Abstract:
A magnetic tape drive (40) includes a write transfer channel and a read transfer channel which cause head(s) (100) to transduce data between the drive and a tape (32) at a transfer channel data rate. Relative motion of the tape and the head(s) occurs at a transport rate so that tracks are recorded on or reproduced from the tape. A tape speed controller (133) and variable clock controller (134) dynamically adjust the transfer channel data rate in accordance with the transport rate. Thus the recording of data on the tape and reading of data from the tape occurs at a rate which is related to the linear velocity of the tape.
Abstract:
A system (20) for controlling deceleration of a motor (22) during an abrupt power-off condition includes a processor (40), a motor control circuit (50), and a secondary power source (70). During normal power-on operation and based on currently prevailing operation parameters, processor (40) routinely generates a contingent motor-governing deceleration signal for potential use in governing motor (22) should the power-off condition occur. In response to the occurence of a power-off condition, motor control circuit (50) controls motor (22) in accordance with the contingent motor-governing deceleration signal to achieve orderly deceleration. Secondary power supply circuit (70) provides power to motor control circuit (50) during the power-off condition.
Abstract:
In a helical scan system (20) for recording information on a storage media in a series of helical tracks, servo information written on the tracks is used to control linear velocity of the media (22) during a write operation. Helical scan system (20) includes a rotating drum (30) upon which write heads (W1, W2) and read heads (R1, R2) circumferentially are mounted. The read heads (R1, R2) are positioned on the drum (30) opposite and offset from the write heads (W1, W2) such that as the tape (22) is moved, the read heads (R1, R2) read data that was written by the write heads at least 1.5 rotations of the drum previously. A servo zone read controller (100) digitizes the amplitude of the servo signals read by the read head (R1). Control microprocessor (66) calculates a speed correction value based on that information for application to one or both of the reel motors (50, 52).
Abstract:
Methods of calibrating a helical scan recorder (20, 20') include transporting a storage media (22, 22') past a drum (30, 30') at a controlled linear velocity and recording tracks on the media using a write head (W2, W2'). During a read-after-write operation, servo signals recorded on the traks are read. The servo signals from the tracks are used to determine an axial offset variance (AOV) of the write head (W2, W2') and a read head (R2, R2') on the drum. In one mode, calibration is achieved for a helical scan recorder (20') having a capstan (142') and wherein the tracks are read back within 180 degrees of recordation. In another mode, calibration is achieved for a helical scan recorder which does not have a capstan, and wherein the tracks are read back at least 540 degrees after recordation. The axial offset variance is used in a write splice operation and, in one mode, to determine linear velocity of the media.
Abstract:
An automated magnetic tape cartridge library system includes a cabinet (24) having a door (26) removable and pivotally connected thereto. The cabinet (24) houses a plurality of tape drives (56A-56E) a plurality of racks (70) wherein magnetic tape cartridges are stored. A cartridge transport assembly (100) serves to retrieve a cartridge from a rack (70) and to load the cartridge into a target tape drive (56), and vice versa. Movement of the cartridge transport assembly (100) along X, Y, and Z rectangular coordinate axes is effected by X, Y, and Z displacement systems (104, 106, 108). The cartridge transport assembly (100) and the X, Y, and Z displacement systems (104, 106, 108) are all mounted on the removable, pivotal door (26). The cartridge transport assembly (100) includes a pair of engagement fingers (402A, 402B) which engage a selected cartridge upon contact with the cartridge. In an engagement mode, engagement fingers (402A, 402B) are configured and oriented to engage notches provided on opposite edges of standard 8 mm magnetic tape cartridge such that, upon engagement, the cartridge is locked between the fingers (402A, 402B) without the need of further locking mechanisms. Portions of the linkage means of the cartridge transport assembly (100) dually function as ram elements (452A, 452B) for closing a tape drive door (60) once a cartridge is loaded into a target tape drive (56).
