Seagate Assigned Fourteen Patents

Perpendicular magnetic recording
with multiple antiferromagnetically coupled layers
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (9,990,951) developed by Lu, Bin, San Ramon, CA, for a “perpendicular magnetic recording with multiple antiferromagnetically coupled layers.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “Provided herein is an apparatus including a top continuous layer and a bottom continuous layer under the top continuous layer. The top continuous layer and the bottom continuous layer are antiferromagnetically coupled. A number of granular columns are under the bottom continuous layer. The number of granular columns include at least a first granular layer under the bottom continuous layer and a second granular layer also under the first granular layer. The first granular layer and the second granular layer are separated by a non-magnetic spacer. The first granular layer and the second granular layer are ferromagnetically coupled. The first granular layer is antiferromagnetically coupled to the bottom continuous layer.”

The patent application was filed on May 9, 2016 (15/150,378).

Calibration and adjusting target pre-write clearance offset
for heat-assisted magnetic recording device
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (9,990,950) developed by Mader, Drew Michael, Minneapolis, MN, Kimble, Steven J., Chanhassen, MN, and Riddering, Jason W., Prior Lake, MN, for a “calibration and adjusting target pre-write clearance offset for a heat-assisted magnetic recording device.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “An apparatus comprises a slider configured for heat-assisted magnetic coupled to a controller. The slider comprises a writer, a heater, a near-field transducer, and an optical waveguide for communicating light from a laser diode to the near-field transducer. The controller is configured to set a target pre-write clearance of the slider prior to performing a write operation, set a target write clearance of the slider for performing the write operation, and determine a difference between the target pre-write and write clearances to define a target pre-write clearance offset. The controller is also configured to measure, for a plurality of different target pre-write clearance offsets, a writability metric for the slider while sweeping a laser diode current, and adjust the target pre-write clearance offset so that the writability metric reaches a predetermined threshold. The controller is further configured to perform subsequent write operations using the adjusted target pre-write clearance offset.”

The patent application was filed on July 17, 2017 (15/651,299).

Multi-channel data recording
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (9,990,949) developed by Liu, Xiong, Xie, WenXiang, Yang, Kai, and Li, Quan, Shugart, Singapore, for a “multi-channel data recording.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “Embodiments described herein are operable with a storage device. In one embodiment, a method provides for buffering first portions of incoming sequential data from a plurality of channels in a buffer, and identifying locations of the storage device to store the first portions of the incoming sequential data. The method also provides for directly writing the first portions of the incoming sequential data from the buffer to the identified locations of the storage device.”

The patent application was filed on September 5, 2017 (15/695,385).

Pad sharing for contact sensor and bolometer with temperature compensation
in heat-assisted magnetic recording
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (9,990,947) developed by Macken, Declan, Eden Prairie, MN, and Klarqvist, Jon Karsten, Roseville, MN, for a “pad sharing for contact sensor and bolometer with temperature compensation in heat-assisted magnetic recording device.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A slider of a heat-assisted recording head comprises electrical bond pads coupled to bias sources and a ground pad, an air bearing surface, and a waveguide configured to receive light from a laser source. A contact sensor proximate the air bearing surface is coupled between a first bond pad and a second bond pad. A bolometer is coupled to a reference thermal sensor. The bolometer is situated at a slider location that receives at least some of the light communicated along the waveguide. The reference thermal sensor is situated at a slider location unexposed to the light communicated along the waveguide. The bolometer and reference thermal sensor are coupled between the first and second bond pads and in parallel with the contact sensor. A ground connection is coupled to the ground pad and at a connection between the bolometer and the reference thermal sensor.”

The patent application was filed on October 20, 2017 (15/789,415).

Command tunneling in hybrid data storage device
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (9,990,134) developed by Keeler, Stanton M., Longmont, CO, for a “command tunneling in a hybrid data storage device.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “Apparatus and method for managing data in a hybrid data storage device. In some embodiments, a hybrid device has a hard disc drive, (HDD) controller circuit coupled to non-volatile rotatable media and a solid state drive, (SSD) controller circuit coupled to non-volatile solid state memory. A top level controller circuit directs a selected access command one of the HDD controller circuit or the SSD controller circuit responsive to a selected parameter associated with the selected access command. In a normal mode, the top level controller circuit directs a transfer of data between the host and the HDD controller circuit and handles host interface communications. In a tunneling mode, the top level controller circuit directly connects the HDD controller circuit to the host device. In this way, tunnel mode bypasses processing operations required by the top level controller circuit. Tunnel mode and normal mode may be selected on a command-by-command basis.”

