Abstract: Provided are a tape head module, tape drive, and method for moving a tape medium over a tape head having a recessed portion to provide air bearing between a tape medium and a tape bearing surface of the module. The tape head includes a tape bearing surface, an array of transducers, including read and/or write transducers, on the tape bearing surface, and a recessed portion formed on the tape bearing surface, wherein the array of transducers is located on the tape bearing surface between the recessed portion and an end of the module to perform read and/or write operations with respect to the tape medium.

Abstract: A tape head includes a body, which includes a transducer. The transducer may be a read or write element, respectively configured so as for the tape head to read from or write to a tape, in operation. The body exhibits a tape-bearing surface, which is typically configured to face and interact with the tape, in operation. The tape head further includes a closure. The closure is fixed on a leading side or a trailing side of the body and includes a skiving edge vis-à-vis the transducer. The skiving edge is adjoined by non-skiving edges. Finally, the closure has a top surface that meets the skiving edge; the top surface is level with the tape-bearing surface. Also included are related devices; tape head apparatuses for recording and/or reproducing tapes, comprising such tape heads; and methods of fabrication thereof.

Abstract: In one general embodiment, an apparatus includes a magnetic head. The magnetic head has a first portion and a second portion, the first portion and the second portion together providing a tape bearing surface. The first portion has an opening at least partially encircling the second portion. The second portion has two modules, each module having at least one array of transducers. Each module has a first outermost edge oriented orthogonally to an intended direction of tape travel thereacross, and a second outermost edge opposite the first edge, the second edge being oriented at an angle between 0.2° and about 10° relative to a line oriented orthogonally to the intended direction of tape travel thereacross.

Abstract: In one general embodiment, a system includes a first device on a first substrate; a second device on a second substrate; and a device select system coupled to the first and second devices. The device select system includes: a first portion having an array of first electrical contacts; a second portion having an array of second electrical contacts, there being more second electrical contacts than first electrical contacts, the second portion being coupled to the first and second devices, each of the first electrical contacts being associated with at least two of the second electrical contacts; and a select mechanism for selectively placing each of the first electrical contacts in electrical communication with one of the second electrical contacts associated therewith.

Abstract: A plurality of read/write heads is disclosed for a magnetic media storage system, such as, for example a magnetic tape drive. Each head can include a plurality of data channels. In addition to enhancing data throughput, the plurality of read/write heads can be aligned to read or write bands of tracks on a magnetic tape with only one positioning mode (e.g., without coarse position actuation and control), and also obtain optimum yield and crosstalk values.

Abstract: A module according to one embodiment includes an array of N piggyback or merged first data transducers positioned towards a media facing surface of the module; and M second data transducers interleaved with the array of piggyback or merged data transducers, wherein the second data transducers are single data transducers, at least some of the data transducers being coupled to pads. A module according to another embodiment includes an array of N first data transducers positioned towards a media facing surface of the module, the first data transducers including at least one of data readers, data writers, and combinations thereof; and M second data transducers interleaved with the array of first data transducers, the second data transducers including at least one of data readers, data writers, and combinations thereof, wherein less than all of the first and/or second data transducers are coupled to pads.

Abstract: A suspension for a head gimbal assembly includes a flexure having a laminated structure including a substrate layer, an insulating layer formed on the substrate layer, and a conducting layer formed on the insulating layer. And first bonding pads are formed on the conducting layer at a first surface of the flexure, so as to electrically connect with a slider via solder balls, and second bonding pads are formed on the substrate layer at a second surface of the flexure opposite to the first surface, so as to electrically connect with extra components formed at the second surface via solder balls. The suspension can connect slider and other extra components at two opposite surfaces of the flexure with a simplified and compacted structure and a reduced cost.

Abstract: A tape drive system according to one embodiment includes a magnetic head. The magnetic head includes first and second beams each having a tape bearing surface, a face, a recess in the tape bearing surface thereof, the faces of the beams facing either towards each other or away from each other; a first chip being positioned in the recess of the first beam; and a second chip being positioned in the recess of the second beam, wherein each chip has circuitry selected from a group consisting of read elements, write elements, and combinations thereof, wherein a tape bearing surface of each chip is generally aligned with the tape bearing surface of the associated beam, and wherein an end of each chip is generally aligned with the face of the associated beam. The system also includes a drive mechanism and a controller.

