TAPE HEAD AND SYSTEM HAVING ASYMMETRICAL CONSTRUCTION

• US 20190164569A1
• Filed: 01/09/2019
• Published: 05/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Biskeborn, Robert G.
• Granted Patent: US 10,679,649 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/60 Guiding record carrier guiding devices structurally associated with magazines or cassettes G11B23/04
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/62 Maintaining desired spacing between record carrier and head
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/64 by fluid-dynamic spacing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/00813 magnetic tapes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/00821 using stationary heads
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/00826 comprising a plurality of single poles or gaps or groups thereof operative at the same time
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/187 Structure or manufacture of the surface of the head in physical contact with, or immediately adjacent to the recording medium; Pole pieces; Gap features G11B5/265, G11B5/29 , G11B5/31 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/4893 relative to moving tape

Abstract

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a module having a tape bearing surface, a first edge, and a second edge, where a tape tenting region extends from the first edge toward the second edge, the first edge being a first end of the tape tenting region, a second end of the tape tenting region being positioned between the first and second edges. The apparatus includes a guide positioned relative to the first edge for inducing tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape and a transducer positioned in the tape tenting region. In one approach, the transducer is a TMR sensor. In another approach, the tape bearing surface is planar. In yet another approach, the guide is positioned to create an inflection point of the moving magnetic recording tape at a location above the tape tenting region that is between the transducer and the second edge.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a module having a tape bearing surface, a first edge, and a second edge, wherein a tape tenting region of the tape bearing surface extends from the first edge along the tape bearing surface toward the second edge, the first edge of the tape bearing surface being a first end of the tape tenting region, a second end of the tape tenting region being positioned between the first and second edges;

a guide positioned relative to the first edge for inducing tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape, wherein a location of the tenting is above an entirety of the tape tenting region, wherein the second end of the tape tenting region is located at a location where the tenting terminates at a point of closest approach of the tape to the tape bearing surface after a peak of the tenting; and

a transducer positioned in the tape tenting region,

wherein the transducer is a tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) sensor,

wherein the tape bearing surface is planar.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the guide positioned relative to the first edge is positioned to create a wrap angle and there is no second wrap angle.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the wrap angle created by the guide is in a range of about 0.1 to about 1.5 degrees.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, comprising a second guide positioned relative to the second edge for inducing tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape,

wherein the guide positioned relative to the first edge is positioned to create a first wrap angle and the second guide is positioned relative to the second edge to create a second wrap angle.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein the first wrap angle is not the same as the second wrap angle.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein the second wrap angle is greater than the first wrap angle.

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein the second wrap angle is less than the first wrap angle.

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the guide is positioned to create an inflection point of the moving magnetic recording tape at a location above the tape tenting region of the tape bearing surface that is between the transducer and the second edge.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein a distance from the second edge to the transducer is at least as long as the tape tenting region.

10. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, comprising a wear coating on a media facing side of the transducer, wherein a peak height is defined between a peak of a tape tent and an upper surface of the coating, wherein a thickness of the coating is in a range of between about 0.5 and about 3 times the peak height.

11. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein a media facing side of the transducer is recessed from the tape bearing surface.

12. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a drive mechanism for moving a magnetic medium over the module; and

a controller electrically coupled to the transducer.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

a module having a tape bearing surface, a first edge, and a second edge, wherein a tape tenting region of the tape bearing surface extends from the first edge along the tape bearing surface toward the second edge, the first edge of the tape bearing surface being a first end of the tape tenting region, a second end of the tape tenting region being positioned between the first and second edges;

a guide positioned relative to the first edge for inducing tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape, wherein a location of the tenting is above an entirety of the tape tenting region, wherein the second end of the tape tenting region is located at a location where the tenting terminates at a point of closest approach of the tape to the tape bearing surface after a peak of the tenting; and

a transducer positioned in the tape tenting region,

wherein the guide is positioned to create an inflection point of the moving magnetic recording tape at a location above the tape tenting region of the tape bearing surface that is between the transducer and the second edge.

14. An apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein the guide positioned relative to the first edge is positioned to create a wrap angle and there is no second wrap angle.

15. An apparatus as recited in claim 13, comprising a second guide positioned relative to the second edge for inducing tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape,

wherein the guide positioned relative to the first edge is positioned to create a first wrap angle and the second guide is positioned relative to the second edge to create a second wrap angle.

16. An apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the first wrap angle is not the same as the second wrap angle.

17. An apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein a distance from the second edge to the transducer is at least as long as the tape tenting region.

18. An apparatus as recited in claim 13, comprising a wear coating on a media facing side of the transducer, wherein a peak height is defined between a peak of a tape tent and an upper surface of the coating, wherein a thickness of the coating is in a range of between about 0.5 and about 3 times the peak height.

19. An apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein a media facing side of the transducer is recessed from the tape bearing surface.

20. An apparatus as recited in claim 13, further comprising:

a drive mechanism for moving a magnetic medium over the module; and

a controller electrically coupled to the transducer.