Abstract: An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a magnetic head having multiple magnetic transducers, the transducers including read sensors. The read sensors are of at least two differing types selected from a group consisting of tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR), giant magnetoresistance (GMR), anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR), and inductive sensors.

Abstract: An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a magnetic head having multiple magnetic transducers, the transducers including read sensors. The read sensors are of at least two differing types selected from a group consisting of tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR), giant magnetoresistance (GMR), anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR), and inductive sensors.

Abstract: An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a magnetic head having multiple magnetic transducers, the transducers including read sensors. The read sensors are of at least two differing types selected from a group consisting of tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR), giant magnetoresistance (GMR), anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR), and inductive sensors.

Abstract: An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a magnetic head having multiple magnetic transducers, the transducers including read sensors. The read sensors are of at least two differing types selected from a group consisting of tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR), giant magnetoresistance (GMR), anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR), and inductive sensors.

Abstract: In one general embodiment, an apparatus includes an inner module comprising an array of first transducers of a first type; and first and second outer modules flanking the inner module. Each outer module includes an array of second transducers of a second type that is different than the first type. Each of the second transducers in each array of second transducers being aligned with a corresponding one of the first transducers in a direction generally parallel to a path of tape travel thereacross. A number of active second transducers in each outer module is less than a number of active first transducers in the inner module.

Abstract: In one general embodiment, an apparatus includes an inner module comprising an array of first transducers of a first type; and first and second outer modules flanking the inner module. Each outer module includes an array of second transducers of a second type that is different than the first type. Each of the second transducers in each array of second transducers being aligned with a corresponding one of the first transducers in a direction generally parallel to a path of tape travel thereacross. A number of active second transducers in each outer module is less than a number of active first transducers in the inner module.

Abstract: In one general embodiment, a magnetic head includes an inner module comprising an array of data writers; and first and second outer modules flanking the inner module. The outer modules are identical, each outer module comprising an array of data readers. A number of active data readers in each outer module is less than a number of active data writers in the inner module. For the first outer module, one of the active data readers is aliened with one of the data writers positioned towards a first end of the inner module array in the direction generally parallel to the path of tape travel thereacross. For the second outer module, one of the active data readers is aligned with one of the data writers positioned towards a second end of the inner module array in the direction generally parallel to the path of tape travel thereacross.

Abstract: A method and system for secure data storage and retrieval is provided. A sequence of data units is divided into multiple subsets of data units corresponding to multiple data channels. The multiple data channels are assigned to multiple data writers based on a key code. Then, each subset of data units is transferred to a writer via an assigned channel for writing to storage media. Thereafter, to securely retrieve the stored data, each subset of data units is read from the storage media using a data reader. The original sequence of data units can only be reassembled using the key code for properly reassembling the subsets of data units into their original sequence.

Abstract: In one general embodiment, a magnetic head includes an inner module comprising an array of data writers; and first and second outer modules flanking the inner module. The outer modules are identical, each outer module comprising an array of data readers. A number of active data readers in each outer module is less than a number of active data writers in the inner module. For the first outer module, one of the active data readers is aliened with one of the data writers positioned towards a first end of the inner module array in the direction generally parallel to the path of tape travel thereacross. For the second outer module, one of the active data readers is aligned with one of the data writers positioned towards a second end of the inner module array in the direction generally parallel to the path of tape travel thereacross.

Abstract: In one general embodiment, a magnetic head comprises an inner module comprising an array of data readers; and first and second outer modules flanking the inner module. The outer modules are identical, each outer module comprising an array of data writers. A number of active data writers in each outer module is less than a number of active data readers in the inner module. For the first outer module, one of the active data writers is aligned with one of the data reader positioned towards a first end of the inner module array in a direction generally parallel to the path of tape travel thereacross. For the second outer module, one of the active data writers is aligned with one of the data readers positioned towards a second end of the inner module array in the direction generally parallel to the path of tape travel thereacross.

Abstract: A method and system for secure data storage and retrieval is provided. A sequence of data units is divided into multiple subsets of data units corresponding to multiple data channels. The multiple data channels are assigned to multiple data writers based on a key code. Then, each subset of data units is transferred to a writer via an assigned channel for writing to storage media. Thereafter, to securely retrieve the stored data, each subset of data units is read from the storage media using a data reader. The original sequence of data units can only be reassembled using the key code for properly reassembling the subsets of data units into their original sequence.

