Patent ID: 6704174
Filing Date: 2004-03-09
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A head drum for reading and writing information from and to a magnetic tape, the head drum comprising:a conductive rotating drum at ground potential, the magnetic tape being wound in a helical manner around the rotating drum; a metal base fixed inside the rotating drum and electrically connected to the rotating drum; and a magnetic head fixed to the metal base, the magnetic head comprising: a head substrate and a protection substrate, both having a resistance of 1Ã—1010&OHgr; or less and electrically connected to the metal base; a pair of outer insulating films disposed between the head substrate and the protection substrate; and a pair of magnetic shielding films disposed between the pair of outer insulating films; a pair of inner insulating films disposed between the pair of magnetic shielding films; and a magneto-resistive (MR) head element, disposed between the pair of inner insulating films, for reading stored signals by contacting the magnetic tape, so that said magneto-resistive (MR) head element is protected against an electrostatic discharge (ESD) breakdown voltage.