Disc and Tape Storage
Chap 5
Computer Peripherals
(Cook & White)
Introduction
• Storages which hold programs and data has
been divided into
– Main store:
• Typically semiconductor memory
• Fast but expensive
• Retains information while power is connected
– Backing store:
• Slower
• Much larger
• Retains information even when power is disconnected
• Either magnetic or optical storage
Disc and Tape Storage
• Magnetic Drum:
– FIRST TYPE OF BACKINGSTORE
– Not in use in modern computer systems but simple
– Drum has a magnetic surface (iron oxide) and revolves continuously
– Small electromagnets are used known as read/write head –
Magnetization can be done in one of two directions
• North or south (to represent 0 and 1)
– Area around the circumference of the drum is known as track
• Each head covers one track
– Can also use just one read/write head
• Common on modern disk drives
• Moves up and down the drum’s length
• Reduces cost of unit, as fewer heads are required but introduces time delay
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Recording on a Magnetic surface
• Information is stored on a magnetic surface as a
sequence of magnetized cells
– Each is magnetized in one direction
Recording on a Magnetic surface
• Writing and reading head consists of a circular core
made of a material with low magnetic reluctance • Coil
of wire is wrapped around the core
Recording on a Magnetic surface
• When current pass through the coil- magnetic flux
flows around the core, the direction of flux depends
upon the direction of the current.
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Recording on a Magnetic surface
• In a writing head- magnetic flux is produced by
passing current Iw through the coil
• The flux is spread out slightly and flow through
the surface
• This magnetizes small area of surface known as
cell • If the current Iw is reversed, then the cell is
magnetized in opposite direction.
• The surface moves and sequence of cells are
written 11
Reading from Magnetic surface
• In a reading head- as the surface moves , a flux
change in the core is detected by the induced voltage
in the coil
• This voltage is proportional to the rate of flux change
• The resulting voltages are then interpreted to give the
magnetization direction.
• This process of recording is known
as Horizontal recording
• It permits both sides to be recorded independently
and it is technically simpler and cheaper
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Reading from Magnetic surface
• There is another process of recording which is
known as Vertical recording
• North pole on one surface and south pole on
another.
• It is not commonly used
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Magnetic Disks
• An information storage device for a computer in the
shape of a round flat plate which can be rotated to
give access to all parts of the surface.
• Common types of magnetic disk:
▫ Floppy Disk
▫ Hard Disk
▫ Bernoulli Disk
Magnetic Floppy Disk
• Flexible disk made of mylar and coated with a
magnetic surface.
• Two common format of floppy disks are:
▫ Flexible Jacket Floppy Disk
▫ Rigid Jacket Floppy Disk
Flexible Jacket Floppy Disk
• Has flexible outer sleeving or jacket.
Flexible Jacket Floppy Disk
• Stress relief notch help prevent the disk from warping and
relieve stress on the disk.
• After inserting the disk, heads are positioned over Media
Access Hole to read or write on the disk.
• Index hole indicates the start of sector 1 on each track.
• In order to write on a disk, write protect notch is used.
• Center hub is gripped by mechanism in the drive to spin the
disk.
Rigid Jacket Floppy Disk
• No need separate outer cover.
• At the top of the jacket, there is a sliding protective cover. •
On bottom left there is a plastic slider for write protect slot.
• If right bottom hole is present then it indicate high capacity
disk.
Magnetic Floppy Disk
• Both formats rotate at round 360 rpm.
• One or multiple head contact with magnetic surface with
very small gap, which avoid higher cost of production.
Drawback:
• Magnetic surface gradually worn away by the head.
▫ Needs regular cleaning.
▫ Drive unit only activates the motor for actual read/write.
(Results in small delay)
• When disk is in contact with the surface, then it can rotate
relatively slow speed.
Magnetic Hard Disk
• Much larger capacity and higher speed than floppy disk.
• Surface made of aluminium, coated with ferric oxide
material or metal alloy.
• Contain small gap between the head and the surface thus
avoids the contact drawback of floppy disk.
• No startup delay as with floppy disk
• Actuator arm move head to access different track
• Rotation speed is about 10 – 20 times higher than floppy
disk.
Bernoulli Disk
• Combine the advantages of the floppy disk and the hard disk. •
Flexible, removable, read and write head close to but not
touching the surface.
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