Abstract: The present invention relates to direct current (“DC”) pre-erasing servo channels of a magnetic tape prior to writing servo data in a servo channel. The present invention particularly relates to those servo recordings which were written with a uni-polar current waveform. The DC pre-erase is performed using a uni-polar direct current of a polarity that is opposite to the polarity of the direct current used to write the servo data. This pre-erase may be done with one or more heads. Also, as will be described, the pre-erase of a servo channel and writing to a servo channel may be done by making two passes over a single head or by using two or more heads to perform both steps. Also, it is within the scope of the present invention to have the heads mounted on a single mount or have the heads on separate mounts and on separate tape decks.

Abstract: The present invention is system and method for providing a self-calibrating pressure sensor. A pressure sensor apparatus comprises a diaphragm, at least one driving element operably coupled to the diaphragm configured to induce deflection in the diaphragm, and at least one strain gauge coupled to the diaphragm. The at least one strain gauge measures the deflection of the diaphragm. Typically, the driving elements will be piezoelectric drivers and will be operably coupled to the diaphragm. A method for evaluating a pressure sensor comprises inducing deflection in a diaphragm, measuring the deflection, determining the frequency-dependent response, calculating mechanical characteristics of the diaphragm from the frequency-dependent response, and calculating a response coefficient for the diaphragm based in part on said mechanical characteristics. The response coefficient is used to evaluate the sensor. The sensor can then be re-calibrated or self-calibrated based on the response coefficient.

Abstract: An optical path or waveguide for a laser-assisted transducing head is disclosed. The optical path extends between the poles of the transducing head to near the write gap. A solid-state laser is attached to or incorporated into the slider or head and is positioned to direct thermal energy through a waveguide and onto a track of a read/write surface to lower the coercivity of the recording medium to facilitate the write process.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic recording head is fabricated by forming a substrate from opposing ferrite blocks which have a ceramic member bonded between them. This structure is then diced to form a plurality of columns, wherein each column has a ferrite/ceramic combination. Each column represents a single channel in the completed head. A block of ceramic is then cut to match the columned structure and the two are bonded together. The bonded structure is then cut or ground until a head is formed, having ceramic disposed between each channel. A ferrite back-gap is then added to each channel, minimizing the reluctance of the flux path. The thin film is patterned on the head to optimize various channel configurations.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic recording head utilizing a timing based servo pattern is fabricated using a focused ion beam (FIB). The recording head is fabricated by sputtering a magnetically permeable thin film onto a substrate. A gap pattern, preferably a timing based pattern, is defined on the thin film and the FIB cuts a gap through the thin film based on that pattern. Once completed, the recording head is used to write a servo track onto magnetic tape. The timing based servo track then allows for the precise alignment of data read heads based on the positional information obtained by a servo read head which scans the continuously variable servo track.

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatuses and methods used in manufacturing magnetic tape. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method of writing a servo pattern on magnetic tape so as to minimize errors in the servo pattern, the heads used to write such servo data, and the magnetic tape manufactured with such heads. Errors in the servo pattern may be minimized by synthesizing the slanted transitions in a time based servo pattern using servo write gaps that are perpendicular to the tape motion. In so minimizing errors, distortion in the reading and/or writing of the data tracks can be prevented.

Abstract: An arbitrary gap thin film magnetic recording head is fabricated by forming a substrate based on traditional vertical planar thin film head wafer technology which is designed to produce an integrated subgap and subpole substrate structure. The recording head includes a pair of magnetically permeable thin film subpoles, separated by a low permeability subgap structure. An electrically conductive coil may be embedded, in part, within the subgap structure. Thus, the subpoles and subgap structure form part of a magnetic circuit. A highly permeable magnetic surface film spans from one subpole to the other having one or more arbitrary gap patterns. That is, a surface thin film is deposited and patterned on the tape bearing surface of the head to optimize various element configurations, gap patterns and head-to-tape medium contact.

Abstract: A magnetic media having servo track written with a thin film magnetic recording head utilizing a servo pattern fabricated using a focused ion beam (FIB). The recording head is fabricated by sputtering a magnetically permeable thin film onto a substrate. A gap pattern is defined on the thin film and the FIB cuts a gap through the thin film based on that pattern. Once completed, the recording head is used to write a servo track onto a magnetic tape. The servo track then allows for the precise alignment of data read heads based on the positional information obtained by a servo read head which scans the continuously variable servo track.

Abstract: Methods and systems for data recording and reading for increasing overall tape data storage density, especially for data written in azimuth style. The principles of the invention provide servo formats and systems that allow accurate on track guidance for higher density applications and that are less sensitive to off track error. Preferred embodiments of the invention offer servo formats and systems of the invention that allows positive track and group identification at the beginning, end, and optionally periodically along the length of a tape.

