Track-following in tape storage: Lateral tape motion and control

Angeliki Pantazi a, Jens Jelitto a, Nhan Bui b, Evangelos Eleftherioua
Mechatronics, Volume 22, Issue 3, April 2012

a IBM Research – Zurich, CH-8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland
bIBM Tucson, 9000 S. Rita Road, Tucson, AZ 85744, USA

Abstract

Achieving higher track densities in tape storage systems requires significant improvements in the track-following capabilities. The track-follow control system is used to reduce the misalignment between the tape and the recording head created by the lateral motion of the flexible medium. The characteristics of the lateral tape motion disturbance and their effect in the track-follow performance are identified. The effects from roller run-outs, reel eccentricities and tape paths with flangeless rollers are discussed. Control schemes are evaluated to improve the track-following capability and increase the track density on a magnetic tape.

Additional Information:

The amount of digital information that is generated, replicated and archived is increasing rapidly worldwide. Magnetic tape systems remain the preferred solution especially for archival applications providing reliable, low-cost and long-term data storage. Achieving multi-TeraByte capacities in tape cartridges requires a substantial increase in the track density of future tape drives and hence track- following servo control with a significantly higher positioning accuracy. The track-follow control system reduces the misalignment between the tape and the recording head created by the lateral motion of the flexible medium. In this paper, the characteristics of the lateral tape motion disturbance and their effect on the track-follow performance are identified and the effects from roller run-outs, reel eccentricities and tape paths with flangeless rollers discussed. Finally also control schemes to improve the track- following capability and increase the track density on a magnetic tape are evaluated.

Tape path with recording head and flangeless rollers

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