Method and system for determining a radial positioning valve used for writing tracks at a desired track pitch

A method for determining the desired track pitch of tracks to be written on a storage medium of a recording device, said method comprising the steps of:

• choosing an initial radial positioning value;
• writing a transition on a plurality of said tracks, said plurality of said tracks being less than a total number of said tracks, wherein spacing of said plurality of said tracks is determinable by said initial radial positioning value;
• obtaining a read-back signal associated with said transition written on each of said plurality of said tracks;
• and
• comparing said read-back signals to each other to determine a second radial positioning value to be used for writing subsequent tracks at said desired track pitch.

A system for writing a servo-pattern of tracks on a storage medium located in a recording device, said recording device having an internal recording head, said system comprising:

• means for generating a timing pattern on said storage medium with said internal recording head;
• means for determining a radial positioning value used to set a desired track pitch of said tracks, said means for determining comprising:
• means for choosing an initial radial positioning value;
• means for writing at least one transition on a plurality of said tracks, said plurality of said tracks being less than a total number of said tracks, wherein spacing of said plurality of said tracks is determinable by said initial radial positioning value;
• means for obtaining a read-back signal for said at least one transition written on each of said plurality of said tracks;
• and
• means for determining from said read-back signals a second radial positioning value to be used for writing of subsequent tracks at said desired track pitch;
• and
• means for writing a servo-pattern on said storage medium with said internal recording head, said servo-pattern being written at locations determined by said timing pattern and said second radial positioning value.

A system for determining the desired track pitch of tracks to be written on a storage medium of a recording device, said system comprising:

• means for choosing an initial radial positioning value;
• means for writing a transition on a plurality of said tracks, said plurality of said tracks being less than a total number of said tracks, wherein spacing of said plurality of said tracks is determinable by said initial radial positioning value;
• means for obtaining a read-back signal associated with said transition written on each of said plurality of said tracks;
• and
• means for comparing said read-back signals to each other to determine a second radial positioning value to be used for writing subsequent tracks at said desired track pitch.

A method for writing a servo-pattern of tracks on a storage medium located in a recording device, said recording device having an internal recording head for writing information on and for reading information from said storage medium, an actuator for controlling said internal recording head, and a servo-system responsive to a reference input and a position signal for positioning said actuator, said method comprising:

• generating a timing pattern on said storage medium with said internal recording head;
• determining a radial positioning value used as the reference input and to set a desired track pitch of said tracks, said determining comprising:
• choosing an initial radial positioning value;
• using said servo-system to reposition said internal recording head in response to said position signal and said reference input to write a transition on a plurality of said tracks, said plurality of said tracks being less than a total number of said tracks, wherein spacing of said plurality of said tracks is determinable by said initial radial positioning value;
• obtaining with said internal recording head a read-back signal for said transition written on each of said plurality of said tracks;
• determining from said read-back signals a second radial positioning value to be used as the reference input to said servo-system for writing subsequent tracks at the desired track pitch;
• writing a servo-pattern on said storage medium with said internal recording head, said servo-pattern being written at locations determinable by said timing pattern and said second radial positioning value.

A system for writing a servo-pattern of tracks on a storage medium located in a recording device, said recording device having an internal recording head for writing information on and for reading information from said storage medium, an actuator for controlling said internal recording head, and a servo-system responsive to a reference input and a position signal for positioning said actuator, said system comprising:

• means for generating a timing pattern on said storage medium with said internal recording head;
• means for determining a radial positioning value used as the reference input and to set a desired track pitch of said tracks, said means for determining comprising:
• means for choosing an initial radial positioning value;
• means for using said servo-system to reposition said internal recording head in response to said position signal and said reference input to write a transition on a plurality of said tracks, said plurality of said tracks being less than a total number of said tracks, wherein spacing of said plurality of said tracks is determinable by said initial radial positioning value;
• means for obtaining with said internal recording head a read-back signal for said transition written on each of said plurality of said tracks;
• means for determining from said read-back signals a second radial positioning value to be used as the reference input to said servo-system for writing subsequent tracks at the desired track pitch;
• means for writing a servo-pattern on said storage medium with said internal recording head, said servo-pattern being written at locations determinable by said timing pattern and said second radial positioning value.

