Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
A method for retrieving data from a magnetic medium, said data being stored at a first or a second bit density on said medium, said second density being higher than said first density, comprising the steps of: deriving signals corresponding to magnetic field patterns stored on the magnetic medium, by means of a gapped magnetic head, said head being used to derive signals for data stored at either said first or said second density; decoding said signals using a first decoder for data stored at said first density, to retrieve data represented by said signals; decoding said signals using a second decoder for data stored at said second density, to retrieve data represented by said signals, said second decoder incorporating a PR-1 partial-response maximum-likelihood decoding operation; and selecting said first or said second decoder for use in accordance with the bit density of data stored on said medium.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
148 words
A method for retrieving data from a magnetic medium, said data being stored at a first or a second bit density on said medium, said second density being higher than said first density, comprising the steps of: deriving signals corresponding to magnetic field patterns stored on the magnetic medium, by means of a gapped magnetic head, said head being used to derive signals for data stored at either said first or said second density; decoding said signals using a first decoder for data stored at said first density, to retrieve data represented by said signals; decoding said signals using a second decoder for data stored at said second density, to retrieve data represented by said signals, said second decoder incorporating a PR-1 partial-response maximum-likelihood decoding operation; and selecting said first or said second decoder for use in accordance with the bit density of data stored on said medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said signals are derived using read heads mounted on a rotary drum.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said signals are transferred from said heads through a rotary transformer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said signals are equalized prior to decoding, a single equalization circuit being used irrespective of the bit density of data being retrieved.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said magnetic head has a gap with a magnetic gap length of approximately 0.33 μm, said gap being used for data stored at either said first or said second density.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said second bit density is twice said first bit density.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 6, wherein said first bit density is approximately 61 kbpi and said second bit density is approximately 122 kbpi.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
146 words
Apparatus for retrieving data from a magnetic medium, said data being stored at a first or a second bit density on said medium, said second density being higher than said first density, comprising: means including a gapped magnetic head for deriving signals corresponding to magnetic field patterns stored on the magnetic medium, said head being used to derive signals for data stored at either said first or said second density; a first decoder for decoding said signals for data stored at said first density, to retrieve data represented by said signals; a second decoder for decoding said signals for data stored at said second density, to retrieve data represented by said signals, said second decoder incorporating a PR-1 partial-response maximum-likelihood decoding operation; and means for selecting said first or said second decoder for use in accordance with the bit density of data stored on said medium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
146 words
Apparatus for retrieving data from a magnetic medium, said data being stored at a first or a second bit density on said medium, said second density being higher than said first density, comprising: means including a gapped magnetic head for deriving signals corresponding to magnetic field patterns stored on the magnetic medium, said head being used to derive signals for data stored at either said first or said second density; a first decoder for decoding said signals for data stored at said first density, to retrieve data represented by said signals; a second decoder for decoding said signals for data stored at said second density, to retrieve data represented by said signals, said second decoder incorporating a PR-1 partial-response maximum-likelihood decoding operation; and means for selecting said first or said second decoder for use in accordance with the bit density of data stored on said medium.