PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-10006974-B2
Application Number: US-201615272352-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Automated system for magnet quality measurements

Abstract:
An automated magnet quality measurement system includes a magnet measuring component and an automated magnet moving component. The magnet measuring component can be configured to measure EMF for a plurality of magnets. The automated magnet moving component can move each of the plurality of magnets into and out of the magnet measuring component without requiring any manual intervention, with only one of the plurality of magnets being within the magnet measuring component at a given time. The magnet measuring component can be a Helmholtz coil and the automated magnet moving component can be a rotating disk. The overall system can also include a loading system configured to load each of the magnets onto the automated magnet moving component on an individual and sequential basis, and a sorting system configured to sort the magnets based upon their EMF measurements.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An automated measurement system for measuring a magnetic quality of a magnet in a production environment, the automated measurement system comprising:
 a magnet measuring component having coils that define a central volume, wherein, when energized, the coils generate a magnetic field having a generally uniform magnetic field strength within the central volume; 
 a positioning mechanism that positions the magnet within the central volume such that, when the coils are energized, the magnet is exposed to a maximum magnetic flux; and 
 an electromotive force (“EMF”) measurement device that measures an EMF of the magnet in accordance with the maximum magnetic flux, wherein subsequent to measuring the EMF of the magnet, the positioning mechanism directs the magnet to an appropriate bin according to the measured EMF of the magnet. 
 
     
     
       2. The automated measurement system of  claim 1 , wherein the central volume is configured to accommodate magnets of different sizes. 
     
     
       3. The automated measurement system of  claim 1 , wherein the coils are a Helmholtz coil. 
     
     
       4. The automated measurement system of  claim 1 , wherein the positioning mechanism includes a rotating disk. 
     
     
       5. The automated measurement system of  claim 4 , wherein the rotating disk includes a recess that is configured to carry the magnet. 
     
     
       6. The automated measurement system of  claim 4 , wherein the rotating disk is configured to position the magnet within the central volume of the magnet measuring component at a given time. 
     
     
       7. The automated measurement system of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a reset sensor positioned on the rotating disk, wherein the reset sensor is configured to reset the magnet measuring component prior to measuring the EMF of the magnet. 
 
     
     
       8. The automated measurement system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sorting system configured to compare the measured EMF of the magnet to a predetermined EMF value. 
 
     
     
       9. The automated measurement system of  claim 8 , wherein the appropriate bin is selected from a first bin configured for accepting magnets having the measured EMF that satisfies the predetermined EMF value and a second bin configured for rejecting magnets having the measured EMF that does not satisfy the predetermined EMF value. 
     
     
       10. The automated measurement system of  claim 8 , wherein the sorting system includes a release mechanism. 
     
     
       11. The automated measurement system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a processor in communication with the magnet measuring component and in communication with the release mechanism, wherein the processor is configured to send a signal to the release mechanism to release the magnet based on the EMF of the magnet that is communicated to the processor by the magnet measuring component. 
 
     
     
       12. A method of automatically measuring a magnetic quality of a magnet in a production environment, the method comprising:
 generating a generally uniform magnetic field strength within a central volume defined by coils of a magnet measuring component; 
 energizing the magnet positioned within the central volume, thereby exposing the magnet to a maximum magnetic flux; 
 measuring the maximum magnetic flux of the magnet positioned within the central volume; and 
 sorting the magnet into an accepted bin or a rejected bin based on whether the maximum magnetic flux of the magnet satisfies a predetermined maximum magnetic flux threshold. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein a positioning mechanism including a rotating disk is capable of positioning the magnet within the central volume. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the magnet measuring component is a Helmholtz coil. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 positioning the magnet within the central volume by using a loading system. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 12 , wherein prior to positioning a subsequent magnet within the central volume, the method further comprises:
 resetting the magnet measuring component. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the maximum magnetic flux of the magnet increases as the magnet approach the central volume, and the maximum magnet flux of the magnet decreases as the magnet moves away from the central volume. 
     
