Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Specific application – apparatus or process – Article handling
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-15
2003-06-03
Tran, Khoi H. (Department: 3651)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Specific application, apparatus or process
Article handling
C700S214000, C700S259000, C414S274000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06574529
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to data storage, and in particular to automatic data storage library.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Data storage library systems are electro-mechanical devices which contain multiple drives and pieces of data storage media to accommodate installations requiring mass data storage. Media cartridges are stored in columnar arrays to facilitate picking and placing from the storage slots into designated readable/writable drive subsystems. In order to provide accurate and reliable picking and placing of the cartridges, mechanical calibration must take place. The calibration may be required numerous times during the life of the library to compensate for system wear and degradation or if a system is moved to a new location.
Conventional means of mechanical calibration require human intervention and time consuming adjustments to insure that the proper alignments will yield reliable operation. This conventional means often result in excessive system downtime which reduces the end-users perceived reliability.
There is a need for a method to calibrate the alignments of data storage libraries such that human intervention of alignment calibration is eliminated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a method for automatic alignment calibration of a data storage library. The method eliminates human intervention of the alignment calibration.
In one aspect, a data storage library is provided. The data storage library includes a storage area including at least one reference location, at least one reference target, at least one specific target, and a media transport assembly (MTA) located near the storage area. The data storage library also includes a sensing system. Furthermore, the data storage library includes means for positioning the MTA to enable the sensing system to perform a calibrating alignment of the data storage library.
Another aspect provides a method of calibrating alignments of a data storage library. The method includes determining an alignment offset by aligning an emitter with a reference location. The method also includes determining a sensor offset by aligning a sensor with a reference target, wherein the sensor offset is a function of the alignment offset. The method further includes determining a specific offset by aligning the sensor with a specific target, wherein the specific offset is a function of the sensor offset, wherein the specific offset is used to determine an actual location of a specific location located near the specific target.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4908777 (1990-03-01), Wolfe
patent: 4979135 (1990-12-01), Moy
patent: 5303034 (1994-04-01), Carmichael et al.
patent: 5357495 (1994-10-01), Solhjell
patent: 5377121 (1994-12-01), Dimitri et al.
patent: 5403140 (1995-04-01), Carmichael et al.
patent: 5416914 (1995-05-01), Korngiebel
patent: 5418732 (1995-05-01), McFadin
patent: 5426581 (1995-06-01), Kishi et al.
patent: 5450385 (1995-09-01), Ellis et al.
patent: 5661287 (1997-08-01), Schaefer
patent: 5764615 (1998-06-01), Ware et al.
patent: 5790338 (1998-08-01), Kanai et al.
patent: 5898593 (1999-04-01), Baca et al.
patent: 5946160 (1999-08-01), Ohashi
patent: 6005734 (1999-12-01), Shimada et al.
patent: 6008964 (1999-12-01), Goodnight et al.
patent: 6058337 (2000-05-01), Akiyama et al.
patent: 6192294 (2001-02-01), Chiba
patent: 6213705 (2001-04-01), Wilson
patent: 6330489 (2001-12-01), Iwakawa
patent: 6370444 (2002-04-01), Kusunoki
Hanson Lyndon J.
Kappel Glendon D.
Lundeen Richard A.
Weisensel Gerard N.
Plasmon IDE, Inc.
Schwegman Lundberg Woessner & Kluth P.A.
Tran Khoi H.
LandOfFree
System for automatic alignment calibration of a data storage... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with System for automatic alignment calibration of a data storage..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and System for automatic alignment calibration of a data storage... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3143944