Abstract: An electronic equipment chassis adapted to house a motherboard includes a side, a back, and a mid-plane support. A carrier for housing at least one power supply is disposed within the electronic equipment chassis. The carrier is supported by the back and mid-plane support. The carrier does not intersect a horizontal plane of the motherboard.

Abstract: New helical recording scanner architectures and transducing methods provide a consistent track pitch for helical tracks despite positional errors in placement of transducing elements (or sets of transducing elements) from their nominal positioning. The new scanners (85) are rotatable scanners having a vertical direction parallel to an axis of rotation of the scanner. Both first and second transducing elements are mounted on the scanner, and a tape drive (30) which comprises the scanner also includes a transport system for transporting magnetic tape (31) proximate the rotatable scanner in a manner so that information is transduced in helical tracks by the transducing elements during revolutions of the scanner.

Abstract: A helical scan tape recorder (30) comprises a rotatable scanner (85) upon which is mounted a first set of plural transducing heads (W1, W3) and a second set of transducing heads (W2, W4). A transport system transports magnetic tape (31) proximate the rotatable scanner in a manner so that information is transduced by at least one of the transducing heads during a revolution of the scanner. The sets of transducing heads are so mounted on the scanner with respect to azimuthal orientation of the transducing heads that all tracks transduced by the transducing heads have a desired width regardless of an error in physical distance separating the sets of transducing heads. In one aspect, the first set of plural transducing heads comprises a first head (W1) and a third head (W3), and the second set of plural transducing heads comprises a second head (W2) and a fourth head (W4).

Abstract: A helical scan tape drive (20) has a cartridge compartment (24) for accommodating a single reel cartridge (26) of magnetic tape (56), and a take-up reel (50) which, with respect to a threading path (42), is not coplanar with the cartridge compartment. A threading system (40) grasps an end of the magnetic tape in the cartridge and transports the magnetic tape through the threading path. The threading path is configured such that the magnetic tape is at least partially wrapped around a rotatable scanner (30) before the end of the magnetic tape is attached to the take-up reel. The rotatable scanner has one or more elements (180, 182) for transducing information relative to the magnetic tape. The take-up reel is situated at a location either above or below the cartridge compartment for reducing footprint of the drive. In one embodiment, the take-up reel and the compartment are in an at least partially overlapping relationship.

Abstract: A scanner (3-85, 8-85, 9-85) for use in a helical scan magnetic transducing apparatus has a periphery upon which plural read tranducing elements (3-82) and plural write transducing elements (3-80) are mounted non-symmetrically. The plural write transducing elements are physically situated on the periphery of the scanner in M number of local groups (3-81), wherein the plural read transducing elements are physically situated on the periphery of the scanner in N number of local moveable groups (3-831, 3-832), and wherein M<N. Each of the moveable groups has a separate actuator (89) for adjusting position of the group.

Abstract: New helical recording scanner architectures and transducing methods provide a consistent track pitch for helical tracks despite positional errors in placement of transducing elements (or sets of transducing elements) from their nominal positioning. The new scanners (85) are rotatable scanners having a vertical direction parallel to an axis of rotation of the scanner. Both first and second transducing elements are mounted on the scanner, and a tape drive (30) which comprises the scanner also includes a transport system for transporting magnetic tape (31) proximate the rotatable scanner in a manner so that information is transduced in helical tracks by the transducing elements during revolutions of the scanner.

Abstract: A transducing head (740) for a magnetic tape recorder comprises a first magnetic pole (744) and a second magnetic pole (742) positioned to form a gap therebetween. The first magnetic pole (744) has a first magnetic pole width H3 along the gap and the second magnetic pole (744) has a second magnetic pole width H1 along the gap. The first magnetic pole width H3 and the second magnetic pole width H1 are formed to satisfy the relation H1<H3<3T<H2, wherein H2 is a physical tape contact width of the transducing head and 3T is a width of three adjacent recorded tracks traversed by the head.

Abstract: A helical scan tape drive (20) has a cartridge compartment (24) for accommodating a single reel cartridge (26) of magnetic tape (56), and a take-up reel (50) which, with respect to a threading path (42), is not coplanar with the cartridge compartment. A threading system (40) grasps an end of the magnetic tape in the cartridge and transports the magnetic tape through the threading path. The threading path is configured such that the magnetic tape is at least partially wrapped around a rotatable scanner (30) before the end of the magnetic tape is attached to the take-up reel. The rotatable scanner has one or more elements (180, 182) for transducing information relative to the magnetic tape. The take-up reel is situated at a location either above or below the cartridge compartment for reducing footprint of the drive. In one embodiment, the take-up reel and the compartment are in an at least partially overlapping relationship.

Abstract: A helical scan tape recorder (30) comprises a rotatable scanner (85) upon which is mounted a first set of plural transducing heads (W1, W3) and a second set of transducing heads (W2, W4). A transport system transports magnetic tape (31) proximate the rotatable scanner in a manner so that information is transduced by at least one of the transducing heads during a revolution of the scanner. The sets of transducing heads are so mounted on the scanner with respect to azimuthal orientation of the transducing heads that all tracks transduced by the transducing heads have a desired width regardless of an error in physical distance separating the sets of transducing heads. In one aspect, the first set of plural transducing heads comprises a first head (W1) and a third head (W3), and the second set of plural transducing heads comprises a second head (W2) and a fourth head (W4).

Abstract: A scanner (3-85, 8-85, 9-85) for use in a helical scan magnetic transducing apparatus has a periphery upon which plural read tranducing elements (3-82) and plural write transducing elements (3-80) are mounted non-symmetrically. The plural write transducing elements are physically situated on the periphery of the scanner in M number of local groups (3-81), wherein the plural read transducing elements are physically situated on the periphery of the scanner in N number of local moveable groups (3-831, 3-832), and wherein M<N. Each of the moveable groups has a separate actuator (89) for adjusting position of the group.

