Patent ID: 9595276
Date: 2017-03-14
CPC Classifications: G11B

Claim:
1. An apparatus, comprising: at least first and second modules, each of the modules having an array of transducers, wherein the first and second modules are fixed relative to each other, wherein the transducers of the first module are about aligned with the transducers of the second module in an intended direction of tape travel thereacross when longitudinal axes of the arrays are oriented at an angle greater than 0.2° relative to a line oriented perpendicular to the intended direction of tape travel thereacross; a mechanism configured to orient the modules to control a transducer pitch presented to a tape; and a controller physically configured to determine a state of expansion of the tape based on a readback signal from the tape, the readback signal being derived from the transducers of the modules when the axes of the arrays are oriented at the angle, the controller being physically configured to control the mechanism for altering the angle of the modules away from a nominal angle based on the state of expansion of the tape.