Tape Head Via Vacuum Effect for Positioning Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tape dimensional stability effects, such as stretching and compressing due to environmental and wear-related causes, lead to outdated servo positioning information, making accurate positioning of tape heads difficult in tape drive systems.
Innovation Solution
A tape head design comprising two modules joined along a seam with a via configured to create a vacuum effect, ensuring the magnetic media is pulled against the media-facing surface, maintaining accurate alignment and data transfer regardless of tape direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If two modules are joined together along a seam to increase data capacity, then productivity is improved, but air may interfere between the tape head and media causing positioning inaccuracies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes air from the space between the tape head and media by creating a vacuum through the via structure. This eliminates the harmful air interference that would otherwise cause positioning inaccuracies while allowing the two modules to be joined for increased capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a vacuum environment (inert atmosphere without air) in the space between the tape head and media. This vacuum environment prevents air from interfering with the magnetic field and positioning accuracy, while allowing the dual-module design to maintain high data capacity.
2Measurement precision
If a via is created along the seam to create vacuum effect, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the vacuum creation function with the existing seam structure between modules. The via is integrated into the seam rather than being a separate component, thus creating the necessary vacuum effect without significantly increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The via structure serves multiple functions: it creates the vacuum effect for positioning accuracy, maintains structural integrity of the joined modules, and allows for electrical or mechanical connections between modules. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The vacuum effect prevents air from interfering between the tape head and media, allowing for precise alignment and data writing/reading across varying tape dimensions, enhancing tape head reliability and stability.
Implementation Method 1
The via is configured to create a vacuum effect to pull a magnetic media against the media facing surface when the tape head reads and writes data to the magnetic media
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is generally related to a tape head comprising a first module and a second module joined together along a seam. The first module comprises a plurality of data heads disposed in a first row parallel to the seam, and the second module comprises a plurality of data heads disposed in a second row parallel to the first row. The first row and the second row are spaced apart a distance of about 50 μm to about 175 μm. A via is disposed at a media facing surface (MFS) along a portion of the seam. The via has a length less than a width of the MFS and equal to or greater than a length of the first and second rows of data heads. The via is configured to create a vacuum effect to pull a magnetic media against the media facing surface when the tape head reads and writes data to the magnetic media.