JP7371061B2 - Magnetic tape cartridges, magnetic tape drives, magnetic tape systems, and methods of operating magnetic tape drives - Google Patents

Description

The technology of the present disclosure relates to a magnetic tape cartridge, a magnetic tape drive, a magnetic tape system, and a method of operating a magnetic tape drive.

A magnetic tape cartridge that stores a magnetic tape is equipped with a cartridge memory that stores information. Patent Document 1 describes that information at the time of recording data in a magnetic tape drive is stored in a cartridge memory, and the information is read from the cartridge memory and referred to when reading data. The information includes information on the tension applied to the running magnetic tape during data recording.

Patent Document 2 discloses a cartridge case that accommodates a magnetic tape, and information provided in the cartridge case before recording data on the magnetic tape to adjust the width of the magnetic tape when recording data on the magnetic tape or when reproducing data. A cartridge is disclosed that includes a memory for storing information for.

Patent No. 6669326 Patent No. 6669302

A magnetic tape cartridge is used by being loaded into a magnetic tape drive. A magnetic tape drive is provided with a head. The head reads and writes data on a magnetic tape pulled out from a magnetic tape cartridge within a magnetic tape drive. In order to accurately read and write data to a specified track on a magnetic tape, it is necessary to use tracking control to accurately align the position of the magnetic element in the head with respect to the track position in the width direction of the magnetic tape. There is.

Tracking control is realized by using multiple servo patterns and multiple servo reading elements. A plurality of servo patterns are formed on a magnetic tape, and a plurality of servo reading elements are mounted on a head. In a magnetic tape, multiple servo patterns are formed along the entire length of the magnetic tape at positions spaced apart in the width direction of the magnetic tape, and multiple servo reading elements in the head correspond to multiple servo patterns. It is arranged so that In order to improve tracking control, it is necessary as a premise to accurately match the positions of the plurality of servo reading elements and the plurality of servo patterns.

However, the size of the magnetic tape in the width direction depends on the stress applied to the magnetic tape when it is wound around a reel in a magnetic tape cartridge, the environment in which the magnetic tape is stored, and/or the magnetic tape when it is not in use. It changes depending on the time it is saved, etc. Furthermore, there are variations among the heads due to manufacturing errors and/or changes over time, and there are also variations in the distance between the plurality of servo reading elements.

One embodiment of the technology of the present disclosure provides a magnetic field that can contribute to correcting the positional relationship between a plurality of servo bands and a plurality of servo reading elements even if the distances between the plurality of servo reading elements vary. A tape cartridge, a magnetic tape drive, a magnetic tape system, and a method of operating a magnetic tape drive are provided.

A first aspect of the technology of the present disclosure is a magnetic tape cartridge that includes a case that accommodates a magnetic tape on which a plurality of servo bands are formed, and a storage medium provided in the case. The servo bands are formed along the entire length of the magnetic tape at positions spaced apart in the width direction of the magnetic tape, and the storage medium stores pitch information capable of specifying pitches in the width direction of the plurality of servo bands, and a plurality of servo bands. This is a magnetic tape cartridge that stores distance information that can specify the distance between a plurality of servo reading elements that have read servo bands.

A second aspect of the technology of the present disclosure is a data reading device for a magnetic head that includes at least one data reading element group that reads data from a magnetic tape and at least one data recording element group that records data on the magnetic tape. A plurality of servo reading elements are provided for each of the element group and the data recording element group, and the storage medium is a first servo reading element that stores distance information for each of the data reading element group and the data recording element group. 1 is a magnetic tape cartridge according to an embodiment.

A third aspect according to the technology of the present disclosure is the magnetic tape cartridge according to the second aspect, in which the storage medium stores pitch information for each of the data reading element group and the data recording element group.

A fourth aspect according to the technology of the present disclosure is the magnetic tape cartridge according to the second aspect, in which the storage medium stores distance information and pitch information for either the data reading element group or the data recording element group.

A fifth aspect according to the technology of the present disclosure is any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the storage medium stores pitch information about pitches at a plurality of locations spaced apart over the entire length of the magnetic tape. 1 is a magnetic tape cartridge according to one embodiment.

A sixth aspect according to the technology of the present disclosure is a magnetic tape cartridge according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, in which the distance information includes information indicating distance.

A seventh aspect of the technology of the present disclosure is that head identification information that can identify a head on which a plurality of servo reading elements are mounted includes information indicating the distances of the plurality of servo reading elements mounted on the head. A magnetic tape cartridge according to any one of the associated first to sixth aspects.

An eighth aspect according to the technology of the present disclosure is one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the storage medium includes a built-in memory of a contactless communication medium in which data is read and written in a contactless manner by a contactless read/write device. A magnetic tape cartridge according to any one of the aspects.

In a ninth aspect of the technology of the present disclosure, the pitch is determined based on the results of reading a plurality of servo bands by a plurality of servo reading elements before data is recorded on a magnetic tape by a magnetic tape drive. This is a magnetic tape cartridge according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, in which is measured.

A tenth aspect of the technology of the present disclosure is a magnetic tape cartridge including a case in which a magnetic tape on which a plurality of servo bands are formed, and a storage medium provided in the case, The servo bands are formed along the entire length of the magnetic tape at positions spaced apart in the width direction of the magnetic tape, and the storage medium stores pitch information that can specify the widthwise pitches of the plurality of servo bands. , pitch information is distance information that is not stored in the storage medium, and is a value calculated based on the distance information that can specify the distance between a plurality of servo reading elements that read a plurality of servo bands. It is a magnetic tape cartridge.

An eleventh aspect of the technology of the present disclosure is to obtain a result of reading a plurality of servo bands by a plurality of servo reading elements and a plurality of servo bands before data is recorded on a magnetic tape by a magnetic tape drive. This is a magnetic tape cartridge according to a tenth aspect, in which the pitch is calculated based on the distance between servo reading elements.

A twelfth aspect according to the technology of the present disclosure is the magnetic tape cartridge according to the ninth aspect or the eleventh aspect, in which pitches are obtained for each of a plurality of positions in the width direction within a plurality of servo bands.

A thirteenth aspect of the technology of the present disclosure provides a plurality of positions in the width direction within a plurality of servo bands and a plurality of positions between a pair of magnetized regions forming a servo pattern formed in each of the plurality of servo bands. The magnetic tape cartridge according to the twelfth aspect, wherein the pitch at each position of the plurality of servo reading elements specified using servo pattern distance information that correlates the distance in the overall length direction of the magnetic tape at the position is obtained. .

A fourteenth aspect according to the technology of the present disclosure is the magnetic tape cartridge according to any one of the first to thirteenth aspects, in which the storage medium includes a partial area of a magnetic tape.

A fifteenth aspect according to the technology of the present disclosure is a tension applying mechanism loaded with the magnetic tape cartridge according to any one of the first to fourteenth aspects and applying tension to the magnetic tape; This magnetic tape drive includes a control device that controls a tension applying mechanism to adjust tension according to pitch information and distance information stored in a storage medium.

A sixteenth aspect according to the technology of the present disclosure is a magnetic tape system, which includes the magnetic tape cartridge according to any one of the first to fourteenth aspects, and applying tension to the magnetic tape. This magnetic tape system includes a tension applying mechanism and a control device that controls the tension applying mechanism to adjust tension according to pitch information and distance information stored in a storage medium.

A seventeenth aspect of the technology of the present disclosure is to acquire pitch information and distance information from a storage medium included in a magnetic tape cartridge according to any one of the first to fourteenth aspects; A tension applying mechanism that applies tension to the tape is controlled to adjust the tension applied to the magnetic tape according to pitch information and distance information when performing at least one of a recording operation and a reading operation on the magnetic tape. A method of operating a magnetic tape drive, including:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a magnetic tape system. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the external appearance of a magnetic tape cartridge. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the structure of the right rear end inside the lower case of the magnetic tape cartridge. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing an example of a support member provided on the inner surface of the lower case of the magnetic tape cartridge. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a magnetic tape drive. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a mode in which a magnetic field is emitted from the bottom side of a magnetic tape cartridge by a non-contact reading/writing device. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a mode in which a magnetic field is applied from a non-contact reading/writing device to a cartridge memory in a magnetic tape cartridge. FIG. 2 is a schematic bottom view showing an example of the structure of the back surface of a substrate of a cartridge memory in a magnetic tape cartridge. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing an example of the structure of the surface of a substrate of a cartridge memory in a magnetic tape cartridge. FIG. 2 is a schematic circuit diagram showing an example of a circuit configuration of a cartridge memory in a magnetic tape cartridge. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the electrical hardware configuration of a computer including an IC chip mounted in a cartridge memory in a magnetic tape cartridge. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an electrical hardware configuration of a magnetic tape drive. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of an electrical hardware configuration of a host computer. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of an enlarged aspect of a part of the surface of a magnetic tape. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of the configuration of a data band formed on the surface of a magnetic tape. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of the correspondence between data magnetic elements and data tracks. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the specific example of a structure of a data magnetic element, and the specific example of a structure of a servo reading element. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a manner in which the width of a magnetic tape decreases over time. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of the relationship between three servo reading elements and the functions of an ASIC of a magnetic tape drive. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a servo pattern. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of an ideal servo pattern and an actual servo pattern. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of servo pattern distance information. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a manner in which pitch information is stored in NVM of a cartridge memory. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of pitch information. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a manner in which distance information is stored in NVM of a cartridge memory. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the functions of an ASIC of a magnetic tape drive. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the functions of a CPU of a host computer. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of processing performed by a magnetic tape drive and a host computer. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of processing for controlling a feed motor and a take-up motor so that the width of the magnetic tape corresponds to the distance between servo reading elements related to the magnetic head mounted on the magnetic tape drive. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of servo reading element distance derivation processing executed by the CPU of the host computer. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of tape width control processing executed by an ASIC of a magnetic tape drive. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a mode in which pitch information, distance information, and servo pattern distance information are written in a BOT area. FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a mode in which pitch information, distance information, and servo pattern distance information stored in a cartridge memory are written to a BOT area. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a mode in which a plurality of pieces of distance information are stored in NVM. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a manner in which a plurality of pieces of pitch information are stored in NVM. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a manner in which distance information and pitch information corresponding to a reading element group are stored in an NVM.

Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of a magnetic tape cartridge, a magnetic tape drive, a magnetic tape system, and a method of operating a magnetic tape drive according to the technology of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, the words used in the following explanation will be explained.

CPU is an abbreviation for "Central Processing Unit." RAM is an abbreviation for "Random Access Memory." DRAM is an abbreviation for "Dynamic Random Access Memory." SRAM is an abbreviation for "Static Random Access Memory." NVM is an abbreviation for "Non-Volatile Memory." ROM is an abbreviation for "Read Only Memory." EEPROM is an abbreviation for "Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory." SSD is an abbreviation for "Solid State Drive." HDD is an abbreviation for "Hard Disk Drive." ASIC is an abbreviation for "Application Specific Integrated Circuit." PLD is an abbreviation for "Programmable Logic Device." FPGA is an abbreviation for "Field-Programmable Gate Array." SoC is an abbreviation for "System-on-a-Chip." IC is an abbreviation for "Integrated Circuit." RFID is an abbreviation for "Radio Frequency Identifier." LTO is an abbreviation for "Linear Tape-Open." IBM is an abbreviation for "International Business Machines Corporation." ID is an abbreviation for “Identification Data”. BOT is an abbreviation for "Beginning Of Tape." EOT is an abbreviation for "End Of Tape". LAN is an abbreviation for "Local Area Network." WAN is an abbreviation for "Wide Area Network." SAN is an abbreviation for "Storage Area Network." I/F is an abbreviation for "Interface". MFM is an abbreviation for "Magnetic Force Microscope". SEM is an abbreviation for "Scanning Electron Microscope". QR is an abbreviation for "Quick Response".

As shown in FIG. 1 as an example, a magnetic tape system 2 includes a host computer 4, a magnetic tape cartridge 10, and a plurality of magnetic tape drives 30. The magnetic tape cartridge 10 is loaded into the magnetic tape drive 30. The magnetic tape cartridge 10 accommodates a magnetic tape MT. The magnetic tape drive 30 pulls out the magnetic tape MT from the loaded magnetic tape drive 30, and records data on the magnetic tape MT or reads data from the magnetic tape MT while running the pulled out magnetic tape MT. do.

The host computer 4 is connected to a plurality of magnetic tape drives 30 via a communication network 6 (for example, LAN, WAN, and/or SAN), and exchanges various information with each magnetic tape drive 30. . Note that although the example shown in FIG. 1 shows a mode in which a plurality of magnetic tape drives 30 are connected to the communication network 6, the technology of the present disclosure is not limited to this, and only one magnetic tape drive 30 is connected to the communication network 6. is connected to a communication network 6, and various information may be exchanged between the host computer 4 and one magnetic tape drive 30 via the communication network 6. Further, the communication method performed between the host computer 4 and the magnetic tape drive 30 may be a wired communication method or a wireless communication method.

Next, an example of the configuration of the magnetic tape cartridge 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4. In the following description, for convenience of explanation, the direction in which the magnetic tape cartridge 10 is loaded into the magnetic tape drive 30 (see FIG. 5) is indicated by arrow A in FIGS. The front side of the magnetic tape cartridge 10 is the front side of the magnetic tape cartridge 10. In the following description of the structure, "front" refers to the front side of the magnetic tape cartridge 10.

In the following description, for convenience of explanation, the direction of arrow B perpendicular to the direction of arrow A in FIGS. . In the following description of the structure, "right" refers to the right side of the magnetic tape cartridge 10.

In addition, in the following description, for convenience of explanation, in FIGS. 2 to 4, the direction opposite to the direction of arrow B is referred to as the left direction, and the left side of the magnetic tape cartridge 10 is referred to as the left side of the magnetic tape cartridge 10. In the following description of the structure, "left" refers to the left side of the magnetic tape cartridge 10.

In addition, in the following description, for convenience of explanation, in FIGS. 2 to 4, a direction perpendicular to the arrow A direction and the arrow B direction is indicated by an arrow C, and the arrow C direction is defined as an upward direction of the magnetic tape cartridge 10. The upper side of the cartridge 10 is defined as the upper side of the magnetic tape cartridge 10. In the following description of the structure, "upper" refers to the upper side of the magnetic tape cartridge 10.

In the following description, for convenience of explanation, in FIGS. 2 to 4, the direction opposite to the front direction of the magnetic tape cartridge 10 is referred to as the rear direction of the magnetic tape cartridge 10, and the rear direction side of the magnetic tape cartridge 10 is This is the rear side of the tape cartridge 10. In the following description of the structure, "rear" refers to the rear side of the magnetic tape cartridge 10.

In addition, in the following description, for convenience of explanation, in FIGS. 2 to 4, the direction opposite to the upward direction of the magnetic tape cartridge 10 is referred to as the downward direction of the magnetic tape cartridge 10, and the downward side of the magnetic tape cartridge 10 is referred to as the magnetic tape cartridge 10. This is the lower side of the tape cartridge 10. In the following description of the structure, "lower" refers to the lower side of the magnetic tape cartridge 10.

Further, in the following description, LTO will be used as an example of the specifications of the magnetic tape cartridge 10, but this is just an example, and the specifications of the IBM 3592 magnetic tape cartridge may be followed.

As an example, as shown in FIG. 2, the magnetic tape cartridge 10 is substantially rectangular in plan view and includes a box-shaped case 12. Case 12 is an example of a "case" according to the technology of the present disclosure. The case 12 accommodates a magnetic tape MT. The case 12 is made of resin such as polycarbonate, and includes an upper case 14 and a lower case 16. The upper case 14 and the lower case 16 are joined by welding (for example, ultrasonic welding) and screwing, with the lower peripheral surface of the upper case 14 and the upper peripheral surface of the lower case 16 in contact with each other. The joining method is not limited to welding and screwing, but may be other joining methods.

