Patents Issued in June 1, 2010
  • Patent number: 7729078
    Abstract: A drive section which moves a head above an information storage medium and a control section are provided, and each track on the information storage medium is made up of alternating first regions for writing in and reading out user information and second regions that store information for the positioning of the head. The control section is provided with a feedback control value determining section for eliminating the difference between the head position and the representative position of the first region, which is an access object, a performing control value determining section for determining the performing control value for the performing control by finding the logical control value associated with the first region where the feedback control value is determined and adding the feedback control value to this logical control value and a performing control section for actually controlling the drive section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Toshiba Storage Device Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Kawabe
  • Patent number: 7729079
    Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk, a head actuated over the disk, and control circuitry operable to estimate a fly height of the head by tuning a phase locked loop (PLL) in response to a fly height capacitance. In one embodiment, the PLL comprises a resistive component having a second terminal coupled to the fly height capacitance, a variable oscillator operable to generate a first oscillating signal applied to a first terminal of the resistive component to generate a second oscillating signal at the second end of the resistive component, and a phase detector operable to generate a control signal by comparing a phase of the first oscillating signal to a phase of the second oscillating signal. The control signal is applied to the variable oscillator to adjust a frequency of the first oscillating signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: William D. Huber
  • Patent number: 7729080
    Abstract: There is provided a head control apparatus that controls the flying height of a head with respect to a disk by controlling heater current supplied to a heater for head protrusion adjustment. The head control apparatus includes: an acquisition section that acquires flying height information which is information concerning a variation in the flying height of the head; a determination section that determines whether the flying height variation is caused by a variation in atmospheric pressure based on a measured temperature and the flying height information acquired by the acquisition section; and a control section that controls, in the case where the determination section has determined that the flying height variation is caused by a variation in atmospheric pressure, heater current based on control information corresponding to the flying height variation caused by the atmospheric pressure variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Toshiba Storage Device Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7729081
    Abstract: A hard disk drive with a circuit that provides a control signal to a voice coil motor to move a head across a disk of the drive. The drive includes a flex circuit that applies a bias force onto an actuator arm coupled to the head. The circuit includes a state estimator that provides a plurality of estimation errors and a bias estimator that creates a bias estimate. The bias estimate includes an average of the estimation errors and is a function of the flex circuit bias force. The bias estimate is used to create the control signal provided to the voice coil motor. The bias estimate reduces seek time during a seek routine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chang-Ik Kang
  • Patent number: 7729082
    Abstract: The present invention relates to HDD screws, and more specifically to lubricating the HDD screws. HDD screws may be coated in a layer of a PFPE based lubricant to reduce friction while fastening the screw into a HDD. In addition to providing superior lubricity and reduced friction during fastening and longer shelf life, PFPE lubricated screws provide narrower clamping load distribution and lower particle generation compared to currently used screw lubricants. Furthermore, because PFPE lubricants are also used to lubricate magnetic disk surfaces, the HDD screws may provide a reservoir for replenishing depleting lubricants on the magnetic disk drive surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Kor Seng Ang, Shaoyong Liu, Sivalingam Marimuthu, Jing Fang Pan, Yi Zhao Yao
  • Patent number: 7729083
    Abstract: A sealed head disk assembly having a base casting that provides attachment points for major components of the head disk assembly and a cover for enclosing major components of the head disk assembly. The base casting has a hermetic seal encompassed by an outer perimeter of the base casting. The hermetic seal is juxtaposed to at least one complementary surface on the cover. The cover has a semi-hermetic seal inside a perimeter of the complementary surface for the hermetic seal. The semi-hermetic seal is juxtaposed to at least one complementary surface on the base casting. The sealed head disk assembly includes a screw causing deflection in a zone of the cover and provides spring force allowing registering the hermetic seal against a complementary surface of the hermetic seal on the base casting and the semi-hermetic seal against the complementary surface of the semi-hermetic seal on the base casting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Michael R. Hatchett, Kirk Price
