Quantum Corporation

Oracle America, Inc.

Joseph M Panish

George A Saliba

Hong M Chen

Leo Cappabianca

Mitchell R Steinberg

Tzuo-Chang Lee

Richard Gulbankian

Makoto Miyamoto

Faramarz Mahnad

Satya Mallick

John L Ritter

Timothy J Frey

Paul Coles

Dennis Lauze

Michael Kearnan

George Raniuk

Carl A Maietta

Disclosed herein are aspects of optical tape technology, tape manufacturing, and tape usage. Methods and systems of tape technology disclose optical tape media including: configurations, formulations, markings, and structure; optical tape manufacturing methods, systems, and apparatus methods and systems including: curing processes, coating methods, embossing, drums, testing, tracking alignment stamper strip; optical tape methods and systems including: pick up head adapted for the disclosed optical tape; and optical tape uses including optical storage media devices for multimedia applications.

Optical tape drive systems

The systems, methods and products of the invention include systems and methods for manufacturing servo tracks on a magnetic tape. In one aspect, the invention includes systems for manufacturing magnetic tapes having servo tracks thereon wherein the servo tracks are optically detectable and are capable of being processed by a servo control system for maintaining alignment of a magnetic recording head with the data tracks on the recording side of the magnetic tape. In one practice, the manufacturing systems described herein engrave the servo tracks onto the non-recording side of a magnetic tape by directing a laser beam at the non- recording side of the magnetic tape. In another practice, the manufacturing systems described herein engrave the servo tracks onto the magnetic side of a magnetic tape by directing a laser beam at the magnetic side of the magnetic tape. Such engraved patterns can act as optical servo tracks for maintaining alignment of the recording head with the data tracks on the magnetic tape.

Systems and method for forming a servo pattern on a magnetic tape

An optical tracking system is presented which aligns a recording head with a magnetic tape. The system relies on an optically detectable servo track on the back of the tape. The servo track is formed by repeatedly engraving, at spaced intervals, three co-linear marks perpendicular to the length of the tape. Laser light reflects off the marks, and passes through a ball lens that directs the reflected light on to separate light detectors, one for each mark. By recording characteristics of the reflected light, the detectors transmit information to the system that permits the recording head to be properly aligned with the tape.

Optical apparatus for tracking a magnetic tape

The systems, methods and products of the invention include systems and methods for manufacturing servo tracks on a magnetic tape. In one aspect, the invention includes systems for manufacturing magnetic tapes having servo tracks thereon wherein the servo tracks are optically detectable and are capable of being processed by a servo control system for maintaining alignment of a magnetic recording head with the data tracks on the recording side of the magnetic tape. In one practice, the manufacturing systems described herein engrave the servo tracks onto the non-recording side of a magnetic tape by directing a laser beam at the non-recording side of the magnetic tape. In another practice, the manufacturing systems described herein engrave the servo tracks onto the magnetic side of a magnetic tape by directing a laser beam at the magnetic side of the magnetic tape. Such engraved patterns can act as optical servo tracks for maintaining alignment of the recording head with the data tracks on the magnetic tape.

Method for forming a servo pattern on a magnetic tape

An optical tracking system is presented which aligns a recording head with a magnetic tape. The system relies on an optically detectable servo track on the back of the tape. The servo track is formed by repeatedly engraving, at spaced intervals, three colinear marks perpendicular to the length of the tape. Laser light reflects off the marks, and passes through a ball lens that directs the reflected light on to separate light detectors, one for each mark. By recording characteristics of the reflected light, the detectors transmit information to the system that permits the recording head to be properly aligned with the tape.

A read-after-write head for four channel azimuth recording in one mode of operation and two channel non-azimuth recording in another mode of operation. Four forward write head gaps, four read head gaps, and four backward write head gaps are geometrically positioned within a rotatable and laterally indexable face plate of a recording head housing. The read and write heads gaps collectively provide four forward write channels, four read channels, and four backward write channels. During the azimuth mode of operation, the head is rotated to the preselected positive or negative azimuth angle and all of the read and write channels are utilized. During the non-azimuth, or vertical, mode of operation, write channels two and four are utilized in combination with read channels one and three to provide two-channel non-azimuth, or vertical, operation.

Four channel azimuth and two channel non-azimuth read-after-write

Two channel azimuth and two channel non-azimuth read-after-write

A tape drive reel for providing controlled, uniform stacking of tape during read/write operations to reduce lateral tape motion. The reel comprises a hub and two flanges that are located on opposite sides of the hub. Each flange includes a deflectable radial section which pivots about the hub as tape is wound onto the reel. As each loop of tape is wound on the hub and the amount of tape stacked thereon increases, the radial sections of the flanges are deflected towards each other and against the opposite edges of the tape stack, ensuring that the tape stacks uniformly.

Growing community of inventors

Littleton, MA, United States of America

Joseph M Panish