IP Library › Granted Patent US 12706114
Granted Patent B2
US 12706114 · App. 18/406,387 · Granted Aug 11, 2026

Head driving device

Inventors: Masao Hanya (Yokohama, JP); Ryo Kuwata (Yokohama, JP)
Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
G11B5/4873G11B5/4833
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12706114
App. No.
18/406,387
Filed
Jan 8, 2024
Granted
Aug 11, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2688
USPC
360/294.4
Abstract

A data storage device includes a tape as a recording medium; a head member including a length larger than a width of the tape; and an electrical element expanding and contracting based on a polarity and an applied voltage. The head member is moved in a state where the voltage is applied and the electrical element expands or contracts.

Claims (27)

1 . A data storage device comprising:

a tape as a recording medium;

a head member having a width and a length which is longer than the width, the head member comprising a first side portion and a second side portion each extending in the length direction of the head member;

a first beam located on a side of the first side portion;

a second beam located on a side of the second side portion;

a first piezoelectric unit provided in contact with the first beam, the first piezoelectric unit comprising a first piezoelectric element which expands and contracts along the width direction of the head member thereby moving the first beam in a direction along a surface of the first beam; and

a second piezoelectric unit provided in contact with the second beam, the second piezoelectric unit comprising a second piezoelectric element which expands and contracts along the width direction of the head member thereby moving the second beam in a direction along a surface of the second beam.

2 . The data storage device according to claim 1 , wherein the tape is a magnetic tape.

3 . The data storage device according to claim 1 , wherein the head member is a magnetic head configured to read data from the tape.

4 . The data storage device according to claim 1 , wherein:

the first piezoelectric unit comprises the first piezoelectric element which expands and contracts in a direction along the surface of the first beam based on a polarity and an applied voltage,

the second piezoelectric unit comprises the second piezoelectric element which expands and contracts in a direction along the surface of the second beam based on a polarity and an applied voltage, and

the head member is moved relative to the tape by the first piezoelectric unit and the second piezoelectric unit.

5 . The data storage device according to claim 4 , wherein the head member is moved in a width direction of the tape by the first piezoelectric element and the second piezoelectric element.

6 . The data storage device according to claim 4 , wherein the first piezoelectric unit comprises a plurality of the first piezoelectric elements and the second piezoelectric unit comprises a plurality of the second piezoelectric elements.

7 . A head driving device comprising:

a head member having a width and a length which is longer than the width, the head member comprising a first side portion and a second side portion each extending in the length direction of the head member;

a first beam located on a side of the first side portion;

a second beam located on a side of the second side portion;

a first piezoelectric unit provided in contact with the first beam, the first piezoelectric unit comprising a first piezoelectric element which expands and contracts along the width direction of the head member thereby moving the first beam in a direction along a surface of the first beam; and

a second piezoelectric unit provided in contact with the second beam, the second piezoelectric unit comprising a second piezoelectric element which expands and contracts along the width direction of the head member thereby moving the second beam in a direction along a surface of the second beam.

8 . A head driving device comprising:

a head member having a width and a length which is longer than the width, the head member comprising a first side portion and a second side portion each extending in the length direction of the head member;

a first suspension comprising a first beam located on a side of the first side portion;

a second suspension comprising a second beam located on a side of the second side portion;

a first piezoelectric unit provided in contact with the first beam of the first suspension, the first piezoelectric unit comprising a first piezoelectric element which expands and contracts along the width direction of the head member thereby moving the first beam in a direction along a surface of the first beam; and

a second piezoelectric unit provided in contact with the second beam of the second suspension, the second piezoelectric unit comprising a second piezoelectric element which expands and contracts along the width direction of the head member thereby moving the second beam in a direction along a surface of the second beam.