Magnetic head, magnetic tape drive, and magnetic tape storage rack

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to the technical field of magnetic tape storage, and provides a magnetic head, a magnetic tape drive, and a magnetic tape storage rack. The magnetic head comprises a plurality of read-write areas; the plurality of read-write areas are arranged in the height direction of the magnetic head; and there are gaps between the plurality of read-write areas. Each of the plurality of read-write areas comprises a write head area and a read head area which are arranged in the width direction of the magnetic head; the write head area comprises a write head for writing data into the magnetic tape; and the read head area comprises a read head for reading the data from the magnetic tape. When data access needs to be performed on a target data band of the magnetic tape, the read-write area closest to the target data band performs data access on the target data band. According to the magnetic head, the thickness of the magnetic tape drive can be reduced, so that more magnetic tape drives are arranged in a rack, thereby improving the magnetic tape storage density of the rack. For the magnetic head, a material for manufacturing the magnetic head can also be reduced, thereby reducing the manufacturing costs of the magnetic head.

Description

Tape heads, tape drives, and tape storage racks

[0001] This disclosure claims priority to Chinese patent application No. 202311733774.0 filed on December 15, 2023, entitled “Magnetic head, tape drive and tape storage rack,” the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] The present disclosure relates to the technical field of magnetic tape storage, and in particular to a magnetic head, a magnetic tape drive, and a magnetic tape storage rack. Background Art

[0003] Tape storage, a storage method that uses magnetic tape as a storage medium, is still widely used due to its low cost and low energy consumption. Tape storage primarily involves storing data on tape using a tape drive, or reading data stored on tape using a tape drive.

[0004] Among them, the tape drive mainly includes a magnetic head and a tape drive mechanism. The tape passes around the magnetic head, and the tape drive mechanism drives the tape to move relative to the magnetic head. While the tape is moving, the magnetic head accesses data on the tape (such as writing data or reading data) through the magnetic principle.

[0005] For example, a magnetic tape is typically divided into four data bands along its width. These four data bands are designated as data band 0, data band 1, data band 2, and data band 3. The magnetic head moves across the width of the tape to access data on the four data bands. For example, when data on data band 0 is to be accessed, the magnetic head moves to a position where the read / write area of ​​the magnetic head is aligned with data band 0. When data on data band 1 is to be accessed, the magnetic head moves to a position where the read / write area of ​​the magnetic head is aligned with data band 1.

[0006] To prevent the edge of the head from scratching the tape, the height of the head plus the travel of the head up and down are usually greater than the width of the tape. That is, no matter where the head moves, the tape is always between the two edges of the head, with a certain distance between the tape and the edge. Therefore, due to the limitations of the head height and the travel of the head, the tape drive is relatively thick and takes up a lot of space in the tape storage rack.

[0007] Summary of the Invention

[0008] The present disclosure provides a magnetic head, a tape drive, and a tape storage rack. The magnetic head can reduce the thickness of the tape drive, allowing for the arrangement of more tape drives in the rack and increasing the rack's tape storage density. The magnetic head can also save material and reduce the cost of manufacturing the magnetic head.

[0009] In a first aspect, a magnetic head is provided, comprising a plurality of read / write areas arranged in a height direction of the magnetic head, with spaces between the plurality of read / write areas;

[0010] Each of the plurality of read / write areas includes a write head area and a read head area arranged along the width direction of the magnetic head, the write head area includes a write head for writing data to the magnetic tape, and the read head area includes a read head for reading data from the magnetic tape;

[0011] When data access is required to a target data band of the magnetic tape, the data access is performed on the target data band by the read / write area closest to the target data band.

[0012] There are intervals between the multiple read / write areas. For example, there is an interval between two adjacent read / write areas. The interval may match the interval between two adjacent data bands of the magnetic tape, or may match the width of one or more data bands.

[0013] The solution disclosed herein includes a magnetic head with multiple read / write areas. When data on a specific data band (referred to as a target data band) on the magnetic tape needs to be read, a motor is used to move the read / write area closest to the target data band above the target data band. This compares to conventional solutions that only have a single read / write area. In order to read data in the target data band, this single read / write area must be moved above the target data band in order to read / write data there. Therefore, the magnetic head disclosed herein can reduce the head's travel distance in its height direction.

[0014] Reducing the travel distance of the magnetic head also reduces its height. Because the thickness of a tape drive is positively correlated with the travel distance and height of the magnetic head, reducing the travel distance and shortening the height of the magnetic head can reduce the thickness of the tape drive in which the magnetic head resides. This reduction in tape drive thickness allows for the placement of more tape drives within a tape storage rack, thereby increasing the rack's tape storage density.

[0015] In the solution disclosed herein, since the height of the magnetic head itself is shortened, more magnetic heads can be manufactured on a wafer of the same area compared to the magnetic heads of the traditional solution, thereby reducing the processing and manufacturing cost of the magnetic heads.

[0016] In one implementation of the present disclosure, each read / write area includes one write head area and one read head area. In another implementation of the present disclosure, each read / write area includes an unlimited number of write head areas and read head areas. The read head area is a continuous area that is not divided by the write head area; the write head area is a continuous area that is not divided by the read head area.

[0017] In one possible implementation, each of the multiple read-write areas includes a write head area and a read head area, and the multiple read-write areas include a first type of read-write area and a second type of read-write area. The arrangement order of the write head area and the read head area of ​​the first type of read-write area is opposite to the arrangement order of the write head area and the read head area of ​​the second type of read-write area.

[0018] In tape storage technology, it is generally required that the head can access data (e.g., write data) on the tape when the tape is rotating forward, and can also access data (e.g., write data) on the tape when the tape is rotating backward. Forward rotation means the tape moves to the right relative to the head, and reverse rotation means the tape moves to the left relative to the head.

[0019] After writing data based on the write header area, it is necessary to read the header area to verify whether the written data is correct.

[0020] Therefore, in the scheme in which each read-write area includes a write head area and a read head area, the multiple read-write areas may include a first type of read-write area and a second type of read-write area, wherein the arrangement of the write head area and the read head area of ​​the first type of read-write area is opposite to the arrangement of the write head area and the read head area of ​​the second type of read-write area.

[0021] For example, the first type of read-write area is a read-write area arranged in the form of a write head area-a read head area (the write head area is on the left and the read head area is on the right), while the second type of read-write area is a read-write area arranged in the form of a read head area-a write head area (the write head area is on the right and the read head area is on the left).

[0022] Thus, when data needs to be written, the write head area of ​​the first type read / write zone writes the data when the tape moves rightward relative to the head, and the read head area of ​​the first type read / write zone verifies the written data. When the tape moves leftward relative to the head, although the first type read / write zone cannot complete data access, the write head area of ​​the second type read / write zone can write data, and the read head area of ​​the second type read / write zone verifies the written data, thus completing data access.

[0023] Therefore, in the solution shown in the present disclosure, although each read-write area only includes one write head area and one read head area, because the multiple read-write areas include a first type of read-write area (when the tape rotates along a first direction, the first type of read-write area can write data in the tape) and a second type of read-write area (when the tape rotates along a second direction, the second type of read-write area can write data in the tape), it can still be achieved that: regardless of whether the tape rotates forward or reverse, the magnetic head can access data on the tape, and the data access here is writing data, but the data access can also be reading data.

[0024] The traditional solution has a magnetic head with only one read / write area. In order to realize forward and reverse rotation of the tape, the only read / write area can access data (such as write data). The read / write area has to be write head area-read head area-write head area, or, it has to be read head area-write head area-read head area.

[0025] In a possible implementation, the magnetic head is configured to: when the magnetic tape moves in a first direction, access data on a data band of the magnetic tape through the first type read / write area;

[0026] When the magnetic tape moves in a second direction, data is accessed on another data band of the data tape through the second type read / write area, wherein the first direction and the second direction are opposite to each other.

[0027] In the solution shown in the present disclosure, since the first type of read-write area and the second type of read-write area correspond to different data bands, when the tape rotates forward, the first type of read-write area accesses data on one of the data bands, and when the tape rotates reversely, the second type of read-write area accesses data on another data band.

[0028] It can be seen that in the solution shown in the present disclosure, when the tape is rotating forward and reverse, the magnetic head accesses data on two different data bands of the tape through two different read-write areas, while in the traditional solution, when the tape is rotating forward and reverse, the magnetic head accesses data on the same data band of the tape through a single read-write area.

[0029] In a possible implementation, the magnetic head includes two first magnetic stripes, each of which includes m write head areas and m read head areas distributed along a height direction, where m is an integer greater than or equal to 1;

[0030] The two first magnetic stripes are spliced ​​along the width direction, and the m write head areas of one first magnetic stripe and the m read head areas of the other first magnetic stripe form m first-type read-write areas, and the m read head areas of one first magnetic stripe and the m write head areas of the other first magnetic stripe form m second-type read-write areas.

[0031] In this arrangement, the first type of read / write area is arranged horizontally in the order of write head area - read head area; the second type of read / write area is arranged horizontally in the opposite order of the first type of read / write area, in the order of read head area - write head area. This means that when the magnetic head is composed of longitudinal magnetic stripes (for example, glued together), the upper and lower arrangement order of different magnetic stripes is symmetrical. For example, take two magnetic stripes (i.e., two first magnetic stripes) to form a magnetic head, each magnetic stripe including only one read head area and one write head area (i.e., m=1 as an example): longitudinally, if the first magnetic stripe has the write head area on top and the read head area on the bottom; then the second magnetic stripe has the read head area on top and the write head area on the bottom. After the two magnetic stripes are glued together, the write head area of ​​the first magnetic stripe and the read head area of ​​the second magnetic stripe constitute the first type of read / write area; the write head area of ​​the second magnetic stripe and the read head area of ​​the first magnetic stripe constitute the second type of read / write area.

[0032] It can be seen that the structures of the first magnetic stripe and the second magnetic stripe are actually exactly the same. Rotating the first magnetic stripe 180 degrees along its center will become the second magnetic stripe. Among them, the first magnetic stripe and the second magnetic stripe are both the first magnetic stripes mentioned above, so one of the first magnetic stripes, rotated 180 degrees along its center, will become another first magnetic stripe. Therefore, the head manufacturer only needs to produce magnetic stripes of one specification, which simplifies the process compared to the solution of producing magnetic strips of different specifications to form the magnetic head. The above introduction takes the example of two magnetic stripes each including only one read head area and one write head area. If the magnetic head includes more than two read and write areas (for example, including two first-type read and write areas and two second-type read and write areas), the magnetic stripes that make up the magnetic head also conform to this symmetrical law, which also has the effect of simplifying the process. On the contrary, in the existing technology, the multiple magnetic strips that make up the magnetic head are different, so the head manufacturer has to produce magnetic strips of multiple specifications.