     
       18. A method of measuring magnets, the method comprising:
 passing each of the magnets through a central volume of a magnet measuring component by using a rotating magnet moving component, wherein the central volume is defined by coils that are energized to generate a generally uniform magnetic field strength, thereby causing each of the magnets that are positioned within the central volume to be exposed to a maximum magnetic flux; 
 measuring the maximum magnetic flux of each of the magnets that are positioned within the central volume of the magnet measuring component; and 
 sorting the magnets into appropriate bins based on whether the maximum magnetic flux of each of the magnets satisfy a predetermined maximum magnetic flux threshold. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the magnets are automatically sorted based on the maximum magnetic flux. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 resetting the magnet measuring component prior to measuring the maximum magnetic flux of a subsequent magnet.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/222,085, filed on Sep. 22, 2015, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for all purposes. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The described embodiments relate generally to magnet processing. More particularly, the described embodiments relate to measuring properties of multiple magnets efficiently. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Magnets are typically tested by measuring their produced magnetic flux. This is often done in a test box where numerous steps need to be performed. For example, a single magnet is placed on a set plate, a search coil matching the size of the magnet is lowered onto the magnet, a nearby circuit measures the electromotive force (“EMF”) of the magnet, its magnetic flux is calculated therefrom, the search coil is then raised up, the single magnet is removed, and another single magnet is set in its place for the process to repeat. This flux measuring process is fine, but it tends to be slow, often requires human interaction for various tasks, and can involve the use of multiple search coils to match magnets of varying sizes. These and other factors can result in flux measurement values that are not standardized or exact, which can lead to other problems in a scaled manufacturing environment. While magnetic flux measuring processes have thus worked well in the past, there can be room for improvement. Accordingly, there is a need for improved magnetic property or quality measuring systems and processes that are more efficient. 
     SUMMARY 
     Representative embodiments set forth herein disclose various structures, methods, and features thereof for the disclosed automated magnet quality measurement systems. In particular, the disclosed embodiments set forth automated systems that measure magnetic flux of multiple potential magnetic parts and sort the measured parts as accepted or rejected accordingly. 
     According to various embodiments, automated magnet quality measurement systems are configured to measure magnet qualities and process magnets accordingly, such as in a manufacturing environment. An exemplary automated magnet quality measurement system can include at least: 1) a magnet measuring component, and 2) a magnet moving component. The magnet measuring component can be configured to measure EMF for a plurality of magnets. The magnet moving component can move automatically each of the plurality of magnets into and out of the magnet measuring component without requiring any manual intervention, with only one of the plurality of magnets being within the magnet measuring component at a given time. The magnet measuring component can be a Helmholtz coil and the automated magnet moving component can be a rotating disk. The overall system can also include a loading system configured to load each of the magnets onto the automated magnet moving component on an individual and sequential basis, and a sorting system configured to sort the magnets based upon their EMF measurements. 
     This Summary is provided merely for purposes of summarizing some example embodiments so as to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the subject matter described herein. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the above-described features are merely examples and should not be construed to narrow the scope or spirit of the subject matter described herein in any way. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter described will become apparent from the following Detailed Description, Figures, and Claims. 
