Patents by Inventor Zheng Gao

Zheng Gao 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: 9065225
    Abstract: High-speed connectors having a high density of contacts may be provided. One example may provide a connector having a housing with a slot forming an opening in a top side. The slot and opening may be arranged to receive a card. This connector may provide a high density of contacts by arranging the contacts in multiple rows in the slot. Various contacts may include barbs to be inserted into the housing. The barbs may be angled and may have one or more teeth to help anchor the contacts in place. A conductive or nonconductive shield or shell may be placed over the housing. When a conductive shield is used, metal pins may be inserted into the housing for mechanical stability and secured to the shield, and various contacts may have contacting portions in contact with the shield to improve signal integrity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brett W. Degner, Mahmoud Amini, William P. Cornelius, Zheng Gao, Aaron P. Miletich, George Marc Simmel
  • Patent number: 9065205
    Abstract: A magnetic connector system having a durable and reliable construction and a reduced height while maintaining sufficient holding strength. A connector insert may utilize a crimping piece to crimp a braiding of a cable. The crimping piece may be fixed to an attraction plate and a board in the insert for mechanical reliability. Retention clips may be used to fix a shell to the attraction plate. A connector receptacle may employ a magnetically conductive label to improve holding strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Zheng Gao, Josh Pong, Chris Ligtenberg, Bartley K. Andre, Bradley J. Hamel, John C. DiFonzo, Dave Narajowski, Greg Springer, Eric Monsef, Min Chul Kim
  • Publication number: 20150171562
    Abstract: Connector systems may include a connector receptacle and connector plug or insert. The connector receptacle may include a tongue. A first plurality of contacts may be formed on a top surface of the tongue. A first ground pad may be located on a top surface of tongue, and a shield may be formed around the tongue. The connector insert may include a housing and a conductive shield around the housing behind a leading edge of the connector insert. A front edge of the shield may be folded into an opening at the leading edge. In other examples, the receptacle shield may include one or more fingers. These fingers may contact the connector insert shield to form a ground path. One or more of these fingers may engage openings in the insert shield to provide a retention force between the connector insert and receptacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Zheng Gao, Mahmoud R. Amini, Nathan N. Ng, Min Chul Kim, Colin Abraham
  • Publication number: 20150162684
    Abstract: Connector systems may include a connector receptacle and connector plug or insert. The connector receptacle may include a tongue. The tongue may be formed using a printed circuit board. Contacts may be plated on top and bottom surfaces of the tongue. Retention features may also be located on top and bottom surfaces of tongue. These retention features may be speed bumps or other features. The connector insert may include a leading edge portion formed of plastic, a conductive shield around the insert behind the leasing edge portion, a plurality of spring contacts attached to an inside of the conductive shield, a top row of contacts; and a bottom row of contacts. Other connector receptacles may include a tongue having side ground contacts. The side ground contacts may engage an inside of a plug shield and have contacting portion to fit in openings in the plug shield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Mahmoud R. Amini, Zheng Gao, Nathan N. Ng
  • Patent number: 9053721
    Abstract: A magnetic read sensor having a magnetic seed layer, a pinned layer structure formed over the magnetic seed layer, a non-magnetic barrier or spacer layer formed over the pinned layer structure and a magnetic free layer structure formed over the non-magnetic barrier or spacer layer. The pinned layer has a stripe height (measured from the media facing surface) that is greater than a stripe height of the magnetic free layer structure. In addition, the magnetic seed layer structure has a stripe height (also measured from the media facing surface) that is greater than the stripe height of the magnetic pinned layer structure and the magnetic free layer structure. The stripe height of the magnetic seed layer structure can be controlled independently of the stripe heights of the magnetic pinned layer structure and the magnetic free layer structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Yongchul Ahn, David P. Druist, Zheng Gao, Ying Hong, Yunhe Huang, Quang Le, Thomas L. Leong, Guangli Liu, Xiaoyong Liu, David J. Seagle
  • Publication number: 20150154986
    Abstract: In one general embodiment, a system includes a magnetic layer having first and second magnetic sublayers. An anisotropy of the first magnetic sublayer is oriented in a different direction than an anisotropy of the second magnetic sublayer. In another general embodiment, a magnetic head includes a magnetic layer having first and second magnetic sublayers directly adjacent one another. A deposition thickness of the magnetic layer is less than 60 angstroms. An interface between the magnetic sublayers is oriented at an angle of greater than 2 degrees and less than 88 degrees relative to a plane of deposition thereof. The magnetic layer includes at least one material selected from a group consisting of Co, Fe, Ni, CoFe, CoFeB, CoHf and NiFe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Applicant: HGST NETHERLANDS B.V.