Abstract: In one general embodiment, a magnetic head comprises an inner module comprising an array of data readers; and first and second outer modules flanking the inner module. The outer modules are identical, each outer module comprising an array of data writers. A number of active data writers in each outer module is less than a number of active data readers in the inner module. For the first outer module, one of the active data writers is aligned with one of the data reader positioned towards a first end of the inner module array in a direction generally parallel to the path of tape travel thereacross. For the second outer module, one of the active data writers is aligned with one of the data readers positioned towards a second end of the inner module array in the direction generally parallel to the path of tape travel thereacross.

Abstract: A magnetic head comprises identical, opposing modules each comprising an array of paired data transducers, the transducers including data readers, data writers, or combinations thereof. For each array, the transducers in each subset may have about the same center to center spacing. A first subset of the transducers is operable for reading or writing data in a first tape format. A second subset of the transducers is operable for reading or writing data in a second tape format, with at least some of the transducers being present in both subsets. Also, each module includes a lone writer at one end of one of the subsets, a lone reader at an opposite end of the one of the subsets, and servo readers positioned outside the array.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a magnetic head having multiple readers includes forming a plurality of generally laterally positioned lower shields; forming a lower gap layer above each lower shield; forming a sensor above each lower gap layer; forming an upper gap layer above each sensor; and forming an upper shield above each upper gap layer; wherein an overall gap thickness is defined between vertically aligned pairs of the upper and lower shields, wherein the overall gap thickness between one of the pairs of upper and lower shields is thicker than the overall gap thickness between another of the pairs of upper and lower shields.

Abstract: A magnetic head comprises a plurality of elements selected from a group consisting of readers and writers. A servo sensor is positioned towards the elements, the servo sensor being adapted for sensing a first servo track of a magnetic medium. A fence is positioned towards the servo sensor and aligned therewith in a tape travel direction. A magnetic head in another embodiment includes a substrate and a reader positioned above the substrate, the reader having a sensor and shields sandwiching the sensor. A fence is positioned towards the reader on an opposite side thereof from the substrate, the fence being aligned with the reader in a travel direction of a magnetic medium passing thereby.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a magnetic head having multiple readers includes forming a plurality of generally laterally positioned lower shields; forming a lower gap layer above each lower shield; forming a sensor above each lower gap layer; forming an upper gap layer above each sensor; and forming an upper shield above each upper gap layer; wherein an overall gap thickness is defined between vertically aligned pairs of the upper and lower shields, wherein the overall gap thickness between one of the pairs of upper and lower shields is thicker than the overall gap thickness between another of the pairs of upper and lower shields.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a plurality of generally laterally positioned readers, each reader having a sensor, a lower shield below the sensor, an upper shield above the sensor, and a gap defined between the shields. At least one of the readers has a thicker gap than another of the readers. Methods for making such heads are also presented.

Abstract: A tape-based data storage system according to one embodiment includes a head having an array of channels for writing a set of data tracks on a magnetic tape; wherein data to be written on the magnetic tape in a given pass of the tape relative to the head is parsed into at least two error correctable sets, wherein each of the error correctable sets is written by a unique subset of the array of channels. A tape-based data storage system according to another embodiment includes a head having an array of channels for reading a set of data tracks on a magnetic tape; wherein data read from the magnetic tape in a given pass of the tape relative to the head includes at least two error correctable sets, wherein each of the error correctable sets is read by a unique subset of the array of channels.

Abstract: A magnetic head according to one embodiment includes an array of elements, the elements being selected from a group consisting of data readers, data writers, and combinations thereof; wherein a first subset of the elements is operable for reading or writing data in a first tape format, wherein a second subset of the elements is operable for reading or writing data in a second tape format, at least some of the elements being present in both subsets, wherein a number of servo bands supported in each of the formats is one more than a number of data bands on a medium written in the particular format.

Abstract: A magnetic head comprises identical, opposing modules each comprising an array of paired data transducers, the transducers including data readers, data writers, or combinations thereof. For each array, the transducers in each subset may have about the same center to center spacing. A first subset of the transducers is operable for reading or writing data in a first tape format. A second subset of the transducers is operable for reading or writing data in a second tape format, with at least some of the transducers being present in both subsets. Also, each module includes a lone writer at one end of one of the subsets, a lone reader at an opposite end of the one of the subsets, and servo readers positioned outside the array.