Abstract: Described herein are media drives for writing information to a media (e.g., a tape media), systems for storing information on a storage medium, and methods of writing information to a media. The devices, systems and methods described herein are error tolerant in that they may permit only a limited number (or arrangement) of bad blocks in an envelope to be written before they erase at least a portion of the envelope that has already been written, and move to a different region of the storage media and re-write the envelope.

Abstract: Errors in data retrieved from a storage medium are verified by retrieving a plurality of data blocks from the storage medium. A data set having data from multiple data blocks is selected, where the data set includes a plurality of rows corresponding to the data bocks and a row has data from a data block corresponding to the row. One or more error correction codes (ECCs) are retrieved from the storage medium, where the one or more ECCs correspond to the data set. A plurality of check sums are retrieved from the storage medium, where a check sum corresponds to a data block. Data blocks retrieved from the storage medium having errors are identified using the check sums corresponding to the data blocks.

Abstract: According to one aspect, systems and methods are provided for detecting the relative position of a transducer head with respect to a storage medium utilizing optically diffractive media. In one example, a head positioning servo system includes a transducer head assembly, a diffractive medium spatially fixed with respect to the transducer head assembly, a light source for illuminating at least a portion of a magnetic storage medium and the diffractive medium, a detector for detecting light from the light source illuminating the magnetic storage medium and the diffractive medium, and a controller for adjusting the position of the transducer head with respect to the magnetic storage medium in response to the detected light.

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 co-linear 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.

Abstract: In one example, a method is provided for detecting the relative position of a transducer head with respect to a storage medium utilizing existing or previously written data structures on a magnetic storage tape and optically diffractive media. The method includes generating a read signal from a read element associated with a transducer head, the read signal generated from a reference data track stored on a magnetic storage medium, and determining a relative position of a first diffractive medium with respect to a second diffractive medium, wherein the first diffractive medium is associated with the storage medium. The transducer head is repositioned relative to the storage medium in response to the read signal and the relative position of the first diffractive medium and the second diffractive medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides servo systems and accompanying methods for determining the relative position of a transducer head to a magnetic storage tape utilizing the position of the magnetic storage tape edge. In one example, a method for positioning a transducer head relative to a magnetic storage medium includes optically sensing a position of an edge of the storage medium, and repositioning the transducer head relative to the storage medium based on the read signal and the position of the edge of the storage medium.

Abstract: A data storage device includes a recording head assembly having a recording head and a servo head operatively connected to the recording head, a recording medium capable of being positioned relative to the recording head assembly for recording data in a longitudinal recording direction, and a control interface for receiving data of a file to be recorded on the recording medium and positioning information for positioning the recording medium relative to the recording head assembly. The file data is recorded on the recording medium as a logical ring located within a logical cylinder spanning a finite length on the recording medium, with all data for the file being stored in a single logical ring on a single recording medium. The logical cylinder occupies a portion of the single recording medium.

Abstract: According to one aspect, methods and systems for determining the position of a recording head using existing data structures on magnetic storage media are provided. In one example, a recording head writes data to an active track on a magnetic storage tape, the recording head including a write element and a read element in a known spatial relationship, wherein the read element is configured to access at least a portion of a reference track when the write element is accessing the active track. A controller determines a relative position of the transducer element to the reference track and repositions the recording head to write data to the active track. The read element may be a backward channel reader or dedicated read element of the recording head for reading reference tracks during read and/or write operations.

Abstract: A recording head comprises a first tape-head contact area including a first write element and a first read element, which itself may include an MR sensor element. The first read element is laterally offset as to the first write element, and no portion of the first read element lies in a region laterally overlapped by the first write element. A second tape-head contact area includes a second write element and a second read element, which also may include an MR sensor element. The second read element is laterally offset as to the second write element, and no portion of the second read element lies in a region laterally overlapped by the second write element. The first read and write elements of the first tape-head contact area are aligned with the second write and read elements of the second tape-head contact area so that an end portion of the second write element lies in a region that laterally overlaps only an end portion of the first write element.

Abstract: A magnetic storage medium formed on a front major surface of a tape substrate defines a multiplicity of longitudinal data recording and playback tracks, each track having a nominal lateral location relative to the other tracks: and a predetermined optically manifested track servo pattern defined on the back major surface of the tape for indicating lateral displacement of the tape from a nominal lateral location of the track during tape movement across a read/write head. A magnetic tape recording and playback system employing the magnetic storage medium is also disclosed.

