Seagate Technology Assigned Sixteen Patents

Actuators for elevator drive
Seagate Technology LLC, Fremont, CA, has been assigned a patent (11651784) developed by Herdendorf, Brett R., Mound, MN, Mendonsa, Riyan A., Edina, MN, Rosner, Wolfgang, Burnsville, MN, Kemnitz, Jonathan Lewis, Minnetonka, MN, Subramanian, Krishnan, Shakopee, MN, and Erickson, Kurt LeRoy, Apple Valley, MN, for “actuators for an elevator drive.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A data storage device includes a base, a shaft that extends perpendicular from the base, and a head stack assembly (HSA) having a first end to which a head is coupled and a second end that is movably mounted on the shaft. The data storage device also includes either a first actuator assembly or a second actuator assembly. The first actuator assembly includes a first coil-permanent magnet assembly that rotatably moves the HSA about the shaft, and a second coil-permanent magnet assembly that serves as a first elevator to linearly move the HSA along the shaft. The second actuator assembly includes a third coil-permanent magnet assembly that rotatably moves the HSA about the shaft, and a second elevator that linearly moves the HSA along the shaft and also moves a data storage device ramp in unison with the HSA.”

The patent application was filed on 2021-09-13 (17/473274).

Abnormal surface pattern detection for production line defect remediation
Seagate Technology LLC, Fremont, CA, has been assigned a patent (11650167) developed by Fam, Yen Eng, Kok, Jun Lee, Lim, Bak Leng, and Lim, Yen Ling, Singapore, Singapore, for an “abnormal surface pattern detection for production line defect remediation.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A defect inspection system provides an image of a surface of a hard drive media to a machine learning model that is trained to identify predefined classifications of abnormal surface patterns on the hard drive media, each of the predefined classifications being associated in system memory with a severity indicator. The defect inspection model analyzes the image and generates and output indicating that the image includes a pattern consistent with a select classification of the predefined classifications of abnormal surface patterns. When the severity indicator for the select classification satisfies a failure condition, the defect inspection system automatically implements a corrective action.”

The patent application was filed on 2020-12-17 (17/125754).

Secure booting in storage device with front end bus
Seagate Technology LLC, Fremont, CA, has been assigned a patent (11645393) developed by Allo, Christopher Nicholas, Longmont, CO, for a “secure booting in a data storage device with front end bus.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A data storage device can employ a front end bus for boot operations. The physical connection of a secure boot assembly to the front end bus can provide efficient and reliable booting of the data storage device without a connection to a remote host or network. A secure boot assembly can provide a security module that connects to the boot module of the data storage device to authenticate a trustworthiness of the data storage device while the data storage device is disconnected from any remote host.”

The patent application was filed on 2020-06-24 (16/946478).

Search and access pattern hiding verifiable searchable encryption for distributed settings with malicious servers
Seagate Technology LLC, Fremont, CA, has been assigned a patent (11645409) developed by Sehrawat, Vipin Singh, Singapore, Singapore, for “search and access pattern hiding verifiable searchable encryption for distributed settings with malicious servers.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A method for distributed and private symmetric searchable encryption includes receiving encrypted data, creating a search index for one or more servers based on the encrypted data using a distributed point function (DPF), splitting the encrypted data into a number of portions based on the number of servers, and partitioning the servers into two or more groups. The method also includes updating the search index based on the splitting and the partitioning, transmitting the split encrypted data to the servers based on the updated search index, verifying the transmitted data using data not transmitted to the server, and determining, based on the verifying, whether any server deviated from an assigned protocol.”

The patent application was filed on 2020-12-18 (17/127038).

Estimating read offset in drive using ML
Seagate Technology LLC, Fremont, CA, has been assigned a patent (11646059) developed by Wang, Zheng, Louisville, CO, Patapoutian, Ara, Hopkinton, MA, Bellorado, Jason, San Jose, CA, and Radich, William M., Berthoud, CO, for an “estimating read offset in a drive using machine learning.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “Components are extracted from user data being read from a reader of a hard disk drive. The components collectively indicate both a magnitude and direction of a read offset of the reader over a track. The components are input to a machine-learning processor during operation of the hard disk drive, causing the machine-learning processor to produce an output. A read offset of the reader is estimated during the operation of the hard drive head based on the output of the machine learning processor. While reading the user data, a radial position of the reader over the track is adjusted via an actuator based on the estimated read offset.”

The patent application was filed on 2021-08-30 (17/460735).

