Diagnostic tape cartridge patterned with predetermined head-media spacings for testing a tape head of a tape drive
A diagnostic tape ( 318 ) for use with a tape drive ( 310 ) having a tape head ( 322 ) includes a first tape section ( 430 A) and a second tape section ( 430 B). The first tape section ( 430 A) and the second tape section ( 430 B) are configured to move across the tape head ( 322 ) during use of the tape drive ( 310 ). The first tape section ( 430 A) includes a first patterned data code ( 432 A) that is indicative of a first spacing between the tape head ( 322 ) and the first tape section ( 430 A). The second tape section ( 430 B) includes a second patterned data code ( 432 B) that is indicative of a second spacing between the tape head ( 322 ) and the second tape section ( 430 B). The second patterned data code ( 432 B) is different than the first patterned data code ( 432 A). The diagnostic tape ( 318 ) can further include a tape head cleaning section ( 630 F) including abrasive material ( 650 ) that is configured to move across the tape head ( 322 ) to clean the tape head ( 322 ).
1. A diagnostic tape for use with a tape drive having a tape head, the diagnostic tape comprising:
a first tape section that is configured to move across the tape head during use of the tape drive, the first tape section including a first patterned data code that is indicative of a first spacing between the tape head and the first tape section; and
a second tape section that is configured to move across the tape head during use of the tape drive, the second tape section including a second patterned data code that is indicative of a second spacing between the tape head and the second tape section, the second patterned data code being different than the first patterned data code; and
wherein at least one of the first patterned data code and the second patterned data code includes formatted data that is interspersed with unformatted data.
2. The diagnostic tape of claim 1 wherein each of the first patterned data code and the second patterned data code includes formatted data that is interspersed with unformatted data.
3. The diagnostic tape of claim 2 wherein the formatted data is arranged diagonally along a length of the diagnostic tape.
4. The diagnostic tape of claim 1 further comprising a third tape section that is configured to move across the tape head during use of the tape drive, the third tape section including a third patterned data code that is indicative of a third spacing between the tape head and the third tape section, the third patterned data code being different than the first patterned data code and the second patterned data code.
5. The diagnostic tape of claim 1 wherein the tape drive further includes a servo head, the diagnostic tape further comprising a third tape section that is configured to move across the servo head during use of the tape drive, the third tape section including a third patterned data code that is indicative of a spacing between the servo head and the third tape section, the third patterned data code being different than the first patterned data code and the second patterned data code.
6. The diagnostic tape of claim 1 wherein the first tape section is positioned substantially adjacent to the second tape section along a length of the diagnostic tape.
7. A combination including a tape drive having a tape head, and the diagnostic tape of claim 1 that is selectively usable within the tape drive.
8. The combination of claim 7 wherein the tape head is configured to (i) read the first patterned data code from the first tape section to generate first information relevant to an actual spacing between the tape head and the diagnostic tape, and (ii) read the second patterned data code from the second tape section to generate second information relevant to the actual spacing between the tape head and the diagnostic tape.
9. The combination of claim 8 further comprising a controller including a processor that is configured to estimate the actual spacing between the tape head and the diagnostic tape, the actual spacing being based at least partially upon the first information and the second information.
10. A diagnostic tape for use with a tape drive having a tape head, the diagnostic tape comprising:
a first tape section that is configured to move across the tape head during use of the tape drive, the first tape section including a first patterned data code that is indicative of a first spacing between the tape head and the first tape section;
a second tape section that is configured to move across the tape head during use of the tape drive, the second tape section including a second patterned data code that is indicative of a second spacing between the tape head and the second tape section, the second patterned data code being different than the first patterned data code; and
a tape head cleaning section that is configured to move across the tape head during use of the tape drive, the tape head cleaning section being configured to clean the tape head as the tape head cleaning section moves across the tape head.
11. The diagnostic tape of claim 10 wherein the tape head cleaning section includes abrasive material formed along a surface of the diagnostic tape.