A method for determining the desired track pitch of tracks to be written on a storage medium of a recording device comprising an internal recording head coupled to an actuator, said method comprising:

• positioning said actuator against a first delimiter;
• holding said actuator against said first delimiter and writing a first transition on a first track of said storage medium with said internal recording head;
• subsequent to writing said first transition, moving said actuator a predetermined distance, said predetermined distance representing an initial radial positioning value and being equal to a distance in which a read-back signal of said internal recording head is equal to one of:
• an amplitude that is approximately one-half of a maximum amplitude of said internal recording head;
• and
• an amplitude which is a best guess to provide proper spacing between said tracks;
• holding said actuator at said predetermined distance and writing a second transition on a second track of said storage medium with said internal recording head;
• subsequent to writing said second transition, moving said actuator said predetermined distance;
• holding said actuator at said predetermined distance and writing a third transition on a third track of said storage medium with said internal recording head;
• subsequent to writing said third transition, moving said actuator said predetermined distance;
• holding said actuator at said predetermined distance and writing a fourth transition on a fourth track of said storage medium with said internal recording head;
• subsequent to writing said first, second, third and fourth transitions, holding said actuator at one position and comparing a read-back signal from each of said first, second, third and fourth tracks to each other to determine said desired track pitch;
• and
• writing subsequent tracks at said desired track pitch using a second radial positioning value, said second radial positioning value determinable from one or more of said read-back signals.

A system for determining the desired track pitch of tracks to be written on a storage medium of a recording device comprising an internal recording head coupled to an actuator, said system comprising:

• means for positioning said actuator against a first delimiter;
• means for holding said actuator against said first delimiter and writing a first transition on a first track of said storage medium with said internal recording head;
• means for moving said actuator a predetermined distance subsequent to writing said first transition, said predetermined distance representing an initial radial positioning value and being equal to a distance in which a read-back signal of said internal recording head is equal to one of:
• an amplitude that is approximately one-half of a maximum amplitude of said internal recording head;
• and
• an amplitude which is a best guess to provide proper spacing between said tracks;
• means for holding said actuator at said predetermined distance and writing a second transition on a second track of said storage medium with said internal recording head;
• means for moving said actuator said predetermined distance, subsequent to writing said second transition;
• means for holding said actuator at said predetermined distance and writing a third transition on a third track of said storage medium with said internal recording head;
• means for moving said actuator said predetermined distance, subsequent to writing said third transition;
• means for holding said actuator at said predetermined distance and writing a fourth transition on a fourth track of said storage medium with said internal recording head;
• means for holding said actuator at one position and comparing a read-back signal from each of said first, second, third and fourth tracks to each other to determine said desired track pitch;
• and
• means for writing subsequent tracks at said desired track pitch using a second radial positioning value, said second radial positioning value determinable from one or more of said read-back signals.

A method for determining the desired track pitch of tracks to be written on a storage medium of a recording device, said recording device having an internal recording head for writing information on and for reading information from said storage medium, an actuator for controlling said internal recording head, and a servo-system responsive to a reference input and a position signal for positioning said actuator, said method comprising:

• choosing an initial radial positioning value for use as said reference input;
• obtaining a first read-back signal from a first track of said tracks for use as said position signal;
• using said servo-system responsive to said reference input and said position signal to move said internal recording head until said first read-back signal equals said initial radial positioning value;
• obtaining a read-back signal from a plurality of adjacent tracks while servoing on said first track, said plurality of adjacent tracks being less than a total number of said tracks;
• and
• comparing said read-back signals from said first track and said plurality of adjacent tracks to each other to determine a second radial positioning value for use as said reference input for writing of subsequent tracks.