Patents Issued in August 31, 2004
  • Patent number: 6785055
    Abstract: A zoom lens system has, in order from an enlargement side, a first lens unit having negative optical power, a second lens unit having positive optical power, a third lens unit having positive optical power, a fourth lens unit having negative optical power, including an aperture stop, a fifth lens unit having positive or negative optical power, and a sixth lens unit having positive optical power. Zooming is achieved by varying the first to fifth variable distances between the lens units. The third and fifth lens units move from the enlargement side to the reduction side during zooming from the telephoto end to the wide-angle end. The zoom lens system is substantially telecentric toward the reduction side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Minolta Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Nishikawa, Tomoko Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 6785056
    Abstract: An electronic picture taking apparatus comprises a zoom lens system and an image pickup device. The zoom lens system has a type of movement suitable for stable, high performance in the range from infinite to near distance and having a reduced thickness. The zoom lens system comprises at least four lens units. A foremost first lens unit on the object side of said zoom lens system has a negative refractive power. Each of three consecutive lens units has variable space on the image side thereof between an adjacent lens unit for performing a zooming operation. A rearmost lens unit of the zoom lens system consists of a single positive lens element having an aspherical surface and being fixed during the zooming operation. The zoom lens system includes an aperture stop moving incorporated with the second lens unit which is adjacent to the first lens unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Shinichi Mihara
  • Patent number: 6785057
    Abstract: A three-group zoom lens includes, in order from the object side, a first lens group of negative refractive power, and second and third lens groups, each of positive refractive power. The first and second lens groups include negative and positive components and the third lens group is a single lens component. All but one lens component may be a single lens element. When zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end, the first and second lens groups move closer together while the second lens group moves farther from the third lens group. The third lens group remains stationary during zooming but moves for focusing. The second lens group includes a diaphragm on its object side. Aspheric lens surfaces are disclosed. The zoom lens satisfies certain conditions for the focal lengths of the zoom lens and a component of the zoom lens, and for Abbe numbers of two lens elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Ori
  • Patent number: 6785058
    Abstract: A zoom lens system includes a positive first lens group and a negative second lens group which move in an optical axis direction upon zooming. The positive first lens group includes a positive first lens element having a convex surface on the object side, a negative second lens element, and a positive third lens element. The negative second lens group includes a positive meniscus lens fourth lens element having the concave surface facing toward the object, and a negative meniscus fifth lens element having the concave surface facing toward the object. The following conditions (1), (2) and (3) are satisfied: 1.2<ft/f1<1.8  (1); 3.8<ft/f1G<4.2  (2); and  1≦SF1<6; wherein ft designates the entire focal length at the long focal length extremity; f1 designates the focal length of the positive first lens element; f1G designates the focal length of the positive first lens group, and SF1 designates the shape factor of the positive first lens element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventor: Shuji Yoneyama
  • Patent number: 6785059
    Abstract: A lens barrel having lens holding frames for holding a plurality of lenses is composed of a first lens, a second lens, one of the lens holding frames holding the first and second lenses, having a first opening disposed at one end in correspondence with the first lens, and having a second opening disposed at another end in correspondence with the second lens, first abutment portions prescribing the position of the first lens in an optical axis direction on the first opening side and disposed at a plurality of positions around the inner periphery of the lens holding frame, a second abutment portion prescribing the position of the second lens in the optical axis direction on the second opening side, first engagement portions disposed at a plurality of positions around the inner periphery of the lens holding frame on a side nearer to the first opening than the first and second abutment portions and engaged with the first lens, and a second engagement portion disposed around the inner periphery of the lens holding
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Tamotsu Koiwai
  • Patent number: 6785060
    Abstract: A reflecting-type optical system according to the invention includes an optical element composed of a transparent body having an entrance surface, an exit surface and at least three curved reflecting surfaces of internal reflection. A light beam coming from an object and entering at the entrance surface is reflected from at least one of the reflecting surfaces to form a primary image within the optical element and is, then, made to exit from the exit surface through the remaining reflecting surfaces to form an object image on a predetermined plane. In the optical system, 70% or more of the length of a reference axis in the optical element lies in one plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Kimura, Tsunefumi Tanaka, Toshiya Kurihashi, Shigeo Ogura, Keisuke Araki, Makoto Sekita, Nobuhiro Takeda, Yoshihiro Uchino, Toshikazu Yanai, Norihiro Nanba, Hiroshi Saruwatari, Takeshi Akiyama
