IP Library Granted Patent US 8,699,174
Granted Patent B2
US 8,699,174 · App. 13/220,391 · Granted Apr 15, 2014

Control system for tape drive to compensate for system disturbances without use of feed-forward sensor

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,699,174
App. No.
13/220,391
Granted
Apr 15, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A tape drive ( 232 ) that receives a tape cartridge ( 42 ) having a tape ( 256 ) comprises a tape head ( 280 ) and a control system ( 270 ). The tape head ( 280 ) transfers data between the tape drive ( 232 ) and the tape ( 256 ). The control system ( 270 ) utilizes linear parameterization to control the position of the tape head ( 280 ) relative to the tape ( 256 ). The control system ( 270 ) can include a compensator (J) and a filter (Q). The compensator (J) is a combination of the information contained in a nominal control system ( 370 A) and the information contained in a model of the servo system ( 370 B). The model of the servo system ( 370 B) estimates system disturbances that affect the tracking ability of the control system ( 270 ). The filter (Q) filters the estimated system disturbances to generate a filtered system disturbance signal. The filtered system disturbance signal is then used to adjust the output of the compensator (J). Additionally, the control system ( 270 ) can utilize Youla-Kucera parameterization to control the position of the tape head ( 280 ) relative to the tape ( 256 ). Further, the control system ( 270 ) controls the position of the tape head ( 280 ) relative to the tape ( 256 ) without the use of a feed-forward sensor.

Claims (30)

1. A tape drive that receives a tape cartridge having a tape, the tape drive comprising:

a tape head that transfers data between the tape drive and the tape; and

a control system that utilizes linear parameterization to control the position of the tape head relative to the tape, the control system including a compensator and a filter, wherein the compensator is a combination of the information contained in a nominal control system and the information contained in a model of a servo system.

2. The tape drive of claim 1 wherein the model of the servo system estimates system disturbances that affect the tracking ability of the control system.

3. The tape drive of claim 1 wherein the filter filters the estimated system disturbances to generate a filtered system disturbance signal, and wherein the filtered system disturbance signal is used to adjust the output of the compensator.

4. The tape drive of claim 1 wherein the filter can be updated to improve the performance of the compensator.

5. The tape drive of claim 4 wherein the filter is updated utilizing one of least mean squares filtering and recursive least squares filtering.

6. A tape drive that receives a tape cartridge having a tape, the tape drive comprising:

a tape head that transfers data between the tape drive and the tape; and

a control system that utilizes Youla-Kucera parameterization to control the position of the tape head relative to the tape.

7. The tape drive of claim 6 wherein the control system compensates for system disturbances without the use of a feed-forward sensor.

8. A media library including a library housing, and the tape drive of claim 6 positioned within the library housing.

9. A combination including a tape cartridge and the tape drive of claim 6 that receives the tape cartridge.

10. A tape drive that receives a tape cartridge having a tape, the tape drive comprising:

a tape head that transfers data between the tape drive and the tape; and

a control system that controls the position of the tape head relative to the tape, the control system including (i) a compensator that is a combination of the information contained in a nominal control system and the information contained in a model of a servo system, the model of the servo system being utilized to estimate system disturbances that affect the tracking ability of the control system; and (ii) a filter that filters the estimated system disturbances to generate a filtered system disturbance signal that is used to adjust the output of the compensator, the control system utilizing Youla-Kucera parameterization to control the position of the tape head relative to the tape.

11. A method for compensating for system disturbances in a tape drive, the method comprising the step of:

controlling the position of a tape head relative to a tape with a control system that utilizes linear parameterization, the control system having a compensator and a filter, the compensator being a combination of the information contained in a nominal control system and the information contained in a model of a servo system; and

estimating the system disturbances that affect the tracking ability of the control system with the model of the servo system.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of filtering the estimated system disturbances to generate a filtered system disturbance signal with the filter, and adjusting the output of the compensator with the filtered system disturbance signal.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of updating the filter to improve the performance of the compensator.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of controlling includes the control system utilizing Youla-Kucera parameterization.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of controlling includes controlling the position of the tape head relative to the tape with the control system without the use of a feed-forward sensor.

16. A media library including a library housing and a control system that utilizes the method of claim 11 .

17. A method for compensating for system disturbances in a tape drive, the method comprising the step of:

controlling the position of a tape head relative to a tape with a control system that utilizes Youla-Kucera parameterization.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the control system includes a compensator and a filter.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of controlling includes the control system having a compensator and a filter.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of controlling includes the compensator being a combination of the information contained in a nominal control system and the information contained in a model of a servo system, and further comprising the step of estimating the system disturbances that affect the tracking ability of the control system with the model of the servo system.

21. A combination including a tape cartridge and a tape drive that receives the tape cartridge, the tape drive including a control system that utilizes the method of claim 17 .

Assignments (14)
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 18, 2025
From: QUANTUM CORPORATION
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 074024/0084 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT AT REEL/FRAME NO. 40473/0378 Recorded Oct 8, 2025
From: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
To: QUANTUM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 073061/0454 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF AMENDED AND RESTATED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT AT REEL/FRAME NO. 48029/0525 Recorded Aug 19, 2025
From: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
To: QUANTUM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 072542/0594 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 24, 2025
From: BLUE TORCH FINANCE LLC, AS AGENT FOR THE SECURED PARTIES
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC, AS AGENT FOR THE SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 071019/0850 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 10, 2021
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: QUANTUM CORPORATION; QUANTUM LTO HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 057142/0252 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 5, 2021
From: QUANTUM CORPORATION; QUANTUM LTO HOLDINGS, LLC
To: BLUE TORCH FINANCE LLC, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 057107/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 8, 2019
From: QUANTUM CORPORATION
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 048029/0525 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 27, 2018
From: QUANTUM CORPORATION, AS GRANTOR; QUANTUM LTO HOLDINGS, LLC, AS GRANTOR
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 049153/0518 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 27, 2018
From: TCW ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC, AS AGENT
To: QUANTUM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 047988/0642 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 25, 2016
From: WELLS FARGO CAPITAL FINANCE, LLC, AS AGENT
To: QUANTUM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 040474/0079 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 25, 2016
From: QUANTUM CORPORATION
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 040473/0378 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 21, 2016
From: QUANTUM CORPORATION
To: TCW ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 040451/0183 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 31, 2012
From: QUANTUM CORPORATION
To: WELLS FARGO CAPITAL FINANCE, LLC, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 027967/0914 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 29, 2011
From: KINNEY, CHARLES E.; WENG, MING-CHIH
To: QUANTUM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 026823/0856 →