Western Digital Technologies Assigned Eleven Patents

Storage device demodulating digital data based on number of servo stripes in servo frame
Western Digital Technologies, Inc., San Jose, CA, has been assigned a patent (11,295,773) developed by Yamamoto, Satoshi, San Jose, CA, Burton, Derrick E., Ladera Ranch, CA, and Kobayashi, Masahito, Ibaraki, Japan, for a “data storage device demodulating digital data based on number of servo stripes in servo frame.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A data storage device is disclosed comprising at least one head configured to access a magnetic tape comprising a plurality of servo frames each comprising a plurality of servo stripes. The servo stripes are read using the head to generate a read signal that is processed to generate a position error signal (PES). The head is positioned relative to the magnetic tape based on the PES, and the read signal is demodulated into digital data based on a number of servo stripes detected in each servo frame.”

The patent application was filed on February 15, 2021 (17/175,998).

Storage device compensating for tape distortion
Western Digital Technologies, Inc., San Jose, CA, has been assigned a patent (11,295,772) developed by Watson, Mark L., Boulder, CO, and Olson, Trevor W., San Jose, CA, for a “data storage device compensating for tape distortion.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A data storage device is disclosed comprising at least one head configured to access a magnetic tape. User data is written to a first area of the magnetic tape at a first data track pitch, and when a distortion of the magnetic tape is detected, the user data is rewritten to compensate for the distortion.”

The patent application was filed on February 21, 2021 (17/180,803).

Head positioning assembly for tape embedded drive
Western Digital Technologies, Inc., San Jose, CA, has been assigned a patent (11,295,771) developed by Sakagami, Akira, Uefune, Kouki, Kanagawa, Japan, and Takahashi, Toshio, Tokyo, Japan, for a “head positioning assembly for tape embedded drive.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “The present disclosure generally relates to a head positioning assembly in a tape embedded drive. The tape embedded drive has two reels as well as four guide rollers. The reels and guide rollers are arranged within the tape embedded drive so as to position the head positioning assembly as close to the center of the tape embedded drive as possible. In so doing, the reels, guide rollers, and head assembly are more stable which reduces or even eliminates shock and vibration to the tape embedded drive.”

The patent application was filed on June 18, 2020 (16/905,781).

Magnetic recording tape having embedded servo sectors on data tracks
Western Digital Technologies, Inc., San Jose, CA, has been assigned a patent (11,289,123) developed by Galbraith, Richard L., Hanson, Weldon M., Rochester, MN, Burton, Derrick E., Ladera Ranch, CA, Ravindran, Niranjay, and Oboukhov, Iouri, Rochester, MN, for a “magnetic recording tape having embedded servo sectors on data tracks.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “An external servo writer configured to write a plurality of embedded servo sectors on a magnetic tape to define a plurality of data tracks is disclosed. A first part of the plurality of embedded servo sectors is written while controlling an actuator to first move a head vertically along a width of the magnetic tape. A second part of the plurality of embedded servo sectors is written while controlling the actuator to second move the head vertically along the width of the magnetic tape.”

The patent application was filed on June 17, 2021 (17/350,882).

Recessed tape servo head to create equipotential tape bearing surface
Western Digital Technologies, Inc., San Jose, CA, has been assigned a patent (11,227,628) developed by Seagle, David J., Morgan Hill, CA, Le, Quang, San Jose, CA, and Li, Zhanjie, Pleasanton, CA, for a “recessed tape servo head to create an equipotential tape bearing surface.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “The present disclosure generally relates to a tape drive comprising a tape head. The tape head comprises one or more data heads and one or more servo heads. Each servo head comprises a first shield, a first lead, a magnetoresistive sensor, a second lead, a second shield, and side shields. The magnetoresistive sensor is recessed from a media facing surface (MFS). The first lead is recessed from the MFS while the second lead and side shields are disposed at the MFS. A power supply is configured to apply a first electrical potential to the first and second shields, the side shields, and the second lead, and a second electrical potential to the first lead. The electrical design of each servo head is configured such that only one electric potential is exposed at the MFS, eliminating the possibility that a scratch will short the sensor.”

The patent application was filed on February 23, 2021 (17/183,166).

Data storage device duplicating ECC sub-block in downstream ECC super-block
Western Digital Technologies, Inc., San Jose, CA, has been assigned a patent (11,211,094) developed by Horn, Robert L., Yorba Linda, CA, and Burton, Derrick E., Ladera Ranch, CA, for a “data storage device duplicating an ECC sub-block in downstream ECC super-block.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A data storage device configured to access a magnetic tape is disclosed, wherein the data storage device comprises at least one head configured to access the magnetic tape. A first plurality of data blocks are encoded into a first plurality of ECC sub-blocks including a first ECC sub-block, and the first plurality of ECC sub-blocks are encoded into a first ECC super-block. The first ECC sub-block is written to the magnetic tape, and a write-verify of the first ECC sub-block is executed by reading the first ECC sub-block. When the write-verify passes, a second plurality of data blocks are encoded into a second ECC super-block, and when the write-verify fails, a third plurality of data blocks and the first ECC sub-block are encoded into the second ECC super-block, wherein the second ECC super-block is written to the magnetic tape.”