  • Patent number: 6785061
    Abstract: Converging air lens structure includes a first refractive medium that has a first index of refraction. A second refractive medium that has a second index of refraction is immersed in the first refractive medium. The second refractive index is less than the first index of refraction. The lens structure features converging lens properties. An aperture stop is disposed in the second refractive medium, which is preferably air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: George E. Smith
  • Patent number: 6785062
    Abstract: An eye viewing device with a housing having a center opening containing a magnifying lens and a reflective surface. The housing has outwardly extending hinge flanges. A cover overlies the central opening, and includes an outer abutment surface and an inclined outwardly extending hinge body. The housing hinge flanges and cover hinge body cooperate to provide a hinge joint. The hinge flanges include end portions with hinge contact points which cooperate with a cover contact point to provide a stand for the device when the cover is rotated about the hinge joint until the cover abutment surface and housing underside are in contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Inventors: Stuart J. Daley, Lucinda S. Daley, Donald J. Daley
  • Patent number: 6785063
    Abstract: An objective lens holding apparatus includes an upper supporting portion and a bottom supporting portion not parallel with each other. The upper supporting portion and the bottom supporting portion have respectively one end connecting to an objective lens holder and another end connecting to a supporting arm anchor dock. The objective lens is mounted to the objective lens holder and is prevented from incurring an inclined angle while the objective lens is yawing. The elastic supporting arm anchor dock can keep the high resonant frequency within a desired range to enhance the stability of the optical pick-up head during reading and writing operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Acute Applied Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Li-Chung Peng, Chi-Ling Chang
  • Patent number: 6785064
    Abstract: An objective lens unit has a reinforcing frame portions formed along an outer peripheral surface of each of a pair of tracking coils by applying an epoxy resin adhesive to portions between a lens holder and the outer peripheral surface of each of the tracking coils. Reinforcing core portions are formed by filling the epoxy resin adhesive into a central hole of each of the tracking coils, and a reinforcing connecting portion is formed by filling the epoxy resin adhesive into a gap defined by the lens holder, each of the tracking coils, and a focusing coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toyoshi Nogami
  • Patent number: 6785065
    Abstract: An optical pickup actuator includes a bobbin. At least one focus coil and at least one track coil are arranged at both sides of the bobbin to secure the remaining sides of the bobbin. The optical pickup actuator can drive an optical pickup in a focus direction, a track direction, and a tilt direction. The focus coil is also used as the tilt coil. An optical pickup actuator is driven by arranging a bobbin on a base of the optical pickup actuator so as to be moved by support members, installing at least one focus and tilt coil to drive the bobbin in focus and tilt directions and at least one track coil to drive the bobbin in a track direction at opposite side surfaces of the bobbin, arranging magnets to face corresponding sides of the opposite side surfaces of the bobbin, and dividing the focus and tilt coils into at least two sets of coils and applying an input signal to each of the sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung-youn Song, Kyung-sik Shin
  • Patent number: 6785067
    Abstract: An optical mount, including a first plate, a second plate, an adjustment screw, and a locking screw. The second plate may include an adjustment bore having an adjustment bore thread and a slit separating a second plate flange from a second plate body and extends into the adjustment bore. The adjustment screw may engage the first plate for adjusting relative position of the first plate in relation to second plate. The locking screw may engage the second plate flange and the second plate body to press at least a portion of the adjustment bore thread into the adjustment screw thread for securing the adjustment screw. An attachment bore may be included for receiving an attachment. A method for using the optical mount is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Axon Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin D. Andrews
  • Patent number: 6785068
    Abstract: To provide a color filter substrate and transflective type electro-optical device capable of ensuring both brightness of reflective display and saturation of transmissive display. Also, to reduce the difference in color between reflective display and transmissive display. A reflective layer 211 having openings 211a is formed on a substrate 201, and a color filter 212 having colored layers 212r, 212g, and 212b is formed thereupon. Deep color portions 212c are provided to the colored layer, above the openings 211a of the reflective layer 211.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Keiji Takizawa, Yoshihiro Otagiri