A cartridge reel 18 is rotatably housed inside the case 12. The cartridge reel 18 includes a reel hub 18A, an upper flange 18B1, and a lower flange 18B2. The reel hub 18A is formed into a cylindrical shape. The reel hub 18A is the axial center of the cartridge reel 18, the axial direction thereof is along the vertical direction of the case 12, and the reel hub 18A is disposed at the center of the case 12. Each of the upper flange 18B1 and the lower flange 18B2 is formed in an annular shape. A central portion of an upper flange 18B1 in plan view is fixed to the upper end of the reel hub 18A, and a central portion of a lower flange 18B2 in plan view is fixed to the lower end of the reel hub 18A. Note that the reel hub 18A and the lower flange 18B2 may be integrally molded.

A magnetic tape MT is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the reel hub 18A, and widthwise ends of the magnetic tape MT are held by an upper flange 18B1 and a lower flange 18B2.

An opening 12B is formed in the front side of the right wall 12A of the case 12. The magnetic tape MT is pulled out from the opening 12B.

As an example, as shown in FIG. 3, a cartridge memory 19 is provided in the lower case 16. Specifically, a cartridge memory 19 is housed in the right rear end of the lower case 16. The cartridge memory 19 is an example of a "non-contact communication medium" according to the technology of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, a so-called passive RFID tag is employed as the cartridge memory 19.

The cartridge memory 19 stores information regarding the magnetic tape MT. The information regarding the magnetic tape MT refers to, for example, management information for managing the magnetic tape cartridge 10. The management information includes, for example, information regarding the cartridge memory 19, information that allows identification of the magnetic tape cartridge 10, recording capacity of the magnetic tape MT, summary of data recorded on the magnetic tape MT, data items, and data recording. Contains information indicating the format, etc.

The cartridge memory 19 performs contactless communication with a contactless reading/writing device. Examples of the non-contact reading/writing device include a non-contact reading/writing device (for example, the non-contact reading/writing device 50B shown in FIG. 25) used in the manufacturing process of the magnetic tape cartridge 10, and a magnetic tape drive (for example, the non-contact reading/writing device 50B shown in FIG. For example, a non-contact type read/write device 50A shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, FIG. 23, and FIG. 29 used in a magnetic tape drive 30) shown in FIG.

The non-contact reading/writing device reads and writes various information to and from the cartridge memory 19 in a non-contact manner. As will be described in detail later, the cartridge memory 19 generates electric power by electromagnetically acting on the magnetic field MF (see FIG. 6, etc.) applied from the non-contact reading/writing device. The cartridge memory 19 operates using the generated electric power and communicates with the non-contact reading/writing device via the magnetic field MF, thereby exchanging various information with the non-contact reading/writing device. Note that the communication method may be, for example, a method based on a known standard such as ISO14443 or ISO18092, or may be a method based on the LTO specification of ECMA319.

As an example, as shown in FIG. 3, a support member 20 is provided on the inner surface of the bottom plate 16A at the right rear end of the lower case 16. The support members 20 are a pair of inclined tables that support the cartridge memory 19 from below in an inclined state. The pair of ramps is a first ramp 20A and a second ramp 20B. The first inclined table 20A and the second inclined table 20B are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction of the case 12, and are integrated with the inner surface of the rear wall 16B and the inner surface of the bottom plate 16A of the lower case 16. The first inclined table 20A has an inclined surface 20A1, and the inclined surface 20A1 is inclined downward from the inner surface of the rear wall 16B toward the inner surface of the bottom plate 16A. Further, the second inclined table 20B has an inclined surface 20B1, and the inclined surface 20B1 is also inclined downward from the inner surface of the rear wall 16B toward the inner surface of the bottom plate 16A.

On the front side of the support member 20, a pair of position regulating ribs 22 are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction. A pair of position regulating ribs 22 are provided upright on the inner surface of the bottom plate 16A, and regulate the position of the lower end of the cartridge memory 19 placed on the support member 20.

As an example, as shown in FIG. 4, a reference surface 16A1 is formed on the outer surface of the bottom plate 16A. The reference surface 16A1 is a plane. Here, the plane refers to a plane parallel to a horizontal plane when the lower case 16 is placed on a horizontal plane with the bottom plate 16A facing downward. Here, "parallel" includes not only perfect parallelism but also errors that are generally allowed in the technical field to which the technology of the present disclosure belongs, and that do not go against the spirit of the technology of the present disclosure. It refers to parallelism in the sense of parallelism. The inclination angle θ of the support member 20, that is, the inclination angle of the inclined surface 20A1 and the inclined surface 20B1 (see FIG. 3) is 45 degrees with respect to the reference surface 16A1. Note that 45 degrees is just an example, and may be "0 degrees < inclination angle θ < 45 degrees" or may be 45 degrees or more.

The cartridge memory 19 includes a substrate 26. The substrate 26 is placed on the support member 20 with the back surface 26A of the substrate 26 facing downward, and the support member 20 supports the back surface 26A of the substrate 26 from below. A portion of the back surface 26A of the substrate 26 is in contact with the inclined surfaces of the support member 20, that is, the inclined surfaces 20A1 and 20B1 (see FIG. 3), and the surface 26B of the substrate 26 is in contact with the inclined surface 20A1 and 20B1 (see FIG. 3) of the support member 20. It is exposed on the inner surface 14A1 side.

The upper case 14 includes a plurality of ribs 24. The plurality of ribs 24 are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction of the case 12. The plurality of ribs 24 protrude downward from the inner surface 14A1 of the top plate 14A of the upper case 14, and the tip surface 24A of each rib 24 is an inclined surface corresponding to the inclined surfaces 20A1 and 20B1 (see FIG. 3). has. That is, the tip surface 24A of each rib 24 is inclined at 45 degrees with respect to the reference surface 16A1.

When the upper case 14 is joined to the lower case 16 as described above with the cartridge memory 19 disposed on the support member 20, the tip surface 24A of each rib 24 comes into contact with the substrate 26 from the surface 26B side. However, the substrate 26 is sandwiched between the tip surface 24A of each rib 24 and the inclined surfaces 20A1 and 20B1 (see FIG. 3) of the support member 20. As a result, the vertical position of the cartridge memory 19 is regulated by the ribs 24.

As an example, as shown in FIG. 5, the magnetic tape drive 30 includes a transport device 34, a magnetic head 36, and a control device 38. The magnetic tape cartridge 10 is loaded into the magnetic tape drive 30. The magnetic tape drive 30 pulls out the magnetic tape MT from the magnetic tape cartridge 10, records data on the pulled-out magnetic tape MT using the magnetic head 36, and records data from the pulled-out magnetic tape MT using the magnetic head 36. This is a device that reads using the linear serpentine method. Note that in this embodiment, reading data refers to reproducing data in other words.

The control device 38 is connected to the host computer 4 via the communication network 6, and exchanges various information with the host computer 4. Further, the control device 38 controls the overall operation of the magnetic tape drive 30. In this embodiment, the control device 38 is realized by the ASIC 120 (see FIG. 12), but the technology of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the control device 38 may be realized by an FPGA. Further, the control device 38 may be realized by a computer including a CPU, ROM, and RAM. Further, it may be realized by combining two or more of the ASIC 120, FPGA, and computer. That is, the control device 38 may be realized by a combination of a hardware configuration and a software configuration.

The conveyance device 34 is a device that selectively conveys the magnetic tape MT in the forward direction and the reverse direction, and includes a delivery motor 40, a take-up reel 42, a take-up motor 44, a plurality of guide rollers GR, and a control device 38. ing. Note that here, the forward direction refers to the feeding direction of the magnetic tape MT, and the reverse direction refers to the rewinding direction of the magnetic tape MT.

The delivery motor 40 rotates the cartridge reel 18 within the magnetic tape cartridge 10 under the control of the controller 38 . The control device 38 controls the rotational direction, rotational speed, rotational torque, etc. of the cartridge reel 18 by controlling the delivery motor 40 .

When the magnetic tape MT is taken up (loaded) by the take-up reel 42, the control device 38 rotates the delivery motor 40 so that the magnetic tape MT runs in the forward direction. The rotational speed, rotational torque, etc. of the delivery motor 40 are adjusted according to the speed of the magnetic tape MT being wound by the take-up reel 42.

The take-up motor 44 rotates the take-up reel 42 under the control of the controller 38 . The control device 38 controls the rotation direction, rotation speed, rotation torque, etc. of the take-up reel 42 by controlling the take-up motor 44 .

When the magnetic tape MT is taken up by the take-up reel 42, the control device 38 rotates the take-up motor 44 so that the magnetic tape MT runs in the forward direction. The rotational speed, rotational torque, etc. of the take-up motor 44 are adjusted according to the speed of the magnetic tape MT being wound up by the take-up reel 42. In this manner, the control device 38 adjusts the rotational speed, rotational torque, etc. of each of the delivery motor 40 and the take-up motor 44, thereby applying tension to the magnetic tape MT. Note that the delivery motor 40 and the take-up motor 44 are an example of a "tension applying mechanism" according to the technology of the present disclosure.

Note that when rewinding (unloading) the magnetic tape MT onto the cartridge reel 18, the control device 38 rotates the feed motor 40 and the take-up motor 44 so that the magnetic tape MT runs in the opposite direction.

In this embodiment, the tension applied to the magnetic tape MT is controlled by controlling the rotational speed, rotational torque, etc. of the delivery motor 40 and the take-up motor 44, but the technology of the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the tension applied to the magnetic tape MT may be controlled using a dancer roller or by drawing the magnetic tape MT into a vacuum chamber.

Each of the plurality of guide rollers GR is a roller that guides the magnetic tape MT. The travel path of the magnetic tape MT is determined by a plurality of guide rollers GR being separately arranged at positions straddling the magnetic head 36 between the magnetic tape cartridge 10 and the take-up reel 42.

The magnetic head 36 includes a magnetic element unit 46 and a holder 48. The magnetic element unit 46 is held by a holder 48 so as to be in contact with the running magnetic tape MT. The magnetic element unit 46 includes servo reading elements SR1 and SR2, which will be described later, and data magnetic elements DRW1, DRW2, DRW3, DRW4, DRW5, DRW6, DRW7, and DRW8, which will be described later. The magnetic element unit 46 records data on the magnetic tape MT transported by the transport device 34, reads data from the magnetic tape MT transported by the transport device 34, and records data from the magnetic tape MT transported by the transport device 34. It also reads the servo pattern 51 (see FIG. 14).

The magnetic tape drive 30 includes a non-contact reading/writing device 50. The non-contact read/write device 50 is disposed below the magnetic tape cartridge 10 loaded with the magnetic tape cartridge 10 so as to directly face the back surface 26A of the cartridge memory 19. Note that the state in which the magnetic tape cartridge 10 is loaded in the magnetic tape drive 30 means, for example, that the magnetic tape cartridge 10 is at a predetermined position where the magnetic head 36 starts reading data from the magnetic tape MT. Refers to the state reached.

Although the example shown in FIG. 5 shows an example in which the non-contact read/write device 50 is mounted on the magnetic tape drive 30, the technology of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The non-contact reading/writing device 50 is also used when the magnetic tape cartridge 10 is manufactured, when the magnetic tape cartridge 10 is inspected, or when the magnetic tape cartridge 10 is shipped. In this case, for example, a stationary or portable non-contact reading/writing device 50 is used. In the following description, only when it is necessary to distinguish, the non-contact reading/writing device 50 installed in the magnetic tape drive 30 will be referred to as the non-contact reading/writing device 50A, and the stage at which the magnetic tape cartridge 10 is manufactured will be referred to as the non-contact reading/writing device 50A. A stationary or portable non-contact reading/writing device 50 used when the magnetic tape cartridge 10 is inspected or shipped is referred to as a non-contact reading/writing device 50B.

As an example, as shown in FIG. 6, the non-contact read/write device 50A emits a magnetic field MF from the lower side of the magnetic tape cartridge 10 toward the cartridge memory 19. The magnetic field MF penetrates the cartridge memory 19.

As an example, as shown in FIG. 7, the non-contact reading/writing device 50A is connected to the control device 38. The control device 38 outputs a control signal to the non-contact reading/writing device 50A. The control signal is a signal that controls the cartridge memory 19. The non-contact reading/writing device 50A emits a magnetic field MF toward the cartridge memory 19 according to a control signal input from the control device 38. The magnetic field MF penetrates from the back surface 26A side of the cartridge memory 19 to the front surface 26B side.

The non-contact reading/writing device 50A performs non-contact communication with the cartridge memory 19 to provide the cartridge memory 19 with a command signal according to the control signal. More specifically, the non-contact reading/writing device 50A spatially transmits a command signal to the cartridge memory 19 under the control of the control device 38. As will be described in detail later, the command signal is a signal indicating a command to the cartridge memory 19.

Note that although the non-contact read/write device 50A spatially transmits a command signal to the cartridge memory 19 under the control of the control device 38, the technology of the present disclosure is not limited to this. . For example, when the magnetic tape cartridge 10 is manufactured, the magnetic tape cartridge 10 is inspected, or the magnetic tape cartridge 10 is shipped, the non-contact read/write device 50B is operated by a control device different from the control device 38. The command signal is spatially transmitted to the cartridge memory 19 under the control of the cartridge memory 19 .

When a command signal is spatially transmitted from the non-contact reading/writing device 50A to the cartridge memory 19, the magnetic field MF includes a command signal according to an instruction from the control device 38 by the non-contact reading/writing device 50A. In other words, a command signal is superimposed on the magnetic field MF by the non-contact reading/writing device 50A. That is, the non-contact reading/writing device 50A transmits a command signal to the cartridge memory 19 via the magnetic field MF under the control of the control device 38.

An IC chip 52 and a capacitor 54 are mounted on the surface 26B of the cartridge memory 19. IC chip 52 and capacitor 54 are adhered to surface 26B. Further, on the surface 26B of the cartridge memory 19, the IC chip 52 and the capacitor 54 are sealed with a sealant 56. Here, as the sealing material 56, an ultraviolet curing resin that cures in response to ultraviolet light is used. Note that the ultraviolet curing resin is just one example, and a photocuring resin that cures in response to light in a wavelength range other than ultraviolet rays may be used as the encapsulant 56, or a thermosetting resin may be used as the encapsulant. 56 or other adhesives may be used as the sealant 56.

As an example, as shown in FIG. 8, a coil 60 is formed in a loop shape on the back surface 26A of the cartridge memory 19. Here, copper foil is used as the material for the coil 60. Copper foil is just one example, and other types of conductive materials such as aluminum foil may also be used. The coil 60 induces an induced current when a magnetic field MF (see FIGS. 6 and 7) applied from the non-contact reading/writing device 50 acts on the coil 60.

A first conductive portion 62A and a second conductive portion 62B are provided on the back surface 26A of the cartridge memory 19. The first conductive portion 62A and the second conductive portion 62B have solder, and the coil 60 is connected to the IC chip 52 (see FIGS. 7 and 9) and the capacitor 54 (see FIGS. 7 and 9) on the surface 26B. Both ends are electrically connected.

As an example, as shown in FIG. 9, on the surface 26B of the cartridge memory 19, the IC chip 52 and the capacitor 54 are electrically connected to each other by a wire connection method. Specifically, one terminal of the positive terminal and negative terminal of the IC chip 52 is connected to the first conductive portion 62A via the wiring 64A, and the other terminal is connected to the second conductive portion via the wiring 64B. 62B. Further, the capacitor 54 has a pair of electrodes. In the example shown in FIG. 9, the pair of electrodes are electrodes 54A and 54B. The electrode 54A is connected to the first conducting part 62A via a wiring 64C, and the electrode 54B is connected to the second conducting part 62B via a wiring 64D. Thereby, the IC chip 52 and the capacitor 54 are connected in parallel to the coil 60.

