Patent ID: 7558018

Claim:
A system comprising: a light source; a detector configured to receive signals from the light source; a transducer that reads signals from a magnetic tape; a plurality of structures coupled to the transducer and configured to pass in opposition to the detector; a stepping motor; and circuitry configured to determine whether or not a light signal is received by the detector; if the light signal is received, command the stepping motor to move the transducer incrementally in a first direction; if the light signal is interrupted by moving the transducer within a first distance, command the stepping motor to move the transducer in a direction opposite the first direction until the light signal has been continuously received across more than the first distance; if the light signal is not interrupted by moving the transducer within the first distance, continue to command the stepping motor to move the transducer incrementally in a first direction until the light signal is interrupted; and if the first determining step determines that the light signal is not received, command the stepping motor to move the transducer incrementally in a direction opposite the first direction.