Magnetic tape drive having a set of heads configured such that at least one of the heads reads a desired data track

摘要

Proper coverage of data tracks of a magnetic tape in a magnetic tape drive is ensured by providing a head assembly having a set of read heads configured such that at least one of the read heads reads a desired data track as the magnetic tape moves across the head assembly. At least one of the read heads reads the desired data track by creating lateral differential motion of the head assembly with respect to the longitudinally extending data tracks of the magnetic tape. The differential motion is either created by tracking irregularities between the head assembly and the magnetic tape or by dithering or wobbling the head assembly with respect to the magnetic tape. In operation, a controller selects one of the read data signals generated by the read heads to generate a read back signal. The read back signal is the read data signal from the at least one of the two read heads reading the desired data track.