Data Storage Tape Cartridge and System Including an Intermediate Portion Having a Servo Pattern
AssigneeSun Microsystems, Inc.
InventorsWilliam J. Vanderheyden, Robert O. Wyman, John D. Willems
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A data storage tape cartridge is provided with a combination tape including a data storage tape, an intermediate portion and a leader. A servo track and media information region is provided on the intermediate portion of the tape. The servo track is read by a servo track reader of a data storage apparatus. The media information region is read by the read/write head of the data storage apparatus.
Claims20
A data storage tape cartridge comprising:
- a housing;
- a tape reel assembly having a hub that is retained within the housing;
- a storage tape having a data storage portion attached to the hub, the data storage portion of the tape being wound about the hub, an intermediate portion attached to the opposite end of the data recording portion from the hub, and a leader attached to the opposite end of the intermediate portion from the data storage portion;
- a servo pattern written on the data storage and intermediate portion of the storage tape.
A method of unwinding a storage tape from a hub of a tape reel assembly that is housed in a data storage tape cartridge that is inserted into a tape drive, the tape drive having a servo track reader and a read/write head, the tape reel assembly having a length of data storage tape extending from the hub to a leading end, a transition tape that is thicker than the data storage tape and is coupled at a trailing end to the leading end of the data storage tape, the transition tape extending to a leading end that is coupled to a leader, the method comprising:
- threading the leader into the tape drive;
- detecting the servo track on the transition tape by the servo track reader;
- demodulating the servo track to produce a servo track signal;
- and
- following the servo track based upon the servo track signal.
A tape drive system comprising:
- a data storage apparatus that may be used to read and write data onto a data storage tape;
- a housing that may be loaded into the data storage apparatus;
- a reel having a hub to which an inner end of the data storage tape is secured;
- an intermediate tape having an inner end secured to an outer end of the data storage tape, the intermediate tape being more durable than the data storage tape, the intermediate tape having a magnetic coating on one side, wherein at least one servo track is written onto the magnetic coating on the intermediate tape;
- and
- a leader having an inner end secured to an outer end of the intermediate tape, wherein the leader has an outer end that is threaded into the data storage apparatus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.