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US 7,002,771 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for sensing position of a tape head in a tape drive
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsLeslie G. Christie, Jr., William Proctor, Ted A. Brooks
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Abstract
A method for sensing position that comprises generating light, eclipsing the light according to position, sensing the amount of light not eclipsed, and inferring position according to the sensed amount of light.
Claims20
A method for sensing position of a tape head in a tape drive comprising:
- generating light;
- eclipsing in a tapered manner an amount of the light according to a position of the tape head;
- sensing the amount of light not eclipsed;
- and
- inferring position of the tape head according to the sensed amount of light.
2 more elements
An apparatus for sensing position of a tape head comprising:
- light source that generates light;
- eclipsing device that eclipses light in a tapered manner according to a position of the tape head;
- light sensor that senses the amount of light not eclipsed;
- and
- position unit that infers position of the tape head according to the sensed amount of light.
2 more elements
A tape drive comprising:
- tape transport mechanism for transporting magnetic tape;
- tape head;
- actuator assembly capable of positioning the tape head;
- optical position sensor mechanism having a tapered light eclipsing response that generates a position signal according to the position of the tape head;
- and
- position controller that controls the actuator assembly according to the position signal.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.