Abstract: An optical subassembly is provided. A mounting structure having a plurality of angled conductive traces is disposed on a first surface of the mounting structure. A holding device, coupled to a second surface of the mounting structure, has a plurality of optical channels. A laser optical device is electrically connected to the conductive traces on the mounting structure. An optical signal is emitted or received by the laser optical device and is converted to an electrical signal. The electrical signal is transmitted by way of the plurality of angled conductive devices to the plurality of optical channels.

Abstract: A method of making a head disk assembly using a fixture is disclosed. The head disk assembly includes a base having an interior-horizontal surface and a side wall extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the horizontal surface, a disk for coupling to the base, and a head for coupling to the base. The disk includes a head facing surface and an outer diameter and the head includes a disk facing surface. The fixture includes a light source for propagating a light beam towards the side wall, a light reflecting structure for receiving the light beam and outputting a reflected light beam, and a control structure for controlling a vertical movement of the light reflecting structure, the light reflecting structure includes a reflecting mirror surface defining an angle with respect to the horizontal surface.

Abstract: An actuator of a high performance tape drive for coarse and fine positioning of a read/write head incorporates at least a pair of cantilevered beam springs which support a read/write head for controlled movement relative to a moving storage tape. The beam springs and head are controlled by a rocker member that transmits movement of a voice coil to the head for servo controlled fine positioning of the head relative to the data track of the tape.

Abstract: An actuator of a high performance tape drive for coarse and fine positioning of a read/write head incorporates at least a pair of cantilevered beam springs which support a read/write head for controlled movement relative to a moving storage tape. The beam springs and head are controlled by a rocker member that transmits movement of a voice coil to the head for servo controlled fine positioning of the head relative to the data track of the tape.

Abstract: A head disk assembly ("HDA") comprises an enclosure including a base and a pivot bearing cartridge having a shaft and a outer shell rotatable about the shaft. The outer shell has a cylindrical surface. The shaft is affixed to the base at a predetermined location. The enclosure has an internal volume with a limited height above the predetermined location. The cartridge has an elongated portion in the volume, the elongated portion having a height approximately equal to the limited height. The HDA further comprises a plurality of rotating disks, each having at least one recording surface. The HDA further comprises an arm stack comprising a plurality of arms, and a plurality of head gimbal assemblies. Each arm has a stacking portion and a cantilever portion. Each head gimbal assembly has one end attached to the cantilever portion of a respective arm and has an opposite end positioned adjacent a recording surface.

Abstract: An actuator for coarse and fine positioning of a read/write head incorporates at least one pivoted member to position the read/write head relative to storage tape that stores the data. The pivoted member may be a beam supporting a read/write head or link of a four bar linkage and is typically pivoted on a carriage. The pivoted motion and the associated motion of the read/write head must not introduce excessive zenith tilt or the recording/writing of data will be unreliable.

Abstract: A pivot bearing structure formed of a leaf spring is incorporated into a rocker or force transmission member which whenever mounted to a carriage of a high density data tape drive system precisely defines the pivot axis of the rocker and provides a very high degree of stiffness in a vertical plane, that plane being parallel to the recording surface of the magnetic tape. The rocker derives motion from a voice coil motor (VCM) and transmits that controlled motion to a magnetic head which is suspended for movement in a vertical plane while in contact with a length of magnetic tape upon which data is recorded or from which data is read. The movement of the magnetic head may be very precisely controlled by energizing the VCM, because the pivot axis is extremely well defined due to the stiffness in the vertical plane of the pivot bearing. Movement of the VCM coil directly translates into movement of the magnetic head.

Abstract: A tape drive which may accommodate tapes having a servo control track thereon as well as tapes without such tracks advantageously uses a lockout to prevent unwanted head translation when operating in an open loop mode. The lockout may be accomplished by energizing a voice coil motor to fix the head position, driving the voice coil motor to a fixed stop positioning the head, or latching a rocker connected to the head, thereby preventing movement of the head. The latching/unlatching function may be accomplished by driving an actuator supporting the beam springs, head and latch to an end-of-track position to similarly unlatch the rocker and return the assembly to a servo controlled mode of operation.

Abstract: A tape drive is fabricated with a chassis and a bridge. The bridge acts to support the read/write head actuator and to also define the datum surfaces for locating a mating magnetic tape cartridge. The bridge is manufactured of materials which are highly rigid and stable dimensionally. The chassis of the tape drive is fabricated from materials such as plastics which are relatively flexible and do not have the rigidity of that characterized by the bridge. The more flexible chassis of the tape drive permits the isolation of distortions and distortionary forces in the chassis and does not transmit those forces and distortions to the bridge. The effect of the two piece arrangement is that the pieces may be made relatively inexpensively and retain reliability of much more expensive materials in manufacturing processes herefore considered necessary.

Abstract: A tape drive system is described which incorporates a zero clearance bearing for use on a lead screw positioning system having a structure which inherently flexes or closes onto the external surfaces of the lead screw to cause a precise positioning of the lead screw axis relative to a bearing and a bearing support for the bearing. The bearing contact surfaces of the central passage of the bearing which engage the external surfaces of the lead screw are generally planar in form and thus form line contacts with the external surface of the lead screw. The disclosed tape drive system is enhanced in that the play and loose fitting parts in conventional bearing systems are eliminated, and the subject bearing will act to confine the axis of the lead screw to a fixed position relative to the carriage structure of a high density tape drive or other device utilizing a precision lead screw positioning system.