US4419700A — Dual-track spiral recording and associated system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 41 words

A high density digital data recording medium comprised of at least two co-recorded "spiral" interleaved tracks wherein each track is comprised of recording transitions aligned in at least one of two orthogonal skewed directions with respect to the respective track direction.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 41 words

A high density digital data recording medium comprised of at least two co-recorded "spiral" interleaved tracks wherein each track is comprised of recording transitions aligned in at least one of two orthogonal skewed directions with respect to the respective track direction.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 26 words

The combination as recited in claim 1 wherein pitch (P) is some multiple (n) of the number of spirals (H) times track width (Tw): i.e., P=nH×Tw.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 30 words

The combination as recited in claim 2, wherein track separation ds is some multiple (n) of the number of spirals H plus ONE (H+1), times track width (Tw): i.e., ds=(nH+1)×Tw.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 43 words

A high density digital data recording medium comprised of at least two co-recorded "spiral" interleaved tracks, this medium having been produced by at least two inter-coupled, oblique-gap magnetic recording transducers, the respective gaps thereof aligned to be skewed with respect to track direction.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 43 words

A high density digital data recording medium comprised of at least two co-recorded "spiral" interleaved tracks, this medium having been produced by at least two inter-coupled, oblique-gap magnetic recording transducers, the respective gaps thereof aligned to be skewed with respect to track direction.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 32 words

The record as recited in claim 4, wherein the adjacent tracks in each spiral pattern are arrayed, principally, so that the combined recording transitions in adjacent tracks form an "abutting herringbone" pattern.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 17 words

The record as recited in claim 5, wherein the bit transitions also include Lambda pattern registration marks.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 40 words

The record as recited in claim 4, wherein the active recording gaps are aligned, with respect to track direction, in a first skewed direction along each alternate track and along in a second orthogonal skew direction along each intervening track.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 62 words

A method of recording a plurality of continuous parallel spiral digital data tracks upon a rotating disk surface comprising: providing at least two mechanically-coupled transducer means; and conjointly translating said transducer means radially of said disk while the disk is rotating, such that transducer position and associated track position vary continuously with respect to disk center as a function of disk rotation.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 62 words

A method of recording a plurality of continuous parallel spiral digital data tracks upon a rotating disk surface comprising: providing at least two mechanically-coupled transducer means; and conjointly translating said transducer means radially of said disk while the disk is rotating, such that transducer position and associated track position vary continuously with respect to disk center as a function of disk rotation.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method as recited in claim 8, wherein said record surface is a magnetic recording disk surface; and wherein each transducer comprises a skewed magnetic recording gap which is aligned to be oblique with respect to track direction.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method as recited in claim 8, wherein transducer translation is arranged and controlled so that each rotating transducer means moves inwardly in a gradual continuous manner toward disk center as the disk is rotated relative thereto.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 66 words

The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the gaps of each said transducer means are arranged and adapted so as to be able to record and detect transitions aligned in one of two respectively-orthogonal directions; and wherein the operation of said transducer means and associated translator means are arranged and controlled so that the combined recording transitions in adjacent tracks form an "abutting herringbone" pattern.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method as recited in claim 11, wherein said gaps are also controlled to be able to record and detect "V-pattern" registration marks.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method as recited in claim 10, wherein at least one oblique-gap in each said transducer is arranged and controlled to be aligned along one of the two spiral recording tracks so as to be skewed and oblique with respect to track direction.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 61 words

The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the "oblique gaps" are adapted to be able to render bit transitions in adjacent tracks which are orthogonal to one another; with one gap of each said transducer being arranged and controlled to be aligned orthogonally relative to the other gap in each transducer and to be centered along a respective recording track.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method as recited in claim 8, wherein track pitch (P) and separation (ds) are a prescribed function of the number of spiral tracks.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 26 words

The combination as recited in claim 15, wherein pitch (P) is some multiple (n) of the number of spirals (H) times track with (Tw): i.e., P=nH×Tw.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 28 words

The combination as recited in claim 16, wherein track separation ds is some multiple (n) of the spiral number plus ONE (H+1), times track width (Tw): i.e., ds=(nH+1)×Tw.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 91 words

An improved recording sub-system including: a multiple "spaced-gap" recording head arrangement; a magnetic record disk adapted for recording of multi-spiral tracks; disk rotate means; and head actuator means synchronized with said rotate means and adapted to translate said head arrangement radially of said disk while the disk is rotating, such that head radial position is varied as a prescribed function of disk rotation, whereby to generate n interleaved spiral recording tracks, adjacent spiral tracks to be separated from one another by a prescribed separation-distance and curved along a prescribed common "pitch".

