olvasófejen

Olvasófej is a term used in Hungarian for the read head of a data storage device. The locutive form olvasófejen means “on the read head” and is commonly found in technical texts to describe something located on or related to the read head. The concept covers both magnetic and optical storage technologies.

In magnetic storage devices such as hard disk drives, the olvasófej is the transducer that detects information encoded as magnetic changes on the disk surface. It is part of the head stack assembly and works together with the write head in many designs. The read head senses magnetic flux variations and converts them into electrical signals, which are then processed by the read channel. The head flies just above the disk surface on a thin air cushion and its precise position is controlled by servo systems and the voice coil motor.

In optical storage devices such as CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs, the olvasófej refers to the optical pickup head. This unit contains a laser diode, focusing and tracking lenses, and photodetectors. It reads data by directing laser light at the disc and detecting the reflected signal, with servo mechanisms adjusting focus and tracking to maintain correct readout quality.

The term is standard in Hungarian technical literature and manuals. In everyday language, references to cleanliness or condition “on the read head” (olvasófejen) describe situations that can affect readout performance, such as dust or contamination, which typically require professional maintenance. See also read/write head, magnetic storage, and optical pickup.