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.

Embodiments are disclosed for a method. The method includes determining a reference plane for a tape drive read-write array. The tape drive read-write array includes a first array element, a predetermined array element, and a last array element. Further, determining the reference plane is based on a first array position of the first array element and a last array position of the last array element. The method also includes capturing a position of a predetermined array element using an imaging device. The method further includes determining a deviation of the captured position from the reference plane. Additionally, the method includes generating a plot of an in-plane bow based on the deviation.

Provided are a magnetic tape head, a magnetic tape drive, and a computational device in which the magnetic tape head is comprised of a plurality of elements, wherein a pitch between adjacent elements of the plurality of elements is not identical. Selected elements of the plurality of elements that are shifted from a nominal position are selected in a symmetrical manner in the plurality of elements. A total of shifts of the elements of the plurality of elements that are shifted add up to a desired total shift to realign a plurality of modules, such that the median head span of each module type match as closely as possible to a desired value of a head span for all module types.

Provided are a magnetic tape head, a magnetic tape drive, and a computational device in which the magnetic tape head is comprised of a plurality of elements, wherein a pitch between adjacent elements of the plurality of elements is not identical.

An apparatus, in accordance with one approach, includes a module having a first array of read transducers. A first electrical shielding layer is positioned above the first array of read transducers. An array of write transducers is positioned above the first electrical shielding layer. A second electrical shielding layer is positioned above the array of write transducers. A second array of read transducers is positioned above the second electrical shielding layer.

An apparatus according to one approach includes a servo reader transducer structure on a module. The servo reader transducer structure has a lower shield, an upper shield above the lower shield, the upper and lower shields providing magnetic shielding, a current-perpendicular-to-plane sensor between the upper and lower shields, an electrical lead layer between the sensor and one of the shields, and a spacer layer between the electrical lead layer and the one of the shields. The electrical lead layer is in electrical communication with the sensor. The conductivity of the electrical lead layer is higher than the conductivity of the spacer layer. An array of writers is also present on the module. Writer modules having this structure are less susceptible to shorting, and therefore enable use of TMR servo readers on writer modules.

An apparatus according to one approach includes a servo reader transducer structure on a module. The servo reader transducer structure has a lower shield, an upper shield above the lower shield, the upper and lower shields providing magnetic shielding, a current-perpendicular-to-plane sensor between the upper and lower shields, an electrical lead layer between the sensor and one of the shields, and a spacer layer between the electrical lead layer and the one of the shields. The electrical lead layer is in electrical communication with the sensor. The conductivity of the electrical lead layer is higher than the conductivity of the spacer layer. An array of writers is also present on the module. Writer modules having this structure are less susceptible to shorting, and therefore enable use of TMR servo readers on writer modules.

A PMR writer is disclosed wherein a top yoke (TY) is extended toward the air bearing surface (ABS) and below a top coil for faster saturation speed and better frequency extendibility without wide adjacent track erasure trade-off. The TY extension has a front side recessed 0.9-1.3 microns from the ABS, and has a backside below an inner corner of a PP3 trailing shield that is 2-2.6 microns from the ABS. TY thickness is from 0.3-0.8 micron and the TY is preferably used with a 1+1T coil design, and a PP3 trailing shield apex angle of 60 to 80 for better high data rate performance. Magnetic modeling shows rise time is shorter than for a conventional TY. The top yoke design is compatible with various base writer structures. When used in selectable double writers or selectable triple writers, each writer has a separate TY, main pole, and bottom yoke.

A method and system provide a storage device. A plurality of read sensor stacks for each reader of the storage device are provided. The read sensor stacks are distributed along a down track direction and offset in a cross-track direction. A plurality of electronic lapping guides (ELGs) are provided for the read sensor stacks. The read sensor stacks are lapped. Lapping is terminated based on signal(s) from the ELG(s).

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes an array of magnetic transducers each having: a current-perpendicular-to-plane sensor, and a stabilizing layered structure adjacent the sensor. The stabilizing layered structure includes a first ferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer, and an antiparallel coupling layer between the ferromagnetic layers. Each transducer also includes an electrical lead layer positioned between the sensor and the stabilizing layered structure. The electrical lead layer is in electrical communication with the sensor. Each transducer also includes a spacer layer between the respective electrical lead layer and the stabilizing layered structure. A conductivity of the electrical lead layer is higher than a conductivity of the spacer layer.