| Patent Number |
Title Of Patent |
Date Issued |
| RE38544 |
Thin film magnetic alloy having low noise, high coercivity and high squareness |
July 6, 2004 |
| A Co-Pt based magnetic alloy which has been doped with a relatively high amount of nitrogen, e.g., or above 1 at. % is obtained having high coercivity, for example in the range of 1400 Oe or above, and an increased signal-to-noise ratio as compared to the same Co-Pt based alloy which has |
| 7329114 |
Isothermal imprint embossing system |
February 12, 2008 |
| Isothermal imprint embossing system. In one embodiment, the system includes a heater to pre-heat a disk substrate to an embossing temperature, a die assembly with an embossing foil to imprint the embossable film disposed on the disk substrate, and a heat tunnel disposed between the h |
| 7320584 |
Die set having sealed compliant member |
January 22, 2008 |
| A press system that reduces contamination of workpieces and/or compliant members used in die assemblies of the press from the pressing process. The die assemblies may utilize annular or hole-less stampers in which the compliant member is sealed in the die assembly. The compliant member m |
| 7314404 |
Burnishing head |
January 1, 2008 |
| A burnishing head comprises at least two rails, each rail having an inner wall and an outer wall. The outer walls are at an angle relative to one another and relative to a central axis of the burnishing head. This angle permits the burnishing head to exhibit improved recovery time if it |
| 7305119 |
Test head for optically inspecting workpieces |
December 4, 2007 |
| Apparatus for simultaneously optically inspecting top and bottom surfaces of a workpiece comprise upper and lower test heads, each head comprising at least one laser for providing a laser beam that scans its associated workpiece surface and at least one detector for detecting reflected l |
| 7302148 |
Test head for optically inspecting workpieces |
November 27, 2007 |
| An optical test head comprises a block of material with a plurality of optical paths extending therethrough. At least one of the optical paths is an input optical path for receiving laser light and holding a lens for focusing the laser light on a workpiece that is proximate the head. At |
| 7301726 |
Banded LZT CSS zone |
November 27, 2007 |
| A magnetic recording disk having a non laser zone texturing (LZT) band in the contact-start-stop (CSS) zone. The width of the non-LZT band in the CSS zone may be greater than the width of a read and/or write element of a head and less than the width of a center pad on the head in order t |
| 7292329 |
Test head for optically inspecting workpieces comprising a lens for elongating a laser spot on t |
November 6, 2007 |
| An optical test head comprises a laser source for providing a laser beam. The laser beam passes through a cylindrical lens for modifying the shape of the beam and a spherical lens for concentrating the beam onto a workpiece (typically a magnetic disk platter). The cylindrical lens both |
| 7281920 |
Die set utilizing compliant gasket |
October 16, 2007 |
| A die for a press system. The die may include a stamper and a housing, having a cavity disposed therein, coupled to the stamper. The die may also include a gasket disposed within the cavity. The gasket may be coupled to the stamper at a position above a workpiece to be imprinted by t |
| 7239970 |
Robotic system for optically inspecting workpieces |
July 3, 2007 |
| A manufacturing cell for inspecting workpieces such as magnetic disk substrates comprises an input conveyor for providing workpieces to be tested, one or more testers for inspecting the workpieces, and three or more output receptacles for receiving tested workpieces. One or more robo |
| 7229266 |
Press die alignment |
June 12, 2007 |
| A die press is described. In one embodiment, the die press includes an alignment mechanism having one or more flexure members coupled to a die to maintain coupling with the die during a pressing operation. |
| 7199977 |
Magnetic recording disk having a transition zone |
April 3, 2007 |
| A disk drive having a magnetic recording disk with a transition zone is described. A surface texture of the transition zone induces the head to fly at a greater height than when operating over a data zone, while transitioning the head to a landing zone to park. |
| 7196860 |
Circuit and method for refreshing data recorded at a density sufficiently high to undergo therma |
March 27, 2007 |
| An apparatus and method write data to a storage medium, and subsequently automatically refresh the data to avoid loss of the data due to spontaneous thermal degradation. The apparatus and method may check whether an indicator (also called "refresh indicator") if saved contemporaneous |
