Thomas N Andrews

US Patent:

45905266, May 20, 1986

Filed:

Nov 1, 1983

Appl. No.:

6/547308

Inventors:

Richard G. Laatt - Longmont CO
Thomas A. Fiers - Longmont CO
Thomas L. Andrews - Longmont CO

Assignee:

Amcodyne Incorporated - Longmont CO

International Classification:

G11B 555

US Classification:

360 78

Abstract:

A method and apparatus are provided in an embedded servo system for controllably moving, using a linear motor, a carriage assembly and one or more accompanying heads relative to one or more disk surfaces. Each disk surface includes sectors for reading and writing information. Each disk surface also includes servo fields spaced between the read/write sectors. The servo fields have preset servo or position information for each of the tracks on the disk. The position information is in the form of Normal and Quadrature generated signals used to determine the exact position of the head when it is located between track centers. Using the determined position of the head and knowing a target position on the disk surface, the distance remaining to the target position is found. Using the value of the distance remaining to the target position, a head velocity can be determined and the proper amount of current can be supplied to the linear motor so that the head arrives at the target position in minimal time.

US Patent:

52315495, Jul 27, 1993

Filed:

Aug 30, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/571558

Inventors:

James H. Morehouse - Jamestown CO
Thomas L. Andrews - Ward CO
John H. Blagaila - Boulder CO
David M. Furay - Boulder CO
Terry G. Johnson - Longmont CO
H. Ross Chessman - Erie CO

Assignee:

Conner Peripherals, Inc. - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G11B 554

US Classification:

360 75

Abstract:

A disk drive apparatus is disclosed for primary use with portable, laptop or other information storage systems. The disk drive apparatus includes one or more about 2. 5 inch hard disks. A rotary actuator is utilized and includes an arm assembly having a cam follower member for use in dynamically loading/unloading read/write head(s). The cam follower member moves along a ramp, which forms a cam surface, for loading/unloading. The spin motor assembly of the disk drive apparatus includes rotor having a clamp ring that enables a more powerful spin motor to be incorporated, as well as facilitating and enhancing the connection of the hard disks to the spin motor. The disk drive apparatus also includes servo electronics responsive to a back emf generated signal for use in the servo operation, which use has the potential to increase the servo bandwidth. The accuracy of the servo operation is also enhanced by the use of a flexible circuit that prevents unwanted torque from being applied to the actuator during operation. The disk drive electronics also includes hardware and software for reducing power consumption.

US Patent:

55397140, Jul 23, 1996

Filed:

Apr 4, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/222494

Inventors:

Thomas L. Andrews - Ward CO
Gary E. Counts - Arvada CO

Assignee:

Integral Peripherals - Boulder CO

International Classification:

G11B 700

US Classification:

369 4426

Abstract:

A secondary servo compensator, in a miniature disk drive having at least one disk and a servo system to position an actuator driven read/write head over any one of a number of tracks on the disk, provides on-line real-time compensation for disk runout that occurs during operation of the miniature disk drive. The servo system includes a servo compensator that has a gain and that generates an actuator position signal for positioning the read/write head over the track in response to a position error signal. The secondary servo compensator functions independently of the servo compensator. Specifically, the secondary servo compensator receives the position error signal and analyzes the disk runout and simultaneously generates a runout compensation signal during operation of the disk drive, i. e. , while the disk drive is idle, reading, or writing. An actuator signal generator combines the actuator adjustment signal that is generated using the position error signal from sector "i" and the runout compensation signal that is generated using the position error signal for sector "i-1" to create a runout compensated actuator signal for sector "i".

US Patent:

58726691, Feb 16, 1999

Filed:

Jun 7, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/473726

Inventors:

James H. Morehouse - Jamestown CO
Thomas L. Andrews - Ward CO
John H. Blagaila - Boulder CO
David H. Furay - Boulder CO
Terry G. Johnson - Longmont CO
H. Ross Chessman - Erie CO

Assignee:

Seagate Technology, Inc. - Scotts Valley CA

International Classification:

G11B 1518

US Classification:

360 69

Abstract:

A disk drive apparatus is disclosed for primary use with portable, laptop or other information storage systems. The disk drive apparatus includes one or more about 2. 5 inch hard disks. The disk drive apparatus also has electronics, including hardware and software, for detecting a lapse of first and second predetermined time intervals since a last disk access. The disk drive apparatus also includes power conservation means which power down a first portion of disk drive components after a first predetermined time interval has elapsed and for powering down a second portion of disk drive components after a second predetermined time interval has elapsed.

