Imation Corporation

Sony Corporation

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

James S Anderson

Denis J Langlois

Hung Thien Tran

Robert W Tapani

Douglas W Johnson

Sten R Gerfast

Warren W Opheim

Durkee B Richards

Takashi Abe

Richard W Molstad

Robert J Youngquist

Hirohisa Koga

Yoshihiko Ito

David A Gobran

Yung Yip

Theodore A Schwarz

Leif O Erickson

Saeed Fahimi

Richard E Jewett

Mark P Weber

Joseph Skorjanec

Christopher L Hill

Christopher A Merton

Todd W Abrahamson

Noel L Allen

The invention is directed to a data storage medium that includes a plurality of servo bands distributed across the data storage medium and a plurality of data tracks positioned between each of the plurality of distributed servo bands. The data storage medium comprises a servo band pitch of less than 200 micrometers. The large number of servo bands distributed across the data storage medium with a relatively small servo band pitch reduces the influence of media dimensional instability. In this way, the invention may substantially increase data read head positioning accuracy, especially in the case of narrow track widths. A read head array arranged in a two-dimensional matrix that includes a first servo read head, a second servo read head, and a plurality of data read heads positioned between the first and second servo read heads may be applied to a data storage medium as described herein.

Distributed servo patterns for data storage media

In general, the invention provides a magnetic head device and linear tape drive that increase the resonant frequency and the range of a servo system. In particular, the invention provides a magnetic head device comprising a magnetic head chip with multiple magnetic head elements that is a structural part of the fine positioning system which allows the magnetic head elements follow the data tracks on the linear magnetic tape. Consequently, weight is reduced thereby increasing the resonant frequency and servo bandwidth. In another embodiment, the invention provides a magnetic head comprising bimodal actuators that are formed into an S shape and displaced by applying voltage where the polarization direction is opposite from one end to the other. In particular, the head chip may remain stable and may be driven dynamically thereby allowing the mechanical resonance of the bimodal actuator (including the head chip) to increase to 1 kHz or higher.

Magnetic head device and linear tape drive including a multi-element magnetic head chip and twin bimodal actuators

The Invention Provides a Positioning System for a Linear Data Storage Medium, Such as magnetic tape or other data storage medium in which data is stored on parallel data tracks that extend along a length of the medium. The invention makes use of multiple actuators to control the positioning of sliders carrying read and write elements, e.g., separate sliders carrying the read and write elements, relative to the data storage medium with multiple degrees of freedom. The multiple degrees of freedom may include two or more of a vertical position, a horizontal position, a transverse position, an azimuth position, a zenith position, and a yaw position. In this manner, the invention can improve head-to-track alignment of read heads and write heads with linear data storage systems having very small track pitches, such as track pitches approximately 1 micron and especially less than 1 micron.

Positioning head assembly for data storage system with multiple degrees of freedom

The invention provides a system comprising a non-linear array of magnetoresistive (MR) heads arranged in a two-dimensional matrix for reading information stored on magnetic media. The non-linear array of MR heads may comprise a planar array formed by a plurality of linear arrays of MR heads stacked to define a plurality of layers. Each of the linear arrays may share at least one shield element with another linear array of the non-linear array. In general, each layer is offset by one written track pitch and the number of layers of the invention is equal to the number of written track pitches in a channel pitch. The invention can also be used in a system for reading and writing information to magnetic media at improved track pitches relative to conventional read/write systems.

System with matrix array of write heads and matrix array of magnetoresistive (MR) read heads

In general, the invention provides a magnetic head device and linear tape drive that widen the high frequency side of the servo range. In particular, the invention provides a magnetic head device comprising a magnetic head chip with multiple magnetic elements arranged for recording or playback of multiple tracks and a fine positioning structure that uses a bimodal construction that may widen the high frequency side of the servo range by increasing the resonant frequency of the magnetic head chip including the tracking structure and lowering the Q value of the resonance point. In addition, the invention includes a damping structure suitable for the fine positioning structure that improves high speed response by widening the range in which the magnetic head device can be used for a servo. The magnetic head device may use a linear tape drive method.

Magnetic head device and linear tape drive including a twin bimodal type actuator and a dampening structure

The invention provides techniques for adjusting for actuator non-linearities in a data storage system. The invention is particularly useful for piezoelectric actuators, such as actuators that implement a bimorph piezoelectric crystal structure or a laminate piezoelectric crystal structure, although other actuators may present similar non-linearity issues. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method comprising applying a signal to an actuator of a data storage system, the actuator having a non-linear response, wherein the signal includes a linear drive component and a non-linear adjustment component, and positioning a data storage head with respect to a data storage medium via the actuator.

Techniques for adjusting for actuator non-linearities in a data storage system

The invention proposes the use of a piezoelectric crystal element as an actuator for data storage systems. In particular, the piezoelectric crystal element mechanically positions a head with respect to a data storage medium. More specifically, the invention may use a piezoelectric laminate crystal structure as a fine positioning actuator in a magnetic tape system in order to precisely position one or more heads with respect to tracks of the magnetic tape. Furthermore, in order to address hysteresis in the piezoelectric crystal element, the invention proposes the introduction of a high frequency periodic signal as part of the input to the piezoelectric crystal element.

Piezoelectric crystal actuator and techniques for hysteresis reduction

The invention is directed to arrangements of tapered data storage tape guides which can improve the guiding of data storage tape. Tapered data storage tape guides having specific sizes relative to the data storage tape are also disclosed. The tapered data storage tape guides and arrangements of tapered guides can improve the ability to properly guide the data storage tape, e.g., during media fabrication, servo recording or readout, data recording or data readout. In one embodiment, a data storage tape guiding system may include a first tapered guide and a second tapered guide. The taper in the first guide can be opposite the taper in the second guide such that the data storage tape is forced against an upper flange of the first guide and forced against a lower flange of the second guide, or vice versa.

Data storage tape guiding systems using tapered guides

The invention provides a read-while-write recording system for a linear data storage medium, such as magnetic tape or other data storage medium in which data is stored on parallel data tracks that extend along a length of the medium. The invention makes use of separate sliders for the read and write elements, and separate actuators to control the positioning of the sliders. Each of the sliders may also include servo elements to read servo marks. In this manner, the write elements of a first slider can be positioned independently from the read elements of a second slider in order to achieve improved head positioning with respect to data tracks on the linear data storage medium.

Dual actuators for read-while-write recording system

Data recording tape is passed along guides and past a read/write head. Sensors detect the position of the tape and adjust the guides and the head as a function of the position. If the tape deviates from the target tape path, a controller moves a guide to steer the tape back to the target tape path, using the sensor signals. In cases of tape disturbance such as those involving rapid tape motion, an adaptive estimator uses the sensor signals to position the head to anticipate the expected position of the tape when the disturbance arrives at the head.

Dynamic tape path adjustment

A drive can handle media cartridges of differing physical size provided the relative positioning of the drive/control mechanism and the media access opening for the cartridges can be held constant. Numerous possible structures and cartridges using this concept are disclosed.

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Hugo, MN, United States of America

James S Anderson