Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes receiving or determining primary velocity based on at least c of reading information encoded on a magnetic tape and a parameter associated with a motor of a drive mechanism. At a switching point, a reference velocity is made about equal to the primary velocity. After the switching point, the reference velocity is determined at various intervals. Also after the switching point, a value representative of a difference between the reference velocity and the primary velocity is determined, and a speed of the motor of the drive mechanism is adjusted for minimizing the difference between the reference velocity and the primary velocity. A system according to one embodiment includes a controller for controlling a drive mechanism, the controller being configured to perform the foregoing method.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a controller configured to: determine a reference velocity at various intervals, receive or determine a secondary velocity based at least in part on a parameter associated with a drive mechanism motor, determine a value representative of a difference between the reference velocity and secondary velocity, adjust a speed of the motor of the drive mechanism for minimizing the difference between the reference velocity and secondary velocity, receive/determine a primary velocity based on reading information encoded on a magnetic tape, at a switching point, make the reference velocity about equal to the primary velocity, after the switching point, determine the reference velocity at various intervals, after the switching point, determine a value representative of a difference between the reference velocity and primary velocity, and adjust the speed of the motor of the drive mechanism for minimizing the difference between the reference velocity and primary velocity.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a controller configured to: determine a reference velocity at various intervals, receive or determine a secondary velocity based at least in part on a parameter associated with a drive mechanism motor, determine a value representative of a difference between the reference velocity and secondary velocity, adjust a speed of the motor of the drive mechanism for minimizing the difference between the reference velocity and secondary velocity, receive/determine a primary velocity based on reading information encoded on a magnetic tape, at a switching point, make the reference velocity about equal to the primary velocity, after the switching point, determine the reference velocity at various intervals, after the switching point, determine a value representative of a difference between the reference velocity and primary velocity, and adjust the speed of the motor of the drive mechanism for minimizing the difference between the reference velocity and primary velocity.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes selecting an initial radius value (Rfull) for an outgoing reel, where Rfull is the initial radius of a tape on the outgoing reel; unwinding the tape from the outgoing reel; computing a radius value of the tape on the outgoing reel during the unwinding; adjusting the computed radius with an offset calculated from a direct measurement of velocity from the tape position; and outputting the adjusted computed radius. A method according to another embodiment includes selecting an initial radius value (R0) for an incoming reel, where R0 is the initial radius of the incoming reel; winding the tape onto the incoming reel; computing a radius value of the tape on the incoming reel during the winding; adjusting the computed radius with an offset calculated from a direct measurement of velocity from the tape position; and outputting the adjusted computed radius.

Abstract: Tape media life is increased by dynamically controlling a turn around point (TAP) on the tape media for either an end of a tape wrap or a directional change from a first longitudinal position tape section to a second longitudinal position tape section for reducing damage to the tape media caused by debris by monitoring the TAP for all tape media motion and adjusting tape deceleration for maintaining the TAP to be located at the second longitudinal position tape section.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes setting a default friction value to a predetermined value, determining whether a primary velocity is valid, determining a velocity error, determining whether the velocity error is in a predetermined range, accumulating the velocity error when the velocity error is determined to be in the predetermined range, repeating, until a time period has elapsed, each of: the determining the velocity error, the determining whether the velocity error is in the predetermined range, and the accumulating the velocity error when the velocity error is determined to be in the predetermined range, and calculating a new friction value based on the accumulated velocity error.

Abstract: A method in one embodiment includes receiving a command to perform at least one of a refresh operation and a verification operation on a media cartridge having a tape wrapped around a spool; mounting the media cartridge in a tape drive; starting execution of the refresh and/or verification operation; aborting execution of the refresh and/or verification operation upon occurrence of a predetermined event. A method in another embodiment includes receiving an instruction to perform a verification operation on a media cartridge having a tape wrapped around a spool; unwrapping at least some of the tape from the spool; after the unwrapping, wrapping at least some of the tape back onto the spool; during at least one of the unwrapping and wrapping, performing a verification operation; terminating execution of the verification operation when a drive error is detected; outputting an indication of a media error when a media error is encountered.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a method of operating a magnetic tape drive, a magnetic tape drive and a servo control system are provided for obtaining and maintaining velocity control in a magnetic tape drive. In one embodiment, a method is provided for operating a magnetic tape drive. The tape drive includes a plurality of DC motors, and each DC motor has a plurality of Hall sensors. The DC motors are under the control of a servo system which is configured to read location information from the magnetic tape, and compute a primary tape velocity from the location information, and sense a secondary and tertiary velocity signal and compute a tape velocity based on one of the sensed secondary velocity signal and tertiary velocity. The method includes detecting if the primary velocity location information is available. In response to detecting that the primary velocity location information is available the primary velocity is employed to control the servo system.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically unthreading a tape. The system and method determine whether the drive being at the stop state could cause the tape sticking condition in future after a defined dwell time (e.g., 20 minutes). The tape sticking tends to increase with time and humidity. Moreover, it is known that worn tape is stickier than new tape. With a plurality of attempts (e.g., four attempts) of moving tape (e.g., every 5 minutes), the drive is able to identify whether the tape needs to be unthreaded. Such a system allows a tape drive to handle the tape in safety at severe condition for the sticking tape, and minimize the penalty for the response to the command in normal condition.

