Abstract:
A timing based servo alignment system that uses a set of band identification marks to determine which data band is being currently read. The system uses a read module having a plurality of band identification read elements. The band identification read elements are placed on the read module such that each band identification read element is aligned only to the band identification marks when a corresponding data band is aligned to the data read element.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to magnetic recording media, and more particularly to data band identification in timing based servo systems. 
   2. Background of the Invention 
   Current magnetic storage devices include multiple data tracks or bands on a single storage medium as a means of increasing storage density. Increasing the number of data bands on a tape (or other storage medium) requires a means of aligning a read write head with the proper data band. Failure to properly align a read write head can result in failure to access the correct data, or loss of data due to improper overwriting. 
   To achieve accurate alignment of read write heads to storage media, servo bands are prewritten on the medium. servo bands allow a read write head to determine the exact lateral position of the head relative to the medium. The position is determined by comparing the amplitude or phase responses of the signals generated from the respective servo tracks. 
   Timing based servo tracking often uses servo tracks with sloped magnetic transitions. The timing between two marks indicates the alignment of the read module. 
   Timing based servo patterns are an efficient means of determining fine alignment within a data band. However, locating and verifying which data band is read at a given time requires either modification of the servo patterns, which may not be a viable option. If all the servo patterns are identical, then additional information is required for differentiation of the data bands. Therefore, the art would benefit from a means of identifying data bands in such systems. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The system and method described herein enables data band identification while using identically patterned servo tracks. In a preferred embodiment, the innovative system includes a C-core type servo write head having etched half chevron patterns for timing based servo tracks and additional etched vertical marks for band identification. The band identification marks are vertical lines at the top and bottom of the servo write head, called upper and lower band ID marks. A write driver is used with the write head to record the pattern on a tape or other suitable medium. 
   Once recorded and wound into a data cartridge (for example), the band identification can take place with a read module in the drive. The read module preferably includes servo read elements to read the servo marks, band ID elements to read the band ID marks, and data read elements to read data. 
   When the read head is in a first position, a first band ID read element is aligned with the band ID marks near one edge of the tape. When the first band ID read element is thus aligned, servo read elements are aligned to the servo tracks around a first data band. Hence, when the first band ID element receives information consistent with the and ID marks, the data band being read is known. 
   When the read head is in a second position, a second band ID read element is aligned with the band ID marks. When this second band ID element is thus aligned, the servo read elements are aligned with servo tracks around a second data band. Hence, when the second band ID element receives data consistent with the band ID marks, the read element is known to be reading the second band of data. Data band identification is thereby achieved, requiring only one servo write head for the servo and band identification marks. 
   In a preferred embodiment, the read head is moved laterally relative to the tape by a head actuator, allowing placement of any given band ID element on the read head over the band ID marks on the medium. Band ID elements that are not positioned over the band ID marks and which therefore receive data that does not correlate to anticipated band ID data are ignored. There are preferably as many band ID read elements as there are data bands. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  shows a servo write head consistent with a preferred embodiment. 
       FIG. 2  shows a recorded servo pattern on a tape, consistent with a preferred embodiment. 
       FIG. 3  shows the positioning of a read module during practice of the present innovations. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Following is an example implementation of the innovations of the present application. The example is described with reference to the figures. Though specific materials, numbers, and other aspects are given, these only serve as examples for teaching the present innovations and are not intended to limit the invention, which is described by the claims. 
     FIG. 1  shows a c-core servo write head consistent with a preferred embodiment of the present innovations. Such a write head is described as it can be used to format magnetic storage media with the necessary servo marks and band identification marks for the practice of the present innovations. 
   The c-core head structure uses a large magnetic core structure which enables complex patterns to be etched into the surface of the write head. When a current is applied the patterns are all recorded simultaneously. This method is typically used, for example, to generate angled timing based servo patterns. 
   The innovative write head  100  shows upper band ID writer  102  and lower band ID writer  104 . These are shown at the top and bottom of the write head, respectively. The band ID writers make marks on a storage medium so that when the medium is read, the marks provide a reference for band ID read elements (see  FIG. 3 ) which are located on the read write head. When a given band ID element receives information consistent with the band ID marks, the data band being read by the read write head is known. This innovation is described further below. 
