Seagate Twenty Two Patents

HAMR head having trench on aperture waveguide output end
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,403,313) developed by Gan, Choon How, Derry, Great Britain, Gubbins, Mark Anthony, Donegal, Ireland, Fernandez Garcia, Roberto, Derry, Great Britain, Hardy, Michael James, Londonderry, Great Britain, Barbosa Neira, Andres David, Derry, Great Britain, Cheng, Yuhang, Edina, MN, and Chen, Weibin, Bloomington, MN, for a “heat-assisted magnetic recording head having a trench on aperture waveguide output end.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”An apparatus includes a slider configured for heat-assisted magnetic recording. The slider comprises an input coupler configured to receive light excited by a light source and a waveguide. The waveguide comprises a waveguide core tapering along a light propagation direction from a first cross-sectional width to a second cross-sectional width. The second cross sectional width is smaller than the first cross sectional width. The waveguide core comprises a trench at an output end. The waveguide comprises at least one cladding layer surrounding the waveguide core. The waveguide is configured to provide a surface plasmon-enhanced near-field radiation pattern proximate the output end in response to the received light.”

The patent application was filed on May 29, 2018 (15/991,010).

Write pole shield having low saturation magnetization layer
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,403,311) developed by Basu, Swaraj, Gangmei, Prim, Londonderry, Great Britain, Moore, Angela, Co. Gubbins, Mark Anthony, Co. Donegal, Ireland, and McConnell, Beverley R., Londonderry, Great Britain, for a “write pole shield having a low saturation magnetization layer.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”A recording head that includes a bearing surface and a write pole having a front surface that forms a portion of the bearing surface. The recording head also includes a side shield for the write pole. The side shield includes a low saturation magnetization cap layer having a front surface that forms a portion of the bearing surface. The side shield also includes a main side shield layer having a saturation magnetization that is higher than a saturation magnetization value of the low saturation magnetization cap layer.”

The patent application was filed on July 31, 2017 (15/664,628).

Hyperbolic metamaterial-based near-field transducer for HAMR head
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,403,310) developed by Barbosa Neira, Andres David, Fernandez Garcia, Roberto, Derry, Great Britain, Hardy, Michael James, Londonderry, Great Britain, Gan, Choon How, Derry, Great Britain, Gubbins, Mark Anthony, Donegal, Ireland, Zavaliche, Florin, San Ramon, CA, Zhao, Tong, Eden Prairie, MN, and Blaber, Martin Giles, Plymouth, MN, for a “hyperbolic metamaterial-based near-field transducer for heat assisted magnetic recording head.“

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 recording. A near-field transducer comprising a peg is situated at or near an air bearing surface of the slider, and an optical waveguide of the slider is configured to couple light from a light source to the near-field transducer. The peg comprises a hyperbolic metamaterial, and the near-field transducer may further include an enlarged portion from which the peg extends, where the enlarged portion may also comprise a hyperbolic metamaterial.”

The patent application was filed on July 16, 2018 (16/036,155).

Storage drive monitoring
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,402,254) developed by Virmani, Ashish, Haryana, India, for a “storage drive monitoring.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”Systems and methods for real-time storage drive monitoring are described. In one embodiment, the method may include monitoring one or more aspects of a storage drive located in a storage enclosure, detecting, based at least in part on the monitoring, an anomaly in relation to an operation of the storage drive, and communicating information regarding the anomaly to a remote computing device.”

The patent application was filed on November 11, 2015 (14/938,462).

Mapping system for data storage devices
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,402,094) developed by Tiotantra, Harry, Kai, Chen, WenXiang, Xie, and Feng, Shen, Singapore, Singapore, for a “mapping system for data storage devices.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”A method includes generating a map for a storage tier. The map maps a plurality of extents to physical locations on the storage tier and is implemented as a tree with each extent to physical location mapping being one of a plurality of leaf extent nodes of the tree. Individual ones of the plurality of leaf extent nodes are compressed into small extent nodes. Different groups of the small extent nodes are associated with carrier nodes. A command that involves an extent of the plurality of extents, which is represented by a small extent node in one of the carrier nodes, is received from a host. A decompression operation is performed on the small extent node in the carrier node to provide a leaf extent node for the extent associated with the host command. An extent node operation is performed on the leaf extent node for the extent.”

The patent application was filed on October 17, 2017 (15/785,721).

Leading edge thermal sensor for HAMR head
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,395,680) developed by Wessel, James Gary, Savage, MN, and Wang, Chen, Bloomington, MN, for a “leading edge thermal sensor for a heat-assisted magnetic recording head.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”An apparatus includes a slider having an air bearing surface, (ABS). A near-field transducer, (NFT) is disposed at or near the ABS. The slider has an optical waveguide configured to couple light from a laser source to the NFT. A thermal sensor is disposed at a leading edge of the NFT, the thermal sensor has an ABS section situated at or proximate the ABS and a distal section extending away from the ABS. The thermal sensor is configured to detect changes in output optical power of the laser source and contact between the slider and a magnetic recording medium.”

