Optical Tape Servomark Formatting for Track Identification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing optical tape formatting methods do not reliably incorporate track and block number information, which is essential for accurate tracking and data retrieval, without disrupting the servomark pattern necessary for tracking error signals.

Innovation Solution

The method involves omitting certain servomarks during the formatting process to embed track and block number information, maintaining the regularity of the servomark pattern and ensuring reliable tracking and data retrieval, while allowing for one-step formatting without additional processing steps.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If track and block number information is added to the servo mark pattern, then data retrieval reliability is improved, but the regularity of the servo mark pattern is disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata retrieval reliabilityVSAvoidservo mark pattern regularity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts specific servo marks from the regular sequence at predetermined intervals to encode track and block number information. By removing rather than adding marks, the patent maintains the overall regularity of the servo mark pattern while embedding identification information, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability improvement and pattern stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If track and block number information is embedded in the servo mark pattern, then tracking position error information reliability is improved, but the formatting process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking position error information reliabilityVSAvoidformatting process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the function of tracking error signaling with track and block identification into a single servo mark pattern. By combining these functions rather than creating separate systems, the patent improves tracking reliability without proportionally increasing formatting process complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs track and block number encoding during the initial formatting process, before actual data recording begins. This preliminary action ensures that tracking position error information is reliable from the start, and eliminates the need for separate formatting steps, thus not increasing overall process complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of information

If certain servomarks are omitted to encode track and block numbers, then information embedding capability is improved, but the frequency of servomarks is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation embedding capabilityVSAvoidservomark frequency

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial omission of servo marks, removing only specific marks at predetermined intervals rather than reducing the entire servo mark frequency. This partial action provides sufficient information embedding capability for track and block identification while maintaining adequate servo mark frequency for reliable tracking error signals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS7646694B2Methods and systems for providing data track identifying information on a recording medium

Publication Date: 2010.01.12 OPTERNITY STORAGE

AI summary

A method and system for formatting of recording media.