Seagate Assigned Twenty Seven Patents

Adaptive cleaning of media surface responsive to mechanical disturbance event
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,199,067) developed by Gan, Swee Chuan Samuel, Zhang, Lihong, Liu, Xiong,and Guo, ChengYi, Singapore, Singapore, for an “adaptive cleaning of a media surface responsive to a mechanical disturbance event.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”Apparatus and method for proactively cleaning a data storage surface subjected to a mechanical disturbance. In some embodiments, data access commands are serviced by a data storage device to transfer user data between a host device and a rotatable data recording surface using a radially moveable data transducer. A media cleaning operation is scheduled and performed in response to the detection of a mechanical disturbance event externally applied to the data storage device. The media cleaning operation involves sweeping the data transducer across the data recording surface from a first radius to a second radius over a selected time duration. The entirety of the data recording surface is swept if sufficient time is available between pending commands to maintain a desired host data transfer rate. Otherwise, a partial cleaning operation is scheduled in which portions of the recording surface are successively cleaned between the servicing of the pending commands.”

The patent application was filed on March 23, 2018 (15/934,243).

Write management of physically coupled storage areas
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,199,066) developed by Feldman, Timothy R., Louisville, CO, for a “write management of physically coupled storage areas.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”A method for managing data bands within an interlaced magnetic recording, (IMR) architecture includes transmitting read/write characteristics of a logical block address space, the read/write characteristics including coupling information characterizing a physical arrangement of data blocks associated with different logical zones in the logical block address space, where each of the logical zones spans a continuous range of logical block addresses mapped to a series of data blocks physically interlaced with another series of data blocks corresponding to another one of the logical zones. The method further provides for executing a write command instructing a data write to a target logical zone of the logical zones, the write command being generated based on the transmitted coupling information.”

The patent application was filed on May 4, 2018 (15/971,119).

Noise cancellation in multitransducer recording
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,199,056) developed by Lammers, Todd Michael, Lafayette, CO, Xue, JianHua, Maple Grove, MN, Guzman, Javier I., Minneapolis, MN, Jaeb, Andrew Thomas, Plymouth, MN, and Buch, Bruce Douglas, Westborough, MA, for a “noise cancellation in multitransducer recording.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”In certain embodiments, an apparatus may comprise a first output driver connected to a first output via a first trace and a second output driver connected to a second output via a second trace. The first output driver may be configured to output a first drive signal to the first output to drive the first output and the first drive signal may cause first induced noise in the second trace. Further, the second output driver may be configured to output a second drive signal based on the first drive signal where the second drive signal may reduce the magnitude of the first induced noise at the second output.”

The patent application was filed on January 15, 2018 (15/871,786).

Data storage system with pre-boot interface
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,198,388) developed by Miller, Michael Howard, Eden Prairie, MN, for a “data storage system with pre-boot interface.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A data storage system and associated method of using may generally have at least a data storage device that has independent first and second interfaces respectively connecting the data storage device to a host controller and an auxiliary controller. The auxiliary controller can be configured to provide system information to the data storage device prior to a synchronized connection being established between the data storage device and the host controller.“

The patent application was filed on September 20, 2013 (14/032,382).

Adaptive read threshold voltage tracking with gap estimation between default read threshold voltages
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,192,614) developed by Sankaranarayanan, Sundararajan, Fremont, CA, and Haratsch, Erich F., San Jose, CA, for an “adaptive read threshold voltage tracking with gap estimation between default read threshold voltages.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “Methods and apparatus are provided for adaptive read threshold voltage tracking with gap estimation between default read threshold voltages. A read threshold voltage for a memory is adjusted by estimating a gap between two adjacent default read threshold voltages, determining statistical characteristics of two adjacent memory levels based at least in part on a type of statistical distribution of the memory levels, a distribution of data values read from one or more cells using a plurality of read threshold voltages and the gap, computing an adjusted read threshold voltage associated with the two adjacent memory levels by using the statistical characteristics of the two adjacent memory levels, and updating the read threshold voltage with the adjusted read threshold voltage. The adjustment is optionally performed responsive to one or more read errors.“

The patent application was filed on December 8, 2015 (14/962,538).