The patent application was filed on June 15, 2016 (15/183,200).

Self-adapting phase-locked loop filter
for use in read channel of heat assisted magnetic recording drive
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (9,985,775) developed by Patapoutian, Ara, Hopkinton, MA, Derras, Belkacem, Radich, William Michael, Longmont, CO, Link, Michael J., St. Paul, MN, and Buch, Bruce D., Westborough, MA, for a “self-adapting phase-locked loop filter for use in a read channel of a heat assisted magnetic recording drive.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A phase-locked loop, (PLL) filter of a read channel includes a filter portion having an input coupled to delay circuitry having an output. The input of the filter portion is configured to receive a phase error signal. A look-up table is coupled to the filter portion. The look-up table comprises phase coefficients and frequency coefficients associated with a plurality of phase error magnitudes. The look-up table is configured to provide one or both of a selected phase coefficient and a selected frequency coefficient based on a magnitude of the phase error signal. The PLL filter is configured to adjust a bandwidth of the filter portion using one or both of the selected phase coefficient and the selected frequency coefficient. A phase signal indicative of estimated phase disturbance is produced at the output of the delay circuitry.”

The patent application was filed on December 6, 2016 (15/370,960).

Cascaded E-fuse switch circuits to control data backup in storage device
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (9,984,762) developed by Seshasayee, Nikhil, Bangalore, India, and MacLean, Keith Neil, Loveland, CO, for a “cascaded E-fuse switch circuits to control data backup in a storage device.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “Apparatus for managing power in a data storage device, such as a solid state drive, (SSD). In some embodiments, an energy management circuit supplies electrical power to a non-volatile memory, (NVM). The energy management circuit has cascaded first and second E-Fuse switch circuits each with an input terminal and an output terminal. The second E-Fuse switch circuit receives input power from the first E-Fuse switch circuit used as a rail voltage for the device. The second E-Fuse switch circuit is configured to monitor the rail voltage, deactivate the first E-Fuse switch circuit responsive to the rail voltage falling below a predetermined threshold, and supply backup power to the device from a backup power source.”

The patent application was filed on July 12, 2017 (15/647,803).

Three dimensional optical memory device
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (9,984,751) developed by Ahner, Joachim, and Tung, David Marcus, Livermore, CA, for a “three dimensional optical memory device.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A system includes a data storage medium comprising layers, an excitation circuit, and an emitter. Each layer comprises cells arranged in a horizontal plane. Cells in different layers are arranged in a vertical plane of the data storage medium. The excitation circuit excites a layer during excitation period. Exciting the layer changes an optical property of the layer during the excitation period. The emitter emits a first and a second beam onto a first and a second cell of the layer being excited during the excitation period to orient electrical charges within the first and the second cell to a first and second oriented values and their intensity to a first and second intensity values respectively. The first and second cells maintain the first and second oriented values and the first and second intensity values after the excitation period is over or in absence of the layer being excited.”

The patent application was filed on January 25, 2017 (15/415,599).

Laser mode hopping detection for heat-assisted magnetic recording device
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (9,984,719) developed by Matousek, Robert, Berthoud, CO, Lammers, Todd, Lafayette, CO, and Trantham, Jon David, Chanhassen, MN, for a “laser mode hopping detection for heat-assisted magnetic recording device.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “Methods and apparatuses for detecting mode hopping in a laser diode or other optical energy source in heat-assisted magnetic recording. An output power of the laser diode or other optical energy source is measured and the output power is differentiated over time to determine a rate of change. If it is determined that the rate of change exceeds a threshold value, a fault signal is asserted indicating a potential mode hopping event.”

The patent application was filed on December 2, 2015 (14/957,220).

