Adam K Himes

6399889, Jun 4, 2002

Sep 13, 1999

09/394153

Kurt J. Korkowski - Hudson WI
Kenneth R. Fastner - Inver Grove Heights MN
Adam K. Himes - Richfield MN
Gregory P. Myers - Edina MN
Andrew R. Motzko - Burnsville MN

Seagate Technology LLC - Scotts Valley CA

H05K 100

174255, 174261, 174254, 361741, 361743, 361772, 361776, 361803

A head interconnect circuit for connecting transducer elements of a data head to drive circuitry including an alignment finger on a lead tip for aligning leads relative to connectors or solder pads for electrically connecting heads to drive circuitry. A method for connecting a head interconnect circuit to a printed circuit supported on an head actuator including aligning an alignment finger on the lead tip with a printed surface of a drive circuit for soldering leads on the lead tip to solder pads or connectors on the drive circuit.

6545842, Apr 8, 2003

Nov 28, 2001

09/996408

Ram Mohan Rao - Roseville MN
Adam Karl Himes - Richfield MN
Zine Eddine Boutaghou - Vadnais Height MN
Scott Edward Ryun - Prior Lake MN
Markus Erwin Mangold - Minneapolis MN

Seagate Technology LLC - Scotts Valley CA

G11B 2116

3602442, 360 9702

A disc drive has an actuator assembly that includes an actuator arm and a suspension having a load beam for supporting a head above a surface of a disc. The actuator assembly includes a plurality of surface features formed on a surface of at least one of the actuator arm and the load beam to reduce aerodynamic drag forces experienced by the actuator assembly. The disc drive may also include an air dam having a finger extending over the surface of the disc, where the finger includes a plurality of surface features to reduce flow separation of an airflow passing over the finger. The surface features may comprise dimples or V-shaped shark skin denticles.

6634086, Oct 21, 2003

Apr 9, 2001

09/829213

Kurt J. Korkowski - Hudson WI
Kenneth R. Fastner - Inver Grove Heights MN
Adam K. Himes - Richfield MN
Gregory P. Myers - Edina MN
Andrew R. Motzko - Burnsville MN

Seagate Technology LLC - Scotts Valley CA

G11B 5127

2960303, 2960304, 2960302, 174255, 3602642

A head interconnect circuit for connecting transducer elements of a data head to drive circuitry including an alignment finger on a lead tip for aligning leads relative to connectors or solder pads for electrically connecting heads to drive circuitry. A method for connecting a head interconnect circuit to a printed circuit supported on an head actuator including aligning an alignment finger on the lead tip with a printed surface of a drive circuit for soldering leads on the lead tip to solder pads or connectors on the drive circuit.

6704157, Mar 9, 2004

Apr 16, 2001

09/835714

Adam Karl Himes - Minneapolis MN
John Wright - Edina MN
David Gordon Qualey - Apple Valley MN
David Allen Sluzewski - Edina MN

Seagate Technology LLC - Scotts Valley CA

G11B 2102

360 75, 360 7809, 360 7812

Passive damping of a disc drive structural member is achieved using a tuned resonance passive damping circuit. This circuit can, for example, be connected to a head gimbal assembly that has a piezoelectric micro-actuator. The circuit can be tuned to the sway frequency of the micro-actuator. The circuit is configured to dissipate mechanical energy as heat, effectively damping the structure to which it is attached.

6714384, Mar 30, 2004

Dec 7, 1999

09/456746

Adam Karl Himes - Richfield MN
Kevin Jon Schulz - Apple Valley MN

Seagate Technology LLC - Scotts Valley CA

G11B 548

3602459, 3602443

A printed circuit head interconnect of a head gimbal assembly (HGA) has different material thicknesses in different regions of the printed circuit head interconnect. The printed circuit head interconnect includes a lamination sheet of materials having dielectric materials and conductive materials. The regions which need to have a lower stiffness are made thinner than the rest of the regions. The rest of the regions are made thick and robust enough to support the HGA. A method of reducing the thicknesses of the printed circuit head interconnect includes applying a resist mask pattern having a plurality of openings with different sizes so as to obtain different thicknesses of the materials in different regions of the printed circuit head interconnect.

6728068, Apr 27, 2004

Aug 25, 1999

09/382891

Adam K. Himes - Richfield MN
Michael S. Bowers - Bloomington MN
Paul E. Kupinski - Eagan MN

Seagate Technology LLC - Bloomington MN

G11B 517

3602345

A flexible circuit for use in a head gimbal assembly having low stiffness and high robustness. The flexible interconnect circuit has interconnecting leads which connect the flexible interconnect circuit to a transduction head. To ensure the transducing head is able to follow the surface of the disc and properly read from and write to the disc, the interconnect leads are constructed with a varying width. The leads are widened at the points where breakage usually occurs and are narrowed at a middle portion to ensure the leads maintain the desired flexibility.

6744602, Jun 1, 2004

Feb 8, 2002

10/072122

Ram Mohan Rao - Roseville MN
Scott Edward Ryun - Prior Lake MN
Zine Eddine Boutaghou - Vadnais Heights MN
Adam Karl Himes - Richfield MN

Seagate Technology LLC - Scotts Valley CA

G11B 560

3602453

Herein is disclosed a method and apparatus for reducing particle collection on a slider or gimbal tongue. The gimbal tongue is shaped so as to interact with airflow within a disc drive to direct particles away from the slider and gimbal tongue. The leading edge of the gimbal tongue overhangs the leading edge of the slider. As air current approaches such a geometry, a large pocket of slow moving, high pressure air is created just upwind of the slider. Thus, as particulate matter encounters this pocket, the matter is slowed and its momentum is partially dissipated. A vent is provided in the gimbal tongue. The vent permits an escape route for the particles to move to an area of lower pressure, located on the other side of the gimbal tongue.

6867948, Mar 15, 2005

Dec 9, 1999

09/457816

Kevin Jon Schulz - Apple Valley MN, US
Adam Karl Himes - Richfield MN, US

Seagate Technology LLC - Scotts Valley CA

G11B005/48

3602459

A flexible circuit includes a dielectric liquid crystal polymer. The liquid crystal polymer supports electrically conductive elements. The liquid crystal provides improved properties to the flexible polymer. A suspension assembly can be formed with a transducer head supported on an adjustable arm, where the flexible circuit provides electrical connection to the transducer.