     Other aspects and advantages of the embodiments described herein will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the described embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The included drawings are for illustrative purposes and serve only to provide examples of possible structures and methods for the disclosed automated magnet quality measurement systems. These drawings in no way limit any changes in form and detail that may be made to the embodiments by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments. The embodiments will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like structural elements. 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates in front perspective view an exemplary test box suitable for measuring the magnetic flux of a magnet. 
         FIG. 1B  illustrates in front perspective view an exemplary Helmholtz coil. 
         FIG. 2A  illustrates in front perspective view an exemplary magnet quality measurement system according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2B  illustrates an exemplary graph of a measured amount of magnetic flux as a given magnet passes through the Helmholtz coil in the magnet quality measurement system of  FIG. 2A  according to various embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3A  illustrates in top plan view the magnet quality measurement system of  FIG. 2A  according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3B  illustrates in side elevation view the magnet quality measurement system of  FIG. 2  according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4A  illustrates in top perspective view an exemplary partial rotational operation of the magnet quality measurement system of  FIG. 2A  according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4B  illustrates in bottom perspective view an exemplary continued rotational operation of the magnet quality measurement system from  FIG. 4A  according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a flowchart of an exemplary method for automatically processing a plurality of magnets according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates in block diagram format an exemplary computing device that can be used to implement the various components and techniques described herein according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Magnetic flux measuring systems are a common tool to analyze magnetic parts, such as to accept or reject parts for manufacturing uses. Many such magnetic flux measuring systems can be slow, cumbersome, and/or inaccurate, however, such that it can be desirable to provide improved magnetic flux measuring systems for large scale manufacturing environments. 
     The embodiments set forth herein thus provide various structures and methods for providing automated magnet quality measurement systems that measure the magnetic flux of multiple potential magnetic parts and sort the measured parts as accepted or rejected accordingly. An exemplary automated magnet quality measurement system can include at least a magnet measuring component and an automated magnet moving component. The magnet measuring component can be configured to measure EMF for a plurality of magnets. The automated magnet moving component can move each of the plurality of magnets into and out of the magnet measuring component without requiring any manual intervention, with only one of the plurality of magnets being within the magnet measuring component at a given time. 
     In various detailed embodiments, the magnet measuring component can be a Helmholtz coil and the automated magnet moving component can be a rotating disk. The overall system can also include a loading system configured to load each of the magnets onto the automated magnet moving component on an individual and sequential basis, and a sorting system configured to sort the magnets based upon their EMF measurements. A processor can facilitate the automated sorting of magnets in some embodiments. 
     The foregoing approaches provide various structures and methods for the disclosed automated magnet quality measurement systems. A more detailed discussion of these structures, methods, and features thereof is set forth below and described in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-6 , which illustrate detailed diagrams of devices and components that can be used to implement these structures, methods, and features. 
     Turning first to  FIG. 1A , an exemplary test box suitable for measuring the magnetic flux of a magnet is illustrated in front perspective view. Test box  100  can include various components, such as a lamp  102 , one or more search coils  104 , one or more set plates  106 ,  107 , electronic circuitry  108 , one or more optic curtains  110 , and a display  112 , among other items. A magnet  10  can be tested by measuring the flux it produces. Since is not possible to directly measure magnetic flux, this quality can be determined by moving the magnet  10  relative to an electrical coil, such as search coil  104 . From the EMF generated by the magnet  10  in the search coil  104 , the magnetic flux of the magnet  10  can be calculated. In test box  100 , search coil  104  can be lowered onto the magnet  10  while the magnet is located on set plate  106 . The electronic circuitry  108  within test box  100  measures the EMF, calculates the flux, and shows the value of the flux on the display  112 . After the measurement, the search coil  104  can be raised back up and the next magnet (not shown) on the front set plate  107  can be rotated under the search coil  104  for the next measurement. This system works, but has several disadvantages. 
