Movable Transducer Head Blocks for Tape Drive Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Data transfer devices face challenges in aligning transducer head elements with data tracks due to dimensional instability of data media caused by temperature and humidity variations, especially with increasing data density leading to misalignment issues and potential data loss.
Innovation Solution
A transducer head assembly with movable head element blocks and a piezoelectric actuator that allows for precise alignment of head elements with data tracks using a servo control system, enabling concurrent alignment of multiple head elements with different subsets of tracks to minimize misalignment, and utilizing a carrier structure with media bearer elements to support the data media.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the channel count and head span increase to accommodate higher data density, then the data transfer capacity is improved, but the alignment precision between head elements and data tracks deteriorates due to dimensional instability of the data media
Solution Approach 1:
The head element array is divided into multiple independently movable head element blocks. Each block can be positioned separately using its own actuator, allowing individual alignment adjustment to compensate for media dimensional changes while maintaining overall high channel count configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The head element blocks are made movable relative to the media bearer elements through piezoelectric actuators. This dynamic positioning capability allows the system to adapt to real-time dimensional changes in the data media, maintaining alignment precision despite media expansion or contraction
2Length of moving object
If the channel pitch is made significantly larger than the track pitch to accommodate more channels, then the head element spacing is improved, but the alignment difficulty increases as the outermost head elements cannot be positioned within acceptable limits
Solution Approach 1:
The head element array is segmented into multiple blocks that can be independently positioned. This segmentation allows each block to be aligned with its corresponding track subset, making the overall alignment problem manageable even with large channel pitch
Solution Approach 2:
A servo control system provides feedback to control the piezoelectric actuators, enabling precise positioning of each head element block. The feedback mechanism allows continuous adjustment to maintain alignment within acceptable limits despite the large spacing between channels
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces the maximum potential misalignment of head elements with data tracks, ensuring reliable data reading and writing even under conditions of tape expansion or contraction, thereby maintaining data integrity and enabling read after write capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
A transducer head assembly with movable head element blocks and a piezoelectric actuator that allows for precise alignment of head elements with data tracks
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment a transducer head assembly is disclosed having a head module. The head module comprises at least one media bearer element providing a media bearer surface, and a head element block having an array of head elements. The assembly further comprises a carrier structure to carry the head module, and an actuator to move the head element block relative to the at least one media bearer element. Tape drive apparatus having actuator apparatus to cause relative displacement between head element blocks is also disclosed. A transducer head module and a method of making a transducer head assembly are also disclosed.