In at least one embodiment, an optical data storage tape is provided. The optical data storage tape includes a read/write data area including a plurality of writeable tracks for storing data thereon, each writeable track having a first track width. The optical data storage tape further includes a seam area positioned proximate to the read/write data area. The seam area including a plurality of non-writeable tracks, each non-writeable track including a second track width that is greater than the first track width for each writeable track.

An apparatus according to one approach includes a module having an array of transducers having at least two transducers. The apparatus also includes a persistent memory having stored therein data of a span of the array of transducers at a particular temperature. An apparatus according to another approach includes a module having fiducials at known positions relative to an array of transducers. The apparatus also includes a persistent memory having stored therein data of a span between the fiducials at a particular temperature. The fiducial span may be used in conjunction with the known locations of the fiducials relative to the array to characterize the span of the array.

An apparatus according to one approach includes a module having an array of transducers having at least two transducers. The apparatus also includes a persistent memory having stored therein data of a span of the array of transducers at a particular temperature. An apparatus according to another approach includes a module having fiducials at known positions relative to an array of transducers. The apparatus also includes a persistent memory having stored therein data of a span between the fiducials at a particular temperature. The fiducial span may be used in conjunction with the known locations of the fiducials relative to the array to characterize the span of the array.

An apparatus according to one approach includes a module having an array of transducers having at least two transducers. The apparatus also includes a persistent memory having stored therein data of a span of the array of transducers at a particular temperature. An apparatus according to another approach includes a module having fiducials at known positions relative to an array of transducers. The apparatus also includes a persistent memory having stored therein data of a span between the fiducials at a particular temperature. The fiducial span may be used in conjunction with the known locations of the fiducials relative to the array to characterize the span of the array.

An apparatus according to one approach includes a module having an array of transducers having at least two transducers. The apparatus also includes a persistent memory having stored therein data of a span of the array of transducers at a particular temperature. An apparatus according to another approach includes a module having fiducials at known positions relative to an array of transducers. The apparatus also includes a persistent memory having stored therein data of a span between the fiducials at a particular temperature. The fiducial span may be used in conjunction with the known locations of the fiducials relative to the array to characterize the span of the array.

A method is provided for making stamper plates for an embossing drum for embossing tape media. At least one first stamper plate is formed using a master template. The at least one first stamper plate includes first land and groove patterns that are an inverse of the master template land and groove patterns. At least one second stamper plate is formed from the at least one first stamper plate. The at least one second stamper plate includes second land and groove patterns that are an inverse of the first land and groove patterns. Furthermore, the first stamper plates and the second stamper plates have four sections arranged in a travel direction of the tape media, a first and a fourth of the four sections having land and groove patterns that are laterally mirrored with respect to each other. A first stamper plate is coupled to a second stamper plate to form part of the drum for embossing tape media.

A method is provided for making stamper plates for an embossing drum for embossing tape media. The stamper plates include at least one first plate having first land and groove patterns and at least one second plate having second land and groove patterns that are an inverse of the first land and groove patterns. Furthermore, the first stamper plates and the second stamper plates have four sections arranged in a travel direction of the tape media, a first and a fourth of the four sections having land and groove patterns that are laterally mirrored with respect to each other.

Techniques for performing precise tracking in optical tapes are provided. The techniques include providing and using a servo pattern on an optical tape. The servo pattern includes a first set of parallel physical grooves slanted in a first direction across a width of the optical tape and a second set of parallel physical grooves slanted in a second direction that is different from the first direction across the width of the optical tape. Subsets of the first set of parallel physical grooves alternate with subsets of the second set of parallel physical grooves along a length of the optical tape. Two subsets of the first set of parallel physical grooves separated by one subset of the second set of parallel physical grooves form a servo frame in the optical tape.

Techniques for performing precise tracking in optical tapes are provided. The techniques include providing and using a servo pattern on an optical tape. The servo pattern includes a first set of parallel physical grooves slanted in a first direction across a width of the optical tape and a second set of parallel physical grooves slanted in a second direction that is different from the first direction across the width of the optical tape. Subsets of the first set of parallel physical grooves alternate with subsets of the second set of parallel physical grooves along a length of the optical tape. Two subsets of the first set of parallel physical grooves separated by one subset of the second set of parallel physical grooves form a servo frame in the optical tape.

A method is provided for making an embossing drum that is useable to emboss tape media. The method includes assembling together multiple stamper plates that each have embossing features for embossing tape media, and the stamper plates include at least one first plate and at least one second plate. Furthermore, the embossing features of each first plate are inverted with respect to the embossing features of each second plate.