Method and apparatus for cassette identification by operating characteristics

A method for automatically identifying and designating that the cassette loaded in a tape transport apparatus is of one type or of another known type, said cassettes having two reels carrying tape, said apparatus having controller means for determining absolute values of tape position as tape is moved from reel to reel using tape position determination algorithms employing constants for the cassette loaded in the apparatus, and dedicated memory means storing for each of a plurality of known types of cassettes, a set of corresponding constants employed in said position determination algorithms,

• said method comprising:
• deriving from said memory means a pre-selected set of constants corresponding to a known type of cassette,
• carrying out a cassette identification sequence including
• moving said tape an actual distance between first and second positions,
• determining said first and second positions using said tape position algorithms and employing said pre-selected set of constants,
• calculating the theoretical distance between said first and second positions based upon the determinations of said positions, and
• designating that the cassette in the apparatus is one known type or another known type according to the relation between said actual distance and said theoretical distance, and
• deriving from said memory means the set of constants corresponding to the designated cassette.

A method for automatically identifying and designating that the cassette loaded in a tape transport apparatus is of one type or of another known type, said cassettes having two reels carrying tape, said apparatus having drive means for the tape controllable to provide intermediate, fast or normal speed of tape movement, reel speed detectors, controller means connected to said reel speed detectors and said drive means, means included in said controller means determining absolute values of tape position as tape is moved from reel to reel using tape position determination algorithms employing constants for the cassette loaded in the apparatus and speeds of the reels from said detectors, and dedicated memory means storing for each of a plurality of known types of cassettes, a set of corresponding constants employed in said position determination algorithms,

• said method comprising:
• deriving from said memory means a pre-selected set of constants corresponding to a known type of cassette,
• controlling said drive means to carry out a cassette identification sequence including
• moving said tape at normal speed,
• determining a first tape position based on reel speeds and said pre-selected constants,
• moving said tape at fast speed to a second tape position,
• moving said tape at normal speed,
• determining said second tape position based on reel speeds and said pre-selected constants,
• calculating the theoretical distance between said first position and said second position by comparing said determinations of said positions,
• determining the actual distance between said first position and said second position,
• designating that the cassette in the apparatus is one known type or another known type according to the relation between said actual distance and said theoretical distance between said first and second positions, and
• deriving from said memory means the set of constants corresponding to the designated cassette.

In a tape transport apparatus for cassettes having two reels carrying tape, said apparatus having drive means for the tape controllable to provide different speeds of tape movement, signal generators for producing signals representative of the velocity of both reels and controller means connected to said reel signal generators and said drive means and having dedicated memory means storing, for each of a plurality of known types of cassettes, a set of corresponding identifier constants;

• the improvements in said apparatus for automatically identifying and designating that a cassette in the apparatus is of one type or of another known type comprising:
• means for controlling said drive means to drive said tape at fixed tape speeds;
• means utilizing signals from said signal generators for calculating values based on velocities of both said reels representative of the cassette in the apparatus;
• means for utilizing said calculated values to determine which set of identifier constants stored in memory for different types of cassettes identify the type of cassette in the apparatus;
• and
• means for designating that a cassette in the apparatus is of one known type or another known type utilizing said identifier constants.

In a tape transport apparatus for cassettes having two reels carrying tape, said apparatus having drive means for the tape controllable to provide different speeds of tape movement, reel speed detectors, controller means connected to said reel speed detectors and said drive means, means included in said controller means determining the ratio of speeds of the reels from said detectors and determining for each cassette absolute values of tape position as tape is moved from reel to reel using tape position determination algorithms employing constants for the cassette loaded in the apparatus and said ratio of rotational speeds of the reels, and dedicated memory means storing for each of a plurality of known types of cassettes, a set of corresponding constants used in said position determination algorithms,

• the improvements in said apparatus for automatically identifying and designating that the cassette loaded in the apparatus is of one type or of another known type comprising:
• means included in said controller means operative to derive from said memory means a pre-selected set of constants corresponding to a known type of cassette,
• means included in said controller means to control said drive means to carry out a cassette identification sequence including moving said tape at normal speed for said controller means to determine a first tape position based on reel speeds and said pre-selected constants, moving said tape at fast speed to a second tape position, and moving said tape at normal speed for said controller means to determine said second tape position based on reel speeds and said pre-selected constants,
• means included in said controller means calculating the theoretical distance between said first position and said second position by comparing said controller means determinations of said positions,
• means included in said controller means determining the actual distance between said first position and said second position, and
• means included in said controller means designating that the cassette in the apparatus is one known type or another known type according to the relation between said actual distance and said theoretical distance between said first and second positions, and deriving from said memory means the set of constants corresponding to the designated cassette.

In a tape transport apparatus for cassettes having two reels carrying tape, said apparatus having drive means for the tape, reel speed detectors, controller means connected to said reel speed detectors and said drive means, means included in said controller means determining absolute values of tape position as tape is moved from reel to reel using tape position determination algorithms employing constants for the cassette loaded in the apparatus and speeds of the reels from said detectors, and dedicated memory means storing for each of a plurality of known types of cassettes, a set of corresponding constants used in said position determination algorithms,

• the improvements in said apparatus for automatically identifying and designating that the cassette loaded in the apparatus is of one type or of another known type comprising:
• means included in said controller means operative to derive from said memory means a pre-selected set of constants corresponding to a known type of cassette,
• means included in said controller means to control said drive means to carry out a cassette identification sequence including moving said tape between first and second tape positions determined by said controller means based on said pre-selected set of constants,
• means included in said controller means calculating the theoretical distance between said first position and said second position by comparing said controller means determinations of said positions,
• means included in said controller means determining the actual distance between said first position and said second position, and
• means included in said controller means designating that the cassette in the apparatus is one known type or another known type according to the relation between said actual distance and said theoretical distance between said first and second positions, and deriving from said memory means the set of constants corresponding to the designated cassette.