Coarse actuator positioning algorithm

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016196845-A1
Application number	US-201615067094-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 10, 2016
Priority date	Jan 16, 2014
Publication date	Jul 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A computer program product for positioning an actuator, according to one embodiment, includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith. The computer readable storage medium is not a transitory signal per se. The program instructions are executable by a processing circuit to cause the processing circuit to perform a method that includes generating or receiving, by the processing circuit, a first value representative of a lateral position of a tape, and using, by the processing circuit, the first value to adjust a position of a coarse actuator for moving a magnetic head in response to determining that the first value is in a first range relative to a first threshold. An integrator value is used by the processing circuit to adjust the position of the coarse actuator in response to determining that the first value is in a second range relative to the first threshold.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A computer program product for positioning an actuator, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, wherein the computer readable storage medium is not a transitory signal per se, the program instructions executable by a processing circuit to cause the processing circuit to perform a method comprising:
generating or receiving, by the processing circuit, a first value representative of a lateral position of a tape; using, by the processing circuit, the first value to adjust a position of a coarse actuator for moving a magnetic head in response to determining that the first value is in a first range relative to a first threshold; and using, by the processing circuit, an integrator value to adjust the position of the coarse actuator in response to determining that the first value is in a second range relative to the first threshold.

2 . The computer program product as recited in claim 1 , wherein the integrator value is calculated using the first value.

3 . The computer program product as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first value is updated after each revolution of a supply reel.

4 . The computer program product as recited in claim 1 , wherein using the integrator value to adjust the position of the coarse actuator comprises calculating a target step based on the integrator value.

5 . The computer program product as recited in claim 1 , wherein the integrator value is calculated using the first value and a second value, the value corresponding to the tape being positioned toward a first flange of a supply reel, the second value being previously stored and corresponding to the tape being positioned toward a second flange of the supply reel opposite the first flange.

6 . The computer program product as recited in claim 1 , comprising program instructions executable by the processing circuit to cause the processing circuit to compare the integrator value to a second threshold, and determine whether or not to adjust the position of the coarse actuator based on the comparing of the integrator value to a second threshold.

7 . The computer program product as recited in claim 1 , wherein adjusting the position of the coarse actuator moves a magnetic head relative to a tape.

8 . An apparatus, comprising:
a magnetic head; the computer readable storage medium of claim 1 ; a processing circuit for executing the program instructions stored on the computer readable storage medium; and a drive mechanism for passing a magnetic data storage medium over the magnetic head.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Bui Nhan X
• Pantazi Angeliki
• Taketomi Tomoko

Classifications

• G11B5/56

  with provision for moving the head {support} for the purpose of adjusting the position of the head relative to the record carrier, e.g. manual adjustment for azimuth correction or track centering ({G11B5/52,} G11B5/54, G11B5/58 take precedence) · CPC title

• G11B5/584 Primary

  for track following on tapes · CPC title

• G11B5/00817

  on longitudinal tracks only, e.g. for serpentine format recording · CPC title

• G11B15/1883

  for record carriers inside containers · CPC title

• G11B15/602

  for track selection, acquisition or following · CPC title