According to one embodiment, a method includes determining a first distance from a sensor to a first edge closest thereto, where the sensor is positioned between a lower shield and the first edge, selecting a first wrap angle based on the first distance for inducing tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape in a region above the sensor, determining a second distance from a second edge to the sensor, and selecting a second wrap angle based on the determined second distance for affecting or not affecting the tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape in the region above the sensor.

An apparatus includes a module having a tape bearing surface, a first edge, and a second edge, where a first tape tenting region of the tape bearing surface extends from the first edge along the tape bearing surface toward the second edge. A guide is positioned relative to the first edge for inducing tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape and to create a point of inflection of the moving magnetic recording tape at a location above the tape bearing surface that is about midway between a peak of the tenting and a point of closest approach of the moving magnetic recording tape to the tape bearing surface. A sensor is located in a thin film region of the module. The sensor has a free layer. The location of the point of inflection of the moving magnetic recording tape is between the free layer and the second edge.

An apparatus includes a module having a tape bearing surface, a first edge, and a second edge, where a first tape tenting region of the tape bearing surface extends from the first edge along the tape bearing surface toward the second edge. A guide is positioned relative to the first edge for inducing tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape and to create a point of inflection of the moving magnetic recording tape at a location above the tape bearing surface that is about midway between a peak of the tenting and a point of closest approach of the moving magnetic recording tape to the tape bearing surface. A sensor is located in a thin film region of the module. The sensor has a free layer. The location of the point of inflection of the moving magnetic recording tape is between the free layer and the second edge.

According to one embodiment, a method includes running a magnetic recording tape over an edge of a tape bearing surface of a module, where the edge is proximate to a sensor of the module, detecting magnetic fields from the magnetic recording tape at different wrap angles, and selecting one of the wrap angles of the magnetic recording tape to provide about a predefined height of tenting of the magnetic recording tape above the sensor.

According to one embodiment, a method includes running a magnetic recording tape over an edge of a tape bearing surface of a module, where the edge is proximate to a sensor of the module, detecting magnetic fields from the magnetic recording tape at different wrap angles, and selecting one of the wrap angles of the magnetic recording tape to provide about a predefined height of tenting of the magnetic recording tape above the sensor.

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.

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a module having a tape bearing surface and 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 includes a sensor structure having a free layer, a tunnel barrier layer, and a reference 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.

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a plurality of first modules each having a first write transducer. The apparatus further includes a plurality of second modules each having a second write transducer. Planes of deposition of write gaps of the second write transducers are oriented at an angle of greater than 4 degrees relative to planes of deposition of write gaps of the first write transducers. The media bearing surfaces of the modules are primarily planar, and lie along offset parallel planes. An apparatus according to another embodiment includes a first module having a plurality of first write transducers. The apparatus further includes a second module having a plurality of second write transducers. Planes of deposition of write gaps of the second write transducers are oriented at an angle of greater than 4 degrees relative to planes of deposition of write gaps of the first write transducers.

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a module having a tape bearing surface, a first edge, and a second edge, where a tape tenting region extends from the first edge toward the second edge, the first edge being a first end of the tape tenting region, a second end of the tape tenting region being positioned between the first and second edges. The apparatus includes a guide positioned relative to the first edge for inducing tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape and a transducer positioned in the tape tenting region. In one approach, the transducer is a TMR sensor. In another approach, the tape bearing surface is planar. In yet another approach, the guide is positioned to create an inflection point of the moving magnetic recording tape at a location above the tape tenting region that is between the transducer and the second edge.

An apparatus includes a module having a tape bearing surface, a first edge, and a second edge, where a first tape tenting region of the tape bearing surface extends from the first edge toward the second edge, and a second tape tenting region of the tape bearing surface extends from the second edge toward the first edge. A first guide is positioned for inducing a first tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape above the first tape tenting region, and a second guide is positioned for inducing a second tenting of the moving magnetic recording tape above the second tape tenting region. A sensor is located in a thin film region of the module. The sensor has a free layer. The sensor is positioned between the first tape tenting region and the second tape tenting region of the tape bearing surface.