Recording/reproducing apparatus and method embodying a unique scanning magnetic transducer

A magnetic transducing apparatus for recording and/or reproducing magnetically definable information with respect to a magnetic storage medium, comprising:

• a first magnetic pole having a longitudinal dimension that is oriented in a predetermined direction;
• a second magnetic pole that is spaced from said first magnetic pole, said second magnetic pole having a longitudinal dimension that is oriented at an angle relative to said predetermined direction;
• means for transporting the magnetic storage medium through the space between said first and second poles in a direction generally transverse to said predetermined direction;
• a signal winding coupled to said first magnetic pole for coupling magnetic flux between said first and second magnetic poles, which flux is magnetically coupled to the magnetic storage medium disposed between said poles;
• and
• means for moving said second magnetic pole past said first magnetic pole in a direction generally transverse to said predetermined direction and about an axis of rotation generally parallel to said predetermined direction to move the location at which the magnetic flux extends between said poles along said longitudinal dimension of said first pole, to move the flux which is coupled to the storage medium along a track in said medium.

A magnetic transducer apparatus, comprising:

• a stationary elongated magnetic pole having a longitudinal dimension and an elongated face extending along said dimension;
• a rotary member having a circumferential surface spaced from the elongated face of said stationary pole and an axis of rotation generally parallel to said longitudinal dimension of said stationary pole;
• at least one elongated magnetic pole segment mounted on the circumferential surface of said rotary member, said pole segment having a longitudinal dimension and being disposed with its respective longitudinal dimension at an angle with respect to said axis of rotation such that, during rotation of said rotary member, a shared area formed by a common portion of said pole segment and an opposing common portion of said stationary pole is moved along said elongated face of said stationary pole in the direction of its longitudinal dimension;
• and
• a signal winding coupled to said stationary pole for coupling magnetic flux between the stationary pole and the pole segment in said shared area formed by the opposing common portions of the pole and segment, said coupled magnetic flux being moved along the longitudinal dimension of said stationary pole by rotation of the rotary member.

A magnetic transducing apparatus for recording and/or reproducing magnetically definable information with respect to a magnetic storage medium, comprising:

• a stationary magnetic pole having a longitudinal dimension that is oriented in a predetermined direction and including an elongated end face;
• at least one moveable magnetic pole that is spaced from the end face of said stationary magnetic pole and having a longitudinal dimension that is oriented at an angle relative to said predetermined direction;
• transport apparatus for transporting the magnetic storage medium through the space between said stationary pole and said at least one moveable pole in a direction transverse to said predetermined direction;
• a signal winding coupled to said stationary magnetic pole for coupling a concentrated magnetic flux between said stationary pole and said at least one moveable magnetic pole, said concentrated magnetic flux being magnetically coupled to the magnetic storage medium disposed between said poles;
• and
• a rotary member having an axis of rotation generally parallel to said predetermined direction for moving said at least one moveable magnetic pole past said end face of said stationary magnetic pole in a direction transverse to said predetermined direction to move the location of said concentrated magnetic flux coupled between said stationary pole and said moveable pole along said longitudinal dimension of the stationary pole, and for moving the concentrated magnetic flux which is coupled to the magnetic storage medium along a track in said medium.

A method for recording and/or reproducing magnetically definable information with respect to a magnetic storage medium, wherein a first elongate magnetic pole is oriented with a longitudinal dimension thereof in a predetermined:

• direction, and a second elongate magnetic pole is spaced from the first elongate magnetic pole, comprising the steps of:
• orienting the longitudinal dimension of said second elongate magnetic pole at an angle relative to said predetermined direction;
• moving said second elongate magnetic pole about an axis of rotation generally parallel to said predetermined direction and past said first elongate magnetic pole in a direction generally transverse to said predetermined direction to cause different successive portions of the respective longitudinal dimensions of the first and second elongate magnetic poles to be opposed to each other;
• and
• generating a magnetic transducing region which magnetically couples said different portions of said poles as the second pole moves past the first pole.