Magnetic head and system having offset arrays

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016012841-A1
Application number	US-201514860522-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 21, 2015
Priority date	May 1, 2013
Publication date	Jan 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

In one general embodiment, an apparatus includes at least two modules, each of the modules having an array of transducers, wherein the at least two modules are fixed relative to each other, wherein an axis of each array is defined between opposite ends thereof, wherein the axes of the arrays are oriented about parallel to each other, wherein the array of a first of the modules is offset from the array of a second of the modules in a first direction parallel to the axis of the array of the second module such that the transducers of the first module are about aligned with the transducers of the second module in an intended direction of tape travel thereacross; and a mechanism for orienting the modules about an axis orthogonal to the plane in which the arrays reside to control a transducer pitch presented to a tape.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
at least two modules, each of the modules having an array of transducers, wherein the at least two modules are fixed relative to each other, wherein an axis of each array is defined between opposite ends thereof, wherein the axes of the arrays are oriented about parallel to each other, wherein the array of a first of the modules is offset from the array of a second of the modules in a first direction parallel to the axis of the array of the second module such that the transducers of the first module are about aligned with the transducers of the second module in an intended direction of tape travel thereacross when the axes are oriented at an angle greater than 0.2° relative to a line oriented perpendicular to the intended direction of tape travel thereacross; and a mechanism for orienting the modules to control a transducer pitch presented to a tape.

2 . An apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein only two modules are present.

3 . An apparatus as recited in claim 1 , comprising a spacer member extending between tape bearing surfaces of an adjacent pair of the at least two modules, the spacer member including a magnetic shield for magnetically shielding the array of transducers on one of the modules from the array of transducers on the other module.

4 . An apparatus as recited in claim 1 , comprising a second set of at least two second modules generally aligned with the at least two modules in the intended direction of tape travel, each of the second modules having an array of transducers, wherein the at least two second modules are fixed relative to each other; and further comprising a second mechanism for orienting the second modules to control a transducer pitch presented to a tape.

5 . An apparatus, comprising:
at least two modules, each of the modules having an array of transducers, a drive mechanism for passing a magnetic medium over the modules; a mechanism for orienting the modules to control a transducer pitch presented to a tape; and a controller electrically coupled to the mechanism, the controller configured to control the mechanism for orienting the modules based on a state of expansion of the tape, wherein the at least two modules are fixed relative to each other, wherein an axis of each array is defined between opposite ends thereof, wherein the axes of the arrays are oriented about parallel to each other, wherein the axes are oriented at an angle greater than 0.2° relative to a line oriented perpendicular to an intended direction of tape travel thereacross, wherein the array of a first of the modules is offset from the array of a second of the modules in a first direction parallel to the axis of the array of the second module such that the transducers of the first module are about aligned with the transducers of the second module in the intended direction of tape travel thereacross.

6 . An apparatus as recited in claim 5 , wherein only two modules are present.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Biskeborn Robert G
• Herget Philipp
• Lo Calvin S

Classifications

• G11B5/584 Primary

  for track following on tapes · CPC title

• G11B5/2652

  with more than one gap simultaneously operative (with controlled single gap G11B5/245) · CPC title

• G11B5/56 Primary

  with provision for moving the head {support} for the purpose of adjusting the position of the head relative to the record carrier, e.g. manual adjustment for azimuth correction or track centering ({G11B5/52,} G11B5/54, G11B5/58 take precedence) · CPC title

• G11B5/29

  Structure or manufacture of unitary devices formed of plural heads for more than one track {(G11B5/33, G11B5/49 and subgroups take precedence; in thin film structure G11B5/31)} · CPC title

• G11B5/00826

  comprising a plurality of single poles or gaps or groups thereof operative at the same time · CPC title