Patents by Inventor Zine-Eddine Boutaghou

Zine-Eddine Boutaghou 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).

  • Integral forming technology for disc drive bearing
    Patent number: 6636386
    Abstract: A disc drive includes a base including an axle shaft, a disc stack rotationally mounted to the base, a head assembly coupled to the disc stack, a voice coil and a bearing. The bearing has an inner hub rotationally mounted on the axle shaft, and an outer hub that mounts the voice coil and the head assembly. The outer hub is rotationally mounted to the inner hub through a plurality of flexible spokes that are integrally formed with the inner and outer hubs. The flexible spokes allow the outer hub to rotate when the inner hub is stopped by stiction. Integral forming provides a predictable response desired for a disc drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Zine-Eddine Boutaghou
  • Air bearing slider having textured contact region to provide a self-adjusting fly height interface
    Publication number: 20030184916
    Abstract: A head for a data storage device including a textured close point or transition region having a suitable wear rate to provide a self-adjusting fly height interface. The textured transition enables transition to a fly regime of operation for a contact regime slider to limit head crash or loss.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: Jorge V. Hanchi, Zine-Eddine Boutaghou
  • Fly height control slider with crown and cross curve de-coupling
    Patent number: 6624984
    Abstract: A slider having a slider body is provided for actively controlling a fly height of the slider relative to a data storage disc. A first plurality of beams are affixed to a back surface of the slider body. The beams are disassociated from one another and are constructed of deformable material. Each beam, in response to an applied electrical control signal is deformable in a first dimension parallel to the back surface of the slider body. Deformation of the first plurality of beams in response to an applied electrical control signal affects slider fly height by changing one of slider body crown and cross curvatures to a greater extent than along the other. In accordance with other embodiments, multiple layers of deformable beams are attached to a slider. In yet other embodiments, piezoelectric material layers having anisotropic properties are substituted for beam layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Derek A. Lewis, Deborah S. Schnur, Markus E. Mangold, Zine-Eddine Boutaghou
  • Data storage system with slider having variable hardness pad
    Patent number: 6624977
    Abstract: A slider having feet for elevating the slider above the disc surface for contact starts and stops (“CSS”). The feet are formed of variable-hardness structure to provide desired wear resistance and limit damage to the disc surface via contact of the slider with the disc surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Zine-Eddine Boutaghou
  • Disc drive slider with bar reducing load/unload damage
    Publication number: 20030169535
    Abstract: A disc drive slider has one or more bars with dull ends as a protection feature to prevent contact between peripheral edges of an air bearing surface and a disc surface when the slider is misaligned with the disc surface. The dull ends can be formed by a process of undercutting a resist layer during etching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventor: Zine-Eddine Boutaghou
  • Moving coil micro actuator with reduced rotor mass
    Patent number: 6614628
    Abstract: A disc drive has a disc rotatable about an axis, a slider carrying a transducing head for transducing data with a disc, and a dual stage actuation assembly supporting the slider to position the transducing head adjacent a selected radial track of the disc. The dual stage actuation assembly includes a movable actuator arm and a suspension assembly supported by the actuator arm. The suspension assembly includes a gimbal. The dual stage actuation assembly further includes a microactuator. The microactuator includes a stator having a top surface and a bottom surface wherein the gimbal is connected to the top surface of the stator. A rotor is operatively connected to the stator and the rotor supports the slider. A magnetic keeper structure is supported by the stator such that the rotor moves with respect to the magnetic keeper structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Peter Crane, Wayne A. Bonin, Roger L. Hipwell, Jr., Zine-Eddine Boutaghou
  • Wafer-level fabrication method for top or side slider bond pads
    Publication number: 20030161069
    Abstract: A method is used for fabricating sliders for use in a disc drive actuation system, the sliders having bonds pads formed on either a top surface or side faces of the slider. The method comprises providing a substrate having a top surface. Trenches are formed in the substrate and filled with a bond pad material to form slider bond pads. Excess bond pad material is removed from the trenches such that the slider bond pads are flush with the top surface of the substrate. A transducer is fabricated on the top surface of the substrate. Finally, the slider bond pads are exposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Applicant: Seagate Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Roger L. Hipwell, Wayne A. Bonin, Kyle M. Bartholomew, John R. Pendray, Zine-Eddine Boutaghou
  • Slider for a data storage device including transducer level micro-positioning and method of fabrication therefor
    Publication number: 20030161071
    Abstract: A head having micro-positioning control. The head includes a slider body and a transducer body coupled to the slider body through a flexible interface. The transducer body is spaced from the slider body to form a gap therebetween. Micro-positioning actuators are coupled to the transducer body in the gap to provide micro-positioning control. In an embodiment for an air bearing slider, the gap includes off-track and fly height positioning control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventors: Wayne A. Bonin, Roger L. Hipwell, John R. Pendray, Kyle M. Bartholomew, Zine-Eddine Boutaghou
