SUGII, Yoshiyuki HIRONO, Takanori KAWAKAMI
  • Patent number: 8248724
    Abstract: A method for re-injecting low density gas into a disk drive including a hermetically sealed disk enclosure. The method includes providing a disk drive including a hermetically sealed disk enclosure. In addition, the method includes re-injecting low density gas from a hole penetrating the hermetically sealed disk enclosure from an exterior of the disk drive to an interior of the disk drive. Moreover, the method includes covering the hole with a sealing label including a metal layer and an adhesive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Takako Hayakawa, Yoshiyuki Hirono, Hideaki Maeda, Masaru Muranishi, Kouki Uefune
  • Publication number: 20120162824
    Abstract: A hard disk drive comprising, a base plate comprising a pin, a top cover, a plurality of magnetic disks, and a spoiler. The spoiler includes a first spring fastener for temporary spring fastening the spoiler on the base plate, and a second spring fastener for resiliently fastening the spoiler when the top cover is attached to the base plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Kimihiko Sudo, Hiromitsu Masuda, Kouki Uefune, Yoshiyuki Hirono
  • Patent number: 8196284
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention help to effectively suppress vibration of the disk in a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) with low density gas sealed therein, and securely prevent leakage of the low density gas from the base. In an embodiment, helium gas is sealed in a hermetically sealed enclosure of an HDD, and a shroud is formed integrally with a base. In manufacturing the base, a magnetic disk facing surface of the shroud is shaped by cutting after die-casting. This accomplishes a small and precise size of the gap between the magnetic disk facing surface and the circumferential edge of the disk. Cutting the shroud formed independently from the exterior walls, which ensure the hermeticity with the shroud, suppresses the vibration of the magnetic disk and eliminates the necessity of cutting of the inner surfaces of the exterior walls for the purpose of suppression of the vibration to reduce the risk of helium leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Kouki Uefune, Takako Hayakawa, Yoshiyuki Hirono, Masaru Muranishi
  • Publication number: 20120008235
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention help to prevent leakage of low-density gas during low-density gas injection into a disk drive device and to perform low-density gas injection efficiently. In a hard disk drive (HDD) according to one embodiment of the present invention, an injection hole filter with a valve function is attached to a helium injection hole in order to inject helium gas in an enclosure. The injection hole filter has a valve member configured to operate in an open state or closed state. The open state is a state while the helium gas is being injected and the closed state is a state after the helium gas has been finished to be injected. The valve member is in the open state if the outside pressure is higher than the inside pressure and is in the closed state if the inside pressure is higher than the outside pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki HIRONO, Kouki Uefune, Takashi Kouno, Takako Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 7986490
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention help to prevent leakage of low-density gas during low-density gas injection into a disk drive device and to perform low-density gas injection efficiently. In a hard disk drive (HDD) according to one embodiment of the present invention, an injection hole filter with a valve function is attached to a helium injection hole in order to inject helium gas in an enclosure. The injection hole filter has a valve member configured to operate in an open state or closed state. The open state is a state while the helium gas is being injected and the closed state is a state after the helium gas has been finished to be injected. The valve member is in the open state if the outside pressure is higher than the inside pressure and is in the closed state if the inside pressure is higher than the outside pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, Netherlands, B.V.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Hirono, Kouki Uefune, Takashi Kouno, Takako Hayakawa
  • Publication number: 20110038076
    Abstract: A method for re-injecting low density gas into a disk drive including a hermetically sealed disk enclosure. The method includes providing a disk drive including a hermetically sealed disk enclosure. In addition, the method includes re-injecting low density gas from a hole penetrating the hermetically sealed disk enclosure from an exterior of the disk drive to an interior of the disk drive. Moreover, the method includes covering the hole with a sealing label including a metal layer and an adhesive layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Inventors: Takako Hayakawa, Yoshiyuki Hirono, Hideaki Maeda, Masaru Muranishi, Kouki Uefune
  • Patent number: 7876528
    Abstract: In a disk drive device having a double cover structure with low-density gas enclosed therein, embodiments of the present invention allow a more reliable leak inspection to be performed on the second cover and to prevent defects caused by joining the secondary cover. An HDD according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a ventilation path from a ventilation hole on an inner cover to a space between the inner cover and an outer cover. An outer peripheral end of an adhesive layer is apart from a joining section, which is exposed in the space. Helium gas flowing out of the ventilation hole flows to the space via the ventilation path and remains within the space. This enables detection of leakage of the helium gas from the joining section to be performed more easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, Netherlands, B.V.
    Inventors: Kouki Uefune, Yoshiyuki Hirono, Takako Hayakawa, Takashi Kouno
  • Publication number: 20090241322
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention help to effectively suppress vibration of the disk in a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) with low density gas sealed therein, and securely prevent leakage of the low density gas from the base. In an embodiment, helium gas is sealed in a hermetically sealed enclosure of an HDD, and a shroud is formed integrally with a base. In manufacturing the base, a magnetic disk facing surface of the shroud is shaped by cutting after die-casting. This accomplishes a small and precise size of the gap between the magnetic disk facing surface and the circumferential edge of the disk. Cutting the shroud formed independently from the exterior walls, which ensure the hermeticity with the shroud, suppresses the vibration of the magnetic disk and eliminates the necessity of cutting of the inner surfaces of the exterior walls for the purpose of suppression of the vibration to reduce the risk of helium leakage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Kouki Uefune, Takako Hayakawa, Yoshiyuki Hirono, Masaru Muranishi
  • Publication number: 20080310048
    Abstract: In a disk drive device having a double cover structure with low-density gas enclosed therein, embodiments of the present invention help to securely perform leak inspection on an outer cover and to prevent defects caused in joining the outer cover. According to one embodiment, a hard disk drive (HDD) comprises a flow amount adjuster on a base-facing side of its inner cover. Helium gas in an enclosure goes out through a ventilation hole via diffusion channel of a flow amount adjuster. The emitted helium gas remains in the space between the inner cover and an outer cover. This achieves easier detection of the leakage of helium gas from the joining section of the outer cover and prevention of emission of too much helium gas from the enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Hirono, Takashi Kouno, Kouki Uefune