公开(公告)号：DE69224558D1

公开(公告)日：1998-04-09

申请号：DE69224558

申请日：1992-06-12

Applicant: IBM

Inventor： EATON JAMES HOWARD ,  SPONG JACQUELIN KETNER

IPC: G11B15/60 ,  G11B23/087 ,  G11B15/665

Abstract: A magnetic tape drive 20 includes a tape path 21 having first and second reels 22 and 23 for a tape 1, a transducer head 24 and guides 10a, 10b and 10c for the tape. The guides 10a, 10b and 10c are pivotally mounted on axles 15a, 15b and 15c and the operation of the drive is controlled by a controller 25. Fach of the guides is a constrained pivot compound radius tape post. The post is mounted on an axle which allows it to pivot when the tape changes direction. The pivoting action serves to peel away all tape which has been in stationary contact with the post, thereby reducing startup stiction. Above a certain pivotation angle the post is prevented from further pivotation either by a fixed stop or by torque exerted on the post by the tape which is under tension.

公开(公告)号：CA2158304A1

公开(公告)日：1996-05-05

申请号：CA2158304

申请日：1995-09-14

Applicant: IBM

Inventor： DOVEK MORIS MUSA ,  FONTANA ROBERT EDWARD JR ,  SPERIOSU VIRGIL SIMON ,  SPONG JACQUELIN KETNER

IPC: G01R33/09 ,  H01L43/08

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor uses four individual magnetoresistive spin valve elements electrically connected in a bridge circuit. The spin valve elements are lithographically formed on the same substrate with their free layers having their magnetization axes parallel to one another. An electrically conductive fixing layer is formed on the substrate but is insulated from the spin valve elements. The application of current through the fixing conductor during fabrication of the field sensor fixes the direction of magnetization of two of the pinned layers to be antiparallel to the direction of magnetization of the other two pinned layers. The bridge circuit output voltage is responsive to an external magnetic field in the plane of the sensor. By appropriate fixing of the direction of magnetization of the pinned layers during sensor fabrication, and appropriate connection to the input and output leads, the bridge circuit output voltage is a measure of either the magnetic field or field gradient. The fixing conductor, or a separate current strap formed on the substrate, can be used to pass an unknown current over the sensor, in which case the bridge circuit output voltage is a measure of the unknown current.