Helical read/write head having a cross-cut groove
First Claim
1. In a helical scan data storage system having at least one helical head rotating in a first plane and a magnetic tape driven relative to said at least one rotating helical head and positioned to repeatedly and operatively interface with a face of said at least one rotating helical head at an acute angle relative to said first plane, at least a first improved helical head comprising:
- a magnetic gap disposed across the face of said first helical head for magnetically interfacing with said magnetic tape;
a lead sloping surface on one side of said magnetic gap on said face, and having an initial interface region that initially and repeatedly interfaces with said magnetic tape;
a groove laterally disposed across said lead sloping surface between said initial interface region of said lead sloping surface and said magnetic gap so as to inwardly draw and receive, and thereby dynamically dampen, magnetic tape disruption approximating a standing wave attendant to said initial and repeated interface between said initial interface region of said lead sloping surface and said magnetic tape, wherein an edge of said groove nearest to said magnetic gap is positioned between appproximately 100μ
m and 400μ
m from the magnetic gap, the width of said groove is between approximately 100μ
m and 40μ
m, and the depth of said groove is between approximately 20μ
m and 100μ
m.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved helical read/write head is disclosed having a cross-cut groove disposed on the lead sloping surface thereof to improve reliability. The cross-cut groove is positioned between the magnetic gap of the helica head and an initial head/tape interface region of the head and is preferably oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis/direction of travel of the tape. The cross-cut groove may be particularly positioned to accommodate and dampen tape disruption attendant to initiating the helical head/tape interface.
55 Citations
14 Claims
-
1. In a helical scan data storage system having at least one helical head rotating in a first plane and a magnetic tape driven relative to said at least one rotating helical head and positioned to repeatedly and operatively interface with a face of said at least one rotating helical head at an acute angle relative to said first plane, at least a first improved helical head comprising:
-
a magnetic gap disposed across the face of said first helical head for magnetically interfacing with said magnetic tape; a lead sloping surface on one side of said magnetic gap on said face, and having an initial interface region that initially and repeatedly interfaces with said magnetic tape; a groove laterally disposed across said lead sloping surface between said initial interface region of said lead sloping surface and said magnetic gap so as to inwardly draw and receive, and thereby dynamically dampen, magnetic tape disruption approximating a standing wave attendant to said initial and repeated interface between said initial interface region of said lead sloping surface and said magnetic tape, wherein an edge of said groove nearest to said magnetic gap is positioned between appproximately 100μ
m and 400μ
m from the magnetic gap, the width of said groove is between approximately 100μ
m and 40μ
m, and the depth of said groove is between approximately 20μ
m and 100μ
m. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A helical head for use in a helical scan data storage system, comprising:
-
a magnetic gap disposed across a face of said helical head for magnetically interfacing with a magnetic tape during use; a lead sloping surface disposed on one side of said magnetic gap and having an initial interface region for initially and repeatedly interfacing with said magnetic tape during use; a cross-cut groove laterally disposed at a selected location across said lead sloping surface between said magnetic gap and said initial interface region so as to draw inwardly, and thereby dynamically dampen, magnetic tape disruption attendent to said initial and repeated interface between said initial interface region of said lead sloping surface and said magnetic tape, wherein an edge of said cross-cut groove nearest to said magnetic gap is positioned between approximately 100μ
m and 400μ
m from the magnetic gap, the width of said groove is between approximately 100μ
m and 40μ
m, and the depth of said groove is between approximately 20μ
m and 100μ
m. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
Specification