  • Patent number: 6785069
    Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic transfer method for transferring information by bringing a master carrier for magnetic transfer and a slave medium into close contact with each other and by applying a magnetic field for transfer, said master carrier comprising servo areas and data areas, said servo areas are convex, and difference of height between the data areas and the servo areas is within the range of 50-800 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Nishikawa, Seiichi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6785070
    Abstract: A magnetic transcription device for transcribing information signals of a master information carrier in a magnetic recording medium by applying a magnetic field generated by magnetic field generating means to a contact body obtained by contacting the master information carrier having a base on which ferromagnetic bodies corresponding to the information signals are formed with a magnetic recording medium having a ferromagnetic layer, wherein the magnetic recording medium includes driving means for adjusting a distance between the magnetic field generating means and the contact body while rotating the magnetic field generating means relative to the contact body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Taniguchi, Kaoru Matsuoka, Taizou Hamada, Hideyuki Hashi, Yasuaki Ban, Tatsuaki Ishida
  • Patent number: 6785071
    Abstract: A disk driver writer precompensation system modulates the write current waveform based on a pattern of data bits magnetically recorded on a medium in order to adjust the timing of magnetic transitions recorded on the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Carl F. Elliott, John D. Leighton
  • Patent number: 6785072
    Abstract: A disc drive includes a base and a disc rotatably attached to the base. The disc drive also includes an actuator assembly rotatably attached to the base and a device for moving the actuator assembly. The actuator assembly includes an arm carrying a transducer head in a transducing relationship with respect to the disc. The disc drive further includes a servo circuitry and a controller for controlling movement of the actuator assembly during a track follow and a track seek. Piezoelectric transducers are attached to the actuator assembly for non-intrusive measurement of stiction and friction forces developed between the transducer head and the disc during a disc drive spin-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Raymond L. Willis, Travis D. Fox
  • Patent number: 6785073
    Abstract: Written-in runout due to vibration of the cage of a spindle motor of a disc drive is detected by identifying an initial cage frequency value of the motor. A written-in magnitude of successive servo burst closures, D(nc), is read over a plurality of tracks, and a maximum servo burst closure D(ncp) is identified from the plurality of read servo bursts. A magnitude of the cage frequency at a servo sector n0 is calculated based on a difference between the read magnitudes of the servo burst closures at servo sectors nc and nc+1, and a phase of the cage frequency is calculated based on the magnitude of the written-in cage frequency at servo sector n0. The profile, in the form of cage frequency, maximum servo burst closure magnitude, and initial phase, is stored in a memory or table for each of a plurality of radial zones of tracks. The profile is combined with a position error signal and applied to the controller in a feed forward scheme to adjust the position of the head based on the written-in runout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: ShuangQuan Min, KianKeon Ooi, YangQuan Chen, Ricky Wei Watt Yeo, WeiSung Lee, BengWee Quak
  • Patent number: 6785074
    Abstract: When jitter-like noise is prominent, sampling-phase control and amplitude control in a preamble pattern region is affected. It is possible to reduce effects of jitter-like noise without increasing the length of the preamble pattern. By altering a preamble pattern from that of a conventional 4T-cycle to 6T-cycle or over, amplitude data at a peak point of a reproduced signal, which is less affected by jitter-like noise, is utilized. Thus, the stability of the amplitude control can be improved. As to the phase control, a shift of the sampling timing is estimated by sample data of one cycle of the preamble pattern, and an acquisition procedure of the timing control is made faster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Tsuchinaga
  • Patent number: 6785075
    Abstract: A disc drive with an information portion previously written on a rotatable disc surface, a servo write clock generator phase lock loop circuit controlling timing for writing a reference mark to the rotatable disc surface in substantial time alignment and phase and frequency coherent with the information portion previously written to the rotatable disc surface, a servo write clock generator phase lock loop circuit controlling timing for writing the reference mark, a pulse detector circuit for creating logic level signals from the reference mark, a pattern generator for generating reference mark write signals from the logic level signals, a memory buffer for storing radial position correction tables and values for writing the reference mark, and a self-servo control and sequencing circuit synchronizing timing signals for writing the reference mark to rotatable disc surface of disc drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence M. Bryant, Gabor Szïta, Alan A. Fennema, Karl A. Belser, Robert D. Murphy