As an example, as shown in FIG. 10, the IC chip 52 includes a built-in capacitor 80, a power supply circuit 82, a computer 84, a clock signal generator 86, and a signal processing circuit 88. The IC chip 52 is a general-purpose IC chip that can be used for purposes other than the magnetic tape cartridge 10.

Cartridge memory 19 includes a power generator 70 . The power generator 70 generates power by the magnetic field MF applied from the non-contact reading/writing device 50 acting on the coil 60 . Specifically, the power generator 70 generates AC power using the resonant circuit 92, converts the generated AC power into DC power, and outputs the DC power.

Power generator 70 has a resonant circuit 92 and a power supply circuit 82. The resonant circuit 92 includes a capacitor 54, a coil 60, and a built-in capacitor 80. The built-in capacitor 80 is a capacitor built into the IC chip 52, and the power supply circuit 82 is also a circuit built into the IC chip 52. Built-in capacitor 80 is connected in parallel to coil 60.

The capacitor 54 is a capacitor externally attached to the IC chip 52. The IC chip 52 is originally a general-purpose IC chip that can be used for purposes other than the magnetic tape cartridge 10. Therefore, the capacity of the built-in capacitor 80 may be insufficient to realize the resonant frequency required by the cartridge memory 19 used in the magnetic tape cartridge 10. Therefore, in the cartridge memory 19, a capacitor 54 is retrofitted to the IC chip 52 as a capacitor having a capacitance value necessary for causing the resonant circuit 92 to resonate at a predetermined resonant frequency by the action of the magnetic field MF. There is. Note that the predetermined resonance frequency is a frequency corresponding to the frequency of the magnetic field MF (for example, 13.56 MHz), and may be determined as appropriate based on the specifications of the cartridge memory 19 and/or the non-contact reading/writing device 50. . Further, the capacitance of the capacitor 54 is determined based on the actually measured value of the capacitance of the built-in capacitor 80. Further, although an example in which the capacitor 54 is externally attached is given here, the technology of the present disclosure is not limited to this, and the capacitor 54 may be incorporated in the IC chip 52 in advance.

The resonant circuit 92 generates AC power by generating a resonance phenomenon of a predetermined resonance frequency using an induced current induced by the coil 60 when the magnetic field MF passes through the coil 60. Power is output to the power supply circuit 82.

The power supply circuit 82 includes a rectifier circuit, a smoothing circuit, and the like. The rectifier circuit is a full wave rectifier circuit having multiple diodes. The full-wave rectifier circuit is just an example, and a half-wave rectifier circuit may also be used. The smoothing circuit includes a capacitor and a resistor. The power supply circuit 82 converts the AC power input from the resonance circuit 92 into DC power, and supplies the DC power obtained by the conversion (hereinafter also simply referred to as "power") to various driving elements in the IC chip 52. do. The various driving elements include a computer 84, a clock signal generator 86, and a signal processing circuit 88. In this way, the power generator 70 supplies power to various driving elements within the IC chip 52, so that the IC chip 52 operates using the power generated by the power generator 70.

Computer 84 controls the overall operation of cartridge memory 19. The clock signal generator 86 generates a clock signal and outputs it to the signal processing circuit 88 and the like. The signal processing circuit 88 and the like operate according to the clock signal input from the clock signal generator 86. Clock signal generator 86 changes the frequency of the clock signal according to instructions from computer 84.

Signal processing circuit 88 is connected to resonant circuit 92 . The signal processing circuit 88 includes a decoding circuit (not shown) and an encoding circuit (not shown). The decoding circuit of the signal processing circuit 88 extracts and decodes the command signal from the magnetic field MF received by the coil 60 and outputs it to the computer 84 . Computer 84 outputs a response signal to the command signal to signal processing circuit 88 . That is, the computer 84 executes processing according to the command signal input from the signal processing circuit 88, and outputs the processing result to the signal processing circuit 88 as a response signal. When a response signal is input from the computer 84 , the encoding circuit of the signal processing circuit 88 encodes and modulates the response signal and outputs it to the resonance circuit 92 . The resonant circuit 92 transmits the response signal input from the encoding circuit of the signal processing circuit 88 to the non-contact reading/writing device 50 via the magnetic field MF.

As shown in FIG. 11 as an example, the computer 84 includes a CPU 94, an NVM 96, and a RAM 98. CPU 94 , NVM 96 , and RAM 98 are connected to bus 100 .

CPU 94 controls the operation of computer 84. The NVM 96 is an example of a "storage medium" and "built-in memory" according to the technology of the present disclosure. An example of NVM96 is EEPROM. The EEPROM is just one example; for example, a ferroelectric memory may be used instead of the EEPROM, and any nonvolatile memory that can be mounted on the IC chip 52 may be used. The NVM 96 stores management information and the like. The RAM 98 temporarily stores various information and is used as a work memory. An example of the RAM 98 is a DRAM or SRAM.

The CPU 94 selectively performs polling processing, reading processing, writing processing, etc. in response to command signals input from the signal processing circuit 88. The polling process is a process of establishing communication with the non-contact reading/writing device 50, and is performed, for example, as a preparatory process before the read process and the write process. The reading process is a process of reading management information etc. from the NVM 96. The write process is a process for writing management information and the like into the NVM 96.

As an example, as shown in FIG. 12, the control device 38 includes an ASIC 120 and a storage 122. ASIC 120 and storage 122 are connected to bus 125. This connection method is merely an example, and various devices such as the storage 122 may be directly connected to the ASIC 120 individually. Also connected to the bus 125 are a feed motor 40, a take-up motor 44, and a non-contact reading/writing device 50A. ASIC 120 controls delivery motor 40 and take-up motor 44 . The feed motor 40 and the take-up motor 44 selectively transport the magnetic tape MT in the forward direction and the reverse direction under the control of the ASIC 120. Furthermore, under the control of the ASIC 120, the feed motor 40 and the take-up motor 44 apply tension to the magnetic tape MT within a permissible range, and adjust the tension applied to the magnetic tape MT within a permissible range.

Note that the permissible range herein refers to a range of tension that allows the magnetic head 36 to record and/or read data without any problems, and is a range that has been obtained in advance through computer simulation and/or tests using actual equipment. refers to The permissible range may be defined, for example, in a table format, and may be updated every time a new product of the magnetic tape cartridge 10 is released, or may be based on an instruction given from an external source and/or a predetermined range. It may be changed depending on the specified conditions, etc., or it may be fixed.

The ASIC 120 controls the non-contact reading/writing device 50A. The non-contact read/write device 50A sends a command signal to the cartridge memory 19 under the control of the ASIC 120. The non-contact reading/writing device 50A also receives a response signal transmitted from the cartridge memory 19 in response to a command signal transmitted to the cartridge memory 19.

The magnetic tape drive 30 includes a communication I/F 126. Communication I/F 126 is also connected to bus 125. Communication I/F 126 is connected to communication network 6 and manages communication between ASIC 120 and host computer 4.

The cartridge memory 19 stores a drive ID 128 that can identify a magnetic tape drive 30 other than the magnetic tape drive 30 shown in FIG. Read out. Then, the ASIC 120 temporarily stores the drive ID 128 read from the cartridge memory 19 by the non-contact reading/writing device 50A in the storage 122. The ASIC 120 reads the drive ID 128 from the storage 122 and transmits the read drive ID 128 to the host computer 4 via the communication I/F 126. As will be described in detail later, information regarding the characteristics of each of the plurality of magnetic tape drives 30 (hereinafter also referred to as "drive characteristic information") is stored in the host computer 4. The host computer 4 maintains a one-to-one correspondence between the drive characteristic information and the drive ID 128. The host computer 4 receives the drive ID 128 sent from the magnetic tape drive 30, and sends drive characteristic information regarding the received drive ID 128 to the magnetic tape drive 30 that is the source of the drive ID 128. The magnetic tape drive 30 receives drive characteristic information transmitted from the host computer 4 through the communication I/F 126. The ASIC 120 executes various processes according to the drive characteristic information received by the communication I/F 126.

A magnetic head 36 is also connected to the bus 125, and the ASIC 120 controls the magnetic head 36. The magnetic head 36 performs a data recording operation of recording data on the magnetic tape MT, a data reading operation of reading data from the magnetic tape MT, and a data reading operation of reading the servo pattern 51 (see FIG. 14) from the magnetic tape MT under the control of the ASIC 120. Performs servo reading operations, etc.

The magnetic tape drive 30 includes a moving mechanism 129. The movement mechanism 129 has a movement actuator 129A. Examples of the movement actuator 129A include a voice coil motor and/or a piezo actuator. Movement actuator 129A is connected to bus 125, and ASIC 120 controls movement actuator 129A. Movement actuator 129A generates power under the control of ASIC 120. The moving mechanism 129 operates by receiving power generated by the moving actuator 129A. The ASIC 120 performs servo control using a moving mechanism 129. Here, servo control refers to control that moves the magnetic head 36 in the width direction of the magnetic tape MT by operating the moving mechanism 129 according to the servo pattern 51 read from the magnetic tape MT by a servo reading operation.

As shown in FIG. 13 as an example, the host computer 4 includes a CPU 170, an NVM 172, a RAM 174, and a communication I/F 176. The CPU 170, NVM 172, RAM 174, and communication I/F 176 are connected to a bus 178.

CPU 170 controls the operation of host computer 4. An example of the NVM 172 is an SSD. The SSD is just one example, and may be, for example, an EEPROM and/or an HDD, or any nonvolatile memory. The RAM 174 temporarily stores various information and is used as a work memory. An example of the RAM 174 is a DRAM or SRAM. The communication I/F 176 is connected to the communication network 6 and controls communication between the CPU 170 and the control device 38 of the magnetic tape drive 30.

As an example, as shown in FIG. 14, servo bands SB1, SB2, and SB3 and data bands DB1 and DB2 are formed on the surface 139 of the magnetic tape MT. In the following, for convenience of explanation, servo bands SB1 to SB3 will be referred to as servo bands SB, and data bands DB1 and DB2 will be referred to as data bands DB, unless there is a need to distinguish between them.

Servo bands SB1 to SB3 and data bands DB1 and DB2 are formed along the entire length direction of magnetic tape MT. In other words, the full length direction of the magnetic tape MT refers to the longitudinal direction (forward direction and reverse direction) of the magnetic tape MT.

The servo bands SB1 to SB3 are arranged at positions spaced apart in the width direction WD of the magnetic tape MT. For example, servo bands SB1 to SB3 are arranged at equal intervals along the width direction WD. Note that in this embodiment, "equal spacing" refers to not only perfectly equal spacing but also errors that are generally allowed in the technical field to which the technology of the present disclosure belongs, and that are contrary to the spirit of the technology of the present disclosure. It refers to equal intervals that include a certain degree of error.

Data band DB1 is arranged between servo band SB1 and servo band SB2, and data band DB2 is arranged between servo band SB2 and servo band SB3. That is, the servo bands SB and the data bands DB are arranged alternately along the width direction WD of the magnetic tape MT.

Servo patterns 51 are formed on the servo band SB at predetermined intervals along the entire length of the magnetic tape MT. Servo pattern 51 has magnetized regions 51A and 51B. The magnetized regions 51A and 51B are a pair of linear magnetized regions tilted symmetrically with respect to a virtual straight line along the width direction WD. The magnetized regions 51A and 51B are non-parallel to each other and are formed to be inclined at a predetermined angle in opposite directions along the entire length of the magnetic tape MT.

In addition, in the example shown in FIG. 14, three servo bands SB and two data bands DB are shown, but this is just an example, and two servo bands SB and one data band DB are shown. The technology of the present disclosure can be applied to a DB, or even if there are four or more servo bands SB and three or more data bands DB.

The magnetic element unit 46 within the magnetic head 36 has a plurality of magnetic elements. In the example shown in FIG. 14, a plurality of servo reading elements SR and a plurality of data magnetic elements DRW are shown as the plurality of magnetic elements. The magnetic head 36 is formed wider than the magnetic tape MT along the longitudinal direction. For example, the length of the magnetic head 36 in the longitudinal direction is such that when the magnetic element unit 46 reads or writes data to any data band DB of the magnetic tape MT, the length of the magnetic head 36 is such that the length of the magnetic head 36 at least extends along the width direction WD of the magnetic tape MT. It is long enough to cover it. The plurality of servo reading elements SR and the plurality of data magnetic elements DRW are provided at the center of the magnetic head 36 in a plan view, and are arranged linearly at intervals along the width direction WD.

In the example shown in FIG. 14, servo reading elements SR1 and SR2 are illustrated as the plurality of servo reading elements SR. In the following, for convenience of explanation, the servo reading elements SR1 and SR2 will be referred to as servo reading elements SR unless it is necessary to specifically explain them separately.

Servo reading element SR is provided at a position corresponding to servo band SB. In the example shown in FIG. 14, servo reading element SR1 is provided at a position corresponding to servo band SB1, and servo reading element SR2 is provided at a position corresponding to servo band SB2. The moving mechanism 129 moves the magnetic head 36 in the width direction WD under the control of the ASIC 120 (see FIG. 12) according to the servo pattern 51 read by the servo band SB.

Furthermore, when the data band DB to which data is read and written by the magnetic element unit 46 is changed (in the example shown in FIG. 14, the data band DB to which data is read and written by the magnetic element unit 46 is changed to data band DB1 and DB2), the moving mechanism 129 changes the position of the servo reading element SR by moving the magnetic head 36 in the width direction WD under the control of the ASIC 120 (see FIG. 12). change. That is, the moving mechanism 129 moves the servo reading element SR1 from one of the position corresponding to the servo band SB1 and the position corresponding to the servo band SB2 to the other by moving the magnetic head 36 in the width direction WD. , moves the servo reading element SR2 from one of the position corresponding to the servo band SB2 and the position corresponding to the servo pattern SB3 to the other. Then, by performing tracking control, at least one data magnetic element DWR performs reading and writing with respect to a specified location within the data band DB.

The plurality of data magnetic elements DRW are provided between the servo reading element SR1 and the servo reading element SR2. That is, the plurality of data magnetic elements DRW are provided between adjacent servo reading elements SR. The plurality of data magnetic elements DRW are arranged at intervals along the width direction WD (for example, at equal intervals along the width direction WD). In the data band DB between adjacent servo bands SB, data is recorded and read by a plurality of data magnetic elements DRW.

For example, as shown in FIG. 14, if the position of servo reading element SR1 corresponds to the position of servo band SB1, and the position of servo reading element SR2 corresponds to the position of servo band SB2, multiple data The magnetic element DRW records data in the data band DB1 and reads data from the data band DB1.

In the example shown in FIG. 14, three servo bands SB are formed on the magnetic tape MT, but this is just an example. For example, two servo bands SB may be formed on the magnetic tape MT, or four or more servo bands SB may be formed on the magnetic tape MT. Furthermore, servo reading elements SR may be provided on the magnetic head 36 at positions corresponding to the servo bands SB, corresponding to the number of servo bands SB.

As an example, as shown in FIG. 15, data tracks DT1, DT2, DT3, DT4, DT5, DT6, DT7, and DT8 are formed in data band DB1. The magnetic head 36 includes data magnetic elements DRW1, DRW2, DRW3, DRW4, DRW5, DRW6 between the servo reading element SR1 and the servo reading element SR2 along the width direction WD as a plurality of data magnetic elements DRW. , DRW7 and DRW8. The data magnetic elements DRW1 to DRW8 have a one-to-one correspondence with the data tracks DT1 to DT8, and can record data and read data from the data tracks DT1 to DT8.

Although not shown, a plurality of data tracks DT corresponding to the data tracks DT1, DT2, DT3, DT4, DT5, DT6, DT7, and DT8 are also formed in the data band DB2.

Note that hereinafter, data tracks DT1, DT2, DT3, DT4, DT5, DT6, DT7, and DT8 will be referred to as data tracks DT unless there is a particular need to distinguish them. In addition, hereinafter, the data magnetic elements DRW1, DRW2, DRW3, DRW4, DRW5, DRW6, DRW7, and DRW8 will be referred to as data magnetic elements DRW unless there is a particular need to distinguish them. Furthermore, hereinafter, data tracks DT1 to DT8 will be collectively referred to as data track DT unless there is a particular need to distinguish between them.

As shown in FIG. 16 as an example, the data track DT has a data track group DTG. Data tracks DT1 to DT8 correspond to data track groups DTG1 to DTG8. In the following, data track groups DTG1 to DTG8 will be referred to as data tracks DTG unless it is necessary to specifically explain them separately.

The data track group DTG1 includes data tracks DT1_1, DT1_2, DT1_3, DT1_4, . . . , DT1_11, and DT1_12. The data magnetic element DRW1 is responsible for recording data on the data track group DTG1, that is, recording data on data tracks DT1_1, DT1_2, DT1_3, DT1_4, . . . , DT1_11, and DT1_12. Further, the data magnetic element DRW1 is responsible for reading data from the data track group DTG1, that is, reading data from the data tracks DT1_1, DT1_2, DT1_3, DT1_4, . . . , DT1_11, and DT1_12.

Similarly to the data magnetic element DRW1, each of the data magnetic elements DRW2 to DRW8 also records data on the data track group DTG of the data track DT corresponding to each data magnetic element DRW, and each data magnetic element DRW. It is responsible for reading data from the data track DTG of the data track DT corresponding to the data track DTG.

As the magnetic head 36 is moved in the width direction WD by the moving mechanism 129 (see FIG. 14), the data magnetic element DRW is moved to a position corresponding to a designated one of the plurality of data tracks DT. Move to. The data magnetic element DRW is held at a position corresponding to one designated data track DT by servo control using the servo pattern 51.

Specifically, when recording or reading data on the data track DT1_1, the moving mechanism 129 moves the magnetic head 36 in the width direction WD to move the data magnetic element DRW1 onto the data track DT1_1. (for example, a position directly facing the data track DT1_1 of the magnetic tape MT).

As shown in FIG. 17 as an example, the magnetic element unit 46 includes a first data recording element group DWG1, a second data recording element group DWG2, and a data reading element group DRG. A servo reading element SR1 is located at one end of the magnetic element unit 46, and a servo reading element SR2 is located at the other end of the magnetic element unit 46.

The data magnetic element DRW includes a first data recording element DW1, a second data recording element DW2, and a data reading element DR. The first data recording element group DWG1 includes a plurality of first data recording elements DW1. The second data recording element group DWG2 includes a plurality of second data recording elements DW2. The data reading element group DRG includes a plurality of data reading elements DR.

Each of the first data recording element DW1 and the second data recording element DW2 records data on the data track DT. The data reading element DR reads data from the data track DT. Note that, hereinafter, the first data recording element DW1 and the second data recording element DW2 will be referred to as a data recording element DW unless there is a need to specifically explain them separately.

The first data recording element group DWG1, the second data recording element group DWG2, and the data reading element group DRG are arranged along the entire length direction of the magnetic tape MT from the take-up reel 42 side to the cartridge reel 18 side. Group DWG1, data reading element group DRG, and second data recording element group DWG2 are arranged in this order at regular intervals. Here, the constant interval refers to, for example, an interval predetermined by tests using actual equipment and/or computer simulation as an interval at which no crosstalk occurs between the data reading element DR and the data reading element DW. In addition, "constant" here means not only a completely constant error but also an error within a range that is allowable in the technical field to which the technology of the present disclosure belongs and does not deviate from the spirit of the technology of the present disclosure. It also means approximately constant, including.

The servo reading element SR includes a first servo reading element SRa, a second servo reading element SRb, and a third servo reading element SRc. The first servo reading element SRa, the second servo reading element SRb, and the third servo reading element SRc are arranged from the take-up reel 42 side to the cartridge reel 18 side in the overall length direction of the magnetic tape MT. A servo reading element SRb and a third servo reading element SRc are provided in this order.

Note that although the first servo reading element SRa, the second servo reading element SRb, and the third servo reading element SRc are illustrated here, the technology of the present disclosure is not limited to this, and the first servo reading element SRa , the second servo reading element SRb, and the third servo reading element SRc.

The first data recording element group DWG1 includes a first servo reading element SRa of the servo reading element SR1, a first servo reading element SRa of the servo reading element SR2, and a plurality of first data recording elements DW1. The plurality of first data recording elements DW1 are arranged in a straight line from the first servo reading element SRa side of the servo reading element SR1 to the first servo reading element SRa side of the servo reading element SR2. In the example shown in FIG. 17, eight first data recording elements DW1 are illustrated as the plurality of first data recording elements DW1, and these first data recording elements DW1 include data magnetic elements DRW1, DRW2, It corresponds to DRW3, DRW4, DRW5, DRW6, DRW7 and DRW8 (see FIG. 15).

The second data recording element group DWG2 includes a third servo reading element SRc of the servo reading element SR1, a third servo reading element SRc of the servo reading element SR2, and a plurality of second data recording elements DW2. The plurality of second data recording elements DW2 are arranged in a straight line from the third servo reading element SRc side of the servo reading element SR1 to the third servo reading element SRc side of the servo reading element SR2. In the example shown in FIG. 17, eight second data recording elements DW2 are illustrated as the plurality of second data recording elements DW2, and these second data recording elements DW2 are composed of data magnetic elements DRW1, DRW2, It corresponds to DRW3, DRW4, DRW5, DRW6, DRW7 and DRW8 (see FIG. 15).

The data reading element group DRG includes a second servo reading element SRb of the servo reading element SR1, a second servo reading element SRb of the servo reading element SR2, and a plurality of data reading elements DR. The plurality of data reading elements DR are arranged in a straight line from the second servo reading element SRb side of the servo reading element SR1 to the second servo reading element SRb side of the servo reading element SR2. In the example shown in FIG. 17, eight data reading elements DR are illustrated as the plurality of data reading elements DR, and these data reading elements DR include data magnetic elements DRW1, DRW2, DRW3, DRW4, DRW5, It corresponds to DRW6, DRW7 and DRW8 (see FIG. 15).

In the magnetic element unit 46, the data reading element DR is sandwiched between the first data recording element DW1 and the second data recording element DW2 along the entire length direction of the magnetic tape MT. On the other hand, this is not only to simply read data from the data track DT, but also to perform verification. For example, when pulling out the magnetic tape MT from the magnetic tape cartridge 10 (when the running direction of the magnetic tape MT is the forward direction), after the second data recording element DW2 records data on the data track DT, the data reading element DR Then, the data recorded on the data track DT by the second data recording element DW2 is read for error checking. In addition, when returning the magnetic tape MT to the magnetic tape cartridge 10 (when the running direction of the magnetic tape MT is in the opposite direction), after the first data recording element DW1 records data on the data track DT, the data reading element DR Then, the data recorded on the data track DT is read by the first data reading element DW1 for error checking.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 18 as an example, the width of the magnetic tape MT on which a plurality of servo bands SB are formed decreases over time. In the example shown in FIG. 18, a mode is shown in which the width of the magnetic tape MT in the width direction WD is reduced, but conversely, the width of the magnetic tape MT in the width direction WD may be increased. Possible factors that cause the width of the magnetic tape MT to shrink or expand include the environment in which the magnetic tape MT is stored and the stress applied to the magnetic tape MT loaded in the magnetic tape cartridge 10.

For example, if the width of the magnetic tape MT in the width direction WD decreases over time, the position of the servo reading element SR with respect to the servo pattern 51 may be changed to a predetermined position (for example, the center of the magnetized region 51A and the magnetized region 51B). position). If the position of the servo reading element SR with respect to the servo pattern 51 deviates from a predetermined position determined by design, the accuracy of servo control will decrease and the positions of the data magnetic element DRW and the data track DT will shift.

In view of these circumstances, the magnetic tape system 2 performs the processes shown in FIG. 19 and subsequent figures. As an example, as shown in FIG. 19, the ASIC 120 of the magnetic tape drive 30 includes a first position detection section 120A, a second position detection section 120B, and a pitch calculation section 120D.

The first position detection unit 120A receives a first servo signal (for example, a first servo signal (e.g., Each or any one of a plurality of servo signals based on the servo pattern 51 read by the first servo reading element SRa, the second servo reading element SRb, and the third servo reading element SRc included in the servo pattern 51 is input. . The first servo signal is an intermittent pulse corresponding to magnetized regions 51A and 51B of servo band SB1. The first position detection unit 120A detects a plurality of locations (for example, several meters to several tens of meters) spaced apart over the entire length of the magnetic tape MT based on the pulse interval of the first servo signal input from the servo reading element SR1. (a plurality of locations spaced apart from each other at regular intervals), the position of the servo reading element SR1 in the width direction WD of the servo band SB1 is detected, and the detection result is output to the pitch calculation unit 120D. Note that the detection results (detected position information) may be outputted to the pitch calculation unit 120D according to the input servo signal, or the average value of these detection results may be used for pitch calculation. The information may be output to the section 120D.

The second position detection unit 120B receives a second servo signal (for example, a second servo signal (e.g., Each or any one of a plurality of servo signals based on the servo pattern 51 read by the first servo reading element SRa, the second servo reading element SRb, and the third servo reading element SRc included in the servo pattern 51 is input. . The second servo signal is an intermittent pulse corresponding to magnetized regions 51A and 51B of servo band SB2. The second position detection unit 120B detects whether the servo reading element SR2 detects the servo band at a plurality of locations spaced apart over the entire length of the magnetic tape MT based on the pulse interval of the second servo signal input from the servo reading element SR2. The position of the SB2 in the width direction WD is detected, and the detection result is output to the pitch calculation unit 120D. Note that the detection results (detected position information) may be outputted to the pitch calculation unit 120D according to the input servo signal, or the average value of these detection results may be used for pitch calculation. The information may be output to the section 120D.

Here, a specific method for detecting where the servo reading element SR is located in the width direction WD of the servo band SB will be described.

As an example, FIG. 20 shows one of the servo patterns 51 shown in FIG. 14. The magnetized regions 51A and 51B of the servo pattern 51 are a pair of linear magnetized regions tilted symmetrically with respect to a virtual straight line along the width direction WD. When the servo reading element SR reads the magnetized regions 51A and 51B, it generates pulses corresponding to the magnetized regions 51A and 51B, respectively. Therefore, when the servo reading element SR reads the servo pattern 51 while the magnetic tape MT is running in the forward direction or the reverse direction, the magnetized areas 51A and 51B are This results in a time difference between the pulses generated. Note that the servo pattern 51 does not necessarily have to be in the form of a pair of lines tilted symmetrically with respect to a virtual straight line along the width direction WD. The servo pattern 51 may be a pair of non-parallel linear magnetized regions, for example, the magnetized region 51A is parallel to a virtual straight line along the width direction WD, and the magnetized region 51B is parallel to a virtual straight line along the width direction WD. It may be inclined with respect to a virtual straight line.

On the other hand, since the rotational speed and rotational torque of the feed motor 40 and the take-up motor 44 are controlled by the ASIC 120, the speed of the magnetic tape MT can be calculated by the ASIC 120. Therefore, the distance D from the magnetized region 51A to the magnetized region 51B at the position along the width direction WD of the servo reading element SR can be obtained from the pulse interval corresponding to the magnetized regions 51A and 51B and the speed of the magnetic tape MT. Note that the distance D is the distance from the magnetized region 51A to the magnetized region 51B along the entire length direction of the magnetic tape MT.

In this embodiment, the distance D is predefined for each of the plurality of servo positions. The plurality of servo positions refer to, for example, a plurality of positions along the width direction WD of the servo reading element SR within each servo band SB. For example, the servo position is represented by a number arranged in ascending order starting from "1" for each servo band SB from one end side to the other end side in the width direction WD. The position of the servo reading element SR in each servo band SB along the width direction WD is specified based on the distance D. In this embodiment, servo pattern distance information 148 is used as information including a distance D defined in advance for each servo position. The servo pattern distance information 148 is stored in the NVM 96 of the magnetic tape cartridge 10 when the magnetic tape cartridge 10 is manufactured. Note that the distance D is an example of "the distance in the overall length direction of the magnetic tape at a plurality of positions between a pair of magnetized regions forming a servo pattern formed in each of a plurality of servo bands" according to the technology of the present disclosure. be. Further, the servo position is an example of "a plurality of positions in the width direction within a plurality of servo bands" according to the technology of the present disclosure.

Incidentally, the servo pattern 51 is recorded on the servo band SB of the magnetic tape MT by a servo signal writing head of a servo writer (not shown). As an example, as shown in FIG. 20, the servo pattern 51 on the servo band SB is ideally recorded in a straight line. However, in reality, due to processing errors of the servo signal writing head, the magnetized regions 51A and 51B of the servo pattern 51 may not be straight but curved, as shown in FIG. 21, for example. Note that the example of the servo pattern 51 shown in FIG. 21 is a schematic representation of the distortions in the magnetized regions 51A and 51B for convenience of explanation, and the distortions in the magnetized regions 51A and 51B are emphasized more than the actual distortions in the magnetized regions 51A and 51B. ing.

A gap pattern of the servo signal writing head that records the servo pattern 51 within the servo band SB is formed in the servo signal writing head. The gap pattern is a pair of linear patterns like the servo pattern 51. The pair of gap patterns are non-parallel to each other like the servo pattern 51, and are formed on the servo signal writing head so as to be inclined at a predetermined angle in opposite directions along the entire length of the magnetic tape MT. That is, leakage magnetic flux from the gap pattern magnetizes each servo band SB of the magnetic tape MT, so that a servo pattern 51 having the same shape as the gap pattern is recorded on each servo band SB. Therefore, if the gap pattern is curved due to a processing error of the servo signal writing head, the servo pattern 51 recorded on the magnetic tape MT will also be curved. By measuring the distance between a pair of patterns along the entire length direction of the magnetic tape MT in the gap pattern of the servo signal writing head, the distance between a pair of patterns along the entire length direction of the magnetic tape MT is measured. A distance D is measured.

As an example, FIG. 22 shows servo pattern distance information 148. In the example shown in FIG. 22, information in which a servo position, a distance D, and a servo distance are determined for each servo band SB is shown as an example of the servo pattern distance information 148. In the example shown in FIG. 22, a servo position, a distance D, and a servo distance are associated with each identification number that identifies the servo band SB. In other words, in the servo pattern distance information 148, each servo band SB is associated with a plurality of servo positions, and each servo position is associated with a distance D and a servo distance. That is, the servo pattern distance information 148 includes a distance D for each combination of a servo band SB and a servo position, and a servo distance corresponding to each servo position. The servo distance is a distance in the width direction WD corresponding to each servo position with reference to the position of the midpoint 149 in the width direction WD of the servo band SB.

In the example of the servo pattern distance information 148 shown in FIG. 22, 19 servo positions are set on each servo band SB, but there is no restriction on the number of servo positions set on the servo band SB. It is sufficient if a plurality of servo positions are set. Further, in the example of the servo pattern distance information 148 shown in FIG. 22, for example, the servo distance of the servo position corresponding to the midpoint 149 in the width direction WD of the servo band SB is set to 0 μm. Furthermore, the farther the servo position is from the midpoint 149 along the width direction WD, the longer the servo distance at each servo position becomes. In the example of the servo pattern distance information 148 shown in FIG. 22, the servo distance of the servo position where the distance D is shorter than the distance D of the servo position corresponding to the midpoint 149 is expressed as a positive value (+); The servo distance of a servo position where the distance D is longer than the distance D of the servo position is represented by a negative value (-).

