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US 6,305,630 B1Granted
Magnetic tape having hexadecimal hole patterns
AssigneeImation Corp.
InventorDanny J. Argento
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A data cartridge includes a length of magnetic tape which is formed at one end with a first pattern of holes to enable identification of the end of the tape and a second pattern of holes located within the first pattern of holes and configured to provide a binary code to enable automatic identification of the cartridge type or tape type. The binary code provides for a least significant bit and a most significant bit in a hexadecimal configuration.
Claims8
A magnetic tape cartridge comprising:
- a) a cartridge shell defining an enclosure;
- b) a pair of reel hubs supported within said enclosure;
- c) a length of magnetic tape extending along a tape path within said enclosure and the length of magnetic tape having opposite ends respectively wound one on each of said reel hubs;
- d) said length of tape being formed at a first end and a second end with a first pattern of holes to enable automatic identification of said end of said tape and the first pattern of holes defined by a first succession of cells each consisting of one hole at the first end of said tape and a second succession of cells each consisting of two or more closely associated holes arranged across the width of said tape on a line perpendicular to the length of said tape at the second end of said tape;
- and
- e) a second pattern of holes having a hexadecimal configuration located between the first succession of cells and the second succession of cells of said first pattern of holes and configured to provide a code to enable automatic identification of the cartridge type or tape type, the hexadecimal configuration having a least significant bit and a most significant bit.
3 more elements
A magnetic tape cartridge comprising:
- a) a cartridge shell defining an enclosure;
- b) at least one reel hub supported within said enclosure;
- c) a length of magnetic tape extending along a tape path within said enclosure and the length of magnetic tape having one end wound on said reel hub;
- and
- d) a pattern of holes having a hexadecimal configuration located on the tape and configured to provide a code to enable automatic identification of the cartridge type or tape type, wherein the hole pattern is configured to represent a least significant bit and a most significant bit.
2 more elements
A method of identifying a cartridge type or tape type comprising:
- a) loading a tape cartridge in a recorder, the cartridge having a magnetic tape;
- b) advancing the magnetic tape past a detector, the magnetic tape having a pattern of holes having a hexadecimal configuration, the hexadecimal configuration having a least significant bit and a most significant bit;
- and
- c) detecting the hole pattern to the cartridge type or tape type.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.