  • Patent number: 6785076
    Abstract: A method of alternate tape repositioning during data recovery which takes advantage of the reverse half of the tape forward/reverse cycle to perform an error recovery procedure invoking, thereby reducing total data recovery time. In the event that a tape drive fails to read a target data block, the tape continues its linear travel until a forward ramp-up point beyond the target data block is reached. The tape drive changes tape travel direction to a reverse linear travel direction. When the tape heads are on top of the target data block, a first error recovery procedure invoking is performed in the reverse linear travel direction. If the first error recovery procedure invoking fails to recover data, tape continues its reverse linear travel until a reverse ramp-up point past the target data block is reached. Once again, the tape drive changes tape linear travel direction and a second error recovery procedure invoking is executed in the forward linear travel direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Mauricio Huerta Alva
  • Patent number: 6785077
    Abstract: In a pattern zero verification test, a data track of a disc drive is read. During the reading of the data track, on-the-fly counting of potential non-zero data bytes (potential count), sectors on which ECC correction has been performed (corrected sector count), and user data bytes on which ECC correction has been performed (corrected byte count) is performed. Next, various conditions of the potential, corrected sector, and corrected byte counts are checked to determine whether the data track includes only zero data bytes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: TeckKhoon Lim, SoonWah Leow, ChewHoon Angie Neo
  • Patent number: 6785078
    Abstract: A data storage drive arranged as a plurality of logical accessors accesses data on a removable random access medium. Upon a write access for a data segment by a logical accessor, a control locks a context comprising at least one data segment of a partition to the logical accessor. The control concurrently allows read access to the data of the removable random access medium, except the locked context, and allows write access, except to the locked partition, by other logical accessors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Beverley Basham, Paul Merrill Greco
  • Patent number: 6785079
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating the flyheight of an airbearing slider in a storage device. The slider floats on an airbearing over a rotating storage disk. The storage disk includes a washboard-sequence having washboard-sections each comprising surface profile variations having a different pitch. The pitches are selected from within a range of values likely to excite an airbearing resonance of the slider as the storage disk rotates at a rated storage disk velocity. For each of the washboard-sections, a maximum amplitude of flyheight modulation of the slider resulting from the slider floating over that washboard-section is measured. A determination is made of which washboard-section caused the largest measured flyheight modulation. The washboard-section having a pitch that provides an excitation frequency (when the disk is rotated at the rated storage disk velocity) that is closest to the actual airbearing resonance frequency of the slider will produce the largest flyheight modulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: James Hammond Brannon, Hal Hjalmar Ottesen, Gordon James Smith
  • Patent number: 6785080
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the position of a disk drive transducer head relative to a target track are provided. An oversampled control output allows frequencies that are higher than the Nyquist frequency of the servo control system to be filtered. The system initiates a plurality of control outputs during a single sampling period, allowing the use of a single processor interrupt for each sampling period. The outputs initiated during a single sampling period may be of unequal length. In addition, the outputs may be proportioned so that the total control energy provided to the actuator is equal to the control energy that would be provided by control outputs initiated every one-half sampling period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Maxtor Corporation
    Inventors: Yu Sun, Don Brunnett, XiaoPing Hu
  • Patent number: 6785081
    Abstract: A fly height detector apparatus and associated method for detecting the fly height of a read/write head spatially disposed from a data storage surface during a data transfer operation. The fly height detector apparatus comprises a receiver circuit measuring the frequency of the read/write head; a perturbation deliverable to the gap between the read/write head and the data storage surface to invoke a dynamic response in the read/write head; and a processor circuit responsive to the receiver circuit to derive a fly height in relation to the dynamic response frequency. The processor circuit comprises a memory in which is stored a numerical model describing a functional interrelationship between the fly height and the read/write head frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Chapin, Serge J. Fayeulle, Michael D. Mundt, Gary E. Bement, Paul W. Smith
