Seagate Assigned Seven Patents

Write management using partial parity codes
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (8,924,814) developed by Feldman Timothy Richard, Louisville, CO, for a “write management using partial parity codes.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A partial outer parity management system generates a product code based on a partial data block write to a data block and partial outer parity generated by a previous partial data block write to the data block. In one implementation, a storage device includes cache storage circuit accessible by the parity generator, the cache storage circuit being configured to cache the partial outer parity generated by the previous partial data block write to the data block in a partial outer parity cache designated for association with the product code.”

The patent application was filed on August 28, 2012 (13/596,436)

Selectively depowering portion of controller to facilitate HDD safeguard operations
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (8,924,641) developed by Trantham Jon David, Chanhassen, MN, Boling Brian Dean, Broomfield, CO, Erickson and Dale Herbert, Edina, MN, for a “selectively depowering portion of a controller to facilitate hard disk drive safeguard operations.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “In response to a hard disk drive losing primary power, power is obtained from a spinning motor of the hard disk drive. Portions of a controller of the hard disk drive are selectively depowered to facilitate performing safeguard operations via the controller using the power obtained from the spinning motor.”

The patent application was filed on December 5, 2011(13/311,523)

MLC update with protected mode capability
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (8,923,045) developed by Goss Ryan James, Prior Lake, MN, Gaertner Mark Allen, Vadnais Heights, MN, and Seekins David Scott, Shakopee, MN, for a “multi-level cell (MLC) update with protected mode capability.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “Method and apparatus for managing data in a memory, such as a flash memory array. In accordance with some embodiments, a first block of data is written to a group of memory cells at a first memory location in single-level cell (SLC) mode. The first block of data is copied from the first memory location to a group of memory cells at a second memory location to provide a backup copy of the first block of data during a protected mode of operation. A second block of data is subsequently overwritten to the group of memory cells at the first memory location so that the first memory location stores both the first and second blocks of data in multi-level cell (MLC) mode.”

The patent application was filed on May 31, 2012(13/485,503)

Tunneling magneto-resistive sensors with buffer layers
Seagate Technology LLC, Minneapolis, MN, has been assigned a patent (8,922,956) developed by Lu Bin, San Ramon, CA, He Qing, Plymouth, MN, Covington Mark, Edina, MN, Xu Yunhao, Fremont, CA, and Tian Wei, Eden Prairie, MN, for a “tunneling magneto-resistive sensors with buffer layers.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “In certain embodiments, a tunneling magneto-resistive (TMR) sensor includes a sensor stack positioned between a seed layer and a cap layer. The seed layer includes a first buffer layer that includes a non-magnetic nickel alloy. In certain embodiments, a sensor stack includes a top and bottom shield and a seed layer positioned adjacent to the bottom shield. The seed layer has a first buffer layer that includes a nickel alloy.”

The patent application was filed on June 3, 2011(13/152,860)

Data storage device with variable anisotropy side shield
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (8,922,951) developed by Sapozhnikov Victor Boris, Minnetonka, MN, Patwari Mohammed Shariat Ullah, Eden Prairie, MN, McKinlay Shaun Eric, Eden Prairie, MN, Nikolaev Konstantin Rudolfovich, Bloomington, MN, Singleton Eric Walter, Maple Plain, MN, and Yi Jae-Young, Prior Lake, MN, for a “data storage device with variable anisotropy side shield.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “Various embodiments may be generally directed to a data storage device with at least a magnetic element having a magnetic stack positioned adjacent to and separated from at least one side shield on an air bearing surface, (ABS). The side shield can be configured with a predetermined anisotropy variation along a down-track direction.”

The patent application was filed on December 11, 2012(13/710,945)

Multi-layer magnetoresistive shield with transition metal layer
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (8,922,950) developed by Singleton Eric W., Maple Plain, MN, Yi Jae-Young, Prior Lake, MN, Gao Kaizhong, Eden Prairie, MN, Dimitrov Dimitar V., Edina, MN, Song Dian, Eden Prairie, MN, and Vas’ko Vladyslav A., Apple Valley, MN, for a “multi-layer magnetoresistive shield with transition metal layer.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A magnetic shield that is capable of enhancing magnetic reading. In accordance with various embodiments, a magnetic element has a magnetically responsive stack shielded from magnetic flux and biased to a predetermined default magnetization by at least one lateral side shield that has a transition metal layer disposed between first and second ferromagnetic layers.”

The patent application was filed on May 6, 2011(13/102,615)

Limit disc nodes by band usage
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (8,922,930) developed by Weikal Adam, Butler, PA, for a “limit disc nodes by band usage.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “The present disclosure generally relates to shingled recording systems, such as shingled magnetic recording, (SMR). In some embodiments, systems having a data storage device containing a write cache and shingled bands may store new data from a host in the write cache before writing it to shingled track main storage. The system may determine when to throttle completion of commands based on a number of unique bands associated with data stored in the write cache.”

The patent application was filed on March 15, 2013(13/832,184)