Intelligent tape drive assembly that diagnoses and repairs its own tape drives
View Patent ↗A tape drive assembly ( 20 ) for the transmission of data relative to a magnetic storage tape ( 278 ) includes a tape head ( 260 ), a cartridge receiver ( 268 ) and a controller ( 44 ). The cartridge receiver ( 268 ) selectively receives a cartridge ( 54 ) having a lapping tape ( 478 ) that laps the tape head ( 260 ). The controller ( 44 ) dynamically adjusts one of (i) a tension of the lapping tape ( 478 ) relative to the tape head ( 260 ), (ii) an oscillation frequency of the tape head ( 260 ) relative to the lapping tape ( 478 ), and (iii) a lateral velocity of the lapping tape ( 478 ) relative to the tape head ( 260 ). The controller ( 44 ) can use an algorithm to adjust these conditions. The algorithm can be based on the pliability of the lapping tape ( 478 ), a curvature of the tape head ( 260 ) and/or the grit of the lapping tape ( 478 ). In addition, or in the alternative, the algorithm can be based on at least one of an output of the tape head ( 260 ), a resolution of a signal from the tape head ( 260 ), an error rate in reading of data by the tape head ( 260 ) from the storage tape ( 278 ), an error rate in writing of data by the tape head ( 260 ) to the storage tape ( 278 ), and a signal-to-noise ratio from the tape head ( 260 ).
1. A tape drive assembly for the transmission of data relative to a magnetic storage tape, the tape drive assembly comprising:
a tape head that magnetically interacts with the storage tape;
a cartridge receiver that selectively receives a cartridge having a lapping tape that laps the tape head; and
a controller that dynamically adjusts one of (i) a tension of the lapping tape relative to the tape head, (ii) an oscillation frequency of the tape head relative to the lapping tape, and (iii) a lateral velocity of the lapping tape relative to the tape head.
2. The tape drive assembly of claim 1 wherein the cartridge includes the storage tape and the lapping tape.
3. The tape drive assembly of claim 1 further comprising a drive housing that substantially contains the tape head, the cartridge receiver and the controller.
4. The tape drive assembly of claim 1 further comprising a drive housing that substantially contains the tape head and the cartridge receiver, the controller being positioned remotely from the drive housing.
5. The tape drive assembly of claim 4 wherein the controller is part of a tape library that includes the drive housing.
6. The tape drive assembly of claim 1 wherein the controller uses an algorithm to adjust the tension of the lapping tape relative to the tape head.
7. The tape drive assembly of claim 6 wherein the algorithm is based on the pliability of the lapping tape.
8. The tape drive assembly of claim 6 wherein the algorithm is based on a curvature of the tape head.
9. The tape drive assembly of claim 6 wherein the algorithm is based on the grit of the lapping tape.
10. The tape drive assembly of claim 6 wherein the algorithm is based on at least one of an output of the tape head, a resolution of a signal from the tape head, an error rate in reading of data by the tape head from the storage tape, an error rate in writing of data by the tape head to the storage tape, and a signal-to-noise ratio from the tape head.
11. The tape drive assembly of claim 1 wherein the controller uses an algorithm to adjust the oscillation frequency of the tape head relative to the lapping tape.
12. The tape drive assembly of claim 11 wherein the algorithm is based on the grit of the lapping tape.
13. The tape drive assembly of claim 11 wherein the algorithm is based on at least one of an output of the tape head, a resolution of a signal from the tape head, an error rate in reading of data by the tape head from the storage tape, an error rate in writing of data by the tape head to the storage tape, and a signal-to-noise ratio from the tape head.
14. The tape drive assembly of claim 1 wherein the oscillation of the tape head is in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the lapping tape.
15. The tape drive assembly of claim 1 wherein the controller uses an algorithm to adjust the lateral velocity of the lapping tape relative to the tape head.
16. The tape drive assembly of claim 15 wherein the algorithm is based on the grit of the lapping tape.
17. The tape drive assembly of claim 15 wherein the algorithm is based on at least one of an output of the tape head, a resolution of a signal from the tape head, an error rate in reading of data by the tape head from the storage tape, an error rate in writing of data by the tape head to the storage tape, and a signal-to-noise ratio from the tape head.
18. The tape drive assembly of claim 1 wherein the controller adjusts the duration of movement of the lapping tape over the tape head based on one of an output of the tape head, a resolution of a signal from the head, an error rate in reading of data by the tape head from the storage tape, an error rate in writing of data by the tape head to the storage tape, and a signal-to-noise ratio from the tape head.
19. The tape drive assembly of claim 1 wherein the tape head and the cartridge receiver are included as part of a tape drive, and wherein the controller takes the tape drive off-line based on at least one of an output of the tape head, a resolution of a signal from the tape head, an error rate in reading of data by the tape head from the storage tape, an error rate in writing of data by the tape head to the storage tape, and a signal-to-noise ratio from the tape head.
