Imation Corporation

Other

Imetion Corp.

Imation Ccorp.

Yung Yip

Richard W Molstad

Douglas W Johnson

Denis J Langlois

Alexander W Roesler

Stephen J Rothermel

Daniel P Stubbs

Tim T Ngo

James C Cates

James S Anderson

Daniel Charles Egan

Saeed Fahimi

Larold L Olson

Chris Zwettler

Jason Moses

George P Rambosek

Mark P Weber

David M Perry

George W Blattner

Kevin Peter Vlasich

Christopher Thomas Bukowski

Kellan Donald Pauly

A system for data storage including a removable memory element having a data storage device, and a docking station in communication with a host device and configured for receiving the removable memory cartridge so as to put the host system in communication with the data storage device.

Removable memory cartridge and docking station compatible with media drive expansion slots

The present disclosure relates to a perpendicular pole head for creating a perpendicular magnetic moment in a concentrated pattern for writing the pattern on perpendicular magnetic media, such as BaFe based media. The pole head can have flux concentrators in the shape of the written pattern, which can be repeatedly applied to a moving magnetic medium to create a timing pattern on the media, e.g., a servo timing pattern.

Perpendicular pole head for servo writing magnetic media

The invention is directed to techniques for erasing data storage tape for reuse. In an embodiment, an erase head module for erasing data storage tape comprises a set of erase gaps and one or more servo read elements. The set of erase gaps is configured to coincide with data bands of the data storage tape to allow erasure of only the data bands of the data storage tape while not erasing servo bands of the data storage tape. The one or more servo read elements detect one of the servo bands of the data storage tape when the set of erase gaps are proximate the data bands of the data storage tape to allow the erase head module to accurately track the data bands with the set of erase gaps.

Data storage tape recertification

A dongle is provided for coupling a data storage cartridge with a host computing device. The data storage cartridge includes a data storage medium and an electrical connection providing access to the data storage medium. The dongle includes a first plug and a second plug. The first plug includes a first electrical data connector configured for insertion into a receptacle of the host computing device. The second plug includes a second electrical data connector and a clamp mechanism sized to grasp a portion of the data storage cartridge to maintain the second electrical data connector in a position to communicate with the electrical connection of the data storage cartridge. The second plug is in electrical communication with the first plug. As such, the dongle is configured to provide an electrical communication link between the host device and the data storage cartridge.

Dongle configured to electrically couple a data storage device and a host computing device

The invention provides a system comprising a non-linear array of magnetoresistive (MR) heads arranged in a two-dimensional matrix for reading information stored on magnetic media. The non-linear array of MR heads may comprise a planar array formed by a plurality of linear arrays of MR heads stacked to define a plurality of layers. Each of the linear arrays may share at least one shield element with another linear array of the non-linear array. In general, each layer is offset by one written track pitch and the number of layers of the invention is equal to the number of written track pitches in a channel pitch. The invention can also be used in a system for reading and writing information to magnetic media at improved track pitches relative to conventional read/write systems.

System with matrix array of write heads and matrix array of magnetoresistive (MR) read heads

A data storage cartridge is equipped with write-once-read-many (WORM) write-protection. The cartridge is compatible with an existing cartridge docking station with a modification to the control logic of the docking station's control module. Specifically, the control logic is altered to recognize that sensing magnets with both sensors requires the docking station to allow data to be written to, but not erased or altered on the cartridge. In this manner, a third possibility of write-protection status is added to the two existing possibilities of full write-protection and no write-protection. Some embodiments of the invention also provide redundant indications of the WORM write-protection status of the cartridge. For example, embodiments of the invention may incorporate a radio-frequency identification (RF) tag within the cartridge and/or a status bit written into a designated WORM register within a media information header during pre-format of the cartridge media.

Data storage cartridge with worm write-protection

A thin film servo head apparatus is described that provides verification of time-based servo marks on a magnetic tape. The thin film servo head apparatus includes a plurality of thin film servo heads formed in a substrate. The substrate is canted such that servo gaps included in each of the thin film servo heads are substantially parallel to the time-based servo marks. Thin film servo heads eliminate the high labor, low yield machining process associated with conventional ferrite composite servo heads. Thin film servo heads may be fabricated in bulk on substrate wafers to reduce manufacturing time and cost. The invention described herein enables thin film servo heads to be used with time-based servo markings by defining a servo gap spacing such that when the substrate is canted, the servo gaps of the thin film servo heads substantially align with the time-based servo markings.