  • Patent number: 6785082
    Abstract: A method of writing servo patterns on a disc in a servo track writer includes sealing the STW to form an enclosed interior environment and then filling the STW with a low-density gas. Once the servo patterns are written to the disc, the low-density gas may be purged from the STW and recycled by directing the purged gas to a recovery system that separates the low-density gas from air. The disc may be preinstalled within a disc drive which in turn is loaded within the STW. Alternatively, the STW may comprise a multi-disc writer having a plurality of dedicated servo writing heads. The servo writer includes a cover having a sealable opening for loading either the disc drive in the STW or for loading a disc stack within the MDW.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Louis John Fiorvanti, Steve Thomas Sheeran, Randy Lee Oxley, Jerry D. Pasi
  • Patent number: 6785083
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for enhancing disc drive reliability by applying reduced read bias levels to read elements of a disc drive during an idle mode of operation. A preamplifier driver circuit applies an operational read bias signal of selected, nonzero magnitude to the read element to transduce data from a recording surface during an active mode. Once a predetermined period of inactivity occurs during which host data transfer commands are not processed, the disc drive enters the idle mode and the preamplifier reduces the read bias signal magnitude. The reduced bias level during the idle mode reduces thermal stress and electromigration within the read element while still allowing data to be transduced from the recording surface as the drive performs a dithering operation to move the head to different tracks on the recording surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Brett A. Sloan, Christopher R. Fulkerson, Ronald L. Delamarter, Paul F. Kusbel, Karl L. Enarson, Philip E. Cloud
  • Patent number: 6785084
    Abstract: The present invention offers a time efficient means to determine and eliminate dynamic track squeeze error. The present invention can be used to correct imperfections in tracks written by a conventional servowriter or using self-propagating servo writing. The dynamic track squeeze is determined within a single disc revolution. The read head is positioned half way between two servo tracks. Positioning information for track following is obtained from either track as one disc revolution is completed. During the disc revolution, position measurement is simultaneously collected from both tracks. The difference between the position measurements from each track, which represents the dynamic track squeeze between the two tracks, is determined. An appropriate ZAP correction factor is determined and written to the servo sector of the desired track. The ZAP correction factor is input to the disc drive servo controller and eliminates the dynamic track squeeze.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Gabor Szita
  • Patent number: 6785085
    Abstract: A servo burst pattern for use in positioning a read/write head with respect to tracks on a magnetic disc medium includes a first set of servo bursts adjacently disposed on the tracks along a first axis perpendicular to the centerlines. Each of the first set of bursts is disposed on an individual track, from the inside track edge to the outside track edge, and alternates between a first frequency and a second frequency for consecutive servo bursts. The servo burst pattern also includes a second set of servo bursts adjacently disposed on the tracks along a second axis perpendicular to the centerlines and parallel to the first axis. Each of the second set of servo bursts is disposed on two adjacent tracks, from the centerline of one track to the centerline of a next adjacent track, and alternates between the first frequency and the second frequency for consecutive servo bursts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Guzik Technical Enterprises
    Inventors: Nahum Guzik, Anatoli B. Stein, Alex Talalai
  • Patent number: 6785086
    Abstract: A slider for carrying and finely adjusting both a radial position and a flying height of a transducing head with respect to a track of a rotatable disc includes a stator portion carried by a support structure such as a flexure of a disc drive system. A plurality of springs extend from the stator portion and are flexible in a lateral direction (for radial positioning) and in a vertical direction (for flying height control). A rotor portion is connected to the stator portion by the plurality of springs. The rotor portion carries the transducing head. The stator portion includes a plurality of stator electrodes, and the rotor portion includes a plurality of rotor electrodes suspended between the stator electrodes. Selected voltages are applied to the stator electrodes and the rotor electrodes to create a selected force in the lateral and vertical directions for moving the rotor portion with respect to the stator portion to finely adjust the radial position and flying height of the transducing head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Wayne A. Bonin, Zine-Eddine Boutaghou, Roger L. Hipwell, Jr., Barry D. Wissman, Lee Walter, Barbara J. Ihlow-Mahrer
  • Patent number: 6785087
