Multi-channel magnetic tape head module including flex circuit

#The present invention relates to flex circuits for magnetic recording heads. More particularly, the present invention relates to a flex circuit head module providing electronic signal paths between a positionable tape head array and a main circuit module of a digital linear tape drive.

#Tape recording and reproducing systems for use as computer data storage devices are required to provide increasingly high data transfer rates and to perform a read verification upon all data being written to tape. Streaming tape drives are so named because multiple blocks of user data are typically written to tape in a single streaming operation, rather than as a series of start-stop operations. Digital linear tape drives are an improved species of streaming tape drives.

#In order to increase data density in streaming tape drive systems, track widths are decreasing, while data transfer rates are increasing. It is practical to provide e.g. approximately 128 linear data tracks within a one-half inch wide tape with current technology. One way to increase track densities is to employ azimuth recording techniques in which the tape head structure is canted at a particular offset angle relative to longitude and direction of travel of the tape. At the same time, the digital linear tape drive should be backwardly compatible with tapes which may have been recorded with conventional longitudinal recording techniques. Azimuth recording technology, together with a continuing requirement for backward compatibility, has resulted in tape head structures which include a higher number of write elements, and has required a more complex head positioning mechanism which provides both transverse (up and down) as well as azimuth angle positioning of the tape head structure.

#In the Drawings:

#FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a digital linear tape drive including a flex circuit for connecting the read and write head array in accordance with principles of the present invention.

#FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic flat planar view of the head connection flex circuit shown in FIG. 1 omitting reinforcing layers which contour the flex circuit for installation and use in the FIG. 1 tape drive.

#FIG. 1 illustrates a digital linear tape drive 100 for receiving a single-reel tape cartridge 102. The tape drive 100 includes a multi-dimensional tape head actuator 104 for providing elevation and azimuthal adjustments to a magnetic read/write head structure 120. As shown in FIG. 3, the tape head actuator 104 includes an elevation mechanism 105 comprising e.g. a stepper motor 107 and lead screw 109, and an azimuth angle rotary adjustment mechanism 111 positioned by the elevation mechanism 105. The elevation mechanism 105 may be substantially in accordance with commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,448,438 to Kasetty, entitled: "Head Actuator Having Spring Loaded Split Nut"; and the azimuth mechanism 111 may be substantially in accordance with commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/557,662 by Kasetty, filed on Nov. 13, 1995, and entitled: "Head Tilting Mechanism for Tape Drives", the disclosures thereof being incorporated herein by reference.

#As shown in FIG. 1 the tape drive 100 includes tape reel drive motors 106 and 108 (indicated in dashed outlines and lead lines) arranged to rotate supply reel 110 and internal take-up reel 112, respectively, to advance magnetic tape 114 back and forth across the head structure 120. The tape drive 100 also includes tape guide rollers 118 that define a generally arcuate tape path between reels 110 and 112 along which tape 114 travels as it moves across the magnetic head structure 120. The tape head actuator 104 operates upon commands decoded within the drive 100 to position the magnetic head structure 120 laterally for track selection, and angularly for azimuth angle recording and playback relative to the tape 114 during operation of the drive 100.

#In accordance with aspects of the present invention, a flex circuit 122 is attached by two screws 124 to a head plate 126 of the head structure 120, the head plate 126 for mounting and aligning a read/write head array 128, shown in greater detail in FIG. 4. The head plate 126 is positioned by the elevation mechanism 105 and by the azimuth adjustment mechanism 111, and thereby positions the head array 128 in elevation (laterally) and angularly relative to the tape 114. The head array 128 is affixed to the head plate 126 by a suitable adhesive upon being precisely aligned thereto during assembly.