The 18 track thin film magnetic head for half-inch magnetic tape drive

The write and read performance of spiral coil type inductive thin-film magnetic heads, which are used in 18-track half-inch magnetic tape drives, are theoretically analyzed using a transmission line model, and their main dimensions are optimized. The analytical and experimental results are compared. Since a narrower spacing between the head and the medium is required for a high recording density, an optimum head contour is designed based upon the model experiments. Also the reliability of the heads is stated.