Patent ID: 7766236
Filing Date: 2010-08-03
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
1. A method for reading data using a magnetic head having a first array of elements associated with a first data format, and a second array of elements associated with a second data format, the elements being selected from a group consisting of readers, writers, and combinations thereof, wherein the first and second arrays of elements are generally laterally adjacent each other in a direction transverse to a direction of travel of a magnetic medium over the head, the method comprising: determining a format of data on a medium by at least one of reading a portion of the data on the medium and reading a memory associated with the medium; selecting one of the arrays of elements to read the data on the medium based on the determined format of the data; and positioning the selected array over the data on the medium, wherein the first and second arrays share a servo reader, wherein the servo reader shared by the first and second arrays is used to read servo tracks in the first and second data formats.