Magnetic head with planar outrigger

• US 20070047141A1
• Filed: 08/26/2005
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Liang, Jason, Biskeborn, Robert, Lo, Calvin
• Granted Patent: US 7,660,072 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 360/129
• 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 5/10 Structure or manufacture of housings or shields for heads
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/1871 Shaping or contouring of the transducing or guiding surface
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/255 comprising means for protection against wear in thin film structures G11B5/3106
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/3106 where the integrated or assembled structure comprises means for conditioning against physical detrimental influence, e.g. wear, contamination G11B5/3133 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/40 Protective measures on heads, e.g. against excessive temperature G11B5/31 takes precedence; protection against wear G11B5/255 ; protective structure of the head: see under structures, e.g. G11B5/3106
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/60 Fluid-dynamic spacing of heads from record-carriers

Abstract

A magnetic head includes a substrate having a first tape bearing surface and a second (outrigger) tape bearing surface, preferably with a slot therebetween. A plurality of elements (readers and/or writers) are coupled to the substrate and positioned towards the first tape bearing surface. The first and second tape bearing surfaces lie along planes, the planes being offset from one another spatially and/or angularly. The second tape bearing surface, like typical flat profile heads, induces a small spacing between a tape passing thereover and its tape bearing surface. The second tape bearing surface is positioned below the plane of the first tape bearing surface, thereby creating the proper wrap angle of the tape relative to the first tape bearing surface.

Claims

1. A magnetic head, comprising:

a substrate having a first tape bearing surface and a second tape bearing surface;

a plurality of elements coupled to the substrate and positioned towards the first tape bearing surface, the elements being selected from a group consisting of readers, writers, and combinations thereof,

wherein the first and second tape bearing surfaces lie along substantially parallel planes, the planes being offset from one another.

2. The head as recited in claim 1, wherein the plane of the second tape bearing surface is positioned below the plane of the first tape bearing surface.

3. The head as recited in claim 2, wherein the plane of the second tape bearing surface is positioned in a range of about 0.004 to about 0.014 mm below the plane of the first tape bearing surface.

4. The head as recited in claim 1, wherein a slot is defined between the first and second tape bearing surfaces.

5. The head as recited in claim 4, wherein a width of the slot is in a range of about 0.3 mm to about 1.0 mm.

6. The head as recited in claim 1, wherein a first wrap angle is defined between the plane of the first tape bearing surface and a tape traveling from the second tape bearing surface to the first tape bearing surface, the first wrap angle being determined by a position of the second tape bearing surface relative to the first tape bearing surface.

7. The head as recited in claim 6, wherein the first wrap angle is in a range of about 0.7°

to about 1.1°

.

8. The head as recited in claim 1, wherein a second wrap angle is defined between the plane of the second tape bearing surface and a tape traveling towards the second tape bearing surface, the second wrap angle being greater than about 0.1°

.

9. The head as recited in claim 8, wherein the second wrap angle is less than about 2°

.

10. The head as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one additional element is coupled to the module towards the second tape bearing surface.

11. The head as recited in claim 1, further comprising a second substrate having a third tape bearing surface and a fourth tape bearing surface, and a plurality of elements coupled to the substrate and positioned towards the first tape bearing surface, wherein the third and fourth tape bearing surfaces lie along substantially parallel planes, the planes of the third and fourth tape bearing surfaces being offset from one another.

12. The head as recited in claim 11, wherein the planes of the first and third tape bearing surfaces are angled relative to one another for setting internal wrap angles of the tape with respect to the first and third tape bearing surfaces.

13. The head as recited in claim 12, wherein a first wrap angle is defined between the plane of the first tape bearing surface and a tape traveling from the second tape bearing surface to the first tape bearing surface, wherein the first wrap angle is about equal to the internal wrap angles.

14. A tape drive system, comprising:

a head as recited in claim 1;

a drive mechanism for passing a magnetic recording tape over the head; and

a controller in communication with the head.

15. The tape drive system as recited in claim 14, further comprising an outer tape guide for setting a wrap angle of the tape relative to the second tape bearing surface, the wrap angle being greater than about 0.1°

.

16. A magnetic head, comprising:

a substrate having a tape bearing surface;

a plurality of elements coupled to the substrate and positioned towards the first tape bearing surface, the elements being selected from a group consisting of readers, writers, and combinations thereof,

an outrigger held in a fixed position relative to the substrate, the outrigger having a tape bearing surface;

wherein the outrigger tape bearing surface and the substrate tape bearing surface lie along planes, the planes being offset from one another.

