Patents by Inventor Randy C. Inch
Randy C. Inch has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11741992Abstract: A method for characterizing a magnetic recording tape, according to one approach, includes measuring, using a magnetic head having servo readers of known pitch, a servo band difference at various locations along a length of a magnetic recording tape. The servo band difference measurements and/or derivatives thereof are stored in association with the magnetic recording tape. This procedure creates a characterization of the magnetic recording tape that is useful for assessing aging of the magnetic recording tape, as well as improving subsequent reading and/or writing operations.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2019Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Kevin B. Judd, Randy C. Inch, Eiji Ogura, Ernest S. Gale, Pamela R. Nylander-Hill, Dale A. Christiansen, Paul M. Greco, Kevin D. Butt, Steven M. Wallace
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Patent number: 11448493Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes writing, using a magnetic head, a set of parallel shingled tracks onto a magnetic recording tape using specified drive parameters, changing one of the specified drive parameters, reading a set of selected data tracks on the magnetic recording tape using the changed drive parameter, changing a lateral head position while reading the set of selected data tracks using the changed drive parameter, comparing track error rates observed during reading at the different lateral head positions, selecting a reader offset value based on the comparing, and performing a further action using the selected reader offset value.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2018Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Kevin B. Judd, Randy C. Inch, David L. Swanson
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Patent number: 10832722Abstract: An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes a magnetic head having servo readers of known pitch, a drive mechanism for passing a magnetic recording tape over the magnetic head, and a controller electrically coupled to the magnetic head. The controller is configured to measure, using signals from the magnetic head, a servo band difference at various locations along a length of the magnetic recording tape. The controller is also configured to cause storage of servo band difference information about the servo band difference measurements in association with the magnetic recording tape.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2019Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Kevin B. Judd, Randy C. Inch, Eiji Ogura, Ernest S. Gale, Pamela R. Nylander-Hill, Dale A. Christiansen, Paul M. Greco, Kevin D. Butt, Steven M. Wallace
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Patent number: 10699742Abstract: A tape drive-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: detecting a read error, and sending one or more instructions to perform a first re-read attempt on a portion of a magnetic tape corresponding to the read error. In response to determining that the first re-read attempt was unsuccessful, a range of tension settings is selected. A range of lateral offsets is also selected. Moreover, one or more instructions are sent to apply each unique combination of a tension setting from the range of tension settings and a lateral offset from the range of lateral offsets. For each of the unique combinations applied, one or more instructions are sent to perform a second phase re-read attempt on the portion of the magnetic tape corresponding to the read error. Furthermore, a determination is made as to whether the second phase re-read attempt was performed successfully for any of the unique combinations.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2019Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Kevin B. Judd, Ernest S. Gale, Randy C. Inch, Eiji Ogura, Kazuhiro Tsuruta, Pamela R. Nylander-Hill, Tsuyoshi Miyamura
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Patent number: 10679662Abstract: A determination is made whether read/write is enabled within the tape drive storage unit. In response to determining that read/write is enabled, a determination is made whether a temperature within the tape drive storage unit exceeds a threshold value. In response to determining that the temperature within the tape drive storage unit exceeds the threshold value, a determination is made of a direction of travel of a tape media within the tape drive storage unit. In response to determining that the direction of travel is a forward direction, a first cooling device is powered on. The first cooling device lowers the temperature of a first guide roller and the tape media coming off a first tape storage reel prior to the tape media passing by a read/write head within the tape drive storage unit.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2019Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Nhan X. Bui, Kevin B. Judd, Randy C. Inch, Mark A. Lantz, David H. F. Harper
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Publication number: 20200166322Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes writing, using a magnetic head, a set of parallel shingled tracks onto a magnetic recording tape using specified drive parameters, changing one of the specified drive parameters, reading a set of selected data tracks on the magnetic recording tape using the changed drive parameter, changing a lateral head position while reading the set of selected data tracks using the changed drive parameter, comparing track error rates observed during reading at the different lateral head positions, selecting a reader offset value based on the comparing, and performing a further action using the selected reader offset value.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2018Publication date: May 28, 2020Inventors: Kevin B. Judd, Randy C. Inch, David L. Swanson
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Patent number: 10650853Abstract: In one general embodiment, a method includes calculating a differential position value based on readback signals from at least two servo readers of a magnetic head reading servo tracks of a magnetic recording tape. The differential position value is compared to a previously-calculated differential position value. An action is performed in response to determining that the difference between the differential position value and the previously-calculated differential position value is in a predefined range. In another general embodiment, an apparatus includes a magnetic head having at least two servo readers, and a controller in communication with the servo readers. The controller is configured to detect a sudden change in a width of a magnetic recording tape based on a differential position value derived from relatively more current servo readback data and a second differential position value derived from relatively older servo readback data.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2019Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Nhan X. Bui, Randy C. Inch, David L. Swanson, Tomoko Taketomi