The patent application was filed on April 18, 2018 (15/956,044).

Transducing head suspension with resonance system
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,395,679) developed by Shivarama, Ravishankar Ajjanagadde, Eden Prairie, MN, Ver Meer, Bradley J., Savage, MN, and Zambri, Razman, Eden Prairie, MN, for a “transducing head suspension with resonance system.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”A data storage system can employ at least one transducing head that is suspended above a data storage medium to access data. The transducing head suspension can be configured with a resonance system where a gimbal flexure is mounted to a load beam via a physical connection. The gimbal flexure may support a transducing head and contact the load beam via the physical connection, a dimple, and a first contact feature concurrently while the physical connection, dimple, and first contact feature are each separate and different points of physical contact.”

The patent application was filed on December 8, 2017 (15/836,151).

In-field laser calibration for HAMR head using temperature compensation equation
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,395,673) developed by Chu, Alfredo Sam, Prior Lake, MN, Martens, Franklin P., Bloomington, MN, Mader, Drew Michael, Minneapolis, MN, Kimble, Steven J., Chanhassen, MN, and Angelo, James E., Savage, MN, for an “in-field laser calibration for heat-assisted magnetic recording head using temperature compensation equation.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”A temperature compensation equation is generated during manufacture of a heat-assisted magnetic recording, (HAMR) disk drive using initial total currents supplied to a laser diode of the disk drive at different initial operating temperatures. The total currents represent currents for recording data to or erasing data from the medium. The temperature compensation equation is stored in the disk drive, and updated, during field operation, using a subsequent total current associated with an operating temperature differing from the initial operating temperatures. The total current supplied to the laser diode for a subsequent write operation is adjusted using the updated temperature compensation equation in response to the operating temperature at the time of the subsequent write operation.”

The patent application was filed on October 25, 2018 (16/170,445).

Managing shingled magnetic recording, (SMR) zones in hybrid storage
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,394,493) developed by Tang, Alex, Cupertino, CA, Baryudin, Leonid, San Jose, CA, Hicken, Michael Scott, Rochester, MN, Ish, Mark, Sandy Springs, GA, and Forhan, Carl, Rochester, MN, for a “managing shingled magnetic recording, (SMR) zones in a hybrid 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. The device has a first non-volatile memory, (NVM) of solid state memory cells arranged into a first set of garbage collection units, GCUs, and a second NVM as a rotatable data recording medium arranged into a second set of GCUs each comprising a plurality of shingled magnetic recording tracks. A control circuit combines a first group of logical block units, (LBUs) stored in the first set of GCUs with a second group of LBUs stored in the second set of GCUs to form a combined group of LBUs arranged in sequential order by logical address. The control circuit streams the combined group of LBUs to a zone of shingled magnetic recording tracks in a selected one of the second set of GCUs. A combined media translation map identifies physical addresses in both the first and second NVMs.”

The patent application was filed on June 30, 2017 (15/638,632).

Snap tree arbitrary replication
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,394,482) developed by Dewey, Douglas W., Longmont, CO, Day, Kenneth F., Tucson, AZ, and Davies, Ian R., Longmont, CO, for a “snap tree arbitrary replication.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”Systems and methods for replicating a snapshot of a volume are described. In one embodiment, a storage controller of a storage system may be operable to initialize a first replication process between a first storage volume of the first storage system and a second storage volume of a second storage system, copy content from a first system snapshot of the first storage volume to a second system snapshot of the first storage volume, and copy content from a first user snapshot of the first storage volume to the first system snapshot of the first storage volume. In some cases, a system snapshot is not accessible to a user and a user snapshot is accessible to the user. In some cases, at least one of the system snapshot and the user snapshot include a point in time capture of data on the first storage volume.”

The patent application was filed on April 14, 2016 (15/099,366).

Adaptive configuration of thermal asperity guard bands
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,388,314) developed by Liu, Xiong, Xia, Lan, Li, Quan, Zhang, Lihong, and Gan, Swee Chuan Samuel, Singapore, Singapore, for an “adaptive configuration of thermal asperity guard bands.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”Apparatus and method for reducing the effects of thermal asperities on a rotatable data recording surface. A data transducer writes user data to a first set of tracks at a first fly height above the recording surface. A compensation circuit detects a thermal asperity, (TA) on the recording surface, and establishes a guard band as a second set of tracks that are co-radial with the TA. The second set of tracks are deallocated and removed from service. The compensation circuit further defines a reserve band as a third set of tracks immediately adjacent the guard band, and selects an increased, second fly height that allows the data transducer to write data to the reserve band without contacting the TA. The second set of tracks may have a greater track pitch than the first set of tracks to compensate for the greater fly height.”

