Magnetic head with planar outrigger

• US 7,660,072 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2005
• Issued: 02/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Biskeborn, Robert Glenn, Liang, Jason, Lo, Calvin Shyhjong
• Primary Examiner(s): Watko; Julie Anne
• Application Number:
  US11/213,365
• Publication Number:
  US 20070047141A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,628 Days
• Field of Search: 360/129, 360/122, 360/119, 360/121, 360/130.21, 360/130.2
• US Class Current: 360/122
• 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 planar first tape bearing surface and a planar 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,

wherein the second tape bearing surface has a skiving edge for skiving air from a tape arriving from below the plane of the second tape bearing surface and engaging the skiving edge, thereby creating a reduced air pressure in an area between the tape and the second tape bearing surface that allows atmospheric pressure to urge the tape towards the second tape bearing surface along a length of the second tape bearing surface from the skiving edge to a trailing end of the second tape bearing surface positioned opposite the skiving edge, the tape being about parallel to the second tape bearing surface when traveling thereacross in a direction towards the first tape bearing surface, the tape traveling above the plane of the second tape bearing surface towards the first tape bearing surface after the trailing end of the second tape bearing surface,

wherein the first tape bearing surface has a skiving edge for skiving air from a tape arriving from below the plane of the first tape bearing surface from the second tape bearing surface and engaging the skiving edge of the first tape bearing surface, thereby creating a reduced air pressure in an area between the tape and the first tape bearing surface that allows atmospheric pressure to urge the tape towards the first tape bearing surface alone a length of the first tape bearing surface from the skiving edge thereof to a trailing end of the first tape bearing surface positioned opposite the skiving edge of the first tape bearing surface,

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°

.

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 less than 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 the substrate is a single piece of contiguous material, the first and second tape bearing surfaces being integral to the single piece.

9. The head as recited in claim 1, 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, further comprising a first closure extending from the first substrate and forming a portion of the first tape bearing surface, and a second closure extending from the second substrate and forming a portion of the third tape bearing surface, 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. The head as recited in claim 1, further comprising a closure coupled to the substrate and having a tape bearing surface coplanar and contiguous with the first tape bearing surface of the substrate.