The patent application was filed on May 11, 2021 (17/316,981).

Embedded tape reel lock mechanism for tape embedded storage drive
Western Digital Technologies, Inc., San Jose, CA, has been assigned a patent (11,211,086) developed by Uefune, Kouki, Kanagawa, Japan, Takahashi, Toshio, Tokyo, Japan, and Hiramatsu, Tomoki, Kanagawa, Japan, for an “embedded tape reel lock mechanism for tape embedded storage drive.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “The present disclosure generally relates to a lock mechanism for a tape embedded drive. The tape embedded drive comprises an enclosure enclosing a first tape reel, a second tape reel, and a lock mechanism. The first tape reel comprises a first gear, the second tape reel comprises a second gear, and the lock mechanism is disposed between the first and second gears. The lock mechanism comprises a latch lock, one or more latch tips disposed at a first end of the latch lock, a magnet disposed at a second end of the latch lock, and an electromagnet disposed adjacent to the magnet. When the electromagnet is activated, the latch lock moves to an unlocked position. When the electromagnet is de-activated, the latch lock moves to a locked position where the one or more latch tips are in contact with the first and second gears.”

The patent application was filed on February 24, 2021 (17/184,550).

Head assemblies of magnetic storage devices
Western Digital Technologies, Inc., San Jose, CA, has been assigned a patent (11,189,307) developed by Torres, Eduardo, Ruiz, Oscar, San Jose, CA, and Kuroki, Kenji, Fujisawa, Japan, for “base apparatus and methods for head assemblies of magnetic storage devices.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to a base and related methods for write and read heads. In one example, the base and related methods are used as part of a magnetic storage device, for example a magnetic media drive such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a magnetic tape drive (e.g., a tape embedded drive). The base includes one or more base bodies formed of a ceramic material. Each base body includes an inward surface, an outward surface opposing the inward surface, a lower surface, and an angled upper surface disposed above the lower surface. Each base body includes a vertical opening extending between the upper surface and the lower surface. In one example, two base bodies are bonded together. In one example, the two base bodies combine to form a single base body of the base that is monolithic and unitary.”

The patent application was filed on May 26, 2020 (16/883,894).

Tape embedded drive with multiple feedthrough connections
Western Digital Technologies, Inc., San Jose, CA, has been assigned a patent (11,170,823) developed by Namihisa, Miki, Uefune, Kouki, Kanagawa, Japan, and Takahashi, Toshio, Tokyo, Japan, for a “tape embedded drive with multiple feedthrough connections.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “The present disclosure generally relates to a tape embedded drive having a plurality of feedthrough connectors. The feedthrough connectors are symmetrically placed within the tape embedded drive such that regardless of whether an even or odd number of feedthrough connectors are present, the feedthrough connectors are symmetrical about a centerline of the tape embedded drive. In such a layout, the tape embedded drive is more stable due to symmetrical mass balance. Additionally, the tape embedded drive is more cost effective to produce.”

The patent application was filed on June 9, 2020 (16/897,151).

Storage device employing embedded servo sectors for magnetic tape
Western Digital Technologies, Inc., San Jose, CA, has been assigned a patent (11,138,996) developed by Galbraith, Richard L., Hanson, Weldon M., Rochester, MN, Burton, Derrick E., Ladera Ranch, CA, Ravindran, Niranjay, and Oboukhov, Iouri, Rochester, MN, for a “data storage device employing embedded servo sectors for magnetic tape.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A data storage device is disclosed comprising at least one head configured to access a magnetic tape comprising a plurality of data tracks, wherein each data track comprises a plurality of data segments and a plurality of servo sectors. The head is used to read one of the servo sectors to generate a first read signal. The first read signal is processed to generate a position error signal (PES) of the head relative to the magnetic tape, wherein the head is positioned relative to the magnetic tape based on the PES. The head is used to read one of the data segments to generate a second read signal, wherein the second read signal is processed to detect user data recorded in the data segment.”

The patent application was filed on May 8, 2020 (16/870,612).

Data storage device accessing magnetic tape by actuating head in two dimensions
Western Digital Technologies, Inc., San Jose, CA, has been assigned a patent (11,107,494) developed by Sakagami, Akira, Kanagawa, Japan, Takahashi, Toshio, Tokyo, Japan, and Uefune, Kouki, Kanagawa, Japan, for a “data storage device accessing magnetic tape by actuating head in two dimensions.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A data storage device is disclosed comprising a reel that is rotated for a first interval in order to expose a first frame of a magnetic tape to a head. The head is actuated in a first and second dimensions over the magnetic tape in order to access the first frame of the magnetic tape.”

The patent application was filed on December 17, 2019 (16/716,796).