Abstract: In one general embodiment, a system includes a first device on a first substrate; a second device on a second substrate; and a device select system coupled to the first and second devices. The device select system includes: a first portion having an array of first electrical contacts; a second portion having an array of second electrical contacts, there being more second electrical contacts than first electrical contacts, the second portion being coupled to the first and second devices, each of the first electrical contacts being associated with at least two of the second electrical contacts; and a select mechanism for selectively placing each of the first electrical contacts in electrical communication with one of the second electrical contacts associated therewith.

Abstract: A data storage apparatus and method. The apparatus comprises a mounting structure, a motor mechanically attached to mounting structure, and a data storage platter mechanically attached to the motor. The apparatus additionally comprises a single actuator arm comprising a first and second read/write data head or multiple radial movement mechanisms each comprising a read/write data head. The single actuator arm is configured to move axially along an arc and across a top surface of the data storage platter such that the first read/write data head has access to a first section and a second section of the data storage platter and the second read/write data head only has access to the second section of data storage platter. Each radial movement mechanism moves a different read/write data head radially all along a radius of the data storage platter and over and across different sections of the data storage platter.

Abstract: A tape head has first and second beams each having a recess in a tape bearing surface thereof, a face where the faces of the beams either face each other or face away from each other. A first chip is positioned in the recess of the first beam, and a second chip is positioned in the recess of the second beam. Each chip has circuitry selected from a group consisting of read elements, write elements, and combinations thereof. A tape bearing surface of each chip is generally aligned with the tape bearing surface of the associated beam. Also, an end of each chip is generally aligned with the face of the associated beam. Where closures are used, this eliminates the need to aligning the closure to skiving edges of the beam.

Abstract: A data storage apparatus and method. The apparatus comprises a mounting structure, a motor mechanically attached to mounting structure, and a data storage platter mechanically attached to the motor. The apparatus additionally comprises a single actuator arm comprising a first and second read/write data head or multiple radial movement mechanisms each comprising a read/write data head. The single actuator arm is configured to move axially along an arc and across a top surface of the data storage platter such that the first read/write data head has access to a first section and a second section of the data storage platter and the second read/write data head only has access to the second section of data storage platter. Each radial movement mechanism moves a different read/write data head radially all along a radius of the data storage platter and over and across different sections of the data storage platter.

Abstract: Provided is a thin-film magnetic head, in which the magnetic spacing can be controlled appropriately, regardless of the presence of the variation in height of the medium-opposed surface of the closure. The thin-film magnetic head includes: at least one head element formed on or above an element-formation surface of a substrate, for reading data from a magnetic recording medium and/or writing data to a magnetic recording medium; an overcoat layer formed on the element-formation surface so as to cover the at least one head element; and at least one closure adhered to at least a portion of an upper surface of the overcoat layer. Here, at least one of the at least one closure includes at least one element for adjusting the height of a medium-opposed surface of the closure. The element is preferably a heating element provided within the closure.

Abstract: A low track pitch write module and bidirectional tape head for writing and/or reading data on a magnetic recording tape. The write module and tape head have a tape bearing surface for engaging the magnetic recording tape and plural write elements. The write elements are arranged so that the write gaps of adjacent write elements are spaced from each other by not more than approximately one write gap width, while being generally aligned along an axis that is perpendicular to a direction of movement of the magnetic recording tape. The write elements may have a planar or vertical construction comprising plural thin film layers oriented in generally parallel or perpendicular relationship with the tape bearing surface. One or more read element arrays may also be provided.

Abstract: A data storage device includes a first head module independently moveably mounted relative to the storage device. The first head module includes at least one of a read element and a write element. In addition, the data storage device includes a second head module independently moveably mounted relative to the storage device. The second head module includes at least one of a read element and a write element operatively associated with the at least one of a read element and write element of the first head module. The second head module is selectively shiftable relative to the first head module in order to align the at least one of the read element and the write element of the first head module and the at least one of the read element and the write element of the second head module to one another.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a magnetic recording head comprising first and second linear levels of magnetic recording devices is provided. Each device in the first linear level is aligned adjacently in a row and is spaced apart from another device in the first linear level. The first linear level is perpendicular to a comparative direction of a recording media travel. The second linear level of magnetic recording devices being connected to the first linear level of magnetic recording devices. Each device in the second linear level is aligned adjacently in a row and is spaced apart from another device in the second linear level. Each device in the second linear level is aligned with an insulating gap between the each device in the first linear level.