    Abstract: A signal reproducing method reproduces servo information recorded on a recording medium by use of a head. A current calculation related to a current and an observer calculation related to a position and a velocity of the head are made based on reproduced servo information, and a current value for driving the head is calculated based on the above calculation result. Only computations which require a demodulation result of a present sample are made during a first time after demodulation of the position of the head to a time when the current value is output, and computations which require a demodulation result of a past sample are made during a second time other than the first time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Tomoaki Saito
  • Patent number: 6785088
    Abstract: A head positioner is described wherein a read/write head is slidably propelled along an arm by an electrically, an acoustically, or an magnetically active material. One embodiment is comprised of a driver arm with a single slidable positioner. The driver arm is composed of a rail with two driver layers. An isolator layer between rail and each driver layer prevents distortion of rail when driver layers are activated. A wear-resistant, low-friction layer prevents damage to driver layer and facilitates sliding motion between positioner and driver arm. Positioner is propelled along driver arm by energizing driver layer composed of either a piezoelectric, piezoceramic, electrostatic, electromagnetic, or electrostatic material. At least one read/write head is attached to the positioner for data communication purposes with a storage element. In an alternate embodiment, two positioners are separately and independently slidable along a single driver arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: QorTek, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Bower, John Staron
  • Patent number: 6785089
    Abstract: A disc drive gas supply system for supplying a gas other than air to an enclosed environment containing a disc includes a source of gas other than air, which can be connected to the enclosed environment. A pressure sensor produces a pressure signal, such as an electrical, pneumatic, or mechanical signal, that is representative of the pressure within the enclosed environment. A control module receives the pressure signal and connects the source of gas other than air to the enclosed environment if the pressure within the enclosed environment is within a predetermined pressure range. When the pressure within the enclosed environment is above the predetermined pressure range, the control module disconnects the source of gas other than air from the enclosed environment. A disc drive shipping and storage package includes a disc drive defining an internal enclosed environment containing a gas other than air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Frank William Bernett, Kurt Michael Anderson, Walter Wong
  • Patent number: 6785090
    Abstract: A disk clamp has a data position in a recording track that is resistant to positional deviations even after temperature cycling is conducted. The distribution of data positions can be centered in the vicinity of the center position. A disk top clamp and hub are made from materials that are stable in terms of chemical properties over a temperature range in which the disk recording apparatus is used and have such a coefficient of elasticity that a clamping force required to clamp the recording disks while the disk recording apparatus is in use can be obtained from the tightening force to tighten the screws. The material of the top clamp and the hub has a thermal expansion coefficient that is close to that of the recording disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Ichiroh Koyanagi, Tatsuo Nakamoto, Kohichi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 6785091
    Abstract: A system for exchanging digital data among a plurality of hand-held computer devices. Digital signals are written by a first hand-held device to a mini-cartridge that mini-cartridge is inter-operable among a class of hand-held device, each of which is equipped with a mini disk drive. A common digital data format is employed to further facilitate exchange of data between devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Iomega Corporation
    Inventors: Kim B. Edwards, George T. Krieger, Fred Thomas, III, Brent J. Watson
  • Patent number: 6785092
    Abstract: A write head for writing information bits to magnetic storage media includes a first write pole for producing a first magnetic field in a first direction and a second write pole for producing a second magnetic field such that the combined field from the two poles lies either substantially along the first direction or in a second direction that is substantially orthogonal to the first direction. The second write pole includes a free layer having magnetization controlled by spin transfer torque, and a first spacer positioned between the free layer and the first write pole. The write head can further include a pinned layer and a second spacer positioned between the pinned layer and the free layer. A disc drive that includes the write head and a method of writing to magnetic storage media that utilizes the write head are also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Mark William Covington, Thomas McLendon Crawford, Gregory John Parker, Petrus Antonius Van der Heijden
  • Patent number: 6785093
