Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Unwinding and rewinding a machine convertible information... – Cartridge system
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-30
2001-10-23
Nguyen, John Q. (Department: 3653)
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Unwinding and rewinding a machine convertible information...
Cartridge system
C242S338000, C242S344000, C360S132000, C360S134000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305630
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to magnetic tape cartridges in which the magnetic tape contained therein and more particularly to a tape including patterns for coding holes from which tape recorder functions may be automatically controlled.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of sets of holes to demark the ends of the recording area of the length of recording tape is known. U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,114 provides for a pattern of holes to identify the cartridge type or tape type.
Use of the identifications system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,114 has been carried out in the octal system. The least significant bit number was identified by a combination of six hole patterns. There are three groups of two, thereby representing a three digit binary number. The binary number would vary from 000 to 111 or the equivalent of from 0 to 7 in the decimal system. The most significant bit was represented by either a combination of four hole patterns or six hole patterns. The four hole patterns would designate a binary number from 00 to 11 or from 0 to 3 in the decimal system. The six digital hole pattern would designate from 000 to 111 in the binary system or from 0 to 7 in the decimal system. The number of identifications available, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,114, were either 4×8 or 32; or 8×8 or 64. As the number of tape cartridges and type of tapes has grown, the number of available identifications still to be assigned is rapidly shrinking. In addition, the least significant bit and most significant bit were used to represent an octal number.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention addresses the problems associated with the prior art cartridges and provides for a cartridge having a larger number of identification codes and for an identification code which is in the hexadecimal system for ready use by computers.
The present invention is a magnetic tape cartridge having a cartridge shell defining an enclosure. A pair of reel hubs are supported within the enclosure. A length of magnetic tape extends along a tape path within the enclosure and has its ends wound on each of the reel hubs. The length of tape being formed at each end with a pattern of holes to enable automatic identification of the ends of the tape and defined by a succession of cells each consisting of one hole at one end of the tape and a succession of cells each consisting of two or more closely associated holes arranged across the width of the tape on a line perpendicular to the length of the tape at the other end of the tape. A second pattern of holes is located between two of the successive cells of the first pattern of holes and configured to provide a code to enable automatic identification of the cartridge type or tape type. The second pattern of holes has a hexadecimal configuration.
In another embodiment, the invention is a method of identifying a cartridge type or tape type. The method includes loading a tape cartridge in a recorder, the cartridge having a magnetic tape. The magnetic tape is then advanced past a detector. The magnetic tape has a pattern of indicia having a hexadecimal configuration. The indicia is then detected to indicate the cartridge type or tape type.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4863114 (1989-09-01), Moeller et al.
patent: 5608584 (1997-03-01), Steinberg et al.
Imation Corp.
Levinson Eric D.
Nguyen John Q.
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