Abstract: A plurality of read/write heads is disclosed for a magnetic media storage system, such as, for example a magnetic tape drive. Each head can include a plurality of data channels. In addition to enhancing data throughput, the plurality of read/write heads can be aligned to read or write bands of tracks on a magnetic tape with only one positioning mode (e.g., without coarse position actuation and control), and also obtain optimum yield and crosstalk values.

Abstract: A data storage device is provided with a housing having an access opening, a pair of tape reels and dual sided data tape. The access opening is adjacent to a tape path for access of each tape side. A tape drive is provided with a pair of read/write heads, each having a first position to receive the tape, and a second position for engaging one side of the tape for performing a read/write function. A method is disclosed for reading and/or writing data with a data storage device by providing a housing having an access opening, a pair of tape reels, and dual sided tape. The data storage device is loaded to a tape drive having a pair of read/write heads that are actuated to engage the data tape sides. The tape is conveyed along the pair of read/write heads while a read/write function is performed.

Abstract: A read and/or write head for a tape drive system has a tape bearing surface that includes relatively smooth areas surrounded by relatively rough areas. Read and/or write elements are located in the smooth areas.

Abstract: A data storage device is provided with a housing having an access opening, a pair of tape reels and dual sided data tape. The access opening is adjacent to a tape path for access of each tape side. A tape drive is provided with a pair of read/write heads, each having a first position to receive the tape, and a second position for engaging one side of the tape for performing a read/write function. A method is disclosed for reading and/or writing data with a data storage device by providing a housing having an access opening, a pair of tape reels, and dual sided tape. The data storage device is loaded to a tape drive having a pair of read/write heads that are actuated to engage the data tape sides. The tape is conveyed along the pair of read/write heads while a read/write function is performed.

Abstract: A magneto-resistive (MR) transducer is capable of reading data signals magnetically recorded on a tape. The transducer includes a head-tape interface (HTI) and a MR sensor adjacent to the HTI. An electro-static discharge (ESD) element is coupled to the MR sensor, which is adapted to provide an electrical path from the MR sensor to a lower potential structure.

Abstract: A read and/or write head for a tape drive system has a tape bearing surface that includes relatively smooth areas surrounded by relatively rough areas. Read and/or write elements are located in the smooth areas.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing the capacity of magnetic media storage is disclosed. More specifically, an improved two-sided magnetic tape is disclosed. In one implementation, in order to mitigate pack winding problems, a trade-off can be made between the back-coat roughness of a side of the magnetic tape and the mechanical imprint of that roughness in the recording surface of that side (e.g., compromise between roughness and recording density). For example, a recording density and coding scheme deemed appropriate for a relatively large recording head-to-media separation can be used for the “rougher” side of a two-sided tape, and the highest recording density achievable can be used for the “best” or smoothest side of the two-sided tape. Depending on the recording density/roughness match selected, an optimum capacity gain can be selected from a range of capacity gains with values between 1 and 2 (e.g., 1<(gain in capacity)<2).

Abstract: Magnetic tape onto which information may be recorded on either side exhibits the risk of having information recorded on one side affect the opposite side when the two sides are adjacent, such as when the tape is wound in a tape pack. The chance that information recorded onto one surface of a double sided magnetic tape will affect information recorded on the other surface of the magnetic tape is reduced by keeping fields emanating from a recorded region less than about one-half the coercivity of the magnetic medium onto which the information is recorded.

Abstract: A servo write head for magnetic tape is provided. The invention includes first and second non-magnetic substrates and first and second magnetic layers deposited between the non-magnetic substrates. A middle non-magnetic substrate is then deposited between the first and second magnetic layers and forms the magnetic gap. In one embodiment, non-magnetic protective layers are placed between the middle substrate and magnetic layers and form part of the gap. A contoured top layer of magnetic material is deposited across the other layers and substrates and has at least one recording gap, and wherein the top layer forms a magnetic pattern for writing a servo pattern to the tape.

Abstract: Magnetic tape onto which information may be recorded on either side exhibits the risk of having information recorded on one side affect the opposite side when the two sides are adjacent, such as when the tape is wound in a tape pack. The chance that information recorded onto one surface of a double sided magnetic tape will affect information recorded on the other surface of the magnetic tape is reduced by keeping fields emanating from a recorded region less than about one-half the coercivity of the magnetic medium onto which the information is recorded.