  • Patent number: 7729084
    Abstract: In one embodiment and method of the present invention, a coil of a write head is created by forming a P1 pedestal layer and a back gap layer and further forming a coil pattern consistent with the coil to be formed and insulator spacers dispersed in the coil pattern, using a non-damascene process, thereafter the coil is formed by plating using a damascene process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Daniel Wayne Bedell, David Patrick Druist, Edward Hin Pong Lee, Jennifer Ai-Ming Loo, Vladimir Nikitin
  • Patent number: 7729085
    Abstract: The media heating device of the magnetic head includes an optical resonant cavity produces a high intensity near-field optical beam of subwavelength dimension adjacent to the write pole. A suitable resonant cavity may be a spherical cavity, disk shaped cavity, ring shaped cavity, racetrack shaped cavity, micropillar cavity, photonic crystal cavity and Fabry-Perot cavity. The cavity is fabricated as a planar thin film structure in layers that are generally parallel to the magnetic pole thin film layers of the magnetic head, such that the principal axis of the resonant cavity is parallel to the air bearing surface (ABS). Optical energy is coupled into the resonant cavity through a waveguide that is placed proximate the cavity, and optical energy is coupled out of the cavity through an aperture that is placed within the cavity. A preferred embodiment may include a nano-aperture disposed between the resonant cavity and the ABS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Xuhui Jin, Chie Ching Poon, Timothy Carl Strand, Henry Hung Yang
  • Patent number: 7729086
    Abstract: A magnetic head for perpendicular magnetic recording includes a slider having an air bearing surface (ABS) and a trailing surface and a transducer fabricated on the trailing surface. The transducer includes a magnetoresistive (MR) read element disposed within a gap material bounded by shield material, an adjunct pole, and a main pole formed in an adjacent layered relationship to the adjunct pole. The adjunct pole has a front edge that is recessed from the ABS and a rear edge. The main pole has a write tip that extends approximately to the ABS. The transducer further includes a write coil having a first layer of turns below the adjunct pole and above the shield material. The magnetic head also includes a heating element with a portion of the heating element below the write coil and behind the rear edge of the adjunct pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventors: Suping Song, Kroum S. Stoev
  • Patent number: 7729087
    Abstract: A magnetic head includes a slider body having a trailing surface meeting an air-bearing surface at a trailing edge and a thin-film transducer that includes a magnetic reproducing element with a magnetoresistive (MR) element disposed near the trailing edge within a gap material bounded by upper and lower shield layers. The thin-film transducer also includes a lower pole layer of a magnetic recording element disposed in a first general plane. The magnetic recording element further includes a coil having first and second turn layers disposed in second and third general planes, respectively. The magnetic head also includes resistive heating element with at least a portion of the heating element being disposed in a fourth general plane beneath both the lower pole layer and the coil but above the upper shield layer. Current flow through the heating element causes expansion of the magnetic reproducing and recording elements at the ABS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventors: Kroum S. Stoev, Suping Song, Tao Pan
  • Patent number: 7729088
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention achieve a decrease in electric power consumption while ensuring high recording density and high reliability in a magnetic disk apparatus. In one embodiment, a magnetic disk apparatus comprises a rotatable magnetic disk and a magnetic head slider to be able to fly above a surface of the magnetic disk. The magnetic head slider comprises an air bearing surface, by which the magnetic head slider is caused to fly and come near to the rotating surface of the magnetic disk with a predetermined spacing therebetween, recording and reproducing elements to perform at least one of recording on and reproduction from the magnetic disk, and a heating device to adjust a distance between the recording and reproducing elements and the surface of the magnetic disk. The heating device is mounted such that heating thereof causes a part of the air bearing surface to expand and project to increase a distance between the recording and reproducing elements and the surface of the magnetic disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Masayuki Kurita, Toshiya Shiramatsu, Hidekazu Kohira, Mikio Tokuyama
  • Patent number: 7729089
    Abstract: A head-gimbal assembly (HGA) is disclosed. The HGA comprises a head including a slider having a leading end and a trailing end that define a slider length. The head further includes a read transducer disposed at the trailing end. The HGA further comprises an adhesive material and a flexure that includes a tongue to which the head is adhered. The tongue includes three stand-offs in contact with the slider, each of the three stand-offs spanning a stand-off length that is one-half the slider length or less. Two of the three stand-offs are disposed adjacent the leading end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Hogan
