Multiple section head assembly for dual azimuth recording
AssigneeStorage Technology Corporation
InventorsMark L. Watson, Anand V. Lakshmikumaran, Jeffrey G. Villiard
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A magnetic head assembly for writing multiple tracks to a tape that travels in a first direction is provided. The assembly includes a first head section for writing a first subset of the tracks, and a second head section for writing a second subset of the tracks. Furthermore, one head section is canted with respect to a plane that is transverse to the first direction, such that the head sections write two adjacent tracks at different angles with respect to the plane.
Claims32
A head assembly for use with a tape that travels in a first direction, the head assembly being configured to write multiple tracks to the tape, the assembly comprising:
- a first head section for writing a first subset of the tracks;
- and
- a second head section for writing a second subset of the tracks;
- wherein one head section is canted with respect to a plane that is transverse to the first direction, the head sections are configured to concurrently write two separate tracks at different angles with respect to the plane, each head section is independently positionable and includes at least one write element, each write element of the first head section is configured to write tracks at a first angle with respect to the plane, and each write element of the second head section is configured to write tracks at a second angle with respect to the plane, and wherein the second angle is different than the first angle.
A read/write head assembly for use with a tape that travels in a first direction, the assembly being configured to write multiple tracks to the tape and read the tracks from the tape, the assembly comprising:
- multiple head sections that are each configured to write a subset of the tracks to the tape such that a portion of each subset of tracks is interleaved with a portion of another subset of tracks, each head section being independently positionable and including at least one write element;
- wherein at least one write element is canted with respect to a plane that is transverse to the first direction, such that the head sections write adjacent tracks at different angles with respect to the plane, and wherein the head sections are configured to concurrently write tracks to different portions of the tape and at different angles with respect to the plane.
A data recording system for use with a tape that travels in a first direction, the system comprising:
- a head assembly including a first head section for accessing a first subset of data channels, and a second head section for accessing a second subset of data channels, each head section including a write element, wherein one write element is canted with respect to a plane that is transverse to the first direction;
- and
- an actuator arrangement for independently positioning the head sections such that the first and second head sections respectively access the first subset of data channels and the second subset of data channels concurrently.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.