Abstract: In a tape drive having a rotatable take-up reel supporting an end of an elongate tape, a drive control system for rotating the take-up reel and for rotating a tape supply reel of a removable tape cartridge. The drive control system is arranged to tension and move the elongate tape between the reels. At rewind, the drive control system rewinds the elongate tape onto the supply reel at rewind velocity under tension; upon the rewinding approaching the end of the elongate tape, rewinds the elongate tape at a reduced velocity under tension, the reduced velocity less than 60% of the rewind velocity; and stops the reduced velocity rewinding for a period of time and maintains the elongate tape in a dwell state under tension which is greater than an operating tension during tape motion. The dwell state time period may be substantially 10 seconds.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer-program product for indicating progress status of a mid-tape or data recovery operation in a tape drive. The method includes visually indicating that a recovery operation has started, periodically determining the remaining recovery time based on the remaining tape spool, and displaying the determined remaining recovery time to show progress status of the operation. The determination of the remaining recovery time includes determining the length of the tape being processed based on an estimated radius of the remaining tape spool and system parameters. The remaining recovery time is displayed with a moving track to show progress toward completion.

Abstract: A completion time setting section sets a completion time that is a time at which charging of a secondary battery is completed. An output current measurement section acquires an output value of a current from a natural energy power supply apparatus. A power amount measurement section acquires an amount of power that is supplied until the charging of the secondary battery is completed. A predicted time calculation section calculates a time at which the charging of the second battery is completed by only the natural energy power based on the output value and the power amount as a predicted time. A control section causes the secondary battery to be charged with only the natural energy power when the predicted time is earlier than the completion time.

Abstract: A method in one embodiment includes receiving a command to perform at least one of a refresh operation and a verification operation on a media cartridge having a tape wrapped around a spool; mounting the media cartridge in a tape drive; starting execution of the refresh and/or verification operation; aborting execution of the refresh and/or verification operation upon occurrence of a predetermined event. A method in another embodiment includes receiving an instruction to perform a verification operation on a media cartridge having a tape wrapped around a spool; unwrapping at least some of the tape from the spool; after the unwrapping, wrapping at least some of the tape back onto the spool; during at least one of the unwrapping and wrapping, performing a verification operation; terminating execution of the verification operation when a drive error is detected; outputting an indication of a media error when a media error is encountered.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes: deciding to perform a refresh operation on a media cartridge having a tape wrapped around a spool; determining which drive of a plurality of drives is available to perform the refresh operation; causing the media cartridge to be mounted to the available drive; causing the drive to unwrap the tape from the spool of the media cartridge to about an end of the tape; and causing the drive to wrap the tape back onto the spool after the unwrapping, wherein at least some data on the tape is overwritten with new data, and a verification operation is performed using the new data.

Abstract: The method employs a servo system for positioning a head laterally to follow lateral motion of a longitudinal tape having longitudinal defined servo track(s), the servo system comprising a servo element configured to sense lateral position of the head with respect to an acquired servo track, a fine actuator configured to translate the head laterally with respect to the longitudinal tape, and a position error signal loop to operate the fine actuator to translate the head laterally to reduce position error. If the servo element is positioned away from the defined servo track(s), a continuous position error offset signal is applied to the fine actuator in a direction towards the defined servo track(s), whereby the fine actuator translates the head in accordance with the continuous position error offset signal; and, in response to the servo system acquiring the defined servo track(s), the continuous position error offset signal is discontinued.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a method of operating a magnetic tape drive, a magnetic tape drive and a servo control system are provided for obtaining and maintaining velocity control in a magnetic tape drive. In one embodiment, a method is provided for operating a magnetic tape drive. The tape drive includes a plurality of DC motors, and each DC motor has a plurality of Hall sensors. The DC motors are under the control of a servo system which is configured to read location information from the magnetic tape, and compute a primary tape velocity from the location information, and sense a secondary and tertiary velocity signal and compute a tape velocity based on one of the sensed secondary velocity signal and tertiary velocity. The method includes detecting if the primary velocity location information is available. In response to detecting that the primary velocity location information is available the primary velocity is employed to control the servo system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is presented to determine a lateral position of a read/write head relative to a sequential information storage medium having a servo signal encoded therein and moving adjacent to the read/write head, where the servo signal comprises a plurality of pulses. The method includes detecting the servo signal using the read/write head and calculating a timing interval between each of the pulses using a clock rate of a clock signal. The clock rate is then adjusted based upon the velocity of the sequential information storage medium.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes: deciding to perform a refresh operation on a media cartridge having a tape wrapped around a spool; determining which drive of a plurality of drives is available to perform the refresh operation; causing the media cartridge to be mounted to the available drive; causing the drive to unwrap the tape from the spool of the media cartridge to about an end of the tape; and causing the drive to wrap the tape back onto the spool after the unwrapping, wherein at least some data on the tape is overwritten with new data, and a verification operation is performed using the new data.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for dynamic tape stick and tape break detection. A first counter increments a first count and resets a second count in response to a sensor pulse from a first sensor of a first tape servo. A second counter increments the second count and resets the first count in response to a sensor pulse from a second sensor of a second tape servo. A detection module detects either the first count or the second count exceeding an error threshold.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer-program product for indicating progress status of a mid-tape or data recovery operation in a tape drive. The method includes visually indicating that a recovery operation has started, periodically determining the remaining recovery time based on the remaining tape spool, and displaying the determined remaining recovery time to show progress status of the operation. The determination of the remaining recovery time includes determining the length of the tape being processed based on an estimated radius of the remaining tape spool and system parameters. The remaining recovery time is displayed with a moving track to show progress toward completion.