  • Patent number: 7729090
    Abstract: Disclosed is an inertia latch mechanism capable of omitting erection of a pin for swinging an inertia lever. An inertia lever for use in the inertia latch mechanism is constituted of: a lever body swinging by inertia when an impact is applied thereto; a fixture fixed to a case of a disk drive device; and a plate spring member for connecting the lever body and the fixture and permitting swing of the lever body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Masataka Hashizume, Shinichi Kimura, Kohji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7729091
    Abstract: A method and system or mounting a flex cable within a head stack assembly is disclosed. The flex cable has a width. The method and system include providing a top portion and a bottom portion coupled to the top portion. The top portion includes a first top slot and a second top slot therein. The first top slot and the second top slot form a non-zero acute angle. The bottom portion includes a first bottom slot and a second bottom slot therein. The first bottom slot is substantially aligned with the first top slot. The second bottom slot is substantially aligned with the second top slot. A maximum first distance between the first top slot and the first bottom slot equals or exceeds the width. A second maximum distance between the second top slot and the second bottom slot equals or exceeds the width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lido Huang, Seungman Chang
  • Patent number: 7729092
    Abstract: A read/write head for a disk drive having a magnetoresistive (MR) read element and an inductive write element suitable for perpendicular recording of data onto a disk having a media layer in which the data is stored perpendicularly to the planar surface of the disk and a soft underlayer (SUL) underneath the media layer to provide a low reluctance return path for the magnetic recording field. The write element is formed on top of a substrate, with the read element on top of the write element on the other side of the write element from the substrate. A pancake write coil coils around a magnetic via that either connects to a write shield adjacent to the read element in one embodiment or directly to one of the read shields in a second embodiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Michael Mallary, Ralph W. Cross
  • Patent number: 7729093
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting the presence of magnetic beads is disclosed. By providing both a static magnetic field and a magnetic field that alternates in the MHz range, or beyond, the bead can be excited into FMR (ferromagnetic resonance). The appearance of the latter is then detected by a magneto-resistive type of sensor. This approach offers several advantages over prior art methods in which the magnetic moment of the bead is detected directly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Yuchen Zhou
  • Patent number: 7729094
    Abstract: A method and a device are disclosed herein for protecting a circuit including a first terminal and a second terminal from electrostatic discharges. The device comprises at least one current path, wherein each current path of the at least one current path includes a transistor and a first circuit element. A first load terminal of the transistor is coupled to the first terminal of the circuit. A second load terminal of the transistor is coupled to a control terminal of the transistor and to a first terminal of the first circuit element. A second terminal of the first circuit element is coupled to the second terminal of the circuit. A well terminal of the transistor is coupled to the second terminal of the circuit via a second circuit element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Harald Gossner
  • Patent number: 7729096
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit having an ESD protection circuit enhancing a durability against thermal destruction is provided. The semiconductor integrated circuit configured by a plurality of MOSFETs each having an SOI structure formed on a silicon substrate includes a functional circuit having an external connection signal terminal, a pair of power terminals and at least one of the MOSFETs. The semiconductor integrated circuit also includes at least one ESD protection circuit having a first terminal and a second terminal connected to the signal terminal and the power terminals, respectively. The ESD protection circuit includes at least one first MOSFET of the MOSFETs formed on the silicon substrate. The first MOSFET has a drain connected to the first terminal, a gate connected to the second terminal, and a source connected to the second terminal. The at least one ESD protection circuit also includes at least one second MOSFET of the MOSFETs formed adjacent to the first MOSFET on the silicon substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Oki Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirokazu Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7729097
    Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for protection against over voltages and/or under voltages. The apparatus includes a pass transistor through which an input voltage is applied, the input voltage varying between a low voltage and a high voltage, and means for selectively varying the gate voltage of the pass transistor when the input voltage is transitioning from the low voltage to the high voltage or from the high voltage to the low voltage. The pass transistor may include an NMOS or a PMOS transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Purushotham Ramakrishna, Sakthi Prashanth Turaga
