Abstract: A system and method is provided for positioning a take-up reel in a tape drive unit so that a leader block can be inserted therein. The take-up reel is driven by a motor having a rotatable shaft and a motor controller. A position encoder, mounted on the shaft of the motor, uses a Hall-effect device to generate a Hall voltage signal in response to rotational motion of the motor shaft. The Hall voltage signal is amplified to provide a motor phase signal which is then compared to a reference level (usually zero volts) to generate encoder pulses. The encoder pulses are counted using a counter/state machine to determine a position and direction of rotation of the take-up reel. A feature of this system is that it is calibrated using a processor that determines the DC level of the motor phase signal and subsequently adjusts the motor phase signal so that it is substantially symmetrical about the reference level to which it is compared.

Abstract: This improved signal discontinuity compensation method compensates for discontinuity in the relationship between motor position commands received by a motor driver, and motor current signals sent to a motor by the motor driver. A best fit approximation of the signal discontinuity is generated based on median data points which provides resistance to anomalous data points. The compensation is accomplished by adding an offset to specific motor position commands sent to the motor driver based on the best fit approximation. The offset command maximizes accuracy and control over motor motion by avoiding the motor driver's motor current signal discontinuity.