[0033] Since magnetic stripes are usually processed on wafers, the magnetic head includes two first magnetic stripes. The magnetic head manufacturer only needs to process one type of wafer. Compared with the solution of processing two wafers to produce two magnetic stripes, one type of wafer is missing, which further reduces the processing and production cost of the magnetic head.

[0034] In one possible implementation, the magnetic head includes a second magnetic stripe and a third magnetic stripe, the second magnetic stripe includes a write head area and b read head area, the third magnetic stripe includes a read head area and b write head area, and both a and b are integers greater than or equal to 1;

[0035] The arrangement of the a write head areas of the second magnetic stripe is the same as the arrangement of the a read head areas of the third magnetic stripe, and the arrangement of the b read head areas of the second magnetic stripe is the same as the arrangement of the b write head areas of the third magnetic stripe;

[0036] The second magnetic stripe and the third magnetic stripe are spliced ​​along the width direction, and the a write head areas of the second magnetic stripe and the a read head areas of the third magnetic stripe are spliced ​​to form a first-type read-write areas, and the b read head areas of the second magnetic stripe and the b write head areas of the third magnetic stripe are spliced ​​to form b second-type read-write areas.

[0037] In the solution shown in the present disclosure, each of the multiple read / write zones includes a write head zone and a read head zone in the horizontal direction. For example, the first type of read / write zone can be a read / write zone arranged in the order of write head zone-read head zone in the horizontal direction, and the second type of read / write zone can be a read / write zone arranged in the order of read head zone-write head zone in the horizontal direction. Therefore, any read / write zone only includes two "zones" in the horizontal direction. Since one horizontal "zone" occupies one magnetic stripe, the magnetic head shown in the present disclosure only requires two magnetic stripes (i.e., the second magnetic stripe and the third magnetic stripe) to be spliced ​​in the horizontal direction to form the magnetic head.

[0038] In the traditional solution, since the only read-write area has to be the write head area-read head area-write head area, or the read head area-write head area-read head area, the only read-write area has to include three "areas" in the horizontal direction, and one horizontal "area" occupies one magnetic stripe. Therefore, the magnetic head in the traditional solution has to require three magnetic stripes to splice the magnetic head.

[0039] It can be seen that the solution shown in the present disclosure reduces one magnetic strip compared to the traditional solution, saves the manufacturing materials of the magnetic head, and reduces the processing and manufacturing cost of the magnetic head.

[0040] It should be pointed out that in order for the second magnetic stripe and the third magnetic stripe to form a magnetic head including the first type read / write area and the second type read / write area after being spliced ​​in the horizontal direction, the second magnetic stripe and the third magnetic stripe must meet the following conditions:

[0041] The arrangement of the a write head areas of the second magnetic stripe is the same as the arrangement of the a read head areas of the third magnetic stripe, and the arrangement of the b read head areas of the second magnetic stripe is the same as the arrangement of the b write head areas of the third magnetic stripe.

[0042] In this way, after the second magnetic stripe and the third magnetic stripe are spliced ​​in the horizontal direction, a magnetic head including a first type read / write areas and b second type read / write areas can be formed.

[0043] It should be noted that a and b may be equal or unequal.

[0044] In one possible implementation, each read / write area includes multiple access heads, which are write heads or read heads. K access heads located in different read / write areas are connected to the circuit of the tape drive through the same analog switch.

[0045] The analog switch is used to connect the circuits where some of the k access heads are located and disconnect the circuits where the remaining access heads are located, where k is greater than or equal to 2 and less than or equal to the number of the read / write areas.

[0046] In the solution disclosed herein, k access heads located in different read / write areas can be connected to the tape drive's circuitry through a single analog switch. For example, the analog switch includes k output terminals and one input terminal. In this case, the k access heads are connected to the analog switch's k output terminals via signal lines, while the analog switch's single input terminal is connected to the tape drive's circuitry.

[0047] For example, if k is 2 and the analog switch is a single-pole, double-throw (SPDT) switch, the analog switch consists of two output terminals and one input terminal. Two access heads located in different read / write areas are connected to the two output terminals of the analog switch via signal lines, while the input terminal of the analog switch is connected to the circuit of the tape drive. For example, the input terminal of the analog switch is connected to the flexible printed circuit board via a signal line. Therefore, the two access heads would normally require two signal lines to connect to the circuit, but with the analog switch, they can be connected via only one signal line.

[0048] As can be seen, an analog switch can combine k signal lines into one signal line. This reduces the number of signal lines connected to the tape drive circuit by k-1 compared to not using an analog switch. Furthermore, the solution disclosed in this disclosure can control the number of outgoing lines from the magnetic head to a manageable level, preventing it from being excessive.

[0049] In a possible implementation, there is a gap between two adjacent read / write areas, and the gap matches the width of one or more data bands of the magnetic tape.

[0050] The solution shown in this disclosure has the problem of a large number of head output lines due to too many read / write zones, and the problem of a large head travel distance due to too few read / write zones. Therefore, although the magnetic head shown in this disclosure includes multiple read / write zones, there is a gap between adjacent read / write zones, and this gap is the width of one data band or the width of multiple data bands. This way, the number of read / write zones is not too large, and the head travel distance is not too large, taking into account the number of read / write zones and the travel distance of the magnetic head.

[0051] In a possible implementation, the number of the read-write areas is two;

[0052] If the tape has 2n data bands, the spacing matches the width of the (n-1) data bands of the tape;

[0053] If the tape has (2n-1) data bands, the interval matches the width of the (n-2) or (n-1) data bands of the tape, where n is an integer greater than or equal to 2.

[0054] In the solution shown in the present disclosure, the arrangement of the two read-write areas on the magnetic head is related to the number of data bands on the magnetic tape.

[0055] If the number of data bands is even, the interval between the two read-write areas is the width of (n-1) data bands. In this way, n of the 2n data bands are relatively close to one of the read-write areas (recorded as the first read-write area), and are more appropriately accessed by the first read-write area. The other n data bands are relatively close to the other read-write area (recorded as the second read-write area), and are more appropriately accessed by the second read-write area. Therefore, of the two read-write areas, the first read-write area is responsible for accessing data on half of the data bands, and this half of the data bands are all data bands that are relatively close to the first read-write area. The second read-write area is responsible for accessing data on the other half of the data bands, and this other half of the data bands are all data bands that are relatively close to the second read-write area.

[0056] If the number of data bands is an odd number, the interval between the two read-write areas is the width of (n-2) or (n-1) data bands. In this way, n of the (2n-1) data bands are relatively close to one of the read-write areas (denoted as the first read-write area), and are more appropriately accessed by the first read-write area. In addition, n-1 data bands are relatively close to the other read-write area (denoted as the second read-write area), and are more appropriately accessed by the second read-write area. Therefore, of the two read-write areas, the first read-write area is responsible for accessing data for n of the data bands, and these n data bands are all data bands that are relatively close to the first read-write area. The second read-write area is responsible for accessing data for the remaining n-1 data bands, and these n-1 data bands are all data bands that are relatively close to the second read-write area.

[0057] For example, if there are five data bands, the two read / write areas can be separated by the width of one data band or two data bands. Thus, two of the five data bands are closer to the first read / write area and are more appropriately accessed from the first read / write area. The other three data bands are closer to the second read / write area and are more appropriately accessed from the second read / write area. Therefore, the first read / write area is responsible for accessing the two closest data bands, while the second read / write area is responsible for accessing the three closest data bands.

[0058] The solution disclosed herein has two read / write zones. Compared to conventional solutions with only one read / write zone, the number of read / write zones does not increase significantly, and consequently, the number of leads from the head does not increase significantly. Therefore, the number of leads from the head disclosed herein is still within a controllable range. Compared to conventional solutions with only one read / write zone, the two read / write zones, according to the aforementioned principle of nearest access, can reduce the head's travel distance when accessing the tape, shortening the head's height and ultimately reducing the thickness of the tape drive.

[0059] In a second aspect, a tape drive is provided, wherein the tape drive comprises the magnetic head described in the first aspect, and further comprises a motor for driving the magnetic head to move.

[0060] In the solution shown in the present disclosure, when the magnetic head needs to access data on a certain data band (referred to as the target data band) on the magnetic tape, the motor can drive the magnetic head to move to the read-write area closest to the target data band among multiple read-write areas, and position it opposite to the target data band, and then the data on the target data band is accessed by the closest read-write area.

[0061] As can be seen, when the head moves, the read / write area closest to the target data band is moved to a position opposite the target data band. However, when the head moves, the head moves only to the read / write area closest to the target data band, regardless of the distance from the target data band. Therefore, compared with a head with only a single read / write area, a head with multiple read / write areas can reduce the head's travel distance in the height direction.

[0062] Because the thickness of a tape drive is positively correlated with the head's travel distance and the head's height, reducing the head's travel distance and shortening the head's height can reduce the thickness of the tape drive. This reduction in thickness allows more tape drives to be placed within a tape storage rack, thereby increasing the rack's tape storage density.

[0063] The solution shown in the present disclosure is that the tape drive may not include a tape, but the tape drive has a tape port for inserting a tape. When data needs to be stored, an empty tape is inserted into the tape port of the tape drive. After the tape is full of data, the tape is taken out of the tape port and placed in a tape library. When data needs to be read, the tape in the tape library is taken out and inserted into the tape drive to read the data.

[0064] In a possible implementation, the tape drive may further include a magnetic tape;

[0065] The magnetic tape is fixedly installed in the tape drive and is a magnetic medium for storing data.

[0066] The solution shown in the present disclosure, in which the magnetic tape is fixed in the tape drive, is conducive to protecting the magnetic tape from being contaminated and protecting the data stored therein from being lost.

[0067] In the solution where the tapes are fixed in the tape drives, the tape library no longer stores the tapes but the tape drives (with the tapes integrated in the tape drives).

[0068] The solution of fixing the tape in the tape drive eliminates the need to remove the tape from the tape drive, thereby eliminating the need for a robotic arm and allowing a greater number of tape drives to be arranged in the tape library.