Estimating recording head fly height using ML
Seagate Technology LLC, Fremont, CA, has been assigned a patent (11646057) developed by Wang, Zheng, Louisville, CO, Patapoutian, Ara, Hopkinton, MA, Ellis, Timothy F., Tonka Bay, MN, Bellorado, Jason, San Jose, CA, and Radich, William M., Berthoud, CO, for an “estimating recording head fly height using machine learning.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “Two or more data values are received from one or more sensors of a hard disk drive. The two or more data values are indicative of a fly height of a recording head of the hard disk drive. The two or more data values are input into a machine-learning processor during operation of the hard disk drive. A fly height of the recording head during the operation of the hard drive head is adjusted based on an output of the machine learning processor.”

The patent application was filed on 2021-08-24 (17/409927).

HAMR head with heat sink and diffusion barrier
Seagate Technology LLC, Fremont, CA, has been assigned a patent (11646058) developed by Blaber, Martin Giles, Minneapolis, MN, Siegler, Michael Allen, Eden Prairie, MN, Wessel, James G, Savage, MN, Cheng, YuHang, Edina, MN, and Franzen, Scott M, Lakeville, MN, for a “heat-assisted magnetic recording head with a heat sink and a diffusion barrier.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A heat-assisted magnetic recording head includes a near-field transducer, a heat sink, a diffuser, and a diffusion barrier. The near-field transducer is configured to produce a hot spot on a proximate magnetic disk. The heat sink is configured to draw heat away from the near-field transducer. The heat sink is disposed in a down-track direction relative to and coupled to the near-field transducer. The diffuser is configured to draw heat away from the heat sink. The diffuser is disposed in a down-track direction relative to the heat sink. The diffusion barrier includes a metal. The diffusion barrier is disposed between and coupled to the heat sink and the diffuser.”

The patent application was filed on 2022-03-30 (17/657167).

Fast cache with intelligent copyback
Seagate Technology LLC, Fremont, CA, has been assigned a patent (11640336) developed by Goss, Ryan J., Prior Lake, MN, Anderson, Jack V., Shakopee, MN, and Henze, Jonathan M., Savage, MN, for a “fast cache with intelligent copyback.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “Method and apparatus for intelligent caching, protection and transfers of data between a cache and a main memory in a data storage environment, such as but not limited to a solid-state drive (SSD). A main memory (MM) has non-volatile memory (NVM) cells configured for persistent storage of user data. A fast response cache (FRC) has NVM cells configured to provide storage of first data prior to transfer to the MM. A write cache (WC) has NVM cells configured to provide storage of second data prior to transfer to the MM. A controller directs input data to either the FRC or the WC. A first type of error correction encoding (ECC1) is applied to the first data and a different, second type of error correction encoding (ECC2) is applied to the second data. Data may be sent from the FRC to the MM either directly or through the WC.”

The patent application was filed on 2021-07-20 (17/380655).

Object storage systems and methods
Seagate Technology LLC, Fremont, CA, has been assigned a patent (11636041) developed by Nayak, Deepak, and Mohan, Hemant, Pune, India, for “object storage data storage systems and methods.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A system includes memory and one or more processors programmed to operate a logical layer, a media link layer, and a slot layer. The logical layer is configured to send and receive object data to a host according to an object storage protocol. The media link layer is configured to map the object data to virtual media addresses. The slot layer is configured to map the virtual media addresses to physical addresses of data storage devices.”

The patent application was filed on 2020-10-12 (17/068183).

Sorting disk commands on energy used by disk commands
Seagate Technology LLC, Fremont, CA, has been assigned a patent (11635917) developed by DeRosa, Jeffrey V., Burlington, MA, for “apparatus and method for sorting disk commands on energy used by the disk commands.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “For each seek command of a plurality of seek commands of a hard disk drive, a correction value is determined that adjusts an access time of the seek command. The correction value includes a scaling factor that adjusts an energy variable. The scaling factor is based on a power target of the hard disk drive, and the energy variable may represent an energy used in the seek command as a time value. The seek commands are sorted in a command queue by the adjusted access times. The seek commands are executed by a controller of the hard disk drive based on the sorting within the command queue.”

The patent application was filed on 2021-07-07 (17/369050).

