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:
Jul. 01, 2003
Filed:
Feb. 18, 2000
Robin Reinhard Padden, Salt Lake City, UT (US);
Kristin Anne McArdle Scott, Ogden, UT (US);
Fred Charles Thomas, III, Ogden, UT (US);
Other;
Abstract
A disk drive has an improved system for detecting the presence of a data-storage cartridge inserted into the drive. The improved system uses a source of polarized light and a detector of polarized light. The detector is optically coupled to the source by a reflective marker on the data-storage cartridge when the data-storage cartridge is inserted into the drive. The reflective marker rotates the polarization angle of the light which is incident upon its reflective surface. The detector is adapted to respond maximally to light that has been phase-rotated in a manner characteristic of the reflective marker. The detector acts in conjunction with an electrical circuit to allow the read/write heads of the disk drive to interface with the data-storage cartridge when the detector registers a maximal response.