Patent ID: 7489465
Filing Date: 2009-02-10
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus to format a timing-based servo pattern, the apparatus comprising: a first write head comprising at least four write elements configured to each concurrently write a stripe to a magnetic tape, wherein in response to at least one first write signal a first and third write element write a base number of stripes to a plurality of first stripe patterns, a second and fourth write element write the base number of stripes to a plurality of second stripe patterns; and a second write head comprising a read element configured to detect a stripe written by the first write head and at least two write elements configured to each concurrently write a stripe to the magnetic tape, wherein in response to detecting the written stripe a fifth write element writes an incremental number of stripes to a specified first stripe pattern of the plurality of stripe patterns to form a first incremental stripe pattern and a sixth write element writes the incremental number of stripes to a specified second stripe pattern of the plurality of second stripe patterns to form a second incremental stripe pattern.