Abstract: A magneto-resistive (M-R) head has a read element with a servo sensing width as wide as a data track width and a data sensing width of less than one data track width. The two read sensing widths are achieved by using a single read element having a center electrical contact from the M-R read element that effectively reduces the sensing width of the read element. In a first embodiment, the servo sensing width comprises a first portion of the read element and the data sensing width comprises a second, smaller portion of the read element. In a second embodiment, the servo sensing width comprises the entire read element width and the data sensing width comprises a portion thereof. In yet another embodiment, abutting read elements are constructed to enable separate optimization of each sensing width. The wide servo sensing width permits use of a wide servo pattern having servo bursts as wide as a data track width.

Abstract: Signals are recorded on and reproduced from a magnetic disk by a head with an azimuth angle which changes depending on a radial position on the magnetic disk. The magnetic disk includes a first recording region having tracks recorded with an azimuth angle less than or equal to a predetermined value, a second recording region having tracks recorded with an azimuth angle greater than the predetermined value, and an overlapping region in which two mutually adjacent tracks overlap in a radial direction of the magnetic disk, where a track pitch of the tracks within the first recording region is different from a track pitch of the tracks within the second recording region.

Abstract: A disk drive constructed according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a disk having a plurality of tracks formed concentrically along a first surface of the disk for storing data. The tracks are divided into first and second data storage regions positioned between an innermost circumferential region and an outermost circumferential region of the disk. First and second heads write and read data to and from the first surface of the disk. The first head is positioned to access the first data storage region while the second head is positioned to access the second data storage region, and the first head being positioned to access the second data storage region while the second head is positioned to access the first data storage region. First and second arm assemblies are respectively connected to the first and second heads. The first arm assembly extends the first head over a first radius of the disk, and the second arm assembly extends the second head over a second radius of the disk.