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:
Nov. 30, 2004
Filed:
May. 08, 2002
Adam Mehlberg, Longmont, CO (US);
Storage Technology Corporation, Louisville, CO (US);
Abstract
In a data storage library having a plurality of cells for use in housing media cartridges, each cell having a location in the library, the library further having a moveable robot for retrieving the cartridges from the cells, a system and method for aligning the robot with a cell. A target in the library has a first, second and third portion, each with a different reflectivity. A source on the robot directs a beam toward the target portions, and the reflected beam has an intensity based on the reflectivity of the respective target portion. A sensor on the robot senses the reflected beam and generates a signal representing the reflected beam intensity. A controller receives the signal, determines a location of the target in the library relative to the robot based on changes in the reflected beam intensity, and generates a control signal for aligning the robot with the cell based on a known relationship between the target location and the cell.