Abstract: A servo track following system for positioning a moving read/write head relative to a magnetic storage disc. A plurality of servo tracks are recorded in sectors on the disc for identifying radial positions or informational tracks. The servo tracks have a nonuniform radial track density varying from more dense at the periphery of the disc to less dense at the interior, established with a method that allows the unique performance characteristics of the head to determine the actual spacing of the tracks. A clock track is written by writing a single pulse on a fixed clock track head, phase-lock looping to an intermediate clock track, which is written on a moving head, and then phase-lock looping up to the final clock track which is written on the fixed clock track head. Radial track density is then determined by moving a head to a limit stop and writing a reference track.

Abstract: The specification discloses a method and apparatus for providing speed control and rotational indexing of a disc recorder, based upon a particular use of a plurality of electrical pulses produced, for example, as the slots of a slotted wheel, axially coupled to a recording disc, pass a transducer. The primary repetition rate of pulses in response to equally-spaced slots is used for speed control of the recording disc. A secondary pulse rate occurring between two successive pulses resulting from adjacent slots with different spacing is used to establish an index pulse correlated with a reference point on the disc.

Abstract: A digital firing control for a three-phase full wave silicon controlled rectifier converter. An error signal, in digital form, representing a desired change in firing angle which is a function of the difference between the current being supplied by the converter and a desired current, is utilized to advance or retard the firing angle of the SCR's as required to eliminate the error. Each subsequent firing command is referenced on a time basis from the firing command of the previously fired SCR in the firing sequence rather than being referenced from the zero voltage point of the alternating current supply voltage. The error signal is averaged over the time interval between firing commands so that the control responds to the average difference between the current being supplied and the desired current.

Abstract: A direct current motor control system for generating current command signals to a unidirectional armature controller and a bidirectional field controller. A motor speed command is compared with the actual motor speed to generate a speed error signal. The system generates a current command signal from the average of the speed error signal wherein the current command signal is proportional to the square root of the desired motor torque. The absolute value of the current command signal is the input to the armature controller and the field controller receives the current command signal wherein the polarity of the signal determines the direction of current flow in the field winding for controlling the direction of rotation of the motor.

Abstract: A reversible control circuit for applying voltage pulses of opposite polarities to a load whereby the average current flowing in the load is a function of the maximum voltage at which the voltage pulses are applied and the duty cycle of the control circuit. The circuit may be utilized to control an electric motor field wherein the motor shunt field winding is connected across a four switch bridge circuit supplied from a direct current or rectified alternating current power source. Current flow in the field winding through a first pair of switches on opposite sides of the bridge can be reversed by opening the first pair of switches and closing the second pair of switches. If the switch pairs are alternately closed and opened in a rapid cyclic manner, the direction and magnitude of the current flow in the field winding can be controlled by varying the duty cycles of the switch pairs.