US 5,353,178 A · Method of detecting a channel separation pitch in a multi-track tape recorder

Abstract

There is provided a method to be applied to a tape recorder of the type for storing and retrieving reference signals on a plurality of tracks of a magnetic tape by a magnetic head comprising, as integral parts thereof, writing sections and reading sections arranged at a given pitch for at least two channels for detecting a signal on a reference position of a track by a related one of the reading sections of the magnetic head for each channel. This is done by moving the magnetic head in order to detect the positional relationship between the related writing and reading sections of the magnetic head and the track on the magnetic tape for each channel. With such a method, the track-seek operation for locating the track and, hence, the data reading operation by use of a data backup tape recorder of the above described type can be accurately carried out on the basis of the positional relationship and, consequently, the number of unsuccessfully attempted reading operations as well as hard errors due to such operations can be effectively reduced.

Claims5

Dependent claims

A pitch correcting method to be applied to a tape recorder of the type for storing in a memory and retrieving track positional data of a plurality of tracks of a magnetic tape using a magnetic head having a first writing section and separate reading section defining a first channel and a second writing section and separate reading section defining a second channel, said channels being arranged at a given pitch therebetween, said tracks constituting a first track set and a second track set, said first track set corresponding to said first channel and said second track set corresponding to said second channel, each track set having a standard track, said method comprising the steps of:

a) reading the standard track of the first track set with the first channel;
moving the magnetic head across the standard track of the first track set while reading the standard track;
detecting a position of the first standard track from a reading signal;
and
correcting positional data of said first track set in the memory based on the difference between said detected position and the positional data;
b) reading the standard track of the second track set with the second channel;
moving the magnetic head across the standard track of the second track set while reading the standard track;
detecting a position of the second standard track from a reading signal;
and
correcting positional data of said second track set in the memory based on the difference between said detected position and the positional data.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method of detecting a channel separation pitch in a multi-track tape recorder

Life of this patent

Method of detecting a channel separation pitch in a multi-track tape recorder

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims5