EP1075691A1 - Structure de positionneur a bande magnetique avec identification de piste - Google Patents

Structure de positionneur a bande magnetique avec identification de piste

Info

Publication number
EP1075691A1
EP1075691A1 EP98914352A EP98914352A EP1075691A1 EP 1075691 A1 EP1075691 A1 EP 1075691A1 EP 98914352 A EP98914352 A EP 98914352A EP 98914352 A EP98914352 A EP 98914352A EP 1075691 A1 EP1075691 A1 EP 1075691A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
servo
tracks
frequency
track
signal
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP98914352A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1075691A4 (fr
Inventor
John Paul Mantey
Steven Gregory Trabert
Ronald Dean Gillingham
Richard Lewis O'day
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
GlassBridge Enterprises Inc
Original Assignee
Storage Technology Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Storage Technology Corp filed Critical Storage Technology Corp
Priority claimed from PCT/US1998/006262 external-priority patent/WO1999050837A1/fr
Publication of EP1075691A1 publication Critical patent/EP1075691A1/fr
Publication of EP1075691A4 publication Critical patent/EP1075691A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G11INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11BINFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B5/00Recording by magnetisation or demagnetisation of a record carrier; Reproducing by magnetic means; Record carriers therefor
    • G11B5/48Disposition or mounting of heads or head supports relative to record carriers ; arrangements of heads, e.g. for scanning the record carrier to increase the relative speed
    • G11B5/58Disposition or mounting of heads or head supports relative to record carriers ; arrangements of heads, e.g. for scanning the record carrier to increase the relative speed with provision for moving the head for the purpose of maintaining alignment of the head relative to the record carrier during transducing operation, e.g. to compensate for surface irregularities of the latter or for track following
    • G11B5/584Disposition or mounting of heads or head supports relative to record carriers ; arrangements of heads, e.g. for scanning the record carrier to increase the relative speed with provision for moving the head for the purpose of maintaining alignment of the head relative to the record carrier during transducing operation, e.g. to compensate for surface irregularities of the latter or for track following for track following on tapes
    • GPHYSICS
    • G11INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11BINFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B5/00Recording by magnetisation or demagnetisation of a record carrier; Reproducing by magnetic means; Record carriers therefor
    • G11B5/48Disposition or mounting of heads or head supports relative to record carriers ; arrangements of heads, e.g. for scanning the record carrier to increase the relative speed
    • G11B5/54Disposition or mounting of heads or head supports relative to record carriers ; arrangements of heads, e.g. for scanning the record carrier to increase the relative speed with provision for moving the head into or out of its operative position or across tracks
    • G11B5/55Track change, selection or acquisition by displacement of the head
    • G11B5/5504Track change, selection or acquisition by displacement of the head across tape tracks