Abstract: A dual active element magnetoresistive tape read head uses weak biasing of active layers to reduce Barkhausen noise. The read head includes a first insulator layer. A first active magnetoresistive layer is built on the first insulator layer. A second insulator layer is built on the first active magnetoresistive layer. A second active magnetoresistive layer is on the second insulator layer. The second active magnetoresistive layer is magnetostatically coupled to the first active magnetoresistive layer. A third insulator layer is on the second active magnetoresistive layer. At least one insulator layer is a biasing layer comprised of an electrically nonconductive antiferromagnetic material.

Abstract: A dual active element magnetoresistive tape read head uses weak biasing of active layers to reduce Barkhausen noise. The read head includes a first insulator layer. A first active magnetoresistive layer is built on the first insulator layer. A second insulator layer is built on the first active magnetoresistive layer. A second active magnetoresistive layer is on the second insulator layer. The second active magnetoresistive layer is magnetostatically coupled to the first active magnetoresistive layer. A third insulator layer is on the second active magnetoresistive layer. At least one insulator layer is a biasing layer comprised of an electrically nonconductive antiferromagnetic material.

Abstract: A dual active element magnetoresistive tape read head uses weak biasing of active layers to reduce Barkhausen noise. The read head includes a first insulator layer. A first active magnetoresistive layer is built on the first insulator layer. A second insulator layer is built on the first active magnetoresistive layer. A second active magnetoresistive layer is on the second insulator layer. The second active magnetoresistive layer is magnetostatically coupled to the first active magnetoresistive layer. A third insulator layer is on the second active magnetoresistive layer. At least one insulator layer is a biasing layer comprised of an electrically nonconductive antiferromagnetic material.

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 thin film write head allowing substantially the same amplitude of input current to be used for writing both data transitions and equalization pulses onto a magnetic tape is described. Data transitions occur at a frequency no greater than a data frequency. Each equalization pulse is a signal written at an equalization frequency much greater than the data frequency. The thin film write head includes a top pole, a bottom pole, and a conductive coil between the top and bottom poles. The top pole, bottom pole, and conductive coil form an electromagnet for writing the write-equalized digital data stream onto the magnetic tape by converting an input current through the conductive coil into a head field. Conversion of the input current at the data frequency results in substantially the same head field amplitude as conversion of the input current at the equalization frequency. This may be achieved by increasing the gap depth to cause saturation at the data frequency.

Abstract: Read-while-write feedthrough is reduced in a tape deck having a multi-element read/write tape head. The tape deck includes write circuits for converting a substream of a data stream into an electrical signal. The read/write head has a sequence of write elements each having a coil for converting a received electrical signal into a magnetic field. A wire pair connects each write circuit with a corresponding write element. The system is designed such that the magnetization pattern written on the tape by one write element in response to a particular data substream has magnetization directions reversed from a second magnetization pattern written on the tape by a neighboring write element in response to the same substream. The feedthrough is thereby reduced by permitting cancellation of magnetic fields from write elements.

Abstract: A multi-element read/write tape head with low feedthrough includes a multi-element write module with a plurality of write elements. Each write element can write a data track onto magnetic tape as the magnetic tape passes over the write module tape contact surface. The tape head also includes at least one multi-element read module in close proximity with the write module. Each read module has a magnetically permeable substrate, a plurality of read elements built on the substrate top surface, and a cover over each read element and a portion of the substrate top surface. Each read element can read a data track from the magnetic tape as the magnetic tape passes over the read module tape contact surface. The substrate bottom surface is facing the write module thereby providing a low reluctance path for feedthrough from each write element that does not include any read element.

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 lapping sensor is provided for measuring a throat height of a thin film recording element during a mechanical lapping process. The recording element is fabricated in a photolithographic process and has a zero throat location. The lapping sensor includes a sensor device for generating an output signal indicative of the throat height during the lapping process, and a calibration switch in electrical communication with the sensor device. The switch is fabricated during the same photolithographic process as the recording element and generates an output signal during the lapping process indicative of a low resistance value up to a selected distance from the zero throat location of the recording element, and indicative of a high resistance value thereafter. Transition of the switch output signal from the low resistance value to the high resistance value during the lapping process is used to calibrate the sensor device output signal to the selected distance from the zero throat location of the recording element.

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.