Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – General recording or reproducing – Signal switching
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-11
2001-05-15
Kim, W. Chris (Department: 2753)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
General recording or reproducing
Signal switching
C360S075000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06233109
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to magnetic tape drives and, more particularly, to a magnetic tape drive having a set of heads configured such that at least one of the heads reads a desired data track.
BACKGROUND ART
Increased track densities in magnetic tape recording have necessitated the use of dedicated servo tracks to achieve proper read head to magnetic tape data track alignment. Because the magnetic tape itself is quite dimensionally unstable due to temperature, humidity, tension, stresses, etc., the track dimensions and their relative positions change as a function of time. This problem is further aggravated by differences between the head assembly and tape temperature coefficients and read head position tolerances within the head assembly. Further, read head geometry issues limit the closeness of read head transducer placements, resulting in relatively large physical dimensions for a multi-track head assembly. The above described dimensional issues in combination with servo positioning tolerances and narrower data track widths present severe obstacles to future higher track density magnetic tape drives.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a method and system for reading a desired data track with a head assembly having a set of heads configured such that at least one of the heads reads the desired data track.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and system for reading a desired data track by selecting the read data signal of a head in a set of heads of a head assembly which is reading the desired data track.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method and system for reading a desired data track by creating differential motion between a head assembly having a set of heads and the desired data track such that at least one of the heads reads the desired data track.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method and system for reading a desired data track by dithering or wobbling a head assembly having a set of heads with respect to the desired data track such that at least one of the heads reads the desired data track.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a method and system for reading a desired data track such that at least one head of a set of heads in a head assembly reads the desired data track as tracking irregularities cause the head assembly to move with respect to the desired data track.
In carrying out the above objects and other objects, the present invention provides a magnetic tape drive. The magnetic tape drive includes a head assembly having two read heads for reading longitudinally extending data tracks of a magnetic tape and generating respective read data signals in response to reading the data tracks. The head assembly laterally moves with respect to the data tracks such that at least one of the two read heads reads a desired data track as the magnetic tape moves across the head assembly. A controller selects one of the two read data signals generated by the read heads to generate a read back signal. The read back signal is the read data signal from the at least one of the two read heads reading the desired data track.
Preferably, the controller physically oscillates the head assembly to laterally move the head assembly with respect to the data tracks. The physically oscillation is preferably sinusoidal. Tracking irregularities between the head assembly and the magnetic tape may also cause the head assembly to laterally move with respect to the data tracks.
In further carrying out the above objects and other objects, the present invention provides a method for reading magnetic tape within a magnetic tape drive having a head assembly provided with two read heads. The method includes reading longitudinally extending data tracks of a magnetic tape with the two read heads. Respective read data signals are then generated in response to reading the data tracks. The head assembly is then laterally moved with respect to the data tracks such that at least one of the two read heads reads a desired data track as the magnetic tape moves across the head assembly. One of the two read data signals generated by the read heads is then selected to generate a read back signal. The read back signal is the read data signal from the at least one of the two read heads reading the desired data track.
These and other features, aspects, and embodiments of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, pending claims, and accompanying drawings.
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patent: 5157563 (1992-10-01), Nagasawa et al.
patent: 6072651 (2000-06-01), Kato et al.
patent: 6084735 (2000-07-01), Kawada et al.
Brooks & Kushman P.C.
Kim W. Chris
Neal Regina Y.
Storage Technology Corporation
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