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:
May. 23, 1995
Filed:
Jul. 16, 1993
Atsushi Ichikawa, Tsukuba, JP;
Masateru Watanabe, Chigasaki, JP;
Tokuya Kaneda, Odawara, JP;
Toshihiko Ishizaka, Fuchu, JP;
Shigeru Nakamura, Tachikawa, JP;
Hitachi, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A sealed library type optical disc unit is combined with an exchangeable cartridge type disc unit in a data storage and retrieval system. The optical discs within the sealed unit are exposed, as opposed to being encased in cartridges. A data access unit can quickly and efficiently access the exposed optical discs for loading them on an optical disc recording/reproducing unit. A control unit manages the transfer of data from a host computer to the storage and retrieval system. If a data write request exceeds the storage capacity of the optical disc within the sealed space, the excess data is written to the cartridge type disc unit without intervention by an operator and without interruption of the post processor. During a read operation, if data is requested that has been previously recorded on a cartridge type disc, the disc ID is displayed so that an operator can insert the disc into the cartridge type disc unit for the read operation. Data can also be copied from the cartridge type disc to the sealed space discs and vice versa, as well as between the sealed space discs by inputting such a command to a keyboard by an operator.