     Because the movement of the search coil  104  is perpendicular to the part flow and must be retracted, the cycle time for the measurement can be slow. The test box  100  also requires constant manual Intervention, such as a human operator feeding and retrieving parts. The test box  100  is also dependent on the human operator to read the display accurately and decide whether the magnet  10  is good or bad. Further, the size of search coil  104  must be matched to the size of the magnet  10  or at least be close to it, such that different sized magnets require different sized search coils  104 . Where each new magnet  10  requires a different search coil  104  or even the development of a new search coil, this can take a long time. Because a given search coil  104  can be customized, the amount of EMF that it produces with a magnet  10  is unique to its design. Thus, it can be very difficult to standardize the measurement value and trace it back to basic physical laws and effects, and the results of each individual measurement can be difficult to check in an independent lab. 
       FIG. 1B  illustrates in front perspective view an exemplary Helmholtz coil. Helmholtz coil  150  can represent a standard piece of equipment in many labs that deal with magnetism. Like other similar devices, Helmholtz coil  150  can include two electrical coils  152  of radius “R” that are spaced apart by a distance “R.” A stage  154  for measuring items within the Helmholtz coil  150  may or may not be present, as may be desired. As is generally known, this arrangement creates a volume between the coils  152  of a uniform field strength, such that a magnet put into or removed from that volume will produce an EMF that is easy to measure and calculate. The simplicity of the geometry also means that the physics is simple and easy to model. 
       FIG. 2A  illustrates in front perspective view an exemplary magnet quality measurement system according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. Automated magnet quality measurement system  200  can include a loading system  220 , a Helmholtz coil  150  turned on its side or other magnet measuring component, and a rotating disk  230  or other automated magnet moving component that transports magnets under test in and out of the Helmholtz coil  150  or other magnet measuring component. Rotating disk  230  can be configured to rotate in a clockwise direction, as shown, and can be situated against or between one or more fixed supports, such as upper support  240  and lower support  242 , which may not rotate with the rotating disk  230 . Other types of motion are also possible. In various embodiments, rotating disk  230  can include a plurality of cavities or recesses  232 , each of which can be configured to contain or hold a magnet or other work piece therein. 
     One or more sensors may also be used with automated magnet quality measurement system  200 , such as a reading sensor  260  and a reset sensor  262 . Reading sensor  260  can be, for example, a fluxmeter configured to read the EMF of a magnet passing through Helmholtz coil  150 , while reset sensor  262  can be configured to reset the reading sensor  260  and/or one or more other system components when there is no magnet within the Helmholtz coil. Other conditions may be used to trigger reset sensor  262  as well, as will be readily appreciated. Additional system components can include circuitry adapted to send signal data to an associated processor, as well as the processor itself. Further system components can include automated release mechanisms at each of cavities or recesses  232 , as well as one or more bins for accepting tested magnets. This can include, for example, an accepted magnet bin and a rejected magnet bin. 
     In various embodiments, automated magnet quality measurement system  200  can be configured to measure the magnetic moment of magnetized permanent magnets. The magnetic moment for a given magnet can be measured by Helmholtz coil  150 , which can be accomplished by using the procedure described by International Standard IEC 60404-14, for example. Helmholtz coil  150  can be connected to a fluxmeter, and the magnet to be measured can be placed within a central volume of the Helmholtz coil  150 , such as by moving the magnet through the Helmholtz coil  150  while the magnet is within a cavity  232  on rotating disk  230  as it passes therethrough. Moving the magnet far from this position, where its magnetic field has no more influence on the reading creates a flux variation ΔΦ. The magnetic moment M of the magnet is proportional to ΔΦ:
 
