Tape head with tape-bearing surface exhibiting an array of protruding topographic features

摘要

A tape head, adapted for reading and/or writing to a magnetic tape, has a tape-bearing surface and is configured to urge a magnetic tape against the bearing surface, in operation. The bearing surface includes a transducer area, having at least one transducer that is a read and/or write element, designed for reading and/or writing to a magnetic tape, and a structured area adjacent to the transducer area, comprising a periodic array of topographic features, the topographic features configured within the structured area to determine a minimal distance between the transducer area and a tape.

主权项

1. A tape head, adapted for reading and/or writing to a magnetic tape, the tape head having a tape-bearing surface and being configured to urge a magnetic tape against the bearing surface, wherein the bearing surface comprises:
a transducer area, comprising at least one transducer that is at least one of a read element and a write element, designed for at least one of reading from and writing to a magnetic tape; and a structured area adjacent to the transducer area, comprising at least two distinct periodic arrays of topographic features on the tape-bearing surface, wherein a first array comprises a first set of topographic features, and a second array that is farther from the transducer area than the first array comprises a second set of topographic features, the first and second sets of topographic features being configured to allow for a tape to get closer to the first array than to the second array, the topographic features configured within the structured area to determine a minimal distance between the transducer area and a tape.