  • Patent number: 7729098
    Abstract: This invention relates to fault detection in electrical circuits. The invention provides a switch for a fault tolerant digital output module comprising: an output transistor pair for enabling and disabling an alternating output current; and a current limiter for clamping the output current to a predetermined maximum value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: ICS Triplex Technology Limited
    Inventors: Thomas Bruce Meagher, Kenneth John Murphy, Linda M Murphy, legal representative
  • Patent number: 7729099
    Abstract: A surge arrester has a discharge current path. The discharge current path is surrounded by an insulating sleeve. The insulating sleeve has at least one area that is optically transparent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bernd Kruska, Erhard Pippert
  • Patent number: 7729100
    Abstract: Lightning protection system of wind turbine blades formed by various connections arranged on carbon fibre laminates (2) of the blade (1), equipotentialising the surface of the airfoils (4) of the beam (10) via derivations from a main cable (6) using the respective auxiliary cables (5). The auxiliary cables are connected to metal plates (3) which make the direct connection with the carbon fibre laminates (2) and are positioned during the blade (1) laminating and curing process, or they are connected to metal pins, preferably cone shaped, which pass through the hybrid laminate. Around the connections a nanocomposite based conductive resin (11) is arranged. In the case of a hybrid laminate with layers of carbon fibre and layers of fibre glass, the equipotential state of the different layers is achieved using windows, discontinuities or open spaces in the fibreglass layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Gamesa Innovation & Technology, S.L.
    Inventors: Jose Ignaico Llorente Gonzalez, Sergio Velez Oria
  • Patent number: 7729101
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring the output of an ionizing blower. A measuring channel captures a portion of the air ion stream, and measures balance plus air ion current. Since the measurement channel is isolated from extraneous electrostatic fields, measurements contain less analytical noise. Air flow through the measurement chamber is created by the inherent pressure difference between the high pressure and low pressure sides of an air mover. Two electrodes inside the measurement chamber are combined with a power supply, a low current amplifier, and a controller. The controller also makes adjustments to the ionizing blower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: MKS, Ion Systems
    Inventor: Peter Gefter
  • Patent number: 7729102
    Abstract: A solid electrolytic capacitor 1 includes a capacitor element 2 and a resin package 9 enclosing the capacitor element. The capacitor element includes a sintered body 3 of valve metal powder, an anode 4a provided by embedding an anode wire 4 in the sintered body, and a cathode 5 provided by forming a metal layer on the sintered body. A first lead member 6 in the form of a plate is connected to the anode wire 4. The end of the first lead member projects from a side surface 9a of the resin package 9 to provide an anode terminal T1. A second lead member 7 in the form of a plate is connected to the cathode 5. The end of the second lead member projects from a side surface 9b of the resin package 9 to provide a cathode terminal T2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chojiro Kuriyama
  • Patent number: 7729103
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a solid electrolytic capacitor provided with a anode made of a metal or an alloy having valve action, a dielectric layer formed on the anode, and an electrolyte layer consisting of a conductive polymer layer formed so as to have contact with a portion of the region on the dielectric layer surface and a manganese dioxide layer formed so as to have contact with the other portion of the region on the dielectric layer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kikuko Kato, Mutsumi Yano, Kazuhiro Takatani, Koichi Nishimura, Takashi Umemoto, Hiroshi Nonoue
  • Patent number: 7729104
    Abstract: In a hydrogen-containing tantalum powder of the present invention, a value obtained by dividing the hydrogen content (ppm) by the specific surface area (m2/g) is in the range of 10 to 100. This tantalum powder has a large specific surface area, and when the tantalum powder is used as an anode of a solid electrolyte capacitor, a solid electrolyte capacitor having a large capacitance and a low leakage current can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: JFE Mineral Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Sato, Osamu Ebato, Tadasu Kirihara
  • Patent number: 7729105
    Abstract: Aspects of the inventive technology may relate to a physical enclosure designed to house electrical componentry inside. More specifically, the inventive technology may relate to a physical enclosure that is designed to allow for the enclosure, perhaps within the same, unitary structure, of conductors (wires) as they enter the ground and wire splice devices that connect those wires with wires of smaller diameter. Aspects of the inventive technology may relate to provision of a wire splice mount(s) that hold splices in fixed position relative to the physical enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Prod-X, Inc.
