An experimental study of signal equalization for thin film heads

Signal processing for a thin film head, especially the influence of negative side-lobes, are discussed. Numerical analysis shows that a (1,7,2,3) code is superior to other run-legth-limited codes for well-balanced margins in a system featuring high density and a high transfer rate. Two techniques of reducing negative side-lobes were presented. One is a new equalizer, using pulse slimming and elimination of negative side-lobes. The other is an asymmetrical pole-face head. Experimental and theoretical results clarify that the two techniques are extremly effective in increasing the level margin.