Abstract: Methods and systems for data recording and reading for increasing overall tape data storage density, especially for data written in azimuth style. The principles of the invention provide servo formats and systems that allow accurate on track guidance for higher density applications and that are less sensitive to off track error. Preferred embodiments of the invention offer servo formats and systems of the invention that allows positive track and group identification at the beginning, end, and optionally periodically along the length of a tape.

Abstract: Double photolithography is used to produce an under-layer of protective and filtering photoresist over a substrate that will have channels milled with a FIB. Secondary layers are applied with precision on top of the first layer in order to define the precise patterns to be milled and to provide targeting and alignment fiducials.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of synthesizing the slanted transitions in a time based servo pattern using servo write gaps that are perpendicular to the tape motion. The present invention particularly relates to a method of writing a servo pattern on magnetic tape so as to minimize errors in the servo pattern. The slanted transitions in a time-based servo pattern are synthesized using servo write gaps that are perpendicular to the tape motion. The slanted portions of the write gaps are synthesized by a series of short segmented vertical and horizontal segments. In so minimizing errors, distortion in the reading and/or writing of the data tracks can be prevented.

Abstract: The present invention relates to direct current (“DC”) pre-erasing servo channels of a magnetic tape prior to writing servo data in a servo channel. The present invention particularly relates to those servo recordings which were written with a uni-polar current waveform. The DC pre-erase is performed using a uni-polar direct current of a polarity that is opposite to the polarity of the direct current used to write the servo data. This pre-erase may be done with one or more heads. Also, as will be described, the pre-erase of a servo channel and writing to a servo channel may be done by making two passes over a single head or by using two or more heads to perform both steps. Also, it is within the scope of the present invention to have the heads mounted on a single mount or have the heads on separate mounts and on separate tape decks.

Abstract: A solid state device is formed through thin film deposition techniques which results in a self-supporting thin film layer that can have a precisely defined channel bored therethrough. The device is useful in the chacterization of polymer molecules by measuring changes in various electrical characteristics as molecules pass through the channel. To form the device, a thin film layer having various patterns of electrically conductive leads are formed on a silicon substrate. Using standard lithography techniques, a relatively large or micro-scale aperture is bored through the silicon substrate which in turn exposes a portion of the thin film layer. This process does not affect the thin film. Subsequently, a high precision material removal process is used (such as a focused ion beam) to bore a precise nano-scale aperture through the thin film layer that coincides with the removed section of the silicon substrate.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic recording head utilizing a timing based servo pattern is fabricated using a focused ion beam (FIB). The recording head is fabricated by sputtering a magnetically permeable thin film onto a substrate. A gap pattern, preferably a timing based pattern, is defined on the thin film and the FIB cuts a gap through the thin film based on that pattern. Once completed, the recording head is used to write a servo track onto magnetic tape. The timing based servo track then allows for the precise alignment of data read heads based on the positional information obtained by a servo read head which scans the continuously variable servo track.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic recording head utilizing a timing based servo pattern is fabricated by sputtering a magnetically permeable thin film onto a substrate. A gap pattern, preferably a timing based pattern, is defined by the thin film. The gap pattern includes termination patterns or endpoints having one or more rounded corners.

Abstract: Methods and systems for data recording and reading for increasing overall tape data storage density, especially for data written in azimuth style. The principles of the invention provide servo formats and systems that allow accurate on track guidance for higher density applications and that are less sensitive to off track error. Preferred embodiments of the invention offer servo formats and systems of the invention that allows positive track and group identification at the beginning, end, and optionally periodically along the length of a tape.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic recording head utilizing a timing based servo pattern is fabricated using a focused ion beam (FIB). The recording head is fabricated by sputtering a magnetically permeable thin film onto a substrate. A gap pattern, preferably a timing based pattern, is defined on the thin film and the FIB cuts a gap through the thin film based on that pattern. Once completed, the recording head is used to write a servo track onto magnetic tape. The timing based servo track then allows for the precise alignment of data read heads based on the positional information obtained by a servo read head which scans the continuously variable servo track.

Abstract: An optical path or waveguide for a laser-assisted transducing head is disclosed. The optical path extends between the poles of the transducing head to near the write gap. A solid-state laser is attached to or incorporated into the slider or head and is positioned to direct thermal energy through a waveguide and onto a track of a read/write surface to lower the coercivity of the recording medium to facilitate the write process.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic recording head is provided with a tape bearing surface that has magnetically isolated channels while still providing a maximum continuous surface area with which to engage the media. This can be accomplished by providing spaces in the magnetically permeable thin film that are large enough to prevent cross-talk between the channels, but small enough to prevent significant interference with the moving media. Alternatively, magnetically impermeable thin film spacers can be provided to magnetically isolate each of the channels. The spacers are generally even with the magnetically permeable thin film so as to provide a continuous media-bearing surface.