JAMES T MURPHY, M.D.
Osteopathic Medicine at Kalmia Ave, Boulder, CO

6487043, Nov 26, 2002

Oct 23, 1998

09/178231

James M. Murphy - Boulder CO
Joshua C. Harrison - Longmont CO

Seagate Technology LLC - Scotts Valley CA

G11B 582

360135

A disc drive is disclosed that includes textured features on the disc surface and a slider. The slider texture can include one or more features oriented in a first direction, and the disc can include one or more features oriented in a second direction. The first and second directions are selected such that the second direction includes a component that is perpendicular to the first direction. The orientation of the features facilitates the provision of matrix of contact points between the slider and the disc surface.

6388842, May 14, 2002

May 11, 2000

09/568746

James Morgan Murphy - Boulder CO

Seagate Technology LLC - Scotts Valley CA

G11B 558

3602448, 2960303, 72 163

A disc drive suspension incorporates a loadbeam with a shorter bend section having higher torsional stiffness and higher-frequency resonance states than conventional suspension bend sections. The bend section is formed by etching a narrow groove in the loadbeam. The suspension may also include a separate bend section piece that bridges a gap between the loadbeam anchor sheet and the loadbeam. A method of performing a pre-load adjustment on a transducer suspension for use in a disc drive includes attaching a loadbeam anchor sheet of the suspension to an actuator arm of an E-block to form part of an actuator assembly, measuring a pre-load force on the suspension on the actuator arm, back-bending the suspension until the bend section yields and measuring the pre-load force on the suspension on the actuator arm.

6556383, Apr 29, 2003

Nov 17, 1999

09/441761

James Morgan Murphy - Boulder CO
Joshua Charles Harrison - Stanford CA

Seagate Technology LLC - Scotts Valley CA

G11B 2122

3602449

A suspension for connecting a slider to an actuator arm of a disc drive includes a cushion extending vertically from the suspension. The cushion limits vertical excursions and dampens motion of the suspension during a shock event to better maintain the slider in contact with a disc surface in the disc drive. The cushion can be formed as an external feature attached to the suspension, such as a foam or plastic cushion, or as an integral feature of the suspension. A disc drive assembly having a plurality of discs includes a first suspension and a first cushion extending vertically downward toward a second suspension. The second suspension may include a second cushion extending vertically upward toward the first suspension. The first cushion and one of the second suspension or the second cushion are spaced apart by a predetermined distance under normal operating conditions and engage one another to limit vertical excursions and dampen motion of the first and second suspensions when the disc drive undergoes a shock event.

6680825, Jan 20, 2004

Apr 20, 2000

09/553523

James Morgan Murphy - Boulder CO
Richard August Budde - Plymouth MN
Markus E. Mangold - Eden Prairie MN
Peter Crane - Richfield MN

Seagate Technology LLC - Scotts Valley CA

G11B 2124

3602944

A microactuation system selectively alters a position of a transducing head carried by a slider in a disc drive system with respect to a track of a rotatable disk having a plurality of concentric tracks. The microactuation system includes a head suspension having a first portion and a second portion coupled by one or more flexible hinges. An electroactive element is attached to the first portion of the head suspension at one end and the second portion of the load beam at the other end. The electroactive element bends in response to a control signal applied thereto. The hinge is sufficiently compliant to permit movement of the first portion with respect to the second portion of the head suspension.

6366426, Apr 2, 2002

Feb 17, 2000

09/505572

Paul A. Beatty - Longmont CO
David A. Olivero - Boulder CO
Walter Wong - Boulder CO
Patrick M. Thomas - Boulder CO
James M. Murphy - Boulder CO

Seagate Technology LLC - Scotts Valley CA

G11B 3308

360 9702, 360135

An apparatus and method for reducing structural vibrations in a disc drive that incorporates a fusible alloy. A fusible alloy portion is constrained between a first and second structural alloy portion through conventional lamination techniques. A fusible alloy can be incorporated into any structural component of the disc drive, including a base plate and an information storage disc. Fusible alloys incorporated into the disc drive absorb energy transmitted by vibrations through anelastic deformation, i. e. , through dislocation motion. Suitable fusible alloy materials may include but are not limited to: Lead-Tin, Indium-Tin and Indium-Bismuth.

6317286, Nov 13, 2001

Jan 25, 2000

9/490602

James Morgan Murphy - Boulder CO
Paul Allison Beatty - Longmont CO
Serge Jacques Fayeulle - Longmont CO

Seagate Technology LLC - Scotts Valley CA

G11B 3314

360 9702

An apparatus for minimizing corrosion product build-up within a disc drive incorporates a non-corrosive gas hermetically sealed within the disc drive and a diaphragm chamber that allows the constrained non-corrosive gas to respond to changes in pressure and temperature. The diaphragm chamber includes a diaphragm that partitions the diaphragm chamber into a top and bottom chambers. The top chamber has an aperture for communicating with the external environment and the bottom chamber has an aperture for communicating with the internally constrained non-corrosive gas. The diaphragm is non-permeable and made of an elastic material that responds to changes in air volume or mass on either side of the partition so that the pressure inside the hermetically sealed disc drive is constant throughout the life of the device. The diaphragm chamber can be located inside or outside the disc drive and can be integrally formed within the top cover of the disc drive.

6157522, Dec 5, 2000

Jan 29, 1999

9/240116

James Morgan Murphy - Boulder CO
Richard August Budde - Plymouth MN

Seagate Technology LLC - Scotts Valley CA

G11B 5596

3602946

A microactuator is disclosed for selectively altering a position of a transducing head carried by a slider in a disc drive system with respect to a track of a rotatable disc having a plurality of concentric tracks. The disc drive system includes a head mounting block for attachment to an actuator arm and a head suspension supporting the slider over the rotatable disc. The microactuator includes a piezoelectric element attached between the head mounting block and the head suspension and beams connecting the head mounting block and the head suspension. The piezoelectric element is deformable in response to a voltage applied thereto. The beams are flexible to permit movement of the head suspension with respect to the head mounting block upon deformation of the piezoelectric elements, and have heights extending out of the general plane of the head mounting block and the head suspension.

7149057, Dec 12, 2006

Jul 11, 2001

09/903024

James Morgan Murphy - Boulder CO, US

Seagate Technology LLC - Scotts Valley CA

G11B 5/48

3602448

According to the present invention there is provided a head positioning suspension for a modern disc drive. The suspension has a base, a load beam, and a bend section. The load beam extends in a first plane and has a longitudinal axis extending between its first and second ends. The load beam also has a transverse axis extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis that is also within the first plane. The bend section connects the base to one end of the load beam and includes a longitudinal axis and transverse axis parallel to each of the respective longitudinal and transverse axis of the load beam. The bend section includes a plate with a given width extending substantially within the first plane and a rail that extends across a portion of that width in a direction that is parallel to the transverse axis of the bend section. The bend section rail further extends in a direction out of the first plane.