 M=K   H ·ΔΦ
 
     In open circuit conditions, the magnetic moment of the magnet is the product of its volume V and the magnetic polarization  J   d  of the working point:
 
 M=J   d   ·V  
 
     For anisotropic magnets, J d  is very similar to the residual induction Br. The residual induction is a function of the demagnetization factor (loading line) and of the slope of the curve. The flux variation ΔΦ can be created in different ways, such as, for example, starting with the magnet in the coil and ending with the magnet far from the coil, or starting with the magnet far from the coil and ending with the magnet in the coil, or alternatively starting with the magnet far from the coil and making a path passing through the center and ending with the magnet far from the coil. In this case, the ΔΦ to be considered is the maximum value of flux registered across all movement of the given magnet. 
       FIG. 2B  illustrates an exemplary graph of a measured amount of magnetic flux as a given magnet passes through the Helmholtz coil in the magnet quality measurement system of  FIG. 2A  according to various embodiments of the present invention. As shown in reading sensor  260 , a given magnet  10  can pass between coils  152  that together form a Helmholtz coil. Such passage can be from left to right, or from right to left, with equal effectiveness. The graph below reading sensor  260  generally depicts that the measured flux for magnet  10  increases as the magnet  10  nears the central volume within coils  152 , and then decreases as magnet  10  moves away from that central volume. The maximum value of the measured flux effectively represents the flux for magnet  10 . This value can be measured in a similar manner for all magnets passing through the coils  152  that together form a Helmholtz coil. 
       FIG. 3A  illustrates in top plan view the magnet quality measurement system of  FIG. 2A  according to various embodiments of the present disclosure, and  FIG. 3B  illustrates in side elevation view the magnet quality measurement system of  FIG. 2A  according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. Again, automated magnet quality measurement system  200  can include a loading system  220  arranged vertically above an upper support  240  and with respect to recesses  232  in a rotating disk  230 . The rotating disk  230  can be situated between upper support  240  and lower support  242 , and can transport magnets to and through a Helmholtz coil  150 . A reading sensor  260  and reset sensor  262  can be used to read each magnet and reset the system as each magnet passes through the Helmholtz coil  150 . In addition, an accepted magnet bin  270  and a rejected magnet bin  272  can be included at the end of a path that each magnet takes rotating with rotating disk  230 . 
       FIG. 4A  illustrates in top perspective view an exemplary partial rotational operation of the magnet quality measurement system of  FIG. 2A  according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. Arrangement  400  depicts various positions of a magnet  10  during operation of the magnet quality measurement system. In various embodiments, a column of multiple magnets to be measured, which can include magnet  10 , can be inserted in the loading system  220 . The column can end on a flat surface of the rotating disk  230  and/or upper support  240 . The rotating disk  230  can have teeth for easy handling, between which are a plurality of cavities or recesses  232 , as noted above. In various embodiments, one or both of upper support  240  and lower support  242  can be transparent, which can allow a user or observer to see inside of the rotating disk  230 , as well as the exact magnet position. 
     A given magnet  10  stacked in the loading system  220  can fall into a recess  232  in the rotating disk  230 , which can take place as the rotating disk  230  rotates beneath the loading system  220 . In various embodiments, the lowest magnet  10  stacked within loading system  220  can fall to a position  11  at a given recess  232  when the recess is directly below the loading system  220 . The rotating disk  230  can then transport the magnet away from the other magnets in the loading system  220  and toward the Helmholtz coil  150 . As the magnet moves in this manner, such as toward a position  12 , the reset sensor  262  in or at the rotating disk  230  can trigger the fluxmeter electronics to reset and get ready for a measurement of the magnet. At this point, the flux of the magnet is zero with respect to the Helmholtz coil  150 . Next, the magnet continues to move with the rotation of rotating disk  230  until it enters the Helmholtz coil  150 , such as at position  13 , where the magnetic flux increases to a maximum and then decreases, all while the fluxmeter performs a reading on the magnet. The magnet is then rotated out of the Helmholtz coil  150  and continues to an unloading or sorting position  14 . 
       FIG. 4B  illustrates in bottom perspective view an exemplary continued rotational operation of the magnet quality measurement system from  FIG. 4A  according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. Continuing with the rotation of rotating disk  230 , the magnet is brought to unloading or sorting position  14 . This unloading or sorting position  14  can include an empty part of the lower support  242 , which can allow the magnet to fall or drop when released from its recess  232 , which can be into an accepted magnet bin  270  or a rejected magnet bin  272  depending upon the reading for that magnet. In various embodiments, the recess  232  that is configured to hold and rotate the magnet with rotating disk  230  can also be designed with a mechanism that releases the magnet. Such a release mechanism can be actuated at an appropriate location above the proper bin  270 ,  272 , upon receiving a signal from an associated processor. Such an associated processor can also be configured to receive the reading for the magnet from the fluxmeter, such that the processor actuates the release mechanism in each recess  232  in order to sort accepted magnets from rejected magnets and deposit them in separate bins. 