[0069] According to a third aspect, a tape storage rack is provided, comprising a rack, a controller, and the tape drive according to the second aspect, wherein the controller and the tape drive are both located in the rack;

[0070] The controller is used to receive an access request from a user and perform data access on the tape in the tape drive based on the access request, where the data access includes reading data and writing data.

[0071] The tape drive can be fixedly installed in the rack, or it can be located in a slot of the rack in a pluggable manner.

[0072] In the solution shown in the present disclosure, since the thickness of the tape drive is relatively thin, a larger number of tape drives can be stored in the cabinet, thereby improving the tape storage density of the cabinet.

[0073] In the solution shown in the present disclosure, the tape is fixed in the tape drive. In this solution, there is no need to remove the tape from the tape drive, thereby eliminating the need for a robotic arm, allowing more tape drives to be arranged in the rack, further improving the tape storage density of the cabinet. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0074] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a magnetic tape moving relative to a magnetic head according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0075] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a conventional magnetic head including a read / write area for accessing data on a magnetic tape;

[0076] 3 is a schematic diagram of a magnetic head including multiple read / write areas for accessing data on a magnetic tape according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0077] 4 is a schematic diagram of a magnetic head including multiple read / write areas for accessing data on a magnetic tape according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0078] 5 is a schematic diagram of a magnetic head including multiple read / write areas for accessing data on a magnetic tape according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0079] 6 is a schematic diagram of a magnetic head including multiple read / write areas for accessing data on a magnetic tape according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0080] 7 is a schematic diagram of a magnetic head including multiple read / write areas for accessing data on a magnetic tape according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0081] 8 is a schematic diagram of a magnetic head including a plurality of read / write areas, each of which includes a write head area and a read head area, provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0082] FIG9 is a schematic diagram of a conventional magnetic head including a read / write area including two write head areas and one read head area, and accessing data on a magnetic tape;

[0083] 10 is a schematic diagram of a magnetic head including two read / write areas, which are respectively a first type read / write area and a second type read / write area, accessing data on a magnetic tape, provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0084] 11 is a schematic diagram of a magnetic head, wherein each read / write area includes two write head areas and one read head area, for accessing data on a magnetic tape, provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0085] FIG12 is a schematic diagram of a magnetic head provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, connected to a circuit via an analog switch;

[0086] 13 is a schematic diagram of a magnetic head in which each read / write area includes two read head areas and one write head area, provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0087] 14 is a schematic diagram of a magnetic head provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein one read / write area includes two write head areas and one read head area, and another read / write area includes two read head areas and one write head area;

[0088] FIG15 is a schematic diagram of a manufacturing process of a magnetic head formed by splicing two first magnetic strips provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0089] Description of Reference Numerals

[0090] 10. Magnetic head; 20. Magnetic tape; 30. First tape reel; 40. Second tape reel.

[0091] 1. First magnetic stripe; 2. Second magnetic stripe; 3. Read / write area; 4. Analog switch; 5. Third magnetic stripe; 6. Fourth magnetic stripe; 7. Fifth magnetic stripe; 8. Sixth magnetic stripe; 9. Seventh magnetic stripe; 11. Eighth magnetic stripe; 12. Ninth magnetic stripe.

[0092] 21. First data band; 22. Second data band; 23. Third data band; 24. Fourth data band; 25. Fifth data band; 26. Sixth data band.

[0093] 31. Write head area; 311. Write head; 32. Read head area; 321. Read head. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0094] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present disclosure more clear, the embodiments of the present disclosure will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0095] This embodiment relates to a magnetic head of a tape drive. The tape drive may be, but is not limited to, a linear tape open (LTO) tape drive.

[0096] To facilitate understanding, the terms involved in this embodiment are first explained.

[0097] Magnetic tape is a ribbon-shaped magnetic medium with a magnetic layer, used to record sound, images, digital, or other signals. Tape is typically divided into multiple data bands across its width. Current LTO tape drives typically use a 12.7mm-wide tape with four data bands.

[0098] A magnetic head is a component that uses magnetic principles to write (i.e., record) data on a magnetic medium (such as a magnetic tape) and read data recorded on the magnetic medium.

[0099] The magnetic head includes a read / write area, which is an area used to access data on the magnetic medium. Accessing data includes writing data or reading data.

[0100] The read / write area is further divided into a write area and a read area. The write area is an area where multiple write heads are distributed, and the read area is an area where multiple read heads are distributed.

[0101] The write head is a component located on the magnetic head that records data on the magnetic medium (such as a magnetic tape) by magnetizing and changing the magnetic field of the magnetic material on the magnetic medium.

[0102] The read head is a component located on the magnetic head that reads data recorded on the magnetic medium (such as a magnetic tape) by sensing the magnetic field of the magnetic material on the magnetic medium.

[0103] The following introduces the structural principles of tape drives for tape storage.

[0104] FIG1 is a top view of a tape drive. The tape drive includes a magnetic head 10 and a tape drive mechanism. The tape drive mechanism includes a first tape reel 30 and a second tape reel 40. One end of a magnetic tape 20 is wound around the first tape reel 30, and the other end is wound around the second tape reel 40. The magnetic tape 20 passes around the magnetic head 10 and contacts the magnetic head 10. As the first tape reel 30 and the second tape reel 40 rotate, the magnetic tape 20 moves relative to the magnetic head 10. For example, as shown in FIG1 , if the first tape reel 30 and the second tape reel 40 rotate counterclockwise, the magnetic tape 20 moves rightward relative to the magnetic head 10.

[0105] The magnetic tape 20 moves relative to the magnetic head 10 , and the magnetic head 10 accesses data on the magnetic tape 20 .

[0106] As shown in FIG2 , it is a schematic diagram of a scenario in which a magnetic head 10 accesses data on a magnetic tape 20 in a traditional solution. As shown in FIG2 , the magnetic tape 20 has a certain width, such as the width is denoted as W1 .

[0107] 2 , the tape 20 is divided into a plurality of data bands along the width direction. For example, as shown in FIG2 , the tape 20 has four data bands, which are respectively referred to as a first data band 21 , a second data band 22 , a third data band 23 and a fourth data band 24 .

[0108] 2 , the magnetic head 10 has a read / write area. The magnetic head 10 moves up and down along the width direction of the magnetic tape 20 to access data on each data band of the magnetic tape 20 .

[0109] For example, as shown in FIG2 , when data needs to be accessed on the first data band 21, the magnetic head 10 needs to be moved to its read / write area, opposite to the first data band 21 of the magnetic tape 20 (refer to the position of the magnetic head 10 at the fourth moment shown in FIG2 ), and then the magnetic tape 20 moves left and right relative to the magnetic head 10 to fill or read the first data band 21 of the magnetic tape 20.

[0110] When data needs to be accessed on the second data band 22, the head 10 needs to move to its read / write area, opposite to the second data band 22 of the tape 20 (refer to the position of the head 10 at the third moment shown in Figure 2), and then the tape 20 moves left and right relative to the head 10 to fill or read the second data band 22 of the tape 20.

[0111] When data needs to be accessed on the third data band 23, the head 10 needs to move to its read / write area, opposite to the third data band 23 of the tape 20 (refer to the position of the head 10 at the second moment shown in Figure 2), and then the tape 20 moves left and right relative to the head 10 to fill or read the third data band 23 of the tape 20.

[0112] When data needs to be accessed on the fourth data band 24, the head 10 needs to move to its read / write area, opposite to the fourth data band 24 of the tape 20 (refer to the position of the head 10 at the first moment shown in Figure 2), and then the tape 20 moves left and right relative to the head 10 to write or read the fourth data band 24 of the tape 20.

[0113] In this way, the entire magnetic tape 20 is written or read by moving the magnetic head 10 up and down relative to the magnetic tape 20 and by moving the magnetic tape 20 left and right relative to the magnetic head 10 .

[0114] It should be noted that in FIG. 2 , the magnetic head 10 only moves up and down along the width direction of the magnetic tape, and does not move left and right along the length direction of the magnetic tape 20 . FIG. 2 is only for the convenience of distinguishing and viewing the positions of the magnetic head 10 at different times.

[0115] Because the magnetic tape 20 moves around the magnetic head 10 and the magnetic head 10 is in contact with the magnetic tape 20, in order to avoid the edge position of the magnetic head 10 from scratching the magnetic tape 20, as shown in Figure 2, no matter where the magnetic head 10 moves to, the end of the magnetic head 10 along the height direction always extends out of the edge of the magnetic tape 20 along the width direction, wherein the height direction of the magnetic head 10 is consistent with the width direction of the magnetic tape 20.

[0116] For example, when the magnetic head 10 moves to its upper end closest to the upper edge of the magnetic tape 20, as shown in FIG2 , and its read / write area faces the fourth data band 24, the length d that the upper end of the magnetic head 10 protrudes from the upper edge of the magnetic tape 20 is. When the magnetic head 10 moves to its lower end closest to the lower edge of the magnetic tape 20, as shown in FIG2 , and its read / write area faces the first data band 21, the length d that the lower end of the magnetic head 10 protrudes from the lower edge of the magnetic tape 20 is.

[0117] Therefore, in order to ensure that the upper and lower ends of the magnetic head 10 always extend beyond the upper and lower edges of the magnetic tape 20, as shown in Figure 2, the height of the magnetic head 10 itself will be relatively large. In addition, the magnetic head 10 needs to move up and down in the tape drive, so there needs to be enough space in the tape drive for the magnetic head 10 to move up and down.

[0118] Continuing with reference to FIG2 , in the tape drive, the sum of the height of the magnetic head 10 itself and the up and down movement stroke of the magnetic head (which can be recorded as the head stroke height) is at least H1. Referring to FIG2 , H1=W1+6h+2d, where h is the height of the read / write area 3, which is approximately the width of a single data band.

[0119] However, when the magnetic head 10 shown in FIG. 2 accesses data on the magnetic tape 20 , there are at least the following problems.

[0120] First, the head travel height H1 is relatively large, resulting in a thicker tape drive.

[0121] For example, the width W1 of the magnetic tape 20 is about 12.7 mm, and the width of each data band is about 3 mm. Therefore, the height of the magnetic head 10 itself needs to be about 27 mm. The stroke height of the tape drive is about 9 mm, and the head stroke height H1 of the magnetic head 10 is about 36 mm. Add the thickness of the upper and lower shells of the tape drive (2×2 mm), and the thickness of the tape drive is at least greater than 40 mm.