US Patent:

58673407, Feb 2, 1999

Filed:

Jan 9, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/780964

Inventors:

James H. Morehouse - Jamestown CO
Thomas L. Andrews - Ward CO
Gary E. Counts - Arvada CO
Steven B. Volk - Boulder CO
Michael R. Utenick - Niwot CO
Stephen R. Cowen - Louisville CO
Richard K. Thompson - Berthoud CO

Assignee:

Mobile Storage Technology Inc. - Boulder CO

International Classification:

G11B 5596

US Classification:

360 7704

Abstract:

Disclosed is a rigid disk drive information storage device which includes a rigid disk having an outside diameter in the range of about 33-34 mm. , with a housing having a footprint that includes a width of about 35 mm. and utilizing a rotary actuator for positioning read/write recording elements across the surface of the disk. The disk storage devices further includes a footprint with length of about 50. 8 mm. , and includes in one embodiment dynamic head loading apparatus for loading the read/write recording elements into operative relationship with the disk. In another embodiment the rigid disk drive utilizes contact start stop loading and unloading of the read/write recording elements. An inertial latch is also provided for preventing rotation of the actuator when the drive is subjected to a rotational force.

US Patent:

52911101, Mar 1, 1994

Filed:

Oct 31, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/786333

Inventors:

Thomas L. Andrews - Ward CO
Gary E. Counts - Arvada CO

Assignee:

Integral Peripherals, Inc. - Boulder CO

International Classification:

G11B 2102

US Classification:

318560

Abstract:

A silent seek servo controller is used in a low profile miniature disk drive to minimize acoustic noise and the problems associated therewith. The silent seek servo controller of this invention reduces acoustic noise generation at the expense of seek performance. Since the silent seek servo controller of this invention minimizes acoustic noise, the controller helps to eliminate vibrations within the computer. The silent seek servo controller is a one mode continuous position servo seek controller that accelerates and decelerates the actuator using a smooth, continuous and completely symmetric acceleration trajectory. Specifically, for a seek time t, the disk drive actuator is accelerated for one-half the seek time, i. e, time t/2, and decelerated for the other half of seek time t. The peak acceleration occurs at time t/4 and the peak deceleration occurs at time 3t/4.

US Patent:

46283790, Dec 9, 1986

Filed:

Sep 25, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/655355

Inventors:

Thomas L. Andrews - Longmont CO
Thomas A. Fiers - Longmont CO
Richard G. Laatt - Longmont CO

Assignee:

Amcodyne Incorporated - Longmont CO

International Classification:

G11B 556

US Classification:

360 77

Abstract:

A method and apparatus are provided to compensate for the runout that commonly occurs during the reading from or writing of information on the surface of a disk medium using a read/write head. The runout relates to the distance the head is located away from a disk track center during the rotation of the disk. To maintain the head in alignment with the track center during the complete revolution of the disk, position information is obtained. This position information is used with discrete fourier transform techniques to provide a representation of the disk runout. From this representation, a compensating signal can be generated to provide movement of the head that compensates for the runout and keeps the head positioned in alignment with the track center at all times during the disk rotation.

US Patent:

49337858, Jun 12, 1990

Filed:

Mar 1, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/162799

Inventors:

James H. Morehouse - Jamestown CO
Thomas L. Andrews - Boulder CO
John H. Blagaila - Boulder CO
David M. Furay - Boulder CO
Terry G. Johnson - Longmont CO

Assignee:

Prairietek Corporation - Longmont CO

International Classification:

G11B 554
G11B 3302
G11B 17028

US Classification:

360 7804

Abstract:

A disk drive apparatus is disclosed for primary use with portable, laptop or other information storage systems. The disk drive apparatus includes one or more about 2. 5 inch hard disks. A rotary actuator is utilized and includes an arm assembly having a cam follower member for use in dynamically loading/unloading read/write head(s). The cam follower member moves along a ramp, which forms a cam surface, for loading/unloading. The spin motor assembly of the disk drive apparatus includes a rotor having a clamp ring that enables a more powerful spin motor to be incorporated, as well as facilitating and enhancing the connection of the hard disks to the spin motor. The disk drive apparatus also includes servo electronics responsive to a back emf generated signal for use in the servo operation, which use has the potential to increase the servo bandwidth. The accuracy of the servo operation is also enhanced by the use of a flexible circuit that prevents unwanted torque from being applied to the actuator during operation. The disk drive electronics also includes hardware and software for reducing power consumption.