WD Assigned Six Patents

Hybrid drive storing redundant copies of data on disk
and in non-volatile semiconductor memory based on read frequency
Western Digital Technologies Inc., Irvine, CA, has been assigned a patent (8,560,759) developed by three co-inventors for a “hybrid drive storing redundant copies of data on disk and in non-volatile semiconductor memory based on read frequency.”

The co-inventors are William B. Boyle, Lake Forest, CA, Curtis E. Stevens, Irvine, CA, and Virgil V. Wilkins, Perris, CA.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A hybrid drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk comprising a plurality of data sectors, and a non-volatile semiconductor memory (NVSM). A read frequency of a first logical block address (LBA) is maintained, and when the read frequency of the first LBA exceeds a threshold and a corresponding PBA is assigned to a data sector of the disk, first data stored in the data sector is copied to a memory segment of the NVSM. When the read frequency of the first LBA exceeds a threshold and the PBA is assigned to a memory segment of the NVSM, first data stored in the memory segment is copied to a data sector of the disk. When a read command is received to read the first LBA, a decision is made to read the first data from one of the NVSM and the disk.”

The patent application was filed on Oct. 25, 2010 (12/911,564).

Optically coupling laser with transducer
in energy assisted magnetic recording disk drive
Western Digital, Fremont, CA, has been assigned a patent (8,593,914) developed by five co-inventors for “a method and system for optically coupling a laser with a transducer in an energy assisted magnetic recording disk drive.”

The co-inventors are Lei Wang, Shing Lee, Arkadi B. Goulakov, Fremont, CA, Hyojune Lee, San Jose, CA, and Sergei Sochava, Sunnyvale, CA.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A method and system for providing an energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) head are described. The EAMR head includes a laser, a slider, and an EAMR transducer. The laser has a main emitter and at least one alignment emitter. The slider includes at least one alignment waveguide, at least one output device, and an air-bearing surface (ABS). The alignment waveguide(s) are aligned with the alignment emitter(s). The EAMR transducer is coupled with the slider and includes a waveguide aligned with main emitter. The waveguide is for directing energy from the main emitter toward the ABS.”

The patent application was filed on Dec. 22, 2010 (12/976,770).

Disk drive executing log structured writes to physical zones based on power mode
Western Digital Technologies, Irvine, CA, has been assigned a patent (8,576,511) developed by two co-inventors for a “disk drive executing log structured writes to physical zones based on power mode.”

The co-inventors are Kenny T. Coker, Firestone, CO, and William B. Boyle, Lake Forest, CA.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk comprising a plurality of physical zones including a first physical zone and a second physical zone, wherein the first physical zone comprises data tracks recorded at a first data rate and the second physical zone comprises data tracks recorded at a second data rate different than the first data rate. A write command is received including data and at least one logical block address (LBA). One of the first and second physical zones is selected based on a power parameter affecting a power consumption of the disk drive, and the data is written to a data sector in the selected physical zone. A physical block address (PBA) is assigned to the data sector, and an LBA to PBA map is updated for the written data.”

The patent application was filed on June 21, 2011 (13/165,727).

Providing energy assisted magnetic recording disk drive
using a distributed feedback laser
Western Digital, Fremont, CA, has been assigned a patent (8,599,657) developed by Shing Lee, Daly City, CA, for “a method and system for providing energy assisted magnetic recording disk drive using a distributed feedback laser.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A method and system for providing an energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) disk drive are described. The EAMR disk drive includes a media, a slider having a trailing face and an air-bearing surface (ABS), at least one distributed feedback (DFB) layer and EAMR transducer(s) on the slider. The DFB laser(s) each includes a plurality of quantum wells, a laser coupling grating, at least one reflector, and a cavity in the at least one DFB laser. The DFB laser(s) for providing energy to the media. The EAMR transducer(s) includes at least one waveguide, a write pole, at least one coil for energizing the write pole, at least one grating, and may include a near-field transducer. The grating(s) include a coupling grating for coupling the energy from the at least one DFB laser to the waveguide(s). The waveguide(s) direct the energy from the at least one grating toward the ABS.”

The patent application was filed on March 18, 2013 (13/846,802).

Storage device employing seed array for data path protection
Western Digital Technologies, Irvine, CA, has been assigned a patent (8,578,242) developed by two co-inventors for a “data storage device employing seed array for data path protection.”

The co-inventors are Scott E. Burton, Westminster, CO, and Michael C. Kutas, Irvine, CA.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A data storage device is disclosed including a non-volatile memory comprising a plurality of memory segments. The LBAs of a read command are mapped to PBAs addressing the memory segments. At least two seed values corresponding to two of the LBAs are generated and stored in an array. The array is then indexed to access the seed value corresponding to each LBA, wherein the seed value is used to seed an error code generator.”

The patent application was filed on Jan. 29, 2010 (12/696,950).

HDD to load head to load/unload zone of disk
Western Digital Technologies, Irvine, CA, has been assigned a patent (8,605,382) developed by four co-inventors for a “disk drive to load a head to a load/unload zone of a disk.”

The co-inventors are Michael L. Mallary, Sterling, MA, Donald Brunnett, Pleasanton, CA, Diep L. Nguyen, Castro Valley, CA, and Gerardo A. Bertero, Redwood City, CA.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A disk drive to load a head to a load/unload (LUL) zone of a disk is disclosed. The disk drive comprises an actuator including a head; a disk having a plurality of tracks; and a processor to control the movement of the actuator and the head relative to the disk. The processor may further: measure a back electromagnetic force (BEMF) of a spindle stator of a spindle motor after turning off the spindle motor; identify a modulation feature of the BEMF that indicates an identifiable circumferential position; command the storage the modulation feature of the BEMF; and control loading the head onto the LUL zone of the disk when the modulation feature is matched.”

The patent application was filed on June 8, 2011 (13/155,675).