[0122] Secondly, although the tape drive is relatively thick, the space occupied by the tape in the tape drive is relatively small, resulting in a relatively low storage capacity density of the tape drive.

[0123] For example, a 40mm thick tape drive has a tape width of only 12.7mm, and the tape drive's storage capacity density is less than 31.75%. Storage capacity density, also known as tape storage density, is the ratio of the tape width (i.e., the tape thickness) to the tape drive's thickness.

[0124] This embodiment provides a magnetic head 10 having a relatively short travel stroke, which can shorten the height of the magnetic head 10 itself. A short travel stroke and a short height of the magnetic head 10 can reduce the head travel height, thereby reducing the thickness of the tape drive. This reduced thickness also increases the storage capacity density of the tape drive while maintaining the same tape width. Furthermore, a reduced tape drive thickness allows the cabinet used to store the tape drives to accommodate a greater number of tape drives.

[0125] Furthermore, the magnetic head 10 of this embodiment is constructed using only two magnetic strips. Compared to conventional magnetic heads that require three magnetic strips, this omission reduces material costs for the magnetic head 10 and, in turn, reduces manufacturing costs. Furthermore, because the height of the magnetic head itself is shortened, the height of the magnetic strips that make up the head is also shortened. Consequently, more magnetic strips can be fabricated on a wafer of the same area, further reducing manufacturing costs for the magnetic head 10.

[0126] Moreover, compared with a magnetic head including more read-write areas, the two magnetic strips used in a magnetic head including two read-write areas are the same magnetic strips with the same structure and material. Therefore, when processing the magnetic strips, only one wafer needs to be produced, which further reduces the processing and production cost of the magnetic head 10.

[0127] The features of the magnetic head shown in this embodiment are described below.

[0128] Since the directional nouns up, down, left and right are involved in the introduction of this embodiment, referring to Figure 3, the width direction of the tape 20 can be regarded as the up and down direction, and the direction perpendicular to the width direction can be regarded as the left and right direction. The movement of the tape 20 is to the left or right.

[0129] The height direction of the magnetic head 10 is the same as the width direction of the magnetic tape 20 , both being up and down directions. The width direction of the magnetic head 10 is the same as the length direction of the magnetic tape 20 , both being left and right directions.

[0130] As shown in Figure 3, the magnetic head 10 includes multiple read-write areas 3, which are arranged in the height direction of the magnetic head 10, and there is a gap between two adjacent read-write areas 3. In Figure 3, two read-write areas 3 are used as an example, and the two read-write areas 3 are respectively recorded as read-write area 3a and read-write area 3b to distinguish them.

[0131] The interval may match the interval between two adjacent data bands of the magnetic tape (see FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 ), or may match the width of one or more data bands of the magnetic tape (see FIG. 3 ).

[0132] Because the magnetic head 10 includes multiple read / write areas 3 in the height direction, these multiple read / write areas 3 can access data on multiple data bands of the magnetic tape according to the following nearest access principle:

[0133] When data needs to be accessed on a certain data band (referred to as the target data band), if there is a read / write area (referred to as the target read / write area) that is opposite to the target data band among the multiple read / write areas 3, the head does not need to be moved. If there is no read / write area that is opposite to the target data band among the multiple read / write areas, the head needs to be moved. The head only needs to be moved so that the read / write area closest to the target data band is opposite to the target data band position, thus becoming the target read / write area. After the target read / write area is opposite to the target data band, the target read / write area can access data on the target data band.

[0134] The data band is opposite to the read-write area, which can also be said to be the case that the read-write area is located above the data band, and the positive projection of the read-write area on the magnetic tape covers the data band.

[0135] It should be noted that in this embodiment, "closest" is a basic principle, but some cases that violate this principle are not excluded. For example, when two read / write areas are close to the target band, either of them can be selected to access the target data band; when the read / write area closest to the target band cannot access the target band due to structural or other limitations, the read / write area farther away can access the target band; when the read / write area closest to the target band fails, the read / write area farther away can access the target band. Therefore, as long as the tape drive's head access logic for bands conforms to the "closest" principle in most cases, it is within the scope of this embodiment.

[0136] It can be seen that the magnetic head in this embodiment includes multiple read-write areas, compared with the magnetic head including only one read-write area. When accessing a magnetic tape of the same width, such as when accessing a magnetic tape including four data bands, the multiple read-write areas access data in these four data bands according to the above-mentioned nearest principle, and the distance moved by the magnetic head is smaller than the distance moved by the magnetic head when accessing data in these four data bands with only one read-write area.

[0137] Therefore, the magnetic head of this embodiment includes multiple read / write areas, which can reduce the vertical movement stroke of the magnetic head 10. Once the movement stroke of the magnetic head 10 is reduced, the height of the magnetic head 10 itself can be shortened, thereby reducing the head stroke height (wherein the head stroke height is the sum of the head movement stroke and the height of the magnetic head itself).

[0138] For example, referring to FIG3 , the head stroke height is H2, H2=W1+2h+2d, which is about 24 mm. Obviously, compared with the solution shown in FIG2 , the head stroke height is reduced by 4h, such as 12 mm. The thickness of the tape drive can be reduced to 26 mm, and the tape storage density of the tape drive is about 48.85%.

[0139] The arrangement and number of the multiple read-write areas 3 are described below.

[0140] There are two ways to arrange the multiple read / write areas 3. Referring to FIG4 and FIG5 , one is that the multiple read / write areas 3 are arranged sequentially along the height direction of the magnetic head, and the interval between two adjacent read / write areas 3 matches the interval between two adjacent data bands.

[0141] The other is that a plurality of read / write areas 3 are arranged along the height direction of the magnetic head, and the interval between two adjacent read / write areas 3 matches the width of one or more data bands.

[0142] The following describes the specific arrangement and number of the read-write areas 3 for the two arrangements mentioned above.

[0143] (1) Multiple read / write areas 3 are arranged in sequence along the height direction of the magnetic head, and the interval between two adjacent read / write areas 3 matches the interval between two adjacent data bands.

[0144] Among them, the two intervals are matched, that is, the two intervals are equal or nearly equal. The two numerical values ​​involved in the matching in this embodiment, unless otherwise specified, are equal or nearly equal.

[0145] For example, if the interval between two adjacent data bands is greater than or equal to 0 and smaller than the width of a single data band, then the interval between two adjacent read / write areas 3 is also greater than or equal to 0 and smaller than the width of a single data band.

[0146] As an example, if the interval between two adjacent data bands is 0, then the interval between two adjacent read-write areas is also 0. In this case, these multiple read-write areas are connected end to end and can also be regarded as one read-write area, and can be manufactured as one read-write area during processing.

[0147] Since the interval between two adjacent read / write areas 3 is relatively small, much smaller than the width of a single data band, the number of read / write areas 3 is less than or equal to the number of data bands.

[0148] FIG4 and FIG5 are schematic diagrams showing that a plurality of read / write areas 3 are arranged along the height direction of the magnetic head. FIG4 and FIG5 both take the example of a magnetic tape 20 having four data bands.

[0149] As shown in Figure 4 , the number of read / write areas 3 is equal to the number of data bands. These areas are arranged side by side along the height of the magnetic head, with the spacing between adjacent read / write areas 3 being equal to or nearly equal to the spacing between adjacent data bands. Figure 4 illustrates four data bands, so there are also four read / write areas 3. For ease of distinction, they are designated as read / write area 3a, read / write area 3b, read / write area 3c, and read / write area 3d.

[0150] As shown in Figure 5 , the number of read / write areas 3 is smaller than the number of data bands. These areas are arranged side by side along the height of the magnetic head. The spacing between two adjacent read / write areas 3 is equal to or nearly equal to the spacing between two adjacent data bands. Figure 5 illustrates four data bands and two read / write areas, which are designated as read / write area 3a and read / write area 3b for clarity.

[0151] 4 , when the magnetic head 10 accesses data on the magnetic tape 20 , the multiple read / write areas 3 of the magnetic head 10 and the multiple data bands of the magnetic tape 20 are positioned opposite to each other.

[0152] Therefore, as shown in Figure 4 , the head 10 only needs to move a small distance in the vertical direction (i.e., the head 10 fine-tunes its position up and down) to access data on all data bands on the magnetic tape 20. This distance is much smaller than the width of a single data band. In this solution, the head travel height is H3, where H3 = W1 + 2d, or approximately 18 mm. Since the tape drive is slightly thicker than the tape width, the tape drive is relatively thin and has a large storage capacity.

[0153] In the solution where the number of read / write areas 3 is smaller than the number of data bands, when the head 10 accesses data on the magnetic tape 20, the head 20 only needs to move fewer times (compared to the solution shown in FIG2 ), and each time it moves the width of one or more data bands, it can access data on all data bands of the magnetic tape 20.

[0154] As shown in FIG5 , when magnetic head 10 accesses data on magnetic tape 20, it only needs to move once, with a travel distance equal to the width of two data bands, to access data on all four data bands on magnetic tape 20. In this solution, the head travel height is H4, where H4 = W1 + 4h + 2d, e.g., approximately 30 mm. This is significantly reduced by 2h, e.g., 6 mm, compared to the solution shown in FIG2 .

[0155] (2) Multiple read / write areas 3 are arranged along the height direction of the magnetic head, and the interval between two adjacent read / write areas 3 matches the width of one or more data bands.

[0156] For example, a plurality of read / write areas 3 are arranged along the height direction of the magnetic head, and the interval between two adjacent read / write areas 3 is equal to or nearly equal to the width of a data band.

[0157] Thus, when the magnetic head 10 accesses data on the magnetic tape 20, one data band of the magnetic tape 20 separates two adjacent read / write areas 3. In this scenario where one data band separates two adjacent read / write areas 3, the magnetic head 10 only needs to move once, and the movement stroke is the width of a single data band. This allows the magnetic head 10 to access data on all data bands of the magnetic tape 20, thus reducing the movement stroke of the magnetic head 10.

[0158] For another example, the plurality of read / write areas 3 are arranged along the height direction of the magnetic head, and the interval between two adjacent read / write areas 3 is equal to or nearly equal to the width of the plurality of data bands.

