Showing papers by "Robert G. Biskeborn published in 2013"

Quasi-statically oriented, bi-directional tape recording head

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.

Quasi-statically tilted magnetic tape head having backward compatibility

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. A pitch of the data transducers of at least two of the arrays presented to the tape is compatible with a first format when the magnetic head is positioned between the first and second positions. The pitch of the data transducers of at least one of the arrays is compatible with a second format when the longitudinal axis of the third array is oriented about perpendicular to the intended direction of tape travel. A data track pitch of the first format is different than the data track pitch of the second format.

Fly Height Extraction System

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring fly height between a magnetic recording medium and a transducing head In a first exemplary embodiment, magnetic spacing change value is calculated using media noise on the recording medium (instead of prerecorded tones) to provide a broadband frequency distribution that results in improved Wallace equation accuracy In a second exemplary embodiment, a magnetic spacing change value is acquired by any suitable method but is adjusted as necessary to reflect transducing head wear, thus providing a methodology for calculating changes in fly height by taking into account the signal loss that is attributable to wear In this way, a basic understanding of the mechanism causing changes in magnetic spacing is achieved

Products with tape formats having one or more spare areas and apparatuses configured for use with such products

Abstract: An apparatus includes a magnetic head having an array of transducers. The apparatus is configured to read and/or write to a magnetic recording tape according to a format. The format specifies a number of active channels, locations of data tracks on the magnetic recording tape, and a contiguous spare area on the magnetic recording tape. The format also specifies backward compatibility with a second format. The second format specifies a smaller number of active channels than the number of active channels specified by the format. A product includes a magnetic recording tape and a cartridge memory. The cartridge memory has data stored therein specifying the aforementioned format.

Contact recording tunnel magnetoresistive sensor with layer of refractory metal

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to an apparatus having a sensor with an active tunnel magnetoresistive region, magnetic shields flanking the tunnel magnetoresistive region, and gaps between the active tunnel magnetoresistive region and the magnetic shields. The active tunnel magnetoresistive region includes a free layer, a tunnel barrier layer and a reference layer. At least one of the gaps includes an electrically conductive layer having a refractory material. Other embodiments relate to an apparatus having a sensor with an active tunnel magnetoresistive region, magnetic shields flanking the tunnel magnetoresistive region, and gaps between the tunnel magnetoresistive region and the magnetic shields. The active tunnel magnetoresistive region includes a free layer, a tunnel barrier layer and a reference layer. At least one of the gaps includes an electrically conductive layer having a modified region at a media facing side thereof, the modified region being at least one of nonconductive and mechanically hardened.

Method of forming magnetic recording head having protected reader sensors and near zero recession writer poles

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes applying a coating to a media facing side of a module, the module having first and second transducers of different magnetic transducer types positioned towards the 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; wherein the coating forms at least a portion of 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.

Quasi-statically tilted head having offset reader/writer transducer pairs

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relates generally to apparatuses with transducer arrays having offset transducers. Various embodiments are particularly suited to tilting for tape dimensional instability compensation. Some embodiments include dual servo readers in a given array.

Quasi-statically oriented head for recording non-legacy formats

Abstract: Apparatuses are configured to addresses tape dimensional stability (TDS) via small rotations about the quasi-static tilt angle and read and/or write data in non-legacy formats. Products such as tape media products are also presented.

Magnetic head having canted arrays

Abstract: An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a magnetic head, the magnetic head having: a tape bearing surface having a first edge oriented perpendicular to an intended direction of tape travel thereacross; and an array of transducers in and/or adjacent the tape bearing surface, wherein a longitudinal axis of the array is defined between opposite ends thereof, wherein the longitudinal axis of the array of transducers is oriented at an angle relative to the first edge, the angle being between greater than 0.2° and about 10°.

Measuring tape abrasivity and wear of a tape head-type structure

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to wear measurement A system according to one embodiment includes a transport mechanism for running a tape across a wear structure and a measuring device for optically measuring an extent of wear of the wear structure A method according to one embodiment includes positioning a tape across a wear structure, optically determining a first position of a back of the tape relative to a measuring device using the measuring device, running the tape across the wear structure for a period of time, optically determining a second position of the back of the tape relative to the measuring device using the measuring device after the period of time, and determining a difference between the first and second positions

Protection of device from electrostatic discharge (esd) damage

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection. One embodiment includes a first dissipative adhesive (DA) connected to at least a portion of multiple leads in a first plane of a flexible cable in a coverage area for providing ESD protection to at least one element of an electronic device. A common bus bar is connected to the leads in a second plane of the flexible cable. Conductivity of the common bus bar is greater than conductivity of the first DA and the first plane and the second plane are different planes of the flexible cable.

