WD Assigned Three Patents

Storage device tester

Western Digital Technologies, Inc., Irvine, CA, has been assigned a patent (8,332,695) developed by Lawrence J. Dalphy, Mission Viejo, CA, and Daniel K. Blackburn, Irvine, CA, for a "data storage device tester."

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A data storage device (DSD) tester for testing a DSD is disclosed. The DSD tester comprises a plurality of bays, a screen, and control circuitry operable to detect when a first DSD has been inserted into a first bay. Independent of operator input, a graphical user interface (GUI) displayed on the screen is automatically updated to reflect the first DSD has been inserted into the first bay. Independent of operator input, a DSD test is automatically executed on the first DSD. When the first DSD is removed from the first bay, independent of operator input, the GUI is automatically updated to reflect the first DSD has been removed from the first bay."

The patent application was filed on March 29, 2010 (12/749,279).

Storage device comprising secure processor
for maintaining plaintext access to LBA table

Western Digital Technologies, Inc., Irvine, CA, has been assigned a patent (8,356,184) developed by Alan T. Meyer, Anaheim Hills, CA, and Erik R. Habbinga, Broomfield, CO, for a "data storage device comprising a secure processor for maintaining plaintext access to an LBA table."

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A data storage device is disclosed comprising a non-volatile memory, a logical block address (LBA) table for storing plain text data used to access the non-volatile memory, and control circuitry including a secure processor and a device processor. The secure processor is operable to initialize the LBA table with at least one authentication code over the plain text data, and verify the authentication code over the plain text data. The device processor is operable to receive an access command from a host, evaluate the plain text data in the LBA table to determine whether to allow the access command, and when the access command is allowed, execute the access command."

The patent application was filed on June 25, 2009 (12/491,441).

Removable actuator assemblies
for testing head gimbal assemblies of storage device

Western Digital Technologies, Inc., Irvine, CA, has been assigned a patent (8,339,747) developed by Geoffrey A. Hales, San Jose, CA, Chunjer C. Cheng, Saratoga, CA, and Tao Lin, San Jose, CA, for "removable actuator assemblies for testing head gimbal assemblies of a storage device."

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "Removable actuator assemblies for testing head gimbal assemblies of a storage device are provided. One such removable test assembly for a head gimbal assembly (HGA) includes an actuator base including at least one guide pin, a shoe assembly including a body including a first end portion opposite to a second end portion, a first attachment means for releaseably coupling the shoe assembly with the actuator base, the first attachment means positioned along the first end portion and including at least one hole in the body configured to receive the at least one guide pin, and a locking cam configured to rotate such that a portion of the cam is positioned over a portion of the at least one hole, and a second attachment means for releaseably coupling the shoe assembly with the HGA, the second attachment means positioned along the second end portion."

The patent application was filed on March 11, 2011 (13/046,566).