    Inventor: Tate D. Schipporeit
  • Patent number: 7729106
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for removing smudges (506, 706, 806, 906) including oils and dust from portable electronic displays. The apparatus comprises a display device (110, 150, 500, 700, 800, 900, 1000) positioned within a housing (102, 104, 808), comprising a transparent cover (302, 502, 702, 802, 902, 1002) having a surface (508, 908) viewable through an opening in the housing (102, 104, 808) and a susceptibility to receiving contaminants (506, 706, 806, 906). A vibration device (504, 704, 804, 904, 1004) is positioned against the transparent cover (302, 502, 702, 802, 902, 1002) to provide motion (510) in a direction parallel to the surface, thereby causing the contaminants to move (708) across the surface (508, 908). The contaminants (506, 706, 806, 906) may then be hidden by the housing (102, 104, 808) or ejected by a motion (912) perpendicular to the surface by another vibrating device (911).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. D'Urso, Steven M. Smith, Steven A. Voight, Steve X. Dai
  • Patent number: 7729107
    Abstract: A disk drive test apparatus has a plurality of bays each for receiving a respective disk drive to be tested. A plurality of card slots are provided each for receiving a test card via which a disk drive can be tested. Each of the test cards is either an environment test card or an interface test card. The card slots and the test cards are arranged such that each card slot (6) can selectively receive an environment test card or an interface test card. Other arrangements for disk drive test apparatus or disk drive mounting apparatus are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Xyratex Technology Limited
    Inventors: Andrew William Atkins, Steve Andrew Bailey, David Ronald Bain Farquhar, David John Orriss, Kevin Richardson
  • Patent number: 7729108
    Abstract: Particles having a relatively high porosity can be used in an information handling system or other information handling system. In one aspect, a portable information handling system can include an electrical circuit that can generate thermal energy during normal operation of the electrical circuit. The portable information handling system can also include a housing that includes a first material and particles having a porosity of at least 80%. In another aspect, an information handling system can include a housing that includes a material and a coating, wherein the coating includes a polymeric material and particles having a porosity of at least 80%. In another aspect, a process of forming an information handling system can include coating a surface of a housing, wherein the coating includes particles having a porosity of at least 80%, and placing an electrical circuit within the housing after coating the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Dell Products, LP
    Inventors: Mark L. Rehmann, Michael M. Heatly
  • Patent number: 7729109
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a device with connecting member having an elastic ring, and the device includes a body having at least one accommodating cavity on the body and an exhaust opening on the internal periphery of each accommodating cavity; and at least one connecting member having an insert unit at an end of each connecting member, at least one positioning block at the periphery of the insert unit and at least one elastic ring sheathed onto the periphery of the insert unit, such that if the connecting member is inserted into the accommodating cavity, the shape of the accommodating cavity can accommodate the insert unit and each positioning block precisely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Hannspree, Inc.