Magnetic tape head having lubricant in recessed portions of a tape bearing surface thereof, and systems having the head

Abstract: A magnetic tape head according to one embodiment includes a first section having a tape bearing surface (TBS) and portions that are recessed from the TBS; a thin film section coupled to the first section, the thin film section comprising transducers for at least one of reading from and writing to a magnetic tape; and a lubricating layer above at least the first section. Additional systems and methods are also disclosed.

Multi-format read drive

Abstract: An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a plurality of modules configured to at least read data stored on a magnetic recording tape, each of the modules having an array of readers. One module is configured to read data on a magnetic recording tape which none of the other modules can read. An apparatus according to another embodiment includes a first module configured to at least read data stored on a magnetic recording tape in a first range of formats, and at least a second module configured to at least read data stored on a magnetic recording tape in at least a second range of formats. The first range of formats does not include a format that is in the second range of formats. All of the modules are aligned along a tape travel direction.

Apparatus with a lapping guide within a span of the transducer array

Abstract: An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a magnetic head having an array of transducers. An axis of the array is defined between outermost ones of the transducers. The transducers are arranged in at least two clusters of adjacent transducers, and the transducers in each respective cluster have about a same transducer pitch. A gap is defined between proximally adjacent clusters. A width of the gap measured along the axis of the array is greater than the transducer pitch of one of the clusters. An electrical lapping guide (ELG) located in the gap or aligned with the gap orthogonally to the axis.

Methods utilizing supplemental module for backward and/or cross-platform compatibility

Abstract: In one general embodiment, a method includes detecting a format in which data on a tape is written; using a module configured for writing and/or reading data to and from the tape in a first format when the format detected is the first format; and using a supplemental module coupled to the module for reading data from the tape in a second format when the format detected is the second format, wherein the first format has a higher data density than the second format. Additional products and processes are also presented.

Magnetic write head having electrically biasable structures

Abstract: An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a resistive link coupled to both an electrically conductive bus and an electrically conductive structure, the electrically conductive structure being positioned proximate to a media bearing surface. An apparatus according to another embodiment includes an array of transducers; an electrically conductive bus; and resistive links electrically coupled between the electrically conductive bus and at least one of: each of a plurality of electrically conductive structures, and at least some of the transducers.

Magnetic head and storage system having two inner and two outer arrays of writers

Abstract: A magnetic head in one embodiment includes a first outer array of writers; a second outer array of writers; a first inner array of writers positioned between the first and second outer arrays; a second inner array of writers positioned between the first inner array and the second outer array; and an array of readers, at least some of the readers being generally aligned with the writers of the first and second outer arrays in a direction of media travel relative thereto, wherein the writers of the first inner array are misaligned with the writers of the first outer array relative to the direction of media travel.

Methods for texturing magnetic head surface

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes contacting an oxidant with an AlTiC portion of a magnetic head for recessing TiC grains of the AlTiC portion. A method according to another embodiment includes contacting a peroxide with an AlTiC portion of a magnetic head for recessing TiC grains of the AlTiC portion from a media bearing surface of the AlTiC portion.

Module provided with quilted-type coating, data storage system and magnetic recording head

Abstract: The invention relates to a module provided with quilted-type coating, a data storage system, and a magnetic recording head. A module according to one embodiment includes a plurality of transducers; a tape bearing surface having a transducer region aligned with the transducers in a tape travel direction, and outer regions flanking the transducer region in a direction perpendicular to the tape travel direction; a first coating on the transducer region of the tape bearing surface; and a second coating on at least one of the outer regions of the tape bearing surface, the second coating being different than the first coating.

Multiple writers with reduced crosstalk

Abstract: A system according to one embodiment includes at least two write transducers for writing to a magnetic medium; and a low reluctance path from a first pole of a first of the write transducers to a second pole of a second of the write transducers. In another embodiment, either 1) the first pole of the first write transducer and the second pole of the second write transducer are positioned close enough to each other that a low reluctance path is present from the first pole of the first write transducer to the second pole of the second write transducer, or 2) a magnetic strap extends between the first pole of the first write transducer and the second pole of the second write transducer thereby creating a low reluctance path therebetween.

Magnetic tape head with supplemental module for backward and/or cross-platform compatibility

Abstract: In one general embodiment, a magnetic head includes at least one first module configured for writing and/or reading data to and from a tape in a first format and/or first generation and writing data to the tape in a second format and/or second generation that is different than the first format and first generation; and a supplemental module coupled to the first module, the supplemental module being configured for reading a tape having data written in the second format and/or the second generation, wherein the data readers on the first module are wider in a cross-track direction than data readers on the supplemental module. Additional products and processes are also presented.

Method for forming an at least partially crystalline alumina layer

Abstract: A method for forming an at least partially crystalline alumina film includes providing a substrate, and depositing alumina onto the substrate at an ambient temperature to form the at least partially crystalline alumina film.