Magnetic head guidance and calibration system and method description

In a computer peripheral magnetic tape drive device, having a magnetic head adapted to read and write on magnetic tape, said head being connected to a lead screw driven by a stepper motor for translational movement across said magnetic tape, a method of repeatably positioning said head at a predetermined reference position using a contactless head stop device, having components mounted proximate said head and at said reference position for indicating attainment of said reference position by said head only when said components are in a predetermined juxtaposition, comprising the steps of:

• a) stepping said head toward said stop device component at said reference position at a first rate while sampling said stop device for an output signal indicative of attainment of said reference position;
• b) stopping said stepping when said output of said stop device changes from a first state to a second state which is indicative of said attainment of said reference position;
• c) stepping said head in a reverse direction for a first predetermined number of steps to change said stop device output from said second state to said first state;
• d) stepping said head toward said stop device component at said reference position a second predetermined number of steps;
• e) sampling said stop device;
• f) repeating steps d) and e) until said stop device switches from said first state to said second state;
• and
• g) halting said stepping.