Patents Issued in January 14, 2003
-
Patent number: 6507418Abstract: A sheet feeding scanner has its contact image sensor hanging pivotally on two side walls and is capable of turning with respect to the axis of the pivots. The contact image sensor presses against a driving roller by gravity and/or by a spring. A sheet of paper is sandwiched between the contact image sensor and the roller. The contact image sensor can be disengaged from the roller by an external release rod. The paper is removed when the release rod is actuated or by pulling the paper hard.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2000Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Avision Inc.Inventor: Philip L. Chen
-
Patent number: 6507419Abstract: Disclosed is an illumination system using optical feedback to maintain a predetermined illumination output. The illumination system employs an electrically controllable optical filter for filtering light incident thereon. The illumination system also includes a light detector for detecting at least a portion of the light filtered by the electrically controllable optical filter. The light detector is in data communication with the electrically controllable optical filter. Some or all light filtered by the electrically controllable optical filter is detected by the light detector, which, in turn generates a corresponding signal that is compared to at least one predetermined value. If the signal generated by the light detector differs when compared to the at least one predetermined value, one or more filtering characteristics of electrically controllable optical filter are varied which, in turn, varies the amount of light filtered by the electrically controllable optical filter.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2000Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: DigiLens, Inc.Inventors: Milan M. Popovich, John J. Storey, Michael R. Adams, C. David Nabors, Jonathan D. Waldern
-
Patent number: 6507420Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to an arrangement for estimating total noise power (k·P&lgr;) at a specified point in a WDM-system which includes a predetermined number of amplifiers (51), and which is designed to transmit data in channels at mutually different signal wavelengths within a specific wavelength region. The method comprises the steps of: measuring total optical power (Pouttot) at said specific point. Filtering wavelength power (P&lgr;) out from the total optical power (Pouttot) at a given measuring wavelength (&lgr;m) within the transmitted wavelength range but outside the signal wavelength. The wavelength power (P&lgr;) is multiplied by a constant (k) which gives the total noise power (k·P&lgr;) at said specified point.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2001Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)Inventor: Bengt Johansson
-
Patent number: 6507421Abstract: An optical crossconnect (OXC) fabric including an array of tiltable mirrors, a reflector and a plurality of optical fibers controls the position of the mirrors to optimize the transfer of a signal between an input optical fiber and an output optical fiber by monitoring the optical signal at an optical translation unit in each of the input optical fiber and the output optical fiber. The optical translation units are operable for regenerating the optical signals transmitted through the fibers.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 1999Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignees: Lucent Technologies Inc., Agere Systems Guardian Corp.Inventors: David John Bishop, Randy Clinton Giles, David Thomas Neilson
-
Patent number: 6507422Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical attenuator comprising first and second attenuator units cascaded on an optical path, and a control circuit connected to the first and second attenuator units. Each of the first and second attenuator units includes a Faraday rotator provided on the optical path. The Faraday rotator generates a Faraday rotation angle given as a function of wavelength. Each of the first and second attenuator units further includes polarizing unit for generating an attenuation determined by the Faraday rotation angle on the optical path. The control circuit, for example, controls the Faraday rotation angle in each of the first and second attenuator units so that a wavelength characteristic of attenuation in the first attenuator unit is substantially canceled by a wavelength characteristic of attenuation in the second attenuator unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2000Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventor: Nobuhiro Fukushima
-
Patent number: 6507423Abstract: An energy conserving device is adapted to be connected to an infrared receiving circuit of a remote controlled apparatus that receives an infrared control signal from a remote controller, and controls the supply of an operating voltage to the infrared receiving circuit. The energy conserving device includes an input voltage unit for providing a voltage output that is lower than the operating voltage, a voltage increasing unit, and a sleep control unit. The voltage increasing unit is operable in one of a wake mode, where the voltage increasing unit is enabled to generate the operating voltage from the voltage output of the input voltage unit and to supply the operating voltage to the infrared receiving circuit, and a sleep mode, where the voltage increasing unit is inhibited from generating the operating voltage to the infrared receiving circuit.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2000Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Bobson Hygiene International, Inc.Inventor: Cheng-Feng Chen
-
