Narrow width actuator for tape drive systems

An actuator assembly for use in a tape drive, comprising

• an actuator base having first and second arms;
• a head carriage assembly including one or more magnetic read/write heads and one or more motor elements wherein the head carriage assembly has a center of gravity;
• a top flexure spring;
• a bottom flexure spring;
• first and second laterally extending arms;
• first and second flex cables;
• wherein the top and bottom flexure springs are attached to the first and second arms at opposing ends thereof;
• wherein the head carriage assembly is attached to the top and bottom flexure springs such that head carriage assembly is between the first and second arms of the actuator base;
• wherein the top and bottom flexure springs are substantially aligned with the center of gravity of the head carriage assembly;
• wherein the first and second laterally extending arms are each on opposite sides of the one or more magnetic read/write heads;
• wherein the first and second laterally extending arms extend substantially parallel to a tape travel path along respective regions of the tape travel path immediately adjacent to laterally extending portions of the laterally extending arms;
• wherein the first and second flex cables are coupled to the one or more magnetic read/write heads;
• wherein a first portion of the first flex cable is attached to the first laterally extending arm such that the first portion of the first flex cable is substantially parallel to the tape travel path along a region of the tape travel path immediately adjacent the first portion;
• and
• wherein a second portion of the second flex cable is attached to the second laterally extending arm such that the second portion of the second flex cable is substantially parallel to the tape travel path along a region of the tape travel path immediately adjacent the second portion;
• wherein distal ends of the laterally extending portions of the laterally extending arms and distal ends of the first and second portions of the first and second flex cables are oriented inward relative to a plane defined by the tape travel path in the region of the tape travel path immediately adjacent the one or more magnetic read/write heads.

An actuator assembly for use in a tape drive, comprising

• an actuator base having first and second arms;
• a head carriage assembly including one or more magnetic read/write heads and one or more motor elements wherein the head carriage assembly has a center of gravity;
• a top flexure spring;
• a bottom flexure spring;
• first and second laterally extending arms;
• first and second flex cables;
• wherein the top and bottom flexure springs are attached to the first and second arms at opposing ends thereof;
• wherein the head carriage assembly is attached to the top and bottom flexure springs such that head carriage assembly is between the first and second arms of the actuator base;
• wherein the top and bottom flexure springs are substantially aligned with the center of gravity of the head carriage assembly;
• wherein the first and second laterally extending arms are each on opposite sides of the one or more magnetic read/write heads;
• wherein the first and second laterally extending arms extend substantially parallel to a tape travel path;
• wherein the first and second flex cables are coupled to the one or more magnetic read/write heads;
• wherein the first flex cable is attached to the first laterally extending arm;
• and
• wherein the second flex cable is attached to the second laterally extending arm;
• wherein the one or more motor elements is a voice coil motor assembly;
• wherein the voice coil motor assembly includes a flat-shaped voice coil motor;
• wherein a voice coil motor flex cable is electrically coupled to the voice coil motor which is also electrically coupled to a portion of the first or second flex cables;
• wherein the voice coil motor flex cable is electrically coupled to the portion of the first or second flex cables via a clamping force provided by the top flexure spring being attached to the head carriage assembly wherein portions of the voice coil motor flex cable and the portions of the first or second flex cables overlap each other between the top flexure spring and the head carriage assembly.

An actuator assembly for use in a tape drive enclosure comprising:

• a base;
• at least one coarse actuator shaft mounted on a top portion of the base;
• an actuator base slidably adapted to travel along the at least one actuator shaft;
• a head carriage assembly attached to the actuator base wherein the head carriage assembly includes a magnetic head;
• first and second laterally extending arms on corresponding opposite sides of the magnetic head, the first and second laterally extending arms extending substantially parallel to a tape travel path along respective regions of the tape travel path immediately adjacent to laterally extending portions of the laterally extending arms;
• first and second flex cables attached to the head carriage assembly and electrically coupled to the magnetic head;
• a top flexure spring;
• a bottom flexure spring;
• wherein the top flexure spring laterally secures top portions of the actuator base to top portions of the head carriage assembly;
• wherein the bottom flexure spring laterally secures bottom portions of the actuator base to bottom portions of the head carriage assembly;
• wherein the top and bottom flexure springs are laterally aligned with a center line of the head carriage assembly;
• wherein a first portion of the first flex cable is attached to the first laterally extending arm such that the first portion of the first flex cable is substantially parallel to the tape travel path along a region of the tape travel path immediately adjacent the first portion;
• and
• wherein a second portion of the second flex cable is attached to the second laterally extending arm such that the second portion of the second flex cable is substantially parallel to the tape travel path along a region of the tape travel path immediately adjacent the second portion;
• wherein distal ends of the laterally extending portions of the laterally extending arms and distal ends of the first and second portions of the first and second flex cables are oriented inward relative to a plane defined by the tape travel path in the region of the tape travel path immediately adjacent the magnetic head.