# US 2015/0103436 A1 · Magnetic data storage apparatus for use with linear recording media having a reduced servo band width > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2015/0103436 A1 - Document ID: US20150103436A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/576,127 - Filed: 2014-12-18 - Published: 2015-04-16 - Earliest claimed: 2010-04-30 - Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation - Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation - Inventors: Giovanni Cherubini; Jens Jelitto; Mark A. Lantz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20150103436A1 ## CPC - G11B 5/584: for track following on tapes - G11B 20/1201: {on tapes} - G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R) ## Abstract In one embodiment, a magnetic data storage apparatus includes a magnetic head having at least one group of N servo readers, a drive mechanism for passing a linear magnetic recording medium over the head, and a controller electrically coupled to the head. The controller is configured to position a first servo reader of the at least one group of N servo readers in a first lateral medium region of the recording medium with a servo band having a width b that is less than or equal to about 1.2 B/N, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2, and B corresponds to a distance between data read/write transducers of the magnetic head, and position the magnetic head in a second lateral region of width b with a second servo reader of the at least one group of N servo readers for reading the servo band. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A magnetic data storage apparatus, comprising: a magnetic head having at least one group of N servo readers; a drive mechanism for passing a linear magnetic recording medium over the magnetic head; and a controller electrically coupled to the magnetic head for controlling operation of the magnetic head, the controller being configured to position a first servo reader of the at least one group of N servo readers in a first lateral medium region of the linear magnetic recording medium with a servo band having a width b that is less than or equal to about 1.2 B/N, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2, and B corresponds to a distance between data read/write transducers of the magnetic head, the controller being configured to position the magnetic head in a second lateral region of width b with a second servo reader of the at least one group of N servo readers for reading the servo band. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The magnetic data storage apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the servo readers are positioned apart from one another by a distance substantially equal to the servo band width b in a main direction of the magnetic head, which in operation is transverse to a longitudinal medium length. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The magnetic data storage apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein a servo pattern of the servo band substantially fills the width b of the servo band. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The magnetic data storage apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the magnetic medium is a linear magnetic recording tape. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The magnetic data storage apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the servo band width b further comprises a first margin to account for a width of the servo reader. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The magnetic data storage apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the servo band width b is substantially equal to B/N. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The magnetic data storage apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein N equals 4 or 8. ### Claim 8 A magnetic data storage apparatus, comprising: a magnetic head having: at least one group of N≧2 servo readers configured to read a servo pattern of a linear magnetic recording medium, wherein each servo reader is positioned apart from one another by a distance substantially equal to a servo band width b in a main direction of the magnetic head, which in operation is transverse to a longitudinal tape length; and one or more groups of data read/write transducers spaced apart a distance B in the main direction of the head, wherein B corresponds to a distance between data transducers of the magnetic head in a direction transverse to a longitudinal length of the tape; a drive mechanism for passing the linear magnetic recording medium over the magnetic head; and a controller electrically coupled to the magnetic head for controlling operation of the magnetic head. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The magnetic data storage apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to position the magnetic head within a first lateral tape region of width b with a first servo reader of the at least one group of N≧2 servo readers for reading a first servo band of a linear magnetic recording tape. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The magnetic data storage apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to position the magnetic head within a second lateral tape region of width b with a second servo reader of the at least one group of N≧2 servo readers for reading a second servo band of a linear magnetic recording tape. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The magnetic data storage apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein the magnetic medium is a linear magnetic recording tape. ### Claim 12 A magnetic data storage apparatus, comprising: a magnetic head having one or more groups of at least two servo readers, the magnetic head also having one or more groups of data read/write transducers spaced apart a distance B in the main direction of the head; a drive mechanism for passing a linear magnetic recording medium over the magnetic head; and a controller electrically coupled to the magnetic head for controlling operation of the magnetic head, the controller being configured to position a first servo reader of the one or more groups of servo readers of the magnetic head in a first lateral medium region of a servo band having width b that is less than or equal to about 1.2 B/N, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2, and B corresponds to a distance between adjacent ones of the data read/write transducers of the magnetic head in a direction transverse to a direction of travel of the medium relative to the head, the controller being configured to cause performance of a first read and/or write operation on a portion of a data band, the controller being configured to adjust a position of the magnetic head during the first read and/or write operation based on signals from the first servo reader reading the servo band, the controller being configured to position a second servo reader of the group of servo readers of the magnetic head in a second lateral medium region of the servo band, the controller being configured to cause performance of a second read and/or write operation on another portion of the data band, the controller being configured to adjust a position of the magnetic head during the second read and/or write operation based on signals from the second servo reader reading the servo band. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The magnetic data storage apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein each servo reader is positioned apart from one another by a distance substantially equal to a servo band width b in a main direction of the magnetic head, which in operation is transverse to a direction of media travel thereacross. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The magnetic data storage apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the medium is a linear magnetic recording tape. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The magnetic data storage apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the servo band width b further comprises a first margin to account for a width of the servo reader. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The magnetic data storage apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the servo band width b further comprises a second margin to account for track following servo operation. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The magnetic data storage apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the servo band width b is substantially equal to B/N, wherein the group has N servo readers. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The magnetic data storage apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the group has N servo readers, wherein N equals 4 or 8.