JPH04268263A - Magnetic tape recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance the recording density without making a recording/ reproducing process differ widely from the case of a track disposition following ISO/TC97 and to eliminate the need of a rewrite operation. CONSTITUTION:In a central position of eighteen tracks TR1-TR18 of ISO/TC97 on a magnetic tape 10, eighteen tracks TR1A-TR18A having half the width of the tracks TR1-TR18 are disposed as the tracks of A-group. Then, between these A-group tracks, seventeen tracks TR1B-TR17B having the same width are disposed, and moreover TR18B in the same width is disposed in the lowermost end part, and these eighteen tracks are denoted as B-group tracks. In addition, a track TRC is disposed in the uppermost end part of the magnetic tape. This track TRC is previously recorded with information showing a defect of the magnetic tape. The recording and reproducing of information is performed by chaining the A-group or B-group tracks, and by the information of the track TRC, a defect of the magnetic tape is rapidly detected.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a magnetic tape recording method, and more particularly to a method for recording information on a magnetic tape at a high recording density.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, information has generally been recorded by arranging 18 tracks on a magnetic tape in accordance with ISO/TC97.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In recent years, as magnetic disk devices have become larger, it has been desired that magnetic tapes for storing information stored in magnetic disk devices have a larger capacity.
As a result, increasing the recording density of magnetic tapes has become a challenge. In order to increase the recording density of a magnetic tape, it is necessary to increase the recording linear density, which is the density in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape, and the recording surface density, which is the density in the width direction of the magnetic tape. However, when the linear density and areal density are increased, the recording area per unit information recorded becomes smaller, and as a result,
Increased susceptibility to magnetic tape defects.

Conventionally, when data is recorded on a magnetic tape, a data error occurs due to a defect in the magnetic tape, and when this error is detected, the magnetic tape device temporarily stops the forward running of the magnetic tape, and After running in the opposite direction, a rewrite operation is performed to erase the error part and rewrite the data in the correct location. Such a rewriting operation takes time and causes a decrease in processing speed, so some kind of countermeasure is required, especially when the recording density is increased and magnetic tape becomes more susceptible to defects.

[0005] Furthermore, when increasing the recording density, it is desirable that the recording/reproducing process is not significantly different from the ISO/TC97 system that has been generally used in the past.

[0006] Based on these requirements, an object of the present invention is to increase the recording density without significantly changing the recording/reproducing process from the track arrangement according to ISO/TC97, and to eliminate the need for rewriting operations. The object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic tape recording method.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems The magnetic tape recording method of the present invention arranges a first group of 18 tracks on a magnetic tape at positions according to ISO/TC97, and between these tracks and the first One track is arranged on the outside of one of the tracks of the group to form a second group of tracks, one defect indicating track is arranged on the other outer side of the tracks of the first group, and the defect indicator The present invention is characterized in that information representing defects in the magnetic tape is recorded on the track.

[0008]

[Example] Next, an example of the present invention will be described. Figure 1
2 shows the track arrangement based on the magnetic tape recording method according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, part b of the magnetic tape 10 shows the track arrangement according to the present invention, and part a shows the conventional IS.
The track arrangement according to O/TC97 is shown. In the magnetic tape recording method of the present invention, the ISO of the magnetic tape 10 is
/TC97, 18 tracks TR1A to TR18A having half the width of the tracks TR1 to TR18 are arranged at the center of the 18 tracks TR1 to TR18 as tracks of group A. Between each track of these A groups, there are 17 tracks TR1B~ of the same width.
TR17B is arranged, and a track TR18B of the same width is further arranged at the bottom end, and these 18 tracks are set as tracks of group B.

[0009] Also, a track T is provided at the top end of the magnetic tape.
Place RC. Information indicating defects in the magnetic tape is recorded in advance on this track TRC. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the magnetic tape 10 is inspected for defects, and if the tape is normal, a logic "1" signal is continuously recorded at the corresponding location on the track TRC, and if a defect is found, the logic "1" signal is continuously recorded. A logic "0" signal (no signal) is continuously recorded at the corresponding location on the track TRC.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a magnetic tape device for recording and reproducing information on such a magnetic tape 10. The magnetic head 11 that writes/reads data to/from the magnetic tape 10 is a 37-track magnetic head.
The light switching circuit 12 switches A to A according to instructions from the control circuit 23.
The magnetic head 11 switches whether to record data on the group track or the B group track.
Output data to . The read switching circuit 13 selects the control circuit 2 from among the data read from the A group track or the B group track by the magnetic head 11.
Select and output one according to the instructions in step 3.

A signal read from the track TRC by the magnetic head 11 is always input to an amplifier 31 and amplified, and is compared with a predetermined voltage VT by a voltage comparator 32. The comparator 32 outputs the comparison result to the control circuit 23, and the control circuit 23 determines that when the output voltage of the amplifier 31 is higher than the voltage VT, there is no defect in the magnetic tape 10; If it is small, it is determined that the magnetic tape 10 is defective.

The data to be recorded on the magnetic tape 10 is supplied from the control circuit 23 to the write switching circuit 12 through the conventional recording circuit 21, while the data read from the magnetic tape 10 output by the read switching circuit 13 is supplied to the write switching circuit 12 through the conventional recording circuit 21. The signal is input to the control circuit 23 through the reproduction circuit 21 as described above.

For example, when writing data to tracks in group A, the control circuit 23 causes the write switching circuit 12 to
A track of the group is selected, and data is outputted to the write switching circuit 12 through the recording circuit 21. As a result, the write switching circuit 12 outputs the data from the control circuit 23 to the head corresponding to the track of group A of the magnetic head 11, and causes the data to be written on the magnetic tape 10. When writing data to the tracks of group B, the control circuit 23 causes the write switching circuit 12 to select the tracks of group B, and the write switching circuit 12 sends the data from the control section 23 to the tracks of group B on the magnetic tape 11. The information is output to the head and written on the magnetic tape 10. magnetic tape 1
When reading data from 0, the control circuit 23 causes the read switching circuit 13 to select data from the track of the necessary group, and receives it through the reproduction circuit 22.

Further, when a signal of "0" is read from the track TRC, the control circuit 23 controls the voltage comparator 32.
This is immediately detected based on the comparison result, and it is determined that the magnetic tape 10 is defective. Control is then performed so that data is written to a normal location on the magnetic tape 10. As a result, no rewrite operation is required.

[0015]

As explained above, in the magnetic tape recording method of the present invention, a first group of 18 tracks is arranged on a magnetic tape at positions according to ISO/TC97, and the first group of tracks is arranged as a second group of tracks. Since one track is placed between each group of tracks and one on the outside of one of the first group of tracks, the recording density varies from 18 tracks per inch (TPI) to 36 tracks per inch (TPI).
The number of tracks/inch is doubled, and information is recorded by switching between the first and second group of tracks.
Recording/reproduction processing can be performed in the same way as when tracks are arranged according to SO/TC97.

Furthermore, since one defect display track is arranged on the other outer side of the first group of tracks and information indicating defects in the magnetic tape is recorded, defects in the magnetic tape can be quickly detected based on the information. Write operations can be performed, and as a result, rewrite operations can be eliminated and throughput can be improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a magnetic tape on which tracks are arranged based on the magnetic tape recording method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing signals recorded on a track TRC when the magnetic tape in FIG. 1 has a defect.

[Fig. 3] Fig. 1 based on the magnetic tape recording method of the present invention.
1 is a block diagram showing an example of a magnetic tape device that records/reproduces information on/from a magnetic tape; FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

TRA1~TRA18 A group track TRB
1 to TRB18 Track TRC of group B Track 10 Magnetic tape 11 Magnetic head 12 Write switching circuit 13 Read switching circuit 21 Recording circuit 22 Playback circuit 23 Control circuit 31 Amplifier 32 Voltage comparator

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A first group of 18 tracks is arranged on a magnetic tape at positions according to ISO/TC97, and one track is arranged between these tracks and on the outside of one of the first group of tracks. Tracks are arranged to form a second group of tracks, one defect indicating track is arranged on the other outside of the first group of tracks, and information is recorded by switching between the first and second group of tracks. A magnetic tape recording method characterized in that information representing a defect of the magnetic tape is recorded on the defect indicating track.