Patent ID: 6233109
Filing Date: 2001-05-15
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A magnetic tape drive comprising:a head assembly having two read heads for reading longitudinally extending data tracks of a magnetic tape, each of the two read heads generating respective read data signals in response to reading the data tracks, each of the read data signals containing information regarding the identity of the data tracks being read by the two read heads, wherein the head assembly laterally moves with respect to the data tracks such that at least one of the two read heads reads a desired data track as the magnetic tape moves across the head assembly; anda controller for selecting one of the two read data signals generated by the read heads to generate a read back signal, wherein the controller processes the read data signals to determine the identity of the data tracks being read by the two read heads, wherein the controller selects the one of the two read data signals to generate the read back signal by comparing the identity of the data tracks being read by the two read heads with the identity of the desired data track to determine the at least one of the two read heads reading the desired data track, wherein the read back signal is the read data signal from the at least one of the two read heads reading the desired data track.