Active spacing control for contactless tape recording
US12051453B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 10, 2022 |
| Grant date | Jul 30, 2024 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 10, 2042 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B5/584
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention relates to the field of controlling tape drive magnetic head spacing and the use of hard disk drive heads in a tape drive. The present invention is related to magnetic tape data storage and tape recorders that include components designed to minimize or eliminate head-to-tape contact to reduce or eliminate wear and contamination of the tape and the magnetic heads. Methods and apparatus of the present invention may control the head-to-media spacing by moving locations of magnetic heads relative to a tape. Such apparatus may include components designed to minimize magnetic spacing. This may be accomplished using actuators that move magnetic heads, or that move both magnetic heads and the tape of a tape drive. This may include supporting a back surface of the tape. The movement of the tape past the magnetic heads may be performed using mechanisms that contact and drive the back surface of the tape.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.