Linear tape write servo using embedded azimuth servo blocks

A method of linear recording on a magnetic medium comprising the steps of:

• writing a track at a first lateral location on the magnetic medium, the track being written to include alternate data and servo information at a first azimuth angle, said track having a width;
• writing a track at a second lateral location on the magnetic medium, the track being written to include alternate data and servo information at a second azimuth angle, said second lateral location being spaced from said first lateral location such that a portion of the width of the first track is overwritten by the writing of the second track;
• and
• interrupting the writing of data and servo information in the second track on the magnetic medium at a position coinciding with the position of servo information in the first track so that servo information written in the first track is left embedded as servo information written at the first azimuth angle and interleaved with the servo information written at the second azimuth angle in the second track.

A method of linear recording on a magnetic medium comprising:

• writing information in a first track lengthwise on the magnetic medium, the first track being written to include alternate data and first servo information, the data and first servo information being written at a first azimuth angle;
• writing information in a second track following completion of the first track, the second track being written to include alternate data and second servo information, and in adjacent lateral relationship to the first track, the data and the second servo information in the second track being written at the second azimuth angle;
• monitoring the first track during writing of the second track for the presence of servo information;
• interrupting writing of data and second servo information in the second track on the magnetic medium at a position coinciding with the position of the first servo information so that the first servo information becomes embedded as first servo information in the second track;
• writing information in a third track in adjacent lateral relationship with the second track following completion of the second track, the third track being written to include alternate data and third servo information, the data and the third servo information in the third track being written at the first azimuth angle;
• interrupting the writing of information in the third track on the magnetic medium at a position coinciding with the position of second servo information written in the second track so that second servo information becomes embedded as second servo information in the third track;
• interrupting the writing of information in the third track on the magnetic medium at a position coinciding with the position of a first occurring one of first servo information embedded in the second track;
• measuring and storing amplitude of the first one of the first servo information;
• resume writing information in the third track;
• interrupting the writing of information in the third track on the magnetic medium at a position coinciding with the position of a subsequent one of the first servo information in the second track;
• measuring and storing amplitude of the subsequent one of first servo information in the second track;
• supplying a reference differential indicating a predetermined lateral relationship between tracks;
• comparing a difference between the stored amplitude measurements of the two servo information with the reference differential;
• and
• adjusting the lateral position of writing in the third track in response to the comparison when said comparison falls outside the reference differential to bring the two tracks into the predetermined lateral relationship.

Apparatus for linear recording on a magnetic medium comprising:

• means for writing a track at a first lateral location on the magnetic medium, the track being written to include alternate data and servo information at a first azimuth angle, said track having a width;
• means for writing a track at a second lateral location on the magnetic medium, the track being written to include alternate data and servo information at a second azimuth angle, said second lateral location being spaced from said first lateral location such that a portion of the first track is overwritten by the writing of the second track;
• and
• means for interrupting the writing of data and servo information in the second track on the magnetic medium at a position coinciding with the position of servo information in the first track so that servo information written in the first track, at the first azimuth angle, is left embedded in the second track.

Apparatus for linear recording on a magnetic medium comprising:

• means for writing information in a first track lengthwise on the magnetic medium, the first track being written to include alternate data and first servo information, the data and first servo information being written at a first azimuth angle;
• means for writing information in a second track upon completion of the first track, the second track being written to include alternate data and second servo information, and in adjacent lateral relationship to the first track, the data and the second servo information in the second track being written at the second azimuth angle;
• means for monitoring the first track during writing of the second track for the presence of servo information
• means for interrupting the writing of data and servo information in the second track on the magnetic medium at a position coinciding with the position of servo information in the first track so that first servo information written in the first track is left embedded in the second track;
• means for writing information in a third track upon completion of the second track, the third track being written in adjacent lateral relationship to the second track and to include alternate data and third servo information;
• means for interrupting the writing of information in the third track on the magnetic medium at a position coinciding with the position of second servo information written in the second track so that second servo information written in the second track is left embedded in the third track;
• means for interrupting the writing of information in the third track on the magnetic medium at a position coinciding with a position of first occurring first servo information embedded in the second track;
• means for measuring and storing the amplitude of the first servo information;
• means for resuming writing information in the third track;
• means for interrupting the writing of information in the third track on the magnetic medium at a position coinciding with a position of a subsequently occuring first servo information embedded in the second track;
• means for measuring and storing the amplitude of the subsequently occurring first servo information embedded in the second track;
• means for supplying a reference differential indicating a predetermined lateral relationship between tracks;
• means for comparing a difference between the two stored amplitude measurements of the first servo information with the reference differential;
• and
• means for adjusting the lateral position of writing in the third track in response to the comparison when said comparison falls outside the reference differential to bring the third track into the predetermined lateral relationship with the second track.