Patent ID: 7102847

Claim:
A linear data storage tape having servo information, comprising: a plurality of separate servo bands comprising at least one pattern of detectable transitions positioned longitudinally along said linear data storage tape, at least one of which detectable transitions is non-parallel to another detectable transition in said pattern; and said separate servo bands positioned laterally across said linear data storage tape; and said patterns of said separate servo bands are laterally aligned, and at least one of said patterns of a separate said servo band having at least one differentiating characteristic with respect to at least one of said laterally aligned patterns of another of said separate servo bands; wherein said laterally aligned patterns comprise a plurality of gaps between said detectable transitions; and wherein said at least one differentiating characteristic comprises variations in said gaps of said laterally aligned patterns of said separate servo bands, said variations in said gaps comprise at least one expanded gap offset by at least one narrowed gap in a pattern, such that said laterally aligned separate patterns of said separate servo bands maintain said lateral alignment; and wherein said detectable transitions of a pattern are arranged in a first burst of at least one of said detectable transitions in a first azimuthal orientation, a second burst of at least one of said detectable transitions in a second azimuthal orientation, a third burst of at least one of said detectable transitions in said first azimuthal orientation, and a fourth burst of at least one of said detectable transitions in said second azimuthal orientation, and first gaps separating said first and said second bursts and separating said third and said fourth bursts, and second gaps separating said second and said third bursts and separating a sequentially adjacent said pattern; and wherein said differentiating characteristic comprises an expanded one of a set of said first gaps and a set of said second gaps and narrowed one of a set of said second gaps and a set of said first gaps, such that said laterally aligned separate patterns of said separate servo bands maintain said lateral alignment.