    Abstract: A slider 3a is disposed to face a disk-like recording medium and enabled to support a read/write head. The slider 3a has an air bearing surface formed between a leading edge 10 and a trailing edge 11; side rails 20 and 21 formed on the air bearing surface almost like a U-letter so as to dispose its tip at the trailing edge side 11; a cross rail 22; and a pair of landing pads 30a and 31a formed between the tip of each of the side rails and the cross rail 20 to 22 and the trailing edge 11. One of the pair of landing pads 30a and 31a is formed as a convex surface at its side facing the rail of the landing pad 31a disposed at the outer periphery side of the disk-like recording medium while the slider is disposed so as to face the disk-like recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, Inc. Netherlands B.V
    Inventors: Sachiyo Baba, Yasunori Kawamoto, Shunichiroh Ohta, Masayuki Kanamaru
  • Patent number: 6785094
    Abstract: A suspension assembly is designed to carry a slider and read/write head elements in a magnetic data storage device. The suspension assembly is formed from a composite laminate structure that includes first, second, third, fourth and fifth material layers. The layers are arranged such that the second layer is disposed between the first and third layers, and the fourth layer is disposed between the third and fifth layers. The laminate structure is configured using a suitable removal process, such as partial chemical etching, to define a mount plate, a hinge, a load beam functional end, and an electrical lead system. The laminate structure may be further formed with a flexure gimbal system that comprises the third, fourth and fifth layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies
    Inventors: Satya Prakash Arya, Tzong-Shii Pan, Surya Pattanaik, Victor Wing Chun Shum
  • Patent number: 6785095
    Abstract: A magnetic disc apparatus includes a magnetic disc, a slider incorporating lifting rails or lifting pads, a magnetic head provided to a lifting rail or a lifting pad on the outflow end side, a suspension supporting the slider, and a carriage attached to the suspension. The slider has an inverted stepped wall formed in a shape such that it is caved in a direction from the inflow end to the outflow end of the slider, and a bleed surface formed at the outflow end side of the inverted stepped wall and caved from the lifting rails or the lifting pads. An action point of an equivalent load is located offset from the inverted stepped wall of the slider toward the inflow end of the slider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Tokisue, Ryuji Tsuchiyama, Masaaki Matsumoto, Yoshihiko Miyake, Kiyoshi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 6785096
    Abstract: A load beam is attached to an actuator arm that is allowed to rock around a pivotal axis by a voice coil motor, etc., as a slider supporting member, the base end of a flexure is attached to the load beam with the free end thereof being left, a slider supporting member is attached to the top portion of the flexure, a slider on which a recording/reproduction head is installed is secured to the slider supporting member, and the slider supporting member is supported by a protrusion placed on the free end side of the load beam so as to be freely pivot thereon. Portions of the flexure corresponding to both of the sides of this protrusion are constituted by elastic hinge portions, each having a necked shape. A pair of thin-film piezoelectric elements are bonded to the flexure as displacement members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Kuwajima, Kaoru Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 6785097
    Abstract: The invention fabricates a perpendicular recording head eliminating influence of external magnetic field and provides a magnetic disk drive having high stability by using the magnetic recording head and constructs a structure in which shield against external magnetic field is formed from a main pole via a gap layer and an edge portion thereof is recessed from a surface against a medium. By providing the shield against the external magnetic field, the influence of the external magnetic field is restrained and by recessing the edge from the surface against the medium, leakage of magnetic field from the shield against the external magnetic field to the medium is prevented to thereby prevent a magnetization signal from being erased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Okada, Yoshiaki Kawato, Kaori Suzuki, Hiroshi Fukui, Isao Nunokawa
  • Patent number: 6785098
    Abstract: A write head has a variable throat height wherein the throat height is dependent upon the frequency of operation of the write head. At high frequency operation the throat height is small and at low frequency operation the throat height is large. The write head writes hard into a circular track of a rotating magnetic disk at all frequencies but not overly hard at low frequencies thereby avoiding excessive erase bands and adjacent track interference (ATI) on each side of the track being written.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Wenchein Hsiao, Quan-chiu Harry Lam, Edward Hin Pong Lee
  • Patent number: 6785099
    Abstract: A read head is provided having having ultrathin read gap layers with improved insulative properties between a magnetoresistive sensor and ferromagnetic shield layers. The read head comprises a magnetoresistive sensor with first and second shield cap layers made of high resistivity permeable magnetic material formed between the first and second ferromagnetic shields and the first and second insulative read gap layers, respectively. The shield cap layers made of Fe—Hf—Ox material, or alternatively, the Mn—Zn ferrite material provide highly resistive or insulating soft ferromagnetic layers which add to the electrically insulative read gap layers to provide increased electrical insulation of the spin valve sensor from the metallic ferromagnetic shields while not adding to the magnetic read gap of the read head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Wen-Yaung Lee, Tsann Lin, Daniele Mauri