Abstract: The structure for a narrow pitch tape head array is disclosed. Narrow pitch is obtained by offsetting the location of the write gaps of successively stacked coplanar head arrays. A compact structure with lower fabrication cost is obtained by sharing magnetic pole layers between the stacked co-planar arrays.

Abstract: A magnetic tape head system and associated method are disclosed. Included is one or more head assemblies each including a base with a row bar coupled thereto with a head situated therein for defining a tape bearing surface defining a tape wrap angle with respect to a horizontal plane. A length of the tape bearing surface is between approximately 0.57 millimeters and 0.7 millimeters and the tape wrap angle is between approximately 0.5 degrees and 1.3 degrees such that a resolution of the magnetic tape head system is substantially independent of a velocity of the tape.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A laminated ferrimagnetic thin film consists of two ferromagnetic layers and a non-magnetic intermediate layer sandwiched therebetween. The respective ferromagnetic layers are magnetically coupled in an anti-ferromagnetic manner through the non-magnetic intermediate layer. Each ferromagnetic layer consists of a plurality of layers. In each ferromagnetic layer, a layer which is in contact with the non-magnetic intermediate layer is formed of Co or an alloy including Co while at least one layer is formed of Ni or an alloy including Ni, and its film thickness is determined to be at least 60% or more of a film thickness of each ferromagnetic layer.

Abstract: There is provided a tape recording system and head device. A tape recording system and head device include a plurality of recording sections for recording data signals on a recording medium wherein one recording section of the plurality of recording sections and another recording section arranged so as to adjoin the one recording section are disposed such that the one recording section and the another recording section are shifted from each other in a running direction and a width direction of the recording medium, and wherein the one recording section and another recording section simultaneously record a data signal on adjacent recording tracks on the recording medium.

Abstract: A thin film servo head apparatus is described that provides verification of time-based servo marks on a magnetic tape. The thin film servo head apparatus includes a plurality of thin film servo heads formed in a substrate. The substrate is canted such that servo gaps included in each of the thin film servo heads are substantially parallel to the time-based servo marks. Thin film servo heads eliminate the high labor, low yield machining process associated with conventional ferrite composite servo heads. Thin film servo heads may be fabricated in bulk on substrate wafers to reduce manufacturing time and cost. The invention described herein enables thin film servo heads to be used with time-based servo markings by defining a servo gap spacing such that when the substrate is canted, the servo gaps of the thin film servo heads substantially align with the time-based servo markings.

Abstract: A tape drive comprises a magnetic head and a flexible circuit coupled to the magnetic head. The flexible circuit comprises a rolling loop and a double layer portion that extends at least partially through the rolling loop.

Abstract: A linear tape system has a multi-reproducing head MRh comprising a plurality of reproducing heads Rh each of which corresponds to one recording track Tr. Each reproducing head of the multi-reproducing head is arranged with a displacement in a width direction of the recording track. An entire width MRhw of the multi-reproducing head is enlarged larger than a width Trw of the recording track. In this manner, the linear tape system can reproduce the recording track recorded in a narrow width and provide a higher recording density.

Abstract: A read/write head of a magnetic tape drive is provided, where the matrix write head is provided as a part of an overall flat structure that utilizes the atmospheric pressure to hold the tape against the operational surface of the write head. The read head portion is provided to enable reading of the data immediately after it is written. The present head structure permits writing and reading of written data in both tape travel directions. The matrix write head portions are on chips and wear parts are in the upstream direction with respect to the tape travel from the write head. The wear parts provide a shape edge over which the tape moves. The read head is either optical or magnetic and is between two portions of the write head.

Abstract: A linear tape system has a multi-reproducing head MRh comprising a plurality of reproducing heads Rh each of which corresponds to one recording track Tr. Each reproducing head of the multi-reproducing head is arranged with a displacement in a width direction of the recording track. An entire width MRhw of the multi-reproducing head is enlarged larger than a width Trw of the recording track. In this manner, the linear tape system can reproduce the recording track recorded in a narrow width and provide a higher recording density.

Abstract: A magnetic tape head assembly comprised of read and write elements and servo readers placed asymmetrically about the center of the head taken perpendicular to the direction of tape motion is provided. The tape head is capable of reading and writing in two directions of tape motion.

