JPS5930215A - Testing method of magnetic recording and reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform a more secure check on a read/write system by allowing writing to and reading from a tape only when the tape is loaded while a tape driving system is stopped. CONSTITUTION:A gate 34 holds a signal S1 to a motor driving circuit 28 under the check mode command of a host controller 30 at such a level that a motor stop is indicated; a signal S2 to a read/write control circuit 20 inhibits a counter which outputs an ID (identification) number to count up and sets an ID number sent from the host controller 30 in the counter instead. In this state, the ID number is written in an ID area where ID is written. When ID writing is performing correctly, a comparison result shows coincidence and writing to a data area DA is permitted when so. This test is conducted independently of the tape driving system, so the test is speeded up while the driving system is disconnected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Field of the Invention The present invention is directed to testing the writing/reading system of a magnetic recording/reproducing device of the type in which a tape runs and a head rotates to perform writing/reading in the width direction of the tape and has an ID area. Regarding the method.

Prior Art and Problems The mass storage system (MSS) uses a wide magnetic tape. Data is written in the width direction by a rotating head in the center of the tape, and servo information and l are written on both sides of the tape.
Write the D (1 dentification) number. The ID number is the address of each stripe in the data area, and when writing data, first read the ID and check whether it is the specified one, and if it is OK, write the data to the corresponding stripe in the data area. ’-write, immediately read and compare to check whether it was written correctly, and then
If it is K, writing is completed. ID when reading data
If it is specified, data is read from the striped area. Writing of the ID is performed in ID write mode. In this mode, when an ID write order is issued from the host controller, the head will write to the starting point B of the tape.
For example, 2 stripes for all stripes from the vicinity of OT to the terminal EOT.
ID number for 00,000 is 0...00,0...
...01,0...10. ...and write everything while the tape is continuously feeding.

By the way, when it is necessary to investigate the device, such as when there is a device failure or device failure, it is easy and reliable to read and write and see the results. The results of whether the electrical system and all elements of the aircraft system are normal or defective are given as a whole, and it cannot be divided into tests such as Test 1 for only the electrical system. In other words, it is not possible to investigate the read/write system unless the tape drive system is in the correct position.

There is a method called loop light for testing only the electrical system. This loops back the output of the write amplifier to the input of the read amplifier, and can be done independently of the mechanical system, but since the magnetic connection and throat are excluded, it is difficult to check whether it can actually be written to and read from the tape. Can not.

Purpose of the Invention The present invention enables more reliable testing of the read/write system by making it possible to actually write to and read from a tape as long as the tape is loaded while the tape drive system is stopped. This is what we are trying to do.

Structure of the Invention The present invention provides a test method for a continuous feed rotary head magnetic recording/reproducing device in which a tape runs and a head rotates to read and write data to a data area of a specified ID number extending in the width direction of the tape. With the tape running stopped, write the ID number given from the host controller to the ID area of the tape, then execute the write command and read the 10 number from the ID area as the ID number used for the ID writing. If they match, the data given by the host controller is written into the data area, and the data is read out and compared with the data given by the host controller to check for a match or mismatch. This will be explained with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment of the Invention FIG. 1 shows the main structure of the MSS read/write system.
0 is a rotor, and four magnetic heads are attached to the circumference at 90" intervals. 12.14 are the two heads, and in this example, 12 is a write head and 14 is a read head. 16 is a write head. circuit, 18 is a reading circuit, 20
are these control circuits. 22 is a spool, 24 is a capstan, and the magnetic tape 26 is fed out from the former and wound onto the latter, during which time it is read and written by heads 12 and 14. 28 is a motor drive circuit for a spool and a capstan drive motor, 30 is a host control device such as a computer, 32 is an interface control circuit, 34 is a gate, and SW is a changeover switch.

FIG. 2 shows the shape of the recording area of the magnetic tape 26. As shown in FIG. The central portion DA is a data area, S1 to SV4 on both sides are servo areas, and IDA is an ID area. Arrow F indicates the tape running direction. When the tape 26 moves in the direction of arrow F and the rotor rotates in a direction in which the contact surface of the rotor with the tape moves from top to bottom in FIG. 2, records are recorded as Dn, Dn++,
This is done in the slightly diagonal tape width direction as shown by . It will be done. Since the ID area is also written with the same head, it is divided into regions in++, in+2, . In each section of the ID area, the ID number of the next stripe of the corresponding stripe is written as shown.

Gate 34 outputs a signal for switching between check mode and normal operation mode. That is, when the external switch SW is closed or a check mode command is input from the host controller 30, the gate 34 enters the check mode, and the gate 34 sets the signal S1 to the motor drive circuit 2 at a level that instructs to stop the motor, and the read/write control circuit The signal S2 to 20 is ID
A counter that outputs a number (not shown, but is located in the circuit 20, and counts up to 0 in the ID write mode).
1.2...Sequentially output the ID numbers)
The counter is prohibited from counting up, and the ID number sent from the host controller 30 is set in the counter instead.

Since the ID is written in this state, one ID number, in this example, in++, is written in the ID area. Note that since the head continuously rotates at a constant speed, it is possible to write an ID number to the ID area if an ID write instruction is given. However, since the tape is stopped, the writing area is not in the diagonal direction as shown in FIG. 2, but is correctly in the tape width direction, which is the vertical direction in FIG.

This writing is completed once, and ID numbers are not incremented and written one after another as in the ID write mode.

Next, execute the write order. In this case, the ID number is read from the ID area and checked to see if it matches the specified one.
In this example, in++ is used in the above ID write, and since this is still in the counter, it is compared with the ID number read from the ID area by the head.

If the above ID write is performed correctly, the results of this comparison should match. If they match, data area DA
Data is written to. Since this write data is included in the write order and given from the host controller 30, it is written to the data area. In Figure 2, it is assumed that the data is written in the diagonally shaded Dn++ stripes, but since the tape does not run, these Dn+
+, in+1 are aligned in the tape width direction. Next, reading is performed, and the read result is compared with the write data, and if they match, writing is completed. The ID write system and data read/write system, including the magnetic head and magnetic tape, are now tested. Moreover, this test is performed independently of the tape drive system, and does not include questions such as whether on-track has been achieved or whether the tape speed has finished rising, so it is possible to perform a quick test that is separate from these.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, even when the tape running system does not function normally, the rotor head assembly (RH
A) It is possible to check the read amplifier, write amplifier, tape medium, data transmission/reception timing with the host control device, error correction function, etc., and also to separate the influence of the running system on the read/write system. Tests can be performed efficiently and in a short time.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the main structure of a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a tape recording format. In the drawing, 26 is a tape, 10 is a head rotor, IDA is an ID area, DA is a data area, and 30 is a host controller. Applicant Fujitsu Co., Ltd. Representative Patent Attorney Minoru Aoyagi

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a test method for a continuous feed rotary head magnetic recording/reproducing device, in which the tape runs, the head rotates, and writes/reads to a data area with a specified ID number extending in the width direction of the tape, tape running is stopped. In this state, the ID number given from the host controller is written into the ID area of the tape, and then the write command is executed and the ID number read from the ID area is compared with the ID number used for the ID writing, and if they match. A method for testing a magnetic recording/reproducing device, which comprises writing data given by a host control device into a data area, reading it out, and comparing it with data given by the host control device to check for coincidence or mismatch.