Richard Sonningfeld

Title: Innovations by Richard Sonningfeld

Introduction

Richard Sonningfeld is an accomplished inventor based in San Jose, California. He has made significant contributions to the field of laser-based inspection tools, particularly for use in disk drives. With a total of 2 patents, his work has advanced the technology used in surface inspection.

Latest Patents

Sonningfeld's latest patents include a laser-based inspection tool (LIT) designed for inspecting planar surfaces. This innovative tool can simultaneously inspect both planar surfaces of disks, which is crucial for disk drive applications. In one embodiment, the incident beam is directed onto the surface at a slight angle, allowing the reflected beam to be physically separated from the incident beam. The reflected beam is then routed to a detector that converts the intensity of the reflected light into an analog signal. This signal is sampled and digitized to generate pixel data, which is stored in a buffer for further analysis. If the rate of change in the pixel data exceeds a selected threshold, it indicates a possible defect in the data area of the disk.

Another embodiment of the LIT involves routing light reflected from the surface through a telecentric lens to a detector. This setup also converts the intensity of the reflected beam into an analog signal, which is subsequently digitized to generate pixel data. A data acquisition system sequentially stores this pixel data in a buffer, and various analyses, including median filtering and derivative analysis, can be applied to detect deviations that indicate defects.

Career Highlights

Richard Sonningfeld is currently employed at International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), where he continues to innovate in the field of inspection technology. His work has been instrumental in enhancing the reliability and efficiency of disk drives.

Collaborations

Some of his notable coworkers include Wayne Isami Imaino and Anthony Juliana, who have collaborated with him on various projects.

Conclusion

Richard Sonningfeld's contributions to the field of laser-based inspection tools have significantly impacted the technology used in disk drives. His innovative patents reflect his dedication to advancing inspection technology and improving product quality.