Abstract: A cartridge system uses a pluggable remotely accessible tag to store information related to the cartridge. These tags may be accessed by tape drives having pluggable remotely accessing receivers.

Abstract: In a tape drive for storing and retrieving information to and from a media, a system for optimizing write performance includes a tape head and a controller. The tape head may include a write element. The controller may be for optimizing write performance in response to at least one media information signal that is stored on a media cartridge.

Abstract: Servo tracks for magnetic tape storage are written using two opposite polarities, rather than the one polarity normally used in servo tracks. Timing continues to be performed using only pattern members of like polarity, due to physical restraints, but the use of two polarities allows additional information to be encoded in the pattern more efficiently.

Abstract: The present invention decreases the number of repositions during read back by making use of multiple read elements associated with each data track. A tape system includes a tape head with two read elements associated with each data track to be simultaneously read. Each read element generates a read signal in response to information recorded on the data track. Read electronics convert the read signal into read data. Control logic selects one of the two read elements as a source for output data for each data track. In response to a read error, output data is obtained from the other of the two read elements.

Abstract: The present invention decreases the number of repositions during read back by making use of multiple read elements associated with each data track. Each of a plurality of sets of read electronics receives the read signal from either one or the other of the two read elements associated with each data track and converts the received read signal into read data. For each data track, control logic selects one of the two read elements as a source for output data. In response to a determination that a read error has occurred, the control logic selects the other of the two read elements as the source for output data. For each data track, one read element is offset relative to the other read element in an offset direction normal to the tape direction.

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 magnetic head having an enhanced recession resistance characteristic, and a method of fabricating the magnetic head having the enhanced recession resistance characteristic is disclosed. The improvement is the addition of one or more hard protective layers exposed edgewise at the media-head interface. Each protective layer is formed between the substrate and the top closure of the magnetic head to a thickness of greater than approximately 0.2 micrometers and a hardness of greater than approximately 850 Knoop. The protective layers are formed by depositing a hard metal film above, below or within the read and write transducers inside the magnetic head. The hard metal film is selected for its hardness, ease of use during the fabrication process, and compatibility with adjoining materials. The hard metals include, but are not limited to, chromium, iridium, rhodium, tantalum, titanium and tungsten.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a tape read head bias signal control circuit configured to present to a tape read head a first amplitude bias signal in response to at least a first control signal and a second amplitude bias signal in response to at least a second control signal, wherein the second amplitude is lower than the first amplitude. The read head, thereby, may have a reduced operating temperature.

Abstract: A method of fabrication and a magnetic transducer having an inverted write element with a zero delta in pole tip width to provide improved bi-directional control over write track width and written erase bands on media. The transducer includes a top pole and a bottom pole configured to provide the same write track width and relatively small erase bands when either pole is the trailing pole depending on direction of movement of the media relative to the transducer. The bottom pole has an upper portion and a lower portion. The bottom pole upper portion width is less than the bottom pole lower portion width. The top pole has a main portion formed opposite to the bottom pole upper portion. The top pole main portion has a main portion width which is equal to the bottom pole upper portion width.

Abstract: A method of fabrication and a magnetic transducer having an inverted write element with a zero delta in pole tip width to provide improved bi-directional control over write track width and written erase bands on media. The transducer includes a top pole and a bottom pole configured to provide the same write track width and relatively small erase bands when either pole is the trailing pole depending on direction of movement of the media relative to the transducer. The bottom pole has an upper portion and a lower portion. The bottom pole upper portion width is less than the bottom pole lower portion width. The top pole has a main portion formed opposite to the bottom pole upper portion. The top pole main portion has a main portion width which is equal to the bottom pole upper portion width.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a thin film magnetic transducer and the resulting transducer structure is disclosed. The method starts with the formation of a bottom pole having an upper portion and a lower portion in a zero throat region. The upper portion has an upper portion width and the lower portion had a lower portion width, wherein the lower portion width is greater than the upper portion width. A gap layer is then formed over the bottom pole, and the top pole is formed over the gap layer. The top pole width is greater than the bottom pole's lower portion width. In one embodiment, a planarization layer is deposited overlaying the bottom pole prior to formation of the gap layer. Lapping is then performed to reduce the planarization layer and the bottom pole's upper portion to a flat surface suitable for receiving the gap layer deposition.

Abstract: A magnetic servo write head incorporates timing pattern read and write heads that are non-symmetrically slanted relative to an adjacent servo write head to improve timing pattern detection for a timing pattern written at an edge of a magnetic storage media. The slanted orientation of the timing write and read heads provides optimized timing pattern location and track width on a magnetic tape, while also allowing a sufficient number of windings to be used on an associated coil to improve overall signal-to-noise ratio.

