Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Head – Head accessory
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-08
2003-02-18
Renner, Craig A. (Department: 2652)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Head
Head accessory
C360S121000, C360S241000, C360S241100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06522499
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic head including a plurality of magnetic head elements provided in a direction across a magnetic tape which is to be moved sliding on the magnetic head, and a magnetic head assembly including the magnetic head.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, there have been proposed many types of tape recording and/or playing systems using a magnetic tape as a recording medium. Such magnetic tape recording and/or playing systems include two major types. One is a helical scan type in which a magnetic head element is installed on a rotary drum which is driven to rotate rapidly, and a magnetic tape is to be set and moved sliding on the surface of the rotary drum. In this helical scan type magnetic tape recording and/or playing system, data is written to and/or read from the magnetic tape by the magnetic element sliding rapidly on the magnetic tape. The other is a linear scan type in which a magnetic head element is installed on a stationary head support and a magnetic tape is to be set and moved sliding on the stationary head support. For writing data to and/or reading data from the magnetic tape in this linear scan type magnetic tape recording and/or playing system, only the magnetic tape is moved sliding on the stationary magnetic heat element.
In the helical scan type magnetic tape recording and/or playing system, since the magnetic head element moves sliding rapidly on the magnetic tape which is also moving on the magnetic head element, the one moves at a high speed relative to the other, which contributes much to a high speed of data write and read on the one hand. On the other hand, however, the rapid sliding of the magnetic head element on the magnetic tape causes the magnetic head element to be abraded so much, which leads to a short light of the magnetic head element.
On the contrary, the linear scan type magnetic tape recording and/or playing system has the magnetic head element fixed on the stationary head support. The magnetic head element does not rapidly slide on the magnetic tape as in the helical scan type system. Hence, the magnetic head element will not be abraded so much and thus it can be used for a longer service life.
In the linear scan type magnetic tape recording and/or playing system, however, the magnetic head element is fixed or stationary and only the magnetic tape is moved during data write or read to or from the magnetic tape. Since the magnetic tape speed is not limitless, it is difficult to improve the relative speed at which the magnetic head element and magnetic tape are moved relative to each other.
For improving the data write and/or read speed independently of a relative speed at which the magnetic head element and magnetic tape are moved relative to each other in the linear scan type magnetic tape recording and/or playing system, it has been proposed to dispose many magnetic head elements in a direction across the magnetic tape for simultaneous data write or read to or from the magnetic tape by them.
In this case, however, since the magnetic tape has to be as wide as prescribed in the related standard, the more the magnetic head elements, the smaller the inter element space becomes. In a linear scan type magnetic tape recording and/or playing system, if so many magnetic head elements are provided as to attain a speed of data write or read equal to or higher than that in the helical scan type magnetic tape recording and/or playing system, the inter-element space will be very small, with a result that terminals for connection of the magnetic head elements to an external circuit have to be provided very closely to each other.
Assume here that the connection terminals are to be provided very closely to each other. In this case, however, if a conventional method such as wire bonding or the like is used to electrically connect the magnetic head elements to the external circuit, the bonding solder will possibly flow to between the neighboring connection terminals which will thus be electrically short-circuited between them.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art by providing a magnetic head whose elements, even if they count a large number, can be electrically connected to an external circuit in an appropriate and simple manner, and also a magnetic head assembly including the magnetic head.
According to the present invention, there is provided a magnetic head including:
a head support disposed opposite to a signal recording surface of a magnetic tape which is to be moved sliding on the head support;
a number m (m is an integer equal to or larger than 2) of magnetic head elements disposed on the head support in a direction across the magnetic tape, with a part thereof being opposite to the signal recording surface of the magnetic tape; and
a number n (n is an integer equal to or larger than 2) of connection terminals disposed on the head support, for each of the m magnetic head elements, to electrically connect the magnetic head elements to an external circuit. In the magnetic head, the n connection terminals provided for each of the m magnetic head elements are disposed in a direction perpendicular to the signal recording surface of the magnetic tape.
As aforementioned, the head support is disposed opposite to the signal recording surface of the magnetic tape which is to be moved sliding on the magnetic head. On the head support, a part of the m magnetic head elements are disposed opposite to the signal recording surface of the magnetic tape and across the magnetic tape. Thus, the m magnetic head elements can simultaneously act on as many tracks on the magnetic tape as the magnetic head elements.
Further, the n connection terminals are provided on the head support for each of the m magnetic head elements to electrically connect the magnetic head elements to an external circuit. More specifically, the connection terminals are electrically connected to the magnetic head elements by a wiring pattern. Each of the connection terminals has a conductive member. The conductive member of each connection terminal is electrically connected at one end thereof to the external circuit, whereby the external circuit is electrically connected to the magnetic head elements.
In the magnetic head according to the present invention, the n connection terminals provided for each of the m magnetic head elements are disposed in a direction perpendicular to the signal recording surface of the magnetic tape opposite to which the head support is disposed.
In the above magnetic head, since the n connection terminals for each of the m magnetic head elements are disposed in a direction perpendicular to the signal recording surface of the magnetic tape, the connection terminals can be disposed on the head support with an increased interval from one another. More specifically, there are disposed on the head support the m magnetic head elements in a direction across the magnetic tape. When the n connection terminals for each of the m magnetic head elements are disposed in the direction across the magnetic tape, a number m×n of connection terminals will be disposed in the direction across the magnetic tape. In this magnetic head, if a larger number m of magnetic head elements are provided, the connection terminals will be disposed with a decreased space between two successive ones and thus they cannot easily be connected to any external circuit.
In the magnetic head according to the present invention, the n connection terminals provided for each of the m magnetic head elements are disposed in the direction perpendicular to the signal recording surface of the magnetic tape, so that the connection terminals can be provided on the head support with an increased space between two successive ones. Thus, even a large number m of magnetic head elements can be electrically connected to an external circuit in an appropriate and simple manner.
Also, according to the present invention, ther
Sugizaki Yasuo
Takayama Jun
Renner Craig A.
Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal
Sony Corporation
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