Patent ID: 6700729
Filing Date: 2004-03-02
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A device for a precision alignment of a write element on a tape head with a transport direction of a media that is transported across the tape head and having opposed edges, comprising:at least one alignment element cofabricated with the write element so that both the write element and the alignment element have a first fixed orientation with respect to a magnetic axis of the tape head, the write element and the alignment element are adapted to generate a magnetic field induced by a write current supplied to the tape head, the magnetic field from the write element is operative to write a plurality of write transitions on the media thereby defining a write band thereon, the magnetic field from the alignment element is operative to write a plurality of alignment transitions on the media thereby defining an alignment band thereon, the alignment transitions have a recorded orientation with respect to the transport direction, and the alignment band and the plurality of alignment transitions therein are spatially separated on the media from the write band and the plurality of write transitions therein, and wherein the precision alignment is obtained by observing the alignment transitions in the alignment band during a manufacturing of the media and adjusting a head-to-media angle between the magnetic axis and the transport direction until the recorded orientation of the alignment transitions is indicative of the write element having a preferred orientation with respect to the transport direction.