Device select system for multi-device electronic system
First Claim
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1. A system, comprising:
- a cable coupled to a controller;
a magnetic head having a linear array of transducers configured to read and/or write to a magnetic recording tape, the linear array of transducers including at least first and second subsets of transducers and the transducers of the first and second subsets of transducers being arranged linearly along a common line;
a semiconductor chip between the cable and the magnetic head, the semiconductor chip comprising;
an array of first electrical contacts coupled to conductors on the cable; and
an array of second electrical contacts coupled to the transducers of the linear array of transducers, there being more second electrical contacts than first electrical contacts, each of the first electrical contacts being associated with two of the second electrical contacts; and
a guide for guiding the magnetic recording tape across the magnetic head;
the semiconductor chip further comprising a select mechanism for selectively placing each of the first electrical contacts in electrical communication with one of the two of the second electrical contacts associated therewith for selectively placing one of the first and second subsets of the transducers in the linear array of transducers in electrical communication with the first electrical contacts.
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Abstract
A device select system according to one embodiment includes an array of first electrical contacts adapted for coupling to a cable; an array of second electrical contacts adapted for coupling to an array of transducers, there being more second electrical contacts than first electrical contacts each of the first electrical contacts being associated with at least two of the second electrical contacts; and a select mechanism for selectively placing each of the first electrical contacts in electrical communication with one of the second electrical contacts associated therewith.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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a cable coupled to a controller; a magnetic head having a linear array of transducers configured to read and/or write to a magnetic recording tape, the linear array of transducers including at least first and second subsets of transducers and the transducers of the first and second subsets of transducers being arranged linearly along a common line; a semiconductor chip between the cable and the magnetic head, the semiconductor chip comprising; an array of first electrical contacts coupled to conductors on the cable; and an array of second electrical contacts coupled to the transducers of the linear array of transducers, there being more second electrical contacts than first electrical contacts, each of the first electrical contacts being associated with two of the second electrical contacts; and a guide for guiding the magnetic recording tape across the magnetic head; the semiconductor chip further comprising a select mechanism for selectively placing each of the first electrical contacts in electrical communication with one of the two of the second electrical contacts associated therewith for selectively placing one of the first and second subsets of the transducers in the linear array of transducers in electrical communication with the first electrical contacts. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A magnetic data system, comprising:
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a magnetic head having more than two magnetic transducers arranged in an a linear array of transducers for simultaneously reading and/or writing to a common surface of a magnetic recording tape, wherein the linear array of transducers includes at least first and second subsets of transducers arranged linearly along a common line, wherein a center to center spacing of the transducers in the first subset is different than a center to center spacing of the transducers in the second subset; a device select system coupled to the magnetic head, the device select system comprising a semiconductor chip comprising; a first portion having an array of first electrical contacts; a second portion adjacent to the magnetic head and having an array of second electrical contacts electrically coupled to the magnetic transducers, there being more second electrical contacts than first electrical contacts, the second electrical contacts being coupled to electrical contacts of the magnetic head, each of the first electrical contacts being associated with two of the second electrical contacts; and a select mechanism for selectively placing each of the first electrical contacts in electrical communication with one of the two of the second electrical contacts associated therewith for selectively placing one of the first and second subsets of transducers in the linear array of transducers in electrical communication with the first electrical contacts; a cable adjacent to and electrically coupled to the first portion of the semiconductor chip of the device select system, leads of the cable being in direct electrical communication with the first electrical contacts; a drive mechanism for passing the magnetic recording tape over the head; an actuator for controlling a position of the magnetic head relative to the magnetic recording tape; and a controller electrically coupled to the cable. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification