International Business Machines Corporation

Ara Sarkis Patapoutian

Robert Allan Hutchins

Robert Allen Hutchins

Alan Robert Clark

Pantas Sutardja

Glen Alan Jaquette

Eric Rolf Christensen

Robert Beverley Basham

Jonathan M Kiser

Disclosed are a programmable digital device and method for generating tracking threshold signals for qualification of input peak signals in response to programmed digital gain signals which control the rate at which the envelope of the qualified input peak signals is followed, and in response to a programmed digital attenuation signal which determines the proportion of the peak envelope at which to generate new tracking threshold signals. The programmable digital device and method also provide a programmed clamp signal to clamp the positive and negative threshold signals to not fall below the programmed values. An anti-hang capability is provided to allow the thresholds to drop after a programmed time period during which no signal is detected. In an alternative arrangement, the centerline of the envelope is followed and used as the threshold.

Programmable digital centerline tracking threshold apparatus and method

Programmable digital envelope following threshold generation apparatus

In a pulse width modulated read signal channel for an optical disk drive, a data-transition threshold is maintained for data detection by a threshold tracking circuit that estimates the amplitude centerline data-transition threshold from the most recent maximum and minimum values of the read signal waveform. To improve the accuracy of the response of the centerline estimator, the threshold is increased or decreased based on the phase error at each read signal transition through the data-transition threshold. In addition, defects in the optical recording media are detected, and a defect present signal is used to inhibit the transition phase error input to the centerline estimator. This prevents the estimator from moving the threshold to an incorrect stable level. In addition, the defect present signal boosts the error feedback in the centerline estimator. The estimator then more quickly follows the read signal waveform. As a result, the estimator reacquires the centerline of the waveform after the read head moves past the defect without retriggering the defect detection circuit.

Data-transition threshold following in optical recording

A method and apparatus for detecting peaks in a signal which comprises an alternating polarity waveform including a plurality of points. A selected point in the signal is designated. Thereafter, a threshold value for the selected point is established utilizing a prior threshold value associated set off with spaces with a point prior to the selected point as follows:

Tracking threshold circuit for peak detection

A digital phase lock loop channel is provided for threshold detection of a pulse width modulated binary data stream that has negative and positive transitions defining one binary state of the data stream. A threshold-establishing and transition-detecting network receives this data stream and provides a first output of one polarity corresponding to the detection of a positive transition, a second output of an opposite polarity corresponding to the detection of a negative transition, and a time-of-arrival output corresponding to a positive and a negative transition. A first and a second digital PLL is provided, each PLL having a transition input, a time-of-arrival input, a phase-error input, a phase error output a data-valid output, and a data output. Each PLL has an internal digital phase detector network connected to receive its transition input and its time-of-arrival input, and each PLL is operable to generate the phase error output therefrom. Each PLL has an internal digital loop filter connected to receive the phase error output generated by its phase detector network, and to receive the phase error output that is generated by the other PLL. The output of the loop filter of each PLL is connected to the data-valid and data outputs of its respective PLL.

Dual digital phase locked loop clock channel for optical recording

A tape drive subsystem discloses that variable length symbols can be used to reliably identify data stored on the tape. Machine controlling procedures are disclosed to encode and decode data for the reliable sensing of the serial number of a media, especially tape cartridges, having different track densities. The subsystem detects the serial number of the media and corrects, or at least detects, error patterns. A variable length symbol code is encoded in a plurality of groups with each group having a 'one' being represented as an erase gap ERG signal covering a first two units of a group, and a 'zero' is represented as one unit of an ERG signal, both followed by four units of an Inter Block Gap IBG signal.

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Westboro, MA, United States of America

Ara Sarkis Patapoutian