Abstract: An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes: a support plate, a stator, at least one isolation mount coupled between the support plate and the stator for reducing transfer of vibration from the stator to the support plate, and a rotor sub-assembly. Furthermore, the rotor sub-assembly is configured to rotate relative to the support plate and the stator, the rotor sub-assembly including: a magnet, and a hub rotatably fixed relative to the magnet. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.

Abstract: An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes: a support plate; a stator; a stator support arm having a first end that is coupled to the support plate, the stator support arm extending from the support plate to the stator. The apparatus further includes at least one isolation mount coupled between a second end of the stator support arm and the stator for reducing transfer of vibration from the stator to the stator support arm; and a rotor sub-assembly. The rotor sub-assembly is configured to rotate relative to the support plate and the stator, the rotor sub-assembly including: a magnet; and a hub rotatably fixed relative to the magnet. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.

Abstract: A determination is made whether read/write is enabled within the tape drive storage unit. In response to determining that read/write is enabled, a determination is made whether an absolute value of a channel offset exceeds a threshold value. In response to determining that the absolute value of the channel offset exceeds a threshold value, a direction of travel of the tape media is determined. In response to determining that the direction of travel of the tape media is a forward direction, a determination is made whether the channel offset is positive. In response to determining that the channel offset is positive, a first cooling device within the tape drive storage unit is powered on. The first cooling device lowers the temperature of a first guide roller and the tape media coming off a first tape storage reel prior to the media passing by a read/write head.

Abstract: A computer program product, according to one embodiment, includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith. The program instructions are readable and/or executable by a controller to cause the controller to: determine first and second currents to apply to an actuator assembly in response to detecting a track following error. The first and second currents are applied to the actuator assembly simultaneously. The actuator assembly itself includes: a fine motion motor for enabling positioning of a beam of a head carriage assembly. The actuator assembly also includes a skew motion motor for enabling rotatable positioning of the head carriage assembly about an axis of skew. Furthermore, the actuator assembly includes a main coil configured to induce skew motion and lateral motion of the beam of the head carriage assembly relative to the fine motion motor and the skew motion motor upon energization of the main coil.

Abstract: An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes: a head carriage assembly having a beam for coupling to a magnetic head, and an actuator assembly coupled to the beam of the head carriage assembly. The actuator assembly includes: a fine motion motor for enabling positioning of the beam of the head carriage assembly along a fine motion direction oriented perpendicular to an intended direction of media movement, a skew motion motor for enabling rotatable positioning of the head carriage assembly about an axis of skew which extends perpendicular to a plane defined by the intended direction of media movement across the head carriage assembly and the fine motion direction, and a main coil configured to induce skew motion and lateral motion of the beam of the head carriage assembly relative to the fine motion motor and the skew motion motor upon energization of the main coil by applying current thereto.

Abstract: A system, according to one embodiment, includes: a module having transducers positioned along a tape bearing surface of the module; a roller guide; and a patterned bar positioned relative to the roller guide and module to engage a magnetic tape. The patterned bar has a plurality of recessed regions along a tape bearing surface thereof. Moreover, the patterned bar is not directly coupled to the module. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.

Abstract: A computer program product according to one embodiment includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a controller of a data storage device to cause the controller to perform a method including, determining, by the controller, a test skew gain of a coil using skew information from a servo subsystem of the controller; comparing, by the controller, the test skew gain to a stored reference gain for determining whether a temperature of the coil is elevated; and stopping the data storage device, by the controller, in response to the comparing of the test skew gain to the reference gain indicating that the temperature of the coil is elevated.

Abstract: A system, according to one embodiment, includes: a module having transducers positioned along a tape bearing surface of the module, a guide configured to guide a magnetic tape over the module, and a patterned bar positioned relative to the guide and module to engage the magnetic tape. The patterned bar has a plurality of recessed regions along a tape bearing surface of the patterned bar. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.

Abstract: An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes: a first module and a second module each having an array of transducers oriented orthogonal to an intended direction of tape travel thereacross, where the first module is movable relative to the second module. The apparatus also includes an actuator configured to exert a force on one of the modules for causing a relative movement of the first module with respect to the second module for aligning the transducers of the first module with the transducers of the second module in a direction of tape travel thereacross. Moreover, longitudinal axes of the arrays of the first and second modules are not pivotable from orthogonal to the intended direction of tape travel thereacross. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.

