Revisiting magnetic tape readout using TMR sensors

For nearly a century, magnetic audio tapes have preserved a wealth of valuable information, from historic broadcasts to timeless music, capturing a significant part of our cultural heritage. Over time, tapes deteriorate and suffer various types of damage, leading to the loss of valuable information.

It's crucial to develop methods for digitizing these damaged tapes without causing further damage. Tunnel Magnetoresistance (TMR) sensors, combined with a custom setup, are ideal for this application due to their high sensitivity, room temperature operation, and micrometric spatial resolution.\par

To understand the tape's magnetic field, simulations were conducted using finite model methodology and analytical analysis. Multiple versions of sensor probe designs were developed to verify the setup's accuracy, optimize the sensor-to-PCB integration process, and utilize insights from the simulations.

Measurements with each sensor version were performed using a custom-built setup and software. The evolution between versions yielded promising results and enhancements, pinpointing key areas for progress in future iterations.