Write current switching in data storage device using effective footprint of write pole
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,192,580) developed by Liu, Xiong, Li, Quan, Singapore, Singapore, and Cross, Ralph William, Lyons, CO, for a “write current switching in a data storage device using an effective footprint of a write pole.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A sequence of symbols is generated to describe a set of write data, the symbols having a length of nT, where T is a channel clock rate and n is an integer over a predetermined range. Bi-directional write currents are applied to a write pole to record the sequence of symbols to a magnetic storage medium. The write pole has an effective footprint with a downtrack length of mT, where m is an integer. The write currents are switched between a first rail current and a second rail current for alternating symbols, the write currents further transitioning to an intermediate current value for at least one channel clock period for symbols longer than 1T. Write currents are applied to the write pole when recording symbols having a length longer than mT using the effective footprint of the write pole as an interval.“

The patent application was filed on May 4, 2018 (15/971,284).

Sensorless monitoring of laser power instability in heat-assisted magnetic recording head
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,192,578) developed by Macken, Declan, Eden Prairie, MN, Perry, Tyler Lenn, Cottage Grove, MN, Tatah, Karim, Eden Prairie, MN, Dorobantu, Andrei, San Diego, CA, and Lammers, Todd Michael, Lafayette, CO, for a “sensorless monitoring of laser power instability in a heat-assisted magnetic recording head.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A slider configured for heat-assisted magnetic recording includes a laser diode optically coupled to a waveguide of the slider. A power supply is coupled to the laser diode. A preamplifier is coupled to the power supply. The preamplifier is configured to monitor a forward voltage across the laser diode while operating the laser diode at a constant current during a write operation, detect a change in the forward voltage indicative of laser power instability, and generate a signal in response to detecting the forward voltage change.“

The patent application was filed on July 30, 2018 (16/049,331).

Write pole coating layer
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,192,577) developed by McGeehin, Peter Kevin, and Gubbins, Mark Anthony, Donegal, Ireland, for a “write pole coating layer.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “An apparatus comprises a slider having a media-facing surface and that is configured for heat-assisted magnetic recording. The slider comprises a write pole, a heatsink layer, and a diffusing metal. The write pole includes two or more sides extending into the slider and a pole tip at the media-facing surface. The heatsink layer is proximate at least part of the two or more sides of the write pole, and a first portion of the heatsink layer is proximate the pole tip. The diffusing metal is disposed proximate the write pole.“

The patent application was filed on December 8, 2017 (15/835,808).

Modifies seeks to remediate inter-actuator coupling in storage drive
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,192,576) developed by Gaertner, Mark Allen, Vadnais Heights, MN, Kharisov, Evgeny, Chaska, MN, and Wernow, Josiah Natan, St. Paul, MN, for “method and apparatus that modifies seeks to remediate inter-actuator coupling in a storage drive.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A faulty tracking condition affecting a first head driven by a first actuator of a hard disk drive is determined. The faulty tracking condition is caused by a second actuator of the hard disk drive that is moving while the first actuator is performing a tracking operation. Responsive to the determination of the faulty tracking condition, seek forces of the second actuator that cause the faulty tracking condition affecting the first head are reduced. A controller verifies that similar faulty tracking conditions are reduced with the first head in response to the reduction in seek forces.“

The patent application was filed on December 5, 2017 (15/831,919).

Split actuator with multiple head stack assemblies bonded to bearing sleeves
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,192,575) developed by Resh, Roger A., Prior Lake, MN, for a “split actuator with multiple head stack assemblies bonded to bearing sleeves.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “An apparatus includes at least one actuator shaft. First and second head stack assemblies are coaxially located on the actuator shaft(s). The first and second head stack assemblies each include: at least one bearing having an inner race coupled to an outer surface of the actuator shaft(s), an E-block surrounding an outer race of the at least one bearing, an annular gap is between the E-block and the outer race of the at least one bearing, a ring of bonding material filling the annular gap, and an access gap providing a fluid path to the annular gap from at least one of a top and a bottom of the E-block.“

The patent application was filed on October 31, 2017 (15/798,535).

Scalable storage protection
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,191,676) developed by Cohen, Earl T., Oakland, CA, and Quinn, Robert F., Campbell, CA, for a “scalable storage protection.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “The disclosure is directed to protecting data of a scalable storage system. A scalable storage system includes a plurality of nodes, each of the nodes having directly-attached storage, (DAS), such as one or more hard-disk drives and/or solid-state disk drives. The nodes are coupled via an inter-node communication network, and a substantial entirety of the DAS is globally accessible by each of the nodes. The DAS is protected utilizing intra-node protection to keep data stored in the DAS reliable and globally accessible in presence of a failure within one of the nodes. The DAS is further protected utilizing inter-node protection to keep data stored in the DAS reliable and globally accessible if at least one of the nodes fails.“

The patent application was filed on February 22, 2017 (15/439,459).

