Drum electronics control interface and protocol for recording/reproducing apparatus
AssigneeExabyte Corporation
InventorsMichael Blatchley, Mark A. Hennecken
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for allowing communication between a stationary circuit and circuitry in motion with respect to the stationary circuit is presented. Communication is achieved and verified by transmitting a clock signal and a control signal in synchronization with the clock signal over separate clock and control transformer channels between the stationary circuit and the moving circuitry.
Claims19
A method for allowing communication between a stationary circuit and a moving circuit, said moving circuit in motion relative to said stationary circuit, comprising:
- sending a clock signal present on said stationary circuit over a clock transformer channel to said moving circuit;
- sending a control signal in synchronization with said clock signal from said stationary circuit over a separate control transformer channel to said moving circuit.
A control interface for allowing communication between a stationary circuit and a moving circuit, said moving circuit in motion with respect to said stationary circuit, said control interface comprising:
- a clock transformer channel which couples a clock signal from a clock circuit from said stationary circuit to said moving circuit;
- a control transformer channel which couples a control signal in synchronization with said clock signal from said stationary circuit to said moving circuit.
A control interface for allowing communications between system electronics statically mounted on a circuit board and rotor electronics mounted on a rotor of a drum, said drum comprising a stator statically mounted on said circuit board and said rotor movable with respect to said stator, said interface comprising:
- a system controller mounted on said circuit board which generates control signals and receives response signals;
- a rotor controller mounted on said rotor which receives said controller signals and generates said response signals;
- a clock transformer having a first clock transformer coil mounted on said stator and a second clock transformer coil mounted on said rotor, said clock transformer responsive to a clock signal produced by said system electronics to couple said clock signal across said clock transformer;
- a control transformer having a first control coil mounted on said stator and a second control coil mounted on said rotor, said control transformer responsive to said system controller and said rotor controller to couple bidirectional communication signals across said control transformer in synchronization with said clock signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.