Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Record medium – In container
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-03
2001-01-16
Cao, Allen T. (Department: 2754)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Record medium
In container
Reexamination Certificate
active
06175470
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to digital data storage, and more particularly to digital data storage systems which use a removable cartridge to hold the storage media.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Digital data storage systems are known. In particular, digital tape recording systems employing a single-reel tape cartridge are known. In one known system for digital data storage as shown in
FIG. 1
, a magnetic tape drive uses a single-reel tape cartridge
22
. A tape drive
10
is generally comprised of a rectangular housing
30
that has a common base
18
carrying two spindle motors. A first spindle motor
15
rotates a permanently mounted take-up reel
14
dimensioned to accept a relatively high speed streaming magnetic tape
20
. A second spindle
25
is adapted to rotate a feed reel
24
of the single-reel removable tape cartridge
22
. The removable tape cartridge
22
is manually or automatically inserted into tape drive
10
via a suitably-dimensioned slot
32
formed in the drive's housing
30
. Upon insertion of the tape cartridge
22
into the slot, the cartridge tape feed reel
24
becomes engaged by the second spindle motor
25
. Prior to synchronized rotation of the first spindle motor
15
and second spindle motor
25
, the tape cartridge leader becomes automatically buckled to a drive take-up leader extending from the take-up reel
14
along the tape path
26
within the drive
10
. Newer versions of the tape drive
10
use a different buckling mechanism to join the cartridge leader to the take-up leader. Cartridges using the newer buckling mechanism cannot be used in older systems, because the cartridge leader in the newer cartridges will not successfully mate with the take-up leader of older tape drives.
In the event that a tape cartridge designed for use in a newer tape drive is inserted into a tape drive
10
having an older buckling mechanism, the cartridge leader and the take-up leader associated with the older buckling mechanism will not successfully buckle. As a result, the take-up leader will disengage from the buckling mechanism and spool on to the take-up reel
14
. Further, the take-up leader will spool on to the take-up reel without magnetic tape
20
from the tape cartridge
22
being connected thereto. This condition is known as take-up leader run away. A technician is typically required to service a tape drive
10
that has been subjected to a leader run away condition in order to re-position the take-up leader on the buckling assembly.
In newer tape drives enhanced read/write head structures and data processing electronics are capable of storing and processing increased lineal track and bit densities on the magnetic tapes. If a tape cartridge employing these increased lineal track and bit densities is used with an older tape drive that does not incorporate the enhanced head structures and data processing electronics, the data previously stored on the cartridge will be overwritten and erased. As a result, tape cartridges that are recorded with these increased lineal track and bit densities are not backwards compatible with older tape drives that do not employ the enhanced read/write head structures and data processing electronics.
The problem can be stated generally in a simple manner: newer cartridges are not compatible with earlier tape drives. However, older cartridges need to be compatible for use with newer tape drives, as the archival data stored on older cartridges may be needed long after the older tape drive has been replaced by a newer model.
Recently, most manufactures of tape drives and their components agreed upon a standard form factor for cartridges produced by cartridge manufacturers. As a result, however, the form factor of one family of storage medium cartridges cannot be appreciably modified to distinguish older cartridges from newer cartridges without violating the standard. Therefore, the above described compatibility problems associated with storage medium cartridges employing the positive engagement buckling mechanism and/or the enhanced read/write head structures and data processing electronics cannot be alleviated by simply changing the form factor of the cartridge.
Therefore, a need exists for a new tape cartridge that has the same form factor as an older tape cartridge, but which cannot be inserted into or used with older tape drives. At the same time, whatever modification is made to prevent the usage of new cartridges in old drives cannot prevent the use of old cartridges in new tape drives.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a first embodiment of the present invention, a tape cartridge having an integral key for preventing the cartridge from being inadvertently inserted into an older tape drive having a non-compatible buckling mechanism, read/write head structure or data processing electronics is described.
The integral key permits the cartridge to be inserted into new, compatible tape drives, with a matching lock fixture. The same lock fixture in new tape drives does not prevent the insertion and use of earlier model tape cartridges.
In the first preferred embodiment, the magnetic tape cartridge includes a substantially rectangular cartridge housing having an integral key formed on the exterior surface thereof. The integral key is a rectangular tab or protrusion extending outwardly from the cartridge housing. The tape cartridge further includes at least one tape supply reel rotatably contained within the cartridge housing. A spool of magnetic tape is coiled about the supply reel and is used for storing information thereon. The tag end of the magnetic tape is attached to one end of a cartridge tape leader. Another end of the cartridge tape leader is attached to a buckling component that is adapted to cooperate with a positive engagement buckling mechanism. The buckling component and magnetic tape attached thereto are accessed via a pivotal door defined on the cartridge housing.
The tape cartridge guide assembly is defined within the tape drive and cooperates with the integral key so that a cartridge having the key can be inserted into the drive. In particular, the cartridge guide assembly includes a slit portion that aligns with the integral key defined on the cartridge when the cartridge is inserted into the subsystem. As a result, the integral key traverses the slit portion during insertion into the tape drive. The tape cartridge having the integral key cannot be inserted into non-compatible tape drives because the integral key strikes the cartridge guide assembly of the non-compatible tape drive. As that guide assembly has no slit portion, further insertion of the cartridge is impossible. Tape cartridges associated with these non-compatible tape drives can be used with new tape drives. This is possible because the slit portion defined on the cartridge guide assembly of new tape drives does not block cartridges that do not have the integral key from entering the tape drive.
These and other objects, advantages, aspects and features of the present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated upon consideration of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, presented in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5828534 (1998-10-01), Lou
patent: 5906324 (1999-05-01), Adams et al.
Cao Allen T.
Quantum Corp.
Roeder Steven G.
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