Some embodiments are directed to tape drive systems that oscillate the relative transverse position of the tape and magnetic head during seek operations (for example, by moving the head in the transverse direction). Some embodiments are directed to tape drive systems that select relative transverse position of the tape and magnetic head to counter uneven wear (for example, observed uneven wear, uneven wear predicted based on historical tape and drive usage data).

Some embodiments are directed to tape drive systems that oscillate the relative transverse position of the tape and magnetic head during seek operations (for example, by moving the head in the transverse direction). Some embodiments are directed to tape drive systems that select relative transverse position of the tape and magnetic head to counter uneven wear (for example, observed uneven wear, uneven wear predicted based on historical tape and drive usage data).

A tape drive system with a transducer (for example, a magnetic head arrays/separation shield) located in a recess of a transducer housing (for example, supporting rails, a U-shaped carbon tape guide). During seek operations and/or data access operations (that is, read/write operations), the transducer and the transducer housing are moved, in the transverse direction relative to the direction of elongation of the tape, independently of each other. The motion of the transducer housing (for example, back and forth oscillatory movement in the transverse direction) is controlled to even out wear across the tape-facing surface of the transducer housing. Some embodiments accomplish this by using separate motors to transversely move the transducer and the transducer housing.

A tape drive system with a transducer (for example, a magnetic head arrays/separation shield) located in a recess of a transducer housing (for example, supporting rails, a U-shaped carbon tape guide). During seek operations and/or data access operations (that is, read/write operations), the transducer and the transducer housing are moved, in the transverse direction relative to the direction of elongation of the tape, independently of each other. The motion of the transducer housing (for example, back and forth oscillatory movement in the transverse direction) is controlled to even out wear across the tape-facing surface of the transducer housing. Some embodiments accomplish this by using separate motors to transversely move the transducer and the transducer housing.

In one general embodiment, an apparatus includes a magnetic head. The magnetic head has a first portion and a second portion, the first portion and the second portion together providing a tape bearing surface. The first portion has two pieces flanking the second portion in an intended direction of tape travel thereacross. The second portion has at least one array of transducers. A longitudinal axis of each of the at least one array is defined between opposite ends thereof. The longitudinal axis of each of the at least one array of transducers is oriented at an angle relative to the line oriented orthogonally to the intended direction of tape travel thereacross, the angle being between 0.2 and about 10.

In one general embodiment, an apparatus includes a magnetic head. The magnetic head has a first portion and a second portion, the first portion and the second portion together providing a tape bearing surface. The first portion has two pieces flanking the second portion in an intended direction of tape travel thereacross. The second portion has at least one array of transducers. A longitudinal axis of each of the at least one array is defined between opposite ends thereof. The longitudinal axis of each of the at least one array of transducers is oriented at an angle relative to the line oriented orthogonally to the intended direction of tape travel thereacross, the angle being between 0.2 and about 10.

In one general embodiment, an apparatus includes a magnetic head. The magnetic head has a first portion and a second portion, the first portion and the second portion together providing a tape bearing surface. The first portion has an opening at least partially encircling the second portion. The second portion has two modules, each module having at least one array of transducers. Each module has a first outermost edge oriented orthogonally to an intended direction of tape travel thereacross, and a second outermost edge opposite the first edge, the second edge being oriented at an angle between 0.2 and about 10 relative to a line oriented orthogonally to the intended direction of tape travel thereacross.

In one general embodiment, an apparatus includes a magnetic head. The magnetic head has a first portion and a second portion, the first portion and the second portion together providing a tape bearing surface. The first portion has an opening at least partially encircling the second portion. The second portion has two modules, each module having at least one array of transducers. Each module has a first outermost edge oriented orthogonally to an intended direction of tape travel thereacross, and a second outermost edge opposite the first edge, the second edge being oriented at an angle between 0.2 and about 10 relative to a line oriented orthogonally to the intended direction of tape travel thereacross.

Disclosed are hard disk drives (HDDs), and methods for use therewith, that utilize reduced overhead servo fields, thereby simplifying the servo system. Reduced overhead servo fields may be of particular use in HDDs that utilize multi-revolution storage techniques to store data at much higher densities than what is possible for conventional HDDs. The relaxed performance requirements of high-density, multi-revolution drives provides opportunities for reducing servo overhead, thereby potentially further increasing the areal density capability of the magnetic media. Servo overhead may also be reduced by placing certain servo data on flash or other memory off of the media disk rather than in the servo fields written to the media disk.

Disclosed are hard disk drives (HDDs), and methods for use therewith, that utilize reduced overhead servo fields, thereby simplifying the servo system. Reduced overhead servo fields may be of particular use in HDDs that utilize multi-revolution storage techniques to store data at much higher densities than what is possible for conventional HDDs. The relaxed performance requirements of high-density, multi-revolution drives provides opportunities for reducing servo overhead, thereby potentially further increasing the areal density capability of the magnetic media. Servo overhead may also be reduced by placing certain servo data on flash or other memory off of the media disk rather than in the servo fields written to the media disk.