Quantum Corporation

Digital Equipment Corporation

Mitchell R Steinberg

George A Saliba

Leo Cappabianca

Faramarz Mahnad

Joseph M Panish

James Donati

In one example, a method is provided for detecting the relative position of a transducer head with respect to a storage medium utilizing existing or previously written data structures on a magnetic storage tape and optically diffractive media. The method includes generating a read signal from a read element associated with a transducer head, the read signal generated from a reference data track stored on a magnetic storage medium, and determining a relative position of a first diffractive medium with respect to a second diffractive medium, wherein the first diffractive medium is associated with the storage medium. The transducer head is repositioned relative to the storage medium in response to the read signal and the relative position of the first diffractive medium and the second diffractive medium.

Servo methods and systems using existing data structures and optical masks

The present invention provides servo systems and accompanying methods for determining the relative position of a transducer head to a magnetic storage tape utilizing the position of the magnetic storage tape edge. In one example, a method for positioning a transducer head relative to a magnetic storage medium includes optically sensing a position of an edge of the storage medium, and repositioning the transducer head relative to the storage medium based on the read signal and the position of the edge of the storage medium.

Servo methods and systems using masked medium edge position sensors

According to one aspect, methods and systems for determining the position of a recording head using existing data structures on magnetic storage media are provided. In one example, a recording head writes data to an active track on a magnetic storage tape, the recording head including a write element and a read element in a known spatial relationship, wherein the read element is configured to access at least a portion of a reference track when the write element is accessing the active track. A controller determines a relative position of the transducer element to the reference track and repositions the recording head to write data to the active track. The read element may be a backward channel reader or dedicated read element of the recording head for reading reference tracks during read and/or write operations.

Methods and systems for magnetic recording

The present invention provides servo systems and accompanying methods for determining the relative position of a transducer head to a magnetic storage tape utilizing existing data structures on the magnetic storage tape and the position of the tape edge. In one example, a method for positioning a transducer head relative to a magnetic storage medium includes sensing a read signal from a read element associated with a transducer head, the read signal in response to a reference data track stored on a magnetic storage medium, optically sensing a position of an edge of the storage medium, and repositioning the transducer head relative to the storage medium in response to the read signal and the position of the edge of the storage medium.

Servo methods and systems using existing data structures and medium edge position

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 single reel tape cartridge includes a type of magnetic recording tape having characteristics which are identified to a cartridge tape handling system in accordance with size variation of a tape type hole following a beginning of tape (BOT) hole by a predetermined, qualifying distance. A cartridge tape handling system for identifying the particular tape type, and for formatting the tape in accordance with determined tape type is also described.

Tape cartridge qualified by location, and identified by geometry, of

Recognition of tape recording media type using plural in-line holes

A method for adjusting the tension of a tape in a tape drive is disclosed. The tape is loaded into the tape drive. A test signal is then provided to record test information onto the tape while the tape tension is varied concurrently in a prescribed manner. The test information is read immediately to provide a test readback signal. The test readback signal is processed to determine a functional relationship between the test readback signal and the tape tension. An operating tape tension value is computed based upon the functional relationship. The operating tape tension is implemented on the tape drive in the form of a command signal to a motor means of the tape drive.

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Upton, MA, United States of America

Mitchell R Steinberg