Patent number: 6507424Abstract: An optical space communication apparatus for performing communication with an party apparatus by transmitting a light signal into a free space includes a signal selector for selecting and intercepting a beam including a light beam and background light from the party apparatus, a detector for detecting a beam via the signal selector, and a signal outputting device for comparing an output signal outputted from the detector when the signal selector intercepts the light beam from the party apparatus, with an output signal outputted from the detector when the signal selector does not intercept the light beam from the party apparatus, and for outputting a signal representing a difference between the output signals.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 1998Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tetsuo Sakanaka
-
Patent number: 6507425Abstract: An infrared communication system includes a recongifurable RAM-based programmable logic device (PLD), an EPROM to provide configuration instructions to the PLD, and a clock supplying a clock signal to the PLD. A data input device and infrared transceiver are coupled to the PLD. The configured PLD uses the clock signal to synchronize data transfer between the data input device and the infrared transceiver.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 1999Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Brandon Scott Dewberry, Kosta A. Varnavas
-
Patent number: 6507426Abstract: The invention discloses a scanner apparatus for performing bidirectional scanning by using an integration amplifying detector, which is capable of preventing the occurrence of jitters. To detect the n-th pixel from the left in a going direction, an integration timing setting circuit generates pulses indicating a resetting period Tr and a measuring period Ti by using the n-th pulse of a scanning position detecting clock as a reference, and then controls an integration circuit. To detect the n-th pixel from the left in a returning direction, an integration timing setting circuit generates a timing clock by delaying a difference period Td generated between the going and returning ways, with the n+1st pulse of the scanning position detecting clock from the left used as a reference, and then controls the integration circuit.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2001Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kazuhiro Makino
-
Patent number: 6507427Abstract: A scanning optical device to be used for an image forming apparatus such as a laser beam printer and a digital copying machine comprises a light source such as a semiconductor laser, an optical deflector having a deflection surface for deflecting the light beam emitted from the light source in the main-scanning direction, a first optical system for causing the light beam emitted from the light source to strike the deflection surface as a linear image extending in the main-scanning direction, and a second optical system for focussing the light beam deflected by the optical deflector on a surface to be scanned. The first optical system comprises a first lens, a second lens and a cylindrical lens showing refractive power only in the sub-scanning direction, preferably as well as part of the second optical system shared with the latter. The second lens and/or the cylindrical lens are movable along the optical axis to regulate the imaging position of the light beam on the surface to be scanned.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2000Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takeshi Yamawaki
-
Patent number: 6507428Abstract: The invention relates to electrochromic arrangements in a layered structure which are characterized in that one layer contains an electrically conductive electrochromic polydioxythiophene, another layer comprises an electrolyte containing a protonic acid, and another layer comprises an ion storage or a mixture of ion storages.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2001Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Bayer AktiengesellschaftInventors: Helmut-Werner Heuer, Rolf Wehrmann
-
Patent number: 6507429Abstract: A novel superfluorescent fiber source (SFS) has high power and broad bandwidth, and can advantageously be used in a variety of applications, e.g., optical coherent tomography systems, sliced spectrum optical fiber communication systems, and optical position sensing systems. The novel SFS comprises a first and a second length of rare earth-doped optical fiber, with an optical isolator therebetween. Light from a first pump source is provided to the first length of optical fiber, and light from a second pump source is provided to the second length of optical fiber. An optional reflector is disposed to reflect at least some upstream-propagating light back into the first length of optical fiber, whereby generation of long-wavelength amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) is facilitated. The long-wavelength ASE is transmitted through the optical isolator to the second length of rare earth-doped optical fiber, where broadband ASE is generated and the long-wavelength ASE is amplified.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 1999Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.Inventors: Gaelle Ales, Rolando Patricio Espindola, Thomas Andrew Strasser
-
Patent number: 6507430Abstract: An L band optical amplifier in disclosed. The optical amplifier includes a signal line for transmitting a light signal in a first direction. The signal line has an input, an output disposed optically downstream of the input, and an amplifying gain medium optically disposed between the input and the output. The optical amplifier further includes a laser optically connected to the first amplifying gain medium and an apparatus for directing C band light generated in a second direction, opposite the first direction, into the amplifying gain medium.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2001Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Photon X, Inc.Inventor: Aydin Yenjay
-
