Dynamic information storage or retrieval – Information location or remote operator actuated control – Selective addressing of storage medium
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-13
2001-06-12
Cao, Allen T. (Department: 2754)
Dynamic information storage or retrieval
Information location or remote operator actuated control
Selective addressing of storage medium
Reexamination Certificate
active
06246642
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to locating and identifying an object and, more particularly, to using a bar code reader in an automated media exchanger to positively determine if media is located at a predetermined location in the automated media exchanger and to identify the media.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
An automated media exchanger is a device that moves media from a media library to a media player and vice versa. Examples of media that may be moved by an automated media exchanger include magnetic media, compact discs and digital linear tapes. An automated media exchanger typically has a media library that stores the media, a processor that stores the location and identity of the media, media players that read the media, and a media handler that moves the media between the media library and a media player. Servo and orientation systems may also be included in the automated media exchanger to move the media handler to specific locations and to report the location of the media handler to the processor. The media located in the media library may need to be located, extracted from the media library by the media handler and inserted into a media player. Likewise, media located in a media player may need to be extracted from the media player by the media handler and placed into a predetermined location in the media library.
An example of a media library is a plurality of containers, each of which is commonly referred to as a magazine. A magazine typically has several openings or slots in the front side of the magazine. Each slot is adapted to hold media. A single magazine may hold several pieces of media and the media library may comprise several magazines. Loading media into a media library typically consists of a user loading media into the slots in the magazines and then placing the magazines into the media library in the automated media exchanger. The user, thus, is ultimately responsible for assuring that the media is properly loaded into the magazines.
The user may input information to the processor indicating the location and identification of specific media located in the media library. This information identifies the individual pieces of media in the media library, in addition, this information identifies the specific slots in the magazines where the media is located. The automated media exchanger is then able to locate a specific piece of media based on the information supplied by the user. When a specific piece of media is required to be inserted into the media player, the processor instructs the servo system to move the media handler adjacent to the slot in the magazine where the specific media is located. The media handler may then extract the media from the slot. The servo system may then instruct the media handler to move the media to a media player and insert the media into the media player.
The automated media exchanger may also move media from the media players to specific slots in the magazines. In order to move a piece of media from a media player to a specific slot in a magazine, the processor first instructs the servo system to move the media handler to a media player where the media is located. The media handler then extracts the media from the media player. When the media has been extracted from the media player, the processor instructs the media handler to move adjacent to the specific slot in the magazine where the media is to be placed. The media handler then inserts the media into the specific slot in the magazine.
The automated media exchanger, thus, relies on the information provided by the user to locate specific media located in the media library. There are many factors in the interface between the user and the automated media exchanger that may cause the automated media exchanger to encounter errors when it attempts to locate media and move media between a magazine and a media player. An example of such an error is if the user incorrectly inputs the location of the media into the processor. The automated media exchanger will then insert incorrect media into the media players. Another example of an error is if the user leaves a slot in a magazine empty and indicates that a specific piece of media is located in the empty slot. The automated media exchanger will then attempt to retrieve a specific piece of media from an empty slot. A further example of an error is if the user incorrectly places the media into the slots, e.g., the user may install the media upside down. In this case, damage may occur to the media, the media handler, or a media player if the media handler attempts to retrieve the upside down media or if the media handler attempts to insert the upside down media into a media player.
Automated media exchangers may detect if given slots in the magazines contain media by physically sensing the presence of media in the slots. For this purpose, each slot may have a switch that toggles when media is inserted into the slot. The switches may be connected to a processor which determines if a slot is occupied by determining if the switch associated with the slot has toggled. The use of such switches, however, increases the complexity of the magazines and the automated media exchanger by requiring a plurality of switches to be located in the magazines and wiring to be run between a processor and the switches. Further, the switches are susceptible to errors if the switches stick in an open or closed position or if the wiring between the magazines and the processor is not properly connected.
As an alternative to the slot-mounted switches described above, the automated media exchanger may be provided with a sensor that physically detects if media is present in the slots. The sensor may be a switch that is moved into each slot. The switch may toggle if it comes into contact with a piece of media. This method of detecting media, however, is slow because the sensor must physically move to each slot when the magazines are placed into the automated media exchanger and physically detect the presence or absence of media. Furthermore, neither of the detection methods described above will determine if the media is installed correctly into the slots and neither method will identify the media.
Optical systems are also sometimes used to determine if the slots contain media. An optical system may image a feature on the media to determine if media is present in the slots. However, if the feature is not present on the media or if the feature cannot be imaged, the optical system may determine that the slot is empty, when in fact, the slot may be occupied. An optical system, thus, may not determine, with certainty, that a slot is empty. An optical system may only determine, with certainty, that a slot is occupied.
Therefore, a need exists for an automated detection system that may be used in an automated media exchanger to determine, with certainty, whether a magazine slot contains media and whether the media is correctly installed into the slot. Additionally, there is a need for an automated detection system that will simultaneously identify media located in the media library.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed toward an automated optical detection system. The automated optical detection system may determine if objects are located at predetermined locations and may simultaneously identify the objects.
The automated optical detection system may comprise a light source, a reference surface, and an imaging apparatus. The imaging apparatus may be located so as to image the reference surface. The imaging apparatus may also be mobile relative to the reference surface. The light source may be located so as to illuminate the portion of the reference surface that is imaged by the imaging apparatus.
The reference surface may have an area of reflective contrast. The area of reflective contrast is an area that is imageable by the imaging apparatus and that may be optically differentiated from other objects that may be imaged by the imaging apparatus. The automated optical detection system may be adapted to have the ob
Gardner, Jr. Richard Lynn
Irwin Richard A.
Cao Allen T.
Hewlett--Packard Company
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