A signal conversion device includes a first converting section configured to convert a clock signal input through a first signal line, a data signal input through a second signal line, and a control signal input through a third signal line, into pulse signals including a first pulse train and a second pulse train; and a transmitting section configured to transmit the first pulse train through a fourth signal line and the second pulse train through a fifth signal line, wherein the control signal is a signal that, through a level transition, causes a control target device to switch between an active state and an inactive state, and wherein the first converting section is configured to put successive pulses into at least one of the first pulse train and the second pulse train in response to the level transition of the control signal.

Digital optical tape archival storage systems and methods are disclosed. A digital optical tape recorder simultaneously writes data and two or more guide tracks onto an unformatted digital optical tape recording medium. A digital optical tape reader includes a camera and an image processor. The camera captures a two-dimensional image of the digital optical tape recording medium including the data and the two or more guide tracks. The image processor extracts the data from the two-dimensional image based, at least in part, on the guide tracks.

Digital optical tape archival storage systems and methods are disclosed. A digital optical tape recorder simultaneously writes data and two or more guide tracks onto an unformatted digital optical tape recording medium. A digital optical tape reader includes a camera and an image processor. The camera captures a two-dimensional image of the digital optical tape recording medium including the data and the two or more guide tracks. The image processor extracts the data from the two-dimensional image based, at least in part, on the guide tracks.

An object of the invention is to provide a magnetic-tape storage apparatus having a simple structure and being able to surely store magnetic tapes on each of which valuable data are recorded and the recorded data on them at a low cost and over a long period in a small space.

A magnetic-tape storage apparatus comprises

a housing,

a cartridge storage part,

a magnetic tape drive,

a cartridge transfer device to selectively transfer a plurality of cartridges stored in the cartridge storage part to the magnetic tape drive and to return to the original position,

a cartridge data reading device to selectively and contactlessly read data retained in each memory chip of the cartridges stored in the cartridge storage part, and

a computer to control them and to rewind the cartridges timely.

The magnetic tape device includes: a magnetic tape; and a reproducing head, in which a magnetic tape transportation speed of the magnetic tape device is equal to or lower than 18 m/sec, the reproducing head is a magnetic head including a tunnel magnetoresistance effect type element as a reproducing element, the magnetic tape includes a non-magnetic support, and a magnetic layer including ferromagnetic hexagonal ferrite powder, non-magnetic powder, and a binding agent on the non-magnetic support, and a tilt cos of the ferromagnetic hexagonal ferrite powder with respect to a surface of the magnetic layer acquired by cross section observation performed by using a scanning transmission electron microscope is 0.85 to 0.95.

The a magnetic tape device includes: a magnetic tape; and a reproducing head, in which a magnetic tape transportation speed of the magnetic tape device is equal to or lower than 18 m/sec, the reproducing head is a magnetic head including a tunnel magnetoresistance effect type element as a reproducing element, the magnetic tape includes a non-magnetic support, and a magnetic layer including ferromagnetic powder and a binding agent on the non-magnetic support, and a contact angle with respect to 1-bromonaphthalene measured regarding a surface of the magnetic layer is 48.0 to 53.0.

The a magnetic tape device includes: a magnetic tape; and a reproducing head, in which a magnetic tape transportation speed of the magnetic tape device is equal to or lower than 18 m/sec, the reproducing head is a magnetic head including a tunnel magnetoresistance effect type element as a reproducing element, the magnetic tape includes a non-magnetic support, and a magnetic layer including ferromagnetic powder and a binding agent on the non-magnetic support, and a contact angle with respect to 1-bromonaphthalene measured regarding a surface of the magnetic layer is 48.0 to 53.0.

The magnetic tape device includes: a magnetic tape; and a reproducing head, in which a magnetic tape transportation speed of the magnetic tape device is equal to or lower than 18 m/sec, the reproducing head is a magnetic head including a tunnel magnetoresistance effect type element as a reproducing element, the magnetic tape includes a non-magnetic support, and a magnetic layer including ferromagnetic powder and a binding agent on the non-magnetic support, and a coefficient of friction measured regarding a base portion of a surface of the magnetic layer is equal to or smaller than 0.30.

The magnetic tape device includes: a magnetic tape; and a reproducing head, in which a magnetic tape transportation speed of the magnetic tape device is equal to or lower than 18 m/sec, the reproducing head is a magnetic head including a tunnel magnetoresistance effect type element as a reproducing element, the magnetic tape includes a non-magnetic support, and a magnetic layer including ferromagnetic powder and a binding agent on the non-magnetic support, and a coefficient of friction measured regarding a base portion of a surface of the magnetic layer is equal to or smaller than 0.30.

A drive-implemented method according to one embodiment includes determining that unthreading of a tape is to be performed, and in response to the determination that the unthreading of the tape is to be performed, determining whether to write an index on the tape prior to unthreading the tape. In response to a determination to write the index on the tape, the index is written on the tape prior to unthreading the tape. The tape is then unthreaded.