Abstract: In a magnetic tape system, during lateral repositioning of a tape head between servo bands, the servo head is not on a servo band and is unable to provide servo position information. Hence, information about the lateral position may be lost. A control system selectively senses data read transducers of the tape head; and, upon detecting a servo signal of a servo band from a sensed data read transducer, determines the lateral position of the tape head with respect to the detected servo band based upon the position of the data read transducer that sensed the detected servo signal.

Abstract: In magnetic tape having separate longitudinal servo bands of servo information with superimposed data information, the separate servo bands have selected different superimposed data information, to identify the separate servo bands for independent addressability. The servo information comprises non-parallel laterally extending transitions to indicate lateral positioning, and the selected different superimposed data information may comprise a lack thereof in portion(s) of the servo bands. Where the superimposed data information is longitudinal position information of the tape, the selected different superimposed data information may comprise different longitudinal position information of one or more servo band(s). The selected different superimposed data information may comprise a band identifier in the superimposed data information of one or more of the servo bands.

Abstract: A method to monitor the relative position of a magnetic tape disposed in a tape drive, where that tape drive includes a first tape reel motor and a second tape reel motor. The method provides a magnetic tape disposed on a first tape reel, and releaseably attaches the first tape reel to the first tape reel motor. The method further provides a second tape reel attached to the second tape reel motor. The method operates the first tape reel motor and the second tape reel motor to transfer the tape from the first tape reel onto the second tape reel while maintaining a running second reel rotation count. The method sets a second reel rotation count limit, and determines if the running second reel rotation count exceeds that second reel rotation count limit. If the running second reel rotation count exceeds the second reel rotation count limit, then the method discontinues operation of the tape reel motors.

Abstract: Disclosed are a system, a method, and an article of manufacture to provide for the detection and compensation of tape breakage in a tape drive. The invention operates by simultaneously monitoring the tape reel rotation direction and the ratio of rotation between the tape reels. If the rotation direction is not the same for both reels, then tape breakage is indicated and reel rotation ceases. Tape breakage is also detected if the tape reel angular rotation ratio between the supply and take up reels is not within a specified tape reel ratio range. The tape reel angular rotation ratio is detected by simultaneously measuring the angular rotation of each tape reel in a specified time period and then calculating the ratio. The present invention detects the tape reel angular rotation ratio and if tape reel angular rotation ratio is outside of the specified tape reel ratio range, tape breakage is indicated and reel rotation ceases.

Abstract: In a magnetic tape system, during lateral repositioning of a tape head between servo bands, the servo head is not on a servo band and is unable to provide servo position information. Hence, information about the lateral position may be lost. A control system selectively senses data read transducers of the tape head; and, upon detecting a servo signal of a servo band from a sensed data read transducer, determines the lateral position of the tape head with respect to the detected servo band based upon the position of the data read transducer that sensed the detected servo signal.

Abstract: A method to monitor the relative position of a magnetic tape disposed in a tape drive, where that tape drive includes a first tape reel motor and a second tape reel motor. The method provides a magnetic tape disposed on a first tape reel, and releaseably attaches the first tape reel to the first tape reel motor. The method further provides a second tape reel attached to the second tape reel motor. The method operates the first tape reel motor and the second tape reel motor to transfer the tape from the first tape reel onto the second tape reel while maintaining a running second reel rotation count. The method sets a second reel rotation count limit, and determines if the running second reel rotation count exceeds that second reel rotation count limit. If the running second reel rotation count exceeds the second reel rotation count limit, then the method discontinues operation of the tape reel motors.

Abstract: In magnetic tape having separate longitudinal servo bands of servo information with superimposed data information, the separate servo bands have selected different superimposed data information, to identify the separate servo bands for independent addressability. The servo information comprises non-parallel laterally extending transitions to indicate lateral positioning, and the selected different superimposed data information may comprise a lack thereof in portion(s) of the servo bands. Where the superimposed data information is longitudinal position information of the tape, the selected different superimposed data information may comprise different longitudinal position information of one or more servo band(s). The selected different superimposed data information may comprise a band identifier in the superimposed data information of one or more of the servo bands.

Abstract: In a tape having separate servo bands of patterns positioned laterally across the tape, the patterns of a separate servo band have at least one differentiating characteristic with respect to patterns of another of the separate servo bands. The differentiating characteristic allows identification of the separate servo bands. For example, the patterns of a separate servo band have differing azimuthal orientations of detectable transitions with respect to another servo band, such as being laterally inverted. In another, variations in the width of gaps of patterns are made with respect to another servo band. In another, variations are made in the number of the detectable transitions of patterns with respect to the patterns of another servo band.

Abstract: A method and system for rewriting data on a tape when an error occurs during an initial write operation. When the initial write error occurs, the data is rewritten at a location that is a pre-defined block gap distance from the last valid write location on the tape. By measuring the length of the pre-defined block gap distance, the cause or causes of the write error or errors are known. Thus, the pre-defined block gap not only ensures that the data is not re-written in a no-write zone of the tape, due to the zone known to be error prone, but a historical record of past write errors is logged based on the length of the block gaps.

Abstract: A system and method for protecting confidential data within an electronic device are described. The invention allows the authentication of the identity of the user through the user of a primary and/or secondary authentication system. In one embodiment, the system includes a pin module for locally storing a unique user identifier configured to correspond to an identity of an individual; an answer module for locally storing an answer set wherein the answer set comprises an answer to a corresponding question and is configured to correspond to the identity of the individual; and a controller for locally authenticating the identity of the individual by comparing an input with the answer set.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting and counting angular rotation of a rotating rotor of a brushless DC motor. The position of the rotor is sensed with a group of sensors. The group of sensors have at least six states determined by the position of the rotor, and in each of these states, the group of sensors define an associated, respective numeric value. At defined periods, the state of the sensors is identified, and the numeric value associated with that state is used to determine the direction of rotation of the rotor and the angular movement of the rotor during the time of the period. In a preferred embodiment, the group of sensors includes at least three sensors, and each of the associated numeric values includes at least three digits. Also, in each of the at least six states, each of the at least three sensors contributes one digit to the numeric value associated with the state.

