INCITS/ISO/IEC 12248 : 1993

Section 1 - General
1 Scope
2 Conformance
   2.1 Magnetic tape cartridge
   2.2 Generating system
   2.3 Receiving system
3 Normative references
4 Definitions
   4.1 Absolute Frame Number (AFN)
   4.2 algorithm
   4.3 Area ID
   4.4 Automatic Track Finding (ATF)
   4.5 Average Signal Amplitude
   4.6 azimuth
   4.7 back surface
   4.8 byte
   4.9 cartridge
   4.10 Channel Bit
   4.11 Codeword
   4.12 Data Format ID
   4.13 End of Data (EOD)
   4.14 End of Information (EOI)
   4.15 End of Partition (EOP)
   4.16 entity
   4.17 Error Correcting Code (ECC)
   4.18 flux transition position
   4.19 flux transition spacing
   4.20 frame
   4.21 group
   4.22 Logical Beginning of Tape (LBOT)
   4.23 Logical End of Tape (LEOT)
   4.24 magnetic tape
   4.25 master reference
   4.26 Master Standard Amplitude Calibration Tape
   4.27 Master Standard Reference Tape
   4.28 Optimum Recording Field
   4.29 partition
   4.30 partition reference
   4.31 Physical Beginning of Tape (PBOT)
   4.32 Physical End of Tape (PEOT)
   4.33 physical recording density
   4.34 pre-recording condition
   4.35 processed record
   4.36 processed record sequence
   4.37 processing
   4.38 record
   4.39 Reference Recording Field
   4.40 Secondary Standard Amplitude Calibration Tape
   4.41 Secondary Standard Reference Tape
   4.42 Separator Mark
   4.43 Standard Reference Amplitude
   4.44 tape noise amplitude
   4.45 Tape Reference Edge
   4.46 track
5 Environment and safety
   5.1 Testing environment
   5.2 Operating environment
   5.3 Storage environment
   5.4 Transportation
   5.5 Safety
   5.6 Flammability
Section 2 - Requirements for the case
6 Dimensional and mechanical characteristics of the case
   6.1 General
   6.2 Overall dimensions
   6.3 Loading grip
   6.4 Holding areas
   6.5 Notches of the lid
   6.6 Lid dimensions
   6.7 Optical detection of the beginning and end of tape
   6.8 Bottom side
   6.9 Hubs
   6.10 Leader and trailer attachment
   6.11 Interface between the hubs and the drive spindles
   6.12 Opening of the lid
   6.13 Release of the hub locking mechanism
   6.14 Label areas
Section 3 - Requirements for the unrecorded tape
7 Mechanical, physical and dimensional characteristics of
   the tape
   7.1 Materials
   7.2 Tape length
   7.3 Tape width
   7.4 Discontinuities
   7.5 Total thickness
   7.6 Longitudinal curvature
   7.7 Cupping
   7.8 Coating adhesion
   7.9 Layer-to-layer adhesion
   7.10 Tensile Strength
   7.11 Residual elongation
   7.12 Electrical resistance of coated surfaces
   7.13 Light transmittance of tape
8 Magnetic recording characteristics
   8.1 Optimum recording field
   8.2 Signal amplitude
   8.3 Resolution
   8.4 Overwrite
   8.5 Ease of erasure
   8.6 Tape quality
   8.7 Signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) characteristic
Section 4 - Format
9 DATA/DAT-DC format
   9.1 General
   9.2 Basic Groups
   9.3 Sub-groups
   9.4 Sub-Data area
   9.5 Basic Group structure
10 Method of recording
   10.1 Physical recording density
   10.2 Long-Term average bit cell length
   10.3 Short-Term average bit cell length
   10.4 Rate of change
   10.5 Bit shift
   10.6 Read signal amplitude
   10.7 Maximum recorded levels
11 Track geometry
   11.1 Track configuration
   11.2 Average track pitch
   11.3 Variations of the track pitch
   11.4 Track width
   11.5 Track angle
   11.6 Track edge linearity
   11.7 Track length
   11.8 Ideal tape centreline
   11.9 Azimuth angles
12 Recording of blocks on the tape
   12.1 Recorded Main Data Block
   12.2 Recorded Sub Data Block
   12.3 Margin Blocks, Preamble Blocks and Postamble Blocks
   12.4 Spacer Blocks
13 Format of a track
   13.1 Track capacity
   13.2 Positioning accuracy
   13.3 Tracking scheme
14 Group Formats
   14.1 Group Format 0
   14.2 Group Format 1
   14.3 Extended Gap Frames
   14.4 Types of Groups
15 Magnetic tape layout
   15.1 Load/Unload Area
   15.2 Lead-in Area
   15.3 Partition
   15.4 EOI
   15.5 Repeated Groups
   15.6 Repeated Frames within a Normal Group
   15.7 Relocation of Defective Groups
   15.8 Appending
   15.9 Overwrite
Annexes
A - Measurement of the light transmittance of the prisms
B - Recognition holes
C - Means for opening the lid
D - Measurement of light transmittance of tape and leaders
E - Measurement of Signal-to-Noise Ratio
F - Method for determining the nominal and the maximum
    allowable recorded levels
G - Representation of 8-bit bytes by 1O-bit pattern
H - Measurement of bit shift
J - Recommendations for transportation
K - Method of measuring track edge linearity
L - Read-After-Write
M - Data allocation and C3 parity

Describes the physical and magnetic characteristics of a 3,81 mm wide magnetic tape cartridge to enable interchangeability of such cartridges. Also specifies the quality of the recorded signals, the recorded format and the recording method.