Timing based servo with fixed distances between transitions

A servo writer for generating a linear servo track timing based servo pattern in a linear direction on a linear data storage medium, said timing based servo pattern comprised of a repeating cyclic periodic sequence of transitions of two different azimuthal orientations that extend laterally of said linear servo track, said timing based servo track sensed during movement of said linear data storage medium in said linear direction by determining lateral positioning with respect to said linear servo track based on a measure of time between two said transitions having different azimuthal orientation as compared to time between two said transitions having parallel azimuthal orientation, said generator comprising:

• at least three spaced apart write elements, two said write elements of parallel azimuthal orientation, and at least one said write element of a different azimuthal orientation than said two write elements of parallel azimuthal orientation;
• a drive for moving said linear data storage medium in said linear direction across said write elements;
• and
• a source of timed pulses coupled to said write elements and providing timed pulses to cause said spaced apart write elements to simultaneously write, thereby writing patterns of transitions on said linear data storage medium corresponding to said spaced apart write elements as said drive moves said linear data storage medium across said write elements, whereby said spaced apart write elements fix a distance between said simultaneously written transitions having different azimuthal orientation and fix a distance between said simultaneously written transitions having parallel azimuthal orientation, wherein said source of timed pulses provides sets of pulses to said write elements, each said set of pulses writing a pattern of said transitions, and spaces said sets of pulses to prevent overwriting of one said pattern of transitions by another.

A method for generating a linear servo track timing based servo pattern in a linear direction on a linear data storage medium, said timing based servo pattern comprised of a repeating cyclic periodic sequence of transitions of two different azimuthal orientations that extend laterally of said linear servo track, said timing based servo track sensed during movement of said linear data storage medium in said linear direction by determining lateral positioning with respect to said linear servo track based on a measure of time between two said transitions having different azimuthal orientation as compared to time between two said transitions having parallel azimuthal orientation, comprising the steps of:

• providing at least three spaced apart write elements, two said write elements of parallel azimuthal orientation, and at least one said write element of a different azimuthal orientation than said two write elements of parallel azimuthal orientation;
• moving said linear data storage medium in said linear direction across said write elements;
• and
• providing timed pulses to cause said spaced apart write elements to simultaneously write, thereby writing patterns of transitions on said linear data storage medium corresponding to said spaced apart write elements as said linear data storage medium is moved across said write elements, whereby said spaced apart write elements fix a distance between said simultaneously written transitions having different azimuthal orientation and fix a distance between said simultaneously written transitions having parallel azimuthal orientation.

A method for generating a linear servo track timing based servo pattern in a linear direction on a linear data storage medium, said timing based servo pattern comprised of a repeating cyclic periodic sequence of transitions of two different azimuthal orientations that extend laterally of said linear servo track, said timing based servo track sensed during movement of said linear data storage medium in said linear direction by determining lateral positioning with respect to said linear servo track based on a measure of time between two said transitions having different azimuthal orientation as compared to time between two said transitions having parallel azimuthal orientation, comprising the steps of:

• providing at least three spaced apart write elements, two said write elements of parallel azimuthal orientation, and at least one said write element of a different azimuthal orientation than said two write elements of parallel azimuthal orientation;
• moving said linear data storage medium in said linear direction across said write elements;
• and
• providing timed pulses to cause said spaced apart write elements to simultaneously write, thereby writing patterns of transitions on said linear data storage medium corresponding to said spaced apart write elements as said linear data storage medium is moved across said write elements, whereby said spaced apart write elements fix a distance between said simultaneously written transitions having different azimuthal orientation and fix a distance between said simultaneously written transitions having parallel azimuthal orientation, wherein said step of providing timed pulses comprises providing sets of pulses to said write elements, each said set of pulses writing a pattern of said transitions, and spaces said sets of pulses to prevent overwriting of one said pattern of transitions by another.

A sensible transition pattern for recording servo information in a linear direction on a linear data storage medium defining at least one linear servo track, said sensible transition pattern comprised of a timing based servo pattern of a repeating cyclic periodic sequence of transitions of two different azimuthal orientations that extend laterally of said linear servo track, said timing based servo track sensed during movement of said linear data storage medium in said linear direction by determining lateral positioning with respect to said linear servo track based on a measure of time between two said transitions having different azimuthal orientation as compared to time between two said transitions having parallel azimuthal orientation, comprising:

• a repeating pattern of at least three spaced apart said transitions of said two different azimuthal orientations that extend laterally of said linear servo track, two of said transitions of parallel azimuthal orientation, and at least one of said transitions of a different azimuthal orientation than said two transitions of parallel azimuthal orientation;
• said at least three spaced apart said transitions simultaneously written to fix a distance between said simultaneously written transitions having different azimuthal orientation and to fix a distance between said simultaneously written transitions having parallel azimuthal orientation, thereby defining a distance between said simultaneously written transitions having different azimuthal orientation and said distance between transitions having parallel azimuthal orientation.