17. The head as recited in claim 16, wherein the plane of the outrigger tape bearing surface is substantially parallel to the plane of the substrate tape bearing surface.

18. The head as recited in claim 17, wherein the plane of the outrigger tape bearing surface is positioned below the plane of the substrate tape bearing surface.

19. The head as recited in claim 16, wherein the outrigger is adhesively coupled to the substrate.

20. The head as recited in claim 16, wherein the outrigger is not coupled directly to the substrate.

21. The head as recited in claim 16, wherein the outrigger tape bearing surface is parallel to a tape oriented at a desired wrap angle relative to the substrate tape bearing surface.

22. The head as recited in claim 16, wherein the outrigger tape bearing surface is angled from the substrate tape bearing surface by greater than a desired wrap angle of a tape relative to the substrate tape bearing surface.

23. The head as recited in claim 16, wherein a first wrap angle is defined between the plane of the substrate tape bearing surface and a tape traveling from the outrigger tape bearing surface to the substrate tape bearing surface, the first wrap angle being determined by a position of the outrigger tape bearing surface relative to the first tape bearing surface.

24. The head as recited in claim 16, wherein a second wrap angle is defined between the plane of the outrigger tape bearing surface and a tape traveling towards the outrigger tape bearing surface, the second wrap angle being greater than about 0.1°

.

25. The head as recited in claim 16, wherein at least one additional element is coupled to the outrigger.

26. A tape drive system, comprising:

a head as recited in claim 16;

a drive mechanism for passing a magnetic recording tape over the head; and

a controller in communication with the head.

27. The tape drive system as recited in claim 26, further comprising an outer tape guide for setting a wrap angle of the tape relative to the outrigger tape bearing surface, the wrap angle being greater than about 0.1°

.

28. A magnetic head, comprising:

two modules coupled together in opposing relation, each module comprising;

a substrate having a tape bearing surface; and

a plurality of elements coupled to the substrate and positioned towards the tape bearing surface, the elements being selected from a group consisting of readers, writers, and combinations thereof,

wherein the tape bearing surfaces of the modules are angled relative to each other for defining an internal wrap angle of the modules; and

two outriggers positioned on opposite sides of the modules, each outrigger being held in a fixed position relative to the module closest thereto, each outrigger having a tape bearing surface;

wherein the tape bearing surface of each outrigger and the tape bearing surface of the substrate positioned closest thereto lie along planes being offset from one another.

29. The head as recited in claim 28, wherein the tape bearing surface of each outrigger and the tape bearing surface of the substrate positioned closest thereto lie along substantially parallel planes, the planes being offset from one another.

30. The head as recited in claim 28, wherein the tape bearing surface of each outrigger is parallel to a tape oriented at a desired wrap angle relative to the tape bearing surface of the substrate closest thereto.

31. The head as recited in claim 28, wherein the tape bearing surface of each outrigger is angled from the tape bearing surface of the substrate closest thereto by greater than a desired wrap angle of a tape relative to the substrate tape bearing surface.

32. A tape drive system, comprising:

a head as recited in claim 28;

a drive mechanism for passing a magnetic recording tape over the head; and

a controller in communication with the head.

33. A magnetic head, comprising:

a substrate having a tape bearing surface;

a plurality of elements coupled to the substrate and positioned towards the first tape bearing surface, the elements being selected from a group consisting of readers, writers, and combinations thereof;

a closure coupled to the substrate;

an outrigger held in a fixed position relative to the substrate, the outrigger having a tape bearing surface;

wherein the outrigger tape bearing surface and the substrate tape bearing surface lie along substantially parallel planes, the planes being offset from one another,

wherein a first wrap angle is defined between the plane of the substrate tape bearing surface and a tape traveling from the outrigger tape bearing surface to the substrate tape bearing surface, the first wrap angle being determined by a position of the outrigger tape bearing surface relative to the first tape bearing surface, wherein the first wrap angle is in a range of about 0.7°

to about 1.1°

,

wherein a second wrap angle is defined between the plane of the outrigger tape bearing surface and a tape traveling towards the outrigger tape bearing surface, the second wrap angle being greater than about 0.1° and

less than about 2°

.

34. A method for forming a module for a tape head, comprising:

forming elements on a substrate, the elements being selected from a group consisting of readers, writers, and combinations thereof;

cutting the substrate into rows, each row having a first portion and a second portion;

forming a slot in each row between the first portion and the second portion;

reducing a height of the second portion of the row; and

cutting the row into individual modules.

35. The method as recited in claim 34, further comprising attaching closures to the substrate.