[0159] Thus, when the magnetic head 10 accesses data on the magnetic tape 20, multiple data bands of the magnetic tape 20 separate adjacent read / write areas 3. This separation of multiple data bands between adjacent read / write areas 3 balances the number of movements of the magnetic head 10 and the number of read / write areas, resulting in fewer movements of the magnetic head 10 and fewer read / write areas. Fewer movements reduces the travel distance, while fewer read / write areas lowers the manufacturing cost of the magnetic head and reduces the number of wiring required (the read / write area contains numerous read and write heads, both of which require external signal wiring).

[0160] The aforementioned "spacing equal to or nearly equal to the widths of the multiple data bands" means that the spacing is approximately equal to the sum of the widths of the multiple data bands. If there is a gap greater than zero between two adjacent data bands, as shown in Figure 6 , the spacing is approximately equal to the sum of the widths of the multiple data bands and the gaps between the multiple data bands.

[0161] Since the interval between two adjacent read / write areas 3 matches the width of at least one data band, the number of read / write areas 3 is smaller than the number of data bands.

[0162] The number of read / write areas 3 can be determined based on simulation and test results, such as the head travel height and the number of head leads. The following example illustrates the arrangement of two read / write areas 3 when the magnetic tape 20 has two or more data bands.

[0163] (1) The magnetic tape 20 has 2n data bands, where n is an integer greater than or equal to 2.

[0164] That is, the magnetic tape 20 has an even number of data bands, such as 4, 6, or even more.

[0165] The interval between the two read / write areas 3 can match the width of n-1 data bands of the magnetic tape 20. Thus, when the magnetic head 10 accesses data on the magnetic tape 20, the two read / write areas 3 are separated by n-1 data bands.

[0166] Furthermore, one read / write area 3 is responsible for accessing data on n data bands (these n data bands are positioned continuously), and another read / write area 3 is responsible for accessing data on the remaining n data bands (these n data bands are positioned continuously).

[0167] With an even number of read / write areas 3 arranged in the above manner, based on the most recent access principle described above, the magnetic head can access all data bands with a minimum movement stroke.

[0168] For example, as shown in Figure 3, magnetic tape 20 has a width of W1 and has four data bands: a first data band 21, a second data band 22, a third data band 23, and a fourth data band 24. There is one data band between the two read / write areas 3. In the scheme shown in Figure 3, when the magnetic head accesses the tape according to the nearest access principle, the head travel height is H2, where H2 = W1 + 2h + 2d.

[0169] For example, as shown in Figure 6, magnetic tape 20 has a width of W2 and includes six data bands: first data band 21, second data band 22, third data band 23, fourth data band 24, fifth data band 25, and sixth data band 26. Two data bands separate the two read / write areas 3 (i.e., read / write area 3a and read / write area 3b). In the scenario shown in Figure 6, when the magnetic head accesses the tape according to the nearest access principle, the head travel height is H5, where H5 = W2 + 4h + 2d.

[0170] (2) The magnetic tape 20 has 2n-1 data bands, where n is an integer greater than or equal to 2.

[0171] That is, the magnetic tape 20 has an odd number of data bands, such as 3, 5, or even more.

[0172] The spacing between the two read-write areas 3 can match the width of n-2 or n-1 data bands of the magnetic tape 20. Thus, when the magnetic head 10 accesses data on the magnetic tape 20, the two read-write areas 3 are separated by n-2 or n-1 data bands.

[0173] Furthermore, one read-write area 3 is responsible for accessing data on n-1 data bands (these n-1 data bands are positioned continuously), and another read-write area 3 is responsible for accessing data on the remaining n data bands (these n data bands are positioned continuously).

[0174] With the odd-numbered read / write areas 3 arranged in the above manner, based on the most recent access principle, the magnetic head can access all data bands with the minimum movement stroke.

[0175] For example, as shown in Figure 7, magnetic tape 20 has a width of W3 and includes a first data band 21, a second data band 22, a third data band 23, a fourth data band 24, and a fifth data band 25, for a total of five data bands. The interval between two read / write areas 3 (i.e., between read / write area 3a and read / write area 3b) can be two or one data bands, with Figure 7 exemplifying a two-band interval. In the scheme shown in Figure 7, when the magnetic head accesses the tape according to the nearest access principle, the head travel height is H6, where H6 = W3 + 4h + 2d.

[0176] In summary, and with reference to Figures 2 to 7 , under the same conditions, that is, under the premise that the tape width W is the same, the dimension d of the head end extending from the tape edge is the same, and the height of the read / write area is the same, the solution in which the head includes multiple read / write areas can reduce the head's movement travel in its height direction compared to the traditional solution with only a single read / write area.

[0177] By reducing the travel distance of the magnetic head, the height of the magnetic head itself can also be shortened. Since the thickness of a tape drive is related to the travel distance of the magnetic head and the height of the magnetic head itself, once the thickness of the tape drive is reduced, when the tape drive is applied to the tape storage rack, more tape drives can be accommodated while the rack size remains unchanged, thereby increasing the rack's tape storage density.

[0178] The magnetic head 10 is composed of multiple magnetic strips, which are usually manufactured on a wafer. Since the height of the magnetic head 10 itself is shortened and the head and the magnetic strips are the same height, the height of the magnetic strips is also shortened. Therefore, compared with the magnetic head of the traditional scheme, more magnetic strips can be manufactured on a wafer of the same area, and more magnetic heads can be manufactured, thereby reducing the processing and manufacturing cost of the magnetic head.

[0179] From the above analysis, it can be seen that the more read / write areas 3 a magnetic head 10 includes, the smaller the vertical travel of the magnetic head 10 and the smaller the head travel height. If the number of read / write areas 3 is equal to the number of data bands, the magnetic head 10 does not need to move, and the travel distance is close to zero. However, too many read / write areas 3 can also lead to other problems, as described below.

[0180] FIG8 is a schematic diagram of a magnetic head 10 including three read / write areas 3. Two of the three read / write areas are first-type read / write areas 3A, and one is a second-type read / write area 3B. In FIG8 , the two first-type read / write areas 3A are designated as first-type read / write area 3A-1 and first-type read / write area 3A-2, respectively, to distinguish them. To facilitate distinguishing between the various write heads and read heads in FIG8 , the multiple write heads are designated by reference numerals 311 to 316, and the multiple read heads are designated by reference numerals 321 to 326.

[0181] 8 , each read / write area 3 includes a write head area 31 and a read head area 32 arranged along the width direction of the magnetic head 10 , wherein the width direction of the magnetic head 10 is perpendicular to the height direction of the magnetic head, and the height direction of the magnetic head is consistent with the width direction of the tape.

[0182] 8 , each write head area 31 includes multiple write heads 311, such as 32 write heads 311. Each read head area 321 includes multiple read heads 321, such as 32 read heads 321. The write head area 31 does not include a read head, and the read head area 32 does not include a write head.

[0183] As shown in FIG12 , each write head area 31 also includes two servo heads, with multiple write heads 311 positioned between the two servo heads. The servo heads are configured to align the multiple write heads 311 with the multiple tracks within a data band of the magnetic tape. Continuing with FIG12 , each read head area 32 also includes two servo heads, with multiple read heads 321 positioned between the two servo heads. The servo heads are configured to align the multiple read heads 321 with the multiple tracks within a data band of the magnetic tape.

[0184] Each write head 311 , each read head 321 and each servo head needs to be connected to the circuit of the tape drive through a signal line (such as two positive and negative signal lines).

[0185] It can be seen that the more read-write areas 3 there are, the more access heads there are of the magnetic head 10. The access heads include write heads, read heads and servo heads. Therefore, the more output lines there are of the magnetic head 10, the more complex the circuit layout of the tape drive will be.

[0186] Furthermore, the magnetic head 10 is usually connected to the circuit via a flexible printed circuit (FPC), and the number of signal lines carried by the FPC is limited.

[0187] Although the magnetic head shown in this embodiment includes multiple read-write areas 3, the number of wires output from the magnetic head can be controlled.

[0188] The following describes a solution for controlling the number of wires output from the magnetic head.

[0189] (1) In the magnetic head of this embodiment, each read / write area 3 includes two areas: a write head area 31 and a read head area 32. Compared with the read / write area of ​​the traditional solution, which includes three areas: a write head area, a read head area, and a write head area, this embodiment has one less write head area. Compared with the read / write area of ​​the traditional solution, which includes three areas: a read head area, a write head area, and a read head area, this embodiment has one less read head area. In short, compared with the traditional read / write area, the read / write area of ​​this embodiment has one less "write head area" or "read head area", thereby controlling the number of lines output from the magnetic head.

[0190] The following describes why the traditional read / write area is a write head area-read head area-write head area or a read head area-write head area-read head area, and why the read / write area of ​​this embodiment can include a write head area and a read head area.

[0191] (1) The reason why the traditional read / write area is write head area-read head area-write head area or read head area-write head area-read head area.

[0192] In magnetic tape storage technology, it is generally required that the magnetic head 10 can access data on the magnetic tape 20 when the magnetic tape 20 is rotating forward, and can also access data on the magnetic tape 20 when the magnetic tape 20 is rotating reversely. The magnetic tape 20 rotating forward means that the magnetic tape 20 moves to the right relative to the magnetic head 10, and the magnetic tape 20 rotating reversely means that the magnetic tape 20 moves to the left relative to the magnetic head 10.

[0193] After writing data based on the write header area, it is necessary to read the header area to verify whether the written data is correct.

[0194] Therefore, for a solution with only one read / write zone, if the read / write zone consists of only one write head zone and one read head zone, such as the write head zone-read head zone, when the tape is rotating forward, the tape is equivalent to the head moving to the right. The tape first passes through the write head zone. When the tape passes through the write head zone, the write head zone writes data. The tape continues to move to the right and passes through the read head zone. The read head zone verifies whether the written data is correct. Therefore, when the tape is rotating forward, the single read / write zone can access data normally. However, when the tape is reversing, the tape moves to the left relative to the head. The tape first passes through the read head zone. The read head zone can only read data, not write data. The tape continues to move to the left and passes through the write head zone. Although the write head zone can write data, the data written by the write head zone cannot be verified for correctness. Therefore, when the tape is reversing, the single read / write zone cannot access data normally.

[0195] For a solution with only one read / write area, such as a read / write area consisting of a write head area-read head area-write head area, as shown in FIG9 , for ease of introduction, one of the two write head areas is labeled 1# and the other is labeled 2#.

