Imation Corporation

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Hewlett-packard Company

Robert W Tapani

Sten R Gerfast

James S Anderson

Hung Thien Tran

Warren W Opheim

Douglas W Johnson

Trung V Le

Richard W Molstad

Theodore A Schwarz

Leroy A Kuta

John T Gianfagna

James J Evanoff

Allan R Markert

Robert J Youngquist

Fred O Stephens

Durkee B Richards

Devin A Bloom

Steven L Lindblom

Eddie T Morioka

Wayne P Schaefer

Noel L Allen

Eugene S Johnson

The invention is directed to arrangements of tapered data storage tape guides which can improve the guiding of data storage tape. Tapered data storage tape guides having specific sizes relative to the data storage tape are also disclosed. The tapered data storage tape guides and arrangements of tapered guides can improve the ability to properly guide the data storage tape, e.g., during media fabrication, servo recording or readout, data recording or data readout. In one embodiment, a data storage tape guiding system may include a first tapered guide and a second tapered guide. The taper in the first guide can be opposite the taper in the second guide such that the data storage tape is forced against an upper flange of the first guide and forced against a lower flange of the second guide, or vice versa.

Data storage tape guiding systems using tapered guides

The invention is directed to arrangements of tape guides which can improve the guiding of data storage tape. Tape guides having specific sizes relative to the data storage tape are also disclosed. The disclosed tape guides and arrangements of tape guides can improve the ability to properly guide the data storage tape, e.g., during media fabrication, servo recording or readout, data recording or data readout. The invention is particularly useful for magnetic tape, but may also find application with optical tape, holographic tape, or other formats of data storage tape.

Guide arrangements for data storage tape guiding systems

The invention provides a tape drive comprising a head mounted on a turntable. The turntable rotates to allow the head to access first and second sides of a data storage tape. Techniques for accessing the first and second sides may include rotating the turntable to position the head in first and second positions. In addition, the techniques may further include raising and lowering the turntable relative to the data storage tape in order to facilitate access to both sides of the data storage tape without requiring the data storage tape to be unspooled and re-spooled.

Accessing both sides of data storage tape

The invention is directed to a memory card that includes a device connector conforming to the memory card standard, and a host connector conforming to a host connection standard and comprising a retractable shieldless tab compatible with the host connection standard. The presence of the two connectors adds versatility to the memory card. The host connector facilitates direct coupling of the memory card to a computing device without an adapter or reader. The memory card maintains a form factor of the memory card standard when the shieldless tab is retracted, which allows the memory card to be used similar to a conventional memory card of the memory card standard. In order to fit within the memory card standard form factor, the shieldless tab may be an altered version of a conventional connector interface conforming to the host connection standard.

Memory card host connector with retractable shieldless tab

An apparatus, such as a reader, adapter, or other device, is described that is capable of receiving at least four different types of memory cards using a single slot. The slot includes a central region having a width to receive a memory card of a first type, first outer regions that extend the width of the central region to a second width to receive a memory card selected from a second type of memory card or a third type of memory card, and second outer regions that extend the width of the central region to a third width to receive a memory card of a fourth type. A plurality of electrically conductive contact areas are disposed within the slot. The apparatus may receive, for example, any of a Smart Media flash memory card, Memory Stick flash memory card, Secure Digital flash memory card, or MultiMedia flash memory card.

Device having a slot capable of receiving at least four types of memory cards

A drive chuck of a tape drive system for operatively engaging a tape reel of a data storage tape cartridge. The tape reel includes a circular ring of outwardly projecting reel teeth that defines inner and outer circumferential faces. The drive chuck includes a circular ring of drive chuck teeth and an alignment feature. The alignment feature is radially spaced from the drive chuck teeth and includes a radial contact surface. The radial contact surface is configured and positioned to contact one of the inner and outer circumferential faces upon operative engagement between the drive chuck and the tape reel. In one preferred embodiment, the alignment feature is a ring positioned to contact the outer circumferential face of the ring of reel teeth.

Tape drive system with radial alignment feature

An apparatus is described that is capable of receiving a number of different types of flash memory cards using a single slot. The apparatus includes a housing that defines a slot to receive different types of removable memory cards. The slot includes a central region of a first height and outer regions of a second height. A plurality of electrically conductive contact areas are disposed within the slot. The apparatus may receive, for example, any one of a Smart Media flash memory card, a Memory Stick flash memory card, a Secure Digital flash memory card, and MultiMedia flash memory card.

Apparatus supporting multiple memory card formats

A drive can handle media cartridges of differing physical size provided the relative positioning of the drive/control mechanism and the media access opening for the cartridges can be held constant. Numerous possible structures and cartridges using this concept are disclosed.

Drive for handling multiple size information storage media cartridges and cartridges therefor

Drive for handling multiple size information storage media cartridges

An alignment and latching apparatus for a drive mechanism for data tape mini-cartridges. The alignment and latching apparatus enables the drive to use a new mini-cartridge while retaining backward compatibility with older smaller mini-cartridges. The mini-cartridges have a plastic top cover and a rigid metal baseplate. For some embodiments, an alignment datum is defined by three reference points on the bottom of the mini-cartridge baseplate. In other embodiments, the alignment datum is split with two reference points on the top of the baseplate and one reference point on bottom of the baseplate. Alignment and latching forces are applied on both the plastic cover and onto the baseplate. In some embodiments, alignment force on the top cover is provided by flat springs. In alternative embodiments, alignment force on the top cover is provided by spring loaded rollers. Alignment force on the baseplate is provided by rollers or cam surfaces, pushing upward if a split datum is required and downward if a bottom surface datum is required.

Alignment and latching mechanism in a drive for magnetic data tape

Improved data protection features for a magnetic recording tape cartridge comprise a recess in the cartridge shell and a movable 'file protect' device, which may be a rotatable plug or slidable member. The features enable tape drives to distinguish between two types of cartridges with otherwise identical form factors, allowing one of the cartridges to contain a recording tape with different characteristics that require the tape drive to identify the characteristics of the tape prior to use.

Growing community of inventors

Oakdale, MN, United States of America

Robert W Tapani