  • Texture structure for optimizing head disc interface
    Patent number: 6611400
    Abstract: A head disc interface having a fine pitch surface roughness including fine pitch projections having a relatively smooth roughness height and a projection pitch <1.0 &mgr;m for optimizing tribological performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Andreas A. Polycarpou, Zine-Eddine Boutaghou, Daniel P. Burbank
  • Apparatus for finishing a magnetic slider
    Publication number: 20030148715
    Abstract: A process for finishing a disc drive slider in which a pressure generator applies multiple pressures to the back surface of one slider while the front surface of the one slider contacts a lapping surface to form a finished front surface of the slider. The slider is part of a substrate having multiple unfinished sliders formed in it. An etch process is used to etch trenches in the substrate aligned between the sliders and to form webs joining the sliders together. After the sliders are finished by lapping, the webs are removed to separate the sliders. The multiple sliders are conveniently held together during the finishing process and the etching process avoids damage to the sliders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventor: Zine-Eddine Boutaghou
  • Slider for disc storage system
    Patent number: 6603639
    Abstract: A disc storage system includes a rotating disc and a transducer. The transducer is carried on a slider which is supported by an armature. The armature is used to move the slider radially across the disc surface whereby information may be read from or written to the disc surface of the transducer. The slider includes an air bearing surface which faces the disc surface. As the disc rotates, the air bearing surface causes the slider to “fly” over the disc surface. Pads are provided on the air bearing surface to improve operational characteristics of the system. For example, the pads may be used to reduce the stiction or improve flying characteristics. Flying instabilities associated with the pads are addressed by a number of characteristics provided to the air bearing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Andreas A. Polycarpou, Zine-Eddine Boutaghou, Daniel P. Burbank, Jing Gui, Jorge V. Hanchi, Lance E. Stover, Scott E. Ryun
  • BENDING MICROACTUATOR HAVING A TWO-PIECE SUSPENSION DESIGN
    Publication number: 20030137777
    Abstract: A microactuation system selectively alters a position of a transducing head carried by a slider in a disc drive system with respect to a track of a rotatable disk having a plurality of concentric tracks. The microactuation system includes a head suspension having a first portion and a flexure for supporting the slider. A flexible beam extends from the first portion of the head suspension at one end to the flexure at the other end. An electroactive element is attached to the beam. The electroactive element bends in response to a control signal applied thereto. The beam is sufficiently compliant to permit movement of the first portion of the head suspension with respect to the flexure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2000
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventors: ZINE-EDDINE BOUTAGHOU, PETER CRANE, MARKUS E. MANGOLD, LEE WALTER
  • SLIDER FOR DISC STORAGE SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20030137773
    Abstract: A disc storage system includes a rotating disc and a transducer. The transducer is carried on a slider which is supported by an armature. The armature is used to move the slider radially across the disc surface whereby information may be read from or written to the disc surface of the transducer. The slider includes an air bearing surface which faces the disc surface. As the disc rotates, the air bearing surface causes the slider to “fly” over the disc surface. Pads are provided on the air bearing surface to improve operational characteristics of the system. For example, the pads may be used to reduce the stiction or improve flying characteristics. Flying instabilities associated with the pads are addressed by a number of characteristics provided to the air bearing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 1999
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventors: ANDREAS A. POLYCARPOU, ZINE-EDDINE BOUTAGHOU, DANIEL P. BURBANK, JING GUI, JORGE V. HANCHI, LANCE E. STOVER, SCOTT E. RYUN
  • Double-sided trench fill for electrical isolation of microelectromechanical system structures
    Patent number: 6593163
    Abstract: A method for filling a trench extending through a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device patterned on a wafer is disclosed. The method involves simultaneously depositing a trench-fill layer of insulating material over a first side of the wafer, over a second side of the wafer, and into the trench extending from the first side to the second side. Further, the width of the trench at the first side of the wafer and/or the second side of the wafer is variable to adjust the rate at which the trench fills.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Seagate Technology
    Inventors: Wayne A. Bonin, Zine-Eddine Boutaghou, Roger L. Hipwell, Jr., Barry D. Wissman, Lee Walter, Barbara J. Ihlow-Mahrer
  • Seal for micro-electro-mechanical devices
    Patent number: 6590747
    Abstract: A sealed micro-actuator device for positioning a slider in a disc drive comprises a micro-actuator body, which includes a stator, a rotor, and a motor for moving the rotor with respect to the stator. The micro-actuator device includes means for sealing the micro-actuator body to prevent debris from reaching the motor. In a preferred embodiment, the means for sealing comprises a plurality of cavities formed in the micro-actuator body and an injection molded polymer seal with a plurality of protrusions that extend into the plurality of cavities. A first subset of the plurality of protrusions make contact with the stator, thereby holding the means for sealing in place. A second subset of the plurality of protrusions extend into cavities formed in the rotor. The second subset of protrusions does not contact the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, LLC.
