Tape head module having a congruent extension and method for mass producing same

A tape drive comprising one or more of a first tape head module and a second tape head module formed by a method of:

• forming a first element array and a second element array on a first chip of a rowbar, and a third element array and a fourth element array on a second chip of the rowbar, wherein:
• the first chip has a first end and a second end, and the second chip has a first end and a second end, the second end of the first chip being disposed adjacent to the first end of the second chip,
• the first and second element arrays are centered upon a central axis of the first chip,
• the third and fourth element arrays are centered upon a central axis of the second chip, and
• the first chip and the second chip are centered upon a central axis of the rowbar;
• shifting the rowbar a distance such that the second element array is centered upon the central axis of the first chip and the fourth element array is centered upon the central axis of the second chip, wherein, upon shifting the rowbar, the first chip has a greater length than the second chip based on the central axis of the rowbar, the first element array is off-center from the central axis of the first chip, and the third element array is off-center from the central axis of the second chip;
• splitting the rowbar at the central axis of the rowbar to separate the first chip from the second chip;
• re-arranging the first chip and the second chip such that the first end of the first chip is disposed adjacent to the second end of the second chip;
• attaching the first chip and the second chip to a u-beam;
• and
• splitting the u-beam at the central axis of the rowbar to form the first tape head module and the second tape head module.

A tape head module, comprising:

• a first chip segment;
• a second chip segment, the second chip segment being congruent with the first chip segment;
• a first element array disposed on the first chip segment;
• and
• a second element array disposed adjacent to the first element array, the second element array being centered upon a central axis of the first chip segment, wherein the second chip segment has a shorter length than the first chip segment, and wherein the second chip segment has a length substantially equal to a distance the first element array and the second element array are shifted from a centerline of the tape head module.

A tape head module, comprising:

• a first chip segment;
• a second chip segment, the second chip segment being congruent with the first chip segment;
• a first element array disposed on the first chip segment, the first element array comprising a first plurality of data elements;
• and
• a second element array disposed adjacent to the first element array, the second element array comprising a second plurality of data elements, wherein one of the first element array or the second element array is off-center from a central axis of the first chip segment, wherein the first and second element arrays are aligned on a same longitudinal axis that is orthogonal to a direction of tape movement, wherein the second chip segment has a length substantially equal to a distance the first element array and the second element array are shifted from a centerline of the tape head module.