Voice coil actuated carriage in which a support structure...

Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Head mounting – For shifting head between tracks

Reexamination Certificate

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Reexamination Certificate

active

06333838

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to servo positioned actuators, and more particularly, to a carriage and positioning actuator assembly in which the support structure for the carriage is located at least partially within the central portion of the motor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Information is recorded on and read from a moving magnetic tape with a magnetic read/write head positioned next to the tape. The magnetic “head” may be a single head or, as is common, a series of read/write head elements stacked individually and/or in pairs within the head unit. Data is recorded in tracks on the tape by moving the tape lengthwise past the head. The head elements are selectively activated by electric currents representing the information to be recorded on the tape. The information is read from the tape by moving the tape longitudinally past the head elements so that magnetic flux patterns on the tape create electric signals in the head elements. These signals represent the information stored on the tape.
Data is recorded on and read from each of the parallel tracks on the tape by positioning the head elements at different locations across the tape. That is, head elements are moved from track to track as necessary to either record or read the desired information. Movement of the magnetic head is controlled by an actuator operatively coupled to some type of servo control circuitry. Tape drive head positioning actuators often include a lead screw driven by a stepper motor, a voice coil motor, or a combination of both. The carriage that supports the head is driven by the actuator along a path perpendicular to the direction that the tape travels. The head elements are positioned as close to the center of a track as possible based upon the servo information recorded on the tape.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed in general to a servo positioned carriage and actuator assembly and, more particularly, to a head carriage and actuator assembly for a tape drive. The support structure for the carriage is located at least partially within the central portion of the motor. This configuration provides a new compact design that minimizes the overall mass of the carriage elements of the actuator. In one embodiment, the assembly includes a motor, a guide rail and a carriage that travels along the guide rail. The motor, typically a voice coil motor, has a coil of electrically conductive windings and a magnet or magnets adjacent to the coil. The inside perimeter of the coil defines the central portion of the motor. The guide rail extends axially through the central portion of the motor. In a second embodiment, a post extends axially through the inside of an annular coil and the carriage travels on a pair of guide rails. The first guide rail is secured to the post and extends axially through the inside of the coil along the post. The second guide rail is positioned outside the coil radially opposite and parallel to the first guide rail.


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