Thin film servo head apparatus with canted servo gaps

A servo head comprising a write gap with a non-uniform width is described. It allows non-uniform width servo marks to be recorded on magnetic media. A servo head having a non-uniform width gap may create servo marks that facilitate servo position error signal calculations using time-based methods, amplitude-based methods, or both. This invention provides alternative methods for positioning servo heads and may increase reliability and precision by allowing redundant calculations.

Servo head with varying write gap width

A magneto-optic head includes a magnetic layer formed to have a substantially stabilized magnetic domain configuration. The magnetic layer includes a set of magnetic domains that includes one or more magnetic domains that are oriented such that they are substantially parallel to a major axis of the magnetic layer. In exemplary embodiments, the magnetic layer is deposited over a non-magnetic substrate and patterned, e.g., etched, in such a way that ordered magnetic domains form within the magnetic layer. For example, the magnetic layer may be patterned to have a height and width-to-height aspect ratio that yields one or more magnetic domains that are oriented such that they are substantially parallel to a major axis of the magnetic layer. In some embodiments, two magnetic layers are antiferromagnetically exchange coupled such that each magnetic layer includes a magnetic domain that is oriented substantially parallel to the major axis of that magnetic layer.

Domain stabilized magneto-optic head

The invention is directed to patterns of amplitude-based servo windows that eliminate the need for conventional track identification marks, and various servo writing devices and head configurations that facilitate creation of such servo patterns. The patterns of servo windows may also eliminate the need for conventional synchronization marks. In accordance with the invention, the patterns of servo windows, themselves, can distinguish one track from another track in one or more servo bands and inherently provide synchronization without the need for synchronization marks between servo frames. In other words, the same amplitude-based servo windows that define the centerlines of the tracks can be arranged to provide track identification information and possibly inherent synchronization information.

Servo writing devices for creating servo patterns with inherent track ID

Time-based servopositioning systems, methods, formats, and data recording media used in association with the same, employing bands of signals that differ from each other in the polarity of the servo signal, or the orientation of the servo signal, or the pattern width of the servo signal.

Band identification in time-based servopositioning formats

A servo pattern is described that facilitates high resolution and wide dynamic range to accurately pinpoint servo track centerlines on a magnetic tape. The servo pattern provides both absolute positioning information over an entire servo band and absolute positioning information relative to the centerline of each servo track included in the servo band. Therefore, the servo pattern includes implicit servo track identification in a single servo band, eliminating the need for conventional track identification marks. In other words, the servo pattern, itself, can distinguish one servo track from another servo track in the single servo band as well as provide highly accurate positioning information relative to each of the servo track centerlines.

Dual mode servo pattern

The invention presents techniques for verifying patterns, such as time-based servo marks, recorded on magnetic media. Patterns of this kind can be recorded on a magnetic medium using a recording head that includes a surface having a flux gap with a defined shape. The patterns may be verified with a verify head, having a surface with a flux gap with the defined shape or part of the defined shape. The verify head may include two or more ferromagnetic cores, with a flux gap associated with each core. Each core can independently verify part of the recorded pattern.

Servo mark verify head

The invention provides a read-while-write recording system for a linear data storage medium, such as magnetic tape or other data storage medium in which data is stored on parallel data tracks that extend along a length of the medium. The invention makes use of separate sliders for the read and write elements, and separate actuators to control the positioning of the sliders. Each of the sliders may also include servo elements to read servo marks. In order to limit the effect of movement of the first slider on the positioning of the second slider, a tape guide is implemented between the different sliders.

Tape guiding techniques for a dual actuator read-while-write recording system

The invention is directed to a non-rotating head used in linear scanning of linear magnetic tape. For example, the head may include a non-rotating contoured surface shaped to facilitate flyability of linear magnetic tape passing over the non-rotating contoured surface. A contact area defining a magnetic gap may protrude from the surface. The contact area that projects from the surface can contact the magnetic tape to read data from the tape and/or write data to the tape as the tape flies over the surface.

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Afton, MN, United States of America

Yung Yip