| 7184139 |
Test head for optically inspecting workpieces |
February 27, 2007 |
| An optical test apparatus comprises: a) a motor rotating a spindle which in turn rotates a workpiece such as a magnetic disk substrate; b) an upper test head comprising a laser for providing an upper laser beam to the upper surface of the workpiece, an upper lens for receiving light |
| 7179549 |
Magnetic recording medium having novel underlayer structure |
February 20, 2007 |
| A magnetic recording medium constructed in accordance with the invention comprises a substrate, first, second and third underlayers formed over the substrate, and a magnetic data recording layer formed over the underlayers. The underlayers typically have a bcc crystal structure, and |
| 7166374 |
Magnetic recording medium |
January 23, 2007 |
| A magnetic recording medium comprising a non-ferromagnetic substrate and a magnetic recording film formed on the substrate with an underlayer interposed therebetween, wherein the magnetic recording film comprises a plurality of magnetic layers and an interlayer made of a material having |
| 7161753 |
Modulation of sidewalls of servo sectors of a magnetic disk and the resultant disk |
January 9, 2007 |
| A discrete-track-recording (DTR) disk (also called "patterned" disk) has a sectored servo formed by modulation of its sidewalls in a predetermined manner, whereas sidewalls of data sectors are not modulated in this manner. Each servo sector has two side walls that are each respectively |
| 7147790 |
Perpendicular magnetic discrete track recording disk |
December 12, 2006 |
| A method of forming a discrete track recording pattern on a soft magnetic underlayer of a perpendicular magnetic recording disk. In one embodiment, the soft magnetic underlayer is continuous throughout the discrete track recording pattern. |
| 7119990 |
Storage device including a center tapped write transducer |
October 10, 2006 |
| A head for use in a drive includes a heating element capable of generating heat sufficient to cause the head to have a shape that is similar or identical to the shape that the head has when performing an operation (e.g. writing) on a recording medium in the drive. The heating element is |
| 7099112 |
Balance ring |
August 29, 2006 |
| An apparatus and method for balancing a disk are described. A balance ring may be a circular band for placement along the inner diameter of a disk. On the outer diameter of the balance ring, one or more clamp structures may extend outward to attach the balance ring to the inner diameter |
| 7070870 |
Magnetic media with improved exchange coupling |
July 4, 2006 |
| A magnetic recording medium includes a substrate, an underlayer, a lower magnetic layer formed on the underlayer, an intermediate layer, and an upper magnetic layer formed on the intermediate layer. The intermediate layer is typically Ru, and promotes anti ferromagnetic coupling between |
| 7016154 |
Magnetic recording disk having a safe zone |
March 21, 2006 |
| A disk drive having a magnetic recording disk with a safe zone is described. A surface texture of the safe zone induces the head to fly at a greater height than while over data zones of the disk. |
| 7006323 |
Magnetic head for proximity recording |
February 28, 2006 |
| A slider having a protrusion extending beyond an air bearing surface of the slider to maintain the slider with a positive pitch angle during contact with the surface of a disk. The protrusion may be disposed on a leading edge step of the slider body with the protrusion extending beyond |
| 7004827 |
Method and apparatus for polishing a workpiece |
February 28, 2006 |
| A carrier has openings for holding workpieces during polishing. Upper and lower polishing pads push against upper and lower surfaces of the workpieces, respectively. A ring is provided within the openings. This ring surrounds the workpieces, and prevents or reduces roll-off. |
| 6972135 |
Texturing of magnetic disk substrates |
December 6, 2005 |
| A method for texturing a substrate for a magnetic disk comprises abrading the substrate using nano-sized diamond particles (e.g. having a diameter less than or equal to 20 nm). A magnetic layer is then deposited over the substrate. Even when the texture is extremely smooth (e.g. less tha |
| 6967798 |
Magnetic recording disk having DTR patterned CSS zone |
November 22, 2005 |
| A method and apparatus is described for gradually transitioning a slider from operation over a patterned data zone to landing on a patterned CSS zone. The ratio of raised area width to recessed area width of a pattern in a transition zone and/or CSS zone may be varied across the radial |