Abstract:
For decoding a Reed-Solomon codeword with (n-K) check characters an error/erasure locator (32) executes a codeword cycle comprising (n-K) ''coefficient'' iterations followed by (n-K) ''modified syndrome'' iterations. The error/erasure locator (32) includes a bank (52) of simultaneously loadable syndrome registers and a bank (56) of coefficient registers. The syndrome registers are connected to one another in a circular shift path (91). The error/erasure locator (32) further includes a cascading arrangement of PISO multipliers (54), a SIPO multiplier (60), and PISO multipliers (61). The PISO multipliers (54) operate upon the contents of the syndrome registers (52) (expressed in a conventional basis representation) and the contents of the coefficient register (56) (expressed in dual basis representation) to obtain a serial current discrepancy dn. The SIPO multiplier (60) multiplies the serial current discrepancy dn by a parallel-formatted multiplicative inverse dm-1betai of a prior discrepancy (expressed in dual basis representation) to obtain in one set of clock cycles, the product dndm-1. During a second set of clock cycles the discrepancy product dndm-1 is further multiplied using a second bank (61) of PISO multipliers by the contents of corresponding auxiliary registers (62) to obtain a serial product useful for updating the coefficient registers (56). The syndrome registers (52) perform the dual purpose of storing the original syndromes during the coefficient iteration and of storing the modified syndromes produced during the modified syndrome iteration.
Abstract:
A tracking system and method are disclosed for a helical-scan recording device to automatically maintain the recording/playback heads (16A, 16C) in alignment with the stripes of recorded information (18A-18D) on the magnetic tape (12). Each stripe on the magnetic tape includes a servo signal area having four distinct zones (Z1-Z4). An analog servo signal at a preselected frequency is recorded on one of the four zones on each stripe and is recorded at different ones of the four zones in succession on each group of four adjacent stripes. The servo signal recorded on the stripes is detected during playback and processed to maintain the desired head positioning relative to the stripes on the tape. The servo head (16B) is preferably maintained between adjacent stripes on the magnetic tape and signals detected from each of the adjacent stripes maintain head alignment by shifting the positioning of the head in either direction as needed.
Abstract:
Method and apparatus are provided for re-recording of a frame on magnetic tape (22) when a first recording of the frame is determined to be defective. A frame whose first recording is defective is re-recorded at a spare or reserved location on the tape. The reserved location is dedicated to re-recording of frames, and otherwise cannot have data stored therein. The tape contains a defect map frame (326) which is used to pair physical locations of defective frames with the reserved location whereat the frame is re-recorded. In one embodiment, the reserved location whereat a frame is re-recorded is a reserved physical frame on the same track in which the defective frame is recorded. In another embodiment, the reserved location is on a reserved portion of a track (TG39R) which is not the original track (TG39) upon which the frame is recorded. For embodiments having multi-channel or multi-track frames, the reserved location employs a corresponding plurality of tracks.
Abstract:
A serpentine recording arrangement for use with a magnetic tape (32), in which a warning marker (CEW) is generated and recorded. The warning marker (32) indicates that the head (100) is approaching a boundary position on the tape (32) at which the head (100) must change tracks to continue recording or reading frames. The warning marker (32) is preferably included in the auxiliary portion of some tracks and can have a value indicating the number of frames that can be recorded before reaching the boundary position. The warning marker (CEW) is monitored to determine the need to cache data before track changing. Caching data can be initiated by a host (66, 68) or internal to the drive in which case the related speed between the tape (32) and the head (100) can be adjusted in anticipation of track changing.
Abstract:
A magnetic tape drive system (20) records a directory block (CL) at a predetermined position on tape (22). The directory includes a data block number of the data block recorded at an end of each track. Upon receipt of a command to locate a target data block recorded on tape (22), a processor (102) directs a transport controller (82) to position a read element (30R) at the predetermined position on tape (22) for reading the directory. The processor (102) compares the target block numers with the data block numbers stored and in response thereto causes a positioner (74) to position the read element with respect to the tape (22) width so as to read the track upon which the data block having the target data block number is recorded.