Abstract: A magnetic head according to one embodiment includes a module, the module having first and second transducers of different transducer types positioned towards a media facing side of the module, wherein the different transducer types are selected from a group consisting of data reader transducers, servo reader transducers, write transducers, piggyback read-write transducers and merged read-write transducers; a first protection structure for protecting the first transducer; and wherein the second transducer has either no protection or is protected by a second protection structure that is different than the first protection structure.

Abstract: A tape head system includes a read and/or write head having at least one read and/or write element configured to read from and/or write to magnetic tape and at least one electrostatic element arranged adjacent to the read and/or write element; and a controller configured to apply a potential to the at least one electrostatic element.

Abstract: A magnetic head according to one embodiment includes a module, the module having first and second transducers of different transducer types positioned towards a media facing side of the module, wherein the different transducer types are selected from a group consisting of data reader transducers, servo reader transducers, write transducers, piggyback read-write transducers and merged read-write transducers; a first protection structure for protecting the first transducer; and wherein the second transducer has either no protection or is protected by a second protection structure that is different than the first protection structure.

Abstract: A structure according to one embodiment includes a substrate having a media facing side; and a thin film stack formed on the substrate, the thin film stack including magnetic films and insulating films, wherein the thin film stack is recessed from a plane extending along the media facing side of the substrate, wherein the magnetic films are recessed more than the insulating films, wherein the magnetic films each have a substantially flat media facing surface, wherein the insulating films each have a substantially flat media facing surface.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a substrate having a media support surface; a gap coupled to the substrate, the gap having at least one of a magnetoresistive (MR) sensor and a writer; a closure coupled to the gap on a side thereof opposite the substrate, said closure forming a portion of the media support surface; and a material formed in one or more recesses extending into the media support surface of at least one of the substrate and the closure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic head that can sustain favorable head contact even when magnetic tapes having different thicknesses are used. A magnetic head has a sliding surface coming in contact with a moving magnetic tape. An electromagnetic transducing element is disposed in the sliding surface. First edges are formed at each end of the sliding surface in the direction of movement of the magnetic tape. Second edges are formed in positions extended in the direction of movement of the magnetic tape from each end of the sliding surface and come in contact with the magnetic tape.

Abstract: Provided is a thin-film magnetic head in which the magnetic spacing can be appropriately controlled by dynamically and accordingly, by adjusting the pressure working between the thin-film magnetic head and the magnetic recording medium according to the change of conditions such as the change over time. The thin-film magnetic head comprises at least one cavity for adjusting a pressure working between the thin-film magnetic head and the magnetic recording medium, provided in a surface of the head opposed to the magnetic recording medium, and a volume of the at least one cavity being variable. When the magnetic recording medium passes through near the cavity, the cavity generates a (negative) pressure that attracts the head and the medium toward each other. The amount of the negative pressure depends on the volume of the cavity; thus, a magnetic spacing dMS can be controlled dynamically and accordingly by adjusting the volume.

Abstract: Provided is a thin-film magnetic head for reading data from a magnetic recording medium and/or writing data to a magnetic recording medium, in which the magnetic spacing can be controlled appropriately by stably adjusting the pressure working between the thin-film magnetic head and the magnetic recording medium according to the change of conditions such as the change over time. This thin-film magnetic head comprises at least one through hole reaching a surface opposed to the magnetic recording medium of the thin-film magnetic head, for adjusting a pressure working between the thin-film magnetic head and the magnetic recording medium. Preferably, the head further comprises at least one flow-amount control means for controlling the flow amount of gas that flows via the at least one through hole.

Abstract: An integral recording head, for use in a linear tape drive system, includes a circumferentially grooved roller guide assembly and a recording head actuator assembly. The circumferential groove feature is incorporated on the surfaces of the roller guide assembly, and provides a substantial frictional contact force that acts to reduce the lateral motion, and further attenuates high frequency lateral disturbances of the magnetic tape. The reduced high frequency content of the lateral disturbances significantly improves the ability of the actuator to achieve a desired track following control. The grooved roller guide assembly is formed integrally of two solid cylindrical contact surfaces separated by a circumferential slot that accommodates the recording head actuator assembly.

Abstract: A tape head and bearing assembly comprises an air bearing structure having a tape bearing surface with a plurality of openings therein configured to provide a continuous air bearing of pressurized air to support a linear tape moving along a path, the air bearing being provided on only one side of the linear tape. A head slider assembly, such as an HDD-type assembly, is positioned at the opposite side of the linear tape from the tape bearing surface and is configured to be in contact with the linear tape.

Abstract: A tape head and bearing assembly comprises an air bearing structure having a tape bearing surface with a plurality of openings therein configured to provide a continuous air bearing of pressurized air to support a linear tape moving along a path, the air bearing being provided on only one side of the linear tape. A head slider assembly, such as an HDD-type assembly, is positioned at the opposite side of the linear tape from the tape bearing surface and is configured to be in contact with the linear tape.

Abstract: A magnetic head assembly in a linear tape system. The magnetic head assembly includes a magnetic head having a central section, a first outrigger, and a second outrigger. The central section maintains at least one read/write element. The first outrigger is positioned adjacent the central section and forms at least one air bleed slot. The second outrigger is positioned adjacent the central section opposite the first outrigger and also forms at least one air bleed slot. Finally, the central section is laterally moveable relative to the outriggers. With this configuration, the moveable, central section, otherwise used for lateral positioning of the read/write element relative to a magnetic tape, is separated from the outriggers that otherwise minimize a fly height between the magnetic tape and the outriggers.

Abstract: A transducer head assembly used in a read/write recording apparatus employs an air bearing that supports a carriage on an air cushion for reciprocal motion. The carriage supports a transducer and is moved by a drive in order to read or write on a track located on a storage tape. The bearing and the carriage may be mutually keyed to prevent relative rotation. The air bearing is shown to be a porous ceramic material such as alumina. The bearing may be triangular in cross-section, and the carriage may be a triangular frame telescopically received on the bearing. The drive may be a conductive coil that interacts with a magnet on the carriage. A dual air bearing and dual carriages is disclosed to support a pair of transducers. A method of supporting and moving a transducer implements the steps of this structure.

Abstract: A tape head assembly for high-speed and high-density multi-channel read-while-writing (RWW) operation comprises two modules bonded together. The modules are initially formed on an integral unit and gapped in pair, to produce a good reference surface, which insures that the finished head assembly will meet tight azimuth and gap tolerances. The unit is then machined to two separate the modules. Further processing involves individually machining the head surface of each module to achieve desired contours. The machined modules are tested and brought together in the positional arrangement required to form the final head assembly. In disclosed embodiments, the overall contour enables the assembly to skive air and debris off a surface of the magnetic tape before passage of the tape over the transducers. The contour allows the tape to fly over outriggers, but contacts regions at or around the transducers with a low constant contact pressure during RWW operation.

Abstract: A personal computer data storage card includes a substrate layer, a magnetic medium layer, and a protective layer respectively affixed together. The data storage card is typically placed within an adapter and inserted into a personal computer floppy disk drive wherein the adapter includes dimensions compatible with the floppy disk drive to permit the data storage card to rotate about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the data storage card. During rotation of the data storage card within the floppy disk drive, the data storage card traverses floppy disk drive read/write heads for information storage and retrieval. Paper may be utilized as the protective layer of the data storage card and include text or graphics to have the data storage card simultaneously function as both a data storage device and a business card or other advertisement media.