Michael R Masten

US Patent:

6356418, Mar 12, 2002

Filed:

Jun 30, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/343420

Inventors:

Mark W. Heaton - Irving TX
Michael K. Masten - Plano TX
Mark A. Avery - Dallas TX
Philip A. Congdon - Richardson TX

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

G11B 556

US Classification:

3602941, 3602946

Abstract:

An integral computer hard drive microactuator support comprising a unitary member of solid material. The support includes a frame portion surrounding and defining an opening portion, and a platform portion disposed within the opening portion. Four fixed-fixed beam portions connect the platform portion to the frame portion, the fixed-fixed beam portions being generally rectangular in cross section and substantially straight along their length.

US Patent:

6424486, Jul 23, 2002

Filed:

Dec 17, 1997

Appl. No.:

08/992598

Inventors:

Mark W. Heaton - Dallas TX
Michael K. Masten - Plano TX

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

G11B 5596

US Classification:

360 7805, 360 7814, 360 7707

Abstract:

A hard disk drive system ( ) includes a rotating magnetic disk ( ), and a support arm ( ) which is supported for movement relative to the disk under control of a voice coil motor ( ). a microactuator ( ) supports a read/write head ( ) on the support arm for movement relative thereto a control arrangement ( ) controls the voice coil motor and the microactuator in response to position information ( ), which is read by the read/write head from the disk and which indicates the position of the read/write head relative to the disk. The system is free of a sensor for detecting the actual position of the support arm relative to the read/write head or the disk.

US Patent:

61948926, Feb 27, 2001

Filed:

Aug 7, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/130732

Inventors:

Philip A. Congdon - Richardson TX
Mark W. Heaton - Irving TX
Michael K. Masten - Plano TX

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated

International Classification:

G01B 714

US Classification:

32420716

Abstract:

An improved micro-actuator position sensor which provides an accurate position signal for higher bandwidth control of a micro-actuator. The position sensor allows closed loop control of the micro-actuator position. Preferred embodiment micro-actuator sensors include a piezo-resistive stress sensor integrated within the springs, a capacitance sensor and magnetic reluctance sensor. Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail as integrated sensors for a micro-actuator used in hard disk drives. The sensor is integrated with a micro-actuator at the tip of the conventional actuator arm to improve the precision seeking capability of the actuator arm.

US Patent:

6211638, Apr 3, 2001

Filed:

Mar 27, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/049879

Inventors:

Mark W. Heaton - Irving TX
Michael K. Masten - Plano TX
Michael T. DiRenzo - Coppell TX

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

G05B 1101
G05B 501
G11B 5596

US Classification:

318560

Abstract:

A hard disk drive system (10) includes a rotating magnetic disk (13), an arm (16) moved by a voice coil motor (18), and a read/write head (21) movably supported on the arm by a microactuator (22). The read/write head is moved approximately radially of the disk in response to operation of the microactuator or movement of the arm. The microactuator has a nonlinear transfer function. A control system (62) for controlling the microactuator and the voice coil motor includes a control technique (126) having a nonlinear transfer function which is substantially an inverse of the nonlinear transfer function of the microactuator. Control of the microactuator is effected through the control technique, the control technique linearizing the control of the microactuator.

Author:

Michael K. Masten

ISBN #:

0819405914

Author:

Michael K. Masten

ISBN #:

0819418218

Author:

Michael K. Masten

ISBN #:

0819421200

Author:

Michael K. Masten

ISBN #:

0819422592

Author:

Michael K. Masten

ISBN #:

0819428140

Author:

Michael K. Masten

ISBN #:

0819431664

Author:

Michael K. Masten

ISBN #:

0819453536

Author:

Michael K. Masten

ISBN #:

0819457957