Abstract: A storm drain system (10) contained in the ground (36) contains a standpipe (12) having a bottom section (18) having perforations (20) where a porous pavement (22) surrounds the top portion of the standpipe (12), where, beneath the porous pavement is a substructure of coarse aggregate, all surrounded by a non-porous base material (34), such as concrete, where a storm drain (28) connects to the standpipe by a top outlet pipe (30), where water (38, 40) and liquid impurities (42) are separated from storm water runoff by a non-perforated section of the standpipe.

Abstract: The present invention provides servo systems and accompanying methods for determining the relative position of a transducer head to a magnetic storage tape utilizing existing data structures on the magnetic storage tape and the position of the tape edge. In one example, a method for positioning a transducer head relative to a magnetic storage medium includes sensing a read signal from a read element associated with a transducer head, the read signal in response to a reference data track stored on a magnetic storage medium, optically sensing a position of an edge of the storage medium, and repositioning the transducer head relative to the storage medium in response to the read signal and the position of the edge of the storage medium.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for receiving and streaming storage tape by a tape head from storage tape cartridges of varying formats in a single tape drive. In one example, an exemplary tape drive system includes a receiver, a reel driver system configured to selectively drive at least two cartridges having different cartridge formats, and a drive leader system configured to selectively couple with at least two different cartridge leader formats associated with the at least two different cartridge formats.

Abstract: Passive air bearing tape guides, tape drives, and methods of operating tape drives are provided. The passive air bearing tape guide may include a movable guide region having a starting position, and a biasing element configured to resist movement of the movable guide region from the starting position and to return the movable guide region to the starting position. The passive air bearing tape guides described herein may also include a tape-facing surface having hydrodynamic properties for enhancing or sustaining the formation of a air cushion between the passive air bearing tape guide and a tape media as the tape media is drawn over the surface passive air bearing tape guide. Tape drive may include one or more passive air bearing tape guides.

Abstract: In one aspect, an electromagnetic or capacitive sensing position system for determining the relative position of at least one void in a conductive material is provided. In one example, the system includes a sensor (or probe) having at least two probe elements (e.g., tips or plates). The position of the probe relative to the at least one void is determined in response to an electrical signal (e.g., a differential signal) measured across the two probe elements that varies in response to interaction of the probe elements with the at least one void. The system may be used, e.g., to servo a magnetic head assembly relative to a magnetic storage tape.

Abstract: Tape is spooled onto a hub by receiving the tape between guide members. The guide members guide one or both edges of the tape as the tape begins to wrap around the hub and floats on a layer of air formed between the tape and a previously wound layer of the tape.

Abstract: A take-up or supply reel for aligning and stacking storage tape. The tape reel may include a hub, where tape wraps around the hub and two flanges. The flanges are spaced apart on the hub, where surfaces of the flanges face each other at a distance such that the tape may pass therebetween. At least one of the opposing surfaces includes a guiding portion where a separation distance between the opposing surfaces of the flanges corresponding to the guiding portion decreases as tape is wound to the hub. The guiding portion guides the tape as it passes therebetween to stack more uniformly on the hub.

Abstract: Data stored on a storage medium is corrected by retrieving a plurality of data blocks and a plurality of error correction codes (ECCs) from the storage medium. An ECC corresponds to a data set having data from multiple data blocks, and the ECCs are generated prior to storing the data blocks and the ECCs in the storage medium. After retrieving the data blocks and ECCs from the storage medium, a data set is identified as having an error based on the data in the data set and the ECC corresponding to the data set, where an error indicates that the data in the data set retrieved from the storage medium is different from the data in the data set when the data was originally stored in the storage medium. Data in the data set identified as having an error is corrected using the ECC corresponding to the data set.

Abstract: A data storage system for storing data includes a data storage medium and a data interface that communicates with the data storage medium. The data interface is configured to place data into a logical data capsule having a defined size, where the data placed into the logical data capsule can occupy less than the defined size of the logical data capsule. In the data storage system, the logical data capsule is moved as a whole between the data storage medium and the data interface. Additionally, when any data in the logical data capsule is read or modified, all of the data in the logical data capsule is read or modified as a whole.

Abstract: In one aspect, an exemplary method of manufacturing a magnetic head assembly is provided. In one example, the method includes forming islands in a magnetic head structure to define a pair of mini-outriggers adjacent a data island, where the data island is separated from each mini-outrigger by a void, and a width of the data island along a direction of tape transport is greater than a width of the mini-outrigger. The method further includes lapping the head structure to remove a portion of the mini-outrigger, thereby creating a wrap angle between the tape and the surface of the data island. In one example, the lapping process reduces the mini-outrigger height relative to the data island in an adaptive manner, where the final contour and height of the mini-outrigger is influenced by the data island surface, e.g., by the width, radius of curvature, and the like.