Optical apparatus for tracking a magnetic tape
US6246535A · kind A · utility
39Cited by
5References
17Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 13, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jun 12, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 13, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B5/584
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An optical tracking system is presented which aligns a recording head with a magnetic tape. The system relies on an optically detectable servo track on the back of the tape. The servo track is formed by repeatedly engraving, at spaced intervals, three colinear marks perpendicular to the length of the tape. Laser light reflects off the marks, and passes through a ball lens that directs the reflected light on to separate light detectors, one for each mark. By recording characteristics of the reflected light, the detectors transmit information to the system that permits the recording head to be properly aligned with the tape.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.