Head with supplemental module for backward and/or cross-platform compatibility
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsRobert G. Biskeborn, Jason Liang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In one general embodiment, an apparatus includes at least one first module configured for writing and/or reading data to and from a magnetic medium in a first format and/or first generation and writing data to the magnetic medium in a second format and/or second generation that is different than the first format and first generation. The apparatus also includes a supplemental module coupled to the first module, the supplemental module being configured for reading a magnetic medium having data written in the second format and/or the second generation.
Claims17
An apparatus, comprising:
- at least one first module configured for writing and/or reading data to and from a magnetic medium in a first format and/or first generation and writing data to the magnetic medium in a second format and/or second generation that is different than the first format and first generation;
- and
- a supplemental module coupled to the first module, the supplemental module being configured for reading a magnetic medium having data written in the second format and/or the second generation.
A method, comprising:
- detecting a format in which data on a magnetic medium is written;
- using a module configured for writing and/or reading data to and from the magnetic medium in a first format when the format detected is the first format;
- and
- using a supplemental module coupled to the module for reading data from the magnetic medium in a second format when the format detected is the second format.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.