A device for precision alignment of a write element of a tape head to a transport
direction of a media that is transported across the tape head is disclosed. The
tape head includes at least one alignment element that is cofabricated with the
write element so that both the write element and the alignment element have a fixed
orientation with respect to a magnetic axis of the tape head. The alignment element
and the write element can be fabricated on the tape head using standard microelectronic
photolithographic processes. Preferably, the tape head includes a plurality of
alignment elements. Those alignment elements are operative to write alignment transitions
onto the media. The alignment transitions can be observed to determine if they
are indicative of the write element having a predetermined orientation with respect
to the transport direction. A read transducer can be used to generate signals from
the alignment transitions and those signals can be analyzed to determine if the
predetermined orientation of the write element has been achieved. The tape head
can include horizontal and/or vertical elements for a gross visual alignment of
the tape head to the media. The alignment transitions can be read by a data element
of a separate data head. A signal from the data element can be used to adjust the
azimuth of the data head with respect to a direction of transport. In servo writer
applications where servo code is prerecorded on the media, the alignment transitions
can be used to align the write elements of a servo write head to the transport
direction of the media so that inter band skew between adjacent servo bands is
significantly reduced.
