A system according to one embodiment includes a magnetic head having a plurality of sensors arranged to simultaneously read at least three immediately adjacent data tracks on a magnetic medium, wherein none of the sensors share more than one lead with any other of the sensors. Such embodiment may be implemented in a magnetic data storage system such as a disk drive system, which may include a magnetic head, a drive mechanism for passing a magnetic medium (e.g., hard disk) over the magnetic head, and a controller electrically coupled to the magnetic head.

A system according to one embodiment includes a magnetic head having a plurality of sensors arranged to simultaneously read at least three immediately adjacent data tracks on a magnetic medium, wherein none of the sensors share more than one lead with any other of the sensors. Such embodiment may be implemented in a magnetic data storage system such as a disk drive system, which may include a magnetic head, a drive mechanism for passing a magnetic medium (e.g., hard disk) over the magnetic head, and a controller electrically coupled to the magnetic head.

A tape head is provided for reading and/or writing to a magnetic tape. The tape head including a step-like cross-sectional profile, so as to exhibit a riser between two treads, the latter respectively formed by a tape-bearing surface and a recessed surface, wherein: the tape-bearing surface is essentially flat and configured to contact a magnetic tape, and comprises at least one transducer, the latter being a read or a write element, configured to read or write to the magnetic tape, respectively; and the recessed surface is recessed from the tape-bearing surface by a distance h corresponding to a height of the riser, a width w of the recessed surface along a direction parallel to a longitudinal direction z of circulation of the tape being such that a ratio h/w is at least of 0.01. Related tape head apparatuses for recording or reproducing multi-track tapes are also provided.

The embodiments of the invention improve the traditional disk drives by eliminating the mechanical actuator assembly that moves the read-write head attached to the actuator assembly, and replacing it with multiple read-write heads mounted over one or more rotating platters. The number of the read-write heads is preferably sufficiently large so that the read-write heads cover all tracks on the one or more rotating platters. In one embodiment, a disk includes a rotatable platter, a central spindle to rotate the rotatable platter arounds an axis, an electric motor to drive the central spindle, and multiple read-write heads mounted over the rotatable platter. In one embodiment, the platter includes multiple tracks arranged in form of concentric circles, where each of the read-write heads performs read-write operations on one of the tracks, and each track is assigned at least one of the multiple read-write heads.

The embodiments of the invention improve the traditional disk drives by eliminating the mechanical actuator assembly that moves the read-write head attached to the actuator assembly, and replacing it with multiple read-write heads mounted over one or more rotating platters. The number of the read-write heads is preferably sufficiently large so that the read-write heads cover all tracks on the one or more rotating platters. In one embodiment, a disk includes a rotatable platter, a central spindle to rotate the rotatable platter arounds an axis, an electric motor to drive the central spindle, and multiple read-write heads mounted over the rotatable platter. In one embodiment, the platter includes multiple tracks arranged in form of concentric circles, where each of the read-write heads performs read-write operations on one of the tracks, and each track is assigned at least one of the multiple read-write heads.

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a sensor having an active region, a magnetic shield adjacent the active region, and a spacer between the active region and the magnetic shield. The spacer includes an electrically conductive ceramic layer. An apparatus according to another embodiment includes a sensor having an active tunnel magnetoresistive region, a magnetic shield adjacent the tunnel magnetoresistive region, and a spacer between the tunnel magnetoresistive region and the magnetic shields. The spacer includes an electrically conductive ceramic layer.

A computer program product for orienting a head, according to one embodiment, includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith that are readable/executable by a controller to cause the controller to determine a desired pitch for transducers of a magnetic head for reading and/or writing to a magnetic tape, and are readable/executable by the controller to cause the controller to cause a mechanism to orient the magnetic head towards first and second positions to achieve the desired pitch when the tape travels in first and second directions, respectively. Outer data transducers of the third array are about aligned with outer data transducers of the second array when the magnetic head is positioned towards the first position, and the outer data transducers of the third array are about aligned with outer data transducers of the first array when the magnetic head is positioned towards the second position.

A computer program product for orienting a head, according to one embodiment, includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith that are readable/executable by a controller to cause the controller to determine a desired pitch for transducers of a magnetic head for reading and/or writing to a magnetic tape, and are readable/executable by the controller to cause the controller to cause a mechanism to orient the magnetic head towards first and second positions to achieve the desired pitch when the tape travels in first and second directions, respectively. Outer data transducers of the third array are about aligned with outer data transducers of the second array when the magnetic head is positioned towards the first position, and the outer data transducers of the third array are about aligned with outer data transducers of the first array when the magnetic head is positioned towards the second position.

A process for manufacturing a magnetic tape head module involves depositing over a wafer substrate electrical traces from respective electrical lapping guides (ELGs) to an area at an end of a tape head module also formed over the substrate, fabricating a closure adjacent to the tape head module where the closure terminates outside of the area at the end of the tape head module, and electrically connecting the electrical traces to an external circuit using a wire-bonding procedure, thereby electrically connecting each ELG to the external circuit. A plurality of electrical connection pads may be deposited at the area at the end of the tape head module, and each electrical trace electrically connected to one of the pads, where electrically connecting the traces to the external circuit includes wire-bonding the pads to the circuit.

A process for manufacturing a magnetic tape head module involves depositing over a wafer substrate electrical traces from respective electrical lapping guides (ELGs) to an area at an end of a tape head module also formed over the substrate, fabricating a closure adjacent to the tape head module where the closure terminates outside of the area at the end of the tape head module, and electrically connecting the electrical traces to an external circuit using a wire-bonding procedure, thereby electrically connecting each ELG to the external circuit. A plurality of electrical connection pads may be deposited at the area at the end of the tape head module, and each electrical trace electrically connected to one of the pads, where electrically connecting the traces to the external circuit includes wire-bonding the pads to the circuit.