Multi-mode, multi-channel magnetic recording head and apparatus

1. A drive-implemented method, comprising:

in a first mode of operation, processing data using only transducers of subarrays positioned on opposite sides of an inner transducer in an array of transducers; and

processing data using only a portion of the transducers in each of the subarrays in a second mode of operation,

wherein the inner transducer is inactive in the second mode of operation.

2. A drive-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the inner transducer is central and the subarrays are symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of the inner transducer.

3. A drive-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the subarrays have differing numbers of transducers.

4. A drive-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , wherein a pitch between the transducers used in the second mode of operation is an integral multiple of a pitch between the transducers used in the first mode of operation.

5. A drive-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the array is configured to read from or write to a magnetic recording tape according to a first format;

wherein the first format specifies a number of active channels, locations of data tracks on the magnetic recording tape, and spare area on the magnetic recording tape;

wherein the first format also specifies backward compatibility with a second format; and

wherein the second format specifies a smaller number of active channels than the number of active channels specified by the format.

6. A drive-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least two servo readers are positioned external to an outermost transducer of the array and on a same side thereof.

7. A drive-implemented method as recited in claim 6 , wherein the at least two servo readers have different track widths.

8. A drive-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the transducers are on a same module, each of the transducers being coupled to an associated pair of connection pads of the module, wherein at least two of the transducers are configured as servo readers, wherein relative positions of the pairs of connection pads coupled to the transducers configured as a servo readers are transposed from relative positions of the transducers configured as servo readers on the module.

9. A drive-implemented method, comprising:

in a first mode of operation, processing data using only transducers of subarrays positioned on opposite sides of an inner transducer in an array of transducers; and

processing data using only a portion of the transducers in each of the subarrays in a second mode of operation,

wherein the inner transducer is inactive in the second mode of operation,

wherein the inner transducer is central and the subarrays are symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of the inner transducer,

wherein a magnetic medium passes over the array of transducers.

10. A computer program product for processing data, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, wherein the computer readable storage medium is not a transitory signal per se, the program instructions executable by a processor to cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

in a first mode of operation, processing, by the processor, data using only transducers of subarrays positioned on opposite sides of an inner transducer in an array of transducers; and

processing, by the processor, data using only a portion of the transducers in each of the subarrays in a second mode of operation,

wherein the inner transducer is inactive in the second mode of operation.

11. A computer program product as recited in claim 10 , wherein the inner transducer is central and the subarrays are symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of the inner transducer.

12. A computer program product as recited in claim 10 , wherein the subarrays have differing numbers of transducers.

13. A computer program product as recited in claim 10 , wherein a pitch between the transducers used in the second mode of operation is an integral multiple of a pitch between the transducers used in the first mode of operation.

14. A computer program product as recited in claim 10 , wherein the array is configured to read from or write to a magnetic recording tape according to a first format;

wherein the first format specifies a number of active channels, locations of data tracks on the magnetic recording tape, and spare area on the magnetic recording tape;

wherein the first format also specifies backward compatibility with a second format; and

wherein the second format specifies a smaller number of active channels than the number of active channels specified by the format.

15. A computer program product as recited in claim 10 , wherein at least two servo readers positioned external to an outermost transducer of the array and on a same side thereof.

16. A computer program product as recited in claim 15 , wherein the at least two servo readers have different track widths.

17. A computer program product as recited in claim 10 , wherein the transducers are on a same module, each of the transducers being coupled to an associated pair of connection pads of the module, wherein at least two of the transducers are configured as servo readers, wherein relative positions of the pairs of connection pads coupled to the transducers configured as a servo readers are transposed from relative positions of the transducers configured as servo readers on the module.