Patent number: 6507431Abstract: Multi-wavelength light is transmitted from a sending station to a receiving station. An erbium-doped optical fiber is installed on the transmission path that connects the sending station and the receiving station. Pump light is supplied from a light source installed in the receiving station to the erbium-doped optical fiber. In the receiving station, the multi-wavelength light is decomposed into the component wavelength signals. The light level of each component wavelength signal is detected, and the power of the light emitted by the light source is controlled so as to equalize those light levels.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 1999Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventors: Yasushi Sugaya, Terumi Chikama
-
Patent number: 6507432Abstract: A bright wide-angle infrared lens, suitable for a wavelength band of 8 to 12 &mgr;m, having favorable imaging performances comprises, successively from the object side, a first lens L1 made of a positive meniscus lens having a convex surface directed onto the object side and an image-side surface formed aspheric, a second lens L2 made of a negative meniscus lens having a convex surface directed onto the object side, and a third lens L3 having a positive refracting power with a convex surface directed onto the object side.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2000Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.Inventor: Fumio Watanabe
-
Patent number: 6507433Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing excessive closure between a retractable tip objective and the stage of a microscope which includes positioning a sensor in the turret of a microscope, which sensor is capable of detecting excessive retracting of the retractable tip into the body of the objective, and providing a controller for monitoring the sensor for such excessive retracting and issuing an alert in response to the detection of an event of such excessive retracting. The alert may be made by way of an audio output, or by a visual cue or both. Extinguishing the lamp of the microscope is a preferred visual cue, as the excessive retracting of the retractable tip is generally caused by a focusing error, and the extinguishing of the light source reduces or eliminates the ability of the user of the microscope to focus the microscope, thus attracting his or her attention.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2001Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Westover Scientific, Inc.Inventors: Jason Mecham, Steve Lytle
-
Patent number: 6507434Abstract: An illumination apparatus, having a light source that supplies illumination light, a collector lens that converts a divergent light flux emitted from the light source into a plurality of substantially parallel light fluxes, a fly-eye lens, comprised of a plurality of small lens elements and an exit surface, disposed at a rear focal position of the collector lens and a relay optical system that relays a pseudo plane light source which is formed on the exit surface of the fly-eye lens to an aperture stop or a surface conjugate to the aperture stop, where a focal length of at least one of the plurality of small lens elements is 8≦focal length ≦24, a radius of at least one of the plurality of small lens elements is 1≦radius ≦3 and a consistent unit of length is used for the focal length and radius.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2001Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventor: Tomohiro Miyashita
-
Patent number: 6507435Abstract: A variable size projection screen apparatus inputs an image and generates a beam to project the image on a screen. A sizing facility can resize the image on the screen in at least two different sizes. A motor arrangement can physically resize the screen in a lateral direction to at least two distinct widths.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 1999Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventor: Anthonie H. Bergman
-
Patent number: 6507436Abstract: The invention relates to a display system where polarized light rays from a display device impinge on a laminate at Brewster's angle or emerge therefrom at an angle equal to Brewster's angle. This laminate is a combination of a transparent platelike object and a functional film that is an optical rotatory film or a semitransparent film. The platelike object has a front major surface, facing the display device, and a back major surface. The display device has a polarizing member for polarizing light rays of the display device into S-wave or P-wave light rays. According to a first embodiment of the invention, the optical rotatory film is formed on the front or back major surface of the platelike object or in an inside of the platelike object, and S-wave light rays from the polarizing member are thrown against the front major surface of the laminate. With this, a part of the S-wave light rays is reflected from the front major surface of the laminate toward a viewer.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2001Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Central Glass Company, LimitedInventors: Shinji Nishikawa, Kazuya Kobayashi, Motoh Asakura
-
Patent number: 6507437Abstract: To obtain a diffractive optical element of high diffraction efficiency over a wide range of wavelengths with no conspicuous color flare and a photographic optical system having the diffractive optical element, at least two diffraction gratings of different materials in dispersion are stratified, the first order is chosen as the design order and two wavelengths which, when multiplied one times, amounts to the maximum optical path length difference in the grating structure are used as the design wavelengths, wherein each of the values of the plurality of design wavelengths is determined so as to make white or nearly white flare caused by the diffracted light in the zero and second orders.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 1999Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takehiko Nakai
-
