Seagate Assigned Two Patents

Devices for control of the operation of storage devices
using solid-state memory based on discharge
of amount of stored energy indicative of power providing capabilities
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (8,745,421) developed by Michael Howard Miller, Eden Prairie, MN, Martin Ragnar Furuhjelm, Auburn, CA, and Jonathan Williams Haines, Boulder, CO, for “devices for control of the operation of storage devices using solid-state memory based on a discharge of an amount of stored energy indicative of power providing capabilities.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A variety of data storage devices, methods and systems are implemented for control of memory associated with backup functionality. One such data storage device includes a power circuit that provides main power. The data storage device has a first solid-state memory circuit that maintains data in the absence of electrical power. A second memory circuit is subject to data loss in the absence of electrical power. A storage circuit stores energy and provides the stored energy to the second memory circuit in response to a loss of main power. A test circuit discharges a portion of the stored energy to provide output data indicative of power-providing capabilities of the storage circuit. A memory controller controls data transfers to the data storage device by temporarily storing data destined for the first solid-state memory circuit and setting the amount of memory available for temporary storage in response to the output data.”

The patent application was filed on June 13, 2013 (13/917,371).

Closed loop fly height control
Seagate Technology, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (8,730,610) developed by James McFadyen, Redwood City, CA, Kiem Nguyen, and Jingbo Yu, San Jose, CA, for a “closed loop fly height control.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A distance between a head and a storage media is measured. An amount of power applied to a heater element in the head is adaptively adjusted based on a difference between the measured distance and a reference position indicating a desired distance between the head and the storage media. Related circuits and devices are also discussed.”

The patent application was filed on May 21, 2007 (11/751,135).