The first position detection unit 120A (see FIG. 19) calculates the distance D from the interval between pulses of the first servo signal, and refers to the servo pattern distance information 148 to detect the servo reading element SR1 corresponding to the calculated distance D. Detects the servo position.

The second position detection unit 120B (see FIG. 19) calculates the distance D from the pulse interval of the second servo signal, and refers to the servo pattern distance information 148 to detect the servo reading element SR2 corresponding to the calculated distance D. Detects the servo position.

The pitch calculation unit 120D performs pitch calculation in the width direction WD at a plurality of locations spaced apart over the entire length of the magnetic tape MT based on the detection results input from each of the first position detection unit 120A and the second position detection unit 120B. The pitch of the servo pattern 51 is calculated. The pitch of the servo pattern 51 in the width direction WD is the pitch between the servo pattern 51 of the servo band SB1 and the servo pattern 51 of the servo band SB2, and the pitch of the servo pattern 51 of the servo band SB2 and the servo pattern 51 of the servo band SB3. Refers to pitch.

The example shown in FIG. 19 shows a mode in which the pitch between the servo pattern 51 of the servo band SB1 and the servo pattern 51 of the servo band SB2 is calculated by the pitch calculating section 120D, but this is just an example. For example, by moving the magnetic head 36 along the width direction WD, if the servo reading element SR1 is positioned on the servo band SB2 and the servo reading element SR2 is positioned on the servo band SB3, the servo band SB2 It becomes possible to cause the pitch calculation unit 120D to calculate the pitch between the servo pattern 51 of the servo band SB3 and the servo pattern 51 of the servo band SB3 based on the first servo signal and the second servo signal.

In addition, in the following, unless it is necessary to explain them separately, the first position detecting section 120A and the second position detecting section 120B will be referred to as the position detecting section 121, and the first servo signal and the second servo signal will be referred to as the servo signal. It is written as.

As an example, as shown in FIG. 23, the pitch calculation unit 120D uses pitch information 142 (for example, (information indicating the pitch itself between servo bands SB) is output to the non-contact reading/writing device 50A. The non-contact read/write device 50A spatially transmits a write command for pitch information 142 to the cartridge memory 19 as a command signal before data is recorded in the data band DB. The CPU 94 performs a write process to write the pitch information 142 to the NVM 96 in response to a command signal from the non-contact reading/writing device 50A. As a result, pitch information 142 at a plurality of locations spaced apart over the entire length of the magnetic tape MT is stored in the NVM 96. Here, the stage before data is recorded in the data band DB includes, for example, the stage in which the magnetic tape cartridge 10 is manufactured, but the technology of the present disclosure is not limited to this, and the stage in which data is recorded in the data band DB is a stage in which the magnetic tape cartridge 10 is manufactured. The stage before recording may be immediately after the user loads the magnetic tape cartridge 10 into the magnetic tape drive 30 for the first time and initialization is performed, or the magnetic tape cartridge 10 is loaded into the magnetic tape drive 30. It may be every time.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an example of pitch information 142. The pitch information 142 is information in which the servo position and pitch are determined for each servo band SB. In the example shown in FIG. 24, the servo position and pitch are associated with each identification number that identifies the servo band SB. In other words, in the pitch information 142, each servo band SB is associated with a plurality of servo positions, and each servo position is associated with a pitch. That is, the pitch information 142 includes the pitch for each combination of servo band SB and servo position. The pitch information 142 is measured at a plurality of locations spaced apart over the entire length of the magnetic tape MT, and is stored in the NVM 96.

Note that the pitch information 142 stored in the NVM 96 is information obtained from a reference magnetic tape drive 30 (hereinafter also referred to as "reference drive") among the plurality of magnetic tape drives 30. Note that the term "reference drive" used herein does not mean the standard magnetic tape drive 30 in the world. Any magnetic tape drive 30 that is used for the first time for the magnetic tape cartridge 10 can serve as a "reference drive" whose pitch can be measured.

As an example, as shown in FIG. 25, at the stage when the magnetic tape drive 30 is manufactured, the measuring device 144 measures the distance between the servo reading element SR1 and the servo reading element SR2 (hereinafter also referred to as "distance between servo reading elements"). ) is measured. Examples of the measuring device 144 include MFM, SEM, and laser microscope. The measuring device 144 stores distance information 146 that can specify the distance between servo reading elements (for example, information indicating the distance between servo reading elements itself) in the storage 122 of the magnetic tape drive 30. The distance between servo reading elements is an example of "the distance between a plurality of servo reading elements that read a plurality of servo bands" according to the technology of the present disclosure. The non-contact reading/writing device 50B reads the distance information 146 from the storage 122 and spatially transmits a write command for the distance information 146 to the cartridge memory 19 as a command signal. The CPU 94 performs a write process to write the distance information 146 into the NVM 96 in response to a command signal from the non-contact reading/writing device 50B. As a result, the distance information 146 is stored in the NVM 96. Note that the distance information 146 stored in the NVM 96 is information obtained by measuring the distance between the servo reading elements of the magnetic head 36 mounted on the reference drive using the measuring device 144.

Note that the magnetic tape drive 30 detects the results of reading the plurality of servo bands SB by the plurality of servo reading elements SR and the information between the plurality of servo reading elements SR before data is recorded by the magnetic tape drive 30. The pitch information 142 may be generated using the pitch calculated based on the distance.

Specifically, the moving mechanism 129 moves the servo reading element SR1 and the servo reading element SR2 to positions on the servo band SB1 and servo band SB2, respectively, at a plurality of locations spaced apart over the entire length of the magnetic tape MT. The position detection unit 121 calculates the distance D at each position of the servo reading element SR1 and the servo reading element SR2 along the width direction WD of each servo band SB at a plurality of locations, and detects the servo position corresponding to the distance D. do. The ASIC 120 uses the servo distances at the servo positions of the servo reading element SR1 and servo reading element SR2 and the distance between the servo reading elements measured by the measuring device 144 to perform servo reading at multiple locations spaced apart over the entire length of the magnetic tape MT. Pitch information 142 is generated for each position. The servo position corresponding to the distance D is an example of "a result of reading a plurality of servo bands by a plurality of servo reading elements" according to the technology of the present disclosure.

For example, assume that the distance between servo reading elements is 2858.6 μm, and the servo distances of servo reading element SR1 and servo reading element SR2 are 23.555 μm and 23.455 μm, respectively. In this case, the pitch of the servo reading element SR at the servo position is 2858.5 μm (2858.5=2858.6−(23.555−23·455)).

In this way, the ASIC 120 calculates the servo distance of the servo reading element SR1 and the servo reading element SR2 for each servo position defined in the servo pattern distance information 148, and the servo reading element stored in the storage 122 of the magnetic tape drive 30. The pitch information 142 shown in FIG. 24 may be generated using the distance.

As a method for determining the distance between the servo reading elements, if the distance between the servo reading elements of one of the two magnetic tape drives 30 is known and the distance between the other servo reading elements is unknown, the distance between the two magnetic tape drives 30 is known. The pitch between the servo bands SB in the width direction WD of the magnetic tape MT is measured under a certain environment using the drive 30, and from the pitch measurement result and the known distance between the servo reading elements, unknown servo reading elements are detected. A method for estimating the distance between the servo reading elements (hereinafter referred to as "a method for estimating the distance between servo reading elements") is mentioned.

In the method for estimating the distance between servo reading elements, the distance between the servo reading elements of drive A of the two magnetic tape drives 30 (herein referred to as "drive A" and "drive B" for convenience) is, for example, MFM. This is a known distance between servo reading elements that has been measured by , SEM, laser microscope, etc. Assuming this, first, the magnetic tape MT loaded in the drive A, on which the servo pattern 51 (see FIG. 14) has been recorded on the servo band SB, is held under a certain tension (hereinafter, for convenience, "tension"). In this state, the pitch between the servo bands SB in the width direction WD of the magnetic tape MT in the drive A is measured. Next, with the magnetic tape MT loaded in the drive B under tension T1, the pitch between the servo bands SB in the width direction WD of the magnetic tape MT in the drive B is measured. Then, the pitch between servo bands SB in the width direction WD of the magnetic tape MT in drive A is compared with the pitch between servo bands SB in the width direction WD of the magnetic tape MT in drive B, and the comparison result (for example, The unknown distance between servo reading elements, that is, the distance between servo reading elements of drive B is estimated from the known distance between servo reading elements (difference or ratio) and the known distance between servo reading elements.

In the control device 38 (see FIG. 12) of the magnetic tape drive 30, as shown in FIG. 26 as an example, the ASIC 120 includes a position detection section 121, a servo control section 123, a first recording control section 124, and a second recording control section 127. , a first data acquisition section 130, a reading control section 131, a second data acquisition section 132, a data output section 134, a transmission section 136, a reception section 138, and a travel control section 140. The transmitter 136 acquires the drive ID 128 from the storage 122 and transmits the acquired drive ID 128 to the host computer 4. As will be described in detail later, the host computer 4 receives the drive ID 128 sent from the sending unit 136, and sends drive corresponding distance information 154 (see FIG. 28) corresponding to the received drive ID 128 to the ASIC 120. The receiving unit 138 receives the drive correspondence distance information 154 transmitted from the host computer 4.

The running control unit 140 selectively runs the magnetic tape MT in the forward direction and the reverse direction by controlling the respective drives of the feed motor 40 and the take-up motor 44 . The drive of the feed-out motor 40 is controlled according to a feed-out motor control signal (not shown), and the drive of the take-up motor 44 is controlled according to a take-up motor control signal (not shown). The delivery motor control signal and the take-up motor control signal are generated by the travel control section 140. The delivery motor control signal is supplied to the delivery motor 40 by the travel control section 140, and the take-up motor control signal is supplied to the take-up motor 44 by the travel control section 140. Note that hereinafter, unless there is a particular need to distinguish between them, the delivery motor control signal and the take-up motor control signal will be referred to as motor control signals.

The travel control unit 140 acquires pitch information 142 and distance information 146 from the cartridge memory 19. As will be described in detail later, the traveling control unit 140 receives pitch and distance information 146 at the position in the width direction WD of the magnetic head 36 specified by the pitch information 142 acquired from the cartridge memory 19, and the information received by the receiving unit 138. The running speed and tension of the magnetic tape MT are adjusted to appropriate values by adjusting the rotational speed and rotational torque of each of the sending motor 40 and the take-up motor 44 according to the drive corresponding distance information 154. Adjustment of the running speed and tension of the magnetic tape MT is performed at each of a plurality of locations spaced apart over the entire length of the magnetic tape MT. Adjustment of the rotational speed and rotational torque of each of the delivery motor 40 and the take-up motor 44 is performed by using the delivery motor control signal and the take-up motor control signal by the travel control unit 140, using pitch information 142, distance information 146, and drive corresponding distance information 154. This is achieved by correcting according to the following.

Two types of servo signals based on the servo pattern 51 read by the servo reading elements SR1 and SR2 are input to the position detection unit 121. The position detection unit 121 detects the position of the servo reading element SR1 within the servo band SB and the position of the servo reading element SR2 within the servo band SB, and calculates the average value of the detected positions. Then, the position detection unit 121 detects the position of the magnetic head 36 in the width direction WD based on the calculated average value.

Further, servo pattern distance information 148 may be input to the position detection unit 121 from the cartridge memory 19. The position detection unit 121 uses two types of servo signals to calculate the distance D of the servo pattern 51 in each servo band SB read by the servo reading elements SR1 and SR2, and refers to the servo pattern distance information 148. , detect the servo positions corresponding to each of the calculated distances D as the position within the servo band SB of the servo reading element SR1 and the position within the servo band SB of the servo reading element SR2, and calculate the average value of the detected positions. It's okay.

For example, if the servo position of servo reading element SR1 in servo band SB1 is "1" and the servo position of servo reading element SR2 in servo band SB2 is "3", the servo position represented by "2" is magnetically This is the position of the head 36 in the width direction. In the example of the servo pattern distance information 148 in FIG. 22, 19 servo positions are set, but in detecting the servo position, the servo position is calculated based on the distance D and the servo pattern distance information 148, It may be an intermediate value among the servo positions set in the servo pattern distance information 148.

The position detection section 121 outputs the detected position of the magnetic head 36 in the width direction WD to the servo control section 123 and the travel control section 140.

Hereinafter, the detection result of the position of the magnetic head 36 in the width direction WD will be simply referred to as "the width direction position of the magnetic head 36."

The servo control unit 123 compares the detection result of the position of the magnetic head 36 in the width direction WD from the position detection unit 121 with the target position of the magnetic head 36 in the width direction WD. The target position is specified by the ASIC 120 using a servo position, for example, each time the magnetic tape drive 30 records and/or reads data on the magnetic tape cartridge 10.

The servo control unit 123 does nothing if the detection result is the same as the target position. If the detection result deviates from the target position, the servo control unit 123 outputs a servo control signal to the moving mechanism 129. The moving mechanism 129 adjusts the position of the magnetic head 36 to the target position by operating according to a servo control signal input from the servo control unit 123.

The first data acquisition unit 130 acquires data to be recorded in the data band DB by the magnetic head 36 from the host computer 4. The first data acquisition section 130 outputs the data acquired from the host computer 4 to the first recording control section 124 .

The first recording control unit 124 encodes the data input from the first data acquisition unit 130 into a digital signal for recording. Then, the first recording control unit 124 supplies the first data recording element DW1 included in the magnetic head 36 with a pulse current according to the digital signal, thereby recording data in the designated data track DT in the data band DB. Let it be recorded.

The second data acquisition unit 132 acquires data to be recorded in the data band DB by the magnetic head 36 from the host computer 4 . The second data acquisition unit 132 outputs the data acquired from the host computer 4 to the second recording control unit 127. Note that although the first data acquisition unit 130 and the second data acquisition unit 132 are illustrated here, the technology of the present disclosure is not limited to this, and may be one data acquisition unit. In this case, data may be output to the first recording control section 124 or the second recording control section 127 depending on the running direction of the magnetic tape MT.

The second recording control unit 127 encodes the data input from the second data acquisition unit 132 into a digital signal for recording. Then, the second recording control unit 127 supplies the second data recording element DW2 included in the magnetic head 36 with a pulse current according to the digital signal, thereby recording data in the designated data track DT in the data band DB. Let it be recorded.

The read control unit 131 controls the operation of the data read element DR of the magnetic head 36 to cause the data read element DR to read data from a designated data track DT in the data band DB. The data read from the data track DT by the data reading element DR is a pulsed digital signal. The reading control section 65 outputs a pulsed digital signal to the data output section 134.

The data output section 134 decodes the pulsed digital signal input from the reading control section 131. The data output unit 134 outputs the decoded data to a predetermined output destination (for example, the host computer 4, a display (not shown), and/or a storage device (for example, the storage 122), etc.).

As an example, as shown in FIG. 27, in the host computer 4, the NVM 172 stores a drive-by-drive characteristic table 150 and a servo reading element distance derivation program 152. The drive characteristic table 150 stores drive characteristic information for each of the plurality of magnetic tape drives 30.