Patent number: 6507438Abstract: An interference filter (10, 30, 50, 70, 90, 110, 130, 150, or 190) filters selected wavelengths by dividing an input beam into two or more intermediate beams having different optical path lengths and by recombining the intermediate beams into an output beam that is modified by interference between the intermediate beams. An optical path length difference generator (20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 140, 160, or 200) varies the optical path lengths of the intermediate beams by changing the physical lengths of their paths or the refractive indices of the mediums in which they are conveyed. The optical path length generator (20) of one exemplary embodiment (10) includes a spacer plate (20) that is divided into elements (22 and 24) having different refractive indices for varying the optical path lengths of the intermediate beams.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2001Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventor: Venkata A. Bhagavatula
-
Patent number: 6507439Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for forming microlenses is described. The method involves defocusing light from a mask during semiconductor processing to control the curvature of microlenses being formed.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2000Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Intel CorporationInventor: Neil Wester
-
Patent number: 6507440Abstract: There is provided an illumination system for illuminating a field with an aspect ratio other than 1:1 in an image plane. The illumination system includes (a) a light source, and (b) an optical component for transforming the light source into a secondary light source, where the optical component produces an anamorphotic effect that splits the secondary light source into a tangential secondary light source and a sagital secondary light source. The optical component has a first mirror or a first lens, having a raster element. The raster element has an aspect ratio smaller than the aspect ratio of the field in the image plane, and the raster element is imaged into the image plane.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2000Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Carl-Zeiss-StiftungInventor: Jörg Schultz
-
Patent number: 6507441Abstract: A wide angle directed reflector is disclosed. The directed reflector includes a lenticular layer including at least one array of lenslets, each of which having a focal length, The directed reflector further includes a reflective layer which is disposed relative to the lenticular layer. The lenticular layer and the reflective layer are constructed, designed and relatively disposed such that light incident at an angle of incidence on the lenticular layer is reflected by the reflective layer and redirected through the lenticular layer at a substantially constant angle relative to the angle of incidence.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2000Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Optid, Optical Identification Technologies Ltd.Inventors: Naftali P. Eisenberg, Isaia Glaser-Inbari, Avishai Drori, Reouven Karoubi, Yoel Arieli
-
Patent number: 6507442Abstract: An objective lens includes a first lens unit constructed with a plurality of single lenses, having a negative power as a whole, and a second lens unit constructed with a plurality of single lenses, arranged on the object side of the first lens unit.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2001Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shingo Kashima, Takehiro Yoshida
-
Patent number: 6507443Abstract: A lens comprises a single lens, both surfaces of the lens is a meniscus-shaped and aspheric lens, and side surface side thereof is a convex surface, and, when a refractive index of the lens is represented by n, a central thickness thereof is represented by t, a radius of curvature of a concave face thereof is represented by r1, the radius of curvature of the convex face thereof is represented by r2, and a focal length thereof is represented by f, the lens satisfies the following equations: - 0.2 < ( n - 1 r1 ) / f < 0 , 
 ⁢ 0.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2000Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventor: Toshitake Kitagawa
-
Patent number: 6507444Abstract: An imaging lens is used in image reading and adapted to image information of an original on a reading device. In the imaging lens at least one surface out of a plurality of surfaces forming the imaging lens has refracting power rotationally asymmetric with respect to the optical axis.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 1999Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tadao Hayashide, Kazuyuki Kondo
-
Patent number: 6507445Abstract: An optical system provided with a lens, a stop and a diffraction grating is characterized in that when in a state wherein the diffraction grating is absent, the value of the coefficient of chromatic aberration of magnification of the wavelength of the long wavelength side relative to the reference wavelength of light is positive, the diffraction grating is disposed more adjacent to an incidence surface side than the stop, and when in the state wherein the diffraction grating is absent, the value of the coefficient of chromatic aberration of magnification of the wavelength of the long wavelength side relative to the reference wavelength of the light is negative, the diffraction grating is disposed more adjacent to an emergence side than the stop.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2000Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hidekazu Shimomura
-
