Storage Technology Corporation

Other

Oracle International Corporation

Oracle America, Inc.

Frank T Smith

Timothy Craig Ostwald

Charles Allen Milligan

Daniel James Plutt

James Martin Frary

Sebastian Canaday

David C Black

Jon Mark Holdman

James Lee Ries

Steven Ochs

David W Miller

Embodiments include systems and methods for integrated control of environmental conditions in an equipment enclosure. For example, a novel airflow inlet structure can be installed into a primary airflow path of the equipment enclosure. The airflow inlet structure can include an integrated electrostatic filter sub-structure and an integrated electromagnetic radiation (EMR) control sub-structure. During operation of equipment within the enclosure, air drawn through the equipment enclosure can flow through the primary airflow path in such a way as to flow through the electrostatic filter sub-structure; and the EMR control sub-structure can control EMR emitted by the equipment, such that EMR leaving the enclosure is attenuated to below a threshold level.

Integrated environmental control for electronic equipment enclosures

Embodiments include systems and methods for distribution of power and communications to robotic assemblies in data storage libraries, including enabling instruction signal communications during robot motion on conductive rails of the data storage library. For example, each robot can include at least two distinct sets of brushes, one set (e.g., pair) of power brushes and one set of signal brushes. The power brushes can be optimized for transferring power from the rails to the robot, and the signal brushes can be optimized for communicating instruction signals from the rails to the robot during robot motion. The power brushes can be coupled with power processing circuitry, and the signal brushes can be coupled with signal processing circuitry. Certain embodiments isolate the power and signal circuitry to improve power and/or signal distribution properties. Such techniques can appreciably increase the cartridge exchange rate and/or otherwise improve performance of the data storage library.

Multi-brush interface for power rail communications

Embodiments include systems and methods for improving electromagnetic compatibility of a data storage library to meet electromagnetic interference (EMI) requirements. Embodiments can operate in context of a data storage library having one or more robots to ferry storage media between media cells and media drives. The robot(s) can communicate with a controller system via a communications link using respective drivers, thereby employing coordinated-spread-spectrum, frequency-shifted keying (FSK) signals. For example, a transmitting driver can modulate instruction data into an FSK signal and transmit the FSK signal over a predefined spread-spectrum carrier signal; and a receiving driver can receive the FSK signal on the predefined spread-spectrum carrier signal and demodulating the FSK signal to recover the instruction data. This can spread EMI over multiple carrier frequencies, thereby reducing the power spectral density of the emissions, and reducing the EMI level at particular frequencies to below a predefined limit.

Tracking modulation/demodulation for data library communications

Embodiments include systems and methods for controlling power distribution and supply across independently powered modules in a storage library. Embodiments operate in context of a data storage library having a base module and one or more expansion modules. Each expansion module is independently powered, and each is in communication with the base module via a powered data communications network. In some embodiments, when the base module power supply is on, a base controller in the base module provides network power over the powered data communications network. The network power causes expansion controllers in each expansion module to boot up and power on the power supplies of their respective modules. When the base module is powered down, power is no longer available to the expansion controllers, and the respective power supplies can be hard-coded to shut down automatically under that condition.

Power supply control across independently powered modules in a storage library

A safety system for online servicing of a media library is provided, wherein the library comprises a plurality of media storage cells and at least one media picker robot that moves along the media storage cells, and wherein the library is contained within an enclosure having at least one access means. The safety system detects whether the access means in the enclosure is open or closed and operates the robot in the media library in one of two corresponding modes. If the access means is closed, the robot operates in a normal mode at a first specified speed. If the access means is open, the robot operates in a safe mode at a second specified speed that is slower than the first speed of the normal mode. In another embodiment, while in safe mode, the picker robot is excluded from moving within a restricted zone in the library.

Online, safe service technique for automated libraries

Track anomalies are detected by measuring track impedance. A robotic device is moved along the track. A conductor on the track is contacted with a pair of pickups moved by the robotic device. Track health is determined based on impedance sensed between the pickups.

