A tape reader is provided that reads data from a tape without requiring specific alignment. The tape reader may include a reader head comprising a sensor array with a plurality of sensors that detect the data independent of the track within which the data is stored. Multiple sensors may detect data in each track instead of a single, dedicated sensor for each track. The sensor array may comprise multiple sensors in multiple dimensions, such as perpendicular to the movement of the tape or in parallel to the movement of the tape, including serpentine linear recording formats where the sensors may be in a matrix positioned at various angles from horizontal to vertical.

A tape reader is provided that reads data from a tape without requiring specific alignment. The tape reader may include a reader head comprising a sensor array with a plurality of sensors that detect the data independent of the track within which the data is stored. Multiple sensors may detect data in each track instead of a single, dedicated sensor for each track. The sensor array may comprise multiple sensors in multiple dimensions, such as perpendicular to the movement of the tape or in parallel to the movement of the tape, including serpentine linear recording formats where the sensors may be in a matrix positioned at various angles from horizontal to vertical.

The present disclosure is generally related to a tape drive including a tape head configured to read shingled data tracks on a tape. The tape head comprises a first module head assembly aligned with a second module head assembly. Both the first and second module head assemblies comprises one or more servo heads and a plurality of data heads. Each data head comprises a write head, a first read head aligned with the write head, and a second read head offset from the first read head in both a cross-track direction and a down-track direction. The first read heads and the second read heads are configured to read data from a shingled data track of the tape simultaneously. In some embodiments, the tape head is able to be dynamically tilted in order to tilt the first and second reads heads when reading curved portions of shingled data tracks.

The present disclosure is generally related to a tape drive including a tape head configured to read shingled data tracks on a tape. The tape head comprises a first module head assembly aligned with a second module head assembly. Both the first and second module head assemblies comprises one or more servo heads and a plurality of data heads. Each data head comprises a write head, a first read head aligned with the write head, and a second read head offset from the first read head in both a cross-track direction and a down-track direction. The first read heads and the second read heads are configured to read data from a shingled data track of the tape simultaneously. In some embodiments, the tape head is able to be dynamically tilted in order to tilt the first and second reads heads when reading curved portions of shingled data tracks.

In the magnetic tape, a magnetic tape deformation amount after storage for 3 months each in a predetermined environment is 0.50 μm or less, a rate of a change in the magnetic tape deformation amount with respect to a change in relative humidity is 0.0001 μm/% to 0.0500 μm/%, and a rate of a change in magnetic tape deformation amount with respect to a change in temperature is 0.0010 μm/° C. to 0.1000 μm/° C.

In the magnetic tape, a magnetic tape deformation amount after storage for 3 months each in a predetermined environment is 0.50 μm or less, a rate of a change in the magnetic tape deformation amount with respect to a change in relative humidity is 0.0001 μm/% to 0.0500 μm/%, and a rate of a change in magnetic tape deformation amount with respect to a change in temperature is 0.0010 μm/° C. to 0.1000 μm/° C.

In the magnetic tape, in a case where a maximum value of an absolute value of a difference between a servo band spacing obtained before storage, and a servo band spacing obtained after storage of N cycles, in a case where predetermined storage is set to one cycle, is defined as A, a medium life calculated by a linear function that is derived from the value of A and the value of the logarithm log.sub.eT of total storage time T of the storage of N cycles is 3 years or longer. The medium life is T in a case where the A satisfies Equation a: A=1.5−B. The B is calculated by multiplying a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of the servo band spacings obtained in each of the five environments by ½.

In the magnetic tape, in a case where a maximum value of an absolute value of a difference between a servo band spacing obtained before storage in an environment of a temperature of 32° C. and relative humidity of 55% and a servo band spacing obtained after storage in the environment for a storage time T is set to A, and T is defined as 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours, 96 hours, or 120 hours, a medium life calculated by a linear function of A and a logarithm log.sub.eT of T, that are derived from a value of A and a value of the logarithm log.sub.eT of T obtained for each T is 3 years or longer. The medium life is T in a case where the A satisfies Equation 1: A=1.5−B.

The magnetic tape includes a non-magnetic support, and a magnetic layer containing a ferromagnetic powder, in which an edge portion Ra which is an arithmetic average roughness Ra measured at an edge portion of a surface of the magnetic layer is 1.50 nm or less, a central portion Ra which is an arithmetic average roughness Ra measured at a central portion of the surface of the magnetic layer is 0.30 nm to 1.30 nm, and a Ra ratio (central portion Ra/edge portion Ra) is 0.75 to 0.95.

The magnetic tape includes a non-magnetic support, and a magnetic layer containing a ferromagnetic powder, in which an edge portion Ra which is an arithmetic average roughness Ra measured at an edge portion of a surface of the magnetic layer is 1.50 nm or less, a central portion Ra which is an arithmetic average roughness Ra measured at a central portion of the surface of the magnetic layer is 0.30 nm to 1.30 nm, and a Ra ratio (central portion Ra/edge portion Ra) is 0.75 to 0.95.