[0196] Refer to Figure 9, which shows a schematic diagram of a magnetic head writing data on a magnetic tape. When the magnetic tape 20 is rotating forward, it moves rightward relative to the magnetic head 10. The 1# write head section 31 of the unique read / write area 3 writes data on the second data band 22, and the read head section 32 verifies whether the data written to the second data band 22 is correct. When the magnetic tape 20 is rotating reversely, it moves leftward relative to the magnetic head 10. The 2# write head section 31 of the unique read / write area 3 writes data on the second data band 22, and the read head section 32 verifies whether the data written to the second data band 22 is correct. As can be seen, the unique read / write area can access data on the magnetic tape during both forward and reverse rotations.

[0197] Similarly, for a solution with only one read / write area, such as the read / write area is 1# read head area-write head area-2# read head area, when the tape rotates forward, the tape moves to the right, the write head area writes data, and the 2# read head area verifies whether the written data is correct. When the tape rotates reversely, the tape moves to the left, the write head area writes data, and the 1# read head area verifies whether the written data is correct.

[0198] Therefore, for a magnetic head including one read / write area, the unique read / write area is either write head area-read head area-write head area or read head area-write head area-read head area.

[0199] (2) In a solution where there are multiple read / write areas, each read / write area may include a write head area and a read head area.

[0200] As shown in FIG8 , since there are multiple read / write areas, these multiple read / write areas 3 can be divided into two categories based on the arrangement order of the write head area and the read head area. These categories are referred to as first-category read / write areas 3A and second-category read / write areas 3B. The first-category read / write areas 3A can be arranged as a write head area 31-read head area 32, while the second-category read / write areas 3B can be arranged as a read head area 32-write head area 31. A single magnetic head may have only one first-category read head area and one second-category read head area. Alternatively, a larger number of first-category read head areas and a larger number of second-category read / write areas may be included.

[0201] Then, when the magnetic tape 20 rotates forward, the magnetic tape moves rightward relative to the magnetic head. As shown in FIG8 , data can be accessed from any one of the first-type read / write areas 3A, or from multiple read / write areas 3 in the first-type read / write area 3A. When the magnetic tape 20 rotates reversely, the magnetic tape moves leftward relative to the magnetic head. As shown in FIG8 , data can be accessed from any one of the second-type read / write areas 3B, or from multiple read / write areas 3 in the second-type read / write area 3B.

[0202] For example, as shown in Figure 10, there are two read / write areas 3, one of which is a first-type read / write area 3A and the other is a second-type read / write area 3B. When the magnetic tape 20 is rotating forward, the tape moves rightward relative to the magnetic head. Write head area 31 #1 in the first-type read / write area 3A writes data onto the second data band 22, and read head area 32 verifies the written data is correct. When the magnetic tape 20 is rotating backward, the tape moves leftward relative to the magnetic head. Write head area 31 #2 in the second-type read / write area 3B writes data onto the fourth data band 24, and read head area 32 verifies the written data is correct.

[0203] Therefore, for a magnetic head that includes multiple read-write areas, since the multiple read-write areas include the first type of read-write areas and the second type of read-write areas in which the write head areas and the read head areas are arranged in opposite ways, although each read-write area only includes one write head area and one read head area, the magnetic head can still access data on the tape when the tape is rotating forward and reverse.

[0204] It should be pointed out that in the solution with multiple read / write areas, each read / write area can also be a write head area-read head area-write head area, or a read head area-write head area-read head area. As shown in Figure 11, there are two read / write areas, and each read / write area is an example of a write head area-read head area-write head area. Referring to Figure 11, when the magnetic tape 20 rotates forward, the magnetic tape moves to the right relative to the magnetic head. The 1# write head area 31 may write data on the second data band 22, and the 1# read head area 32 may verify whether the written data is correct. When the magnetic tape 20 rotates forward, the magnetic tape moves to the right relative to the magnetic head. The 3# write head area 31 may write data on the fourth data band 24, and the 2# read head area 32 may verify whether the written data is correct.

[0205] When tape 20 is reversed, the tape moves leftward relative to the magnetic head. This allows write head section 2# 31 to write data on second data band 22, while read head section 1# 32 verifies the written data is correct. When tape 20 is reversed, the tape moves leftward relative to the magnetic head. This allows write head section 4# 31 to write data on fourth data band 24, while read head section 2# 32 verifies the written data is correct.

[0206] It should be pointed out that in a solution with multiple read / write areas, some of the read / write areas may be write head area-read head area-write head area, and another part of the read / write areas may be read head area-write head area-read head area.

[0207] It should be noted that the single write head area 31 is a continuous area and is not divided by the read head area 32, and the single read head area 32 is a continuous area and is not divided by the write head area.

[0208] (2) Control the number of output wires from the magnetic head through analog switches.

[0209] FIG. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of a magnetic head 10 including two read / write areas 3 .

[0210] As shown in Figure 12, each read / write area 3 includes multiple access heads, which can be write heads 311, read heads 321, or servo heads. The k access heads located in different read / write areas 3 are connected to the tape drive circuit via the same analog switch 4.

[0211] The analog switch is used to connect the circuits where some of the k access heads are located, and disconnect the circuits where the remaining access heads are located.

[0212] Among them, k is greater than or equal to 2 and less than or equal to the total number of read-write areas 3. Moreover, the value of k is related to the type of analog switch 4. For example, if the analog switch 4 is a single-pole double-throw switch, k is 2; if the analog switch is a single-pole triple-throw switch, k is 3.

[0213] The k access heads may be k write heads 311 or k read heads 321 , or may include write heads 311 and read heads 321 , where the sum of the number of write heads 311 and read heads 321 is k.

[0214] Then, k write heads 311 located in different read / write areas 3 are connected to the circuitry of the tape drive through the same analog switch 4. For another example, k read heads 321 located in different read / write areas 3 are connected to the circuitry of the tape drive through the analog switch 4. For another example, referring to FIG8 , write heads 311 and read heads 321 located in different read / write areas 3 are connected to the circuitry of the tape drive through the analog switch 4.

[0215] K access heads in different read / write areas 3 are connected to the circuit via an analog switch. For example, the k access heads are connected to the k output terminals of the analog switch, while one input terminal of the analog switch is connected to the circuit of the tape drive. For example, one input terminal of the analog switch is connected to a flexible printed circuit board. Therefore, the analog switch can combine k signal lines into one signal line, which is connected to the circuit of the tape drive, thereby reducing the number of signal lines connected to the circuit.

[0216] For example, as shown in FIG12 , the magnetic head includes two read / write areas 3 , and the analog switch is a single-pole double-throw switch. Then, compared with the solution shown in FIG11 , the number of signal lines output from the magnetic head is reduced by half, thereby controlling the number of signal lines output from the magnetic head.

[0217] In one example, the analog switch can be processed by semiconductor technology and sealed with the magnetic head 10 (ie, packaged together) to achieve integration of the magnetic head and the analog switch.

[0218] In one example, the analog switch can be applied to a magnetic head 10 including a plurality of read / write areas 3. For example, the analog switch can be applied to a solution in which there are multiple read / write areas 3, and each read / write area 3 includes one write head area 31 and one read head area 32. For another example, the analog switch can also be applied to a solution in which there are multiple read / write areas 3, and each read / write area 3 includes two write head areas 31 and one read head area 32. For another example, the analog switch can also be applied to a solution in which there are multiple read / write areas 3, and each read / write area 3 includes one write head area 31 and two read head areas 32. For another example, the analog switch can also be applied to a solution in which there are multiple read / write areas 3, a portion of the read / write areas 3 includes two write head areas 31 and one read head area 32, and the remaining portion of the read / write areas 3 includes one write head area 31 and two read head areas 32.

[0219] The above is a strategy for controlling the number of output lines of the magnetic head when the magnetic head includes multiple read / write areas 3 .

[0220] The characteristics and number of the magnetic stripes included in the magnetic head 10 are described below.

[0221] The magnetic head 10 is formed by splicing a plurality of magnetic strips along the width direction. For example, the plurality of magnetic strips are fixed in the transverse direction by glue to form the magnetic head.

[0222] The transverse direction of the magnetic stripe is also the width direction of the magnetic stripe, which is the left-right direction as shown in Figure 8. The longitudinal direction of the magnetic stripe is also the height direction of the magnetic stripe, which is consistent with the height direction of the magnetic head and the width direction of the magnetic tape, which is the up-down direction as shown in Figure 8.

[0223] The traditional solution includes a read-write zone. Since the read-write zone is arranged in the order of write head zone-read head zone-write head zone in the horizontal direction, it includes three zones in the horizontal direction. One zone in the horizontal direction occupies one magnetic stripe. Therefore, the traditional magnetic head needs to use three magnetic stripes, as shown in Figure 9.

[0224] Taking the magnetic head example shown in Figure 9, referring to Figure 9, the magnetic head 10 includes only one read-write area 3, and its read-write area 3 needs to include two write head areas 31 and one read head area 32 in the horizontal direction. Therefore, the read-write area 3 includes three "areas" in the horizontal direction, and one horizontal "area" occupies one magnetic stripe, so the magnetic head 10 needs to include three magnetic stripes in the horizontal direction.

[0225] Therefore, as shown in Figure 9 , in a solution including only one read / write area 3, the magnetic head includes one fifth magnetic stripe 7 and two fourth magnetic stripes 6. In Figure 9 , the two fourth magnetic stripes 6 are respectively designated as fourth magnetic stripe 6a and fourth magnetic stripe 6b for distinction. Continuing with Figure 9 , a read head area 32 is located on the fifth magnetic stripe 7, and a write head area 31 is located on the fourth magnetic stripe 6. The fifth magnetic stripe 7 is sandwiched between the two fourth magnetic stripes 6 to form the magnetic head 10, thereby forming a read / write area arranged in the order of write head area - read head area - write head area in the transverse direction.

[0226] As for the solution including multiple read / write areas, each read / write area may include only one write head area and one read head area in the horizontal direction, and there are only two areas in the horizontal direction. Therefore, the magnetic head only needs two magnetic stripes, as shown in FIG8 .

[0227] Therefore, compared with the traditional magnetic head, the magnetic head of this embodiment can have one less magnetic stripe, which saves materials and helps reduce the processing and manufacturing cost of the magnetic head.

[0228] For the scheme of using two magnetic strips to process the magnetic head, the following examples can be included.