Track impedance anomaly detection in an automated data storage library

The present invention provides removable-unit storage modules, which can be combined into a network. The storage modules comprise storage cells arranged in a rule based structured configuration, and robotic hands to which move along tracks in order to retrieve objects from the storage cells. In one embodiment, the storage cells are used to contain data storage units. Several modules can be combined into a network by means of bridge tracks which connect the tracks of different modules, allowing the robotic hands to move between modules. The bridge tracks can be dynamically connected and disconnected from the modules, allowing the network configuration to change according to user needs. The individual modules are mobile and can be transported to other locations and connected with other removable-unit storage networks.

Scalable, space efficient, high density automated library

An automated library system having multiple storage cells for storing multiple data cartridges. Rails are provided adjacent to the storage cells to guide one or more robots among the storage cells. Primary coils are disposed proximate the rails. A power supply produces an alternating current in the primary coils. One or more magnetic cores are mounted on each robot. Each magnetic core is adjustable to form a normally gap-less closed magnetic path, and a gapped magnetic path when transitioning between primary coils. Alternating currents in the primary coils induce secondary alternating currents in secondary coils wound around the magnetic cores. The secondary alternating currents are controlled and converted into mechanical movement that include loading and unloading the data cartridges to and from the robots, and moving the data cartridges along the rails.

Scalable means of supplying power to a remotely controlled, semi-autonomous robot

Track anomalies in an automated storage library are detected by transmitting a track health signal from one portion of the track. The presence of a track anomaly is determined based on any reception of the transmitted signal at another portion of the track.

Track anomaly detection in an automated data storage library

A method and system for accessing media objects in an automated storage library using a robotic mechanism included mounting the robotic mechanism to a horizontally arranged track arranged in the same plane as first and second horizontal rows of media object storage cells. Each of the media object storage cells houses a media object. The horizontally arranged track is disposed adjacent to the first row of media object storage cells. The robotic mechanism is mounted to the track for moving horizontally along the track. A media object manipulation mechanism such as a gripper mechanism is coupled to the robotic mechanism. The media object manipulation mechanism is vertically movable for moving between the first and second rows of media object storage cells when the robotic mechanism is coupled to the track to manipulate the media objects housed within the first and second rows of media object storage cells.

Method and system for accessing multiple rows of media objects in an automated storage library using a single track robotic mechanism

Power strip health is monitored by detecting power supplied through the power strip as sensed by a robotic device. An indication of power is sensed from the power strip with a first power pickup and a second power pickup. The second power pickup is located on the robotic device away from the first power pickup along a direction of travel of the robotic device. A determination is made that the difference between the power sensed with the first power pickup and the power sensed with the second power pickup exceeds a threshold. A power strip failure is determined based on this difference.

Automated storage library power strip fault detection

A system and method for distributing electrical power to an automated robotic device for transporting media cartridges in a data storage library. The system and method include a power distribution strip having a substantially planar insulating member with opposed first and second sides, and first and second oppositely charged electrical conductors on the opposed first and second sides for providing power to the robotic device. The system and method also include multiple contacts on the robotic device for contacting the first and second conductors. The multiple contacts include a first pair of contacts for contacting the first conductor and a second pair of contacts for contacting the second conductor. At least one of the first pair of contacts and at least one of the second pair of contacts maintain contact with the first and second conductors, respectively, as the robotic device moves in the library.

Power strip distribution system and method for an automated robotic device in a data storage system

A system and method for distributing electrical power to an automated robotic device for transporting media cartridges in a data storage library. The system and method include a power distribution rail assembly having first and second electrically conductive rails for providing electrical power to the automated robotic device, the first and second rails provided with opposite electrical charges. The system and method also include multiple contacts on the automated robotic device for making electrical contact with the first and second rails. The contacts include a first pair of contacts for making electrical contact with the first rail and a second pair of contacts for making electrical contact with the second rail. At least one of the first pair of contacts and at least one of the second pair of contacts maintain contact with the first and second rails, respectively, as the automated robotic device moves in the data storage library.

Power rail distribution system and method for an automated robotic device in a data storage system

Brush failure detection on a robotic device for use with a data storage library is accomplished through the use of two brushes drawing power from the same conductor. For example, each brush conducts electrical current between the robotic device and a conductor. Electronics determine operating status of each brush based on a measurement of the difference in current conducted through each brush in the pair of brushes.

Growing community of inventors

Nederland, CO, United States of America

Frank T Smith