Absorbing optical energy
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (9,984,714) developed by Jones, Paul M., Palo Alto, CA, Klemmer, Timothy J., Union City, CA, Yang, Ruoxi, St. Louis Park, MN, Blaber, Martin Giles, Plymouth, MN, Ma, Xiaoding, Fan, ZhaoHui, Stirniman, Michael J., Yang, Yang, Fremont, CA, Yan, XiaoPing, Pleasanton, CA, Huang, Fujian, San Jose, CA, Esmenda, Emil John Catoc, Pleasanton, CA, Kazazic, Emir R., Los Altos, CA, Zavaliche, Florin, San Ramon, CA, Wang, Hongbo, Fremont, CA, Tang, Huan H., Los Altos, CA, and Damavandi, Kyoumarss, Dublin, CA, for “apparatuses and methods for absorbing optical energy.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “An apparatus including a heat sink layer and a magnetic recording layer over the heat sink layer. In addition, a thermochromic layer is over the heat sink layer, wherein the thermochromic layer includes a first optical absorbance at a first temperature and a second optical absorbance at a second temperature.”

The patent application was filed on July 12, 2017 (15/648,042).

Heat assisted magnetic recording media with enhanced tuning exchange coupling
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (9,984,713) developed by Zambano, Antonio Javier, Liu, Connie Chunling, San Jose, CA, Ma, Xiaoding, Fan, ZhaoHui, and Chour, Jerry Kueirweei, Fremont, CA, for a “heat assisted magnetic recording media with enhanced tuning exchange coupling.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “An apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a storage layer, a first write layer, and a second write layer. The first write layer is disposed over the storage layer. The second write layer is disposed over the first write layer. The anisotropy field and magnetization associated with the second write layer at writing temperature is greater than anisotropy field and magnetization associated with the first write layer at the writing temperature.”

The patent application was filed on June 6, 2017 (15/615,782).

HAMR media with thermal exchange control layer of lower curie temperature
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (9,984,709) developed by Huang, Pin-Wei, Ding, YinFeng, Fremont, CA, Peng, YingGuo, Zhu, Xiaobin, San Ramon, CA, Chang, Kai-Chieh, Pleasanton, CA, Kubota, Yukiko, Campbell, CA, Klemmer, Timothy J., Union City, CA, Wu, QiHong, Dublin, CA, Ju, Ganping, Pleasanton, CA, Thiele, Jan-Ulrich, Sunnyvale, CA, and Zavaliche, Florin, San Ramon, CA, for a “heat assisted magnetic recording, (HAMR) media with thermal exchange control layer of lower curie temperature.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “An apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a storage layer, a thermal exchange control layer disposed over the storage layer, and a write layer disposed over the thermal exchange control layer. A Curie temperature of the thermal exchange control layer is lower than a Curie temperature of the storage layer. The Curie temperature of the thermal exchange control layer is lower than a Curie temperature of the write layer.”

The patent application was filed on March 22, 2017 (15/466,798).

Performing read/write process on recording medium, parameter adjustment method,
storage device, computer system, and storage medium
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (9,978,420) developed by Jun, Walter, Seoul, Korea, for a “method of performing read/write process on recording medium, parameter adjustment method, storage device, computer system, and storage medium employing the methods.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “Methods, apparatuses and systems for detecting defective sectors on a recording medium, the method including calculating a servo gain for each servo sector of a track of a recording medium of a storage device, determining whether the servo gain of each servo sector exceeds a threshold value, and upon determining that the servo gain of a servo sector exceeds the threshold value, determining data sectors included in the servo sector to be defective sectors.”

The patent application was filed on October 31, 2016 (15/339,397).

Heat assisted magnetic recording slider having consistent close point
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (9,978,405) developed by Jandric, Zoran, St. Louis Park, MN, Ramaswamy, Vasudevan, Hutchinson, Erik J., Eden Prairie, MN, and Duda, John Charles, Bloomington, MN, for a “heat assisted magnetic recording slider having a consistent close point.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A slider configured for heat-assisted magnetic recording comprises an air bearing surface, ABS, a writer, and a close point of the writer. A plurality of heat producing or dissipating components are situated a predetermined distance from a vertical plane that is normal to the ABS and aligned with the close point. A location of the writer close point remains substantially consistent irrespective of which of the plurality of heat producing or dissipating components are energized.”

The patent application was filed on February 28, 2017 (15/444,518).