Head assembly with suspension system for a tape embedded drive
AssigneeWestern Digital Technologies, Inc.
InventorMasahito Kobayashi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A storage device comprises tape reel(s) holding tape media for storing data, a head assembly, motor(s) configured to actuate the head assembly, a sealed casing, and a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) configured to control operations of the motor(s). The head assembly comprises a support structure, a head bar with read head(s) and write head(s), and a suspension system connecting the head bar to the support structure. The sealed casing encloses in its interior the tape reel(s), the head assembly, and the motor(s). Meanwhile, the PCBA is mounted on an external surface of the casing.
Claims20
A head assembly for reading or writing to tape media in a tape drive, the head assembly comprising:
- a support structure;
- a head bar comprising at least one read head and at least one write head, the head bar being less than half a width of the tape media;
- and
- a suspension system connecting the head bar to the support structure, the suspension system comprising:
- one or more piezoelectric actuators configured to move the head bar across the width of the tape media;
- and
- an elongated suspension comprising a base end and a top end, the top end attached to the head bar, the base end movably attached by the one or more piezoelectric actuators to the support structure.
A storage device comprising:
- one or more tape reels comprising tape media for storing data;
- a head assembly comprising:
- a support structure;
- a head bar comprising at least one read head and at least one write head;
- and
- a suspension system connecting the head bar to the support structure, the suspension system comprising:
- one or more piezoelectric actuators configured to move the head bar across a width of the tape media;
- and
- an elongated suspension comprising a base end and a top end, the top end attached to the head bar, the base end movably attached by the one or more piezoelectric actuators to the support structure;
- one or more motors configured to actuate the head assembly;
- a sealed casing comprising an inner cavity, the inner cavity holding the one or more tape reels, the head assembly, and the one or more motors;
- and
- a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) mounted on an external surface of the casing, the PCBA electrically connected to the one or more motors and configured to control operations of the one or more motors.
A storage device comprising:
- one or more tape holding means configured to hold tape media for storing data;
- a head assembly comprising:
- a support structure;
- a tape reading and writing means;
- and
- a suspension means connecting the tape reading and writing means to the support structure, the suspension means comprising:
- one or more actuating means configured to move the tape reading and writing means across a width of the tape media;
- and
- an elongated suspension comprising a base end and a top end, the top end attached to the tape reading and writing means, the base end movably attached by the one or more actuating means to the support structure;
- a head assembly actuating means;
- a sealed casing comprising an inner cavity, the inner cavity holding the one or more tape holding means, the head assembly, and the one or more actuating means;
- and
- a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) mounted on an external surface of the casing, the PCBA electrically connected to the one or more actuating means and comprising components configured to control operations of the one or more actuating means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.