    Inventors: James M. Freitag, Zheng Gao
  • Patent number: 9047893
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor having a first sensor stack portion that includes a free layer, non-magnetic spacer or barrier layer and a portion of a pinned layer structure. The sensor has second sensor stack portion formed over the first sensor stack portion. The second sensor stack portion include includes a second portion of the pinned layer structure and a layer of antiferromagnetic material formed over the. The first sensor stack portion is configured with a width and stripe height that define the functional width and strip height of the sensor, whereas the upper portion can be made wider and deeper without affecting sensor performance. Because the patterning of the first sensor stack portion is performed on a thinner structure than would be necessary to pattern the entire sensor stack, the patterning can be performed with smaller dimensions and increased resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Zheng Gao, Hardayal S. Gill, Ying Hong, Quang Le
  • Publication number: 20150131245
    Abstract: Connector inserts and other structures that have a high signal integrity and low insertion loss, are reliable, and are readily manufactured. One example may provide a connector insert formed primarily using a printed circuit board. Contacts on the connector insert may be akin to contacts on a printed circuit board and they may connect to traces having matched impedances on the printed circuit board in order to improve signal integrity and reduce insertion loss. The printed circuit board may be manufactured in a manner for increased reliability. Plating, solder block, and other manufacturing steps that are native to printed circuit board manufacturing may be employed to improve manufacturability. Specialized tools that may provide a chamfered edge on the connector inserts may be employed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Mahmoud R. Amini, Zheng Gao, Dennis R. Pyper
  • Patent number: 9030864
    Abstract: Magnetic tunnel junctions having a specular insulative spacer are disclosed. The magnetic tunnel junction includes a free magnetic layer, a reference magnetic layer, an electrically insulating and non-magnetic tunneling barrier layer separating the free magnetic layer from the reference magnetic layer, and an electrically insulating and electronically reflective layer positioned to reflect at least a portion of electrons back into the free magnetic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Yuankai Zheng, Dimitar V. Dimitrov, Wei Tian, Dexin Wang, Zheng Gao, Xiaobin Wang
  • Patent number: 9030785
    Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention relate to a magnetic read head with pinned layers extending to the ABS of the read head and in contact with an antiferromagnetic layer that is recessed in relation to the ABS of the read head. The recessed antiferromagnetic layer may be disposed above or below the pinned layer structure and provides a pinning field to prevent amplitude flipping in head operation. In these embodiments of the present invention, the read gap of the sensor, that is the distance between the highly permeable, magnetically soft upper and lower shield layers at the ABS, is reduced by the thickness of the antiferromagnetic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: James Mac Freitag, Zheng Gao
  • Patent number: 9011176
    Abstract: Circuits, methods, and apparatus that may provide a separation between a signal ground and an enclosure ground such that EMI and ESD circuits are not bypassed. One example may provide a connector receptacle having fingers for contacting a device enclosure, where the fingers are not directly electrically connected to a shell of the connector receptacle. These fingers may be isolated from the shell along a top-side by an electrically insulating layer. These fingers may be further insulated from the shell along a back side by a nonconductive piece or portion of a housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: George Tziviskos, Zheng Gao
  • Patent number: 9001473
    Abstract: The embodiments disclosed generally relate to a read head in a magnetic recording head. The read head utilizes a sensor structure having: a pinned magnetic structure recessed from a media facing surface; and a reader gap structure. The reader gap structure has a spacer layer recessed from the media facing surface and disposed on top of the pinned magnetic structure, a recessed first free layer partially recessed from the media facing surface and disposed on top of the barrier layer, a second free layer extending to the media facing surface an disposed on top of the barrier layer, and a cap layer extending to the media facing surface disposed atop the second free layer. The pinned magnetic structure, the spacer, and the first free layer have a common face which is on an angle relative to the media facing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Zheng Gao, James Mac Freitag, Kuok San Ho, Ching Hwa Tsang, Kochan Ju
  • Publication number: 20150079848