Abstract: A reference block is divided in the horizontal direction into small blocks, and is also divided in the vertical direction into small blocks. Feature values representing each of the small blocks formed from the reference block are obtained. Similarly, a check block is divided in the horizontal and vertical directions into small blocks and feature values representing the small blocks formed from the check block are obtained. The feature values in the horizontal direction of the reference and check blocks are compared, and the feature values in the vertical direction of the reference and check blocks are compared. The results of the two comparisons comprise an evaluation value by which the degree of matching of the reference and check blocks is evaluated. The check block is moved throughout a predetermined search range, and the process is repeated for each position of the check block.

Abstract: A motion vector detecting circuit calculates a residual between the reference block read from a frame memory and retrieving block at the predetermined position of a retrieving frame to output to an operation control circuit. The operation control circuit discriminates whether a residual value supplied from the motion vector detecting circuit is larger than the threshold value Th1 and the threshold value Th2 which is smaller than Th1 or not respectively and controls the vector detecting circuit corresponding to such discrimination result. When the residual value is larger than the threshold value Th1, the motion vector detecting circuit instructs execution of the motion vector detecting process utilizing the comparatively wider retrieving range. When the residual value is less then the threshold value Th1 and is larger than the threshold value Th2, the motion vector circuit instructs execution of the motion vector detecting process utilizing the comparatively narrower retrieving range.

Abstract: A video signal compressing method and a video signal compressing apparatus for compressing a video signal for a system in which for a synchronism between a plurality of compressed signals must be maintained. A presentation time stamp and/or a decode time stamp are multiplexed in a stream for transmission in which a video signal is compressed to generate a compressed signal. The following are generated as access unit information (AUI) for use in multiplexing the compressed data of the video signal: a picture size value, a picture type value, a repeat first field value, and a flag indicating the occurrence of a big picture.

Abstract: An adaptive motion vector detector adaptively selects the pixels employed in detecting motion vectors between a first frame and a second frame of a video broadcast. The first frame includes a reference block of pixels and the second frame includes a check block of pixels. An analyzing circuit adaptively determines positions of a first subset of pixel values in the reference block based on a variable feature of the reference block. A selecting circuit samples the first subset of pixel values in the reference block and a second subset of pixel values in the check block at the positions determined by the analyzing circuit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method for image coding. A reference frame memory for storing image data of a reference frame, a search memory for storing image data of a search frame, a motion detection means for reading image data from the reference frame memory and the search memory and calculating it to detect a motion vector, and a judgement means for generating a motion vector distribution from the motion vector detected by the motion detection means on a search range of the search frame M fields or M frame (M is an integer of one or larger) apart from the reference frame and deciding a search position between images N fields or N frames (N is an integer larger than M) part based on the motion vector distribution are provided, and the motion detection means performs motion detection at the search position decided by the judgement means. The search range can be thereby enlarged without increment of the search block transfer rate when an image is coded.

Abstract: A motion vector detecting apparatus has a first storage unit through a fourth storage unit. The first storage unit stores top-field pixel data of odd-numbered rows or odd-numbered columns. The second storage unit stores top-field pixel data of even-numbered rows or even-numbered columns. The third storage unit stores bottom-field pixel data of odd-numbered rows or odd-numbered columns. The fourth storage unit stores bottom-field pixel data of even-numbered rows or even-numbered columns. The selector selects pixel data of a predetermined search block from the pixel data stored in the first storage unit through the fourth storage unit. A fifth storage unit stores at least interleaved pixel data among pixel data of the reference block. A first calculator performs a calculation to obtain the difference between the pixel data of the search block selected by the selector and the pixel data of the reference block stored in the fifth storage unit.

Abstract: A process for producing a fluoroalcohol of the following formula (1) H(CFR1CF2)nCH2OH  (1) (n=1 or 2, wherein R1 represents F or CF3 when n=1; R1 represents F when n=2) comprising reacting methanol with tetrafluoroethylene or hexafluoropropylene in the presence of an initiator wherein the fluoroalcohol of formula (1) is distilled after decomposing the remaining initiator contained in the reaction mixture.

Abstract: A reference frame block from a memory is supplied to a feature extraction circuit and a search frame block from a separate memory is supplied to a feature extraction circuit. Within the extraction circuits, the frame blocks are divided into minor blocks and the integration of all pixels for each minor block gives a matching element. A matching process with the matching elements from the extraction circuits provides a frame motion vector. Data division circuits divide the matching elements provided from the extraction circuits into odd- and even-field matching elements, and the matching process with the odd- and even-field matching elements provides odd- and even-field motion vectors. This eliminates the need for a feature extraction circuit when obtaining field matching elements.

Abstract: A reference frame block from a memory is supplied to a feature extraction circuit and a search frame block from a separate memory is supplied to a feature extraction circuit. Within the extraction circuits, the frame blocks are divided into minor blocks and the integration of all pixels for each minor block gives a matching element. A matching process with the matching elements from the extraction circuits provides a frame motion vector. Data division circuits divide the matching elements provided from the extraction circuits into odd- and even-field matching elements, and the matching process with the odd- and even-field matching elements provides odd- and even-field motion vectors. This eliminates the need for a feature extraction circuit when obtaining field matching elements.