Patent ID: 8139312

Claim:
A method of timing within a timing based servo band arranged in a sequence of frames having sub-frames with non-parallel servo stripes in sequentially adjacent sub-frames of a linear tape, said timing based servo band sensed by a servo read head having a sensing width less than the width of said timing based servo band, said servo read head and said timing based servo band moved relative to each other in the longitudinal direction, comprising: determining a first time interval (A) of said servo read head between a first pair of non-parallel servo stripes of a sub-frame; determining a second time interval (B) of said servo read head between a second pair of parallel servo stripes of sequentially adjacent sub-frames, said second pair of servo stripes comprising one servo stripe of said first pair; determining a third time interval (C) of said servo read head between a third pair of non-parallel servo stripes intermediate said first time intervals (A), said servo stripes of said sequentially adjacent sub-frames, said third pair of servo stripes comprising one servo stripe of said first pair, wherein said third time interval (C) third pair of servo stripes comprise a second servo stripe of said first pair, and a first servo stripe of a sequentially succeeding first pair; and generating position signals that are a function of said first and second time intervals, and that are a function of said third and second time intervals, said position signals related to a lateral position of said servo read head with respect to said servo band.