| 6939120 |
Disk alignment apparatus and method for patterned media production |
September 6, 2005 |
| An apparatus and method for aligning a disk with an imprinting surface are described. In one embodiment, the apparatus has a die which includes an air-bearing mandrel having a tapered nose to engage an ID of the disk, a circular imprinting surface having a centerline concentric with the |
| 6899959 |
Magnetic media with improved exchange coupling |
May 31, 2005 |
| A magnetic recording medium includes a substrate, an underlayer, a lower magnetic layer formed on the underlayer, an intermediate layer, and an upper magnetic layer formed on the intermediate layer. The intermediate layer is typically Ru, and promotes antiferromagnetic coupling between t |
| 6893748 |
Soft magnetic film for perpendicular recording disk |
May 17, 2005 |
| A perpendicular magnetic recording disk having a soft magnetic film disposed between a substrate and a magnetic recording layer. The soft magnetic film includes a soft magnetic underlayer and one or more layer groups having a spacer layer and a soft magnetic layer disposed above the |
| 6857937 |
Lapping a head while powered up to eliminate expansion of the head due to heating |
February 22, 2005 |
| A head is fabricated using photolithography, and the head is purposely powered up during a material removal process, such as lapping, so that the head's expansion (that would be formed on being powered up during normal usage in a drive) is planarized. Specifically, the head is energized |
| 6855232 |
Magnetic disk comprising a first carbon overcoat having a high SP3 content and a second carbon o |
February 15, 2005 |
| A method for making a magnetic disk comprises forming first and second protective carbon layers on a magnetic layer. The first protective carbon layer is predominantly SP3 carbon. The second protective carbon layer comprises about 50% or less SP3 carbon. The second protective carbon laye |
| 6778353 |
Balance ring |
August 17, 2004 |
| An apparatus and method for balancing a disk are described. A balance ring may be a circular band for placement along the inner diameter of a disk. On the outer diameter of the balance ring, one or more clamp structures may extend outward to attach the balance ring to the inner diameter |
| 6743528 |
Magnetic recording medium |
June 1, 2004 |
| A magnetic recording medium comprising a non-ferromagnetic substrate and a magnetic recording film formed on the substrate with an underlayer interposed therebetween, wherein the magnetic recording film comprises a plurality of magnetic layers and an interlayer made of a material having |
| 6730420 |
Magnetic thin film recording media having extremely low noise and high thermal stability |
May 4, 2004 |
| A magnetic medium having at least two intermediate layers between an underlayer and a magnetic layer. The first intermediate layer is designed to provide a good lattice match to the underlayer, while the second intermediate layer is designed to provide a good lattice match to the mag |
| 6683754 |
Hard disk drive head-media system having reduced stiction and low fly height |
January 27, 2004 |
| A head and disk system for use in a disk drive that includes a slider having a surface that contacts the disk. This disk contacting surface of the slider is textured with pads, bumps, an etched surface or an otherwise roughened surface. The contact area of the disk has a greater roughnes |
| 6682807 |
Magnetic disk comprising a first carbon overcoat having a high SP3 content and a second carbon o |
January 27, 2004 |
| A method for making a magnetic disk comprises forming first and second protective carbon layers on a magnetic layer. The first protective carbon layer is predominantly SP3 carbon. The second protective carbon layer comprises about 50% or less SP3 carbon. The second protective carbon laye |
| 6628466 |
Circuit and method for refreshing data recorded at a density sufficiently high to undergo therma |
September 30, 2003 |
| An apparatus and method write data to a storage medium, and subsequently automatically refresh the data to avoid loss of the data due to spontaneous thermal degradation. The apparatus and method may check whether an indicator (also called "refresh indicator") if saved contemporaneous |
| 6571806 |
Method for drying a substrate |
June 3, 2003 |
| A method for drying a disk-shaped substrate. The substrate is typically a substrate used for the manufacture of magnetic disks, and has a centrally located opening. The substrate is lowered into a liquid bath by a first holder, which also becomes immersed in the bath. The first holder li |