    Inventors: Wen-Hung Huang, Chih-Ming Chu
  • Patent number: 7729110
    Abstract: An exemplary fixing apparatus is for mounting a hard disk drive having a plurality of holes in sidewalls thereof. The fixing apparatus includes a first side plate, a bracket, a locking tab, and a transverse bar. The bracket includes an end plate, and a second side plate perpendicular to the end plate. The first side plate is pivotably attached to a free end of the end plate of the bracket. The transverse bar is pivotably attached to a free end of the second side plate of the bracket. The locking tab is attached to an outside of the first side plate to detachably engage with the transverse bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun-Xiong Zhang, Xin-Hu Gong
  • Patent number: 7729111
    Abstract: A hard drive includes an external hard drive and a stand integrally formed with the external hard drive. The external hard drive includes a housing maintaining a hard drive assembly configured to exchange data with a computer system, with the housing having opposing first and second major faces. The stand includes a first leg configured to project from the first major face of the housing and a second leg configured to project from the second major face of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Trung V. Le, Peter Madson, Lv Wang
  • Patent number: 7729112
    Abstract: A mounting for a disk drive unit includes a carrier for carrying a disk drive unit during required movement of the disk drive unit. The carrier defines a space into which the disk drive unit can be inserted, and the carrier is adapted to be inserted with the disk drive unit into a receiving frame for operational use. At lease two resilient devices are mounted on the carrier for securing the disk drive unit in the receiving frame when the carrier is inserted into the frame, at least one resilient device being mounted on each side of the carrier. Each resilient device is movably mounted on the carrier to allow movement of the device as a whole relative to the carrier, and the resilient device is arranged to secure the disk drive unit in the receiving frame by acting between disk drive unit and the receiving frame. A method of handling the disk drive unit comprises placing the disk drive unit into the carrier engaging a robotic device with a coupling structure projecting from the front of the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Xyratex Technology Limited
    Inventor: Andrew William Atkins
  • Patent number: 7729113
    Abstract: A Hard Disk Drive (“HDD”) bracket has a HDD bracket lever having an open position and a closed position, a side bracket, and a HDD bracket damping mechanism. The HDD bracket damping mechanism has an actuation mechanism slidably disposed within the side bracket, and a compressible insert disposed within the side bracket. The compressible insert has a surface abutting the actuation mechanism. When the HDD bracket lever is in the closed position, the actuation mechanism exerts pressure on the compressible insert such that the compressible insert protrudes from the side bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Oracle America, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy W. Olesiewicz, Brett C. Ong, William A. De Meulenaere
  • Patent number: 7729114
    Abstract: A keypad assembly (15) applied to a portable electronic device and mounted in a shell of the portable electronic device is provided. The keypad assembly comprises a keypad cover (151) and a printed circuit board (152). The keypad cover is provided with at least one contact portion (1516) thereon. The printed circuit board provided with a plurality of signal-sensing portions (1522) thereon. The shell is provided with at least one guide hole (116) corresponding to the plurality of signal-sensing portions. The shell is configured between the keypad cover and the printed circuit board, and the keypad cover is rotatably mounted in the shell. The signal-sensing portion is pressed by the contact portion through the guide hole. A portable electronic device using the keypad assembly is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignees: Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co., Ltd., FIH (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventor: Zheng Shi
  • Patent number: 7729115
    Abstract: An electrical apparatus having a cooling system includes a first cover to cover a first part of the electrical apparatus to be cooled and a second cover substantially enclosing the first cover to define a surrounding space. A base plate on which the first cover is mounted defines an environmentally-sealed enclosure that houses the first part of electrical apparatus. A first circulation device causes air to circulate in the environmentally-sealed enclosure and a second circulation device causes a cooling fluid to circulate around the surrounding space. A heat transfer structure is positioned on each side of the first cover. A third cover is mounted to an opposite side of the base plate from the first cover to define a second enclosure that houses a second part of the electrical apparatus to be cooled. A heat exchange structure is positioned within the second enclosure. The second circulation device is arranged to drive cooling fluid both through the heat exchange structure and through the surrounding space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: E2V Technologies (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Terence Martyn Hall, Tony Glen Collins, Stephen William Hurrell, Stephen John Norrington, Andrew Murray Wood
  • Patent number: 7729116
