An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a module having a plurality of tunnel valve read transducers arranged in an array extending along the tape bearing surface of the module. Each of the tunnel valve read transducers has upper and lower shields for providing magnetic shielding. A sensor structure is positioned between the shields. An electrical lead layer is positioned between the sensor structure and one of the shields. The electrical lead layer is in electrical communication with the sensor structure. A spacer layer is positioned between the electrical lead layer and the one of the shields. A conductivity of the electrical lead layer is higher than a conductivity of the spacer layer. At least some of the sensor structures are recessed from a plane extending along the tape bearing surface. An at least partially polycrystalline coating is positioned on a media facing side of the recessed sensor structures.

A magnetic tape apparatus includes a magnetic tape, a reading element unit and an extraction unit, in which a coefficient of friction measured regarding a base portion of a surface of the magnetic layer is equal to or smaller than 0.35, the reading element unit includes a plurality of reading elements each of which reads data by a linear scanning method from a specific track region including a reading target track in a track region included in the magnetic tape, and the extraction unit performs a waveform equalization process according to a deviation amount between positions of the magnetic tape and the reading element unit, with respect to each reading result for each reading element, to extract data derived from the reading target track from the reading result.

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a beam and a module coupled to the beam. The module has an array of transducers. A displacement device is positioned between the beam and the module for bending the module, thereby altering a pitch of the transducers. A method according to one embodiment includes applying a control signal to a displacement device positioned between a module having an array of transducers and a beam for bending the module, thereby altering a pitch of the transducers.

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a module having a tape bearing surface. The tape bearing surface extends between first and second edges of the module. A first tape tenting region extends from the first edge along the tape bearing surface toward the second edge. Each tunnel valve read transducer is positioned in the first tape tenting region. A plurality of tunnel valve read transducers are arranged in an array extending along the tape bearing surface of the module in the first tape tenting region. Each of the tunnel valve read transducers includes a sensor structure having a tunnel barrier layer. At least some of the sensor structures are recessed from a plane extending along the tape bearing surface. An at least partially polycrystalline coating is located on a media facing side of the recessed sensor structures.

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a module having a tape bearing surface. The tape bearing surface extends between first and second edges of the module. A first tape tenting region extends from the first edge along the tape bearing surface toward the second edge. Each tunnel valve read transducer is positioned in the first tape tenting region. A plurality of tunnel valve read transducers are arranged in an array extending along the tape bearing surface of the module in the first tape tenting region. Each of the tunnel valve read transducers includes a sensor structure having a tunnel barrier layer. At least some of the sensor structures are recessed from a plane extending along the tape bearing surface. An at least partially polycrystalline coating is located on a media facing side of the recessed sensor structures.

In one general embodiment, an apparatus includes a module having a tape bearing surface and an array of write transducers extending along the tape bearing surface. Each write transducer has a first write pole having a pole tip extending from a media facing side of the first write pole, a second write pole having a pole tip extending from a media facing side of the second write pole, a nonmagnetic write gap between the pole tips of the write poles, and a high moment layer between the pole tips of the write poles. The high moment layer has a higher magnetic moment than a magnetic moment of the pole tip of the second write pole. The tape bearing surface of the module has patterning, and/or a first tape tenting region where each write transducer is positioned in the first tape tenting region.

In one general embodiment, an apparatus includes a module having a tape bearing surface and an array of write transducers extending along the tape bearing surface. Each write transducer has a first write pole having a pole tip extending from a media facing side of the first write pole, a second write pole having a pole tip extending from a media facing side of the second write pole, a nonmagnetic write gap between the pole tips of the write poles, and a high moment layer between the pole tips of the write poles. The high moment layer has a higher magnetic moment than a magnetic moment of the pole tip of the second write pole. The tape bearing surface of the module has patterning, and/or a first tape tenting region where each write transducer is positioned in the first tape tenting region.

The present disclosure generally relates to tape heads for use in a tape drive system. The tape head includes a plurality of servo elements and a plurality of data elements disposed between the servo elements. An electrostrictive material is present in the tape head. Electrodes are coupled to the electrostrictive material to permit a voltage to be distributed across the electrostrictive material. The voltage causes the electrostrictive material to expand, and thus expand the tape head. By expanding the tape head by adding voltage, or contracting the tape head by lowering voltage, the spacing between adjacent data elements can be adjusted to match the spacing between adjacent data tracks on a tape.

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a beam and a module coupled to the beam. The module has an array of transducers. A displacement device is positioned between the beam and the module for bending the module, thereby altering a pitch of the transducers. A method according to one embodiment includes applying a control signal to a displacement device positioned between a module having an array of transducers and a beam for bending the module, thereby altering a pitch of the transducers.

An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes: a magnetic tape head module having: a substrate and an encapsulation layer which includes a compliant, deformable material. The magnetic tape head module also includes a closure, and a plurality of transducers positioned in an array along a longitudinal length of the magnetic tape head module. The array of transducers is sandwiched between at least a portion of the encapsulation layer and the substrate. Moreover, a portion of the encapsulation layer extends toward the substrate directly between adjacent transducers in the array.