Patent number: 6507446Abstract: The lateral V-shaped groove (2) and the longitudinal V-shaped groove (3), which cross each other, are formed on a surface of the substrate (1). When the optical element (100) is contacted with and supported by four ridges composed of sides (21, 22) of one V-shaped groove and sides (31, 32) of the other V-shaped groove, the optical element is positioned at the three-dimensional support position which is geometrically determined by the four points at which the four ridges and the surface of the optical element come into contact with each other.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2001Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Hoya CorporationInventors: Teruo Yamashita, Yoshiatsu Yokoo, Shigeru Hayashi
-
Patent number: 6507447Abstract: A signal processing circuit of a spin-valve magnetic sensor includes a polarity detection circuit for detecting a polarity of an output signal produced by the magnetic sensor and a polarity control unit controlling the polarity of the output signal in response to a result of the polarity detection.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2000Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventor: Yasuhiko Takahashi
-
Patent number: 6507448Abstract: An information recording device which records information at a high recording density such that an error rate is reduced. In particular, an information recording device that includes a recording head, arranged near or to be close to the recording medium, for applying magnetic fields to the small regions when the recording head relatively moves with respect to the recording medium to pass on the small regions of the recording medium, and a recording head controller for controlling the recording head to cause the recording head to apply magnetic fields to the small regions in a free region of the recording medium in a standby state in which at least information is not recorded on the recording medium to uniform the directions of magnetization of the small regions so as to erase the information in the predetermined free region.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2000Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventors: Syuji Nishida, Ikuya Tagawa, Yuji Uehara
-
Patent number: 6507449Abstract: The effective resolution of a Position Error Signal (PES) in a disk drive servo is increased by synchronously dithering the analog PES while sampling it with an Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC). For each cycle of a burst field signal on a servo sector, a DC offset is added to the analog PES before sampling. The offset is changed periodically during the sampling of the burst field signal. The set of all DC offsets used is evenly spread over a range which is substantially equal to the size of the least significant bit of the ADC multiplied by a positive integer.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 1998Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Marvell International, Ltd.Inventor: Pantas Sutardja
-
Patent number: 6507450Abstract: An efficient, time saving, cost-effective method of using a servo track writer (STW) for continuously recording servo information along one, continuous, single helix spiral path on the surface of a magnetic disk in a disk drive. The write transducer is guided along the single-helix spiral path by moving the write transducer at a constant radial velocity while the disk is rotating. The STW moves the write transducer less than a head's width per revolution such that the strokes of each spiral revolution overlaps the stroke of a prior spiral revolution. The resulting servo track centerlines are formed as spiral servo segments that are written quickly and relatively smoothly, but are separate or disjointed from one another. A disk drive incorporating such uniquely written servo information uses suitable offset information as a function of servo wedge number so that the drive may track follow any one of a plurality of circular data tracks or one long spiral data track.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 1999Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Timothy J. Elliott
-
Patent number: 6507451Abstract: During a sampling interval, a disk-drive seek controller receives a digital sample of actuator drive current and a head-assembly position signal from a drive system and estimates a one-sample future value of remaining seek distance to a target track and a one-sample future value of head-assembly's velocity. Two-sample future values of remaining seek distance and velocity are then estimated from the estimated one-sample future values and a calculated control current. A target velocity value is read from a memory corresponding to the estimated two-sample future remaining seek distance value and a difference between the estimated two-sample future velocity value and the target velocity value is detected. From the difference, an incremental value of control current is determined and summed with a previous value of control current to produce an accumulated control current value.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 1999Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: NEC CorporationInventor: Yukimasa Sugimoto
-
Patent number: 6507452Abstract: A filtering apparatus for a hard disk drive includes a housing in which a hard disk is rotatably installed, a filter for filtering particles from air flowing in the housing, and a holder installed at the top and bottom of the inside of the housing for supporting the filter by encompassing an upper portion and a lower portion thereof, so that a gap is not generated between the filter and the top, and between the filter and the bottom.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2000Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Byoung-young Bae, Soon-kyo Hong, Seong-hoon Kim, Sung-jin Lee
-