The drive characteristic information includes, for example, information indicating the characteristics of the magnetic head 36 (for example, the distance between servo reading elements), the serial number of the magnetic tape drive 30, information indicating the manufacturing date of the magnetic tape drive 30, and information indicating the manufacturing date of the magnetic tape drive 30. Information indicating the shipping date, information indicating the inspection date of the magnetic tape drive 30, information indicating the characteristics of the ASIC 120 of the magnetic tape drive 30, information indicating the characteristics of the moving mechanism 129, information indicating the characteristics of the sending motor 40, and information indicating the characteristics of the take-up motor. 44, and information indicating the characteristics of the non-contact reading/writing device 50A.

The CPU 170 reads the servo reading element distance deriving program 152 from the NVM 172 and executes the read servo reading element distance deriving program 152 on the RAM 174 . The CPU 170 operates as a receiving section 170A, a deriving section 170B, and a transmitting section 170C by executing the servo reading element distance deriving program 152.

As an example, as shown in FIG. 28, the drive characteristic table 150 holds the distance between servo reading elements of each magnetic head 36 mounted on each magnetic tape drive 30 as drive characteristic information. Further, the drive-by-drive characteristic table 150 holds a drive ID 128 for each magnetic tape drive 30. In the drive-specific characteristic table 150, each drive ID 128 is associated with the distance between servo reading elements regarding the magnetic head 36 mounted on the magnetic tape drive 30 specified by the drive ID 128. Here, the drive ID 128 is used as information that can identify the magnetic head 36 mounted on the magnetic tape drive 30. Note that the drive ID 128 is an example of "head identification information that can identify a head in which a plurality of servo reading elements are mounted" according to the technology of the present disclosure, and is an example of the servo reading element information held in the drive-specific characteristic table 150. The distance between the servo reading elements is an example of "information indicating the distances of the plurality of servo reading elements mounted on the head" according to the technology of the present disclosure.

By the way, if the drive ID 128 of the magnetic tape drive 30 (herein referred to as "drive C" for convenience) that acquired the pitch information 142 in an operation before recording data on the magnetic tape MT is stored in the cartridge memory 19. , as described in the example shown in FIG. 12, the drive ID 128 of the drive C is read from the cartridge memory 128 by the non-contact reading/writing device 50A, and the drive ID 128 of the drive C is a magnetic tape drive 30 different from the drive C. That is, the data is temporarily stored in the storage 122 by the ASIC 120 of the magnetic tape drive 30 (here, referred to as "drive D" for convenience) shown in FIG. In the ASIC 120 of the drive D, the transmitter 136 acquires the drive ID 128 of the drive C from the storage 122 and transmits the acquired drive ID 128 to the host computer 4.

In the host computer 4, the receiving unit 170A receives the drive ID 128 transmitted from the transmitting unit 136. The deriving unit 170B derives the distance between servo reading elements corresponding to the drive ID 128 received by the receiving unit 170A, that is, the distance between servo reading elements corresponding to the drive C from the drive-specific characteristic table 150. The transmitting unit 170C transmits, to the ASIC 120, drive corresponding distance information 154 indicating the distance between servo reading elements derived from the drive-specific characteristic table 150 by the deriving unit 170B. In the ASIC 120, the receiving unit 138 receives the drive correspondence distance information 154 transmitted from the transmitting unit 170C.

In this embodiment, an example is given in which the distances between servo reading elements of a plurality of magnetic tape drives 30 are aggregated in the NVM 132 of the host computer 4 in the form of a drive-specific characteristic table 150. In this case, as described above, It is preferable that the cartridge memory 19 stores at least the drive ID 128 of the drive ID 128 and the head ID.

Here, for example, if the drive ID 128 of drive C is stored in the cartridge memory 19, when performing a recording operation and/or a reading operation in another magnetic tape drive 30, that is, the above-mentioned drive D, the ASIC 128 of drive D acquires pitch information 142 and drive ID 128 regarding drive C (an example of "distance information" according to the technology of the present disclosure) from cartridge memory 19 via non-contact reading/writing device 50A (see FIG. 12). The ASIC 120 of the drive D then acquires the drive correspondence distance information 154 corresponding to the drive ID 128 regarding the drive C from the NVM 132 of the host computer 4. Since the distance information 146 of drive D is stored in the storage 122 of drive D (see FIG. 25), the ASIC 120 of drive D stores the distance information 146 stored in the storage 122 of drive D (servo reading for drive D). the distance between the elements itself), the drive-compatible distance information 154 acquired from the NVM 132 (the distance between the servo reading elements for the drive C), and the pitch information 142 stored in the cartridge memory 19 of the drive D (the pitch measured in the drive C). control of the tension applied to the magnetic tape MT in the drive D.

Note that when the distance information 146 (see FIG. 26) regarding drive C stored in the cartridge memory 19 is the distance between servo reading elements itself, the ASIC 120 of drive D obtains the distance between servo reading elements from the NVM 132 of the host computer 4. Since there is no need to obtain the information, there is no need to make an inquiry to the host computer 4.

As an example, as shown in FIG. 29, in the cartridge memory 19, the CPU 94 performs a read process to read pitch information 142, distance information 146, and servo pattern distance information 148 from the NVM 96. Thereby, the CPU 94 reads pitch information 142, distance information 146, and servo pattern distance information 148 from the NVM 96, and outputs the read pitch information 142 and distance information 146 to the travel control unit 140 via the non-contact reading/writing device 50A. do. Note that the CPU 94 may read out at least one of the pitch information 142 and the servo pattern distance information 148 from the NVM 96. The CPU 94 outputs the read servo pattern distance information 148 to the position detection unit 121 via the non-contact reading/writing device 50A.

The position detection unit 121 stores in the storage 122 the servo pattern distance information 148 inputted from the cartridge memory 19 via the non-contact reading/writing device 50A. The position detection unit 121 uses the servo signal input from the servo reading element SR to calculate the distance D of the servo pattern 51 in each servo band SB read by the servo reading element SR. The position detection unit 121 refers to the servo pattern distance information 148, detects servo positions corresponding to each calculated distance D, and calculates an average value of the detected servo positions. Then, the position detection unit 121 detects the widthwise position of the magnetic head 36 based on the calculated average value. The position detection section 121 outputs the detected widthwise position of the magnetic head 36 to the servo control section 123 and the travel control section 140.

The servo control unit 123 controls the position of the magnetic head 36 in the width direction WD so that the width direction position of the magnetic head 36 detected by the position detection unit 121 becomes a predetermined target position. Such control by the ASIC 120 to bring the widthwise position of the magnetic head 36 closer to the target position is referred to as "positioning control of the magnetic head 36."

Note that if the servo position that matches the calculated distance D is not specified in the servo pattern distance information 148, the position detection unit 121 detects the distance between the calculated distance D and the servo position specified in the servo pattern distance information 148. By interpolating the servo position using D, the servo position corresponding to the calculated distance D can be detected.

For example, if the calculated distance D is "22.001 μm", in the servo pattern distance information 148 shown in FIG. 22, the calculated distance D is the range of the distance D corresponding to the servo positions "1" and "2". include. Therefore, the position detection unit 121 determines the servo position corresponding to the calculated distance D by interpolating between the distance D corresponding to the servo position "1" and the distance D corresponding to the servo position "2". All you have to do is ask. A known interpolation method is used to interpolate the servo position. Specifically, in addition to linear interpolation, nonlinear interpolation such as Lagrangian interpolation and spline interpolation is used.

Note that when the servo position corresponding to the calculated distance D is not specified in the servo pattern distance information 148, the position detection unit 121 detects the servo position corresponding to the distance D closest to the calculated distance D. It may also be a servo position corresponding to .

Travel control unit 140 stores distance information 146 and pitch information 142 input from cartridge memory 19 via non-contact reading/writing device 50A in storage 122. The traveling control unit 140 receives the drive compatible distance information 154 received by the receiving unit 138 and the cartridge memory 19 via the non-contact reading/writing device 50A while the magnetic head 36 is positioned by the servo control unit 123. Based on the input distance information 146 and pitch information 142, the feed motor 40 and the take-up motor 44 are operated so that the width of the magnetic tape MT corresponds to the distance between the servo reading elements indicated by the drive corresponding distance information 154. The tension applied to the magnetic tape MT is adjusted by controlling the drive of the magnetic tape MT. In this case, first, the travel control unit 140 determines the distance between the servo reading elements specified from the distance information 146 (the distance between the servo reading elements measured by the measuring device 144 (see FIG. 25)) and the drive corresponding distance information 154. The difference between the distance between the servo reading elements and the distance between the servo reading elements (hereinafter also simply referred to as "difference") is calculated.

Here, the difference refers to a value obtained by subtracting the distance between servo reading elements indicated by the drive corresponding distance information 154 from the distance between servo reading elements specified from the distance information 146, for example. Note that although an example of a form in which the difference is calculated is given here, the technology of the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the technology of the present disclosure is not limited to this. It may also be a ratio of the distance between the servo reading elements. In this way, the difference is just an example, and may be any value that indicates the degree of difference between the distance between servo reading elements specified from the distance information 146 and the distance between servo reading elements indicated by the drive compatible distance information 154. .

The travel control unit 140 uses the calculated difference and the pitch corresponding to the width direction position of the magnetic head 36 specified from the pitch information 142 as independent variables, and uses a correction value (hereinafter referred to as a "send-out motor control signal") to correct the send-out motor control signal. The feed motor control signal is corrected using the calculation formula 156 in which the take-up motor control signal (also referred to as "signal correction value") and the correction value for correcting the take-up motor control signal (hereinafter also referred to as "take-up motor control signal correction value") are dependent variables. Calculate the value and take-up motor control signal correction value.

The sending motor control signal correction value and the winding motor control signal correction value are tensions applied to the magnetic tape MT so that the width of the magnetic tape MT corresponds to the distance between servo reading elements indicated by the drive compatible distance information 154. This is a correction value used for the delivery motor control signal and the take-up motor control signal in order to obtain the delivery motor control signal and the take-up motor control signal necessary to realize the above.

Note that the calculation formula 156 used by the travel control unit 140 realizes the tension applied to the magnetic tape MT so that the width of the magnetic tape MT corresponds to the distance between the servo reading elements indicated by the drive compatible distance information 154. Tests using actual machines and Alternatively, it is an arithmetic expression obtained in advance through computer simulation or the like.

The travel control unit 140 controls the drive of the delivery motor 40 by correcting the delivery motor control signal with the calculated delivery motor control signal correction value and then supplies it to the delivery motor 40, and also controls the drive of the delivery motor 40 using the calculated take-up motor control signal. The drive of the take-up motor 44 is controlled by correcting the take-up motor control signal with the correction value and then supplying it to the take-up motor 44. Thereby, the width of the magnetic tape MT is adjusted to a width corresponding to the distance between the servo reading elements indicated by the drive correspondence distance information 154. That is, if the target position of the magnetic head 36 is the midpoint of the servo band SB in the width direction WD, the position detection section 121 and the servo control section 123 move the servo reading element SR to the servo position corresponding to the midpoint. Positioning control of the magnetic head 36 is performed. Then, the width of the magnetic tape MT is adjusted by controlling the tension applied to the magnetic tape MT by the travel control section 140.

Next, the operation of the magnetic tape system 2 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 30 and 31.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of servo reading element distance derivation processing executed by the CPU 170 of the host computer 4 according to the servo reading element distance derivation program 152. FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of tape width control processing executed by the ASIC 120 of the magnetic tape drive 30.

In the servo reading element distance deriving process shown in FIG. 30, first, in step ST10, the receiving unit 170A transmits data from the transmitting unit 136 of the magnetic tape drive 30 by executing the process of step ST100 of the tape width control process described later. It is determined whether or not the specified drive ID 128 has been received. In step ST10, if the drive ID 128 transmitted from the transmitter 136 of the magnetic tape drive 30 has not been received, the determination is negative and the servo reading element distance derivation process moves to step ST16. In step ST10, if the drive ID 128 transmitted from the transmitter 136 of the magnetic tape drive 30 is received, the determination is affirmative and the servo reading element distance derivation process moves to step ST12.

In step ST12, the derivation unit 170B derives the distance between servo reading elements corresponding to the drive ID 128 received in step ST10 from the drive-specific characteristic table 150.

In the next step ST14, the transmitter 170C transmits the drive corresponding distance information 154 indicating the distance between the servo reading elements derived in step ST12 to the magnetic tape drive 30.

In the next step ST16, the transmitter 170C determines whether a condition for terminating the servo reading element distance deriving process (hereinafter also referred to as "servo reading element distance deriving process terminating condition") is satisfied. Examples of the condition for terminating the servo reading element distance deriving process include the condition that an instruction to terminate the servo reading element distance deriving process is given from the outside. In step ST16, if the servo reading element distance derivation process termination condition is not satisfied, the determination is negative and the servo reading element distance derivation process moves to step ST10. In step ST16, if the servo reading element distance deriving process termination condition is satisfied, the determination is affirmative and the servo reading element distance deriving process ends.

In the tape width control process shown in FIG. 31, first, in step ST100, the transmitter 136 transmits the drive ID 128 to the host computer 4.

In the next step ST102, the receiving unit 138 determines whether or not it has received the drive correspondence distance information 154 transmitted by the transmitting unit 170C by executing the process of step ST14 shown in FIG. In step ST102, if the drive correspondence distance information 154 transmitted by the transmitter 170C is not received, the determination is negative and the determination in step ST102 is performed again. In step ST102, if the drive correspondence distance information 154 transmitted by the transmitter 170C is received, the determination is affirmative and the tape width control process moves to step ST104.

In step ST104, the traveling control unit 140 acquires pitch information 142, distance information 146, and servo pattern distance information 148 from the NVM 96 of the cartridge memory 19 via the CPU 94 and the non-contact read/write device 50A. The travel control unit 140 stores the acquired pitch information 142 and distance information 146 in the storage 122. Further, the position detection unit 121 stores the acquired servo pattern distance information 148 in the storage 122. If the pitch information 142, distance information 146, and servo pattern distance information 148 are stored in the storage 122 in this way, the travel control unit 140 can again retrieve the pitch information 142, distance information 146, and servo pattern distance information from the NVM 96 of the cartridge memory 19. There is no need to acquire pattern distance information 148.

In the next step ST106, the running control section 140 starts running the magnetic tape MT by controlling the sending motor 40 and the take-up motor 44.

In the next step ST108, the traveling control section 140 determines whether the position of the magnetic head 36 with respect to the magnetic tape MT has reached a predetermined position. The predetermined position refers to the position of one of a plurality of locations spaced apart over the entire length of the magnetic tape MT. Note that whether or not the predetermined position has been reached may be determined, for example, based on a servo signal input from the servo reading element SR to the position detection unit 121, or whether the magnetic tape MT has started running. The determination may be made based on the time that has elapsed since the start, or the determination may be made based on the amount of drive of the delivery motor 40 and the take-up motor 44.

In step ST108, if the position of the magnetic head 36 with respect to the magnetic tape MT has not reached the predetermined position, the determination is negative and the tape width control process moves to step ST118. In step ST108, if the position of the magnetic head 36 with respect to the magnetic tape MT has reached the predetermined position, the determination is affirmative and the tape width control process moves to step ST109.

In step ST109, the position detection unit 121 uses the servo signal input from the servo reading element SR to calculate the distance D of the servo pattern 51 in each servo band SB read by the servo reading element SR. The position detection unit 121 detects the servo position of the servo reading element SR in each servo band SB using the calculated distance D and the servo pattern distance information 148 acquired in step ST104, and then detects the width direction position of the magnetic head 36. Detect.

The servo control unit 123 performs positioning control of the magnetic head 36 by controlling the moving mechanism 129 so that the detected widthwise position of the magnetic head 36 approaches the target position. As a result, the widthwise position of the magnetic head 36 moves to the target position.

In step ST110, travel control section 140 calculates the difference between the distance between servo reading elements specified from distance information 146 acquired in step ST104 and the distance between servo reading elements indicated by drive corresponding distance information 154.

