Patent ID: 7078627

Claim:
A tape drive, comprising: a stationary base; a moveable head; a ribbon cable, connecting the stationary base to the moveable head, wherein the ribbon cable comprises: first and second orthogonal segments at opposed ends of the ribbon cable, wherein one orthogonal segment is attached to the stationary base and one orthogonal segment is attached to the moveable head; and a diagonal segment connecting the first and second orthogonal segments, wherein diagonal travel of the diagonal segment compensates for an offset by which the first orthogonal segment is offset from the second orthogonal segment, and wherein the diagonal segment forms a offset rolling loop comprising a partial spiral turn; a voice coil configured to move the moveable head; and a control procedure configured to send a calibrated control signal to the voice coil and to thereby induce movement in the movable head wherein the calibration adjusts the control signal according to a shape of turns providing transition between the first and second orthogonal segments and the diagonal segment.