Abstract: In one general embodiment, an apparatus includes a first outer module having an array of writers, a second outer module having an array of writers, an inner module positioned between the outer modules, and a first actuator for shifting the first outer module. The shifting is relative to the inner module, in a cross-track direction by about one half of a center-to-center pitch of the writers of the first outer module. The inner module has an array of readers.

Abstract: An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes a first module and a second module each having an array of transducers oriented orthogonal to an intended direction of tape travel thereacross, and an actuator configured to exert a force on one of the modules for causing a relative movement of the first module with respect to the second module for aligning the transducers of the first module with the transducers of the second module in a direction of tape travel thereacross. The first module is movable relative to the second module. Moreover, longitudinal axes of the arrays of the first and second modules are not pivotable from orthogonal to the intended direction of tape travel thereacross. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.

Abstract: An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a motor having a rotor, a take up reel coupled to the rotor, and a damping layer positioned between the rotor and the take up reel. The damping layer is constructed of a visco-elastic material. An apparatus according to another embodiment includes a motor having a rotor, a clutch coupled to the rotor, and a damping layer positioned between the rotor and the clutch. The damping layer is constructed of a visco-elastic material.

Abstract: A computer program product according to one embodiment includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a controller of a data storage device to cause the controller to perform a method including, determining, by the controller, a test skew gain of a coil using skew information from a servo subsystem of the controller; comparing, by the controller, the test skew gain to a stored reference gain for determining whether a temperature of the coil is elevated; and stopping the data storage device, by the controller, in response to the comparing of the test skew gain to the reference gain indicating that the temperature of the coil is elevated.

Abstract: A computer program product according to one embodiment includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a controller of a data storage device to cause the controller to perform a method including, determining, by the controller, a test skew gain of a coil using skew information from a servo subsystem of the controller; comparing, by the controller, the test skew gain to a stored reference gain; and taking an action, by the controller, in response to the comparing of the test skew gain to the reference gain.

Abstract: An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes: a head carriage assembly having a beam for coupling to a magnetic head, and an actuator assembly coupled to the beam of the head carriage assembly. The actuator assembly includes: a fine motion motor for enabling positioning of the beam of the head carriage assembly along a fine motion direction oriented perpendicular to an intended direction of media movement, a skew motion motor for enabling rotatable positioning of the head carriage assembly about an axis of skew which extends perpendicular to a plane defined by the intended direction of media movement across the head carriage assembly and the fine motion direction, and a main coil configured to induce skew motion and lateral motion of the beam of the head carriage assembly relative to the fine motion motor and the skew motion motor upon energization of the main coil by applying current thereto.

Abstract: A computer program product according to one embodiment includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a controller of a data storage device to cause the controller to perform a method including, determining, by the controller, a test skew gain of a coil using skew information from a servo subsystem of the controller; comparing, by the controller, the test skew gain to a stored reference gain; and taking an action, by the controller, in response to the comparing of the test skew gain to the reference gain.

Abstract: A flex circuit for connection to a moving device. The flex circuit includes a connections tab configured to present first and second pluralities of electrical conductors for electrically coupling to the moving device. First and second flex circuit paths extend from the connections tab and having separate distal ends, and include the first and second pluralities of electrical conductors, respectively. The first and second flex circuit paths are configured at their distal ends to present the first and second pluralities of electrical conductors, respectively, for electrical coupling to a circuit board.

Abstract: In one general embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes using, by the computer, a tape head and/or an actuator to detect the presence of external vibration. The method also includes selecting, by the computer, at least one frequency of interest, and using, by the computer, a discrete Fourier transform implemented as a Goertzel filter to determine a magnitude of the external vibration at the at least one frequency of interest. Compensation may optionally be applied to reduce an effect of the external vibration.

Abstract: An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a motor having: a rotor, a magnet, and a damping layer positioned between the rotor and the magnet. The damping layer is constructed of a material characterized by converting kinetic energy into heat.

Abstract: A monolithic tape head module for high density recording. The module includes an actuator rail, and a tape head transducer array coupled to the actuator rail that includes a plurality of tape head transducer elements. A flex circuit is electrically coupled to the tape head transducer array, and includes first electrical conductors in a first flex circuit path that are coupled to a portion of the tape head transducer elements, and second electrical conductors in a second flex circuit path that are coupled to the remainder of the tape head transducer elements. An actuator shaft is connected to the actuator rail and coupled to a motor that is operated to move the actuator shaft. A plurality of flexures are mechanically coupled to the actuator rail and operated to restrict movement of the actuator rail to a direction aligned with the longitudinal axis of the actuator rail.