The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 12, 2001
Filed:
Nov. 13, 1998
George A. Saliba, Northboro, MA (US);
Hong Chen, Worcester, MA (US);
Joseph Panish, Littleton, MA (US);
Leo Cappabianca, Worcester, MA (US);
Richard Gulbankian, Marlboro, MA (US);
Quantum Corporation, Milpitas, CA (US);
Abstract
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.