    Inventors: Zine-Eddine Boutaghou, Wayne A. Bonin
  • Disc head slider having profiled convergent channel features
    Patent number: 6587308
    Abstract: A disc head slider is provided, which includes a slider body having a disc-opposing face with leading and trailing slider edges and a slider length measured between the leading and trailing slider edges. The disc-opposing face has a bearing surface and a recessed area which is recessed from the bearing surface. A convergent channel is recessed within the bearing surface and has a leading channel end open to fluid flow from the recessed area, channel side walls, a trailing channel end closed to the fluid flow, and a channel length measured between the leading and trailing channel ends. The trailing channel end is located rearward of a midpoint along the slider length and the channel floor is vertically contoured relative to the bearing surface along at least a portion of the channel length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony P. Sannino, Thomas R. Pitchford, Zine-Eddine Boutaghou, Scott E. Ryun
  • Apparatus to improve shock capability of disc drives
    Patent number: 6583963
    Abstract: A head loading ramp structure, located near the inner diameter of the discs of a disc drive, for increasing the load applied to the heads by the head suspension when the heads are moved to a park location near the inner diameter of the discs. In a first embodiment, the ramp structure is stationary and a portion of the disc surface is accessed for normal read/write operations with the increased load applied. In a second embodiment, the ramp structure is moveable and engages the head suspension to increase the load applied to the heads only when the heads are parked during non-operational conditions. The ramp structure optionally includes disc snubber features to reduce disc coning and minimize the axial movement of the ramp structure in response to applied mechanical shocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Zine-Eddine Boutaghou
  • Spindle motor assembly with polymeric motor shaft and hub
    Publication number: 20030102745
    Abstract: A spindle motor assembly (18) includes a polymeric motor shaft (20), a polymeric hub (22) to support a rotating disc (24), and a stator (40) disposed in an internal cavity defined by the hub. A resilient snap-in retainer (62) is molded to the motor shaft (20) to hold the hub (22) in place. A surface of the polymeric hub and an opposing surface of the polymeric motor shaft form a hydrodynamic bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Applicant: Seagate Technology LLC, a Delaware corporation
    Inventor: Zine-Eddine Boutaghou
  • Method for controlling MRE stripe height
    Patent number: 6568992
    Abstract: A method for lapping a magnetic read/write element on a slider having a shear based transducer is disclosed. The shear based transducer is used during the fabrication process to more precisely lap the MR element. The method comprises measuring the stripe height of the MR element and actuating the shear based transducer to move the MR element to a desired position relative to a lapping apparatus. The MR element is then lapped to achieve a desired stripe height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, LLC.
    Inventors: James E. Angelo, Zine-Eddine Boutaghou
  • Flyability and glide methodology for 100 GPSI
    Patent number: 6568252
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for testing the smoothness of a disc surface. A glide test is performed by first lowering the glide head until contact between the glide head and the disc surface occurs. The point of contact establishes a base line indicating the location of the disc surface. Once a base line is established, the glide head can be controlled so that it flies at the desired glide height above the disc surface. By first establishing the base line, the glide head can be flown with greatly increased precision at the desired glide height based on known relationships between glide height and various parameters, including spindle speed, various electrical parameters, or crown shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Zine-Eddine Boutaghou