The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 14, 1993
Filed:
Aug. 30, 1991
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
The invention is one or more tape systems which determine the length of tapes mounted therein to assess the thickness of such tapes. A format identifier is written at one of a plurality of locations on the tape depending upon the tape thickness. The format identifier for a relatively thin tape is written further from the leader block than that for a relatively thick tape, thereby avoiding the writing of user data in a region of the tape embossed with wrap deformations. The thickness determination is combined with a determination of the tape format to assess the compatibility of a desired operation on a tape mounted in a tape system therewith. If the operation is not compatible with the tape and the tape system, the tape system will not permit such operation to continue. A method for operating the tape systems is also disclosed, and accounts for various contingencies, such as blank tapes and marginal determinations of tape thickness.