[0229] Solution 1, as shown in Figure 8, the magnetic head 10 includes a second magnetic stripe 2 and a third magnetic stripe 5, the second magnetic stripe 2 includes a write head area 31 and b read head area 32, and these a write head area 31 and b read head area 32 are distributed in sequence along the height direction of the second magnetic stripe 2, and the third magnetic stripe 5 includes a read head area 32 and b write head area 31, and these a read head area 32 and b write head area 31 are distributed in sequence along the height direction of the third magnetic stripe 5, wherein a and b are both integers greater than or equal to 1, and Figure 8 is an example with a=2 and b=1.

[0230] The arrangement of the a write head areas of the second magnetic stripe 2 is identical to the arrangement of the a read / write areas of the third magnetic stripe 5. The arrangement of the b read head areas of the second magnetic stripe 2 is identical to the arrangement of the b write head areas of the third magnetic stripe 5.

[0231] In this way, the second magnetic stripe 2 and the third magnetic stripe 5 are spliced ​​along the width direction, and the a write head areas 31 of the second magnetic stripe 2 and the a read head areas 32 of the third magnetic stripe 5 are spliced ​​in the width direction to form a first-type read-write areas 3A, and the b read head areas 32 of the second magnetic stripe 2 and the b write head areas 31 of the third magnetic stripe 5 are spliced ​​in the width direction to form b second-type read-write areas 3B.

[0232] Solution 2, as shown in FIG10 , the magnetic head 10 includes two first magnetic stripes 1, wherein the two first magnetic stripes 1 are respectively denoted as first magnetic stripe 1a and first magnetic stripe 1b in FIG10 for distinction. Continuing to refer to FIG10 , each first magnetic stripe 1 includes m write head areas 31 and m read head areas 32 distributed along the height direction. The two first magnetic stripes 1 are spliced ​​along the width direction, and the write head areas 31 and read head areas 32 that are not on the same first magnetic stripe 1 are spliced ​​in the width direction. There are m first-type read / write areas 3A arranged in the order of write head area-read head area, and m second-type read / write areas 3B arranged in the order of read head area-write head area, wherein m is greater than or equal to 1, and FIG10 uses m=1 as an example.

[0233] In this solution, one of the first magnetic stripes 1 can be transformed into another first magnetic stripe 1 after being rotated 180 degrees. For example, as shown in FIG10 , the first magnetic stripe 1b can be transformed into the first magnetic stripe 1a after being rotated 180 degrees.

[0234] For example, in the example of m=1, each first magnetic stripe 1 includes only one write head area and one read head area in the longitudinal direction. For example, the write head area of ​​one first magnetic stripe 1 is on top and the read head area is on the bottom, while the read head area of ​​another first magnetic stripe 1 is on top and the write head area is on the bottom. Then, after rotating one first magnetic stripe 1 by 180 degrees, it becomes another first magnetic stripe 1.

[0235] It should be pointed out that in the second solution, the two first magnetic stripes 1 do not necessarily have to be of the same height. It is sufficient as long as, when the two first magnetic stripes 1 are horizontally spliced, a write head area of ​​one of the first magnetic stripes 1 and a read head area of ​​the other first magnetic stripe 1 are horizontally positioned opposite to each other to form a read-write area.

[0236] Option three, for option one, if a=b, and the position of the write head area 31 of the second magnetic stripe 2 and the position of the read head area 32 of the second magnetic stripe 2 are symmetrically distributed with respect to the transverse center line of the second magnetic stripe 2, and the position of the read head area 32 of the third magnetic stripe 5 and the position of the write head area 31 of the third magnetic stripe 5 are symmetrically distributed with respect to the transverse center line of the third magnetic stripe 5, then after the second magnetic stripe 2 is rotated 180 degrees, it will be mirror-symmetrical with the third magnetic stripe 5, and it can also be achieved that the second magnetic stripe 2 will become the third magnetic stripe 5 after rotating 180 degrees.

[0237] It should be noted that in solution three, the second magnetic stripe 2 and the third magnetic stripe 5 are at the same height.

[0238] In the above-mentioned second solution, the magnetic head 10 includes two read / write areas 3. The manufacturing process of splicing two first magnetic stripes 1 into the magnetic head 10 can be referred to as follows.

[0239] FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing the manufacturing process of splicing a magnetic head 10 with two first magnetic stripes 1 .

[0240] Referring to FIG15 , a wafer including a write head area and a read head area is first processed. FIG15 illustrates a partial area of ​​the wafer; a complete wafer is generally in the form of a circular disk. The wafer is then cut to produce a large number of magnetic strips, referred to as first magnetic strips 1. For ease of description, the reference numerals are followed by a, b, c, d, etc. to distinguish them. FIG15 illustrates four first magnetic strips 1 cut out as an example.

[0241] Afterwards, the plurality of first magnetic stripes 1 are grouped into two groups to obtain a plurality of groups of magnetic stripes. In FIG15 , an example is shown in which four first magnetic stripes 1 are used to obtain two groups of magnetic stripes. The two groups of magnetic stripes are respectively marked as the first group of magnetic stripes A and the second group of magnetic stripes B for distinction.

[0242] Continuing to refer to FIG15 , after the first magnetic stripe 1b in the first group of magnetic stripes A is rotated 180 degrees, it is then spliced ​​together with the first magnetic stripe 1a in the horizontal direction to obtain a magnetic head 10 including two read / write areas 3, which is referred to as magnetic head 10a.

[0243] Similarly, referring to FIG15 , after the first magnetic stripe 1d in the second group of magnetic stripes A is rotated 180 degrees, it is laterally spliced ​​together with the first magnetic stripe 1c to obtain another magnetic head 10 including two read / write areas 3, which is recorded as magnetic head 10b.

[0244] Similarly, one wafer can produce multiple magnetic heads 10 .

[0245] It can be seen that in the solution including two first magnetic strips 1, only one type of wafer needs to be processed. Compared with the prior art which requires processing two or even three types of wafers, this solution can obviously save processing costs.

[0246] The above-mentioned magnetic head including multiple read / write areas is formed by splicing two magnetic stripes. The magnetic head including multiple read / write areas can also be formed by splicing three magnetic stripes. Several implementation schemes are introduced below.

[0247] Example 1: A magnetic head includes multiple read-write areas 3, and its read-write areas 3 can also be read-write areas arranged horizontally in the order of write head area-read head area-write head area. Then, referring to Figure 11, the magnetic head 10 needs to include two sixth magnetic strips 8 and one seventh magnetic stripe 9. The two sixth magnetic stripes 8 in Figure 11 are respectively recorded as the sixth magnetic stripe 8a and the sixth magnetic stripe 8b to distinguish them.

[0248] Continuing to refer to FIG11 , the sixth magnetic stripe 8 has p write head areas 31 distributed along the longitudinal direction (p=2 is used as an example in FIG11 ), so the sixth magnetic stripe 8 can be recorded as a write magnetic stripe, and the seventh magnetic stripe 9 has p read head areas 32 distributed along the longitudinal direction (q=2 is used as an example in FIG11 ), so the seventh magnetic stripe 9 can be recorded as a read magnetic stripe. The arrangement of the p write head areas 31 in the longitudinal direction is the same as the arrangement of the p read head areas in the longitudinal direction. In this way, the seventh magnetic stripe 9 is sandwiched between the two sixth magnetic stripes 8 and spliced ​​into a magnetic head including p read and write areas arranged transversely in the order of write head area-read head area-write head area. Wherein, p is an integer greater than or equal to 2, and FIG11 uses p as an example for 2.

[0249] Example 2: A magnetic head including multiple read-write areas 3, wherein the read-write areas 3 can also be read-write areas arranged in the order of read head area-write head area-read head area horizontally. Then, as shown in FIG13 , the magnetic head 10 needs to include a sixth magnetic stripe 8 (i.e., a write magnetic stripe) and two seventh magnetic stripes 9 (i.e., a read magnetic stripe). In FIG13 , the two seventh magnetic stripes 9 are respectively recorded as the seventh magnetic stripe 9a and the seventh magnetic stripe 9b for distinction. The sixth magnetic stripe 8 is sandwiched between the two seventh magnetic stripes 9 and spliced ​​into a magnetic head including p read-write areas arranged in the order of read head area-write head area-read head area horizontally. FIG13 takes p as an example of 2. As shown in FIG13 , the magnetic head 10 forms two read-write areas, which are respectively recorded as the read-write area 3a and the read-write area 3b for distinction.

[0250] Example 3: A magnetic head includes multiple read / write areas 3. Some of the read / write areas can be arranged in the order of write head area-read head area-write head area horizontally, and another part of the read / write areas can be arranged in the order of read head area-write head area-read head area horizontally. For example, the number of read / write areas is 2, one of which is arranged in the order of write head area-read head area-write head area, and the other is arranged in the order of read head area-write head area-read head area. Then, as shown in FIG14 , the magnetic head includes two eighth magnetic stripes 11 and one ninth magnetic stripe 12. In FIG14 , the two eighth magnetic stripes 11 are respectively marked as the eighth magnetic stripe 11a and the eighth magnetic stripe 11b for distinction. Continuing with FIG14 , the eighth magnetic stripe 11 includes a write head area 31 and a read head area 32 in the longitudinal direction, and the arrangement may be such that the write head area 31 is on top and the read head area 32 is on the bottom. The ninth magnetic stripe 12 includes a write head area 31 and a read head area 32 in the longitudinal direction, and the arrangement may be such that the read head area 32 is on top and the write head area 31 is on the bottom. The ninth magnetic stripe 12 is sandwiched between two eighth magnetic stripes 11, forming two read / write areas 3. One of the two read / write areas is a read / write area 3a, which is arranged in the order of write head area 31 - read head area 32 - write head area 31, and the other is a read / write area 3b, which is arranged in the order of read head area 32 - write head area 31 - read head area 32.

[0251] Continuing to refer to FIG14 , it can be seen that the structures of the eighth magnetic stripe 11 and the ninth magnetic stripe 12 are actually exactly the same. Rotating the eighth magnetic stripe 11 180 degrees along its center becomes the ninth magnetic stripe 12. Therefore, the head manufacturer only needs to produce one specification of magnetic stripe, which simplifies the process compared to the solution of producing magnetic stripes of different specifications to form the magnetic head. In this solution, although three magnetic stripes are used, these three magnetic stripes are the same magnetic stripe and are made of the same type of wafer. It should be pointed out that the above description uses the example that the eighth magnetic stripe 11 and the ninth magnetic stripe 12 both include only one read head area and one write head area. If the magnetic head includes more than two read and write areas, the magnetic stripes that make up the magnetic head also conform to this symmetrical law, which also has the effect of simplifying the process. On the contrary, in the prior art, the multiple magnetic stripes that make up the magnetic head are different, so the head manufacturer has to produce magnetic stripes of multiple specifications.

