Iomega Corporation

Ksaria Corporation

Fraunhofer Usa, Inc.

John C Briggs

David E Jones

Thomas J Angellotti

Carl F Nicklos

Paul R Johnson

Yiping Ma

Mark S Thayne

Anthony J Christopher

Michael A Mucci

Ralph Lee Sonderegger

Allen T Bracken

Ken George Wasson

Robert S Patterson

David W Griffith

Todd L Graves

Holger Wirz

Andre Sharon

William Francis Hartman

Carl E Ellis

Jason Dewey

Ross W Bishop

Reed J Moody

Carl Hale

Fritz Klocke

Lawrence D Clayton

Peter Shay

A system employs wave energy harvesting apparatus and a water vessel (e.g., a ship) carrying an energy storage apparatus (e.g., array of batteries). The energy harvesting apparatus is preferably also carried by the water vessel, but may be fixed or carried by a separate water vessel. The water vessel is operated in an energy storing mode at an energy harvesting location subject to wave activity, during which the energy storage apparatus stores energy from the wave activity as harvested by the energy harvesting apparatus. The water vessel is operated in an energy transporting mode to transport the stored energy from the energy harvesting location to an energy releasing location (preferably onshore, but may be offshore) having a connection to an electrical power grid. The water vessel is operated at the energy releasing location in an energy releasing mode in which the stored energy is transformed into appropriate AC electricity supplied to the electrical power grid.

System for wave energy harvesting employing transport of stored energy

An apparatus is provided for shaping an end of an optical fiber. The apparatus may include a frame and a clamp constructed to hold the optical fiber in a fixed location relative to the frame. The apparatus may further include a tip shaper supported by the frame and movable in a first direction toward and away from the clamp, and moveable in a second direction that lies in a plane transverse to the first direction to shape the end of the optical fiber when the tip shaper is placed in contact with the optical fiber. The apparatus may include an abrasive substrate which abrades the end of the fiber.

Apparatus for shaping the end of an optical fiber

A disk drive with steering magnets that reduce the magnetic flux leakage from the actuator magnets of a linear actuator is disclosed. The steering magnets reduce flux leakage in the area of the magnetic disk where magnetic information is read and record, thereby enabling disk drive size to be reduces. The steering magnets are arranged along the sides of the outer return path. Like poles of the steering magnets face inward toward like poles of the actuator magnets.

Steering magnets to reduce magnetic leakage flux in a disk drive

An improved disk drive includes an improved operating system, an improved eject system, an improved head retract system and an improved motor loading system. In a preferred embodiment of the operating system it includes a motor, an eject crank, a head crank and an actuator. The output of the motor can be selectively controlled by the actuator to power either the eject crank or the head crank. Powering the head crank, causes the disk drive heads to move, and powering the eject crank causes a disk cartridge to be ejected from the disk drive. The motor loading system may have a disk drive motor having a threaded exterior and a member extending from the exterior to interface with the eject system. Additionally, this motor loading system may include an aperture in the chassis of the disk drive that has a threaded ring running around the circumference of the aperture and a spring extending from the threaded ring. The disk drive motor can be inserted into the aperture in the chassis with the member depressing the spring. The disk drive motor can then be rotated to mate the threads of the disk drive motor with the threaded ring. When rotated, the slotted member releases the spring. The spring prevents rotation of the disk drive motor past a predetermined point and thereby prevents the motor from becoming dislodged from the chassis. When inserted into the disk drive, the motor can be moved between a loaded and an unloaded position.

Operating system for operating an eject system and a head retraction system of a disk drive

Narrow gaps near the end of travel of a linear actuator coil of a magnetic disk drive is disclosed. The gaps are formed between actuator magnets and inner return path members on opposing sides of an actuator carriage. The narrow gaps are formed by protrusions on the inner return path members that extend into the gaps. The narrow gaps enhance uniformity of force applied to the carriage by diminishing the end effects, which enables the entire length of the air gap to be used for actuator travel.

Return path geometry to enhance uniformity of force on a linear actuator

A voice coil actuator return path for a linear actuator of a disk drive, which accurately and precisely positions the center guide track is disclosed. The outer return path is precisely formed from laminas of low carbon steel. The outer return path supports and accurately positions a central guide track, on which a carriage assembly slides. Moreover, the outer return path is oriented in a rectangle that is coupled to a disk drive platform, and includes an aperture through which a portion of the carriage assembly passes.

