Servo Signal Synchronization for Thin Magnetic Tape Recording
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The reduction in magnetic tape thickness to increase recording capacity leads to a decline in servo signal output and signal-to-noise ratio, affecting the precision of tracking servo control.
Innovation Solution
An information recording apparatus with multiple servo heads aligned in the width direction of the tape, utilizing delay and addition circuits to synchronize servo signal peaks and control delay times, enhancing the servo signal output and signal-to-noise ratio.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the thickness of the magnetic tape is reduced to increase recording capacity, then the recording capacity increases, but the servo signal output and signal-to-noise ratio decline
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the servo signals from multiple servo heads (first servo head and second servo head) through addition processing. This merging of signals from multiple sources increases the overall servo signal output and improves the signal-to-noise ratio, resolving the degradation caused by reduced magnetic layer thickness while maintaining the high recording capacity enabled by thin tape.
2Quantity of substance
If the thickness of the magnetic tape is reduced to increase recording capacity, then the recording capacity increases, but the precision of tracking servo control drops
Solution Approach 1:
By adding the servo signals from multiple servo heads, the patent enhances the overall signal strength and signal-to-noise ratio. This improved signal quality directly supports more precise tracking servo control, allowing the system to maintain high positioning accuracy despite the reduced magnetic layer thickness that enables increased recording capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension to the signal processing by delaying one of the servo signals before addition. This time-based adjustment allows for optimal alignment and constructive interference of the combined signals, maximizing the servo output and precision without requiring increased magnetic layer thickness.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus improves servo signal output and signal-to-noise ratio, maintaining precision in tracking servo control even with a thin magnetic layer, thereby increasing recording capacity without compromising precision.
Implementation Method 1
In the magnetic servo system, servo tracking is carried out by magnetically recording servo signals in a magnetic layer of the magnetic tape and magnetically reading the servo signals
Data Source
AI summary
The information recording apparatus of the present invention includes N servo heads. Servo signals outputted respectively from the servo heads are delayed by a delay circuit such that the peaks of the waveforms of the servo signals coincide with each other. The delayed servo signals are added up by an adder. Thus, the output level of the servo signal can be increased by N times and the S/N ratio of the servo signal can be also increased by √N times. As a result, the precision of PES improves and the amount of off-track can be reduced. Therefore, even if a magnetic layer in magnetic tape has a small thickness, it is possible to prevent the decline of the output level of the servo signal and the S/N ratio.