  • Patent number: 6785100
    Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic head having improved characteristics, using a magnetoresistive device in which current flows across the film plane such as a TMR device. In a first magnetic head of the present invention, when the area of a non-magnetic layer is defined as a device cross-section area, and the area of a yoke is defined as a yoke area, viewed along the direction perpendicular to the surface of the substrate over which the yoke and the magnetoresistive device are formed, then the device cross-section area is not less than 30% of the yoke area, so that a resistance increase of the device cross-section area is suppressed. In a second magnetic head of the present invention, a magnetoresistive device is formed on a substrate, and a yoke is provided above a non-magnetic layer constituting the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayoshi Hiramoto, Nozomu Matsukawa, Akihiro Odagawa, Kenji Iijima, Hiroshi Sakakima
  • Patent number: 6785101
    Abstract: The first and second side surfaces of either a bottom spin valve sensor or a top spin valve sensor are notched so as to enable a reduction in the magnetoresistive coefficient of side portions of the sensor beyond the track width region thereby minimizing side reading by the sensor. The first and second notches of the spin valve sensor are then filled with layers in various embodiments of the invention to complete the spin valve sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Patrick Rush Webb, Mustafa Pinarbasi, Richard Hsiao, Hardayal Singh Gill
  • Patent number: 6785102
    Abstract: A spin valve sensor includes a free layer structure which is located between first and second spacer layers and the first and second spacer layers are located between first and second AP pinned layer structures. Each of the AP pinned layer structures has first and second AP pinned layers with the first AP pinned layer of the first AP pinned layer structure interfacing the first spacer layer and the first AP pinned layer of the second AP pinned layer structure interfacing the second spacer layer. The magnetic thickness of each of the first AP pinned layers is either greater or less than the magnetic thickness of either of the second AP pinned layers of the first and second AP pinned layer structures so that a magnetic field oriented perpendicular to an air bearing surface (ABS) of the sensor sets the magnetic moments of the first and second AP pinned layer structures in-phase so that changes in resistances of the sensor upon rotation of a magnetic moment of the free layer structure is additive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: James Mac Freitag, Hardayal Singh Gill, Mustafa Pinarbasi
  • Patent number: 6785103
    Abstract: A magnetoresistance sensor includes a substrate and a sensor structure deposited upon the substrate and having a first lateral side and a second lateral side. The sensor structure includes a layered transverse biasing structure, a free layer deposited upon the layered transverse biasing structure, and a cap layer deposited upon a central portion of the free layer but not upon a side portion of the free layer adjacent to each lateral side. Longitudinal hard biasing structures are disposed laterally adjacent to the lateral sides of the sensor structure. Each longitudinal hard biasing structure has a magnetic seed layer deposited upon the substrate, the respective lateral side of the sensor structure, and the respective side portion of the free layer. A magnetic hard bias layer is deposited upon the seed layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dwight Cornwell, Jr., Hardayal Singh Gill, Mustafa Pinarbasi
  • Patent number: 6785104
    Abstract: A pulsing apparatus for an electrical system includes line and neutral terminals structured to input a nominal alternating current line voltage, a timing mechanism or circuit for generating a timing signal having a duty cycle from the line voltage; a transformer for transforming the line voltage to a stepped up voltage having the duty cycle; load and load neutral terminals; and an output circuit for outputting a current at about the stepped up voltage to the load and load neutral terminals. The stepped up voltage is greater than the line voltage and less than a rated voltage of the electrical system. The stepped up voltage is adapted to identify an arcing fault in the electrical system. The duty cycle limits an average value of the current to less than about 4 mA to about 6 mA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Tallman, Robert T. Elms
  • Patent number: 6785105
    Abstract: The fault detection system includes at least one valid zero sequence voltage source, either from a local relay or a remote relay on a protected line. Zero sequence current is selected between total (vector sum from both ends of the protected line) measured zero sequence current or calculated zero sequence current. A zero sequence impedance-based calculation is then made and the result is compared against a threshold value to produce a trip decision. The trip decision is then applied through a normal tripping circuit or a slow tripping circuit, depending upon selected circuit conditions, involving the local and remote ends of the line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey B. Roberts, David E. Whitehead