     As will be readily appreciated, there are numerous advantages of the disclosed automated magnet quality measurement system  200 . The system does not require a human operator to load and unload each separate magnet, nor does the system require a human operator to change coils or read measurements to accept or reject magnets individually. Accordingly, cycle time can be decreased. Further, the coil does not need to be custom designed for each new magnet, such that the same Helmholtz coil arrangement can be used so long as each magnet fits within the uniform volume of the Helmholtz coil. Measurements made with the disclosed system can be checked in any well-equipped laboratory, and it can be relatively simple to model the physics using standard calculations for simple known geometries, such that a design engineer can predict what the device will read. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a flowchart of an exemplary method for automatically processing a plurality of magnets according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. Method  500  can be carried out by one or more processors or other controllers that may be associated with an automated magnet quality measurement system. Method  500  can start at a process step  502 , where a plurality of magnets are arranged into a loading system. At the next process step  504 , a new magnet can be dropped from the loading system to an automated magnet moving component, which can be, for example, a rotating disk. At process step  506 , the rotating disk or other automated magnet moving component can be moved to advance the new magnet toward a magnet measuring component. Again, such a magnet measuring component can be a device that measures EMF or magnetic flux for the magnet. In various embodiments, this can be a Helmholtz coil, for example. At process step  508 , a fluxmeter or other magnet measuring component or sensor can be reset, and at process step  510 , the new magnet can be passed through the Helmholtz coil or other magnet measuring component. 
     At process step  512 , the magnetic flux of the new magnet can be measured, and at process step  514 , this measured magnetic flux can be communicated to a processor. At a following process step  516 , the rotating disk or other automated magnet moving component can be rotated or otherwise moved to advance the new magnet to an unload or sorting position, such as toward sorting bins. At a decision step  518 , an inquiry can be made as to whether the measured magnetic flux of the new magnet is acceptable. If not, then the method can continue to process step  520 , where the new magnet is sorted to a rejected magnet bin. If the measured magnetic flux is acceptable, however, then the method can continue to process step  522 , where the new magnet is sorted to an accepted magnet bin. After either outcome, the method can continue to a decision step  524 , where an inquiry can be made as to whether there are more magnets in the loading system. If so, then the method can revert to process step  504 , where steps  504  through  524  can then be repeated. If there are no magnets left, however, then the method can then reach a stop step  526 . 
     For the foregoing flowchart, it will be readily appreciated that not every step provided is always necessary, and that further steps not set forth herein may also be included. For example, added steps that involve calibrating the Helmholtz coil or other specific magnetic sensor(s) may be added. Also, steps that provide more detail with respect to accepting and sorting tested magnets may also be added. Furthermore, the exact order of steps may be altered as desired, and some steps may be performed simultaneously. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates in block diagram format an exemplary computing device  600  that can be used to implement the various components and techniques described herein, according to some embodiments. In particular, the detailed view illustrates various components that can be included in an electronic device suitable for operating an automated magnet quality measurement system, such as that which is shown in  FIG. 2A . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the computing device  600  can include a processor  602  that represents a microprocessor or controller for controlling the overall operation of computing device  600 . The computing device  600  can also include a user input device  608  that allows a user of the computing device  600  to interact with the computing device  600 . For example, the user input device  608  can take a variety of forms, such as a button, keypad, dial, touch screen, audio input interface, visual/image capture input interface, input in the form of other sensor data, etc. Still further, the computing device  600  can include a display  610  (screen display) that can be controlled by the processor  602  to display information to the user (for example, a movie or other AV or media content). A data bus  616  can facilitate data transfer between at least a storage device  640 , the processor  602 , and a controller  613 . The controller  613  can be used to interface with and control different equipment through and equipment control bus  614 . Such equipment can include, for example, an automated magnet quality measurement system and sensors for same, such as that which is disclosed herein. The computing device  600  can also include a network/bus interface  611  that couples to a data link  612 . In the case of a wireless connection, the network/bus interface  611  can include a wireless transceiver. 
     The computing device  600  can also include a storage device  640 , which can comprise a single disk or a plurality of disks (e.g., hard drives), and includes a storage management module that manages one or more partitions within the storage device  640 . In some embodiments, storage device  640  can include flash memory, semiconductor (solid state) memory or the like. The computing device  600  can also include a Random Access Memory (RAM)  620  and a Read-Only Memory (ROM)  622 . The ROM  622  can store programs, utilities or processes to be executed in a non-volatile manner. The RAM  620  can provide volatile data storage, and stores instructions related to the operation of the computing device  600 . 
     The various aspects, embodiments, implementations or features of the described embodiments can be used separately or in any combination. Various aspects of the described embodiments can be implemented by software, hardware or a combination of hardware and software. The described embodiments can also be embodied as computer readable code on a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium is any data storage device that can store data which can thereafter be read by a computer system. Examples of the computer readable medium include read-only memory, random-access memory, CD-ROMs, DVDs, magnetic tape, hard disk drives, solid state drives, and optical data storage devices. The computer readable medium can also be distributed over network-coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion. 
     The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, uses specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the described embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the specific details are not required in order to practice the described embodiments. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the described embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20160921
Publication Date: 20180626
Grant Date: 20180626
Priority Date: 20150922
Inventors: DIFONZO, JOHN C.
BERTOLDO, MAURIZIO
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G01R33/0385", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01R33/12", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01R33/0385", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 58277109