read/write head
A device that reads (senses) and writes (records) data on a magnetic disk or tape. For writing, the surface of the disk or tape is moved past the read/write head. By discharging electrical impulses at the appropriate times, bits are recorded as tiny, magnetized spots of positive or negative polarity.For reading, the surface is moved past the read/write head, and the bits that are present induce an electrical current across the gap.
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| Thin Film Read/Write Head |
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| The read/write heads on today's magnetic disks are so tiny you need a microscope to see them. The heads are attached to a pair of aerodynamically designed rails, known as a "slider," that keep the head at the proper distance from the disk platter. |
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| GMR and Inductive Technologies |
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| Typical read/write heads use a giant magnetoreresistive (GMR) head for reading and an inductive coil for writing as in this illustration. (Illustration assistance courtesy of Hitachi Global Storage Technologies.) |
read/write head [′rēd ′rīt ‚hed]
(computer science)
A magnetic head that both senses and records data. Also known as combined head.
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