Patent ID: 6842304
Filing Date: 2005-01-11
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
1. A system for determining the width of a foreground magnetic track signal written longitudinally on a magnetic tape having a background signal, said foreground magnetic track signal comprising a signal dissimilar to said background signal, comprising: a magnetic tape read head; a servo system for moving a magnetic tape read head laterally with respect to said longitudinally written foreground magnetic track signal as said magnetic tape is moved longitudinally with respect to said magnetic tape read head, such that said magnetic tape read head may read said foreground magnetic track signal and may read said background signal; said lateral movement such that said magnetic tape read head is moved at least once entirely laterally to one side of and off of one edge of said foreground magnetic track signal, laterally across said foreground magnetic track signal, and entirely laterally to the opposite side of and off of the opposite edge of said foreground magnetic track signal; whereby said magnetic tape read head reads said dissimilar signals; an independent position sensor for detecting lateral positions of said moving magnetic tape read head; and logic for receiving detected signals from said magnetic read head, and from said independent position sensor, said logic: