Peak detection for magnetic tape timing based servo

Servo channel configured to receive timing based servo signals read by at least one magneto-resistive servo read head from a magnetic tape, said servo channel comprising:

• at least one analog to digital converter to digitize analog servo signals of said at least one servo read head;
• digital peak measurement apparatus configured to sense said digitized servo signals and provide positive peak values and negative peak values of said digitized servo signals;
• and
• control apparatus configured to select the servo signals having the greater of said provided positive peak values and said provided negative peak values, and
• servo apparatus configured to respond to said selected servo signals to control the lateral positioning of said at least one servo read head based on timing of said selected servo signals.

A magnetic tape drive comprising:

• at least one read/write head for reading and/or writing data from magnetic tape;
• at least one magneto-resistive servo read head configured to provide servo signals derived from timing based servo tracks of a magnetic tape, said at least one servo read head associated with said at least one read/write head for lateral positioning of said at least one read/write head;
• a magnetic tape drive system configured to move a magnetic tape past said at least one read head and said at least one servo read head;
• at least one analog to digital converter to digitize analog servo signals of said at least one servo read head;
• digital peak measurement apparatus configured to sense said digitized servo signals, and provide positive peak values and negative peak values of said digitized servo signals;
• control apparatus configured to select the servo signals having the greater of said provided positive peak values and said provided negative peak values, and
• servo apparatus configured to respond to said selected servo signals to control the lateral positioning of said at least one read/write head based on timing of said selected servo signals.