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 91 words

An improved recording sub-system including: a multiple "spaced-gap" recording head arrangement; a magnetic record disk adapted for recording of multi-spiral tracks; disk rotate means; and head actuator means synchronized with said rotate means and adapted to translate said head arrangement radially of said disk while the disk is rotating, such that head radial position is varied as a prescribed function of disk rotation, whereby to generate n interleaved spiral recording tracks, adjacent spiral tracks to be separated from one another by a prescribed separation-distance and curved along a prescribed common "pitch".

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 80 words

The system as recited in claim 18, wherein said head comprises a magnetic head including n oblique-gap magnetic transducer means, each having its read-write gap aligned to be oblique with respect to track directions; and wherein said actuator means is arranged and controlled to be able to cause the transducer means to conjointly move and thus transduce along a prescribed set of n spiral recording tracks when given the proper input signals, one track being dedicated to each transducer means.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 34 words

The system as recited in claim 19, wherein said translation means is further arranged and controlled so that the combined recording transitions in adjacent tracks form an "abutting herringbone" pattern of interleaved spiral tracks.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 28 words

The system as recited in claim 20, wherein said gaps are arranged and controlled so as to be able to also record and detect V-configuration magnetic registration patterns.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 50 words

The system as recited in claim 21, wherein said actuator arrangement includes a mounting arm and fine positioning means, mounted on said arm and arranged and adapted to increment said associated head radially of said disk in steps defined as a fraction of track pitch along the prescribed spiral tracks.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 16 words

The system as recited in claim 22, wherein said fine positioning means comprises a piezoelectric motor.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 32 words

The combination recited in claim 23, wherein at least one said head arrangement includes a pair of gaps, each arranged and controlled to be aligned along one of two respective spiral tracks.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 62 words

The combination as recited in claim 24, wherein the gaps are adapted to be able to record and detect first and second associated recording bits along respective first and second prescribed spiral track portions of a disk record medium, these bits being skewed relative to the elongate axis of their respective track and being disposed orthogonal to one another in adjacent tracks.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 32 words

The system as recited in claim 21, wherein each of said head arrangements includes a pair of gaps arranged and controlled to be aligned along one of two respective spiral track segments.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 41 words

The system as recited in claim 21, wherein each said magnetic recording gap includes output means and wherein there is also included output switch means adapted for coupling the gap output to a selected one of a plurality of utilization means.

Claim 32

Independent Claim 73 words

A method of recording two or more extended continuous, non-concentric, involuted tracks of digital data upon a rotating disk surface, this method comprising: providing a multi-transducer head with one transducer for each track; and translating each transducer together in synchronism with disk rotation radially of said disk at a prescribed pitch such that the position of the transducers is continually changing with respect to disk center as a prescribed pitch-function of disk rotation.

Claim 33

Independent Claim 73 words

A method of recording two or more extended continuous, non-concentric, involuted tracks of digital data upon a rotating disk surface, this method comprising: providing a multi-transducer head with one transducer for each track; and translating each transducer together in synchronism with disk rotation radially of said disk at a prescribed pitch such that the position of the transducers is continually changing with respect to disk center as a prescribed pitch-function of disk rotation.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method as recited in claim 28, wherein said translating is arranged and controlled to cause each said transducer means to move inward gradually and constantly toward disk center as it circles the rotating disk.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 11 words

The spiral disk record product of the method of claim 29.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 49 words

The method as recited in claim 29, wherein the transducer means comprises a magnetic transducer head with at least one pair of oblique gaps, each arranged and controlled to be aligned and centered along a different respective recording track being aligned to be skewed with respect to track direction.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 11 words

The spiral disk record product of the method of claim 31.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 11 words

The spiral disk record product of the method of claim 28.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1986-12-05	1987-06-06	1987-12-06	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1990-12-05	1991-06-06	1991-12-06	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1994-12-05	1995-06-06	1995-12-06	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Dual-track spiral recording and associated system

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