Advanced multi-track tape head for high performance tape recording application

A recently developed, advanced multi-track tape head for operation in a next generation, high performance tape drive is described. This head features full thin film write elements with high moment, cobalt-based pole materials for recording on high coercivity metal particle (MP) tape, together with narrow track, shielded, dual-stripe magnetoresistive (DSMR) read elements. This presentation will discuss the global design philosophy of the head with particular attention to the design and recording performance of the read and write elements in a tape environment. The bead is capable of recording 288 tracks on half-inch, MP tape of 1625-1850 Oe coercivity at a recording density of 65 kfci. The system operates with 16 parallel data channels and includes full multi-element active track following servo. The head can be used in a full start-stop mode and read verify on the fly (read-while-write) bi-directional operating modes.