Remotely controlling a magnetic tape cartridge

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10658000-B2
Application number	US-201916509344-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 11, 2019
Priority date	May 21, 2018
Publication date	May 19, 2020
Grant date	May 19, 2020

Abstract

A data storage cartridge according to one embodiment comprises a housing configured to house a data storage medium, a sensor coupled to the housing, and a microcontroller coupled to the sensor. The microcontroller is configured to wirelessly communicate information about the sensor. Other embodiments relate to a data storage cartridge comprising a housing configured to house a data storage medium, a cartridge memory coupled to the housing, the cartridge memory having a wireless communications interface, and a microcontroller in physical communication with the cartridge memory. The microcontroller is configured to wirelessly communicate information retrieved from the cartridge memory. Additional embodiments relate to a data storage cartridge comprising a mechanical write protect mechanism coupled to the housing of the data storage cartridge, an actuator coupled to the mechanical write protect mechanism for selectively changing a state of the mechanical write protect mechanism, and a microcontroller configured to control the actuator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A data storage cartridge, comprising:
a housing configured to house a data storage medium, wherein the data storage medium is a magnetic recording tape;
a sensor coupled to and being positioned within the housing;
a microcontroller coupled to the sensor, the microcontroller being configured to wirelessly communicate information about the sensor; and
a leader pin coupled to a leading end of the magnetic recording tape, wherein the sensor is configured to detect a status of the leader pin.

2. A data storage cartridge as recited in claim 1 , comprising a display device in communication with the microcontroller.

3. A data storage cartridge as recited in claim 1 , wherein the microcontroller is electrically coupled directly to the sensor.

4. A data storage cartridge as recited in claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes a leader pin switch.

5. A data storage cartridge as recited in claim 4 , wherein the leader pin switch includes a top switch contact and a bottom switch contact.

6. A data storage cartridge as recited in claim 5 , wherein the leader pin switch includes an insulator layer between the top switch contact and the bottom switch contact.

7. A data storage cartridge as recited in claim 4 , wherein the leader pin switch is positioned to be magnetically coupled to the leader pin when the leader pin is in the correct upright position.

8. A data storage cartridge as recited in claim 1 , wherein the sensor is coupled to a leader pin switch that is positioned to conduct electrical current from the leader pin to the sensor.

9. A data storage cartridge as recited in claim 8 , wherein the leader pin switch is positioned to be magnetically coupled to the leader pin when the leader pin is in the correct upright position.

10. A data storage cartridge as recited in claim 9 , wherein the leader pin switch includes a top switch contact and a bottom switch contact.

11. A data storage cartridge, comprising:
a housing configured to house a data storage medium therein, wherein the data storage medium is a magnetic recording tape;
a cartridge memory coupled to the housing, the cartridge memory having a wireless communications interface;
a microcontroller in physical communication with the cartridge memory, the microcontroller being configured to wirelessly communicate information retrieved from the cartridge memory;
a leader pin coupled to a leading end of the magnetic recording tape; and
a sensor in communication with the microcontroller, the sensor being positioned in the housing, wherein the sensor is configured to detect a status of the leader pin.

12. A data storage cartridge as recited in claim 11 , comprising a display device in communication with the microcontroller.

13. A data storage cartridge as recited in claim 11 , wherein the microcontroller is electrically coupled directly to the sensor.

14. A data storage cartridge as recited in claim 11 , wherein the sensor includes a leader pin switch.

15. A data storage cartridge as recited in claim 14 , wherein the leader pin switch includes a top switch contact and a bottom switch contact.

16. A data storage cartridge as recited in claim 15 , wherein the leader pin switch includes an insulator layer between the top switch contact and the bottom switch contact.

17. A data storage cartridge as recited in claim 14 , wherein the leader pin switch is positioned to be magnetically coupled to the leader pin when the leader pin is in the correct upright position.

18. A data storage cartridge as recited in claim 11 , wherein the sensor is coupled to a leader pin switch that is positioned to conduct electrical current from the leader pin to the sensor.

19. A data storage cartridge as recited in claim 18 , wherein the leader pin switch is positioned to be magnetically coupled to the leader pin when the leader pin is in the correct upright position.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Hippargi Aravind
• Krick Frank
• Mueller Christian
• Freitag Bernd

Classifications

• G11B23/08714

  Auxiliary features (sensing such features G11B15/06) · CPC title

• G11B15/07

  on containers · CPC title

• G11B23/0303

  Write protect features with a sliding part · CPC title

• G11B23/0302

  Auxiliary features · CPC title

• G11B15/106

  mechanically operated · CPC title