Method of identifying magnetic tape characteristics

摘要

A method for providing information about the characteristics of a length of magnetic tape to a tape drive without the use of a separate sensor. The drive has a scanning read/write head that is capable of reading/writing on data tracks on the tape which span at least a portion of the width of the tape. A pattern of magnetically polarized stripes is provided on the tape. The stripes extend along the length of a portion of the tape and are polarized substantially transversely to their length. As the tape is driven past a read/write head, the head reads the pattern on the tape, and decodes the information in the pattern. The drive can then respond as appropriate to the information to facilitate the reading/writing of data on the tape.