20. The tape drive assembly of claim 1 wherein the controller initiates insertion of the cartridge into the cartridge receiver to lap the tape head with the lapping tape based on at least one of an output of the tape head, a resolution of a signal from the tape head, an error rate in reading of data by the tape head from the storage tape, an error rate in writing of data by the tape head to the storage tape, and a signal-to-noise ratio from the tape head.
21. The tape drive assembly of claim 1 wherein the controller dynamically adjusts each of the tension of the lapping tape relative to the tape head, the oscillation frequency of the head relative to the lapping tape and the lateral velocity of the lapping tape relative to the tape head.
22. A media library including the tape drive assembly of claim 1 and a cartridge mover that moves the cartridge relative to the tape drive assembly.
23. A tape drive assembly for the transmission of data relative to a magnetic storage tape, the tape drive assembly comprising:
a tape head that magnetically interacts with the storage tape;
a cartridge receiver that selectively receives a cartridge having a lapping tape that laps the tape head; and
a controller that initiates insertion of the cartridge into the cartridge receiver to lap the tape head based on one of an output of the tape head, a resolution of a signal from the tape head, an error rate in reading of data by the tape head from the storage tape, an error rate in writing of data by the tape head to the storage tape, and a signal-to-noise ratio from the tape head.
24. The tape drive assembly of claim 23 wherein the controller dynamically adjusts one of (i) a tension of the lapping tape relative to the tape head, (ii) an oscillation frequency of the head relative to the lapping tape, (iii) a lateral velocity of the lapping tape relative to the tape head, and (iv) a duration of movement of the lapping tape across the tape head.
25. The tape drive assembly of claim 24 wherein the controller uses an algorithm to adjust the tension of the lapping tape relative to the tape head.
26. The tape drive assembly of claim 25 wherein the algorithm is based on one of the pliability of the lapping tape, a curvature of the tape head, and the grit of the lapping tape.
27. The tape drive assembly of claim 25 wherein the algorithm is based on a number of separate occasions the tape head has been lapped by the lapping tape.
28. The tape drive assembly of claim 24 wherein the controller uses an algorithm to adjust the oscillation frequency of the tape head relative to the lapping tape.
29. The tape drive assembly of claim 24 wherein the controller uses an algorithm to adjust the lateral velocity of the lapping tape relative to the tape head.
30. The tape drive assembly of claim 23 wherein the cartridge includes the storage tape and the lapping tape.
31. The tape drive assembly of claim 23 wherein the tape drive assembly is part of a media library, and wherein the controller is adapted to take the tape drive off-line prior to the controller initiating insertion of the cartridge into the cartridge receiver.
32. The tape drive assembly of claim 23 wherein the controller dynamically adjusts each of the tension of the lapping tape relative to the tape head, the oscillation frequency of the head relative to the lapping tape and the lateral velocity of the lapping tape relative to the tape head.
33. A media library including the tape drive assembly of claim 23 and a cartridge mover that moves the cartridge relative to the tape drive assembly.
34. A method for repairing a tape drive, the method comprising the step of:
dynamically adjusting with a controller one of (i) a tension of a lapping tape that moves across a tape head of the tape drive, (ii) an oscillation frequency of the tape head relative to the lapping tape, (iii) a lateral velocity of the lapping tape relative to the tape head, and (iv) a duration of movement of the lapping tape across the tape head.
35. The method of claim 34 further comprising the step of taking the tape drive off-line using the controller prior to insertion of a cartridge that includes the lapping tape into a cartridge receiver of the tape drive.
36. The method of claim 34 further comprising the step of initiating insertion of a cartridge having the lapping tape with the controller based upon one of an output of the tape head, a resolution of a signal from the tape head, an error rate in reading of data by the tape head from a storage tape, an error rate in writing of data by the tape head to the storage tape, and a signal-to-noise ratio from the tape head.
37. The method of claim 36 wherein the step of initiating insertion includes inserting a cartridge that includes both the lapping tape and a magnetic storage tape that stores data.
38. A method for repairing a tape drive, the method comprising the step of:
initiating insertion of a cartridge into a cartridge receiver of the tape drive with a controller to perform a lapping operation of a tape head of the tape drive based on one of an output of the tape head, a resolution of a signal from the tape head, an error rate in reading of data by the tape head from a storage tape, an error rate in writing of data by the tape head to the storage tape, and a signal-to-noise ratio from the tape head.
39. The method of claim 38 further comprising the step of taking the tape drive off-line using the controller prior to insertion of the cartridge.
40. The method of claim 38 wherein the step of initiating insertion includes inserting a cartridge that includes both the lapping tape and the storage tape.