    Abstract: Structures, methods, and apparatus that provide connector receptacles that have a reduced tendency to scratch and otherwise mar connector inserts, have an aesthetically-pleasing appearance, and have an improved tactile response when inserts are inserted. Various examples reduce scratches and wear by utilizing domes, cylinders, balls, or other structures as finger contacts in a connector receptacle. Another example provides aesthetically-pleasing connector receptacle enclosures by forming receptacle enclosures using the same type of material, or material having the same or similar color or texture, as is used for enclosing the electronic device that includes the receptacle. Another example provides an aesthetically-pleasing receptacle enclosure by forming receptacle enclosures that are, in part or in whole, contiguous or formed with the housing. Another embodiment provides a connector receptacle having a housing where a portion of the housing has been removed to save space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Zheng Gao, Steve McClure, Joshua Banko, Greg Springer, Min Chul Kim, Joshua Funamura
  • Publication number: 20150062759
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a magnetic head having a sensor structure comprising a pinned layer, a spacer layer, a free layer and a capping structure. The free layer has a topmost layer comprising CoB and the capping structure comprises an X layer, where X is an element such as Hf, Zr, Ti, V, Nb, or Ta.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Chando PARK, Zheng GAO, Sangmun OH, Susumu OKAMURA, James Mac FREITAG
  • Patent number: 8968019
    Abstract: Sockets that provide easy access for users to change cards while allowing the use of thinner device enclosures. One example provides a socket having two positions. When the socket is in an open state, the card may be oriented in a direction substantially away from the main logic board. When the socket is in a closed state, the card moves such that it is oriented at least closer to being in parallel to the main logic board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Hack, Joshua Funamura, George V. Anastas, Zheng Gao, Gregory A. Springer, Erik James Shahoian
  • Patent number: 8968031
    Abstract: Connector receptacle assemblies that may be simple to manufacture, provide multiple receptacles, and provide a good ground contact path. One example may provide a connector receptacle assembly formed of a housing having a tongue that may include openings on one or more sides for contacts as well as openings on its sides for ground contacts. Another example may provide a connector receptacle assembly having at least two tongues, where each tongue may be aligned with a corresponding opening in a device enclosure. Another example may provide a connector receptacle assembly having a tongue with a center ground contact, where the center ground contact may be located between the top row and the bottom row of contacts. Another example may provide a connector receptacle assembly having a titanium-copper center ground contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: George Marc Simmel, Zheng Gao
  • Patent number: 8958180
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a magnetic head having a sensor structure comprising a pinned layer, a spacer layer, a free layer and a capping structure. The free layer has a topmost layer comprising CoB and the capping structure comprises an X layer, where X is an element such as Hf, Zr, Ti, V, Nb, or Ta.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands, B.V.
    Inventors: Chando Park, Zheng Gao, Sangmun Oh, Susumu Okamura, James Mac Freitag
  • Patent number: 8951071
    Abstract: Circuits, methods, and apparatus that may provide audio jacks capable of providing a sufficient retention force to avoid some inadvertent extractions of an audio plug. Examples may also provide audio jacks that may be readily assembled. Other examples may provide other types of connectors. These audio jacks or other connectors may provide contact structures having one or more contacts, each having a contact support to increase contact retention force. Different materials may be used to form the contacts and the contact supports. In this way, contacts may be formed using a highly conductive material, while the contact supports may be formed of a material having good spring characteristics. While such a contact may not be able to provide an adequate retention force on its own, the use of a contact support may sufficiently increase the retention force to prevent accidental extractions of an audio plug or other connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: George Tziviskos, Paul J. Hack, Zheng Gao
  • Publication number: 20150001050
    Abstract: A protective shutter device for exposing and preventing access to electrical contacts of a switchgear. The device includes a linkage assembly coupled to the housing, the linkage assembly including a first and a second drive ann. A guide assembly is coupled to the housing, and includes a first end, a second end, and a body connecting the ends. The device further includes a first shutter coupled to the first drive arm and the body of the guide assembly. The first shutter selectively moves along the body. A second shutter is coupled to the second drive arm and the guide assembly body, the second shutter including a lower and an upper plate. The lower plate is coupled to the tipper plate, wherein the plates selectively move along the body to a first position to expose the electrical contacts, and to a second position to prevent access to the electrical contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: General Electronic Company
    Inventors: Zheng Gao, Xuhui Ren, Wenbin Wei
  • Patent number: D721331
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bartley K. Andre, Zheng Gao, Paul Joseph Hack, Bradley Joseph Hamel, William Francis Leggett, Timothy Roger Milberger, Mikael Silvanto