Self-servo-writing timing pattern generation with non-overlapping read and write elements

A method of writing a servo-pattern on a storage medium, said method comprising the steps of:

• writing a first plurality of timing marks at a first- radial position of the storage medium using a head;
• moving the head to a second radial position;
• measuring time intervals between selected pairs of the timing marks;
• and
• writing another plurality of timing marks at the second radial position of the storage medium using the head,
• wherein the measuring step is performed after the moving step, and
• the head is an offset head having read and write elements that are physically separated in the radial direction so that the read and write elements are non-overlapping.

A method of writing a servo-pattern on a storage medium using an offset head having read and write elements that are physically separated in the radial direction so that the read and write elements are non-overlapping, said method comprising the steps of:

• moving the head to a starting radial position;
• using the read element to measure time intervals between selected pairs of timing marks that were previously written on a first servo-track of the storage medium;
• writing a plurality of timing marks at first locations around a second servo-track of the storage medium using the write element;
• moving the head to a new radial position;
• using the read element to measure time intervals between selected pairs of timing marks that were previously written on a third servo-track of the storage medium;
• writing a plurality of timing marks at second locations around a fourth servo-track of the storage medium using the write element;
• wherein the first measuring step is performed after the first moving step and before the first writing step,
• the second measuring step is performed after the second moving step and before the second writing step, and
• the first and second locations are interleaved.

An apparatus for writing a servo-pattern on a storage medium of a drive having a head, said apparatus comprising:

• means for controlling the head to write a first plurality of timing marks at a first radial position of the storage medium;
• means for moving the head to a second radial position;
• means for measuring time intervals between selected pairs of the timing marks;
• second means for controlling the head to write another plurality of timing marks at the second radial position of the storage medium and
• control means for controlling the other means such that the means for measuring operates after the means for moving and before the second means for controlling the head to write another plurality of timing marks.

An apparatus for writing a servo-pattern on a storage medium of a drive having a head, said apparatus comprising:

• means for controlling the head to write a first plurality of timing marks at a first radial position of the storage medium;
• means for moving the head to a second radial position;
• means for measuring time intervals between selected pairs of the timing marks;
• second means for controlling the head to write another plurality of timing marks at the second radial position of the storage medium;
• and
• control means for controlling the other means such that means for measuring operates after the means for moving,
• wherein the head is an offset head having read and write elements that are physically separated in the radial direction so that the read and write elements are non-overlapping.

A method for generating an initial aligned pattern of timing marks for self-servo-writing on a storage medium, said method comprising the steps of:

• writing a first set of unaligned timing marks at successive radial positions using a write element such that at least two of the timing marks are detected for at least one radial position of a read element;
• measuring time differences between a time reference and at least two of the timing marks;
• calculating at least one correction factor based on the time differences;
• and
• writing an aligned pattern using the write element by adjusting the time delay for writing based on the timing mark being read by the read element and the correction factor,
• wherein the read and write elements are physically separated in the radial direction so that the read and write elements are non-overlapping.

A method for calculating read-to-write delay for a storage medium, said method comprising the steps of:

• writing a first timing mark using a write element;
• writing at least one additional timing mark using the write element at a fixed time delay after the first timing mark;
• calculating locations of the first timing mark and a last of the timing marks;
• and
• calculating the read-to-write delay using the difference between the locations of the timing marks and the fixed time delay,
• wherein the timing marks are written and read using a head having non-overlapping read and write elements.