Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Record transport with head stationary during transducing – Disk record
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-31
2001-02-20
Letscher, George J. (Department: 2754)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Record transport with head stationary during transducing
Disk record
C369S077210
Reexamination Certificate
active
06191914
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates, in general, to the field of media drives for a personal computer and, in particular, to media drives designed to occupy a small volume of space in a computer.
2. Discussion of the Art
Reduction of size is a major objective in the design of components for personal computers. Floppy drives today require far less room than their predecessors when the first personal computers were announced. Nonetheless, pressures continue, particularly for portable computers, to reduce size. Indeed, many portable computers have bays which receive switchable drives (e.g. a battery or a hard drive or a floppy drive may use the same bay) or provide external drives removably connected by a cord to reduce the size and awkwardness of the basic computer package. Switching or externally connecting drives is, however, an inconvenience and increases the possibility that the drive is not with the computer at the desired time. Reducing drive size has become increasingly challenging because certain media form factors such as those for the three and a half inch floppy disk and the Zip® disk have become standards and drives must accommodate those media packages to satisfy customers.
SUMMARY of the INVENTION
The invention involves a recognition that there are four information areas or zones on a standard media disk that need to be engaged to properly store data or write data. Toward one end (forward) of the rectangular disk are a media access window and an angled corner of the cover(orientation key). Two indicator perforation sites at the opposite end (rear) corners of the cover complete the needed access. By providing retractable arms to detect the state of the perforation sites it is possible to reliably perform data operations on the disk and yet leave the rear of the disk extending outside the drive enclosure. This permits a shortened drive enclosure in one dimension of the disk.
Preferably the arms are extended by an interaction with the disk, as it is inserted, to position state sensing detectors on the arms at the perforation sites. Known head mechanisms interact at the media window to drive window cover to a read/write position and move reading heads into place. An angled barrier rib interacts with the forward right corner of the disk to block insertion if the disk is in an incorrect orientation. By so arranging and configuring the drive, the hub of the disk media may be driven by a driver member positioned adjacent to the insertion slot, eliminating the space usually expended for accommodating the disk portion extending from the hub to the rear of the disk cover. While efforts have been made in the prior art to reduce drive size by partial insertion of the disk they have typically relied on the user to check for media type, protection and/or orientation.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5577014 (1996-11-01), Kawamura
patent: 5737293 (1998-04-01), Kawamura et al.
Challener David C.
Karidis John P.
Kuhlmann Charles E.
Grosser George E.
International Business Machines - Corporation
Letscher George J.
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