Patent ID: 7382712
Filing Date: 2008-06-03
Classification: B82Y,G11B

Abstract:
1. A method for positioning a scanning probe on a target track of a multi-track storage medium, the method comprising: using a plurality of data field probes to simultaneously scan tracks in a plurality of distinct data fields disposed on the storage medium; using a servo field probe mechanically coupled to the plurality of data field probes to scan tracks in a servo field simultaneously with the data field scans, the servo field separate from the data fields; reading a current track on which the servo field probe is currently positioned, the current track disposed in the servo field comprising a plurality of tracks, each track comprising a binary data vector, each binary data vector comprising a plurality of repetitions of a binary sequence representing a synchronization pattern, a plurality of repetitions of a unique binary sequence representing a track identification for the track containing that binary data vector and a plurality of repetitions of a buffer pattern, each repetition of the track identification in the binary data vector preceded by the synchronization pattern; determining cross-track information by comparing a target track identifier to the track identification for the current track; positioning the servo field probe based on the cross-track information; and using the mechanical coupling between the servo field probe and the plurality of data field probes to position the plurality of data field probes on data field tracks corresponding to the positioning of the servo field probe of the servo field tracks.