[0252] Among them, the manufacturing process of the magnetic head in Figure 14 can be seen in Figure 15, except that in the manufacturing of the magnetic head shown in Figure 14, three magnetic strips are required as a group, and one of the magnetic strips in each group of magnetic strips is rotated 180 degrees and spliced ​​with the other two magnetic strips to obtain the magnetic head shown in Figure 14.

[0253] Based on the above, the magnetic head shown in this embodiment includes multiple read-write areas 3. Compared with the magnetic head including only one read-write area, when accessing a magnetic tape of the same width, such as when accessing a magnetic tape including four data bands, the multiple read-write areas access data in these four data bands according to the principle of nearest access, and the distance moved by the magnetic head is smaller than the distance moved by a single read-write area when accessing data in these four data bands.

[0254] Once the head travel is reduced, the head height can also be shortened. The thickness of the tape drive is positively correlated with the head travel and the head height. Therefore, once the head travel is reduced and the head height is shortened, the thickness of the tape drive can also be reduced.

[0255] Once the thickness of the tape drive is reduced, when the thinned tape drive is applied to a tape storage rack, more tape drives can be accommodated while the rack size remains unchanged, thereby improving the rack's tape storage density.

[0256] Because the height of the magnetic head itself is shortened, the magnetic stripe of the spliced ​​magnetic head is the same height as the magnetic head, so the height of the magnetic stripe is also shortened. The magnetic stripe is made on the wafer. Therefore, on the wafer of the same area, more magnetic stripes can be made and more magnetic heads can be spliced, thereby reducing the processing and manufacturing cost of the magnetic head.

[0257] Because each read-write area can include only one write head area and one read head area, only two magnetic strips are needed to splice the magnetic head, saving materials and further reducing the processing and manufacturing cost of the magnetic head.

[0258] Furthermore, for a solution consisting of two magnetic strips, one of which becomes another magnetic stripe when rotated 180 degrees, since the two magnetic strips are the same magnetic stripe with the same structure and material, only one type of wafer is needed to make the two magnetic strips, which can simplify the processing technology of the magnetic head.

[0259] In addition, manufacturing the two magnetic stripes of the magnetic head from one type of wafer reduces the manufacturing cost of the magnetic head compared to manufacturing the two magnetic stripes of the magnetic head from two types of wafers.

[0260] In addition, the read-write area may include only one write head area and one read head area, which is beneficial for controlling the number of leads of the magnetic head so that the number of leads of the magnetic head is not too large.

[0261] This embodiment further provides a tape drive, which includes the magnetic head 10 described above and a motor for driving the magnetic head 10 to move.

[0262] In one example, the tape drive may not include a tape, but the tape drive has a tape port for inserting and removing the tape. The tape 20 described above can be inserted into the tape port of the tape drive in a pluggable manner, wherein the tape 20 is a magnetic medium for providing storage data.

[0263] For example, a blank tape can be inserted into the tape slot of a tape drive to store data. A tape full of data can be removed from the tape slot and placed in a tape library. A blank tape can then be inserted into the tape drive to continue storing data. When a user needs to access a tape in the tape library, they simply remove the tape from the library and insert it into the tape slot of the tape drive, which then reads the data.

[0264] Among them, inserting the tape into the tape drive, taking the tape out of the tape drive, inserting the tape into the tape library, and taking the tape out of the tape library can all be performed by the robotic arm.

[0265] A tape library can be a rack for storing tapes. For example, tapes and tape drives are placed in different racks, with some racks used to store tapes (these racks are the tape library) and other racks used to house tape drives. A tape library can also be slots in a rack used to store tapes. For example, tapes and tape drives are placed in the same rack, with some slots used to install tape drives and others used to insert tapes (these slots are the tape library).

[0266] In another example, the tape drive may also include the aforementioned magnetic tape 20, which is fixedly mounted in the housing of the tape drive, making the tape drive an integrated tape drive from which the tape cannot be removed. This integrated tape drive is advantageous in protecting the tape from contamination and preventing the loss of stored data.

[0267] In the solution where tapes are fixed in tape drives, the tape library no longer stores tapes but tape drives. These tape drives include those that are full of data, those that are storing data, and those that have not yet stored data.

[0268] The solution of fixing the tape in the tape drive eliminates the need to remove the tape from the tape drive, thereby eliminating the need for a robotic arm and allowing a greater number of tape drives to be arranged in the tape library.

[0269] The tape is fixed in a tape drive. The tape drive has an appearance similar to a hard disk drive (HDD) and can be called a "tape reel." Because the tape drive is relatively thin, it can be deployed in the form of a 3.5-inch HDD.

[0270] This embodiment further provides a tape storage rack, which includes a rack, a controller, and the tape drive described above. The controller and the tape drive are both located in slots of the rack.

[0271] The controller may be a control board for receiving user access requests and accessing the tape in the tape drive based on the access requests, wherein the access may be to write data or to read data, wherein writing data means storing data in the tape.

[0272] In one example, the tape drive may be located in a slot of the rack in a pluggable manner, or the tape drive may be fixedly located in the slot of the rack.

[0273] In one example, because the thickness of the tape drive is relatively thin, more tape drives can be stored in the cabinet, thereby improving the tape storage density of the cabinet.

[0274] In one example, the tape drive can be an integrated tape drive, in which the tape is integrated. Then, there is no need for a robotic arm to operate the tape, and the robotic arm can be omitted in the cabinet. The space occupied by the robotic arm can be used to arrange tape drives, so that more tape drives can be stored in the cabinet, further improving the tape storage density of the cabinet.

Claims

1. A magnetic head (10), characterized in that: The magnetic head (10) comprises a plurality of read / write areas (3), the plurality of read / write areas (3) are arranged in a height direction of the magnetic head (10), and there are intervals between the plurality of read / write areas (3); Each of the plurality of read / write areas (3) comprises a write head area (31) and a read head area (32) arranged along the width direction of the magnetic head (10), the write head area (31) comprising a write head (311) for writing data into the magnetic tape (20), and the read head area (32) comprising a read head (321) for reading data from the magnetic tape (20); When data access is required to a target data band of the magnetic tape (20), the target data band is accessed by the read / write area (3) closest to the target data band.

2. The magnetic head (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that: Each of the multiple read-write areas (3) comprises a write head area (31) and a read head area (32); the multiple read-write areas (3) comprise a first type of read-write area (3A) and a second type of read-write area (3B); the arrangement order of the write head area (31) and the read head area (32) of the first type of read-write area (3A) is opposite to the arrangement order of the write head area (31) and the read head area (32) of the second type of read-write area (3B).

3. The magnetic head (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that: The magnetic head (10) is used for: When the magnetic tape (20) moves in a first direction, data is accessed in a data band of the magnetic tape (20) through the first type read / write area (3A); When the magnetic tape (20) moves in a second direction, data is accessed in another data band of the data tape (20) through the second type read / write area (3B), wherein the first direction is opposite to the second direction.

4. The magnetic head (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The magnetic head (10) comprises two first magnetic stripes (1), each of the first magnetic stripes (1) comprises m write head areas (31) and m read head areas (32) distributed along a height direction, where m is an integer greater than or equal to 1; The two first magnetic stripes (1) are spliced ​​along the width direction, and the m write head areas (31) of one first magnetic stripe (1) and the m read head areas (32) of the other first magnetic stripe (1) form m first-type read-write areas (3A), and the m read head areas (32) of the one first magnetic stripe (1) and the m write head areas (31) of the other first magnetic stripe (1) form m second-type read-write areas (3B).

5. The magnetic head (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The magnetic head (10) comprises a second magnetic stripe (2) and a third magnetic stripe (5), the second magnetic stripe (2) comprises a write head area (31) and b read head areas (32) arranged along the height direction, the third magnetic stripe (5) comprises a read head area (32) and b write head areas (31) arranged along the height direction, and both a and b are integers greater than or equal to 1; The arrangement of the a write head areas (31) of the second magnetic stripe (2) is the same as the arrangement of the a read head areas (32) of the third magnetic stripe (5); the arrangement of the b read head areas (32) of the second magnetic stripe (2) is the same as the arrangement of the b write head areas (31) of the third magnetic stripe (5); The second magnetic stripe (2) and the third magnetic stripe (5) are spliced ​​along the width direction, and the a write head areas (31) of the second magnetic stripe (2) and the a read head areas (32) of the third magnetic stripe (5) form a first type of read-write areas (3A), and the b read head areas (32) of the second magnetic stripe (2) and the b write head areas (31) of the third magnetic stripe (5) form b second type of read-write areas (3B).

6. The magnetic head (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: Each read / write area (3) includes a plurality of access heads, wherein the access heads are write heads (311) or read heads (312), and the k access heads located in different read / write areas (3) are connected to the circuit of the tape drive through the same analog switch (4); The analog switch (4) is used to connect the circuits where some of the k access heads are located and disconnect the circuits where the remaining access heads are located, wherein k is greater than or equal to 2 and less than or equal to the number of the read / write areas (3).

7. The magnetic head (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: There is a gap between two adjacent read / write areas (3), and the gap matches the width of one or more data bands of the magnetic tape (20).

8. The magnetic head (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that: The number of the read-write areas (3) is two; If the magnetic tape (20) has 2n data bands, the interval matches the width of the (n-1) data bands of the magnetic tape (20); If the magnetic tape (20) has (2n-1) data bands, the interval matches the width of the (n-2) or (n-1) data bands of the magnetic tape (20), wherein n is an integer greater than or equal to 2.

9. A tape drive, characterized in that: The magnetic tape drive comprises the magnetic head (10) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, and further comprises a motor for driving the magnetic head (10) to move.

10. The tape drive according to claim 9, characterized in that The tape drive also includes a magnetic tape (20); The magnetic tape (20) is fixedly installed in the magnetic tape drive, and the magnetic tape (20) is a magnetic medium for storing data.

11. A tape storage rack, characterized in that: The tape storage rack comprises a rack, a controller and the tape drive according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the controller and the tape drive are both located in the rack; The controller is used for receiving an access request from a user and, based on the access request, performing data access on the magnetic tape (20) in the magnetic tape drive, wherein the data access includes reading data and writing data.

Images