Addressing system with means to check mechanical stability

Claim 2

A disc file information storage system comprising: a rotating magnetizable disc; a radially movable head assembly disposed adjacent to the disc, the head assembly having a plurality of radially spaced magnetic heads communicating with different magnetizable areas on the disc; means for moving the head assembly to any one of a given number of radial positions; the disc having a plurality of auxiliary tracks equal to the given number of head assembly positions, the auxiliary tracks being alignable with one magnetic head of the head assembly in the given positions of the head assembly; multi-digit check numbers being recorded serially around the auxiliary tracks, some of the digits of each check number identifying the given head assembly position corresponding to the track and the remaining digits of each check number identifying the angular position of the disc; the disc having a plurality of service tracks, the service tracks being alignable with the remaining magnetic heads in the given positions; means coupled to the one magnetic head for producing from the check numbers a signal representative of the angular position of the disc; a data handling unit; and means coupled to the one magnetic head for exchanging data between the data handling unit and the service tracks on the disc when the check numbers identify a selected one of the given head assembly positions.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1, in which the means for exchanging data comprises a source of a select signal representative of the selected one of the given head assembly positions, means for moving the head assembly to the selected one of the given positions, means for comparing the select signal with the corresponding digits of the check number, means for counting the number of identical comparisons, and means for exchanging data between the data handling unit and the service tracks after a predetermined number of identical comparisons indicating the head assembly has stabilized mechanically at the selected one of the given positions.

Claim 4

A disc file information storage system comprising: a rotating disc having a magnetic coating adapted to store Magnetically information in N concentric annular zones, each zone having M equally spaced concentric circular tracks; a radially movable magnetic head assembly having N individual heads communicating respectively with one track of each zone; means for transporting the head assembly to any one of M given positions in which the heads are respectively aligned with one track of each of the zones; check numbers being serially recorded in each track of one zone, each check number including a first group of information representative of the particular track in the one zone and a second group of information representative of the angular position of the disc; a data processor programmed to make requests for access to the disc on the basis of proximity to the circumferential portion of the disc to be accessed and to issue a track select signal indicative of one of the given positions of the head assembly; means for coupling the track select signal to the head assembly transporting means to position the head assembly at the one given position; means coupled to the head communicating with the tracks in the one zone for producing a first control signal representative of the first information group after the head assembly has been positioned; means coupled to the head communicating with the tracks in the one zone for producing a second control signal representative of the second information group after the head assembly has been positioned; means for coupling the second control signal to the data processor to determine the priority of access requests; and means responsive to the first control signal for exchanging data between the other zones of the disc and the data processor when the track select signal and the first control signal are the same.

Claim 5

A disc file information storage system comprising: a rotating disc having a magnetic coating adapted to store Magnetically information in N concentric annular zones, each zone having M equally spaced concentric circular tracks; a radially movable magnetic head assembly having N individual heads communicating respectively with one track of each zone; means for transporting the head assembly to any one of M given positions in which the heads are respectively aligned with one track of each of the zones; check numbers being serially recorded in each track of one zone, each check number including a first group of information representative of the particular track in the one zone and a second group of information representative of the angular position of the disc; a data processor programmed to make requests for access to the disc on the basis of proximity to the circumferential portion of the disc to be accessed and to issue a track select signal indicative of one of the given positions of the head assembly; means for coupling the track select signal to the head assembly transporting means to position the head assembly at the one given position; means coupled to the head communicating with the tracks in the one zone for producing a first control signal representative of the first information group after the head assembly has been positioned; means coupled to the head communicating with the tracks in the one zone for producing a second control signal representative of the second information group after the head assembly has been positioned; means for coupling the second control signal to the data processor to determine the priority of access requests; and means responsive to the first control signal for exchanging data between the other zones of the disc and the data processor when the track select signal and the first control signal are the same.

