Patent ID: 6469860
Filing Date: 2002-10-22
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A system for accessing magnetic tape comprising:a carriage frame; a magnetic tape head operative to read from and write to the magnetic tape as the tape passes in close proximity to the tape head; a drive mechanism operative to move the tape head in a transverse direction with respect to the carriage frame in response to a control signal, the transverse direction normal to a direction of tape travel across the tape head and parallel to the tape surface; a linear velocity tachometer operative to determine a velocity signal based on the movement in the transverse direction of the tape head relative to the carriage frame; and a control logic in communication with the drive mechanism and the tachometer, the control logic operative to (a) receive a command to move the tape head in the transverse direction, (b) generate a control signal to change the head position, and (c) modify the control signal to dampen tape head oscillations relative to the carriage frame based on the velocity signal.