Patent ID: 9208809
Filing Date: 2015-12-08
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus, comprising: at least two modules, each of the modules having an array of transducers, wherein the at least two modules are fixed relative to each other, wherein an axis of each array is defined between opposite ends thereof, wherein the axes of the arrays are oriented about parallel to each other, wherein the array of a first of the modules is offset from the array of a second of the modules in a first direction parallel to the axis of the array of the second module such that 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 the axes are oriented at a nominal angle greater than 0.2° relative to a line oriented perpendicular to the intended direction of tape travel thereacross; a mechanism operatively coupled to the modules and configured to alter the angle of the axes away from the nominal angle 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 of the parallel arrays when the axes of the arrays are oriented at an angle greater than 0.2° relative to the line oriented perpendicular to the intended direction of tape travel thereacross, the controller being physically configured to control the mechanism for altering the angle of the modules away from the nominal angle based on the state of expansion of the tape.