In the next step ST112, the travel control unit 140 substitutes the difference calculated in step ST110 and the pitch specified from the pitch information 142 acquired in step ST104 into the calculation formula 156, thereby generating the output motor control signal from the calculation formula 156. Calculate the correction value and the take-up motor control signal correction value.

As an example, consider a situation in which the distance between servo reading elements specified from the distance information 146 is longer than the distance between servo reading elements indicated by the drive corresponding distance information 154. In this case, even if the width direction position of the magnetic head 36 is brought closer to the target position in step ST109, a situation may occur in which the data magnetic elements DRW are not located on the respective corresponding data tracks DT of the magnetic tape MT. be.

Specifically, the larger the difference calculated in step ST110, the longer the interval between adjacent data magnetic elements DRW in the magnetic head 36 is than the interval between adjacent data tracks DT provided on the surface 139 of the magnetic tape MT. It shows a tendency to

In such a case, if the tension of the magnetic tape MT is made weaker than the tension T1, the width of the magnetic tape MT increases, and the data magnetic elements DRW approach the positions on the respective data tracks DT of the magnetic tape MT. As already explained, the tension T1 is a predetermined reference tension that is applied to the magnetic tape MT when the magnetic tape drive 30 records or reads data in the data band DB of the magnetic tape MT. It is about.

On the other hand, the pitch information 142 indicates the pitch corresponding to each servo position when using the magnetic head 36 having the distance between servo reading elements indicated by the drive correspondence distance information 154. The pitch defined in the pitch information 142 is such that when the magnetic tape MT is run with the tension T1, the data magnetic elements DRW are located on the corresponding data tracks DT of the magnetic tape MT.

Therefore, the traveling control unit 140 determines the pitch corresponding to the servo position representing the width direction position of the magnetic head 36 detected in step ST109 from the pitch information 142 shown in FIG. 24 corresponding to the predetermined position reached by the magnetic head 36. get.

Once the pitch obtained from the pitch information 142 corresponding to the servo position representing the widthwise position of the magnetic head 36 detected in step ST109 and the difference calculated in step ST110 are known, the pitch and tape width control processing is executed. The amount of deviation from the pitch in the magnetic tape drive 30 is obtained. Therefore, Equation 156 calculates a feed motor control signal correction value and a take-up motor control signal correction value that make the tension of the magnetic tape MT weaker than the tension T1 as the pitch deviation amount increases.

Next, consider a situation in which the distance between servo reading elements specified from the distance information 146 is shorter than the distance between servo reading elements indicated by the drive corresponding distance information 154. In this case, as the difference calculated in step ST110 becomes larger, the interval between adjacent data magnetic elements DRW in the magnetic head 36 tends to become shorter than the interval between adjacent data tracks DT provided on the surface 139 of the magnetic tape MT. shows.

In such a case, if the tension of the magnetic tape MT is made stronger than the tension T1, the width of the magnetic tape MT will be reduced, so that the data magnetic elements DRW will approach the positions on the respective data tracks DT of the magnetic tape MT.

Therefore, when the distance between the servo reading elements specified from the distance information 146 is shorter than the distance between the servo reading elements indicated by the drive corresponding distance information 154, the arithmetic expression 156 is calculated as follows: A feed-out motor control signal correction value and a take-up motor control signal correction value that make the tension stronger than the tension T1 are calculated.

That is, the traveling control unit 140 controls the sending motor to reduce the deviation in the width direction WD between each data magnetic element DRW and the data track DT on which data is recorded and/or read by each data magnetic element DRW. A signal correction value and a take-up motor control signal correction value are calculated using arithmetic expression 156.

Note that if the servo position representing the widthwise position of the magnetic head 36 detected in step ST109 is not specified in the pitch information 142, the traveling control unit 140 determines the pitch corresponding to the servo position representing the widthwise position of the magnetic head 36. can be calculated by interpolation.

In the next step ST114, the traveling control unit 140 corrects the sending motor control signal using the sending motor control signal correction value calculated in step ST112, and corrects the take-up motor control signal using the take-up motor control signal correction value calculated in step ST112. Correct.

In the next step ST116, the travel control unit 140 controls the drive of the delivery motor 40 by supplying the delivery motor control signal corrected in step ST114 to the delivery motor 40, and also controls the take-up motor control corrected in step ST114. The drive of the take-up motor 44 is controlled by supplying the signal to the take-up motor 44. As a result, the tension applied to the magnetic tape MT is adjusted, and the width of the magnetic tape MT is controlled so as to correspond to the distance between the servo reading elements indicated by the drive correspondence distance information 154.

In the next step ST118, the travel control unit 140 determines whether a condition for terminating the tape width control process (hereinafter also referred to as a "tape width control process terminating condition") is satisfied. The tape width control process termination condition is that an instruction to terminate the tape width control process has been given from the outside, and/or that the data recording or reading operation has been completed for the entire length of the magnetic tape MT. Conditions include:

In step ST118, if the tape width control process termination condition is not satisfied, the determination is negative and the tape width control process moves to step ST108. In step ST118, if the tape width control process termination condition is satisfied, the determination is affirmative and the tape width control process ends.

As described above, in this embodiment, pitch information 142, distance information 146, and servo pattern distance information 148 are stored in NVM 96 of cartridge memory 19. The magnetic tape cartridge 10 equipped with a cartridge memory 19 having an NVM 96 in which pitch information 142, distance information 146, and servo pattern distance information 148 are stored is loaded and used in a magnetic tape drive 30 other than the reference drive. .

When the magnetic tape cartridge 10 configured in this way is loaded into the magnetic tape drive 30, the magnetic tape MT inside the magnetic tape cartridge 10 is pulled out, and the magnetic head 36 performs a recording or reading operation, the magnetic tape drive 30 acquires pitch information 142, distance information 146, and servo pattern distance information 148 from NVM 96 of cartridge memory 19.

Further, drive corresponding distance information 154 indicating the servo reading element distance regarding the magnetic head 36 mounted on the magnetic tape drive 30 is acquired from the host computer 4 by the travel control unit 140 . Furthermore, the difference between the servo reading element distance indicated by the drive compatible distance information 154 and the servo reading element distance specified by the distance information 146 and the pitch specified from the pitch information 142 are substituted into the arithmetic expression 156. , a sending motor control signal correction value and a winding motor control signal correction value are calculated by the travel control unit 140.

Then, the travel control unit 140 supplies the delivery motor control signal corrected with the delivery motor control signal correction value to the delivery motor 40, and the take-up motor control signal corrected with the take-up motor control signal correction value is supplied to the delivery motor 40. It is supplied to the take-up motor 44. As a result, the tension applied to the magnetic tape MT is adjusted, and the width of the magnetic tape MT is controlled so as to correspond to the servo reading element distance indicated by the drive corresponding distance information 154.

Therefore, according to this configuration, even if the distances between the plurality of servo reading elements SR vary, it is possible to contribute to correction of the positional relationship between the plurality of servo bands SB and the plurality of servo reading elements SR.

Further, in this embodiment, pitch information 142 regarding pitches at a plurality of locations spaced apart over the entire length of the magnetic tape MT is stored in the NVM 96 of the cartridge memory 19. As a result, at each of a plurality of locations spaced apart over the entire length of the magnetic tape MT, the send-out motor control signal corrected by the send-out motor control signal correction value and the take-up motor control corrected by the take-up motor control signal correction value are controlled. I get a signal. Therefore, according to this configuration, each of a plurality of locations spaced apart over the entire length of the magnetic tape MT can contribute to correction of the positional relationship between the plurality of servo bands SB and the plurality of servo reading elements SR.

Further, in this embodiment, as the distance information 146 stored in the NVM 96 of the cartridge memory 19, information indicating the distance between the servo reading elements itself is adopted. Therefore, according to this configuration, compared to the case where information other than the information indicating the distance between servo reading elements itself is used as the distance information 146 stored in the NVM 96 of the cartridge memory 19, a plurality of servo bands SB and a plurality of This can contribute to highly accurate correction of the positional relationship with the servo reading element SR.

Further, in this embodiment, the drive ID 128 and the distance between servo reading elements are associated with each of the plurality of magnetic tape drives 30 into which the magnetic tape cartridge 10 is loaded. Therefore, according to this configuration, even if the distance between the servo reading elements SR used to measure the pitch between the servo bands SB in the width direction WD of the magnetic tape MT varies for each magnetic head 36, a plurality of servo This can contribute to correcting the positional relationship between the band SB and the plurality of servo reading elements SR.

Further, in this embodiment, the cartridge memory 19 includes an NVM 96 in which data is read and written in a non-contact manner by the non-contact reading/writing device 50. Therefore, according to this configuration, pitch information 142 and distance information 146 can be stored without physically damaging the cartridge memory 19, compared to the case where data is read and written in contact with some kind of memory or the like. I can do it.

Further, in this embodiment, before data is recorded on the magnetic tape MT by the magnetic tape drive 30, the servo patterns 51 of the servo bands SB adjacent in the width direction WD are read by the servo reading elements SR1 and SR2. Based on the read results, the pitch between the servo patterns 51 in the width direction WD is measured. Therefore, according to this configuration, even if the width of the magnetic tape MT expands or contracts before and after data is recorded on the magnetic tape MT by the magnetic tape drive 30, the plurality of servo bands SB and the plurality of servo reading elements SR This can contribute to correcting the positional relationship with the

Furthermore, in this embodiment, before data is recorded on the magnetic tape MT by the magnetic tape drive 30, the servo patterns 51 of the servo bands SB adjacent to each other in the width direction WD are read by the servo reading elements SR1 and SR2. Based on the read result and the distance between the plurality of servo reading elements, the pitch between the servo patterns 51 in the width direction WD is calculated. Therefore, according to this configuration, if the distance between the servo reading elements is measured in advance, the pitch information 142 can be generated using the distance D at the servo position where the servo reading element SR is located.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the pitch between the servo patterns 51 is measured at a plurality of servo positions within each servo band SB on the magnetic tape MT. Therefore, according to this configuration, the plurality of servo bands SB and the plurality of servo reading elements SR are arranged based on the pitch between the servo patterns 51 according to the position of the servo reading element SR in the width direction WD within the servo band SB. It can contribute to correcting the positional relationship.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the servo positions within the servo band SB include a plurality of servo positions within each servo band SB, and a pair of magnetized regions 51A forming the servo pattern 51 formed on each of the servo bands SB. and distance D at each servo position between 51B and 51B are identified using servo pattern distance information 148. Therefore, according to this configuration, by measuring the distance D from the magnetized region 51A to the magnetized region 51B using the change in the pulse read by the servo reading element SR, the distance D of the servo reading element SR in each servo band SB is measured. Servo position can be specified.

In the above embodiment, the NVM 96 of the cartridge memory 19 is used as an example of the storage medium, but the storage medium is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in FIG. 32, when the magnetic tape cartridge 10 is loaded for the first time or when the magnetic tape MT is initialized, the ASIC 120 of the control device 38 controls the operation of the magnetic head 36. The pitch information 142 may be written in the BOT area 158 provided at the beginning of the magnetic tape MT by controlling the magnetic tape MT. Furthermore, the measuring device 144 may also write distance information 146 and/or servo pattern distance information 148 in the BOT area 158.

In this way, when the pitch information 142, the distance information 146, and the servo pattern distance information 148 are written in the BOT area 158, the ASIC 120 controls the operation of the magnetic head 36 so that the pitch information 142, the distance information 146, and the servo pattern distance information 148 are written in the BOT area 158. The distance information 146 and the servo pattern distance information 148 are read. Note that the BOT area 158 is an example of "a partial area of the magnetic tape" according to the technology of the present disclosure.

Thus, in the example shown in FIG. 32, the BOT area 158 of the magnetic tape MT is used as the storage medium. Therefore, according to this configuration, it is possible to save the effort of preparing the cartridge memory 19 and storing the pitch information 142, distance information 146, and servo pattern distance information 148 in the NVM 96 of the cartridge memory 19.

Although the example shown in FIG. 32 shows an example in which pitch information 142, distance information 146, and servo pattern distance information 148 are written in the BOT area 158, the technology of the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, two or less of the pitch information 142, distance information 146, and servo pattern distance information 148 may be written in the BOT area 158, and the remaining information may be written in the NVM 96 of the cartridge memory 19.

Note that the magnetic head of the magnetic tape drive installed in the factory may be damaged at any time when the magnetic tape cartridge 10 is manufactured, when the magnetic tape cartridge 10 is inspected, or when the magnetic tape cartridge 10 is shipped. Accordingly, at least one of pitch information 142, distance information 146, and servo pattern distance information 148 may be stored in BOT area 158.

Further, as an example, as shown in FIG. 29, the pitch information 142, distance information 146, and servo pattern distance information 148 read from the cartridge memory 19 by the non-contact reading/writing device 50A are written into the BOT area 158 by the ASIC 120. It's okay. In this case, pitch information 142, distance information 146, and servo pattern distance information 148 will be stored in both NVM 96 and BOT area 158. Therefore, by comparing the pitch information 142, distance information 146, and servo pattern distance information 148 stored in the NVM 96 with the pitch information 142, distance information 146, and servo pattern distance information 148 stored in the BOT area 158, The reliability of pitch information 142, distance information 146, and servo pattern distance information 148 can be verified. Furthermore, even if a problem occurs in either the NVM 96 or the BOT area 158, pitch information 142, distance information 146, and servo pattern distance information 148 can be obtained from the other.

Note that instead of or in addition to the BOT area 158, at least one of pitch information 142, distance information 146, and servo pattern distance information 148 is stored in an EOT area (not shown) provided at the rear of the magnetic tape MT. You can do it like this. Furthermore, instead of being limited to the BOT area 158 and EOT area of the magnetic tape MT, for example, a two-dimensional barcode or a matrix-type two-dimensional code (for example, a QR code (registered trademark)) or the like may be used as the storage medium.

Although the above embodiment has been described using an example in which one piece of distance information 146 for the magnetic head 36 is stored in the NVM 96, the technology of the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 34, three pieces of distance information 146 for the magnetic head 36 may be stored in the NVM 96. Here, the three pieces of distance information 146 are distance information 146 about the two first servo reading elements SRa included in the first data recording element group DWG1, and distance information 146 about the two second servo reading elements SRa included in the data reading element group DRG. It refers to the distance information 146 regarding SRb and the distance information 146 regarding the two third servo reading elements SRc included in the second data recording element group DWG2.

In this way, the distance information 146 about the two first servo reading elements SRa included in the first data recording element group DWG1 is stored in the NVM96, and the distance information 146 about the two second servo reading elements SRb included in the data reading element group DRG is stored in the NVM96. When the distance information 146 about the two third servo reading elements SRc included in the second data recording element group DWG2 is stored in the NVM 96, the distance information 146 about the two third servo reading elements SRc included in the second data recording element group DWG2 is stored in the NVM96. The servo reading element distance for the two first servo reading elements SRa included in the data recording element group DWG1, the servo reading element distance for the two second servo reading elements SRb included in the data reading element group DRG, and the servo reading element distance for the two first servo reading elements SRa included in the data recording element group DWG1. It is preferable that the distance between servo reading elements for the two third servo reading elements SRc included in the two data recording element groups DWG2 is stored in the drive-specific characteristic table 150. In this case, in a manner similar to the method described in the above embodiment (see FIGS. 29 to 31), the travel control unit 140 controls the first servo reading element SRa and the second servo reading element SRb for each magnetic tape drive 30. By using the distance information 146 corresponding to each of the third servo reading element SRc, the sending motor 40 and the winding motor 44 adjust the width of the magnetic tape MT according to the distance between the servo reading elements. controlled.