    Abstract: Reversible airflow in cooling systems of electronic devices is described. For example, an electronic device may include a reversible fan tray. The fan tray may include symmetric mounting features that allow the fan tray to be mounted in the electronic device in more than one orientation at the same location within the electronic device such that one or more fans in the fan tray either direct air into the electronic device or to pull air from electronic device. The fan tray may further include a symmetric arrangement of connectors that coincide with the symmetric arrangement of mounting features to allow the fan tray to be connected to a power source of the electronic device any of the more than one orientations. An arrangement of electronic devices including reversible fan trays may be configured so that inlet and outlet airflows are separated to increase cooling efficiency of the electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Juniper Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Gunes Aybay, Tri Luong Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7729117
    Abstract: A housing for electronic control units, in particular in motor vehicles, having a bottom section for attaching the electronic control units and having a cooling device that enables heat to be dissipated from the housing via a flowing liquid, a cooling device formed in the bottom section being provided both for improving the cooling capacity and for rigidity. The bottom section is easily manufactured with an integrated cooling channel by injection molding, while cooling is achievable by a medium available in the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jochen Schweinbenz, Peter Schiefer, Dirk Schmidt, Gero Haehnel
  • Patent number: 7729118
    Abstract: A liquid cooling device includes a casing having an outer wall, a bottom base attached to a bottom end of the outer wall and a top cover attached to a top end of the outer wall. The casing defines a receiving space therein for receiving an impeller therein. A sealed chamber is defined in the casing and isolated from the receiving space. A motor driving unit is received in the sealed chamber and magnetically interacts with the impeller to drive the impeller to rotate. The motor driving unit comprises a motor having a stator and a printed circuit board electrically connecting with the stator. The top cover covers the motor driving unit and thermally contacts with electronic components on the printed circuit board for dissipating heat generated by the electronic components when the motor driving unit is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignees: Fu Zhun Precision Industry (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd., Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Cheng-Tien Lai, Zhi-Yong Zhou, Qiao-Li Ding
  • Patent number: 7729119
    Abstract: A heat dissipation device includes a base, a heat-dissipation portion attached to the base, at least one heat pipe connecting the base and the heat-dissipation portion and a fan directly secured to the heat-dissipation portion. The heat-dissipation portion comprises a square, tubular housing having opposite front and rear end portions opening to surroundings and a plurality of fins extending inclinedly and inwardly from an inner circumferential periphery of the housing. The housing of the heat-dissipation portion is employed as a fan duct to guide an airflow generated by the fan through the fins; the inclined orientation of the fins facilitates the airflow to flow toward the inner circumferential periphery of the housing and lower parts of the fins adjacent the inner circumferential periphery, whereby the airflow can effectively take heat away from the heat-dissipation portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignees: Fu Zhun Precision Industry (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd., Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jian Yang
  • Patent number: 7729120
    Abstract: A heat sink apparatus for dissipating heat generated from a heat generating component includes a first heat dissipating assembly attached to one side of the heat generating component, a second heat dissipating assembly attached to another side of the heat generating component; and a connecting device connecting between the first heat dissipating assembly and the second heat dissipating assembly thereby forming a continuous heat dissipation passage between the first heat dissipating assembly and the second heat dissipating assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhi-Jiang Yao, Ning-Yu Wang
  • Patent number: 7729121
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a stacked package assembly may include a first socket defining an interior cavity, a first semiconductor device coupled to the first socket, a second socket positioned within the interior cavity of the first socket, and a second semiconductor device removably coupled to the second socket within the cavity of the first socket. The second socket may be positioned between the first semiconductor device and the second semiconductor device and provide an electrical connection between the first semiconductor device and the second semiconductor device. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Anand Deshpande, Venkat Natarajan, Ashok Kabadi, Vittal Kini
  • Patent number: 7729122