Near-field transducer having at least one secondary atom
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,190,210) developed by Zhao, Tong, Eden Prairie, MN, Kautzky, Michael C., Eagan, MN, Sahoo, Sarbeswar, Shakopee, MN, Brons, Justin, Savage, MN, Gong, Jie, Eden Prairie, MN, and Cheng, Yuhang, Edina, MN, for a “near-field transducer having at least one secondary atom.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “Devices having an air bearing surface, ABS, the device including a near field transducer, the near field transducer having a peg and a disc, the peg having a region adjacent the ABS, the peg including a plasmonic material selected from gold, Au, silver, Ag, copper, Cu, ruthenium, Ru, rhodium, Rh, aluminum, Al, or combinations thereof, and at least one other secondary atom selected from germanium, Ge, tellurium, Te, aluminum, Al, antimony, Sb, tin, Sn, mercury, Hg, indium, In, zinc, Zn, iron, Fe, copper, Cu, manganese, Mn, silver, Ag, chromium, Cr, cobalt, Co, and combinations thereof, wherein a concentration of the secondary atom is higher at the region of the peg adjacent the ABS than a concentration of the secondary atom throughout the bulk of the peg. Methods of forming NFTs are also disclosed.”

The patent application was filed on November 20, 2017 (15/817,503).

Near-field transducer having edges aligned with waveguide core
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,186,292) developed by Krishnamurthy, Vivek, Edina, MN, Lee, Tae-Woo, Seigler, Michael Allen, Eden Prairie, MN, and Zhang, Peng, Bloomington, MN, for a “near-field transducer having edges aligned with waveguide core.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A recording head has a waveguide core layer that delivers light from a light source to a region proximate a magnetic write pole. A near-field transducer is formed of a thin film of Rh or Ir deposited over the waveguide core layer. The near-field transducer includes an enlarged part with two straight edges facing a media-facing surface and at obtuse angles relative to the media-facing surface. A peg extends from the enlarged part towards the media-facing surface. The waveguide core layer has a terminating end with terminating edges that align with the two straight edges of the near-field transducer.”

The patent application was filed on April 30, 2018 (15/966,170).

Bond pad sharing in head slider using null point center tap
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,186,291) developed by Ramakrishnan, Narayanan, Eden Prairie, MN, Klarqvist, Jon Karsten, Roseville, MN, Wessel, James G., Savage, MN, and Macken, Declan, Eden Prairie, MN, for a “bond pad sharing in head slider using null point center tap.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A head slider for use in a disk drive is movably positionable relative to a magnetic recording disk and includes at least one write element for writing data to the magnetic recording disk. The write element includes a writer coil electrically connected between a first bond pad and a second bond pad, where the connection between the first bond pad and the second bond pad includes a center tap located proximate to a voltage null point. The head slider also includes at least one read element for reading data from the magnetic recording disk, the read element electrically connected between the center tap and a third bond pad, where the write element and the read element are configured to be selectively activated based on biased inputs to the first bond pad, the second bond pad, and the third bond pad.”

The patent application was filed on May 24, 2017 (15/603,730).

Data reader with front shield coupling structure
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,186,285) developed by Lapicki, Adam A., Derry, Great Britain, Hassan, Sameh, Du, YuQing, Londonderry, Great Britain, Kief, Mark T., Lakeville, MN, and Ormston, Marcus W., Derry, Great Britain, for a “data reader with front shield coupling structure.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A head slider for use in a disk drive is movably positionable relative to a magnetic recording disk and includes at least one write element for writing data to the magnetic recording disk. The write element includes a writer coil electrically connected between a first bond pad and a second bond pad, where the connection between the first bond pad and the second bond pad includes a center tap located proximate to a voltage null point. The head slider also includes at least one read element for reading data from the magnetic recording disk, the read element electrically connected between the center tap and a third bond pad, where the write element and the read element are configured to be selectively activated based on biased inputs to the first bond pad, the second bond pad, and the third bond pad.”

The patent application was filed on April 20, 2017 (15/492,638).

