Registers – Records
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-07
2001-02-27
Frech, Karl D. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Records
C235S382000, C235S492000, C235S472010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06193162
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a disk-cartridge-type adapter having an improved head structure and/or being capable of effectively using the functions of a disk cartridge drive. The adapter has the same external shape as a disk cartridge, such as a 3.5-inch FPD (floppy disk) cartridge. The adapter accommodates a card unit, such as an IC card, having a semiconductor memory to and from which information, such as electronic money information, is written and read. Alternatively, the adapter itself incorporates a semiconductor memory. The adapter is inserted into a disk cartridge drive such as a 3.5-inch FDD (floppy disk drive).
2. Description of the Related Art
Disk-cartridge-type adapters are disclosed in, for example, a Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kohyo) No. 6-509194 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,043, and a Japanese Examined Patent Publication (Kokoku) No. 7-86912 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,159,182.
FIG. 1
is a block diagram showing one of the adapters disclosed in the publications. The adapter
1
a
has the same external shape as a standard 3.5-inch FPD cartridge and incorporates a semiconductor memory
2
a
for storing, for example, electronic money data. The adapter
1
a
is composed of a magnetic head
3
, an opening
4
for making the head
3
face a magnetic head of an FDD (not shown), and a battery
5
a
for supplying power to the memory
2
a.
The memory
2
a
employs the same data format as FPDs. The adapter
1
a
is inserted into the FDD so that data is transferred between the memory
2
a
and a data processor, such as a personal computer, through the FDD.
FIG. 2
is a block diagram showing another adapter disclosed in the publications. The adapter
1
b
has the same external shape as the 3.5-inch FPD cartridge and incorporates an IC card
2
b
for storing, for example, electronic money data. The adapter
1
b
is composed of a microprocessor (MPU)
6
, a magnetic head
3
, an opening
4
to allow the head
3
face a magnetic head of an FDD, and a battery (or a generator)
5
b
for supplying power to the IC card
2
b
and MPU
6
. The adapter
1
b
has a circular recess
7
. In the case of the FPD cartridge, the recess
7
is used to hold a metal hub that is attracted by a magnet attached to a spindle of the FDD. The opening
4
including the head
3
is sandwiched between tips of a magnetic head of the FDD, to establish magnetic coupling between them.
Data is read out of the IC card
2
b
and is converted by the MPU
6
into data in the FPD format. The adapter
1
b
is inserted into the FDD, and data from a data processor, such as a personal computer, is transferred to the MPU
6
through the FDD and head
3
. The MPU
6
converts the data into that to be written into the IC card
2
b
and writes it into the IC card
2
b
. Data from the IC card
2
b
is converted by the MPU
6
into data of FPD format and is transferred to the data processor through the head
3
and FDD.
The head positions of the conventional adapters are fixed and are dependent on the manufacturer thereof. Accordingly, when inserted into an FDD, the head of an adapter may not correctly face the head of the FDD. In this case, it is impossible for the FDD to write and read data to and from the adapter. Since the head positions of adapters differ depending on manufacturers, the head of a given adapter is not always positioned in the middle of the tips of the head of the FDD. If the head of the adapter is biased from the middle position between the tips of the head of the FDD, the head of the adapter may be excessively pressed to one of the tips of the head of the FDD and break the same.
Another problem of the conventional adapters will be explained with reference to FIGS.
3
(
a
) to
3
(
c
) in which FIG.
3
(
a
) is a plan view showing one of the conventional adapters, and
FIGS.
3
(
b
) and
3
(
c
) are side views showing the same before and after insertion of an IC card into the adapter. In these figures, the same parts as those of
FIG. 2
are represented with the same reference numerals and are not explained again. The adapter has a slot
8
for receiving the IC card
2
b
, and corners
9
formed at the slot
8
and a recess
7
. Since the slot
8
is formed on the surface of the adapter, the IC card
2
b
may be damaged by the corners
9
when it is inserted into the slot
8
. In addition, the IC card
2
b
may be warped when it is inserted into the slot
8
and may be damaged by this.
The conventional adapters are not provided with a write-protect mechanism or a double-density detecting mechanism usually provided for FPDs, and therefore, the conventional adapters are incapable of effectively using the functions of a disk cartridge drive.
The Japanese Unexamined Patent publication (Kohyo) No. 6-509194 and the Japanese Examined Patent Publicaiton (Kokoku) No. 7-86912 mentioned above disclose nothing about insertion and extraction of a battery to and from the adapter. The publications do not teach how to insert and extract a battery to and from the cartridge.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a disk-cartridge-type adapter whose head position is adaptable to a head position of a disk cartridge drive, to prevent a damage of the heads of the adapter and disk cartridge drive.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a disk-cartridge-type adapter having a write-protect mechanism and/or a double-density detecting mechanism, like a standard FPD, to effectively use the functions of a disk cartridge drive.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a disk-cartridge-type adapter having a simple structure for inserting and extracting a power source to and from the adapter.
In order to accomplish the objects, the present invention provides a disk-cartridge-type adapter for accommodating a recording medium, shaped to be inserted into a slot of a standard disk cartridge drive. The adapter has a head that faces a head of the disk cartridge drive and transfers data to and from the disk cartridge drive. A gap width of the head of the adapter is wider than a gap width of the head of the disk cartridge drive, and a gap length of the head of the adapter is longer than the head of the disk cartridge drive.
The disk cartridge driver has a reference head position, and the head of the adapter usually involves a positional error with respect to the reference position. The adapter of the present invention prevents such a positional error so that the disk cartridge drive may correctly access fixed tracks of the adapter.
The present invention also provides a disk-cartridge-type adapter having a head covered with protective films.
The protective films prevent direct contact between the head of the adapter and the head of the disk cartridge drive, to thereby avoid damage on the heads.
The protective films may have at least one groove running in a direction in which the head of the disk cartridge drive moves.
The grooves reduce friction between the head of the adapter and the head of the disk cartridge drive, to smooth the movement of the head of the disk cartridge drive and maintain the correct operation thereof.
The head of the adapter may have a support having a hollow in which the head of the disk cartridge drive moves.
The support provides the head of the adapter with rigidity to prevent a deformation due to pressure from the head of the disk cartridge drive, and at the same time, maintain the flexibility of the head of the adapter.
The head of the adapter may have a shaft hole for passing a shaft for fixing the head. The diameter of the shaft hole is greater than the diameter of the shaft so that the head of the adapter may move within the adapter along the shaft so that the head of the adapter is evenly pressed by the head of the disk cartridge drive.
This arrangement is capable of absorbing manufacturer variations in head positions of disk cartridge drives. The head of the adapter moves to a balanced position in response to pressure from the head of the disk cartridge dri
Akasaka Nobuhiko
Hashimoto Shigeru
Niwata Tsuyoshi
Armstrong, Westerman Hattori, McLeland & Naughton
Felten Daniel S.
Frech Karl D.
Fujitsu Limited
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