Abstract: A magnetic head having an enhanced recession resistance characteristic, and a method of fabricating the magnetic head having the enhanced recession resistance characteristic is disclosed. The improvement is the addition of one or more hard protective layers exposed edgewise at the media-head interface. Each protective layer is formed between the substrate and the top closure of the magnetic head to a thickness of greater than approximately 0.2 micrometers and a hardness of greater than approximately 850 Knoop. The protective layers are formed by depositing a hard metal film above, below or within the read and write transducers inside the magnetic head. The hard metal film is selected for its hardness, ease of use during the fabrication process, and compatibility with adjoining materials. The hard metals include, but are not limited to, chromium, iridium, rhodium, tantalum, titanium and tungsten.

Abstract: A servo track writer head writes servo tracks on a data storage tape with increased accuracy. The servo track writer head includes a leading writer for each servo track. Each leading writer writes a synchronization field on the tape. The servo track writer head also includes a sequence of trailing writers for each servo track. Each trailing writer produces at least one trailing field on the tape a fixed distance behind the synchronization field. The servo track writer head also includes one timing writer. Each timing writer writes a timing field on the tape at a timing distance in the tape direction from each of the synchronization fields. The servo track writer head also includes a sequence of timing readers corresponding to each timing writer. The number of timing readers in the sequence is equal to the number of trailing writers in the sequence of trailing writers.

Abstract: A magnetic head having a pair of longitudinal channels in a tape bearing surface that flank each transducer. The channels reduce the effective height of debris in the channels near the transducers. The channel floors may have a transverse slope, and the tape bearing surface between channels may be tapered. Transverse slots help direct debris away from the transducers. The channels overlap the end sections of the transducers and help to define the shape and position of the transducer's active section. When applied to a two pole write transducers, the channels narrow and equalize the effective width of the top and bottom poles. Narrow equal-sized poles can write narrow data tracks with a track width that is independent of the magnetic medium's direction of motion.

Abstract: A method for writing a servo pattern onto a length of magnetic tape includes writing a first frequency signal onto a first portion along the length of the tape, and writing a second frequency signal by simultaneously writing a plurality of spaced apart predetermined shapes. The predetermined spaced apart shapes are achieved by writing the second frequency using a writer having a split top pole. Passing the tape over the spaced apart top pole elements allows the writer to simultaneously write the plurality of spaced apart shapes. The tape can then be passed over a read module.

Abstract: A magnetic tape head assembly is disclosed for use with a magnetic tape storage medium. The assembly includes an interior tape head module having a magnetic gap with 16 or more tape head elements, and a first exterior tape head module adjacent one side of the interior module, the first exterior module having a magnetic gap with 16 or more tape head elements. The assembly also includes a second exterior tape head module adjacent the other side of the interior module, the second exterior module having a magnetic gap with 16 or more recording elements. The distances between consecutive magnetic gaps of the interior and exterior modules are each approximately 60 microns, and the interior and exterior modules together define a semi-circular tape interface contour. In the preferred embodiment, the interior module is a write head with 16 write elements, and the exterior modules are each read heads with 16 data read elements and 6 servo read elements.

Abstract: A multitrack coupled element read head and a method for manufacturing such a read head are provided. The multitrack coupled element read head includes multiple coupled magnetoresistive read elements in a spaced relationship, and a support structure between a pair of coupled read elements, the support structure also being a magnetoresistive material. The read head also includes a closure material bonded on the plurality of coupled read elements and the support structure, where the support structure provides for substantially even pressure on the pair of coupled read elements such that shorting therein is eliminated.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic tape head including a split top pole. The split top pole configuration allows multiple patterns to be written simultaneously onto a servo band.

Abstract: A magnetic tape head assembly is disclosed for use with a magnetic tape storage medium. The assembly includes an interior tape head module having a magnetic gap with 18 tape head elements, and a first exterior tape head module adjacent to one side of the interior tape head module, the first exterior tape head module having a magnetic gap with 18 tape head elements. The assembly also includes a second exterior tape head module adjacent to the other side of the interior tape head module, the second exterior tape head module having a magnetic gap with 18 tape head elements. The distances between consecutive magnetic gaps of the interior and exterior modules are each approximately 0.150 inches, the interior and exterior modules together define a tape interface contour, and the tape head assembly is capable of writing and reading a high coercivity, high density metal particle tape media, and reading a low density CrO.sub.2 tape media.