Abstract:
A one-quarter inch cartridge (18) is designed to be uniquely differentiated from a standard tape cartridge by having a cartridge in place area (19) removed (open) while at a same time, a write protect area (22) is closed. The uniquely differentiated tape cartridge is preferably a cleaning tape cartridge. The drive which receives the standard tape cartridge can differentiate or identify the cleaning cartridge with the cleaning cartridge designed as indicated. In a stacker or autoloader system, the uniquely identified cartridge, which is preferably a cleaning cartridge, can be easily located and loaded automatically. If the drive has a detection system for different locations of the cartridge-in-place area, then at each location for a cartridge-in-place area, the area has no sensing surface. It is not necessary to make mechanical changes to the drive for detection of a cleaning cartridge, and the design of the cleaning cartridge is simplified for unique identification thereof.
Abstract:
Zum genauen Positionieren eines Magnetkopfs (1) auf eine Spur (35) eines bewegten Aufzeichnungsträgers (2) in einem Magnetschichtspeicher, insbesondere einem Magnetbandgerät, bei dem der Magnetkopf (1) in Querrichtung des Aufzeichnungsträgers (2) auf verschiedene Spuren verschiebbar ist, werden Signale jeweils in Spuren (35) aufgezeichnet, die aus zwei durch einen schmalen Zwischenraum voneinander getrennten Teilspuren (33, 34) gebildet werden. Hierzu ist ein Schreibkopf (30) vorgesehen, der zwei durch einen Zwischenraum (36) voneinander getrennte Teilschreibköpfe (31, 32) enthält. Die Signale werden durch zwei in einem Lesekopf (40) vorgesehene Teilleseköpfe (41, 42) von den Teilspuren (33, 34) gelesen, wobei die jeweiligen Teilleseköpfe (41, 42) in Querrichtung des Aufzeichnungsträgers (2) schmaler ausgebildet sind als die jeweiligen Teilspuren (33, 34). In Abhängigkeit von Lesesignalen (S3) der beiden Teilleseköpfe (41, 42) wird der Magnetkopf (1) in Querrichtung des Aufzeichnungsträgers (2) derart verschoben, daß er der Spur (35) möglichst genau folgt.
Abstract:
A method and system detect and correct for errors on a tape resulting from, for example, debris on the tape. Location of the tape is continuously monitored, and when an error is detected during a data transfer operation, the tape is moved and re-positioned to rewrite a data block where the error was detected. If the error is not corrected, a minimum threshold requirement is decreased so the system detects the data block as corrected thereby avoiding system hang-ups or the like.
Abstract:
A method for positioning a read head substantially at a center line of a track of recorded data. Error correction information is provided in recorded data on the track, preferably in conjunction with blocks. A length of the track over which error correction information will be accumulated is defined, such as over a given number of the blocks. At a starting position of the read head, a number of errors is counted which occurs over said defined length. If the number of errors counted exceeds a preset maximum, repositioning the head to a new position, and again counting a number of errors which occur over the defined length, and determining if the number of errors still exceeds the preset maximum. The repositioning is performed until the number of errors over the given length no longer exceeds the preset maximum, the preset maximum being chosen so that when the preset maximum is no longer exceeded, the read head then substantially overlies the center line of the track where a minimized number of read errors occurs.
Abstract:
A stacker system or an autoloader system includes a tape drive and one or more magazines which each include a plurality of tape cassettes or cartridges. A positioning system moves the magazine to a specific position to load or unload a particular cartridge or cassette from the magazine. A control system controls the operation of the tape drive and the magazines between a loaded and unloaded position. Each magazine includes a unique identification code which can be read by the stacker or autoloader to determine if the correct magazine has been inserted. In addition, each magazine includes a memory to record information about the contents of the recording media stored in the magazine or the performance of each recording media stored in the magazine.