An ultra-high data rate mass storage system

This paper describes the mechanical, electronic, and signal processing capabilities of a special purpose instrumentation mass storage system developed by Bell & Howell Datatape Division. The system is presently operational and encompasses many of the features of computer storage systems including vacuum column tape handling and fast start-stop capability. Throughput rates of up to 450 MBS and total user storage capacity of 2.9 × 10¹¹bits are operational specifications of the system. Bit error rates of 1 × 10^-9are achievable using error detection and correction techniques which complement the ENRZ^TMsource encoding scheme. Search speeds of up to 1140 cm/sec (450 ips) provide worst case access times of approximately four minutes to any portion of the data.