Certance LLC

Seagate Removable Storage Solutions LLC

Quantum Corporation

Kempton William Redhead

Turguy Goker

John Anthony Hamming

Russell Allen Bauer

Robert Ralph Heinze

Ming-Chih Weng

Walter Fehlmann

Patrick McCormack

Jerry Hodges

Scott L Hanson

Mark R Thompson

David James Brecht

A method and apparatus for preventing the detachment of an end of tape from a hub filler during movement of the hub filler along a guide rail during an unloading operation of a tape drive mechanism. Detachment is prevented by a retracting tape dragging the hub filler along the guide rail, so as to maintain adequate tension that prevents detachment of the tape from the hub filler. The hub filler, which is coupled to the tape, guide arm, and guide rail, provides adequate drag force to maintain tension in the tape and prevent damage to the tape or the tape drive mechanism.

Method and apparatus of maintaining tension in a tape

An example embodiment provides for an apparatus and method, for use in a tape drive system, that supplies tape azimuth error information transduced from servo read elements that are located on differing bumps of a magnetic read/write head. Non-azimuth error information is also transduced from servo read elements located on a read bump. The azimuth error and non-azimuth are utilized to correctly place the magnetic head at a currently selected track of the tape for which data is being written. In one implementation, the servo read elements utilized for transducing the azimuth information are substantially aligned with each other relative to a tape path and disposed on separate bumps. In another implementation, the servo read elements utilized for transducing the azimuth information are not substantially aligned with each other and are disposed diagonally on opposite bumps.

Azimuth compensation using combination bump pes detection

A control system and method for operating a system comprising a host computer, a buffer, a tape drive and a tape is provided. The method includes writing data to the tape while the tape is traveling at a first speed; stopping the tape; determining a minimum distance to reposition the tape; and, thereafter repositioning the tape.

System and method for tape drive under run control

Ascertaining through integration a bias calibration level for a current control loop of a driver motor of a tape drive. The driver motor includes a current controller having as inputs a demand signal, a bias signal, and a feedback signal. The current controller includes an integrator coupled to the output. The method includes setting the demand signal to a zero current level, setting the bias signal to a level that substantially prevents the integrator from driving itself high, stepping down the bias signal to form a stepped down bias signal, measuring a sense parameter at the output of the current controller, determining whether the sense parameter is high for the stepped down bias signal, and setting the bias calibration level to a level sufficiently above the stepped down bias signal such that the integrator is not driven high when the demand signal is set to the zero current level.

Current control loop bias calibration by integration

A method and apparatus for loading tape from a single reel tape cartridge into a take-up reel. The hub filler is securely and releaseably attached to the take-up reel upon the hub filler entering the take-up reel. This attachment provides adequate securement between the hub filler and the take-up reel for the tape to be wrapped around the take-up reel during loading of the tape without the hub filler partially ejecting from the take-up reel. By preventing the hub filler from partially ejecting from the take-up reel, damage to the tape and the tape drive loading mechanism is mitigated. Upon unloading of the tape from the tape drive, the hub filler can be readily released from its attachment to the take-up reel.

Latching mechanism for tape drive

A method of loading a tape from a single reel tape cartridge into a take-up reel. Position sensors detect position of a guide arm as a tape loading mechanism loads and unloads tapes from a single reel tape cartridge. The position sensors are accurate and eliminate problems that occur from small misalignments of hub filler access with the access of the take-up reel. Further, the position sensors enable the hub filler to consistently attach to a leader pin at the end of the tape of the single reel tape cartridge without frequent malfunctions.

Position sensors for tape loading mechanism

A reel-to-reel tape system stops movement of the tape during a power loss situation without overrun by one of the tape reels and without causing undue stress upon the tape itself. If rotational momentum of the supply reel is sensed to be disproportionately larger than the momentum of the take-up reel, supply motor back emf for dynamically braking the supply reel is applied while also driving the take-up reel in the direction of rotation in which it operated when the power source was discontinued. An appropriate amount of tension is maintained on the tape until the tape motion has come to a complete stop. A capacitor large enough to supply the power needed to provide current to the power bridge of the motor drivers is provided. The capacitor is charged upon power up of the drive and is not tapped unless and until the normal supply voltage of the motor drivers is turned off. The take-up reel motor is provided with optimum current to take up the loose tape that otherwise would be produced in the tape path and around the reels, thus preventing a hazardous situation.

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Huntington Beach, CA, United States of America

Kempton William Redhead