Abstract: A magnetic recording tape according to one embodiment includes a plurality of servo tracks, each servo track comprising a series of magnetically defined bars, wherein an angle between at least some of the bars is greater than about 10 degrees, wherein an average height of the bars is less than 190 microns, wherein one of the servo tracks has data encoded therein, the data being selected from a group consisting of data for encryption and data for ascertaining a longitudinal position along the tape. A magnetic recording tape according to another embodiment includes at least about eight data bands, wherein each data band is defined between a pair of adjacent servo tracks, each pair of adjacent servo tracks defining only a single data band therebetween, wherein about eight to about twenty six data bands are present on the tape.

Abstract: A magnetic head in one embodiment includes a bottom pole; a top pole positioned above a plane extending through the bottom pole and parallel to a plane of deposition of the bottom pole, wherein the top pole is at least partially offset from the bottom pole in a direction parallel to a plane of deposition of the top pole; a first write gap in the top pole; and a first coil for generating a magnetic flux across the first write gap. A method in one embodiment includes forming a bottom pole; forming a top pole above a plane extending through the bottom pole and parallel to a plane of deposition of the bottom pole, wherein the top pole is at least partially offset from the bottom pole in a direction parallel to a plane of deposition of the top pole, wherein at least one write gap is formed in the top pole; forming side poles for coupling the top and bottom poles; and forming a first coil for generating a magnetic flux across the first write gap.

Abstract: A magnetic head in one embodiment includes a pole; a first write gap in the pole; a first coil for generating a magnetic flux across the first write gap; a second write gap in the pole having at least a portion thereof aligned with the first write gap in a direction parallel to a direction of media travel thereover; and a second coil for generating a magnetic flux across the second write gap, the second coil being addressable independently of the first coil. A method in one embodiment includes forming a first write coil; forming a first write gap; forming a second write gap; forming a second coil for generating a magnetic flux across the second write gap, the second coil being addressable independently of the first coil; and forming one or more write poles, wherein a write pole region adjacent the first and second write gaps is formed concurrently.

Abstract: A tape drive system according to one embodiment includes a magnetic head. The magnetic head includes first and second beams each having a tape bearing surface, a face, a recess in the tape bearing surface thereof, the faces of the beams facing either towards each other or away from each other; a first chip being positioned in the recess of the first beam; and a second chip being positioned in the recess of the second beam, wherein each chip has circuitry selected from a group consisting of read elements, write elements, and combinations thereof, wherein a tape bearing surface of each chip is generally aligned with the tape bearing surface of the associated beam, and wherein an end of each chip is generally aligned with the face of the associated beam. The system also includes a drive mechanism and a controller.

Abstract: In one general embodiment, a method is provided for fabricating magnetic structures using post-deposition tilting. A thin film magnetic transducer structure is formed on a substantially planar portion of a substrate such that a plane of deposition of the thin film transducer structure is substantially parallel to a plane of the substrate. Additionally, the thin film transducer structure is caused to tilt at an angle relative to the plane of the substrate. The thin film transducer is fixed at the angle after being tilted.

Abstract: A tape drive system according to one embodiment includes a support for engaging a tape; and a head directly opposing the tape engaging portion of the support, the head being for performing at least one of reading from a tape and writing to a tape. During an operation period, the head is positioned such that at least one of the following occurs: the head does not contact the tape for a majority of the operation period; the head does not contact the tape for at least a portion of the operation period; and the head engages the tape for at least a portion of the operation period when the tape is lifted from the support by a cushion of air formed between the support and the tape, the head pressing the tape into the air cushion when engaging the tape.

Abstract: A magnetic head in one embodiment includes a plurality of components separated from each other by insulative portions, one of the components being a substrate; at least one connective element electrically coupling the components together; and a chiplet having at least one of read transducers and write transducers. A magnetic head in another embodiment includes a plurality of components separated from each other by insulative portions; side bars flanking the substrate; and at least one connective element electrically coupling the components together. A magnetic head in another embodiment includes a plurality of components separated from each other by insulative portions; and at least one connective element electrically coupling the components together, wherein the at least one connective element is positioned in at least one of the insulative portions, the at least one connective element having no other function than to electrically connect the components adjacent thereto.

Abstract: A magnetic head in one embodiment includes a first array of writers interleaved with readers; a second array of writers interleaved with readers, the writers of the first array being generally aligned with the writers of the second array in a direction of media travel relative thereto, the readers of the first array being generally aligned with the readers of the second array in a direction of media travel relative thereto; and a third array of writers interleaved with readers, the third array being positioned between the first and second arrays, the writers of the third array being generally aligned with the readers of the first and second arrays in a direction of media travel relative thereto, the readers of the third array being generally aligned with the writers of the first and second arrays in a direction of media travel relative thereto. Other embodiments are also presented.

Abstract: A tape head has first and second beams each having a recess in a tape bearing surface thereof, a face where the faces of the beams either face each other or face away from each other. A first chip is positioned in the recess of the first beam, and a second chip is positioned in the recess of the second beam. Each chip has circuitry selected from a group consisting of read elements, write elements, and combinations thereof. A tape bearing surface of each chip is generally aligned with the tape bearing surface of the associated beam. Also, an end of each chip is generally aligned with the face of the associated beam. Where closures are used, this eliminates the need to aligning the closure to skiving edges of the beam.

