Tape head with thin tape bearing surface coating
AssigneeOpacle International Corporation
InventorsJianhua Li, Michael J. Link
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Abstract
A tape head is provided for use with a tape drive that is configured to receive a length of tape. The tape head includes a head body including at least one head element for performing read and/or write operations on the tape, and a protective layer extending over at least a portion of the head body for inhibiting wear of the head body when the tape is moved with respect to the head body. Furthermore, the protective layer is made of titanium oxide, chromium oxide, zirconium oxide, aluminum oxide, or zinc oxide.
Claims7
A method for making a tape head for a tape drive that is configured to receive a length of tape, the method comprising:
- applying a layer of material directly onto at least a portion of a head body that includes at least one head element for performing read and/or write operations on the tape, the layer of material being one of titanium, chromium, zirconium, aluminum, or zinc;
- and
- subsequently oxidizing the layer of material to form a protective layer, the protective layer being one of titanium oxide, chromium oxide, zirconium oxide, aluminum oxide, or zinc oxide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.