Patent ID: 8139318
Filing Date: 2012-03-20
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
1. In a tape drive, a tape head for reading and writing data on a magnetic recording tape, comprising: a substrate; a tape bearing surface for engaging said magnetic tape; two write element arrays formed on said substrate and arranged so that write gaps of every other write element are generally aligned in a direction that is transverse to a streaming direction of said magnetic recording tape; said every other write element being determined by considering said write elements of said two write element arrays in sequential order based on their relative distance from an edge of said magnetic recording tape; said two write element arrays being the only write element arrays on said substrate; said two write element arrays comprise write elements having a pair of pole tips providing a write gap at said tape bearing surface and a pair of pole pieces extending from said pole tips to a back gap region where said pole pieces are joined, said back gap region being spaced in a trackwise direction from said write gap and wherein said write elements are arranged so that adjacent write elements have adjacent pole tips and adjacent pole pieces and back gap regions extending in the same direction; said write elements being constructed and arranged so that the write gaps of sequentially adjacent write elements are spaced from each other by not more than approximately one write gap width; one or more read element arrays formed on said substrate; said two write element arrays and said one or more read element arrays comprising plural thin film layers oriented in a generally parallel planar relationship with said tape bearing surface; and said tape head being operable to write data using all of said write elements simultaneously.