12. The diagnostic tape of claim 10 wherein the tape head cleaning section includes diamond-like abrasive material formed along a surface of the diagnostic tape.
13. The diagnostic tape of claim 10 wherein the tape head cleaning section includes wavy lapping tape.
14. The diagnostic tape of claim 10 wherein the first tape section is positioned adjacent to the second tape section along a length of the diagnostic tape; and wherein the tape head cleaning section is positioned after the first tape section and the second tape section along the length of the diagnostic tape.
15. The diagnostic tape of claim 14 wherein the first tape section and the second tape section comprise a first data block; wherein the diagnostic tape further comprises a second data block that includes a plurality of second block tape sections, with each second block tape section having a different patterned data code that is indicative of a different spacing between the tape head and the respective second block tape section; and wherein the tape head cleaning section is positioned between the first data block and the second data block along the length of the diagnostic tape.
16. A method for estimating an actual spacing between a tape and a tape head during use of a tape drive that includes the tape head, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a diagnostic tape including (i) a first tape section including a first patterned data code that is indicative of a first spacing between the tape head and the first tape section, and (ii) a second tape section including a second patterned data code that is indicative of a second spacing between the tape head and the second tape section, the second patterned data code being different than the first patterned data code, at least one of the first patterned data code and the second patterned data code including formatted data that is interspersed with unformatted data;
moving the first tape section of the diagnostic tape across the tape head to generate first information; and
moving the second tape section of the diagnostic tape across the tape head to generate second information.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of providing includes each of the first patterned data code and the second patterned data code including formatted data that is interspersed with unformatted data.
18. The diagnostic tape of claim 17 wherein the step of providing includes the formatted data being arranged diagonally along a length of the diagnostic tape.
19. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of estimating the actual spacing between the diagnostic tape and the tape head with a controller including a processor, the estimation of the actual spacing being based at least partially upon the first information and the second information.
20. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of providing further includes the diagnostic tape including a third tape section including a third patterned data code that is indicative of a third spacing between the tape head and the third tape section, the third patterned data code being different than the first patterned data code and the second patterned data code; the method further comprising the steps of moving the third tape section of the diagnostic tape across the tape head to generate third information; and estimating the actual spacing between the diagnostic tape and the tape head with a controller including a processor, the estimation of the actual spacing being based at least partially upon the first information, the second information and the third information.
21. The method of claim 16 wherein the tape drive further includes a servo head; and wherein the step of providing further includes the diagnostic tape including a third tape section including a third patterned data code that is indicative of a spacing between the servo head and the third tape section, the third patterned data code being different than the first patterned data code and the second patterned data code; the method further comprising the steps of moving the third tape section of the diagnostic tape across the servo head to generate third information; and estimating the actual spacing between the diagnostic tape and the servo head with a controller including a processor, the estimation of the actual spacing being based at least partially upon the third information.
22. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of providing further includes the diagnostic tape including a tape head cleaning section including material formed along a surface of the diagnostic tape; and wherein the method further comprises the step of moving the tape head cleaning section of the diagnostic tape across the tape head to clean the tape head.
23. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of providing includes the tape head cleaning section including one of abrasive material formed along the surface of the diagnostic tape, diamond-like abrasive material formed along the surface of the diagnostic tape, and wavy lapping tape.
24. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of providing includes positioning the first tape section adjacent to the second tape section along a length of the diagnostic tape, and positioning the tape head cleaning section after the first tape section and the second tape section along the length of the diagnostic tape.
25. The method of claim 24 wherein the step of providing includes (i) the first tape section and the second tape section comprising a first data block; (ii) the diagnostic tape further including a second data block including a plurality of second block tape sections, with each second block tape section having a different patterned data code that is indicative of a different spacing between the tape head and the respective second block tape section; and (iii) positioning the tape head cleaning section between the first data block and the second data block along the length of the diagnostic tape.
26. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of providing includes positioning the first tape section substantially adjacent to the second tape section along a length of the diagnostic tape.