Magnetic tape head usable in two or more modes of operation

An apparatus configured for 32-, 64-, and 128-channel operation, the apparatus comprising:

• a first group of evenly-spaced elements, the first group having a number (NE)=16 or 32 of the elements including at least a first element, a last element, and a second-to-last element of the first group;
• a second group of evenly-spaced elements adjacent the first group and extending along a longitudinal axis of the first group, the second group having NE=16 or 32 of the elements including at least a first element, a last element, and a second-to-last element of the second group;
• a third group of evenly-spaced elements adjacent the second group and extending along a longitudinal axis of the first group, the third group having NE=16 or 32 of the elements including at least a first element, a last element, and a second-to-last element of the third group;
• a fourth group of evenly-spaced elements adjacent the third group and extending along a longitudinal axis of the first group, the fourth group having NE=16 or 32 of the elements including at least a first element, a last element, and a second-to-last element of the fourth group;
• and
• a plurality of servos, comprising at least a first servo, a second servo, a third servo, a fourth servo, a fifth servo, a sixth servo, a seventh servo, an eighth servo, a ninth servo, and tenth servo, wherein:
• the elements of all groups are spaced by an element pitch (WEPo) in the respective group,
• the third and fourth servos are positioned between the first and second groups,
• the fifth and sixth servos are positioned between the second and third groups,
• the seventh and eight servos are positioned between the third and fourth groups,
• the first element in the first group and the first servo are separated by a first distance (WSE.Long),
• the first element in the second group and the third servo are separated by the first distance (WSE.Long),
• the first element in the third group and the fifth servo are separated by the first distance (WSE.Long),
• the first element in the fourth group and the seventh servo are separated by the first distance (WSE.Long),
• the second-to-last element in the first group and the fourth servo are separated by the first distance (WSE.Long),
• the second-to-last element in the second group and the sixth servo are separated by the first distance (WSE.Long),
• the second-to-last element in the third group and the eighth servo are separated by the first distance (WSE.Long),
• the second-to-last element in the fourth group and the tenth servo are separated by the first distance (WSE.Long),
• the first element in the first group and the second servo are separated by a second distance (WSE.Short),
• the first element in the second group and the fourth servo are separated by the second distance (WSE.Short),
• the first element in the third group and the sixth servo are separated by the second distance (WSE.Short),
• the first element in the fourth group and the eighth servo are separated by the second distance (WSE.Short),
• the second-to-last element in the first group and the third servo are separate by the second distance (WSE.Short),
• the second-to-last element in the second group and the fifth servo are separated by the second distance (WSE.Short),
• the second-to-last element in the third group and the seventh servo are separated by the second distance (WSE.Short),
• the second-to-last element in the fourth group and the ninth servo are separate by the second distance (WSE.Short),
• the first servo and the third servo are separated by a third distance equal to WSE.Short+(NE−1)·WEP64, wherein WEP64≡WEPo, and
• the second servo and the fourth servo are separated by the third distance,
• the third servo and the fifth servo are separated by the third distance,
• the fourth servo and the sixth servo are separated by the third distance,
• the fifth servo and the seventh servo are separated by the third distance,
• the sixth servo and the eighth servo are separated by the third distance,
• the seventh servo and the ninth servo are separated by the third distance, and
• the eighth servo and the tenth servo are separated by the third distance.