Analog optical link for moveable actuator in storage system
Seagate Technology LLC, Fremont, CA, has been assigned a patent (11631431) developed by Gomez, Kevin A., Eden Prairie, MN, Jain, Aditya, Reddy, Anil J., Minneapolis, MN, and Lammers, Todd Michael, Longmont, CO, for an “analog optical link for a moveable actuator in a data storage system.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “Apparatus and method for transferring data in a data storage system, such as but not limited to a hard disc drive (HDD). An optical link is provided between an analog front end (AFE) of a data storage device controller circuit (SOC) and a preamplifier/driver circuit (preamp) mounted to a rotary actuator to transfer an analog domain signal. A selected component is extracted from the signal using a modulation element such as a micro-resonance ring (MRR) or a Mach-Zehnder Interferometer Modulation (MZM) device. The extracted component is forwarded to a processing circuit to facilitate a transfer of data between a local memory and a non-volatile memory (NVM). The optical link includes a flexible portion in a flex circuit affixed to the rotary actuator and which supports the preamp. Multiplexed read, write, and power control signals are concurrently transmitted via the optical link. The link can concurrently service multiple head-disc assemblies (HDAs).”

The patent application was filed on 2022-07-01 (17/856321).

Dual reader controller
Seagate Technology LLC, Fremont, CA, has been assigned a patent (11631424) developed by Liu, Xiong, and Li, Quan, Singapore, Singapore, for a “dual reader controller.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “The technology disclosed herein provides a method including determining an acceptable parameter rate for a dual reader storage device having dual readers, identifying one of the dual readers as the preferable reader, comparing an actual parameter rate of the storage device to the acceptable parameter rate of the storage device, and in response to determining that the actual parameter rate is below the acceptable parameter rate, operating the storage device using only the preferable reader. In one implementation, the parameter rate is bit-error rate (BER) of the dual readers.”

The patent application was filed on 2022-03-03 (17/686064).

Magnetic storage writer with non-uniform coil thickness
Seagate Technology LLC, Fremont, CA, has been assigned a patent (11631425) developed by Wessel, James, Savage, MN, for a “magnetic storage writer with non-uniform coil thickness.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A magnetic recording head includes a write pole including an end proximal to a media-facing surface of the magnetic recording head, a return pole disposed a distance from the write pole in a down-track dimension of the magnetic recording head, and a writer coil configured to produce a magnetic flux in the write pole. The writer coil includes a first segment and a second segment. The first segment is disposed proximal to the end of the write pole and between the write pole and the return pole. The second segment is electrically coupled to the first segment. A thickness of the second segment in the down-track dimension is greater than a thickness of the first segment in the down-track dimension.”

The patent application was filed on 2022-01-14 (17/576587).

3-state single-pass recording in HAMR device with dual recording layers
Seagate Technology LLC, Fremont, CA, has been assigned a patent (11626136) developed by Chang, Thomas Young, Menlo Park, CA, Steiner, Philip L., Los Altos, CA, and Liu, Zengyuan, Eden Prairie, MN, for a “three-state single-pass recording in HAMR device with dual recording layers.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) device is configured to write regions of neutral polarity on a magnetic media during a same pass of the recording head in which other regions are written of positive polarity and negative polarity. The various disclosed write techniques may facilitate creation of “zero state” (substantially net zero polarity) transition zones between each pair of data bits of opposite polarity and/or may facilitate the encoding of three different logical states (e.g., 1, 0, and −1) on the media.”

The patent application was filed on 2021-12-29 (17/565188).

Media Design and write technique for creating neutral polarity transition zones
Seagate Technology LLC, Fremont, CA, has been assigned a patent (11626134) developed by Chang, Thomas Young, Menlo Park, CA, Steiner, Philip L., Los Altos, CA, and Liu, Zengyuan, Eden Prairie, MN, for “media design and write technique for creating neutral polarity transition zones.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) device is configured to write regions of neutral polarity on a magnetic media during a same pass of the recording head in which other regions are written of positive polarity and negative polarity. The various disclosed write techniques may facilitate creation of “zero state” (substantially net zero polarity) transition zones between each pair of data bits of opposite polarity and/or may facilitate the encoding of three different logical states (e.g., 1, 0, and −1) on the media.”

The patent application was filed on 2021-12-29 (17/565221).

Fingerprint and provenance for movable storage devices
Seagate Technology LLC, Fremont, CA, has been assigned a patent (11621857) developed by Schnabel, Dieter P., Erie, CO, Hannedouche, Francois Xavier, Paris, France, Dance, Nicholas James, Boulder, CO, Lanjewar, Ujjwal, Pune, India, and Fletcher, John Anthony, Longmont, CO, for “fingerprint and provenance for movable storage devices.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A method includes importing an object into a first data storage device, obtaining static metadata relating to the object, and obtaining dynamic metadata relating to the importation of the object. The static metadata and the dynamic metadata are hashed to create a block hash for the object and the importation of the object. The imported object and the block hash are stored in the first data storage device.”

The patent application was filed on 2020-09-03 (17/011180).