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Publication number: 20200143830Abstract: A method for characterizing a magnetic recording tape, according to one approach, includes measuring, using a magnetic head having servo readers of known pitch, a servo band difference at various locations along a length of a magnetic recording tape. The servo band difference measurements and/or derivatives thereof are stored in association with the magnetic recording tape. This procedure creates a characterization of the magnetic recording tape that is useful for assessing aging of the magnetic recording tape, as well as improving subsequent reading and/or writing operations.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2019Publication date: May 7, 2020Inventors: Kevin B. Judd, Randy C. Inch, Eiji Ogura, Ernest S. Gale, Pamela R. Nylander-Hill, Dale A. Christiansen, Paul M. Greco, Kevin D. Butt, Steven M. Wallace
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Publication number: 20200143831Abstract: An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes a magnetic head having servo readers of known pitch, a drive mechanism for passing a magnetic recording tape over the magnetic head, and a controller electrically coupled to the magnetic head. The controller is configured to measure, using signals from the magnetic head, a servo band difference at various locations along a length of the magnetic recording tape. The controller is also configured to cause storage of servo band difference information about the servo band difference measurements in association with the magnetic recording tape.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2019Publication date: May 7, 2020Inventors: Kevin B. Judd, Randy C. Inch, Eiji Ogura, Ernest S. Gale, Pamela R. Nylander-Hill, Dale A. Christiansen, Paul M. Greco, Kevin D. Butt, Steven M. Wallace
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Patent number: 10566022Abstract: An apparatus configured to characterize a magnetic recording tape of a tape cartridge, according to one embodiment, includes a magnetic head having servo readers of known pitch, a drive mechanism for passing a magnetic recording tape over the magnetic head, and a controller electrically coupled to the magnetic head. The controller is configured to measure, using signals from the magnetic head, a servo band difference at various locations along a length of the magnetic recording tape of a tape cartridge. The controller is also configured to store the servo band difference measurements and/or derivatives thereof in association with the tape cartridge.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2019Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Kevin B. Judd, Randy C. Inch, Eiji Ogura, Ernest S. Gale, Pamela R. Nylander-Hill, Dale A. Christiansen, Paul M. Greco, Kevin D. Butt, Steven M. Wallace
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Publication number: 20200035269Abstract: A determination is made whether read/write is enabled within the tape drive storage unit. In response to determining that read/write is enabled, a determination is made whether a temperature within the tape drive storage unit exceeds a threshold value. In response to determining that the temperature within the tape drive storage unit exceeds the threshold value, a determination is made of a direction of travel of a tape media within the tape drive storage unit. In response to determining that the direction of travel is a forward direction, a first cooling device is powered on. The first cooling device lowers the temperature of a first guide roller and the tape media coming off a first tape storage reel prior to the tape media passing by a read/write head within the tape drive storage unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2019Publication date: January 30, 2020Inventors: Nhan X. Bui, Kevin B. Judd, Randy C. Inch, Mark A. Lantz, David H.F. Harper
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Patent number: 10515663Abstract: A determination is made whether read/write is enabled within the tape drive storage unit. In response to determining that read/write is enabled, a determination is made whether a temperature within the tape drive storage unit exceeds a threshold value. In response to determining that the temperature within the tape drive storage unit exceeds the threshold value, a determination is made of a direction of travel of a tape media within the tape drive storage unit. In response to determining that the direction of travel is a forward direction, a first cooling device is powered on. The first cooling device lowers the temperature of a first guide roller and the tape media coming off a first tape storage reel prior to the tape media passing by a read/write head within the tape drive storage unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2019Date of Patent: December 24, 2019Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Nhan X. Bui, Kevin B. Judd, Randy C. Inch, Mark A. Lantz, David H. F. Harper
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Patent number: 10460757Abstract: A method for characterizing a magnetic recording tape of a tape cartridge, according to one approach, includes measuring, using a magnetic head having servo readers of known pitch, a servo band difference at various locations along a length of a magnetic recording tape of a tape cartridge. The servo band difference measurements and/or derivatives thereof are stored in association with the tape cartridge. This procedure creates a characterization of the magnetic recording tape that is useful for assessing aging of the magnetic recording tape, as well as improving subsequent reading and/or writing operations.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2018Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Kevin B. Judd, Randy C. Inch, Eiji Ogura, Ernest S. Gale, Pamela R. Nylander-Hill, Dale A. Christiansen, Paul M. Greco, Kevin D. Butt, Steven M. Wallace
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Publication number: 20190325910Abstract: A tape drive-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: detecting a read error, and sending one or more instructions to perform a first re-read attempt on a portion of a magnetic tape corresponding to the read error. In response to determining that the first re-read attempt was unsuccessful, a range of tension settings is selected. A range of lateral offsets is also selected. Moreover, one or more instructions are sent to apply each unique combination of a tension setting from the range of tension settings and a lateral offset from the range of lateral offsets. For each of the unique combinations applied, one or more instructions are sent to perform a second phase re-read attempt on the portion of the magnetic tape corresponding to the read error. Furthermore, a determination is made as to whether the second phase re-read attempt was performed successfully for any of the unique combinations.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2019Publication date: October 24, 2019Inventors: Kevin B. Judd, Ernest S. Gale, Randy C. Inch, Eiji Ogura, Kazuhiro Tsuruta, Pamela R. Nylander-Hill, Tsuyoshi Miyamura
