Carl E Carlson

US Patent:

6377535, Apr 23, 2002

Filed:

Oct 26, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/179279

Inventors:

Hong Chen - San Jose CA
Chuan He - Fremont CA
Carl J. Carlson - Pleasanton CA
Charles C. Cheng - Cupertino CA
Yugang Wang - Milpitas CA

Assignee:

Read-Rite Corporation - Fremont CA

International Classification:

G11B 7135

US Classification:

36911209, 369 13, 369 4423, 36911225, 36911228, 3691121

Abstract:

An optical focusing device for focusing an incident optical beam onto a focal plane, as a focal spot. The optical focusing device includes an incident central refractive facet upon which an optical beam impinges, and a high-index glass body through which the incident optical beam passes toward a bottom reflective surface. The bottom reflective surface reflects the optical beam through the body, toward a peripheral reflector. The peripheral reflector focuses the optical beam toward a focal plane on which the focal spot is formed. The focal plane is defined within a pedestal that forms part of the optical focusing device, and that extends from the bottom reflective surface. The central facet is conically shaped for refracting the incident optical beam away from the pedestal, onto the bottom reflective surface. The peripheral reflector surrounds the central facet and can have various appropriate shapes, such as an aspherical shape or a tilted parabolic shape, which compensates for the conical factor and aberrations introduced by the central facet. The top surface includes the central facet and the peripheral facet, and can be made substantially flat using diffractive optical elements or Fresnel optics.

US Patent:

6378195, Apr 30, 2002

Filed:

Oct 23, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/695592

Inventors:

Carl J. Carlson - Pleasanton CA

Assignee:

Read-Rite Corporation - Fremont CA

International Classification:

G11B 548

US Classification:

2960303, 2960304, 2960306, 2960317, 29737, 29740, 29743, 360 2, 360104, 360245, 3602451, 3602454

Abstract:

A fixture for assembling and testing a read/write head comprised of a head gimbal assembly (HGA) that allows gimbaling along pitch and roll axes and that utilizes an inexpensive spherical gimbal ball pressed into an etched hole in the load beam for providing a highly accurate and measurable pivot location of a slider. The head gimbal assembly includes a suspension of the type supporting a slider, and comprising the suspension. A gimbal opening is formed in the load beam, and extends therethrough so that it receives the spherical gimbal ball for attachment to the load beam. A resilient flexure is secured to the load beam and supports the slider. The backside of the gimbal ball remains visible for the option of optical bonding of the slider to the suspension and for measurement of the slider position relative to the gimbal ball subsequent to the assembly of the HGA. The fixture is comprised of a top plate for holding the suspension assembly and a bottom plate for holding the slider. In one embodiment, the top plate includes a first vacuum port that terminates in a chamfered side for mating with the outer contour of the gimbal ball, and further includes a second vacuum port that assists in holding the suspension assembly to the top plate.

US Patent:

6404706, Jun 11, 2002

Filed:

Oct 28, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/429553

Inventors:

Ross W Stovall - Fremont CA
Yugang Wang - Milpitas CA
Carl J Carlson - Pleasanton CA

Assignee:

Read-Rite Corporation - Fremont CA

International Classification:

G11B 1100

US Classification:

369 1317

Abstract:

A head gimbal assembly includes a magneto-resistive read element integrated with a thermally assisted write element. The head gimbal assembly includes an optical waveguide positioned between two write poles to transmit a laser beam to a recording medium. The laser beam heats the medium sufficiently and lowers its coercivity in order to facilitate writing. A laser assembly is attached to a suspension for achieving direct coupling of the laser beam to an input end of the optical waveguide. The laser assembly is produced using cost effective wafer processing techniques. The use of silicon for the mounting block allows it to be used as a heat sink, for conducting heat away from the laser diode and into the suspension.

US Patent:

6708389, Mar 23, 2004

Filed:

Jul 10, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/612883

Inventors:

Carl J. Carlson - Pleasanton CA
Daniel P. Schott - San Jose CA

Assignee:

Western Digital (Fremont), Inc. - Lake Forest CA

International Classification:

G11B 5127

US Classification:

2960303, 2960301, 2960304, 2960307, 29428, 3602459, 360104

Abstract:

A method of making a magnetic head suspension assembly includes attaching a slider with a magnetic head to an intermediate flexible circuit. The attached combination is then inserted into a spin stand tester for the testing of electrical performance. If the attached combination fails the test, it is discarded, thereby avoiding the cost of discarding an entire head suspension assembly. On the other hand, if the attached combination passes the test, it is mounted to a load beam to form the head suspension assembly. Thereafter, a flex circuit can be attached to the load beam and intermediate flexible circuit to provide electrical connections to the magnetic head through the intermediate flexible circuit.

