Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Head – Head accessory
Patent
1998-03-30
1999-11-02
Evans, Jefferson
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Head
Head accessory
360106, 360134, 360121, G11B 529, G11B 555
Patent
active
059781882
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a tape recorder and/or playback device for recording and/or reading on a multitrack tape.
In devices of the above mentioned type it is known to use a magnetic head to write and/or read tracks on a multitrack magnetic tape. A track is called a macrotrack when it bundles a plurality of smaller elementary microtracks. A magnetic head may comprise a plurality of active parts, each part being used to write and/or read in one microtrack at the time and the number of active parts being large enough to write in all the microtracks of a macrotrack simultaneously. An example for a device of the above mentioned type is a SDVCR (Stationary Digital Video Cassette Recorder) in which a stationary magnetic head is used to address all the microtracks over the whole width of the tape simultaneously (Reference 1: High-Data-Rate, High-Density Magnetic Tape Recorder Using Matrix Writing Head and Kerr Reading Head, J. C. Lehureau and J-P. Castera, THOMSON-CSF Central research Lab, Orsay, Proceedings of the 13th IEEE Symposium on Mass Storage Systems, Annecy, France, Jun. 12-16, 1994, pp127-130). The active parts of a SDVCR magnetic head are usually arranged in a two-dimensional matrix within a surface of the magnetic head. The surface containing the matrix of active parts is typically obtained by polishing a multi-layer structure until the active parts and their magnetic gaps appear on the surface. Surfaces obtained by this method are substantially planar, therefore a problem occurs when one tries to bring in contact all the active parts of the matrix with their corresponding microtracks at the tape surface. The tape which is very thin by nature will tend to loose contact above the relatively large and planar surface containing the matrix of active parts of the magnetic head. To assure the contact between the microtracks and the active parts an airflow system flattens the tape against the planar surface (Reference 2: Head to Tape Contact Characterization for a 384 Tracks Fixed Magnetic Head, F. Le Texier, N. Blanchard, J-M. Coutellier, THOMSON-CSF, Electrochemical Society Fall Meeting 91, Phoenix, U.S.A.).
The SDVCR magnetic head is typically designed to address a relatively large number of microtracks simultaneously, e.g. 1024 tracks. The complex technology used to produce the SDVCR magnetic head may cause relatively high production costs. In addition the volume needed to incorporate an airflow system turns out to have drawbacks, specially when integrating it in a compact and perhaps portable SDVCR.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The first problem solved by the present invention is to find a solution for a device of the above mentioned type in which a cheaper magnetic head can be used to write and/or read the microtracks. Additionally a compact and more simple solution for means to assure an intimate contact everywhere between the microtracks and the active parts of the magnetic head is suggested.
The above raised problem is solved by the present invention which consists of a magnetic tape recorder and/or playback device for recording and/or reading on a magnetic tape having a magnetic layer at a front side surface on which a plurality of information microtracks which are parallel to a direction of transportation of the tape may be recorded, said device comprising at least a magnetic head having active parts for recording and/or reading microtracks, the active parts being arranged in a two-dimensional matrix within a substantially planar surface of the magnetic head in a way that a microtrack is addressed respectively by one dedicated active part of said matrix, means for transporting the tape in front of the active parts of the magnetic head, and pressure means assuring contact between the microtracks and said active parts by acting on a back side surface of the tape opposite to the front side surface of the tape, in which said device comprises means for moving the magnetic head in a direction secant to the direction of the microtracks in order to position said active parts i
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IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin; vol. 26, No. 9; Guzman et al; "Head Mount" Feb. 1984.
Texier et al; XP000605652; Proceedings of the Second International Symposium on Magnetic Materials, Processes, and Devices; "Head to Tape Contact Characterization for a Fixed Multi-Track Magnetic Head" Oct. 1992.
IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin; vol. 32, No. 3B; "Compliant Tape Guiding Embedded in an Indexed Head" Aug. 1989.
Kaaden Jurgen
Oldermann Klaus
Deutsche Thomson-Brandt
Evans Jefferson
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