Patent · US Expired

Phase based time domain tracking for helical scan tape drive

US6697209B2 · kind B2 · utility

19Cited by
14References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 18, 2001
Grant dateFeb 24, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 30, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11B15/14
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

In a helical scan recording system, magnetic tape (31) is transported by a tape transport (98) proximate a rotating scanner (85). The scanner has a pair of read heads (82) mounted thereon, e.g., a first read head and a second read head, which travel in a helical direction on the magnetic tape in view of the transport of the tape and rotation of the scanner. A synchronization detection system (38) determines a first synchronization mark detection time at which a first synchronization mark is read by the first read head from the first track, and a second synchronization mark detection time at which a synchronization mark read by the second read head from the second track. A position error signal generator (100) develops a position error signal (PES) based upon a difference between the first synchronization mark detection time and the second synchronization mark detection time. The servo or transport controller (98) uses the position error signal to develop a servo correction signal for adjusting the position of the read heads. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a first distance separating the sync marks along the helical direction of head travel is sufficiently l…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.