The patent application was filed on April 12, 2018 (15/951,518).

Curved-edge optical mode converter for HAMR
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,388,310) developed by Harvey, Christopher Neil, Derry, Great Britain, Goggin, Aidan Dominic, Donegal, Ireland, Callan, Kelly Elizabeth, McGurk, John Bernard, and Mehfuz, Reyad, Derry, Great Britain, for a “curved-edge optical mode converter for heat-assisted magnetic recording.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”An apparatus includes an input coupler configured to receive light excited by a light source. A near-field transducer, (NFT) is positioned at a media-facing surface of a write head. A layered waveguide is positioned between the input coupler and the NFT and configured to receive the light output from the input coupler in a transverse electric, (TE) mode and deliver the light to the NFT in a transverse magnetic, (TM) mode. The layered waveguide comprises a first layer extending along a light-propagation direction. The first layer is configured to receive light from the input coupler. The first layer tapers from a first cross track width to a second cross track width where the second cross track width is narrower than the first cross track width. The layered waveguide includes a second layer that is disposed on the first layer. The second layer has a cross sectional area in a plane perpendicular to the light propagation direction that increases along the light propagation direction. The cross sectional area of the second layer is smaller proximate to the input coupler and larger proximate to the NFT. The layered waveguide includes an interface between the first layer and the second layer, the interface comprises a curve.”

The patent application was filed on September 19, 2018 (16/135,251).

Magnetic write transducer with first and second pole sections
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,388,307) developed by Bance, Simon, St. Albans, Great Britain, Gan, Choon How, Derry, Great Britain, and Gubbins, Mark Anthony, Letterkenny, Ireland, for a “magnetic write transducer with first and second pole sections.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”A recording head has a magnetic write transducer proximate a side of a plasmonic gap waveguide. The magnetic write transducer has a first write pole section that tapers in a crosstrack direction and downtrack direction to form a tapered tip. The first write pole section includes a high-moment, seed layer on one side. A second write pole section is coupled to the first write pole section. The second write pole section extends a second distance away from the media-facing surface less than that of the first write pole section. A tip of the second write pole section is tapered in the crosstrack and downtrack directions.”

The patent application was filed on April 19, 2018 (15/956,855).

Laser bias calibration
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,381,036) developed by Lammers, Todd Michael, Lafayette, CO, Tatah, Abdelkrim, Eden Prairie, MN, Rausch, Tim, Farmington, MN, and Matousek, Robert, Berthoud, CO, for a “laser bias calibration.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”Systems and methods of laser bias calibration are presented. A preamplifier circuit may include a laser voltage monitor circuit and a laser bias control circuit configured to automatically adjust an output laser bias threshold voltage based on a monitored laser voltage. The laser bias control circuit may include a first differentiator circuit, a second differentiator circuit, and a threshold detection circuit. The preamplifier circuit may be utilized in a heat assisted magnetic recording device.”

The patent application was filed on April 22, 2016 (15/136,829).

Granularity in overlying magnetic and non-magnetic layers
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,373,637) developed by Lu, Bin, San Ramon, CA, Thiele, Jan-Ulrich, Sunnyvale, CA, Ju, Ganping, Pleasanton, CA, Ma, Xiaoding, Fremont, CA, Peng, YingGuo, San Ramon, CA, and Ding, YinFeng, Fremont, CA, for a “granularity in overlying magnetic and non-magnetic layers.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”Provided herein is an apparatus including a layer stack. A first granular metal layer overlies the layer stack, wherein the first granular metal layer includes first metal grains separated by voids. A first granular non-metal layer overlies the first granular metal layer, wherein the first granular non-metal layer includes first non-metal grains separated by a first segregant. A second granular non-metal layer overlies the first granular non-metal layer, wherein the second granular non-metal layer includes second non-metal grains separated by a second segregant. A second granular metal layer overlies the second granular non-metal layer, wherein the second granular metal layer includes second metal grains separated by a third segregant.”

The patent application was filed on March 2, 2017 (15/448,514).

Heat-assisted removal of head contamination
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,373,632) developed by Brand, John L., Burnsville, MN, and Kiely, James D., Edina, MN, for a “heat-assisted removal of head contamination.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”Provided herein is a magnetic write head including a near field transducer and a magnetic recording media including a media lubricant. The media lubricant includes a first portion and a second portion. The second portion of the media lubricant is evaporated in response to heat emitted from the near field transducer. The second portion of the media lubricant that is evaporated removes a contaminant over the near field transducer.”

The patent application was filed on January 8, 2018 (15/865,201).

