Imation Corporation

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Mark R Drutowski

Stephen J Rothermel

Richard E Jewett

Kenneth I Wolfe

Vernon Michael Cottles

Todd E Clapp

The invention presents techniques for marking data storage media and responding to disturbances in the marking process. In one embodiment, the invention presents a system that uses a laser to emit a beam to ablate physical marks in a data storage medium. The system includes a sensor such as an optical sensor, configured to detect the position of the data storage medium and to generate a position signal as a function of the position of the data storage medium. An optical device, controlled by an actuator, directs the beam from the laser to an ablation site on the data storage medium as a function of the position signal.

Guided servo writing for data storage media

The position of one or both edges of tape, such as magnetic tape, can be determined using a light source, such as a solid-state laser with a collimated beam, and a detector, such as a photodiode. The tape, by blocking a portion of the light, affects the amount of light reaching the detector. The detector generates signals as a function of the position of the tape. In the case of two detectors cooperating to measure the positions of opposing edges of the tape, the signals from the detectors may be processed to produce at least four useful signals, including a signal that is a function of the tape width and a signal that is a function of the position of the tape centroid.

Tape edge monitoring

A zoned inspection system and method produce inspection results consistent with a user's view of an article by transforming parallel, temporal inspection results from multiple detectors into a serial, spatial domain.

Growing community of inventors

Saint Paul, MN, United States of America

Mark R Drutowski