International Business Machines Corporation

Christopher Robert Pandolfo

David Lee Swanson

Alex Chliwnyj

Steven Carter Wills

Width of a write track for a magnetic tape head is measured by writing a foreground magnetic track signal on a magnetic tape having a dissimilar background signal. A magnetic tape read head is moved from beyond one edge, laterally across, and beyond the opposite edge of the foreground track signal. Logic detects the read head encountering the one edge and the opposite edge of the foreground track signal; and determines, from an independent position sensor, the width of the foreground track signal as the lateral distance between the lateral position of the read head at one edge, and at the opposite edge of the foreground track signal.

Measurement of write track width for magnetic tape head

A method to calibrate a servo sensor disposed on a magnetic tape head disposed adjacent a magnetic tape, where that magnetic tape includes at least one servo edge comprising an interface between a first recorded signal and a second recorded signal, whereby the servo sensor is capable of detecting that first recorded signal and that second recorded signal, and whereby an independent position sensor provides an IPS signal comprising the position of the tape head with respect to the tape path. Applicants' method determines and uses initial servo signal information and initial IPS signal information to determine an initial transfer function. That initial transfer function is used to determine a positioning signal where the tape head is alternatingly moved in a first direction and an opposing second direction along a first axis as the tape moves along a tape path such that the position of the magnetic head along the first axis as a function of time comprises a periodic function having the positioning signal. Additional servo signals and additional IPS signals are sampled. Those sampled signals are used to determine a second transfer function.

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Cambridge, MA, United States of America

Christopher Robert Pandolfo