Patent ID: 6804072
Filing Date: 2004-10-12
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A recording head clogging detection method for detecting clogging of the recording head in a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus which carries out reproduction from a magnetic tape having an information signal recorded thereon by rotating and scanning a head in sequence, said signal being provided helically with respect to a longitudinal direction of said magnetic tape, the method comprising:recording a test signal on the magnetic tape by applying current with a frequency lower than an erasing frequency to an erasing head which erases an area on a magnetic tape for recording an information signal before said recording head records information in a recording track, for each recording track, every specified number of recording tracks or every specified time, at a timing when said erasing head traces a specific section of the area for recording an information signal in said recording track; and determining the presence or absence of clogging of said recording head by evaluating the reproduced test signal obtained by reproducing said test signal, which is recorded by said erasing head, by means of said recording head wherein when a track pitch is W (&mgr;m) and a difference in azimuth angle is &thgr;(radian) between said erasing head and said recording head, a wavelength &lgr;(&mgr;m) of said test signal is set longer than &lgr;=&pgr;W &thgr;/6.