    Abstract: A fastener includes a rod and a sleeve. The rod has a flat top for depression and a rod body extending downwardly from the flat top. The upper end of the rod body is provided with a circular groove. The sleeve is formed with a through hole and a flange close to its upper end. The inner side of the sleeve is provided above the flange with a first engaging section engageable with the circular groove of the rod. The sleeve is provided with a second engaging section below the flange and a third engaging section at the lower end thereof. By means of the engagement between the circular groove of the rod and the first engaging section of the sleeve, the rod will be prevented from detaching from the sleeve. The second and third engaging sections are used for preventing the fastener from disengaging from a workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Chong B. Wong
  • Patent number: 7729123
    Abstract: A heat dissipating assembly capable of being placed between a circuit board and a casing of an electronic device includes a fan assembly and a bracket. The fan assembly is mounted on the circuit board. The fan assembly includes an enclosure defining a chamber and an opening at a side wall thereof, along with a blower received in the chamber. The bracket is located between the fan assembly and the casing of the electronic device. The bracket has a side wall thereof defining a cutout connected with the chamber. The cutout and the opening of the enclosure are defined at two different sides of the heat dissipating assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Er-Zheng Zhao, Hai-Yang Yu, Hong-Wei Zhu
  • Patent number: 7729124
    Abstract: A mounting apparatus includes a heat sink with two first mounting holes receiving two screws respectively, and a printed circuit board (PCB) with a second mounting hole, and a third mounting hole corresponding to the first mounting holes. The second mounting hole includes a second inserting hole, and a second accommodating hole extending from the second inserting hole along a first axis. The third mounting hole includes a third inserting hole, and a third accommodating hole extending from the third inserting hole along a second axis. One screw is inserted into the second inserting hole, and moved along a first axis to be received in the second accommodating hole. Another screw is angled into the third inserting hole, released to return to an upright position and received in the third accommodating hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chin-Wen Yeh, Zhen-Neng Lin
  • Patent number: 7729125
    Abstract: A printed circuit board unit is configured so that, when a charged electrical circuit unit is electrically connected to the printed circuit board unit, first, the ground potential of the electrical circuit unit is dropped to the frame ground potential, and next, the ground potential of the electrical circuit unit is dropped to the ground potential of an electrical circuit on the printed circuit board unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Hideo Araki, Naoya Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 7729126
    Abstract: A modular DIMM carrier and riser slot device includes a slot section having a slot configured to hold a plurality of memory device planars, a first latch disposed at a first end of the slot section and pivotably connected to the slot section and capable of securing a first end of the memory device planars; a second latch disposed at a second end of the slot section and pivotably connected to the slot section and capable of securing a second end of a first memory device planar, and a third latch pivotably connected to the slot section and disposed intermediate between the first and the second latches, the third latch capable of securing a second end of a second memory device planar. The slot section has an auxiliary slot section defined as an section between the second latch and the third latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Michael Bozich Calhoun, Dennis Carr, Ricardo Ernesto Espinoza-Ibarra, Teddy Lee, Lidia Warnes
  • Patent number: 7729127
    Abstract: A mounting mechanism for mounting an electronic device to a chassis, the electronic device defining a first securing hole, and the chassis defining a second securing hole, includes a securing member having a base. A plurality of elastic hooks extends from a bottom of the base. At least one blocking portion protrudes laterally from the base. The elastic hooks extend through the first securing hole and the second securing hole and are engaged with a bottom side of one of the chassis and the electronic device. The at least one blocking portion abuts on the other one of the chassis and the electronic device, for sandwiching the electronic device and the chassis between the hooks and the at least one blocking portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chin-Wen Yeh, Zhen-Neng Lin
  • Patent number: 7729128
    Abstract: An electronic device, like a mobile telephone, has a first section and a second section. The first section and second section are coupled together by a mechanical connection, for example a hinge, swivel or sliding connector. Electronic components in the first section are coupled to electronic components in the second section by conductors capable of transferring power between the first and second sections. A current detector is capable of detecting currents, like surface currents, while a controller is responsive to the current detector. A plurality of reactive elements, like capacitors for example, are coupled to a plurality of switches such that the controller may selectively couple any of the plurality of reactive elements to the conductors by actuating a corresponding switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Kristen M. Leininger, Ganiyu A. Hanidu, James P. Phillips