Quasi-statically oriented, bi-directional tape recording head

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9449628-B2
Application number	US-201313875231-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 1, 2013
Priority date	May 1, 2013
Publication date	Sep 20, 2016
Grant date	Sep 20, 2016

Abstract

In one general embodiment, an apparatus includes a magnetic head. The magnetic head has a first array of data transducers, a second array of data transducers spaced from the first array, and a third array of data transducers positioned between the first and second arrays. The magnetic head is positionable between a first position and a second position, where the longitudinal axis of the third array is positively or negatively angled relative to a line oriented perpendicular to an intended direction of tape travel thereacross when positioned towards the respective positions. Outer data transducers of the third array are about aligned with outer data transducers of the second array when the magnetic head is positioned towards the first position. The outer data transducers of the third array are about aligned with outer data transducers of the first array when the magnetic head is positioned towards the second position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a magnetic head, the magnetic head having:
a first array of data transducers;
a second array of data transducers spaced from the first array;
a third array of data transducers positioned between the first and second arrays; and
a controller physically configured to determine a state of expansion of a tape based on a readback signal from the tape,
the controller physically configured to determine skew of the tape based on the readback signal from the tape,
the controller being physically configured to control a mechanism for positioning the magnetic head based on the state of expansion of the tape and the skew of the tape,
the magnetic head being positionable between a first position and a second position,
wherein a longitudinal axis of the third array has a negative angle relative to a line oriented perpendicular to an intended direction of tape travel thereacross when the magnetic head is in the first position,
wherein the longitudinal axis of the third array has a positive angle relative to the line oriented perpendicular to the intended direction of tape travel thereacross when the magnetic head is in the second position,
wherein outer data transducers of the third array are about aligned with outer data transducers of the second array when the magnetic head is positioned towards the first position;
wherein the outer data transducers of the third array are about aligned with outer data transducers of the first array when the magnetic head is positioned towards the second position,
wherein at least one of: the first array, the second array and the third array, includes at least one chiplet,
wherein the at least one chiplet includes at least one of: a read transducer and a write transducer,
wherein a resting position of the third array is offset relative to a resting position of the first and second arrays in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the third array,
wherein the position of the third array relative to the position of the first and second arrays is selectively adjustable in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the third array,
wherein transducers of a leading array are active during operation,
wherein transducers of a trailing array are not active during operation,
wherein the first, second and third arrays are rotatably fixed relative to each other such that longitudinal axes of the first, second and third arrays are oriented about parallel to each other,
wherein the first array is positioned on a first module,
wherein the second array is positioned on a second module,
wherein the third array is positioned on a third module,
wherein a width of the first, second and third arrays parallel to the respective longitudinal axis of the array thereof is greater than a width of magnetic tape,
wherein the first, second and third modules are arranged in at least one of: a fly over configuration, an overwrap configuration and a tangential configuration,
wherein the first, second and third arrays include servo readers.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the negative angle is between less than 0 and about −8° when the magnetic head is positioned towards the first position.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the positive angle is between greater than 0 and about 8° when the magnetic head is positioned towards the second position.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the data transducers of the first and second arrays are readers, wherein the data transducers of the third array are writers.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to write data using the magnetic head in a non-serpentine fashion.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to write data using the magnetic head in a serpentine fashion.

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the data transducers of the first and second arrays are writers, wherein the data transducers of the third array are readers.

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to write data using the magnetic head in a serpentine fashion.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 , comprising:
a drive mechanism for passing a magnetic medium over the magnetic head,
wherein the controller is electrically coupled to the magnetic head.

10. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the first, second and third modules are arranged in a fly over configuration.

11. An apparatus as recited in claim 10 , wherein the fly over configuration creates a negative wrap angle at a trailing edge of a leading module.

12. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first, second and third modules are arranged in a tangential configuration.

13. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first, second and third modules are arranged in an overwrap configuration.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Biskeborn Robert G
• Lo Calvin S

Classifications

• G11B5/56

  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

• G11B5/4893

  relative to moving tape · CPC title

• G11B5/2652

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

• G11B5/584

  for track following on tapes · 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