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Publication number: 20190304500Abstract: A determination is made whether read/write is enabled within the tape drive storage unit. In response to determining that read/write is enabled, a determination is made whether a temperature within the tape drive storage unit exceeds a threshold value. In response to determining that the temperature within the tape drive storage unit exceeds the threshold value, a determination is made of a direction of travel of a tape media within the tape drive storage unit. In response to determining that the direction of travel is a forward direction, a first cooling device is powered on. The first cooling device lowers the temperature of a first guide roller and the tape media coming off a first tape storage reel prior to the tape media passing by a read/write head within the tape drive storage unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2019Publication date: October 3, 2019Inventors: Nhan X. Bui, Kevin B. Judd, Randy C. Inch, Mark A. Lantz, David H.F. Harper
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Patent number: 10410670Abstract: A determination is made whether read/write is enabled within the tape drive storage unit. In response to determining that read/write is enabled, a determination is made whether an absolute value of a channel offset exceeds a threshold value. In response to determining that the absolute value of the channel offset exceeds a threshold value, a direction of travel of the tape media is determined. In response to determining that the direction of travel of the tape media is a forward direction, a determination is made whether the channel offset is positive. In response to determining that the channel offset is positive, a left cooling device within the tape drive storage unit is powered on. The left cooling device lowers the temperature of a left guide roller and the tape media coming off a left tape storage reel prior to the media passing by a read/write head.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2019Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Nhan X. Bui, Kevin B. Judd, Randy C. Inch, Mark A. Lantz, David H. F. Harper
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Publication number: 20190267034Abstract: A determination is made whether read/write is enabled within the tape drive storage unit. In response to determining that read/write is enabled, a determination is made whether a temperature within the tape drive storage unit exceeds a threshold value. In response to determining that the temperature within the tape drive storage unit exceeds the threshold value, a determination is made of a direction of travel of a tape media within the tape drive storage unit. In response to determining that the direction of travel is a forward direction, a first cooling device is powered on. The first cooling device lowers the temperature of a first guide roller and the tape media coming off a first tape storage reel prior to the tape media passing by a read/write head within the tape drive storage unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2018Publication date: August 29, 2019Inventors: Nhan X. Bui, Kevin B. Judd, Randy C. Inch, Mark A. Lantz, David H.F. Harper
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Publication number: 20190267035Abstract: A determination is made whether read/write is enabled within the tape drive storage unit. In response to determining that read/write is enabled, a determination is made whether an absolute value of a channel offset exceeds a threshold value. In response to determining that the absolute value of the channel offset exceeds a threshold value, a direction of travel of the tape media is determined. In response to determining that the direction of travel of the tape media is a forward direction, a determination is made whether the channel offset is positive. In response to determining that the channel offset is positive, a left cooling device within the tape drive storage unit is powered on. The left cooling device lowers the temperature of a left guide roller and the tape media coming off a left tape storage reel prior to the media passing by a read/write head.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2019Publication date: August 29, 2019Inventors: Nhan X. Bui, Kevin B. Judd, Randy C. Inch, Mark A. Lantz, David H.F. Harper
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Patent number: 10395687Abstract: A determination is made whether read/write is enabled within the tape drive storage unit. In response to determining that read/write is enabled, a determination is made whether a temperature within the tape drive storage unit exceeds a threshold value. In response to determining that the temperature within the tape drive storage unit exceeds the threshold value, a determination is made of a direction of travel of a tape media within the tape drive storage unit. In response to determining that the direction of travel is a forward direction, a first cooling device is powered on. The first cooling device lowers the temperature of a first guide roller and the tape media coming off a first tape storage reel prior to the tape media passing by a read/write head within the tape drive storage unit.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2018Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Nhan X. Bui, Kevin B. Judd, Randy C. Inch, Mark A. Lantz, David H. F. Harper
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Publication number: 20190198049Abstract: In one general embodiment, a method includes calculating a differential position value based on readback signals from at least two servo readers of a magnetic head reading servo tracks of a magnetic recording tape. The differential position value is compared to a previously-calculated differential position value. An action is performed in response to determining that the difference between the differential position value and the previously-calculated differential position value is in a predefined range. In another general embodiment, an apparatus includes a magnetic head having at least two servo readers, and a controller in communication with the servo readers. The controller is configured to detect a sudden change in a width of a magnetic recording tape based on a differential position value derived from relatively more current servo readback data and a second differential position value derived from relatively older servo readback data.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2019Publication date: June 27, 2019Inventors: Nhan X. Bui, Randy C. Inch, David L. Swanson, Tomoko Taketomi