Patent ID: 7206163
Filing Date: 2007-04-17
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for writing/reading data to/from a magnetic media, comprising: a loader for receiving a supply reel on which a magnetic thread is wound; a first head assembly positioned in a thread path between a loaded supply reel and a take-up reel, the first head assembly having an inner surface defining an opening formed longitudinally therethrough coinciding with the thread path and having a cross-section of substantially the same size and shape as a cross-section of the thread, the thread being receivable in the opening; a transport mechanism for causing relative movement between the thread and the opening in the first head assembly; a first plurality of transducing elements positioned around the inner surface of the first head assembly to interact with a plurality of parallel recording tracks longitudinally-extending around the surface of the magnetic thread; and a data channel coupled to the transducing elements and operable to transmit data signals to be written to the thread from a host device to the transducing elements and/or transmit to the host device data signals read from the thread by the transducing elements.