Method and apparatus for cartridge ejection and overwrite protection

Abstract

A method and apparatus for protecting against overwrite and misread errors caused by cartridge movement is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a read/write head and a read-write protection switch in electrical communication with the read-write head wherein the read-write protection switch generates an electrical signal upon movement of the media cartridge that disables the read/write head. The method of misread and overwrite protection comprises: detecting movement of the cartridge shell; disabling read/write heads; identifying whether the media drive was in the process of reading from or writing to the media cartridge; if the media drive was writing to the storage medium when the cartridge shell is moved, generating a write fault interrupt; and if the media drive is reading from the storage medium when the cartridge shell is moved, generating a read fault interrupt. A removable media cartridge having a push member and an abutment surface is also disclosed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.