Multi-track reader for improved signal to noise ratio
AssigneeWestern Digital Technologies, Inc.
InventorsSHARAT BATRA, JONATHAN D. COKER, TRAVIS R. OENNING
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Abstract
A system according to one embodiment includes a magnetic head having a plurality of sensors arranged to simultaneously read at least three immediately adjacent data tracks on a magnetic medium, wherein none of the sensors share more than one lead with any other of the sensors. Such embodiment may be implemented in a magnetic data storage system such as a disk drive system, which may include a magnetic head, a drive mechanism for passing a magnetic medium (e.g., hard disk) over the magnetic head, and a controller electrically coupled to the magnetic head.
Claims20
A magnetic head comprising:
- a plurality of read sensors positioned along a track direction and spaced apart in a cross track direction that is perpendicular to the track direction;
- a plurality of independent leads, wherein each of the plurality of read sensors is coupled to one of the plurality of independent leads;
- and
- at least one shared lead, wherein the at least one shared lead is coupled to at least two of the plurality of read sensors,
- wherein a width of each of the plurality of read sensors is at least seventy percent of a center to center track pitch of a magnetic medium that the magnetic head is configured to read data from.
A system comprising:
- a magnetic medium having a center to center track pitch;
- and
- a magnetic head configured to simultaneously read at least three adjacent data tracks of the magnetic medium, the magnetic head comprising:
- a plurality of read sensors positioned along a track direction and spaced apart in a cross track direction that is perpendicular to the track direction;
- a plurality of independent leads, wherein each of the plurality of read sensors is coupled to one of the plurality of independent leads;
- and
- at least one shared lead, wherein the at least one shared lead is coupled to at least two of the plurality of read sensors,
- wherein a width of each of the plurality of read sensors is at least seventy percent of the center to center track pitch of the magnetic medium.
A magnetic head comprising:
- a first read sensor configured to read data from a first data track of a magnetic medium associated with the magnetic head;
- a second read sensor configured to read data from a second data track of the magnetic medium;
- a third read sensor configured to read data from a third data track of the magnetic medium, wherein the first data track, the second data track, and the third data track are adjacent data tracks of the magnetic medium, and wherein the second read sensor is further configured to read the data from the first data track and the third data track;
- a shared lead coupled to the first read sensor and the third sensor;
- and
- a plurality of independent leads, wherein the first read sensor, the second read sensor, and the third read sensor are coupled to one of the plurality of independent leads.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.