   Note that  FIG. 1  shows band ID writers at both the top and bottom of the write head. This is not necessarily the only way to implement the present innovations. Particularly, the present innovations include embodiments where only one band ID writer is necessary. This is described further below. 
     FIG. 1  also includes five sets of servo write elements  106 , which create the servo marks on the storage medium. The servo marks are used to maintain alignment of the read head to the storage medium. 
     FIG. 2  shows a magnetic storage medium which has the recorded servo pattern according to a preferred embodiment. This figures shows a section of a magnetic tape  200 . At the top of the figure, upper band ID marks  202  are shown. Lower band ID marks  204  are also shown at the bottom of the tape  200 . The band ID marks are preferably perpendicular to the direction of motion of the tape. Servo tracks  206  are also shown. In this example, there are five sets of servo tracks  206  which form four data bands  208 . Of course it should be noted that more or less data bands are possible by adding or removing servo tracks or by considering a data band to be governed by a group of three servo bands rather than just one or two. Likewise, only one band ID track is necessary in some implementations, described below. 
     FIG. 3  shows a top portion of the magnetic tape  200  with servo tracks  206  and band ID marks  202 , and a top portion of a read module  300  from a read write head. In this figure, the read module  300  is shown in two different positions, an upper position (where the read module  300  is aligned to read data band  1 ) and a lower position (where the read module  300  is aligned to read data band  2 ). Also shown on the read module are first band ID read elements  302 , second band ID read elements  304 , servo read elements  306 , and data read elements  308 . 
   When in the first position (upper module in the figure), the read module  300  is aligned so that band ID read element  302  is aligned with the band ID marks  202  on the magnetic tape. In such an alignment, only band ID read element  302  receives the known band ID mark data from the storage tape  200 . This allows for band identification while data band  1  is read. Band ID read element  304  receives no data or data inconsistent with the ID mark data, and is ignored. 
   When band ID read element  304  receives band ID mark data by reading band ID marks  202 , the read module  300  is in a known position, i.e., data read element  306  is aligned to read data from data band  1   208 . Meanwhile, servo read elements  306  are positioned over the servo tracks  206  on either side of data band one  208 . 
   To switch data bands  208  being read, the entire head structure  300  is moved down (in this example) using a head actuator (not shown) until it is aligned with the desired data band  208  (for example, data band  2 ). This places the head structure in a position allowing band ID read element  304  to read the band ID marks  202  on tape  200 . At this time, band ID read element  302  is reading data from another region which does not contain the data of band ID marks  202 . Since this data does not correlate with the anticipated band ID signal, the data, and read element  302 , are ignored. 
   Hence, when a first band ID read element  302  receives a band ID signal, data band  1  is read by the data read element  308 . when a second band ID read element  304  receives a band ID signal, data band  2  is read by the data read element  308 . 
   This system can of course be extended to a large number of data bands by adding corresponding band ID read elements to the top of the read module  300 . 
   Though the above examples describe a single data band identification track on the storage medium, the present innovations can also be implemented with more data band identification tracks on the storage medium. This variation of the present ideas allows for different reading options of the storage medium as well. For example, if the servo write head has two band ID writers, one at the top edge of a tape (for example) and one at the bottom, the resulting tape would have a band identification track above and below the outermost servo stripes, respectively. This would allow a read module to have band ID read elements on both ends, positioned on the read module so that only one band ID read element is ever properly aligned with a band identification track at a time. Alternatively, two read modules could be used, each with only one band identification read element. In this case, the two read modules would preferably be oriented so that one has its band ID read element at the “top” of the tape, the other at the “bottom” of the tape, so that only one read module would be aligned at any given time. By combining the concepts of multiple data band identification tracks on the storage medium and multiple band ID read elements or multiple read modules, it can be seen that a wide array of implementations of the present innovations are possible. 
   It should also be noted that the band ID marks need not be only at the top or edge of a storage medium, but can also be interspersed between data bands, for example. 
   Of course, the above examples referring to a magnetic tape as the storage medium are not intended to limit the application of these ideas to tapes only. The present innovations are also capable of being implemented on disk storage or other storage methods or media. 
   Though the preferred embodiments have been described distinguishing between the data read elements and the band identification elements, a configuration where some read elements serve both as band ID elements and data read elements is consistent with the present innovations. In such a case, a read element would serve as both a band identification read element, and as a data read element, depending on its position relative to the tape. 
   The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, and is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention, the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.