Tape drive device and method of detecting state of head unit of tape drive device
AssigneeNHK Spring Co., Ltd.
InventorMikio Arai
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tape drive device includes a head member, a tape drive mechanism moving a tape, a suspension member supporting the head member, piezoelectric units, a drive voltage supply circuit applying a voltage to a piezoelectric element, and a controller. Each of the piezoelectric units includes a piezoelectric element. The controller determines a state of a head unit, based on a piezoelectric output generated at the piezoelectric element provided in the suspension member.
Claims8
A tape drive device using a tape as a recording medium, the tape drive device comprising:
- a head member having a contact surface that is in contact with the tape;
- a tape drive mechanism moving the tape against the head member in a longitudinal direction of the tape;
- a base member;
- a suspension member arranged between the base member and the head member to support the head member;
- a piezoelectric unit arranged in the suspension member and comprising a piezoelectric element that deforms the suspension member in a state in which a voltage is applied;
- a drive voltage supply circuit supplying a drive voltage to the piezoelectric element;
- and
- a controller detecting a piezoelectric output generated at the piezoelectric element in a state in which the suspension member is deformed.
A method of detecting a state of a head unit of a tape drive device, the method comprising:
- supporting a head member by a suspension member in which a piezoelectric element is arranged;
- moving a tape against the head member in a longitudinal direction of the tape;
- applying a load in proportion to a magnitude of a frictional force generated on a contact surface between the tape and the head member to the suspension member;
- generating a piezoelectric output in the piezoelectric element in a state in which the load is applied to the suspension member;
- and
- determining a state of the contact surface between the tape and the head member, based on variation of the piezoelectric output.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.