US 5,963,401 A · Magnetic tape head assembly including modules having a plurality of magneto-resistive head elements

Abstract

A magnetic tape head assembly is disclosed for use with a magnetic tape storage medium. The assembly includes an interior tape head module having a magnetic gap with 18 tape head elements, and a first exterior tape head module adjacent to one side of the interior tape head module, the first exterior tape head module having a magnetic gap with 18 tape head elements. The assembly also includes a second exterior tape head module adjacent to the other side of the interior tape head module, the second exterior tape head module having a magnetic gap with 18 tape head elements. The distances between consecutive magnetic gaps of the interior and exterior modules are each approximately 0.150 inches, the interior and exterior modules together define a tape interface contour, and the tape head assembly is capable of writing and reading a high coercivity, high density metal particle tape media, and reading a low density CrO.sub.2 tape media. In the preferred embodiment, the interior module is a write head with 18 write elements, and the exterior modules are each read heads with 18 read elements.

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Drawings

Claims20

Dependent claims

A magnetic tape head assembly for use with a magnetic tape storage medium, the assembly comprising:

an interior tape head module having a magnetic gap provided therein, the interior module having 18 tape head elements along the magnetic gap;
a first exterior tape head module having a magnetic gap provided therein, the first exterior module being disposed adjacent to one side of the interior module, the first exterior module having 18 tape head elements along the magnetic gap;
and
a second exterior tape head module having a magnetic gap provided therein, the second exterior module being disposed adjacent to another side of the interior module, the second exterior module having 18 tape head elements along the magnetic gap;
wherein the distances between consecutive magnetic gaps of the interior and exterior modules are each approximately 0.38 centimeters, the interior and exterior modules together define a tape interface contour, and the tape head assembly is capable of writing and reading a high coercivity, high density metal particle tape media, and reading a low density CrO.sub.2 tape media,
wherein at least one of the tape head modules includes a read head, and the 18 tape head elements of the at least one of the tape head modules each includes a read element, each read element having a conductive soft adjacent layer and a magneto-resistive film between first and second magnetic shields, the magneto-resistive film located asymmetrically between the first and second magnetic shields and having a thickness of between 500 and 800 Angstroms, the first and second magnetic shields spaced apart from one another at a distance falling within the range of 0.4 to 0.7 micrometers, wherein the ratio of the magnetic moment of the soft adjacent layer to the magneto-resistive film is at least 0.75.

3 more elements

A magnetic tape head assembly for use with a magnetic tape storage medium, the assembly comprising:

an interior tape head module having a magnetic gap provided therein, the interior module having 18 tape head elements along the magnetic gap;
a first exterior tape head module having a magnetic gap provided therein, the first exterior module being disposed adjacent to one side of the interior module, the first exterior module having 18 tape head elements along the magnetic gap;
and
a second exterior tape head module having a magnetic gap provided therein, the second exterior module being disposed adjacent to another side of the interior module, the second exterior module having 18 tape head elements along the magnetic gap;
wherein the distances between consecutive magnetic gaps of the interior and exterior modules are each approximately 0.38 centimeters, each of the interior and exterior modules and the tape head assembly are provided with a transverse slot on each side of the magnetic gaps therein, the 18 tape head elements of each of the interior and exterior modules are arranged across an approximately 1.27 centimeter span, and the tape head assembly is capable of writing and reading a high coercivity, high density metal particle tape media, and reading a low density CrO.sub.2 tape media,
wherein at least one of the tape head modules includes a read head, and the 18 tape head elements of the at least one of the tape head modules each includes a read element, each read element having a conductive soft adjacent layer and a magneto-resistive film between first and second magnetic shields, the magneto-resistive film located asymmetrically between the first and second magnetic shields and having a thickness of between 500 and 800 Angstroms, the first and second magnetic shields spaced apart from one another at a distance falling within the range of 0.4 to 0.7 micrometers, wherein the ratio of the magnetic moment of the soft adjacent layer to the magneto-resistive film is at least 0.75.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description2,145 words

Summary599 words

#The present invention relates to a magnetic tape head assembly with multiple tape head modules designed for bi-directional, high speed, high density tape storage applications.

#An important and continuing goal in the data storage industry is that of increasing the density of data stored on a medium. For tape storage systems, that goal has lead to increasing the track density in recording tape heads, and decreasing the thickness of the magnetic tape medium. However, the development of small footprint, higher performance tape drive systems has created various problems in the design of a tape head assembly for use in such systems.

#Such problems include multi-track, high density recording on high coercivity tape media. However, compatibility with conventional tape media is also a problem. In addition to the higher coercivity, higher density tape media, tape head assemblies should also read conventional track formats on CrO.sub.2 tapes recorded at lower linear densities. CrO.sub.2 tape is abrasive and can lead to excessive wear and rapid preferential pole erosion on thin film write elements.

Brief description of the drawings3 figures

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the multi-track, bi-directional thin film tape head assembly of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a top view of a multi-element, thin film write head for use in the present invention; and

#FIG. 3 is a top view of a multi-element, thin film read head for use in the present invention.

Detailed description1,485 words

#Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, the preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail. In that regard, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the multi-element, bi-directional thin film tape head assembly of the present invention, denoted generally by reference numeral 10.

#As seen therein, tape head assembly (10) is a three segment head comprising a first exterior tape head module (12), an interior tape head module (14), and a second exterior tape head module (16), each including 18 tape head elements (not shown). As used herein, a tape head element may be either a read or a write element.

#Preferably, tape head assembly (10) is a three segment head comprising a first read head (12), a write head (14), and a second read head (16). In that regard, as will be described in detail below in conjunction with FIGS. 2 and 3, write head (14) contains 18 thin film write elements (not shown) spaced approximately 630 .mu.m apart positioned symmetrically between read heads (12, 16), each containing 18 magneto-resistive (MR) read elements (not shown). In this embodiment, then, tape head assembly (10) is a read/write/read design. While preferred, such a read/write/read design is not required for the present invention.

Facts

Application

08/939,773Filed 29 Sep 1997

Granted

5 Oct 1999

Term ended

29 Sep 2017

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination. Patent term adjustment is unavailable; no adjustment was added.

Classification9 codes

G11B 5/3935
Disposition of magnetic thin films not used for directly coupling magnetic flux from the track to the MR film or for shielding: flux closure films…
G11B 5/3903
Using magneto-resistive devices or effects: using magnetic thin film layers or their effects, the films being part of integrated structures
G11B 5/3948
Heads comprising more than one sensitive element: the sensitive elements being active read-out elements
G11B 5/4893
Disposition of heads: relative to moving tape

Magnetic tape head assembly including modules having a plurality of magneto-resistive head elements

Life of this patent

Magnetic tape head assembly including modules having a plurality of magneto-resistive head elements

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims20

Description2,145 words

Drawings

Classification9 codes

Life of this patent

Description2,145 words