Definitions

  • the invention relates to the field of dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval. More particularly, the invention relates to the field of automatic control of a recorder mechanism. In still greater particularity, the invention relates to track identification. By way of further characterization, but not by way of limitation thereto, the invention is a servo pattern including a track identification field.
  • Magnetic tape recording has been utilized for many years to record voice and data information.
  • magnetic tape has proven especially reliable, cost efficient and easy to use.
  • In an effort to make magnetic tape even more useful and cost effective there have been attempts to store more information per given width and length of tape. This has generally been accomplished by including more data tracks on a given width of tape. While allowing more data to be stored, this increase in the number of data tracks results in those tracks being more densely packed onto the tape . As the data tracks are more closely spaced, precise positioning of the tape with respect to the tape head becomes more critical as errors may be more easily -2 -
  • the tape - tape head positioning may be affected by variations in the tape or tape head, tape movement caused by air flow, temperature, humidity, tape shrinkage, and other factors, especially at the outside edges of the tape.
  • servo tracks have been employed to provide a reference point to maintain correct positioning of the tape with respect to the tape head.
  • One or more servo tracks may be used depending upon the number of data tracks which are placed upon the tape.
  • the sensed signal from the servo track is fed to a control system which moves the head and keeps the servo signal at nominal magnitude.
  • the nominal signal occurs when the servo read gap is located in a certain position relative to the servo track.
  • a one-half inch wide length of magnetic tape 11 may contain up to 288 or more data tracks on multiple data stripes 12.
  • a thin film magnetic read head is shown in upper position 13 and lower position 14 to read data from data tracks 12. If a tape read head has sixteen elements and, with movement of the head to multiple positions, each element can read nine tracks, then that magnetic read head could read 144 tracks. In order to read more tracks, such as 288 in the desired configuration, two data bands 15 and 16 are utilized. The tape head is movable to nine tracking positions in each of upper position 13 and lower position 14. That is, with the -3-
  • tape head in position 13 it can read 144 tracks in data band 15 and in position 14 it can read 144 tracks in data band 16.
  • tape head positioning is critical.
  • Servo stripes 17 may utilize various patterns or frequency regions to allow precise tape to tape head positioning in multiple positions. This allows a data read head to more accurately read data from data stripes 12. Referring to Fig. 2, servo stripes 17 are shown in greater detail. As is disclosed in copending patent application entitled TAPE SERVO PATTERN WITH ENHANCED SYNCHRONIZATION
  • a first frequency signal 19 is written across the width of a frame 18 in each servo stripe 17.
  • a measurably different frequency signal such as an erase frequency is written over first frequency signal 19 in a predetermined pattern such as the checkerboard patterns in regions 21 and 22.
  • the horizontal sides of twelve rectangles 20 and 23 in each stripe 17 are substantially parallel to the direction of movement of tape length 11.
  • the six rectangles (12 sides) in each region 21 and 22 define five horizontal interfaces (servo tracks) 24 between frequency signal 19 and rectangles 20, 23 as the outside interfaces 25 along the top and bottom of each stripe 17 are ignored.
  • rectangles 20 are shown on the left side of areas 21 and 22 and rectangles 23 are shown on the right portion of areas 21 and 22.
  • a servo read element 26 in a tape read head is precisely aligned along interface 24 to read the signal frequency along interfaces 24. That is, dotted line representing interface 24 along the horizontal sides of rectangles 20, 23 passes through the center of servo read element 26. If the servo pattern on the tape moves right to left, then servo read element 26 will alternate between reading frequency 19 across the full width of servo read element 26 between areas 21 and 22 and reading frequency 19 across one half of servo read element 26 and an erase frequency from rectangles 20, 23 across the other half of the width of servo read element 26. Thus, if tape 11 moves as shown in Fig. 2, servo read element 26 will first sense rectangle 20 above track 24 and then sense rectangle 23 below track 24 in each of regions 21 and 22.
  • the servo control system in a tape drive determines the position error signal by using the ratio of the difference between the signal amplitude sensed during the first (left) half of patterns 21 or 22 and the signal amplitude sensed during the second (right) half of patterns 21 or 22 divided by the sum of the signal amplitude sensed during the first half of patterns 21 or 22 and the signal amplitude sensed during the second half of patterns 21 or 22 to stay on track. For a head position precisely on track in checkerboard pattern -5-
  • the ratio will be zero because the signal during each half of the pattern will be the same. If servo read element 26 is above track 24, the polarity of the position error signal will be positive because more of rectangle 20 above track 24 and less of rectangle 23 below track 24 will be read. In response, the track servo will move the head (including servo read element 26) down until the ratio is zero and servo read element 26 is precisely on track 24. Conversely, if servo read element 26 is below track 24, the polarity of the position error signal will be negative because more of rectangle 23 below track 24 and less of rectangle 20 above track 24 will be read.
  • the track servo will move the head (including servo read element 26) up until the ratio is zero and servo read element 26 is precisely on track 24.
  • the tape controller can determine the position of the tape 11 with respect to the servo read element 26 and move the tape head to keep the head servo read element 26 aligned with the servo track along line 24. This alignment ensures precise reading of a data track in data stripes 12 by the data read head (not shown) .
  • the tape controller system does not know whether servo read element 26 is on the right track.
  • an optical sensor may be used to approximately position the tape head with respect to the tape.
  • precise positioning is required to position a read gap over a • 6-
  • an optical sensor is not accurate enough. That is, with the expected range of tape motion due to guiding being significantly wider than the track pitch, it is not possible to insure that track following will start on the desired track. This could result in the wrong track being read. It would be desirable to have a system in which the servo control circuitry could reliably determine on which track 24 servo read element 26 is located.
  • a prior art solution to tape positioning is to have sufficient information recorded in the data tracks to permit proper identification of the track prior to starting a read or write operation.