Patent number: 6507453Abstract: In a thin floppy disk drive comprises a disk shutter arm (26), rotatably mounted on a disk holder (22), for opening and closing a shutter (43) of a floppy disk (40) and an eject lever (25), rotatably mounted on a main frame (13), having an eject stop part (253) engaged with a plate stopper portion (212) of an eject plate (21), the eject lever (25) has an eject protrusion (252a). The disk shutter arm (26) has a shutter hook part (261a) engaged with the eject protrusion so as to control a rotation operation of the eject lever when the floppy disk (40) is not inserted in the thin floppy disk drive. It is therefore possible to prevent the elect lever (25) from rotating over a predetermined rotation angle as far as the floppy disk (40) is not inserted in the thin floppy disk drive.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2001Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hisateru Komatsu, Noriyuki Kobayashi
-
Patent number: 6507454Abstract: A slider includes a magnetic head having first and second magnetic poles separated by a gap. A recess in the air-bearing surface extends into at least the first magnetic pole and has a first portion having a length parallel to the gap length to define a gap width orthogonal to the gap length. The first portion of the recess has a curved depth defining a curved profile along its length. In one embodiment, the recess has a second portion having a length orthogonal to the gap length and a depth defining a curved profile along its length.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 1998Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Dallas W. Meyer, Steven B. Slade, Jeffery K. Berkowitz, Edward M. Simpson
-
Patent number: 6507455Abstract: A thin film magnetic head that reduces the coil resistance of the coil layer formed between core layers is formed by increasing the conductor width at a fixed ratio from the inner to the outer side of the coil layer in the conductor width of each turn. The conductor width on the front side with respect to a base end portion of an upper core layer is smaller than the conductor width on the rear side with respect to the base end portion, whereby it is possible to reduce the coil resistance value of the entire coil layer. Further, using a change in conductor width, it is possible to increase the magnetic efficiency of the magnetic head compared to conventional magnetic heads.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2000Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Katsuya Kikuiri, Takashi Saito
-
Patent number: 6507456Abstract: A magnetic head including a dual layer induction coil fabricated by reactive ion etching (RIE) techniques. An etch stop layer and an etchable insulation material layer and an induction coil etching mask are fabricated on a first magnetic pole. Induction coil trenches are thereafter RIE etched into the insulation material to the etch stop layer, and the first induction coil is fabricated into the induction coil trenches. Following a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) step, a second etch stop layer, a second layer of etchable insulation material and a second induction coil etching mask are fabricated. Second induction coil trenches are RIE etched into the second insulation material layer to the second etch stop layer, and a second induction coil is fabricated into the second induction coil trenches. A second CMP step is followed by an insulation layer and the fabrication of a second magnetic pole (P2) upon the insulation layer.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2000Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Thomas Edward Dinan, Richard Hsiao, Eric James Lee, Scott A. MacDonald
-
Patent number: 6507457Abstract: A magnetic head comprising a substrate, a non-magnetic seed layer deposited on the substrate, a bottom magnetic core piece positioned over and contacting the non-magnetic seed layer, a magnetic seed layer, and a top magnetic core piece positioned over and contacting the magnetic seed layer.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2001Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Inventors: Qing He, Song S. Xue, Bryan K. Oliver, Patrick J. Ryan
-
Patent number: 6507458Abstract: A head slider has a chamfered pad between the side edge and rail at the surface opposing the disk. The pad prevents contact between the edge of the basic material of the head slider and the disk. Contact between the pad and disk can be generated, but since the pad is chamfered, the disk is not as easily damaged. In comparison with chamfering the basic material and rail, the present invention has less influence on the floating characteristics of the slider, so the amount of chamfering can be increased. Therefore, damage to the disk can be alleviated remarkably and shock resistance of disk apparatus can be much improved.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2000Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventor: Kensuke Miyagawa
-
Patent number: 6507459Abstract: Provided are a head slider suspension, a head assembly and an information recording/reproducing apparatus, which can reduce manufacturing cost by reducing the number of components and can be flexible in the production of a small quantity of many types. A magnetic head assembly comprises a head slider, a head slider suspension for supporting the head slider, a wiring unit attached to the head slider suspension, and a coil. The head slider suspension includes a slider support section for functioning as a gimbal, a suspension section for supporting the slider support section, an arm section for supporting the suspension section, and a coil support section for supporting the coil.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2000Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: TDK CorporationInventor: Takehiro Kamigama
-
Patent number: 6507460Abstract: A gamma irradiated load/unload ramp for a disc drive, the load/unload ramp having a hardened surface that increases the wear properties of the ramp, i.e., reduces debris formation in the disc drive housing that results from the sliding interaction between the load/unload ramp and actuator arm. Typically, the load/unload ramp is hardened through the absorption of about 0.05 to 0.5 Mrad radiation. A method of reducing debris formation in a disc drive having a load/unload ramp includes treating the load/unload ramp with gamma radiation.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2001Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Serge Jacques Fayeulle, Jason A. Selby
