Self-aligned metal film core multi-channel recording head for tape drives

• US 6,288,870 B1
• Filed: 01/13/1998
• Issued: 09/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Quantum Corporation (Chi Ko Investment Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Quantum Corporation (Chi Ko Investment Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Saliba, George A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Brian E.
• Application Number:
  US09/006,281
• Time in Patent Office: 1,337 Days
• Field of Search: 360/119, 360/121, 360/125, 360/126
• US Class Current: 360/121
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/1475 Assembling or shaping of elements G11B5/153 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/1871 Shaping or contouring of the transducing or guiding surface
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/1878 disposed immediately adjacent to the transducing gap, e.g. "Metal-In-Gap" structure
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/21 the pole pieces being of ferrous sheet metal or other magnetic layers G11B5/1871 takes precedence; in thin film G11B5/31
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/29 Structure or manufacture of unitary devices formed of plural heads for more than one track G11B5/33, G11B5/49 and subgroups take precedence; in thin film structure G11B5/31
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/295 Manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/3163 Fabrication methods or processes specially adapted for a particular head structure, e.g. using base layers for electroplating, using functional layers for masking, using energy or particle beams for shaping the structure or modifying the properties of the basic layers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/4893 relative to moving tape

Abstract

A self-aligned multi-channel tape head structure has a non-magnetic ceramic substrate defining an interior longitudinal channel and a plurality of head regions. At least one head leg at each region defines lateral openings to the interior longitudinal channel. Each head region has a thin-film metal magnetic core deposited on an inside wall surface of the ceramic substrate and a magnetic gap in a longitudinal face of the ceramic substrate. A coil of wire is wound around each head leg to provide a magnetic transducer head at each head region.

Claims

1. A multi-channel tape head structure comprising:

a continuous first bar and a continuous second bar that are joined together, the bars cooperating to define an inside wall surface that outlines an interior longitudinal channel;

a first head region defined in the bars between a first bar opening and a second bar opening, each bar opening extending transversely through the first bar and the second bar into the longitudinal channel, the first head region including a first magnetic gap;

a second head region defined in the bars between a third bar opening and the second bar opening, the third bar opening extending transversely through the first bar and the second bar into the longitudinal channel, the second head region including a second magnetic gap;

a first magnetic core deposited in the first head region, the first magnetic core including (i) a first metal layer that coats the inside wall surface and substantially encircles the longitudinal channel, (ii) a first insulator layer that substantially encircles the longitudinal channel and coats the first metal layer, and (iii) a second metal layer that substantially encircles the longitudinal channel and coats the first insulator layer; and

a second magnetic core deposited in the second head region, the second magnetic core including (i) a first metal layer that coats the inside wall surface and substantially encircles the longitudinal channel, (ii) a first insulator layer that substantially encircles the longitudinal channel and coats the first metal layer, and (iii) a second metal layer that substantially encircles the longitudinal channel and coats the first insulator layer.

2. The multi-channel tape head structure of claim 1 wherein at least one of the bars is made of a non-magnetic ceramic material.

3. The multi-channel tape head structure of claim 1 wherein at least one of the bars is made of a magnetic ferrite ceramic material.

4. The multi-channel tape head structure of claim 1 wherein the first bar and the second bar are bonded together with at least one longitudinally extending glass bonding layer.

5. The multi-channel tape head structure of claim 1 further comprising a coil of wire, the coil of wire being wound around a portion of the first head region.

6. A multi-channel tape head structure comprising:

a continuous first bar and a continuous second bar that are joined together, the bars cooperating to define an inside wall surface that outlines an interior longitudinal channel;

a first head region defined in the bars between a first bar opening and a second bar opening, each bar opening extending through the first bar into the longitudinal channel;

a second head region defined in the bars between a third bar opening and the second bar opening, the third bar opening extending through the first bar into the longitudinal channel;

a first magnetic core deposited in the first head region, the first magnetic core including (i) a first conductive layer that coats the inside wall surface and substantially encircles the longitudinal channel, (ii) a first insulator layer that substantially encircles the longitudinal channel and coats the first conductive layer, and (iii) a second conductive layer that substantially encircles the longitudinal channel and coats the first insulator layer; and

a second magnetic core deposited in the second head region, the second magnetic core including (i) a first conductive layer that coats the inside wall surface and substantially encircles the longitudinal channel, (ii) a first insulator layer that substantially encircles the longitudinal channel and coats the first conductive layer, and (iii) a second conductive layer that substantially encircles the longitudinal channel and coats the first insulator layer.

7. The multi-channel tape head structure of claim 6 wherein the first head region includes a first magnetic gap that extends into the longitudinal channel.

8. The multi-channel tape head structure of claim 7 wherein the second head region includes a second magnetic gap that extends into the longitudinal channel.

9. The multi-channel tape head structure of claim 8 wherein the first magnetic core extends into and coats the first magnetic gap.

10. The multi-channel tape head structure of claim 6 wherein each bar opening extends through the second bar into the longitudinal channel.

11. The multi-channel tape head structure of claim 6 including a coil of wire wound around a portion of the first head region.

12. The multi-channel tape head structure of claim 6 wherein at least one of the bars is made of a magnetic ferrite ceramic material.

13. The multi-channel tape head structure of claim 6 wherein at least one of the bars is made of a non-magnetic ceramic material.

14. The multi-channel tape head structure of claim 6 further comprising at least one longitudinal glass bonding layer that joins the first bar to the second bar.

15. The multi-channel tape head structure of claim 6 wherein each head region includes two head legs, and wherein a separate coil of wire is wound around each head leg.