Forming near field transducers
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,186,283) developed by Dubbaka, Sridhar, Zhao, YongJun, Eden Prairie, MN, and Grundman, David Michael, Shakopee, MN, for “methods of forming near field transducers, (NFTS) and portions thereof.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A method of forming a peg of a NFT, the peg having a tapered portion, the method including depositing a layer of dielectric material, forming a three dimensional shape from at least a portion of the dielectric material the three dimensional shape having two side surfaces and two end surfaces, and depositing plasmonic material on at least one side surface of the three dimensional shape of dielectric material, wherein the plasmonic material deposited on the at least one side surface forms the tapered portion of the peg.”

The patent application was filed on November 11, 2015 (14/938,264).

Etching source installable in storage medium processing tool
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,184,170) developed by Tanaka, Samuel Lewis, Fremont, CA, and Greenberg, Thomas Larson, Berkeley, CA, for an “etching source installable in a storage medium processing tool.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A plasma etching source installable into at least one of multiple compartments of a sputter deposition tool. The plasma etching source includes a first mounting plate and at least one electrode plate coupled to the first mounting plate. A gas inlet is included in the first mounting plate of the plasma etching source.”

The patent application was filed on January 17, 2014 (14/916,081).

Carrier for mounting bar of sliders or a stack of such bars to be lapped
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,183,376) developed by Xiong, Yuhong, Maple Grove, MN, Hoehn, Joel W., Hudson, WI, Sze, Yeoh Hooi, Kedah, Malaysia, and Cheong, Ng Kok, Penang, Malaysia, for a “carrier for mounting a bar of sliders or a stack of such bars to be lapped.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “Embodiments of the present disclosure include carriers for a row bar or stack of row bars to be lapped. In some embodiments, the ratio of the coefficient of thermal expansion of at least the bridge of a carrier to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the slider row bar or stack of slider row bars is less than 1.6. In some embodiments, a carrier can include a bridge having a length longer than the row bar or stack of row bars. In some embodiments, one or more bridge bending members can have junction centerlines offset from the corresponding bridge bending members.”

The patent application was filed on October 20, 2016 (15/298,883).

Advanced heater-assisted media burnishing head media burnish process
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,181,335) developed by Agarwal, Shashi Bhushan, Santa Clara, CA, Tang, Huan, Los Altos, CA, and Gui, Jing, Fremont, CA, for an “Advanced heater-assisted media burnishing head media burnish process.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A method and system for cleaning and/or burnishing an article. The article is operated on by a burnishing object having one more cutting edges and one or more heating surfaces. The article rotates relative to the burnishing head and the cutting edges remove asperities from the article. The heating surface can be activated and can optionally protrude from the burnishing head to further reduce roughness of the surface of the article as the article is rotating relative to the head. The cutting edges and heating surfaces can be configured in shape and size, (i.e., geometry) to accommodate the article.”

The patent application was filed on June 4, 2008 (12/133,353).

Cache management in data storage
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,180,792) developed by Gaertner, Mark, Vadnais Heights, MN, and Sawin, James D, Sterling, MA, for a “cache management in data storage systems.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “Data storage devices may store selected data received from a data source to a buffer memory. The selected data may be copied from the buffer to a non-volatile memory configured for sequential storage. The selected data may then be copied from the buffer to a solid state memory, such as dynamic random access memory. The selected data may be copied from the solid state memory to a main store, such as a magnetic disc memory. If the selected data cannot be found in the solid state memory, the selected data in the non-volatile memory can be copied to the main store.”

The patent application was filed on April 30, 2015 (14/701,447).

Compression sampling in tiered storage
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,180,791) developed by Kowles, Andrew M., Lyons, CO, for a “compression sampling in tiered storage.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A method for data steering in tiered storage is described. In one embodiment, the method includes ranking a plurality of storage areas of a storage device according to at least one property of the plurality of storage areas. In some embodiments, the plurality of storage areas include at least a first storage area and a second storage area. The method includes obtaining a sample of data at the storage device, passing the sample of data through one or more compression codecs, and analyzing a result of passing the sample of data through the one or more compression codecs. In some embodiments, the result includes a score of compression savings associated with the sample of data. The method includes storing the data in one of the plurality of storage areas based at least in part on the analyzing the result of passing the sample of data through the one or more compression codecs.”

The patent application was filed on August 21, 2017 (15/682,132).

