Magnetic tape head with thinfilm thermosensors for head-media interface temperature monitoring

A temperature monitoring and feedback system for use in a magnetic tape drive for monitoring temperature a thinfilm magnetic tape head at an interface with a magnetic media, comprising:

• a thinfilm read or write element on the tape head for reading or writing data to a data bearing surface of the magnetic media;
• a thermosensor with a sensor of thinfilm material layers on the tape head for sensing a temperature of the head at a portion of the head contacting the data bearing surface and in response, generating a signal based on the sensed temperature;
• and
• a temperature monitoring instrument receiving the thermosensor signal and in response, transmitting a temperature feedback signal.

A tape head for writing to and reading from magnetic recording tape, comprising:

• an elongated active island positioned transverse to a travel path for the tape to contact a data bearing surface of the tape as the tape is moved over the active island;
• a plurality of thinfilm transducer elements for reading or writing to the tape, wherein the transducer elements are positioned in the active island;
• and
• a thermosensor positioned in the active island generating a signal based on a temperature of the thermosensor.