Abstract: A scanner (3-85, 8-85, 9-85) for use in a helical scan magnetic transducing apparatus has a periphery upon which plural read tranducing elements (3-82) and plural write transducing elements (3-80) are mounted non-symmetrically. The plural write transducing elements are physically situated on the periphery of the scanner in M number of local groups (3-81), wherein the plural read transducing elements are physically situated on the periphery of the scanner in N number of local moveable groups (3-831, 3-832), and wherein M<N. Each of the moveable groups has a separate actuator (89) for adjusting position of the group.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head includes a head element portion stacked on a side surface of a substrate having two opposed planes, two opposed side surfaces intersecting the planes, and a tape slide surface provided at one end portion of the planes and the side surfaces. At least one of a magnetic gap Gb of an induction type magnetic head and a magneto-resistive effect element Ga of a magneto-resistive effect type magnetic head are exposed on the tape slide surface, and a bonding pad 3 is connected to the head element portion, wherein an angle made by one of the side surfaces on which the head element portion and the bonding pad are provided and one of the planes constitutes an azimuth angle.

Abstract: A linear tape system has a multi-reproducing head MRh comprising a plurality of reproducing heads Rh each of which corresponds to one recording track Tr. Each reproducing head of the multi-reproducing head is arranged with a displacement in a width direction of the recording track. An entire width MRhw of the multi-reproducing head is enlarged larger than a width Trw of the recording track. In this manner, the linear tape system can reproduce the recording track recorded in a narrow width and provide a higher recording density.

Abstract: A pattern of lead terminals 22 is formed on a side face of a head body 4 provided with reproduction magnetic heads 9 each being formed with a magnetic gap 11 for reproducing at least an information signal, etc., recorded on a magnetic recording medium, and a preamplifier 6 for amplifying reproduction output detected by the magnetic gap 11 via the lead terminal 22 is mounted directly on the side face of the head body 4.

Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic head including a plurality of magnetic head elements disposed on a head support in a direction across a magnetic tape and a plurality of connection terminals disposed on the head support, for each of the magnetic head elements, in a direction perpendicular to the signal recording surface of the magnetic tape. Even a large number of magnetic head elements can be electrically connected to an external circuit in an appropriate and simple manner.

Abstract: A variable width flat tape head for bi-directional contact recording and method for making the same has significant advantages over both traditional contoured tape heads and single width flat heads for contact recording applications. The variable width head and process disclosed herein allows for greater ease of manufacturing, efficient layout of the devices on thin film wafers and provides a significant cost reduction in the production of the head compared to traditionally contoured tape heads. In addition, the present invention reduces unnecessary surface area where the tape contacts the head, thus reducing tape wear and damage that is present in single width flat heads (where the tape is in contact uniformly across the tape width), thereby providing a concomitant improvement in tape wear and life.

Abstract: A tape drive read/write head assembly that utilizes a magnetic shield to help protect the head from any magnetic flux that strays from the tape drive's motor. The head assembly includes a voice coil motor, a transducer head (typically a read/write head), and a carriage carrying the head. The carriage is movably coupled to the motor. The magnetic shield is positioned at least partially between the head and the motor. In one preferred version of the invention, the shield is a metal plate sandwiched between the head and the carriage. It is desirable to make the shield from a high nickel content metal or similar type material that has a large magnetic flux carrying capacity with a small magnetizing force.

Abstract: A magnetic head device for reading and recording information from a magnetic recording section of a photographic film has a recording head and a playback head. The playback head and recording head are adjacently positioned by a head base plate. The head base plate rotatably supports the recording head and playback head as the head base plate rotates about a first rotation shaft and a second rotation shaft. The first rotation shaft extends in a direction of the film defined by movement of the film as film is wound onto a winding spool within a film cartridge. The second rotation shaft extends in a width direction of the film, perpendicular to the first rotation shaft. As a result the recording head and playback head make contact with the film to improve consistency of the playback and reading of information from the magnetic section of the film.

Abstract: A magnetic tape head tilting mechanism for tilting the magnetic head to a desired azimuth angle. The azimuth tilting mechanism uses a worm gear and worm, driven by a stepper motor, which automatically adjusts the position of the magnetic head during recording of the signal onto the tape by the write head gap to maintain the strongest signal that is received by the read head gap. The fine angular resolution enables writing very high track densities and providing strong read signals.

Abstract: A recording disk apparatus is provided. The recording disk apparatus includes a recording disk having at least one recording surface with a plurality of spaced recording tracks. The recording disk also includes a positioning arm with a head assembly. The head assembly has a plurality of read transducers. Each consecutive transducer is positioned relative to one another at a distance substantially smaller than a spacing between two consecutive tracks.