Patent ID: 8587905

Claim:
A magnetic head, comprising: an inner module comprising an array of data readers; and first and second outer modules flanking the inner module and spaced therefrom, thereby defining a gap in a tape bearing surface of the head between the first and inner modules and a gap in the tape bearing surface of the head between the second and inner modules, wherein the outer modules are identical, each outer module comprising an array of data writers, wherein a number of active data writers in each outer module is less than a number of active data readers in the inner module, wherein, for the first outer module, one of the active data writers is aligned with one of the data readers positioned towards a first end of the inner module array in a direction generally parallel to the path of tape travel thereacross, wherein, for the second outer module, one of the active data writers is aligned with one of the data readers positioned towards a second end of the inner module array in the direction generally parallel to the path of tape travel thereacross, wherein, for each module, one of the data transducers is positioned along a centerline of the array, wherein the centerline is oriented in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the array.