Syndrome update and maintenance
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,177,791) developed by Sridhara, Deepak, Longmont, CO, and Patapoutian, Ara, Hopkinton, MA, for “syndrome update and maintenance.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “An apparatus may include a circuit that performs one or more read and recovery operations for one or more data segments including updating an outer code syndrome for one or more recovered data segments recovered by the one or more read and recovery operations and preventing updates of the outer code syndrome for one or more failed data segments not recovered by the one or more read and recovery operations.”

The patent application was filed on November 8, 2016 (15/346,651).

Mitigation of error correction failure due to trapping sets
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,177,787) developed by Danjean, Ludovic, San Jose, CA, Sankaranarayanan, Sundararajan, Fremont, CA, Djurdjevic, Ivana, Alhussien, AbdelHakim, and Haratsch, Erich F., San Jose, CA, and Patapoutian, Ara, Hopkinton, MA, for a “mitigation of error correction failure due to trapping sets.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “An apparatus having an interface and a control circuit is disclosed. The interface may be configured to process a plurality of read/write operations to/from a memory. The control circuit may be configured to, (i) access information that characterizes a plurality of trapping sets of a low-density parity check code in response to receiving data,(ii) encode the data using the low-density parity check code to generate a codeword and,(iii) write the codeword in the memory. The generation of the codeword may include at least one of a shortening and a puncturing of a plurality of bits in the codeword. The plurality of bits may be selected based on the information that characterizes the plurality of trapping sets. The bits selected generally reduce a probability that an error correction of the codeword after the codeword is read from the memory fails due to the plurality of trapping sets.”

The patent application was filed on September 17, 2015 (14/856,674).

Multi-level data block error detection code
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,176,886) developed by Spencer, Thomas V., Fort Collins, CO, Goss, Ryan James, Prior Lake, MN, and Gaertner, Mark A., Vadnais Heights, MN, for a “multi-level data block error detection code.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A data storage system can consist of a number of data storage devices each having a non-volatile memory, a memory buffer, and an error detection module. The memory buffer may store a first data block comprising a front-end first-level error detection code assigned by the error detection module. The non-volatile memory can consist of a second data block having a back-end first-level error detection code and a second-level error detection code each assigned by the error detection module.”

The patent application was filed on July 7, 2017 (15/643,550).

Shingled magnetic recording storage
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,176,849) developed by Qiang, Jian, Liu, Xiong, Ng, Choon Wei, Singapore, Singapore, and Jung, Sangyun, Gyeonggu-do, Korea, for a “shingled magnetic recording storage system.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “The disclosed technology includes methods and systems that reduce off-track write retry operations in shingled magnetic recording systems. In one implementation, the method includes writing data to an initial track, determining which side of the initial track is a shingled side, calculating a percentage of position error signal, (PES) at a shingled side end of the initial track, (PES1) when an off-track write operation occurs, determining whether the PES1 meets a first pre-determined threshold, continue writing data to a second track responsive to determining the PES1 is below a first pre-determined threshold, calculating a percentage of PES at a shingled side end of the second track, PES2, determining whether a combined value of PES1 and PES2 is above a second predetermined threshold to determine a probability value of the initial track being erased, and continue writing to a third track if the combined value is below the second predetermined threshold.”

The patent application was filed on September 29, 2017 (15/720,486).

Write head offset for shingled magnetic recording, disk drives
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,176,834) developed by Qiang, Jian, and Liu, Xiong, Singapore, Singapore, for “write head offset for shingled magnetic recording, (SMR) disk drives.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for provisioning storage devices. An example method includes determining a write status of an adjacent track that is adjacent to a target track of a shingled magnetic recording, SMR) disk drive. The method may further include determining an offset for a write head based on the write status of the adjacent track and positioning the write head according to the offset.”

The patent application was filed on January 10, 2018 (15/867,509).

Horizontal cavity surface emitting laser integration features for HAMR
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,176,833) developed by Hipwell, Jr., Roger L., Eden Prairie, MN, and Olson, Scott Eugene, Eagan, MN, for “horizontal cavity surface emitting laser integration features for heat assisted magnetic recording.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A folded lasing cavity comprises at least one bend. The folded lasing cavity is disposed on and configured to emit light along a substrate-parallel plane. An etched facet is on an emitting end of the folded lasing cavity and an etched mirror is on another end of the folding lasing cavity. An etched shaping mirror redirects light received from the etched facet in a direction normal to the substrate-parallel plane.”

The patent application was filed on January 18, 2017 (15/408,637).