Laminated steel return path with actuator support features

Disclosed is a disk drive having a linear actuator for carrying read/write heads into engagement with a recording medium. The heads are mounted on a carriage assembly along with a voice coil motor for driving the carriage assembly into and out of engagement of the heads with the medium. The carriage assembly slides linearly on a central guide track. A flexure is provided for the central guide track for linear movement by the carriage assembly so that initial linear movement of the carriage assembly is by flexing the flexure and further, larger linear movement of the carriage assembly is by sliding along the guide track. In one form of the invention the central guide track is suspended at the front end by a flexure and at the rear end by a bearing. In another form of the invention the central guide track is suspended at each end by a flexure. The flexure has an attaching mechanism for attaching the flexure to the central guide track so that the flexure pivots freely on the central guide track. This eliminates the likelihood of bending of the central guide track and improves the ability of the system to reject 1f and 2f run out and therefore, track following.

Flexured mounting system for friction reduction and friction

A linear actuator carries read/write heads into engagement with a removable cartridge having a recording disk. The magnetic heads are mounted on a carriage which moves linearly on a central guide track. The carriage moves linearly on front and rear bearings which move on a central guide track as the magnetic motor is energized. The rear bearing is elongated in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the disk to allow movement of the carriage transverse to the direction of travel. This compensates for planar misalignment of the plane of the recording disk with respect to the axis of the central track.

Elongated rear bearing for linear actuator

A dual loop flex circuit for conducting signals between heads of an actuator carriage assembly and an electrical circuit board and for supplying power to a voice coil is provided. The first loop conducts the signals between the heads and the second loop supplies power to the coil. Each loop is mounted in part on a shroud which serves as an anchor for the loops. The other parts of the loops are attached to opposite sides of the actuator carriage assembly such that forces exerted on the actuator carriage assembly by the first loop are canceled by forces exerted on the actuator carriage assembly by the second loop.

Dual loop flex circuit for a linear actuator

An actuator carriage assembly for carrying read/write heads into engagement with a storage medium while eliminating resonance of the actuator carriage assembly is provided. The actuator carriage assembly comprises a carriage having read/write heads, the heads being mounted on the end of the carriage, and a magnetic circuit for driving the carriage and heads into and out of engagement with the storage medium. The magnetic circuit comprises a coil mounted on the carriage, a first magnet located on a first side of the actuator carriage assembly and a second magnet located on a second side of the actuator carriage assembly. The magnets or the sides of the actuator carriage assembly are biased so that the magnetic flux from the first side is stronger than that from the second side. In an actuator carriage assembly for carrying read/write heads into engagement with a storage medium, a method for eliminating resonance in the actuator carriage assembly is also provided.

Actuator having asymmetric magnetic flux strength

An actuator for carrying a read/write head into engagement with a surface of a recording medium includes a carriage assembly including a load beam upon which the read/write head is mounted, and a pair of barriers disposed on opposite sides of the load beam to constrain lateral movement of the load beam to prevent damage to the read/write head when the disk drive undergoes shock. Extending from the load beam may be a pair of wings that ride upon ramped surfaces that are, disposed within the disk drive, as the actuator moves to engage and disengage a data storage medium. Preferably, the barriers are disposed outboard of the wings, so that the wings will contact the barriers and thereby restrain movement of the actuator when a mechanical shock is applied to the disk drive. By restraining movement of the actuator, the barriers protect the heads from mechanical shock.

Disk drive barriers that restrain movement of the drive actuator

There is disclosed a disk drive having a linear actuator for carrying read/write heads into engagement with a recording medium. The heads are mounted on a carriage assembly along with a voice coil motor for driving the carriage assembly into and out of engagement of the heads with the medium. The carriage assembly slides linearly on a central guide track. A flexible mounting suspension is provided for the central guide track for linear movement by the carriage assembly so that initial linear movement of the carriage assembly is by flexing the suspension and further, larger linear movement of the carriage assembly is by sliding along the guide track. In one form of the invention the central guide track is suspended at the front end by a flexure and at the rear end by a bearing. In another form of the invention the central guide track is suspended at each end by a flexure.

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Layton, UT, United States of America

John C Briggs