Abstract: A method for optical data recording and readout includes scanning a blank region of an optical recording medium while recording a data band including a plurality of adjacent data tracks; synchronizing the recording on all tracks to a common data clock; and simultaneously recording control tracks with the band of data tracks, each control track having a well-defined track center and a repetitive pattern of marks that is synchronized to the data clock. The method further includes optically sensing the cross-scan positions and clock offsets of at least one control track on either side of the data band; interpolating between the control track cross-scan positions to predict the cross-scan positions of each data track and compensate for magnification errors; interpolating between the control track clock offsets to predict the clock offset of each data track and compensate for skew errors; and simultaneously reading and decoding information recorded on all tracks of the data band.

Abstract: An optical tape transport system including an optical head, tape transport structure and a focus stabilizer element including the stabilizer element including a cylindrical surface section supports the full width of the tape; the stabilizer element being disposed on the opposite side of the tape from the optical head; the optical axis of the optical head being perpendicular to the stabilizer surface at the point of intersection between the optical axis and the stabilizer surface; the tape being supported at the stabilizer surface by an air film; and the air film thickness at the point of intersection being in the range 1-50 &mgr;m while the tape is transported for reading or writing.

Abstract: A system for compensating for film flutter in a motion picture film projector during projection of a motion picture film comprising multiple film image frames is described, the system comprising sensing the position of film image frames in a film gate of the projector relative to the focal plane of the projection lens assembly of the projector as the film image frames are being projected, and correcting the position of the film in the film gate of the projector or the position of the focal plane of the projection lens assembly to reduce the distance between the film image and the focal plane of the projection lens assembly as the film image frames are being projected, wherein the correction of the position of an individual film image frame in the film gate or that of the position of the focal plane of the projection lens assembly during projection of the individual frame image is based on the actual sensed position of the individual film image frame in the film gate, or on the position of a previously project

Abstract: An optical tape transport system including an optical head, tape transport means, and a focus stabilizer element including the stabilizer element including a cylindrical surface section supports the full width of the tape; the stabilizer element being disposed on the opposite side of the tape from the optical head; the optical axis of the optical head being perpendicular to the stabilizer surface at the point of intersection between the optical axis and the stabilizer surface; the tape being supported at the stabilizer surface by an air film; and the air film thickness at the point of intersection being in the range 1-50 &mgr;m while the tape is transported for reading or writing.

Abstract: A method for optical data recording includes focusing a preheat laser beam and a recording laser beam onto an optical recording medium, forming a preheat focused spot and a recording focused spot having nearly equal sizes; providing relative scanning motion between the optical recording medium and the recording focused spot in a direction parallel to the displacement from the preheat focused spot to the recording focused spot at a velocity sufficient to prevent thermal diffusion from the optical recording medium during the transit of the medium from the preheat focused spot to the recording focused spot; and modulating the preheat laser beam according to a modulated data signal, thereby creating preheated zones on the media surface with temperatures less than a threshold for complete mark formation.

Abstract: A system for compensating for film flutter in a motion picture film projector during projection of a motion picture film comprising multiple film image frames is described, the system comprising sensing the position of film image frames in a film gate of the projector relative to the focal plane of the projection lens assembly of the projector as the film image frames are being projected, and correcting the position of the film in the film gate of the projector or the position of the focal plane of the projection lens assembly to reduce the distance between the film image and the focal plane of the projection lens assembly as the film image frames are being projected, wherein the correction of the position of an individual film image frame in the film gate or that of the position of the focal plane of the projection lens assembly during projection of the individual frame image is based on the actual sensed position of the individual film image frame in the film gate, or on the position of a previously project

Abstract: A thermal processor for thermally processing a sequence of exposed photothermographic media comprising: a rotatable thermally conductive drum; a heat source for heating the drum to a setpoint temperature; a plurality of rollers spaced around a portion of the periphery of the drum for holding down exposed photothermographic media to the drum for thermal development thereof; a sensor for sensing the temperature of the drum; and a control for controlling the temperature of the drum as a function (1) of the setpoint temperature, (2) of the sensed drum temperature, and (3) of the status of the processor, i.e., whether or not photothermographic media is being processed by the drum, in order to compensate for heat loss due to media heating and roller heating.

Abstract: A head-to-medium backer device (37) includes a rigid frame (38) supporting an elastically deformable leaf spring (40) for engaging a magnetic medium (16) to urge the medium into contact with a magnetic head (14). The rigid frame supports a pair of attachment elements (42, 44; 52; 54) which secure respective opposite ends (46, 48) of the leaf spring, the attachment elements being configured so that, when the leaf spring is installed therebetween, the leaf spring flexes to form a continuous arc (50) which is convex away from the rigid frame with the opposite ends of the leaf spring being secured against rotation relative to the rigid frame, whereby when the magnetic head is forced against a center portion of the arc, the center portion can be flexed toward the rigid frame while the opposite ends of the leaf spring remain fixedly secure against rotation relative to the frame.

Abstract: A recording head apparatus includes a first rigid frame (80); a magnetic head (14) supported by the first frame; a head-to-medium backer device (18; 37) including a second rigid frame (24; 38) supporting an elastically deformable leaf spring (20; 40) for engaging a magnetic medium (16) to urge the medium into contact with the head; a carrier (100) supported on the first frame for movement toward or away from the head, the backer device being supported by the carrier; and a spring member (110) for biasing the carrier toward the head, the carrier and backer device being moveable away from the head against the bias of the spring member to permit the head to be cleaned without requiring disassembly of the apparatus.

Abstract: An optical tape is helically passed over a cylindrical outer surface of a drum at a first speed to effect a substantial circumferential wrap thereof. A first write/read head with a writing laser array generates light beams that are directed along a first path through an optical rotator, and then via an optical arrangement on the drum onto a portion of the optical tape at a wrapping location of the drum to effect helical scanning of that portion of the optical tape. The optical rotator and the optical arrangement are rotated parallel to the first path at second and third rotational speeds, respectively, where the third speed is twice the second speed. This results in a dynamic imaging of the light beams from the first write/read head in closely spaced and parallel tracks to write binary data on the portion of the optical tape at the wrapping location using a passive focusing control.