Abstract: A magnetic head assembly for writing multiple tracks to a tape that travels in a first direction is provided. The assembly includes a first head section for writing a first subset of the tracks, and a second head section for writing a second subset of the tracks. Furthermore, one head section is canted with respect to a plane that is transverse to the first direction, such that the head sections write two adjacent tracks at different angles with respect to the plane.

Abstract: A transducer positioning apparatus includes a frame, a flexible member attached to the frame, and a guide member suspended from the frame by the flexible member. A carriage with a transducer mounted thereon is movable with respect to the guide member between multiple positions relative to the guide member. The apparatus further includes an actuator associated with the carriage. The actuator is operative to move the carriage with respect to the guide member to a selected position of the multiple positions and to move the carriage and the guide member relative to the frame to locate the transducer in a desired position. Furthermore, the flexible member is configured to allow axial movement of the guide member while inhibiting rotational movement of the guide member.

Abstract: A transducer positioning apparatus includes a frame, a first carriage movably associated with the frame and having a guide member, a second carriage that is movable with respect to the guide member between multiple positions relative to the guide member, and a transducer mounted on the second carriage. An anti-rotation member is associated with the second carriage for inhibiting rotational movement of the second carriage as the second carriage moves with respect to the guide member. The apparatus further includes an actuator associated with the second carriage. The actuator is operative to move the second carriage with respect to the guide member to a selected position of the multiple positions and to move the first carriage and the second carriage relative to the frame to locate the transducer in a desired position.

Abstract: This invention provides a disk drive having an actuator for engaging and disengaging read/write heads with a recording medium, where the actuator comprises a head stack assembly, on which the heads are mounted, a guide track on which the head stack assembly slides, and a diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating on at least a portion of the guide track, wherein reduced actuator friction and increased wear resistance is achieved. The invention also provides an actuator, for mounting in a disk drive and for communicating with a recording medium, a head stack assembly having read/write heads thereon, a corrosion resistant, heat dissipating guide track on which the head stack assembly slides, and a DLC coating on at least a portion of the guide track, for reducing actuator friction and wear and wherein corrosion resistance and heat dissipation is achieved.