Abstract: A magnetic head according to one embodiment includes a first module having a tape bearing surface; a second module having a tape bearing surface; and a third module having a tape bearing surface, the third module being positioned on an opposite side of the second module than the first module, wherein the tape bearing surface of the first module is substantially parallel to a tape oriented at a desired wrap angle relative to the tape bearing surface of the second module at an edge of the tape bearing surface of the second module closest to the first module, wherein writing and reading functions are performed by different modules at a given time.

Abstract: A magnetic recording tape according to one embodiment includes a plurality of servo tracks, each servo track comprising a series of magnetically defined bars, wherein an angle between at least some of the bars is greater than about 10 degrees, wherein an average height of the bars is less than 190 microns, wherein one of the servo tracks has data encoded therein, the data being selected from a group consisting of data for encryption and data for ascertaining a longitudinal position along the tape. A magnetic recording tape according to another embodiment includes at least about eight data bands, wherein each data band is defined between a pair of adjacent servo tracks, each pair of adjacent servo tracks defining only a single data band therebetween, wherein about eight to about twenty six data bands are present on the tape.

Abstract: A magnetic head in one embodiment comprises a plurality of components separated from each other by insulative portions; and at least one connective element coupling the components together. A magnetic tape head in another embodiment comprises a substrate; a closure separated from the substrate by an insulative portion; and at least one connective element coupling the substrate and closure together.

Abstract: A magnetic head in one embodiment includes a first array of writers interleaved with readers; a second array of writers interleaved with readers, the writers of the first array being generally aligned with the writers of the second array in a direction of media travel relative thereto, the readers of the first array being generally aligned with the readers of the second array in a direction of media travel relative thereto; and a third array of writers interleaved with readers, the third array being positioned between the first and second arrays, the writers of the third array being generally aligned with the readers of the first and second arrays in a direction of media travel relative thereto, the readers of the third array being generally aligned with the writers of the first and second arrays in a direction of media travel relative thereto. Other embodiments are also presented.

Abstract: In one general embodiment, a method for fabricating magnetic structures using post-deposition tilting includes forming a thin film magnetic transducer structure on a substantially planar portion of a substrate such that a plane of deposition of the thin film transducer structure is substantially parallel to a plane of the substrate. Additionally, the thin film transducer structure is caused to tilt at an angle relative to the plane of the substrate. The thin film transducer is fixed at the angle after being tilted.

Abstract: A tape drive system according to one embodiment includes a support for engaging a tape; and a head directly opposing the support such that a tape engaging the support is positioned between the head and the support, the head being for performing at least one of reading from a tape and writing to a tape, wherein, during an operation period when the head is reading from or writing to a tape, the head is positioned such that at least one of the following occurs: the head does not contact the tape for a majority of the operation period; the head does not contact the tape for at least a portion of the operation period; and the head engages the tape for at least a portion of the operation period, the head pressing the tape towards the support when engaging the tape.

Abstract: A magnetic recording tape according to one embodiment includes a plurality of servo tracks, each servo track comprising a series of magnetically defined bars, wherein an average height of the bars is less than about 50 microns, wherein about eight to about twenty six data bands are present on the tape. A magnetic recording tape according to another embodiment includes a plurality of servo tracks, each servo track comprising a series of magnetically defined bars, wherein an angle between at least some of the bars is greater than about 10 degrees, wherein an average height of the bars is less than about 50 microns. A magnetic recording tape according to another embodiment includes at least about eight data bands, the data bands being defined between servo tracks, wherein about eight to about twenty six data bands are present on the tape.

Abstract: A magnetic head according to one embodiment includes a first module having a flat profile tape bearing surface, a second module having a flat profile tape bearing surface, and a third module having a flat profile tape bearing surface. The third module is positioned on an opposite side of the second module than the first module. The tape bearing surfaces of the first, second and third modules may lie along substantially parallel planes, may be configured in a tangent (angled) configuration, or may be configured in an overwrap configuration. Data writing and reading functions are usually performed by different modules at a given time.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for detecting the formation of a short between a magnetoresistive (“MR”) head and a head substrate. The apparatus is presented with a logic unit containing a plurality of modules configured to functionally execute the necessary steps of generating a baseline electric potential level between a head substrate and ground, monitoring the level of the electric potential between the head substrate and ground, and detecting the formation of a short circuit between the MR head and the head substrate by detecting a change in the electric potential level monitored by the monitoring module from the baseline level to a predetermined threshold level. Beneficially, such an apparatus, system, and method would reduce read errors on the magnetic tape storage system, the time and resources required to recover from such errors, and allow for preventative measures to obviate contamination short related failures of tape drive systems.

Abstract: A system in one embodiment includes first and second modules, each module having a substrate, a closure, and a gap situated therebetween, the gap comprising transducers selected from readers and writers; wherein the closures face each other, wherein the closure and the substrate of each module form a flat tape bearing surface, wherein a module spacing is defined as a distance from a point proximate to the transducers in the gap of the first module to a point proximate to the transducers in the gap of the second module, wherein the module spacing is less than 1.3 mm and greater than 0 mm.

Abstract: A servo write head that provides fast servo pattern writing and improved tape manufacturing speed is provided. The write head may be fabricated using thin-film fabrication techniques. A coil is formed on a bottom pole of the write head. The coil has a plurality of turns that enable the write head to generate a magnetic field sufficient for writing data with reduced current. The inductance of the coil is reduced due to its small dimensions. Reduced inductance of the coil may enable increased switching frequency of the write head, allowing data to be written at a higher frequency. The write head includes a planar top pole coupled to the bottom pole. The top pole has more than one write gap is formed therein.