Random values from data errors
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,372,528) developed by Anderson, William Erik, Longmont, CO, and Paulsen, William A, Lonsdale, MN, for “random values from data errors.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”Random values can be very beneficial in systems needing to generate random number or encryption keys. Systems and methods are presented herein that can generate a random value based on errors in data. For example, an error vector can be generated when data having errors, (e.g. stored data, data received by a receiver, etc.) is compared with corresponding corrected data. A circuit, such as a data channel, can generate the corrected data by applying error correcting codes to the data with errors. One or more error vectors may be used to produce a random value. In some cases, multiple error vectors can be combined to produce a random value.”

The patent application was filed on December 15, 2014 (14/571,279).

Interlaced magnetic recording in with multiple independent-actuators having respective independent heads
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,366,726) developed by Granz, Steven Douglas, Shakopee, MN, and Erden, Mehmet Fatih, St. Louis Park, MN, for an “interlaced magnetic recording in with multiple independent-actuators having respective independent heads.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”A first set of bottom tracks is written via a first head that is moved via a first actuator over a surface of a disk. A second set of top tracks interlaced between and partially overlapping the bottom tracks via a second head that is moved via a second actuator over the surface of the disk independently of the first actuator and first head.”

The patent application was filed on March 29, 2018 (15/939,493).

Laser mode hop detection in HAMR device using slider sensor and laser modulation
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,366,722) developed by Mendonsa, Riyan, Minneapolis, MN, Kiely, James Dillon, Edina, MN, Christensen, Joshua Ward, Savage, MN, Trantham, Jon D., Chanhassen, MN, Barry, Chad Robert, Bloomington, MN, and Rausch, Tim, Farmington, MN, for a “laser mode hop detection in a heat-assisted magnetic recording device using a slider sensor and laser modulation.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”An apparatus comprises a laser diode configured to generate modulated light during a write operation in response to receiving modulated current having a mean amplitude that varies or is constant. A slider is configured for heat-assisted magnetic recording and to receive the modulated light. A writer heater of the slider is configured to receive power during the write operation having a magnitude that varies or is constant. A sensor is situated on or within the slider. The sensor is configured to produce a sensor signal representative of output optical power of the laser diode. Measuring circuitry is coupled to the sensor and configured to measure a change in the sensor signal indicative of a laser mode hop during the write operation.”

The patent application was filed on May 14, 2018 (15/978,432).

Oxidation resistant sensor for HAMR
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,366,720) developed by Macken, Declan, Eden Prairie, MN, Sonda, Paul Julio, Minneapolis, MN, and McGeehin, Peter Kevin, Letterkenny, Ireland, for an “oxidation resistant sensor for heat-assisted magnetic recording.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”An apparatus comprises a slider comprising an air bearing surface, (ABS) and configured for heat-assisted magnetic recording. The slider includes a writer and a reader at the ABS, a near-field transducer, (NFT) proximate the writer, and an optical waveguide optically coupled to a laser source and the NFT. The slider further includes a sensor configured to contact and sense thermal asperities of a magnetic recording medium. The sensor is formed from one of Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir, and Pt.”

The patent application was filed on August 31, 2017 (15/692,957).

Boosted preheat trajectory to obtain desired clearance before writing to disk
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,366,719) developed by Riddering, Jason W., Cvancara, Dustin Mark, Prior Lake, MN, Haapala, Kenneth A., Plymouth, MN, McCalla, Eric John, Watertown, MN, Zhu, Wenzhong, Apple Valley, MN, and Huang, Bin, Savage, MN, for a “boosted preheat trajectory to obtain desired clearance before writing to disk.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”A clearance heater of a write head is engaged with a boosted current that exceeds a steady-state current. The steady-state current causes the write head to maintain a desired clearance over a disk during writing, the boosted current being applied before a start of the writing. The boosted current is monotonically decreased before the start of the writing and the steady-state current is applied to the heater after the start of the writing.”

The patent application was filed on March 20, 2018 (15/925,927).

Hard disk servo control adaptive notch filter using recursive least squares processor
Seagate Technology LLC, Cupertino, CA, has been assigned a patent (10,366,718) developed by Supino, Lou, Boulder, CO, for a “hard disk servo control adaptive notch filter using a recursive least squares processor.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”A signal is monitored that provides an indicator of disturbance affecting a hard disk drive. In response to determining that the indicator of the disturbance satisfies a threshold, a lattice recursive least squares computation is applied to the signal to determine at least one notch frequency. A notch filter is formed using the at least one notch frequency. The notch filter is used by a servo controller loop that positions a read/write head over a disk of the hard disk drive. The notch filter is applied to the servo control loop for subsequent positioning of the read/write head.”

The patent application was filed on March 23, 2018 (15/933,726).