Multichannel tape head module having thermally settable transducer pitch and method of setting pitch thereof
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsRobert G. Biskeborn, Hugo E. Rothuizen, Calvin S. Lo
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Abstract
In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a module having a substrate and a closure, an array of transducers in a thin film structure on the substrate, the array being positioned along a tape bearing surface of the module, and a heating element positioned in the thin film structure and recessed from the tape bearing surface, and a controller electrically coupled to the heating element. The controller is configured to apply a current pulse of size, shape and duration sufficient to induce a permanent expansion of the array of transducers.
Claims20
An apparatus, comprising:
- a module having:
- a substrate and a closure,
- an array of transducers in a thin film structure on the substrate, the array being positioned along a tape bearing surface of the module, and
- a heating element positioned in the thin film structure and recessed from the tape bearing surface;
- and
- a controller electrically coupled to the heating element, the controller being configured to apply a current pulse of size, shape and duration sufficient to induce a permanent expansion of the array of transducers.
A method, comprising:
- obtaining a specification of a target span;
- determining whether a span of an array of transducers in a module is less than the target span;
- and
- in response to determining the span of the array of transducers is less than the target span, applying a current pulse to a heating element proximate to the array of transducers to raise a temperature of the array, the current pulse being of size, shape and duration sufficient to induce a permanent expansion of the array of transducers.
A computer program product for causing a permanent expansion of an array of transducers, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a tape drive to cause the tape drive to:
- obtain, by the tape drive, a specification of a target span;
- determine, by the tape drive, whether a span of an array of transducers in a module is less than the target span;
- and
- in response to determining the span of the array of transducers is less than the target span, apply, by the tape drive, a current pulse to a heating element proximate to the array of transducers to raise a temperature of the array, the current pulse being of size, shape and duration sufficient to induce a permanent expansion of the array of transducers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.