Magnetic recorder having MR read and inductive write capability

摘要

A magnetic encoder apparatus for determining the position of a moving object. The encoder has a merged magnetoresistive (MR) head capable of maintaining a magnetic transducing relationship with a magnetic medium on a substrate while there is relative motion between the head and the medium. The merged MR head contains an MR read element and an inductive transducer write element. The inductive transducer write element is capable of writing encoded bits that contain information that defines a position of the substrate. The MR read element is capable of reading these encoded bits and generating an output signal. The output signal is processed by electronic circuitry in order to decipher the position of the moving object that is coupled with the encoder.