IBM Assigned Three Patents

Reading method for linear tape open
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (9,177,571) developed by Cherubini, Giovanni, Furrer, Simeon, Jelitto, Jens, and Lantz, Mark A., Rueschlikon, Switzerland, for a “reading method for linear tape open.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”In a method for operating a tape storage system, readback signals are simultaneously received from a set of data readers reading from data tracks of a set of adjacent data tracks extending along a longitudinal extension of a tape storage medium, wherein each data track of the set has a width and each data reader of the set has a width equal to or less than the width of a data track. Simultaneously to receiving the readback signals from the set of data readers readback signals are received from a servo reader arrangement containing at least one servo reader arranged laterally offset from one of the data readers by less than the width of a data track. At least one of lateral position, velocity, gain and timing information is determined dependent on the readback signals of each servo reader in the servo reader arrangement.“

The patent application was filed on September 17, 2014 (14/488,551).

Recording medium having independent track for velocity, timing and/or longitudinal position
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (9,171,563) developed by Biskeborn, Robert G., Hollister, CA, for a “recording medium having independent track for velocity, timing and/or longitudinal position.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”A product according to one embodiment includes a magnetic recording tape having at least one first servo track having timing information, and a supplemental servo track having at least one of: velocity encoding and longitudinal position encoding. An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a magnetic head and at least one module having an array of transducers. The apparatus is configured to read and/or write to magnetic recording media having at least one first servo track having timing information, and a supplemental servo track having at least one of: velocity encoding and longitudinal position encoding.“

The patent application was filed on September 30, 2014 (14/503,286).

High density timing based servo format
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (9,165,600) developed by Biskeborn, Robert G., Hollister, CA, and Lantz, Mark A., Adliswil, CA, for a “high density timing based servo format.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”A product according to one embodiment includes a magnetic recording tape having opposite ends and at least one servo track, a longitudinal axis of the magnetic recording tape being defined between the ends. The at least one servo track has a plurality of first magnetic bars and a plurality of second magnetic bars. A width of each of the at least one servo track is defined in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the magnetic recording tape between sides of the servo track, the sides of each servo track extending along ends of the first magnetic bars. Lengths of the second magnetic bars between outermost ends thereof are less than the width of the associated servo track.“

The patent application was filed on November 6, 2014 (14/535,251).