IP Library Granted Patent US 11,289,123
Granted Patent B2
US 11,289,123 · App. 17/350,882 · Granted Mar 29, 2022

Magnetic recording tape having embedded servo sectors on data tracks

Inventors: Richard L. Galbraith (Rochester, MN); Weldon M. Hanson (Rochester, MN); Derrick E. Burton (Ladera Ranch, CA); Niranjay Ravindran (Rochester, MN); Iouri Oboukhov (Rochester, MN)
Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
G11B5/588G11B5/00817G11B5/3961G11B5/5543G11B5/581G11B5/584
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,289,123
App. No.
17/350,882
Granted
Mar 29, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

An external servo writer configured to write a plurality of embedded servo sectors on a magnetic tape to define a plurality of data tracks is disclosed. A first part of the plurality of embedded servo sectors is written while controlling an actuator to first move a head vertically along a width of the magnetic tape. A second part of the plurality of embedded servo sectors is written while controlling the actuator to second move the head vertically along the width of the magnetic tape.

Claims (36)

1. An external servo writer configured to write a plurality of embedded servo sectors on a magnetic tape to define a plurality of data tracks, wherein the external servo writer comprises:

an actuator configured to move at least one head relative to the magnetic tape; and

control circuitry configured to:

write a first part of the plurality of embedded servo sectors while controlling the actuator to first move the head vertically along a width of the magnetic tape; and

write a second part of the plurality of embedded servo sectors while controlling the actuator to second move the head vertically along the width of the magnetic tape.

2. The external servo writer as recited in claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a rotating drum comprising the at least one head.

3. The external servo writer as recited in claim 2 , wherein the rotating drum comprises a plurality of heads distributed around a circumference of the drum.

4. The external servo writer as recited in claim 3 , wherein during a rotation of the drum the control circuitry is further configured to:

write the first part of the plurality of embedded servo sectors using a first one of the heads; and

write the second part of the plurality of embedded servo sectors using a second one of the heads.

5. The external servo writer as recited in claim 1 , wherein:

the first part of the plurality of embedded servo sectors comprises a first bit of each embedded servo sector; and

the second part of the plurality of embedded servo sectors comprises a second bit of each embedded servo sector.

6. The external servo writer as recited in claim 5 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to shingle write the second bit so as to at least partially overlap the first bit.

7. The external servo writer as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of embedded servo sectors define data tracks in a longitudinal direction along a length of the magnetic tape.

8. The external servo writer as recited in claim 7 , wherein the servo sectors are written at an angle relative to the data tracks, wherein the angle is in a range of 1 degree to 90 degrees.

9. The external servo writer as recited in claim 7 , wherein the at least one head is configured to write the plurality of embedded servo sectors using perpendicular magnetic recording.

10. An external servo writer configured to write a plurality of embedded servo sectors on a magnetic tape to define a plurality of data tracks, wherein the external servo writer comprises:

a rotating drum comprising at least one head; and

control circuitry configured to rotate the drum to in order to first move the head vertically along a width of the magnetic tape in order to write a first part of the plurality of embedded servo sectors.

11. The external servo writer as recited in claim 10 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to rotate the drum to in order to second move the head vertically along the width of the magnetic tape in order to write a second part of the plurality of embedded servo sectors.

12. The external servo writer as recited in claim 11 , wherein the rotating drum comprises a plurality of heads distributed around a circumference of the drum.

13. The external servo writer as recited in claim 12 , wherein during a rotation of the drum the control circuitry is further configured to:

write the first part of the plurality of embedded servo sectors using a first one of the heads; and

write the second part of the plurality of embedded servo sectors using a second one of the heads.

14. The external servo writer as recited in claim 11 , wherein:

the first part of the plurality of embedded servo sectors comprises a first bit of each embedded servo sector; and

the second part of the plurality of embedded servo sectors comprises a second bit of each embedded servo sector.

15. The external servo writer as recited in claim 14 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to shingle write the second bit so as to at least partially overlap the first bit.

16. The external servo writer as recited in claim 10 , wherein the plurality of embedded servo sectors define data tracks in a longitudinal direction along a length of the magnetic tape.

17. The external servo writer as recited in claim 16 , wherein the servo sectors are written at an angle relative to the data tracks, wherein the angle is in a range of 1 degree to 90 degrees.

18. The external servo writer as recited in claim 16 , wherein the at least one head is configured to write the plurality of embedded servo sectors using perpendicular magnetic recording.

19. An external servo writer configured to write a plurality of embedded servo sectors on a magnetic tape to define a plurality of data tracks, wherein the external servo writer comprises:

a means for moving at least one head relative to the magnetic tape;

a means for writing a first part of the plurality of embedded servo sectors to the magnetic tape while controlling the means for moving the at least one head to first move the head vertically along a width of the magnetic tape; and

a means for writing a second part of the plurality of embedded servo sectors to the magnetic tape while controlling the means for moving the at least one head to second move the head vertically along the width of the magnetic tape.

Assignments (5)
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT - DDTL LOAN AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 21, 2023
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 067045/0156 →
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT - A&R LOAN AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 21, 2023
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 064715/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 057651 FRAME 0296 Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 058981/0958 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 17, 2021
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 057651/0296 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 17, 2021
From: GALBRAITH, RICHARD L.; HANSON, WELDON M.; BURTON, DERRICK E.; RAVINDRAN, NIRANJAY; OBOUKHOV, IOURI
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 057328/0070 →
Continuity (2)
Division 16870612 · May 8, 2020
Related Publication 20210350825A1 · Nov 11, 2021