  • This approach requires the tape cartridge to be prerecorded at the factory to insure that all tracks had proper identification before being used in the field. Prewriting all tracks with sufficient information to properly identify each track adds to the cost of each cartridge.
  • using data track space for identification information affects capacity because the amount of available space on a data track for actual storage of data is reduced.
  • the invention is a novel servo stripe pattern which includes a track identification area.
  • the track identification area is positioned over particular servo tracks depending upon the servo stripe location.
  • the tape controller is able to discern whether the sensed track is an odd or even -7 -
  • the tape controller then identifies the sensed track by combining the presence or absence of a track identification area with the odd or even track determination.
  • Fig. 1 is an illustration of multiple data and servo stripes in data bands on magnetic tape
  • Fig. 2 is an illustration of a servo frame illustrating a servo pattern
  • Fig. 3 is an illustration of a multiple servo stripes with a servo pattern including a track identification area in accordance with the invention.
  • Fig. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the track identification method used by the tape controller .
  • Fig. 1 illustrates multiple servo stripes 17 written onto tape 11 to precisely align tape head read gaps over data tracks in data stripes 12.
  • servo read element 26 is precisely aligned on track 24 as shown. That is, dotted line representing track 24 passes along the edges of rectangles 23 and through the center of servo read element 26.
  • the tape controller thus knows that servo read element 26 is centered on a track.
  • the tape controller also knows whether the track is an even numbered track or an odd numbered track by the polarity of the position error signal used in the track following servo. What the tape controller does not know is on which odd or even numbered track the tape head is centered.
  • the present invention provides sufficient information to the tape controller to allow it to determine on which track servo read element 26 is centered.
  • FIGs. 1 and 3 one frame 18 in each of five servo stripes 17 are shown.
  • five stripes, numbered 27, 28, 29, 30, and 31, are shown enlarged and closely spaced for description purposes.
  • the servo stripes are actually narrow stripes distributed across the active area of the tape.
  • Frame 18 in each servo stripe 27 - 31 is identical as described with respect to Fig. 2 above except that a track identification area 32 is added to each frame 18 in a unique location.
  • Each stripe has five servo tracks 24 numbered 1 through 5.
  • the servo system knows by the polarity of the position error signal used in the track following servo whether it is following an even numbered track (2 or 4) or an odd numbered track (1, 3, or 5) but it does not know which odd or even numbered track is being followed. For - 9-
  • rectangle 20 will be expected below the track prior to sensing the rectangle 23 above the track and the polarity of the position error signal sensed by the track following servo will thus be reversed from what it was for the odd numbered tracks.
  • the selection of positive and negative polarities for positions above or below the track is one of design choice and could easily be reversed.
  • tape 11 may be divided into an upper band 15 and a lower band 16. That is, the active portion of the read/write head covers approximately half of the width of the tape at any time (i.e. positions 13 and 14 in Fig. 1) .
  • servo stripes 27, 28 and 29 are used for track following by the servo system.
  • stripes 29, 30, and 31 are used for lower band 16.
  • track identification area 32 is added to each frame 18.
  • track identification area 32 is written in a rectangular configuration over two of the five servo tracks 24 in each servo stripe 17.
  • the location on the frame varies among the servo stripes 17.
  • the location of track identification area 32 is the same in stripes 27 and 31 (over tracks 1 and 2) and the location is the same in stripes 28 and 30 ( over tracks 3 and 4) .
  • stripe 29 track ID 32 is over tracks 4 and 5.
  • Stripe 29 is common to both bands 15 and 16. Any two of the three stripes (27, 28 29) or (29, 30, 31) are sufficient to identify the track being followed. This permits one stripe to be ignored when tape defects or other problems are encountered.
  • Track ID 32 is detected when the servo system is in the track following mode and servo read element 26 is passing the longitudinal portion of the servo frame 18 where track ID 32 is recorded.
  • the erased area comprising track ID 32 is detected when the signal level in the area is less than a predetermined threshold value.
  • this threshold value could be 10% of the nominal level of - 11 -
  • the locations of the lateral edges of the erased area 32 with respect to the track centerlines 24 are a function of the threshold level, the residual signal (how much is left after erase) in the erased area 32, and the desire to minimize detection error.
  • track ID 32 in stripe 27 is detected when the system is following track 1 or 2. As described above, the servo knows if the track 24 is an odd or even track from the polarity of the position error signal. Thus, using only stripe 27, the system is capable of uniquely identifying tracks 1,2, and 4 but it could not distinguish between tracks 3 and 5. Track 1 is distinguished because the track ID 32 is detected and the system knows it is following an odd track 24. Similarly, track 2 is identifiable because of the presence of track ID 32 and because it is an even track. Track 4 is detected because track ID is not present and it is an even track. Tracks 3 and 5 are indistinguishable from each other because they are both odd and neither has a track ID 32.
  • stripe 31 which has an identical configuration as stripe 27.
  • Stripes 28 and 30 also have identical configurations and, applying the same analysis as above, tracks 2, 3, and 4 can be identified in stripes 28 and 30 but the system cannot distinguish between tracks 1 and 5.
  • any combination of two of the three available stripes from a set of three is sufficient for the system to uniquely identify the track being followed by the servo system.
  • the third stripe in each set is used for redundancy purposes in the event of a scratch or other defect on the tape.
  • the identification of a track 24 in Fig. 3 is as follows. Assume the system is operating in band 15 ( stripes 27, 28, and 29) but that stripe 29 is unavailable as it is not needed. With servo read element 26 centered on track 5 in stripes 27 and 28, the tape controller logic 33 receives the signals from element 26 and determines the position error signal and the presence (or absence) of track identification area 32. The polarity of the position error signal is used by the servo system 34 to position the read head and to the tape controller knows that one of tracks 1, 3, or 5 is being followed. However, because tape controller logic 33 did not determine the presence of track ID 32 from the signal on the track being followed in stripe 27, track 1 is eliminated as a candidate by tape controller logic 35. Similarly, because no track ID 32 was detected on the track being followed in stripe 28, track 3 is eliminated by tape controller logic 35. Track 5 is the only common candidate from stripes 27 and 28 and it is identified by tape controller logic 35 as the track being followed. - 13 -