| 6566674 |
Method and apparatus for inspecting substrates |
May 20, 2003 |
| Apparatus for detecting defects in a substrate comprises a laser for providing a laser beam, and a bi-cell photodiode comprising two cells. Circuitry coupled to the bi-cell photodiode provides a signal equal to (L-R)/(L+R), where L and R equal the signal strengths of the signals prov |
| 6565719 |
Magnetic disk comprising a first carbon overcoat having a high SP3 content and a second carbon o |
May 20, 2003 |
| A method for making a magnetic disk comprises forming first and second protective carbon layers on a magnetic layer. The first protective carbon layer is predominantly SP3 carbon. The second protective carbon layer comprises about 50% or less SP3 carbon. The second protective carbon laye |
| 6548821 |
Method and apparatus for inspecting substrates |
April 15, 2003 |
| Substrate inspection apparatus in accordance with the invention comprises optics for reflecting a laser beam off of a substrate and a detector for detecting the reflected laser beam. If a defect is present at the point where the laser reflects off the substrate, the laser will be deflect |
| 6528124 |
Disk carrier |
March 4, 2003 |
| A first disk carrier constructed in accordance with the invention is substantially circular, and has a size and shape such that it can be placed in an opening in a second, larger disk carrier. In one embodiment, the second, large disk carrier is a conventional disk carrier, e.g. used |
| 6500567 |
Ultra-thin nucleation layer for magnetic thin film media and the method for manufacturing the sa |
December 31, 2002 |
| In this invention, an ultra thin layer of CoCr alloy nucleation layer is sputtered at an extremely low deposition rate above a predominantly (200) oriented Cr film followed by a CoCrPt based alloy sputtered film at higher rates and moderate temperatures. This structure creates a media wh |
| 6482505 |
Multi-layer texture layer |
November 19, 2002 |
| A method for improving corrosion resistance while maximizing magnetic performance of a magnetic disk employed in data storage applications. The invention includes providing a substrate and forming a first layer above the substrate, the first layer having a first degree of abrasion re |
| 6482330 |
Method for manufacturing a data storage card |
November 19, 2002 |
| A method for making a credit card (or other type of data storing card) comprising a magnetic strip includes the step of depositing a magnetic recording layer on a substrate, cutting the substrate into strips, and mounting the strips onto the credit card. In one embodiment, the strips |
| 6429984 |
Circuit and method for refreshing data recorded at a density sufficiently high to undergo therma |
August 6, 2002 |
| An apparatus and method write data to a storage medium, and subsequently automatically refresh the data to avoid loss of the data due to spontaneous thermal degradation. The apparatus and method may check whether an indicator (also called "refresh indicator") if saved contemporaneous |
| 6395349 |
Method of marking disks |
May 28, 2002 |
| A method for marking the defective side of a magnetic disk comprises the step of applying a set of laser pulses to the defective side to form a mark that is visible to the naked eye. Thus, disk drive manufacturers can readily see whether one side of the disk is defective, and if so, whic |
| 6391213 |
Texturing of a landing zone on glass-based substrates by a chemical etching process |
May 21, 2002 |
| A method for manufacturing a magnetic disk comprises the acts of a) applying a laser beam to at least a portion of a silica-containing substrate, thereby forming a set of bumps or ridges; b) etching the substrate to remove the ridges and form a set of valleys where the ridges were pr |
| 6381092 |
Spacer rings to compensate for disk warpage |
April 30, 2002 |
| A disk drive having spacers to compensate for disk warpage is described. The spacers are positioned on opposite sides of a disk with each spacer contacting the disk a different radial position relative to the center of the disk. The offset contact areas result in displaced moments on the |
| 6363599 |
Method for manufacturing a magnetic disk including a glass substrate |
April 2, 2002 |
| A method for making magnetic disks comprises the steps of: applying a protective layer of material on a sheet of glass; b) cutting the sheet of glass into glass squares; c) stacking the glass squares; d) removing a circular core from the stack of glass squares, thereby defining the inner |