Claim 6

A disc file information storage system comprising: a rotating disc having a magnetizable surface on which data is magnetically stored in concentric circular tracks; a radially movable head assembly disposed adjacent to the disc, the head assembly having a plurality of radially spaced magnetic heads communicating with different tracks on the disc; means for moving the head assembly to any one of a given number of radial positions so as to selectively communicate with the tracks; the disc having a plurality of auxiliary tracks equal in number to the head assembly positions, the auxiliary tracks being alignable with one magnetic head of the head assembly in the respective given positions of the head assembly; multiple digit check numbers being recorded serially around the auxiliary tracks, some of the digits of each check number identifying the given head assembly position corresponding to the track and the remaining digits of each check number identifying the angular position of the disc; the disc having a plurality of service tracks on which records of data are to be stored in predetermined segments, the service tracks being alignable with the remaining magnetic heads in the respective given positions; a data handling unit; means responsive to the digits of the check numbers identifying the given head assembly position after each change in position of the head assembly for exchanging data between the data handling unit and the service tracks on the disc; and means responsive to the digits of the check numbers identifying the angular position of the disc for selecting the segment of disc to be accessed.

Claim 7

A disc file information storage system comprising: a rotating disc having a magnetizable surface on which data is magnetically stored in concentric circular tracks; a radially movable head assembly disposed adjacent to the disc, the head assembly having a plurality of radially spaced magnetic heads communicating with different tracks on the disc; means for moving the head assembly to any one of a given number of radial positions so as to selectively communicate with the tracks; the disc having a plurality of auxiliary tracks equal in number to the head assembly positions, the auxiliary tracks being alignable with one magnetic head of the head assembly in the respective given positions of the head assembly; multiple digit check numbers being recorded serially around the auxiliary tracks, some of the digits of each check number identifying the given head assembly position corresponding to the track and the remaining digits of each check number identifying the angular position of the disc; the disc having a plurality of service tracks on which records of data are to be stored in predetermined segments, the service tracks being alignable with the remaining magnetic heads in the respective given positions; a data handling unit; means responsive to the digits of the check numbers identifying the given head assembly position after each change in position of the head assembly for exchanging data between the data handling unit and the service tracks on the disc; and means responsive to the digits of the check numbers identifying the angular position of the disc for selecting the segment of disc to be accessed.

Claim 8

An information storage system comprising: a rotating magnetizable storage means; a movable head assembly disposed adjacent to the storage means, the head assembly having a plurality of spaced magnetic heads communicating with different magnetizable areas on the storage means; means for moving the head assembly to any one of a given number of positions corresponding to the respective areas on the storage means; the storage means having a plurality of auxiliary tracks equal to the given number of head assembly positions, tHe auxiliary tracks being alignable with one magnetic head of the head assembly in the respective given positions of the head assembly; auxiliary information being recorded serially around the auxiliary tracks, the auxiliary information identifying the given head assembly position corresponding to the track and the angular position of the storage means; the storage means having a plurality of service tracks, the service tracks being alignable with the remaining magnetic heads in the respective given positions; means coupled to the one magnetic head for producing from the auxiliary information a signal representative of the angular position of the storage means; a data handling unit; and means coupled to the one magnetic head for exchanging data between the data handling unit and the service tracks on the storage means when the auxiliary information identifies a selected one of the given head assembly positions.

Claim 9

An information storage system comprising: a rotating magnetizable storage means; a movable head assembly disposed adjacent to the storage means, the head assembly having a plurality of spaced magnetic heads communicating with different magnetizable areas on the storage means; means for moving the head assembly to any one of a given number of positions corresponding to the respective areas on the storage means; the storage means having a plurality of auxiliary tracks equal to the given number of head assembly positions, tHe auxiliary tracks being alignable with one magnetic head of the head assembly in the respective given positions of the head assembly; auxiliary information being recorded serially around the auxiliary tracks, the auxiliary information identifying the given head assembly position corresponding to the track and the angular position of the storage means; the storage means having a plurality of service tracks, the service tracks being alignable with the remaining magnetic heads in the respective given positions; means coupled to the one magnetic head for producing from the auxiliary information a signal representative of the angular position of the storage means; a data handling unit; and means coupled to the one magnetic head for exchanging data between the data handling unit and the service tracks on the storage means when the auxiliary information identifies a selected one of the given head assembly positions.