Abstract

L'invention concerne une structure de positionneur à bande magnétique comprenant une identification de piste. Les informations tirées de la zone d'identification de piste croisant une ou plusieurs pistes sur chaque rangée de bande en combinaison avec les informations considérant la piste comme impaire ou paire, servent uniquement à identifier la piste.
EP98914352A 1998-03-30 1998-03-30 Structure de positionneur a bande magnetique avec identification de piste Withdrawn EP1075691A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US1998/006262 WO1999050837A1 (fr) 1997-02-21 1998-03-30 Structure de positionneur a bande magnetique avec identification de piste

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1075691A1 true EP1075691A1 (fr) 2001-02-14
EP1075691A4 EP1075691A4 (fr) 2006-06-14

Family

ID=22266719

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP98914352A Withdrawn EP1075691A4 (fr) 1998-03-30 1998-03-30 Structure de positionneur a bande magnetique avec identification de piste

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1075691A4 (fr)
JP (1) JP2002510111A (fr)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2009110621A (ja) * 2007-10-31 2009-05-21 Hitachi Maxell Ltd 磁気テープ

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3179924A (en) * 1962-12-24 1965-04-20 Ibm Photographic data storage system
US3919697A (en) * 1974-06-26 1975-11-11 Battelle Development Corp Data record tracking using track identifying information in the gaps between recorded data groups
US4296491A (en) * 1979-07-30 1981-10-20 Atlantic Richfield Company Information carrier having inter-track identification code information
US4586094A (en) * 1984-03-13 1986-04-29 Irwin Magnetic Systems, Inc. Method and apparatus for pre-recording tracking information on magnetic media
US5568327A (en) * 1992-05-13 1996-10-22 Tandberg Data As Method for determining the tape position using dedicated servo format

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3179924A (en) * 1962-12-24 1965-04-20 Ibm Photographic data storage system
US3919697A (en) * 1974-06-26 1975-11-11 Battelle Development Corp Data record tracking using track identifying information in the gaps between recorded data groups
US4296491A (en) * 1979-07-30 1981-10-20 Atlantic Richfield Company Information carrier having inter-track identification code information
US4586094A (en) * 1984-03-13 1986-04-29 Irwin Magnetic Systems, Inc. Method and apparatus for pre-recording tracking information on magnetic media
US5568327A (en) * 1992-05-13 1996-10-22 Tandberg Data As Method for determining the tape position using dedicated servo format

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of WO9950837A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP2002510111A (ja) 2002-04-02
EP1075691A4 (fr) 2006-06-14

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