A sensible transition pattern for recording servo information in a linear direction on a linear data storage medium defining at least one linear servo track, said sensible transition pattern comprised of a timing based servo pattern of a repeating cyclic periodic sequence of transitions of two different azimuthal orientations that extend laterally of said linear servo track, said timing based servo track sensed during movement of said linear data storage medium in said linear direction by determining lateral positioning with respect to said linear servo track based on a measure of time between two said transitions having different azimuthal orientation as compared to time between two said transitions having parallel azimuthal orientation, comprising:

• a repeating pattern of at least three spaced apart said transitions of said two different azimuthal orientations that extend laterally of said linear servo track, two of said transitions of parallel azimuthal orientation, and at least one of said transitions of a different azimuthal orientation than said two transitions of parallel azimuthal orientation;
• said at least three spaced apart said transitions simultaneously written to fix a distance between said simultaneously written transitions having different azimuthal orientation and to fix a distance between said simultaneously written transitions having parallel azimuthal orientation, thereby defining said distance between transitions having different azimuthal orientation and said distance between transitions having parallel azimuthal orientation, wherein said transitions are arranged in sets of transitions, forming said repeating pattern, said sets of transitions spaced to prevent overwritten transitions of one said repeating pattern by another.

A magnetic tape medium having prerecorded servo information recorded in a linear direction in magnetic transition patterns defining at least one linear servo track, said magnetic transition pattern comprised of a timing based servo pattern of a repeating cyclic periodic sequence of magnetic transitions of two different azimuthal orientations that extend laterally of said linear servo track, said timing based servo track sensed during movement of said magnetic tape medium in said linear direction by determining lateral positioning with respect to said linear servo track based on a measure of time between two said magnetic transitions having different azimuthal orientation as compared to time between two said magnetic transitions having parallel azimuthal orientation, comprising:

• a repeating pattern of at least three spaced apart said magnetic transitions of said two different azimuthal orientations that extend laterally of said linear servo track, two of said magnetic transitions of parallel azimuthal orientation, and at least one of said magnetic transitions of a different azimuthal orientation than said two magnetic transitions of parallel azimuthal orientation;
• said at least three spaced apart said magnetic transitions simultaneously written to fix a distance between said simultaneously written magnetic transitions having different azimuthal orientation and to fix a distance between said simultaneously written magnetic transitions having parallel azimuthal orientation, thereby defining said distance between magnetic transitions having different azimuthal orientation and said distance between magnetic transitions having parallel azimuthal orientation.

A magnetic tape medium having prerecorded servo information recorded in a linear direction in magnetic transition patterns defining at least one linear servo track, said magnetic transition pattern comprised of a timing based servo pattern of a repeating cyclic periodic sequence of magnetic transitions of two different azimuthal orientations that extend laterally of said linear servo track, said timing based servo track sensed during movement of said magnetic tape medium in said linear direction by determining lateral positioning with respect to said linear servo track based on a measure of time between two said magnetic transitions having different azimuthal orientation as compared to time between two said magnetic transitions having parallel azimuthal orientation, comprising:

• a repeating pattern of at least three spaced apart said magnetic transitions of said two different azimuthal orientations that extend laterally of said linear servo track, two of said magnetic transitions of parallel azimuthal orientation, and at least one of said magnetic transitions of a different azimuthal orientation than said two magnetic transitions of parallel azimuthal orientation;
• said at least three spaced apart said magnetic transitions simultaneously written to fix a distance between said simultaneously written magnetic transitions having different azimuthal orientation and to fix a distance between said simultaneously written magnetic transitions having parallel azimuthal orientation, thereby defining said distance between magnetic transitions having different azimuthal orientation and said distance between magnetic transitions having parallel azimuthal orientation, wherein said magnetic transitions are arranged in sets of magnetic transitions, forming said repeating pattern, said sets of magnetic transitions spaced to prevent overwritten magnetic transitions of one said repeating pattern by another.