Patent · US Expired

Horizontal magnetoresistive head apparatus and method for detecting magnetic data

US5358088A · kind A · utility

55Cited by
15References
41Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 25, 1992
Grant dateOct 25, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 25, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG07D7/20
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An apparatus and method for detecting magnetic data on media is disclosed which utilizes an array or arrays of horizontal magnetoresistive sensors. The present invention detects the pitch or separation of magnetic transition data on the magnetic medium under test, and generates a signal that is independent of the velocity of the medium. In one embodiment, the magnetoresistive sensors employed in an array are spaced apart a distance which corresponds to the separation of magnetic transition data of interest, and the output of each sensor is connected to a voltage adder. The signal from the voltage adder is at a maximum when the separation of the magnetic transition data corresponds to the sensor separation. A comparator is connected to the output of the voltage adder, and compares the voltage adder output to a predetermined threshold voltage before indicating that a medium having a particular magnetic transition data pattern is detected. Alternate embodiments contemplate connecting linear circuitry, digital circuitry, fuzzy logic or other electronic circuitry to the array of magnetoresistive sensors. An apparatus according to the present invention is accurate, requires a minimum of …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.