Tape cartridge having written-in-defect servo patterns for rapid head position calibration
AssigneeQuantum Corporation
InventorGeorge A. Saliba
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A magnetic storage tape includes a plurality of spaced-apart servo reference patterns formed along a longitudinal reference axis. The patterns result in a predetermined pattern of coherent magnetic signal disturbances to magnetic tracks written and read across the patterns. The tape drive decodes the disturbance pattern into a position error signal. A tape drive head position servo iteratively adjusts lateral position of a magnetic head relative to the tape, based on sequentially developed position error signals in order to bring the head rapidly into precise alignment with the longitudinal reference axis. A method for forming the reference patterns into the tape with laser beam ablation is also disclosed.
Claims8
A magnetic storage tape having at least one servo reference defect pattern physically formed at a longitudinal reference location of the tape, the servo reference defect pattern comprising a series of laterally spaced-apart holes defined in the tape, the defect pattern resulting in a predetermined coherent magnetic signal disturbance to magnetic tracks written and read across the pattern, such that a tape drive head position servo receives a position error signal and adjusts lateral position of a magnetic head relative to the tape based on readback of the signal disturbance in order to move the head toward alignment with the longitudinal reference position.
A magnetic storage tape having a plurality of servo reference defect patterns physically formed along a longitudinal axis of the tape, each of the servo reference defect patterns comprising a series of laterally spaced-apart holes defined in the tape, the defect patterns resulting in predetermined coherent magnetic signal disturbances to magnetic tracks written and read across the patterns, such that a tape drive head position servo receives position error signals and iteratively adjusts lateral position of a magnetic head relative to the tape based on readback of the signal disturbances in order to move the head into alignment with the longitudinal axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.