US Patent:

61250155, Sep 26, 2000

Filed:

Dec 4, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/205338

Inventors:

Carl J. Carlson - Pleasanton CA
Viktor S. Doundakov - San Jose CA

Assignee:

Read-Rite Corporation - Milpitas CA

International Classification:

G11B 558

US Classification:

3602459

Abstract:

A head gimbal assembly includes a suspension of the type supporting a slider and a flex circuit. The suspension is formed of a load beam that supports the flex circuit, and a resilient flexure which is secured to the load beam and which supports the slider. The flex circuit is comprised of conductive traces formed on a compliant, dielectric substrate. The substrate includes a body portion and a head portion for supporting the conductive traces. The substrate head portion is patterned such that selected portions of the head portion are removed to leave bare conductive trace sections, and to achieve reduced pitch and roll stiffness of the flex circuit. The flex circuit can optionally include a thin seed layer formed on the underside of the substrate to reduce static charge buildup.

US Patent:

6097575, Aug 1, 2000

Filed:

Jul 14, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/115403

Inventors:

Howie Trang - San Jose CA
Jimmy J. Shen - Fremont CA
Carl J. Carlson - Pleasanton CA

Assignee:

Read-Rite Corporation - Fremont CA

International Classification:

G11B 560

US Classification:

3602344

Abstract:

An optical or magneto-optical (MO) head comprises a head formed of two main parts: a housing and a body. The housing supports optical and magnetic components to be secured to the slider, and the body provides an air bearing surface and further supports the housing. The housing includes a pattern of channels and grooves that retain the optical and magnetic components, and that can be produced with extreme accuracy, so that the cumulative tolerance of the head varies within a very tight range. The components are interlocked within, or secured to the slider in a self-aligned disposition, and do not become detached, even under extremely harsh operating conditions. In addition, the self-alignment feature significantly reduces, if not entirely eliminates the need to align certain components after they have been mounted onto the slider. The slider design enables the head to be mass produced and assembled.

US Patent:

61815225, Jan 30, 2001

Filed:

Dec 12, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/210532

Inventors:

Carl J. Carlson - Pleasanton CA

Assignee:

Read-Write Corporation - Fremont CA

International Classification:

G11B 548

US Classification:

3602451

Abstract:

A head gimbal assembly (HGA) allows gimbaling along pitch and roll axes, and utilizes an inexpensive spherical gimbal ball pressed into an etched hole in the load beam to provide a highly accurate and measurable pivot location of a slider. The head gimbal assembly includes a suspension of the type supporting a slider, and comprising the suspension. A gimbal opening is formed in the load beam, and extends therethrough so that it receives the spherical gimbal ball for attachment to the load beam. A resilient flexure is secured to the load beam and supports the slider. The backside of the gimbal ball remains visible for the option of optical bonding of the slider to the suspension and for measurement of the slider position relative to the gimbal ball subsequent to the assembly of the HGA. The backside of the gimbal ball can optionally be used as the mechanical datum to accurately bond the suspension to the slider.

US Patent:

51527049, Oct 6, 1992

Filed:

May 9, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/697704

Inventors:

Carl A. Carlson - Oakland CA

Assignee:

Team Scarab, Inc. - Santa Barbara CA

International Classification:

B63H 1100

US Classification:

440 38

Abstract:

A water jet propulsion unit having a housing, a drive shaft, an impeller for mounting on the drive shaft, and a thrust bearing for supporting the drive shaft in the housing. The propulsion unit further includes a shaft seal unit for the shaft, with the housing having a forward end and a rear end, a bore with a longitudinal axis for slidingly receiving the shaft seal unit form the rear of the housing, with the shaft seal unit and the bearing carried on the shaft, a shoulder for preventing forward movement of the bearing in the bore along the axis beyond a predetermined position, and a lateral opening for access through the housing to the shaft seal unit, and a retainer moveable through the lateral opening for engagement with the shaft seal unit and the housing for limiting rearward movement of the shaft seal unit in the bore.