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US 11,735,223 B2Granted
Head suspension system for a tape drive
AssigneeWestern Digital Technologies, Inc.
InventorsKoumei Hanaoka, Masahito Kobayashi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A storage device comprises, a head assembly, motor(s) configured to actuate the head assembly. The storage device may optionally include tape reel(s) holding tape media for storing data and a casing. The head assembly and its suspension system comprises a support structure, a head housing having an upper attachment bracket and a lower attachment bracket, a first flat spring attached to the upper attachment bracket, a second flat spring attached to the lower attachment bracket, and a head bar attached on an upper side to the first flat spring and attached on a lower side to the second flat spring. The head bar includes at least one read head and at least one write head.
Claims19
A storage device comprising:
- a head assembly comprising:
- a support structure;
- a head housing attached to the support structure, the head housing having an upper attachment bracket and a lower attachment bracket;
- a first flat spring attached to the upper attachment bracket;
- a second flat spring attached to the lower attachment bracket;
- a head bar comprising at least one read head and at least one write head, the head bar attached on an upper side to the first flat spring, the head bar attached on a lower side to the second flat spring, the head bar suspended between the first flat spring and the second flat spring;
- a first piezoelectric actuator attached to the lower attachment bracket, the first piezoelectric actuator on an opposite side of the second flat spring from the lower side of the head bar, the first piezoelectric actuator configured to actuate the head bar by moving the second flat spring that is attached to the head bar;
- and
- a second piezoelectric actuator configured to actuate the head bar, the second piezoelectric actuator attached to the lower attachment bracket, the second piezoelectric actuator on the opposite side of the second flat spring from the lower side of the head bar, the second piezoelectric actuator beside and apart from the first piezoelectric actuator;
- and
- one or more motors configured to actuate the head assembly;
- wherein the head bar is attached to a section of the second flat spring between the first piezoelectric actuator and the second piezoelectric actuator.
9 more elements
A storage device comprising:
- a head assembly comprising:
- a support structure;
- a head housing attached to the support structure, the head housing having an upper attachment bracket and a lower attachment bracket;
- a first flat spring attached to the upper attachment bracket;
- a second flat spring attached to the lower attachment bracket;
- a head bar comprising at least one read head and at least one write head, the head bar attached on an upper side to the first flat spring, the head bar attached on a lower side to the second flat spring, the head bar suspended between the first flat spring and the second flat spring;
- and
- a first piezoelectric actuator configured to actuate the head bar, the first piezoelectric actuator attached to the lower attachment bracket, the first piezoelectric actuator on an opposite side of the second flat spring from the lower side of the head bar;
- and
- one or more motors configured to actuate the head assembly;
- wherein a dummy mass is attached to the upper attachment bracket, the dummy mass on an opposite side of the first flat spring from the upper side of the head bar.
8 more elements
A head assembly for reading or writing to tape media in a tape drive, the head assembly comprising:
- a support structure;
- a head housing attached to the support structure, the head housing having an upper attachment bracket and a lower attachment bracket;
- a first flat spring attached to the upper attachment bracket;
- a second flat spring attached to the lower attachment bracket;
- a head bar comprising at least one read head and at least one write head, the head bar attached on an upper side to the first flat spring, the head bar attached on a lower side to the second flat spring, the head bar suspended between the first flat spring and the second flat spring;
- a first piezoelectric actuator attached to the lower attachment bracket, the first piezoelectric actuator on an opposite side of the second flat spring from the lower side of the head bar, the first piezoelectric actuator configured to actuate the head bar by moving the second flat spring that is attached to the head bar;
- and
- a second piezoelectric actuator configured to actuate the head bar, the second piezoelectric actuator attached to the lower attachment bracket, the second piezoelectric actuator on the opposite side of the second flat spring from the lower side of the head bar, the second piezoelectric actuator beside and apart from the first piezoelectric actuator;
- wherein the head bar is attached to a section of the second flat spring between the first piezoelectric actuator and the second piezoelectric actuator.
6 more elements
A head assembly for reading or writing to tape media in a tape drive, the head assembly comprising:
- a support structure;
- a head housing attached to the support structure, the head housing having an upper attachment bracket and a lower attachment bracket;
- a first flat spring attached to the upper attachment bracket;
- a second flat spring attached to the lower attachment bracket;
- a head bar comprising at least one read head and at least one write head, the head bar attached on an upper side to the first flat spring, the head bar attached on a lower side to the second flat spring, the head bar suspended between the first flat spring and the second flat spring;
- and
- a first piezoelectric actuator configured to actuate the head bar, the first piezoelectric actuator attached to the lower attachment bracket, the first piezoelectric actuator on an opposite side of the second flat spring from the lower side of the head bar;
- wherein a dummy mass is attached to the upper attachment bracket, the dummy mass on an opposite side of the first flat spring from the upper side of the head bar.
5 more elements
A storage device comprising:
- a head assembly comprising:
- means for suspending a head bar between a first flat spring and a second flat spring;
- the head bar comprising at least one read head and at least one write head, the head bar attached on an upper side to the first flat spring, the head bar attached on a lower side to the second flat spring;
- means for actuating the head assembly;
- a first piezoelectric actuator attached to the means for suspending the head bar, the first piezoelectric actuator on an opposite side of the second flat spring from the lower side of the head bar, the first piezoelectric actuator configured to actuate the head bar by moving the second flat spring that is attached to the head bar;
- and
- a second piezoelectric actuator configured to actuate the head bar, the second piezoelectric actuator attached to means for suspending the head bar, the second piezoelectric actuator on the opposite side of the second flat spring from the lower side of the head bar, the second piezoelectric actuator beside and apart from the first piezoelectric actuator;
- wherein the head bar is attached to a section of the second flat spring between the first piezoelectric actuator and the second piezoelectric actuator.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.