A storage device and method use a head that is fabricated using photolithography, and the head is purposely powered up during a material removal process, such as lapping, so that the head's expansion (that would be formed on being powered up during normal usage in a drive) is planarized. On being cooled to room temperature, the head has a concave shape in a pole tip region, the concavity indicative of a volume occupied by material that formed the head expansion, and that has been removed by planarization. Thereafter, the head is powered up in a storage device and method, so that the head has a surface other than flat but within a predetermined range, and the head supplies a signal through the surface to a recording medium.

Storage device and method of using a head that has a concave surface when powered down

A head is fabricated using photolithography, and the head is purposely powered up during a material removal process, such as lapping, so that the head's expansion (that would be formed on being powered up during normal usage in a drive) is planarized. Specifically, the head is energized in a manner identical (or similar) to energization of circuitry in the head during normal operation in a drive, even though fabrication of the head has not yet been completed. When energized, a shape that the head would have during normal operation is replicated (or approximated). Therefore, the head's shape includes a expansion of the pole tip region, although the head is only partially fabricated. Thereafter, a portion of the head in the expansion is partially or completely removed, by lapping while energized. The depth of material removal from the head is monitored e.g. by a controller sensitive to a change in electrical characteristic of a device (such as a resistor) that is normally fabricated during photolithography of the head.

Lapping a head while powered up to eliminate expansion of the head due to heating

A magnetic head assembly in a linear tape system having an interface region having a substantially flat region with a substantially square leading edge and at least one cavity in the flat region. The cavity has a depth of about 0.5 micrometers to about 20 micrometers. At least one read-write element is located on the flat region adjacent to the cavity. As a magnetic tape traversing the interface region, a sub-ambient condition is generated. The magnetic tape is bent or otherwise deformed as it passes over the cavity, thereby increase tape stability at the interface with the read-write elements. A magnetic tape system for recording, reproducing and/or erasing magnetic information in a linear tape system or for servo-writing magnetic tapes is also disclosed.

Negative pressure head contour in a linear tape recording system with tape deforming cavity

A coupler for a magnetic head includes a flat circumferential surface (18) around the aperture in which the head is mounted and a circumferential orifice surface (19) outside of and adjacent to the flat surface (18). The orifice surface (19) forms a hydrodynamic orifice for control of flow of air over the flat circumferential surface (18) to couple the magnetic medium (11) to the magnetic head (17) by the Bernoulli effect created by movement of air between the medium and the flat circumferential surface. The coupler may protrude through a flat Bernoulli plate (12) against which the magnetic medium, e.g. a magnetic disk, is rotated.

Support for stabilizing the movement of a magnetic medium over a magnetic head

A bi-directional magnetic recording/reproduce head surface contour that provides the lowest possible Head-to-Media separation at high media-to-head relative speeds with accompanying best condition head or media wear conditions. The Bernoulli Pockets provide the mechanism that forces the media to fly very close to the recording head gap(s). Depending upon the speed, data rate and capacity goals of the Tape Product the Bernoulli Pocket design can be developed per this invention to provide the required flying conditions. This operating performance is equivalent in both directions selected by a Magnetic Data Recorder. It is intended for use on single, or multiple gap data recorders that record data upon media in a Serpentine manner, in single track or multiple track formats, but may be used in single direction Data Recorders also. The design is not limited to a particular width of tape and can be used on many different data recorders using various width media. It will work well at low, medium or high speeds, but it's main advantage is reliable operation at high speeds (above 3 Meters/Sec or 120 Inches/Second).

Bidirectional magnetic read/write recording head surface contour with plurality of Bernoulli Pocket cavities for generating very low media-to-head separations

A magnetic recording and reproducing device is disclosed in which one magnetic head or a plurality of magnetic heads are so disposed upon a rotary drum as to extend beyond the outer peripheral surface thereof with the slit gap or gaps in parallel with the axis of rotation of the rotary drum. Recesses are formed on both sides of the magnetic head in the outer peripheral surface of the rotary drum, and the point of the maximum thickness of the magnetic head which is generally similar in cross sectional configuration to an airfoil is located ahead of the midpoint or center of the magnetic head but behind the leading edge thereof. Both side edges of the magnetic head are rounded between the trailing edge and a point very close to the slit gap thereof.

Omiya Shoji

Papers

Rotating air bearing head with shaped control slots