Abstract: A simplified structure for a single track read/write head design is disclosed. The design incorporates a simplified write coil structure and an improved and simplified combined magnetic bias and sensor current structure. The active sensing current is utilized both to create an anti-parallel magnetic vector couple in a coupled film magneto resistive sensor and to magnetically bias or torque the anti-parallel couple so that magnetization within the sensor films lies at an angle with the easy magnetic axis. Sensor current is fed in series through an electro-magnetic coil wrapped about the magneto resistive sensor so that sense current simultaneously creates an anti-parallel magnetic vector couple in the sensor and generates an electromagnetic bias field to torque the anti-parallel couple at an angle with the easy axis of magnetization.

Abstract: A magnetic disk drive channel circuitry is shown and described that generates eight incremental values of write current and eight incremental values of delta-V (the minimum voltage change per unit time which tests signals to discriminate between data and noise). Each of these variable parameter values may be program selected by a three bit bus signal. This variability testing of an adaptation to the optimum parameter value for each head media combination and by grouping tracks in contiguous data bands, the parameters may be optimized for tracks near the inner diameter, the outer diameter and in the middle band. The variable delta-V can also be used as an additional data recovery tool wherein re-reading with a lower value enhances recovery of missing bit errors and re-reading with an increased value can assist recovery from an extra bit error.

Abstract: This invention utilizes a sectored servo control having dual servo tracks recorded in the servo sector. In addition, the servo sector track portions have been recorded with two 180.degree. flux reversals in each track's polarity. The tracks are generally recorded with DC recording current to set a uniform magnetic polarity. The current is switched twice, i.e., from positive and negative and back again or vice versa for each servo track within the servo sector interval. This permits separation of the sensor, amplifier and servo signal offset voltages from the main servo signal itself. Two samples of the servo control voltage are taken during the servo sector interval and the polarity reversal of the servo track is necessary to allow separation of the offset voltages from a variety of sources from the off track or servo error signal.

Abstract: The data recovery procedure for errors caused by track occlusion as a result of adjacent track misregistration or head sensitivity to the low frequency content of adjacent tracks is effected by reading and storing the information from the adjacent tracks and thereafter erasing the adjacent tracks either on centerline or with the transducer offset toward the intermediate track of interest. The track of interest can then be read with the transducer aligned with the track centerline and at varying positions of offset. If this sequence of rereads fails, the erase step can be repeated with greater amounts of offset toward the intermediate track to further reduce inband interference and the reread sequence also repeated.

Abstract: A servo writing transducer is shown having transverse side surfaces of the pole pieces adjoining the gap formed to optimize compression of the fringe field at one transverse side to reduce the dead band intermediate servo tracks. The existence of a wider fringe field region at the opposite transverse side is without consequence since the servo writing procedure is to first write the farthest track at the transducer side at which the compressed field occurs followed by each succeeding, adjoining servo track causing the information written in the wide fringe field to be overwritten by the next track.

Abstract: A driver circuit for a thermal printing element varies the power applied to the element, depending upon its recent history of energization, in order to maintain uniform print density desprite temperature variation in the element. A capacitor charges and discharges to measure time intervals since the last element energization to control the voltage applied by an output transistor.

Abstract: A servo system for centering a transducer over boundaries between adjacent servo tracks on a magnetic disk in which the servo tracks are each formed by alternate long and short magnetic segments, with the short segments in one track being centered with the long segments of adjacent tracks. The servo system includes a frequency doubler circuit for producing a uniform frequency square wave signal of double the fundamental frequency of the analog signal picked up by the transducer from the servo encoding, a filter connected with the transducer for producing an analog double frequency signal based on the analog signal from the transducer, a synchronous detector functioning as a multiplier for multiplying the double frequency square wave signal with the analog double frequency signal from the transducer, and a filter for averaging the resultant pulsating position error signal to provide a steady state position error signal for any particular position of the transducer over a pair of adjacent servo tracks.