Oracle International Corporation

Storage Technology Corporation

Oracle America, Inc.

Frank A Goodknight

Darryl Yeakley

Michael E Moy

Thomas J Studebaker

Steven Suttle

Paul Kummli

Kelly J Beavers

Stuart W Bray

Richard G Sellke

Eugene Kutasy

Frederick G Munro

Raymond L Lucchesi

Donovan M Janssen

Christian Allen Todd

Lester M Yeakley

Steven F Nugent

Larry K Carmichael

Robert W Schmidt

James R Baer

Timothy C Hughes

John L Seabury

A linear actuator includes dual bucking magnets, dual pole pieces, and dual spacers. The linear actuator includes a coil-and-housing assembly disposed around a magnet assembly. The magnet assembly includes two bucking magnets sandwiched around a central magnet. The central magnet and the bucking magnets may be separated by spacers. A housing is disposed around the magnet assembly. Between the housing and the magnet assembly, a dual coil is wound in two opposing directions to generate additive forces on the magnet assembly.

Dual pole dual bucking magnet linear actuator

A linear actuator for linearly positioning a recording head in a data storage mechanism. The disclosed linear actuator includes an electrically conductive coil having first and second parts that are both wound in the same rotary direction about an axis, and a magnet spaced from the electrically conductive coil by an air gap. Transmission of an electric current through the first part of the electrically conductive coil in a first current flow direction about the axis and through the second part of the electrically conductive coil in an opposite second current flow direction about the axis induces linear movement of one of the electrically conductive coil and magnet relative to the other of the electrically conductive coil and magnet.

Linear actuator with coil winding portions having opposing current flow directions

A rotary actuator for positioning a recording head in a data storage mechanism and that includes first and second cylindrical subassemblies separated by an air gap. One of the subassemblies includes a magnetically conductive core with an electrically conductive coil wrapped thereover to enable first and second current flow directions in the circuit. The other of the subassemblies includes a magnetically conductive core and at least one magnet secured thereto. Transmission of an electric current through the electrically conductive coil induces rotation of one of the subassemblies relative to the other of the subassemblies to rotate the recording head about an axis that is perpendicular to recording media on the recording head. The disclosed rotary actuator facilitates quick and accurate recording head position changes due to low inertia of the rotating subassembly as well as reduced inductance and symmetrical mass distribution of the actuator.

Rotary actuator with coil winding portions having opposing current flow directions

A dual pole linear actuator includes a dual pole magnet assembly that is moved by providing a bi-directional analog DC control signal to a dual wound coil. The dual pole magnet assembly includes a permanent magnet that is flanked by top and bottom pole pieces. The dual wound coil is assembled to an actuator housing with a top part of the coil being wound in one rotary direction, while the bottom part of the coil is wound in the opposite rotary direction.

Dual pole magnet linear actuator

A transducer positioning apparatus is provided that supports a read/write head on a data storage machine and biases the head against rotation. The transducer positioning apparatus may comprise a base that includes a linear drive motor and a support frame to which the read/write head is secured. The support frame is reciprocally driven by the linear drive motor relative to the base. A magnetic coupling is provided between the base and the support frame that resists movement of the frame other than the reciprocal movement of the support frame relative to the base. A method is also disclosed for magnetically biasing a movable head of a transducer against rotation.

Method retaining a moveable head assembly with an anti-rotation guide for a transducer

Transducer positioning apparatus with magnetically preloaded linear guide

A method of retaining a transducer for a digital storage apparatus that reads and writes data to a tape as the tape is moved in a tape drive path across the transducer. According to the method a head assembly is attached to the base to be movable relative to the base in a linear path that is perpendicular to the tape drive path. Movement of the head assembly is guided on a track that is partially defined by the head and partially defined by the base. At least two balls are disposed in the track between the base and the head assembly. A magnetic coupling retains the balls within the track. A linear motor operatively engages the head assembly to move the head assembly to follow the tape.

Method of retaining a transducer on a base

A transducer for a digital storage apparatus that reads and writes data to a tape as the tape is moved in a tape drive path across the transducer. The transducer comprises a base and a head assembly that is attached to the base and movable relative to the base in a linear path that is perpendicular to the tape drive path. A guide assembly guides the movement of the head assembly that has a track that is partially defined by the head and partially defined by the base. The guide assembly includes at least two balls that are disposed in the track between the base and the head assembly. A magnetic coupling retains the balls within the track. A linear motor operatively engages the head assembly to move the head assembly to follow the tape.

Magnetically preloaded linear guide for a transducer

Magnetically preloaded anti-rotation guide for a transducer

Apparatus is provided for a tape head actuator having a guide bearing preload mechanism, wherein the preload mechanism utilizes a magnet or magnets and an elongated steel member. These magnetic components interact to produce a force that is selectively directed to preload the guide bearings. In addition, the magnetic components produce a field used to shield the tape head from stray magnetic fields. In a useful embodiment of the invention, directed to apparatus for a tape transducer positioning mechanism, a carriage is disposed for movement along a path of travel relative to a support structure, to selectively position a tape transducer. One or more bearings are joined to the carriage, to support the carriage for movement along the path of travel. The apparatus further includes a first magnetic component joined to the support structure, and a second component joined to the carriage for cooperatively interacting with the first component, in order to produce a magnetic force that is transferred through the carriage to apply a preload force to each of the bearings.

Apparatus for improving performance of a tape transducer positioning mechanism

In a tape data storage arrangement, a magnetic detent is provided to maintain a tape read/write head in selected positions with respect to the tape, during data transfer. The tape is mounted on a carriage movable between first and second positions, with respect to a support structure, and a detent member is fixably joined to the support structure. First and second detent components mounted on the carriage engage the detent member by means of a magnetic force, when the carriage is moved to the first and second positions, respectively. Usefully, the detent member is a magnet and the first and second components comprise steel. Alternatively, the detent member comprises steel, and the first and second components are both magnets.

Magnetic detent for transducer positioning mechanism

The reaction force decoupling system, as implemented in a tape drive, reduces the motion that is coupled back into the tape cartridge from the reaction force that is generated by the operation of the read/write head actuator. The read/write head actuator consists of a magnet assembly which produces a large magnetic field in an annular gap and a coil of wire which operates freely in the magnetic field of the gap. The magnet assembly is mounted to the base of the drive and the coil is attached to the read/write head carriage. When current is applied to the coil, a force is produced between the coil and the magnet assembly to move the read/write head carriage. The magnet assembly is disconnected from the base of the drive and mounted on dual flexures arranged in a four bar linkage parallel guide arrangement. The reaction forces that are generated by the operation of the read/write head actuator must deflect the flexures to apply a load to the base of the drive. As the flexures are deflected, the magnet assembly is guided to remain coaxial with the coil. At low frequencies, the same reaction force is still applied to the base of the drive through this apparatus but above the resonant frequency of this apparatus, the reaction forces are attenuated with the result that the servo loop instability is reduced.

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Boulder, CO, United States of America

Frank A Goodknight