Abstract: A transducing head (740) for a magnetic tape recorder comprises a first magnetic pole (744) and a second magnetic pole (742) positioned to form a gap therebetween. The first magnetic pole (744) has a first magnetic pole width H3 along the gap and the second magnetic pole (744) has a second magnetic pole width H1 along the gap. The first magnetic pole width H3 and the second magnetic pole width H1 are formed to satisfy the relation H1<H3<3T<H2, wherein H2 is a physical tape contact width of the transducing head and 3T is a width of three adjacent recorded tracks traversed by the head.

Abstract: A pack of magnetic recording tape (100) comprises a splicing tape (120) which adheres a web of a magnetic tape (122) to a leader (124). The leader (124) attaches to a reel hub (126) around which the tape is to be wound. The length L of the splicing tape in a direction parallel to an elongate dimension (127) of the magnetic tape is on the order of N&pgr;D, where D is the diameter of reel hub and N is an integer. In one embodiment, the length L of splicing tape is just slightly less than the circumference of the reel hub. The tape assembly comprising the combination of the magnetic tape, the leader, and the splicing tape greatly reduces the amount of permanent tape deformation, and provides a more efficient tape pack with smaller discontinuities. Consequentially, the stress on the magnetic tape is greatly reduced, which reduces the amount of permanent deformation and the number of magnetic tape layers that are affected by the deformations.

Abstract: A dual-scan master calibration tape is prepared and used for adjusting guide elements of a magnetic tape drive. The dual-scan master calibration tape is generated by transporting the master calibration tape past a rotating drum whereon a write head is mounted and activating the write head only during every other rotation of the drum. In use, the master calibration tape is transported past a read head in a manner whereby, for a track pre-recorded on the master calibration tape, the read head separately follows a first path over the track and a second path over the track. A first path read signal is generated as the read head follows the first path over the track; a second path read signal is generated as the read head follows the second path over the track. Both the first path read signal and the second path read signal are used to determine a calibration indicia for the tape drive.

Abstract: A method of determining a vertical (e.g., axial) offset distance between a first and a second transducing element of a helical scan tape drive involves varying a ratio of a rotational velocity of the drum to a linear tape speed of the tape while transducing a magnetic pattern between at least one of the transducing elements and the tape. The pattern transduced is read and used to determine information pertaining to the vertical offset distance. In one mode of the invention, a vertical offset distance between a read transducing element and a write transducing element is determined by using a peak magnitude of a read signal. In a second mode of the invention, the linear tape speed is first set to a value at which tracks recorded by a second write transducing element are rendered unreadable, and a resultant noise signal acquired.

Abstract: A flexural pantographic mount for use in a helical scan magnetic tape transport, the mount being a boxed leaf stiffened flexural pantograph mount, for holding and varying the position of a moveable head in a helical scan automatic scan tracking magnetic tape transport. The mount includes a moveable body such as a magnetic transducing head assembly coupled at one end of first and second generally parallel spaced apart elongated flexural pantographic leaves configured at the opposite free ends thereof for attachment to a fixed body. Each leaf includes first and second integrally formed and bent leaf edge extensions, which act as side stiffeners. A triangularly configured opening and a trapezoidally configured opening are formed in each leaf with each opening being configured to include tab projections for bending into the opening to provide transverse or lateral stiffening.

Abstract: A rotary head helical scan tape record and/or reproduce apparatus has an upper rotatable cylindrical drum tape guide section and a stationary lower cylindrical drum tape guide section that includes a narrow upper ridge which is displaced radially from the axis of the stationary cylindrical drum tape guide section in a direction towards the location where the rotary head ends the scan of the tape. Magnetic tape is transported in a helical path from the lower stationary drum guide section, over the radially displaced upper ridge to the upper rotatable drum guide section, which carries the record and/or reproduce heads that transfer signals to and from the tape.

Abstract: A method for analyzing the relative spatial alignment of the erase head pole tips relative to the record head pole tips on a recording of a magnetic tape to be partially overwritten by providing, through first and second erase heads, successive momentary erase pulses of a predetermined time duration in a predetermined phase relation on a non-overlapping basis, wherein each erase head thereby erases recorded information while leaving portions of information therebetween on adjacent track pairs, and then reading or playing back the results of the erasure for analysis of the RF envelope of the erasing pattern by a waveform monitor or ferrofluidic techniques. The duration of the erasures and playback is such that the RF envelope includes at least one erasure from the first erase head and at least one erasure from the second erase head.

Abstract: A flexural pantographic mount for use in a helical scan magnetic tape transport employing a closed loop servo system having a specified frequency bandwidth is disclosed. The mount includes a fixed body and a moveable body such as a magnetic transducing head assembly. First and second parallel spaced apart elongated flexible yet similar leaves have opposite ends, opposite edges and uniform thickness. The leaves are of similar material. One set of the opposite ends of the leaves are connected to the fixed body, the other set of opposite ends being connected to the moveable body. The leaves, when the moveable body assembly is subjected to a force having a component F perpendicular to the planes of the leaves, is flexed into an "S" shape with the moveable assembly undergoing a deflection D. Each leaf exhibits its primary mode stiffness K equal to the ratio F/D.

Abstract: A head assembly which provides in the rotary scanner body a tape support structure including a scanner opening, a pair of magnetic heads mounted in the scanner opening for the reading and writing of data on a magnetic tape medium, a support member disposed on the scanner body at the scanner opening and extending between the two magnetic heads to support the tape as it moves across the scanner opening, said tape support structure producing a dramatic improvement in signal output across the length of the head scan.