Jim Hargarten

Title: The Innovations of Jim Hargarten

Introduction

Jim Hargarten is a notable inventor based in Lafayette, Colorado, known for his contributions to disk drive technology. With a total of four patents to his name, Hargarten has made significant advancements in the field, particularly in reducing noise and improving performance in hard disk drives.

Latest Patents

One of Hargarten's latest patents is titled "Quiet high performance seek procedure for disk drives." This invention describes a seek procedure that significantly reduces acoustic noise while maintaining high performance and fast seek times. The procedure lowers peak acceleration for short seeks and ensures a smooth transition from a sine seek to an exponential arrival at the target track. It provides an error-free feedforward signal derived from a single sine table, utilizing a time domain sinusoid acceleration feedforward combined with a phase-plane trajectory controlled velocity. The acceleration begins at zero and follows a sine pattern, increasing to a maximum, decreasing to a minimum, and then increasing again until a computed switchpoint is reached. This switchpoint is determined in-situ, allowing for a smooth and continuous velocity transition from sinusoid to exponential. The velocity trajectory is computed from a look-up table and is implemented using conventional seek controller servo components and commercially available operation software.

Another significant patent is the "Method and apparatus for automatically determining an embedded runout correction threshold." This invention provides a technique for automatically determining an embedded runout correction threshold on a drive-by-drive basis, rather than setting thresholds for all disk drives in a production run. This innovation enhances the precision and efficiency of disk drive production.

Career Highlights

Hargarten has worked with prominent companies in the technology sector, including Maxtor Corporation and Esgw Holdings Limited. His experience in these organizations has contributed to his expertise in disk drive technology and innovation.

Collaborations

Throughout his career, Hargarten has collaborated with notable colleagues such as Thomas O Melrose and Andy Ottele. These collaborations have likely fostered an environment of innovation and creativity, leading to the development of his patents.

Conclusion

Jim Hargarten's contributions to disk drive technology through his innovative patents demonstrate his significant impact on the industry. His work continues to influence advancements in performance and noise reduction in hard disk drives.