System and method for a minimum fly height flat-type recording head

• US 20040061972A1
• Filed: 09/26/2002
• Published: 04/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines SA (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Biskeborn, Robert Glenn
• Granted Patent: US 7,193,813 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 360/90
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/532 Parallel to the direction of movement of the tape, e.g. for transversal scanning
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49021 Magnetic recording reproducing transducer [e.g., tape head, core, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49028 Mounting multitrack head
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49032 Fabricating head structure or component thereof

Abstract

A magnetic tape head system and associated method are disclosed. Included is one or more head assemblies each including a base with a row bar coupled thereto with a head situated therein for defining a tape bearing surface defining a tape wrap angle with respect to a horizontal plane. A length of the tape bearing surface is between approximately 0.57 millimeters and 0.7 millimeters and the tape wrap angle is between approximately 0.5 degrees and 1.3 degrees such that a resolution of the magnetic tape head system is substantially independent of a velocity of the tape.

Claims

1. A magnetic tape head system, comprising:

one or more head assemblies each including a base with a row bar coupled thereto with a head situated therein for defining a tape bearing surface over which a tape is adapted to pass during use of the magnetic tape head system;

wherein a length of the tape bearing surface is selected such that a resolution of the magnetic tape head system is substantially independent of a velocity of the tape.

2. The magnetic tape head system as recited in claim 1, wherein the length of the tape bearing surface is between approximately 0.57 millimeters and 0.7 millimeters.

3. The magnetic tape head system as recited in claim 1, wherein the length of the tape bearing surface is substantially 0.63 millimeters.

4. The magnetic tape head system as recited in claim 1, wherein a tape wrap angle is defined by the tape bearing surface.

5. The magnetic tape head system as recited in claim 4, wherein the tape wrap angle is defined by a horizontal plane and a plane in which the tape bearing surface resides.

6. The magnetic tape head system as recited in claim 4, wherein the tape wrap angle is between approximately 0.5 degrees and 1.3 degrees.

7. The magnetic tape head system as recited in claim 4, wherein the tape wrap angle is between approximately 0.8 degrees and 0.9 degrees.

8. The magnetic tape head system as recited in claim 1, wherein a distance between end edges of the row bars is between approximately 0.6 millimeters and 0.8 millimeters.

9. A method for manufacturing a magnetic tape head system, comprising:

one or more head assemblies each including a base with a row bar coupled thereto with a head situated therein for defining a tape bearing surface over which a tape is adapted to pass during use of the magnetic tape head system;

wherein a length of the tape bearing surface is selected such that a resolution of the magnetic tape head system is substantially independent of a velocity of the tape.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the tape bearing surface length is defined as a distance between edges of the tape bearing surface.

11. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the length of the tape bearing surface is between approximately 0.57 millimeters and 0.7 millimeters.

12. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the length of the tape bearing surface is substantially 0.63 millimeters.

13. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein a tape wrap angle is defined by the tape bearing surface.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the tape wrap angle is defined by a horizontal plane and a plane in which the tape bearing surface resides.

15. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the tape wrap angle is selected such that a resolution of the magnetic tape head system is substantially independent of a velocity of the tape.

16. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the tape wrap angle is between approximately 0.5 degrees and 1.3 degrees.

17. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the tape wrap angle is between approximately 0.8 degrees and 0.9 degrees.

18. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein a distance between end edges of the row bars is between approximately 0.6 millimeters and 0.8 millimeters.

19. A magnetic tape head system, comprising:

one or more head assemblies each including a base with a row bar coupled thereto with a head situated therein for defining a tape bearing surface over which a tape is adapted to pass during use of the magnetic tape head system;

wherein a length of the tape bearing surface is between approximately 0.57 millimeters and 0.7 millimeters.

20. A magnetic tape head system, comprising:

one or more head assemblies each including a base with a row bar coupled thereto with a head situated therein for defining a tape bearing surface which defines a tape wrap angle with respect to a horizontal plane;

wherein the tape wrap angle is selected such that a resolution of the magnetic tape head system is substantially independent of a velocity of the tape.

21. The magnetic tape head system as recited in claim 20, wherein the tape wrap angle is between approximately 0.5 degrees and 1.3 degrees.

22. The magnetic tape head system as recited in claim 20, wherein the tape wrap angle is between approximately 0.8 degrees and 0.9 degrees.

23. A method for manufacturing a magnetic tape head system, comprising:

one or more head assemblies each including a base with a row bar coupled thereto with a head situated therein for defining a tape bearing surface which defines a tape wrap angle with respect to a horizontal plane;

wherein the tape wrap angle is selected such that a resolution of the magnetic tape head system is substantially independent of a velocity of the tape.

24. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein the tape wrap angle is between approximately 0.5 degrees and 1.3 degrees.

25. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein the tape wrap angle is between approximately 0.8 degrees and 0.9 degrees.

26. A magnetic tape head system, comprising:

one or more head assemblies each including a base with a row bar coupled thereto with a head situated therein for defining a tape bearing surface which defines a tape wrap angle with respect to a horizontal plane;

wherein the tape wrap angle is between approximately 0.5 degrees and 1.3 degrees.

27. A magnetic tape drive for use with a magnetic recording tape, comprising:

a tape drive system for moving the magnetic recording tape linearly and bidirectionally;

one or more head assemblies each including a base with a row bar coupled thereto with a head situated therein for defining a tape bearing surface which defines a tape wrap angle with respect to a horizontal plane, wherein a length of the tape bearing surface is between approximately 0.57 millimeters and 0.7 millimeters and the tape wrap angle is between approximately 0.5 degrees and 1.3 degrees such that a resolution of the magnetic tape drive is substantially independent of a velocity of the magnetic recording tape; and

at least one outrigger for defining an angle in which the magnetic recording tape approaches the head.