-
Patent number: 6507461Abstract: An inertial latch for preventing an actuator arm, which is a component of a disk apparatus, from flying out from an unloading position because of an external shock. The actuator arm cannot be prevented from flying out from the unloading position because of repulsion produced when the actuator arm crashes against a stopper, by operation other than an external shock. A latch, for engaging with a point end portion of the actuator arm to prevent the actuator arm from flying out, is provided with a sensing protrusion 16e. When the actuator arm crashes against an outer crash stop, the shock causes the latch to rotate and engage with the actuator arm, whereby the actuator arm is prevented from flying out.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2001Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Shinichi Kimura, Jun Ishikawa, Kohji Takahashi, Mutsuro Ohta
-
Patent number: 6507462Abstract: A disc drive having a base plate and an information storage disc supported for rotation by a drive motor on the base plate. The disc drive further includes a rotary actuator assembly mounted on the base plate adjacent the information storage disc. The actuator assembly has an actuator arm carrying a transducer at a distal end thereof and a voice coil motor operably attached to the actuator arm for movement of the transducer over the disc. The voice coil motor has a vertically extending shroud flange positioned adjacent the outer peripheral edge of the disc, whereby the shroud flange directs air-flow along the peripheral edge of the disc during drive operation.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2000Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Robert Mitchell Gibbs, Aaron Steve Macpherson
-
Patent number: 6507463Abstract: A micro disc drive assembly includes a wafer-level actuator arm, a wafer-level suspension connected to the actuator arm, and a head-carrying slider supported by the suspension over a rotatable disc. A microactuator motor is located between the actuator arm and the suspension, and is operable to move the suspension with respect to the actuator arm to position the head-carrying slider adjacent to a selected track of the rotatable disc. By forming the actuator arm and suspension at the wafer level, significant size reductions can be made, and the stiffness of the arm and resonant frequency of the disc drive are increased. A main actuator may also be provided in one embodiment, formed at the wafer level and including coils deposited on a wafer substrate, to coarsely position the actuator arm, suspension and head-carrying slider adjacent to the selected track of the rotatable disc.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 1999Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.Inventor: Zine-Eddine Boutaghou
-
Patent number: 6507464Abstract: A Co—Fe—Ni magnetic film has a composition represented by a chemical formula of CoxFeyNiz (50≦x≦80, 20≦y≦40, and 3≦z<10 (wt %)) and has an average grain size not greater than 40 nm. The Co—Fe—Ni magnetic film is prepared by electroplating. A magnetic head comprises the magnetic film as a magnetic pole layer. A magnetic memory device comprises a combination of the magnetic head and a magnetic recording medium having a high coercive force between 3500 and 7000 Oe, both inclusive.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2000Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: NEC CorporationInventors: Keishi Ohashi, Mikiko Saito, Tamaki Toba
-
Patent number: 6507465Abstract: A magnetic head includes a magnetoresistive effect film and a pair of electrodes contacting the magnetoresistive effect film such that the electrodes overlap the magnetoresistive effect film. The magnetoresistive effect film includes a first ferromagnetic film having a direction of magnetization which is changeable, an antiferromagnetic film, a second ferromagnetic film having a direction of magnetization which is fixed by the antiferromagnetic film, and a non-magnetic conductive film disposed between the first ferromagnetic film and the second ferromagnetic film.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2000Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Kazuhiro Nakamoto, Yoshiaki Kawato
-
Patent number: 6507466Abstract: In a magnetoresistive effect head in which a magnetoresistive effect element made from either a ferromagnetic tunnel junction film or a spin valve film is formed as a magnetoresistive sensor, a diode is connected in parallel with a first and a second electrode of the magnetoresistive effect element.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2000Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: NEC CorporationInventors: Kazuhiko Hayashi, Keishi Ohashi
-
Patent number: 6507467Abstract: An apparatus for protecting a magnetoresistive head from electrostatic discharge. The apparatus includes an actuator assembly including the magnetoresistive head, and a connector board including a plurality of conductive traces in electrical contact with the magnetoresistive head. The connector board defines a plurality of openings therein, each of the openings having sides surfaces in electrical contact with one of the traces. The apparatus further includes a conductive shunting member including a plurality of protruding members adapted to be inserted into the openings and contact the side surfaces of the openings. The shunting member, when so inserted into the openings shorts the traces to provide protection of the magnetoresistive head from electrostatic discharge.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2000Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Frank William Schadewald, Jr., Mark James Schaenzer, Scott Michael Franzen