Therefore, according to the example shown in FIG. 34, since the distance information 146 is stored in the NVM96 for the two first servo reading elements SRa included in the first data recording element group DWG1, Even if the distance between the two included first servo reading elements SRa varies among magnetic heads 36, the distance between the two first servo reading elements SRa and the plurality of servo bands SB included in the first data recording element group DWG1. This can contribute to correcting the positional relationship between the two.

Furthermore, according to the example shown in FIG. 34, since the distance information 146 is stored in the NVM96 for the two third servo reading elements SRc included in the second data recording element group DWG2, Even if the distance between the two included third servo reading elements SRc varies for each magnetic head 36, the two third servo reading elements SRc included in the second data recording element group DWG2 and the plurality of servo bands SB. This can contribute to correcting the positional relationship between the two.

Furthermore, according to the example shown in FIG. 34, since the distance information 146 is stored in the NVM 96 for the two second servo reading elements SRb included in the data reading element group DRG, the distance information 146 for the two second servo reading elements SRb included in the data reading element group DRG is Even if the distance between the second servo reading elements SRb varies for each magnetic head 36, the positional relationship between the two second servo reading elements SRb and the plurality of servo bands SB included in the data reading element group DRG can be corrected. can contribute.

Although the above embodiment has been described using an example in which one piece of pitch information 142 for the magnetic head 36 is stored in the NVM 96, the technology of the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 35, pitch information 142 regarding the three servo bands SB (see FIG. 14) used for the two second servo reading elements SRb included in the data reading element group DRG is stored in the NVM 96. The pitch information 142 regarding the three servo bands SB used for the two first servo reading elements SRa included in the first data recording element group DWG1 is stored in the NVM96, and is stored in the second data recording element group DWG2. Pitch information 142 regarding the three servo bands SB used for the two included third servo reading elements SRc may be stored in the NVM 96.

In this way, the three servo bands SB used for the two first servo reading elements SRa, the three servo bands SB used for the two second servo reading elements SRb, and the two first servo reading elements SRb. When the pitch information 142 for each of the three servo bands SB used for the reading element SRa is stored in the NVM 96, in the same manner as described in the above embodiment (see FIGS. 29 to 31), The travel control unit 140 uses the pitch information 142 corresponding to each of the first servo reading element SRa, the second servo reading element SRb, and the third servo reading element SRc for each magnetic tape drive 30, so that the magnetic tape The feed motor 40 and the take-up motor 44 may be controlled so that the width of the MT corresponds to the distance between the servo reading elements.

Therefore, according to the example shown in FIG. 35, since the pitch information 142 for the first data recording element group DWG1 is stored in the NVM96, the pitch information 142 for the first data recording element group DWG1 is stored in the two first servo reading elements SRa included in the first data recording element group DWG1. Even if the pitch between the servo bands SB used for the magnetic head 36 varies, the positional relationship between the two first servo reading elements SRa included in the first data recording element group DWG1 and the plurality of servo bands SB can contribute to the correction of

Further, according to the example shown in FIG. 35, since the pitch information 142 for the second data recording element group DWG2 is stored in the NVM 96, the pitch information 142 for the second data recording element group DWG2 is stored in the two third servo reading elements SRc included in the second data recording element group DWG2. Even if the pitch between the servo bands SB used for the magnetic head 36 varies, the positional relationship between the two third servo reading elements SRc included in the second data recording element group DWG2 and the plurality of servo bands SB can contribute to the correction of

Furthermore, according to the example shown in FIG. 35, since pitch information 142 is stored in the NVM 96 for the data reading element group DRG, pitch information 142 is used for the two second servo reading elements SRb included in the data reading element group DRG. To contribute to correction of the positional relationship between two second servo reading elements SRb included in the data reading element group DRG and a plurality of servo bands SB even if the pitch between the servo bands SB varies for each magnetic head 36. I can do it.

In the example shown in FIG. 34, the distance information 146 for each of the data reading element group DRG, the first data recording element group DWG1, and the second data recording element group DWG2 is stored in the NVM 96, and in the example shown in FIG. Although the pitch information 142 for each of the reading element group DRG, the first data recording element group DWG1, and the second data recording element group DWG2 is stored in the NVM 96, the technology of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in FIG. 36, pitch information 142 and/or distance information 146 regarding any one of the data reading element group DRG, the first data recording element group DWG1, and the second data recording element group DWG2 is It may be stored in NVM96. In the example shown in FIG. 36, the distance information 146 regarding the two second servo reading elements SRb included in the data reading element group DRG is used for the two second servo reading elements SRb included in the data reading element group DRG. Pitch information 142 regarding the three servo bands SB is stored in the NVM 96.

In this case as well, in the same manner as the method described in the above embodiment (see FIGS. 29 to 31), the travel control unit 140 controls the two second read elements included in the data reading element group DRG for each magnetic tape drive 30. By using the distance information 146 regarding the servo reading element SRb and the pitch information 142 regarding the three servo bands SB used for the two second servo reading elements SRb included in the data reading element group DRG, the magnetic tape The feed motor 40 and the take-up motor 44 may be controlled so that the width of the MT corresponds to the distance between the servo reading elements.

Therefore, according to the example shown in FIG. 36, since the pitch information 142 and the distance information 146 are stored in the NVM 96 for the data reading element group DRG, the two second servo reading elements SRb included in the data reading element group DRG Even if the pitch between the servo bands SB used for the data reading element group DRG and the distance between the two second servo reading elements SRb included in the data reading element group DRG vary from magnetic head to magnetic head 36, This can contribute to correcting the positional relationship between the two second servo reading elements SRb and the plurality of servo bands SB.

Note that in the example shown in FIG. 36, the pitch information 142 and the distance information 146 are stored in the NVM 96 for the data reading element group DRG, but the technology of the present disclosure is not limited to this, and the first data recording element group DWG1 or Pitch information 142 and distance information 146 may be stored in NVM 96 for second data recording element group DWG2.

In the above embodiment, the cartridge memory 19 is housed in the case 12. However, the technology of the present disclosure is not limited to this, and the cartridge memory 19 is attached to the outer surface of the case 12. It's okay.

Although the above embodiment has been described using an example in which the distance between servo reading elements is associated with each magnetic tape drive 30 in the drive-specific characteristic table 150, the technology of the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the distance between servo reading elements may be associated with each magnetic head 36.

As hardware resources for executing the processing of the control device 38, the following various processors can be used. Examples of the processor include a CPU, which is a general-purpose processor that functions as a hardware resource that executes processing by executing software, that is, a program. Further, the processor includes, for example, a dedicated electric circuit such as an FPGA, a PLD, or an exemplary ASIC 120, which is a processor having a circuit configuration specifically designed to perform a specific process. Each processor has a built-in memory or is connected to it, and each processor uses the memory to execute processing.

The hardware resources that execute the processing of the control device 38 may be configured with one of these various types of processors, or may be configured with a combination of two or more processors of the same type or different types (for example, a combination of multiple FPGAs). , or a combination of a CPU and an FPGA). Furthermore, the hardware resource that executes the processing of the control device 38 may be one processor.

As an example of a single processor configuration, firstly, one processor is configured by a combination of one or more CPUs and software, and this processor functions as a hardware resource for executing processing. Second, there is a form of using a processor, as typified by an SoC, in which a single IC chip realizes the functions of an entire system including a plurality of hardware resources that execute processing. In this way, the processing of the control device 38 is realized using one or more of the various processors described above as hardware resources.

Furthermore, as the hardware structure of these various processors, more specifically, an electric circuit that is a combination of circuit elements such as semiconductor elements can be used. Moreover, the processing of the control device 38 described above is just an example. Therefore, it goes without saying that unnecessary steps may be deleted, new steps may be added, or the processing order may be changed within the scope of the main idea.

The technology of the present disclosure can also be combined as appropriate with the various embodiments and/or various modifications described above. Furthermore, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and that various configurations can be adopted as long as they do not depart from the gist of the invention. Furthermore, the technology of the present disclosure extends not only to programs but also to storage media that non-temporarily store programs.

The descriptions and illustrations described above are detailed explanations of portions related to the technology of the present disclosure, and are merely examples of the technology of the present disclosure. For example, the above description regarding the configuration, function, operation, and effect is an example of the configuration, function, operation, and effect of the part related to the technology of the present disclosure. Therefore, unnecessary parts may be deleted, new elements may be added, or replacements may be made to the written and illustrated contents described above without departing from the gist of the technology of the present disclosure. Needless to say. In addition, in order to avoid confusion and facilitate understanding of the parts related to the technology of the present disclosure, the descriptions and illustrations shown above do not include parts that require particular explanation in order to enable implementation of the technology of the present disclosure. Explanations regarding common technical knowledge, etc. that do not apply are omitted.

In this specification, "A and/or B" is synonymous with "at least one of A and B." That is, "A and/or B" means that it may be only A, only B, or a combination of A and B. Furthermore, in this specification, even when three or more items are expressed by connecting them with "and/or", the same concept as "A and/or B" is applied.

All documents, patent applications, and technical standards mentioned herein are incorporated herein by reference to the same extent as if each individual document, patent application, and technical standard was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. Incorporated by reference into this book.

2 Magnetic tape system 4 Host computer 6 Communication network 10 Magnetic tape cartridge 12 Case 12A Right wall 12B Opening 14 Upper case 14A Top plate 14A1 Inner surface 16 Lower case 16A Bottom plate 16A1 Reference surface 16B Rear wall 18 Cartridge reel 18A Reel hub 18B1 Upper flange 18B2 Lower Flange 19 Cartridge memory 20 Support member 20A First inclined table 20A1, 20B1 Inclined surface 20B Second inclined table 22 Position regulating rib 24 Rib 24A Top surface 26 Substrate 26A Back surface 26B Front surface 30 Magnetic tape drive 34 Conveying device 36 Magnetic head 38 Control device 40 Sending motor 42 Take-up reel 44 Take-up motor 46 Magnetic element unit 48 Holder 50, 50A, 50B Non-contact reading/writing device 51 Servo pattern 51A, 51B Magnetized area 52 IC chip 54 Capacitor 54A, 54B Electrode 56 Sealing material 60 Coil 62A First conduction section 62B Second conduction section 64A, 64B, 64C, 64D Wiring 70 Power generator 80 Built-in capacitor 82 Power supply circuit 84 Computer 86 Clock signal generator 88 Signal processing circuit 92 Resonance circuit 94, 170 CPU
96,172 NVM
98,174 RAM
100,125,178 Bus 120 ASIC
120A First position detection section 120B Second position detection section 120D Pitch calculation section 121 Position detection section 122 Storage 123 Servo control section 124 First recording control section 126, 136 Communication I/F
128 Drive ID
127 Second recording control section 129 Movement mechanism 129A Movement actuator 130 First data acquisition section 131 Reading control section 132 Second data acquisition section 134 Data output section 136 Transmission section 138 Receiving section 139 Surface 140 Traveling control section 142 Pitch information 144 Measuring device 146 Distance information 148 Servo pattern distance information 149 Midpoint in the width direction of the servo band 150 Characteristic table for each drive 152 Servo reading element distance derivation program 154 Drive corresponding distance information 156 Arithmetic expression 158 BOT area 170A Receiving section 170B Deriving section 170C Transmitting section DB, DB1, DB2 Data band DR Data reading element DRG Data reading element group DRW, DWR1 to DWR8 Data magnetic element DT, DT1 to DT8, DT1_1 to DT1_12, DT2_1 to DT2_12, DT8_1 to DT8_12 Data track DTG, DTG1 to DTG8 Data Track groups DW, DW1, DW2 Data recording element DWG1 First data recording element group DWG2 Second data recording element group GR Guide roller MF Magnetic field MT Magnetic tape SB, SB1, SB2, SB3 Servo band SR, SR1, SR2 Servo reading element SRa First servo reading element SRb Second servo reading element SRc Third servo reading element WD Width direction θ Inclination angle

Claims (17)

a case that accommodates a magnetic tape on which a plurality of servo bands are formed;
A magnetic tape cartridge comprising: a storage medium provided in the case;
The plurality of servo bands are formed along the entire length of the magnetic tape at positions spaced apart in the width direction of the magnetic tape,
The storage medium stores pitch information that can specify the pitch of the plurality of servo bands in the width direction, and distance information that can specify the distance between the plurality of servo reading elements that read the plurality of servo bands. tape cartridge. The data reading element group and the data recording element group of a magnetic head include at least one data reading element group that reads data from the magnetic tape, and at least one data recording element group that records data on the magnetic tape. One set of the plurality of servo reading elements is provided for each,
The magnetic tape cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the storage medium stores the distance information for each of the data reading element group and the data recording element group. The magnetic tape cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the storage medium stores the pitch information for each of the data reading element group and the data recording element group. The magnetic tape cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the storage medium stores the distance information and the pitch information for either the data reading element group or the data recording element group. The magnetic tape cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the storage medium stores the pitch information about the pitch at a plurality of spaced locations along the entire length of the magnetic tape. The magnetic tape cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the distance information includes information indicating the distance. From claim 1, wherein information indicating the distances for the plurality of servo reading elements mounted on the head is associated with head identification information that can identify the head on which the plurality of servo reading elements are mounted. 7. A magnetic tape cartridge according to claim 6. The magnetic tape cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the storage medium includes a built-in memory of a non-contact communication medium in which data is read and written in a non-contact manner by a non-contact read/write device. The pitch is measured based on the results of reading the plurality of servo bands by the plurality of servo reading elements before data is recorded on the magnetic tape by a magnetic tape drive. 9. The magnetic tape cartridge according to claim 8. a case that accommodates a magnetic tape on which a plurality of servo bands are formed;
A magnetic tape cartridge comprising: a storage medium provided in the case;
The plurality of servo bands are formed along the entire length of the magnetic tape at positions spaced apart in the width direction of the magnetic tape,
The storage medium stores pitch information that can specify the pitch of the plurality of servo bands in the width direction,
The pitch information is distance information that is not stored in the storage medium, and is a value calculated based on the distance information that can specify the distance between the plurality of servo reading elements that read the plurality of servo bands. A magnetic tape cartridge. Based on the results of reading the plurality of servo bands by the plurality of servo reading elements and the distance between the plurality of servo reading elements before data is recorded on the magnetic tape by the magnetic tape drive. The magnetic tape cartridge according to claim 10, wherein the pitch is calculated using the following formula. The magnetic tape cartridge according to claim 9 or 11, wherein the pitch is obtained for each of a plurality of positions in the width direction within the plurality of servo bands. a plurality of positions in the width direction within the plurality of servo bands and a full length direction of the magnetic tape at the plurality of positions between a pair of magnetized regions forming a servo pattern formed in each of the plurality of servo bands; 13. The magnetic tape cartridge according to claim 12, wherein the pitch at each position of the plurality of servo reading elements is obtained using servo pattern distance information associated with the distance. The magnetic tape cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the storage medium includes a partial area of the magnetic tape. The magnetic tape cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 14 is loaded,
a tension applying mechanism that applies tension to the magnetic tape;
a control device that controls the tension applying mechanism to adjust the tension according to the pitch information and the distance information stored in the storage medium;
A magnetic tape drive with A magnetic tape system,
A magnetic tape cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 14,
a tension applying mechanism that applies tension to the magnetic tape;
a control device that controls the tension applying mechanism to adjust the tension according to the pitch information and the distance information stored in the storage medium;
magnetic tape system. acquiring the pitch information and the distance information from the storage medium included in the magnetic tape cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 14;
A tension applying mechanism that applies tension to the magnetic tape calculates the tension applied to the magnetic tape based on the pitch information and the distance information when performing at least one of a recording operation and a reading operation on the magnetic tape. including making controls that adjust according to the way the magnetic tape drive operates.