System and method for library inventory
AssigneeQuantum Corporation
InventorDean H. Fletcher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A storage device detector system for use with a gripper assembly for handling storage devices in a storage library system is provided. In one example, the system includes a light source for directing light to an expected position of a storage device, a sensor, e.g., a linear scanner, for detecting light, and a controller, wherein the controller and the sensor are adapted to detect the light directed to the expected position of the storage device and determine the presence of the storage device based on frequency components from the sensor. If the frequency is above a predetermined value the system may determine that a storage device is present and if below the predetermined value determine that a storage device is not present.
Claims29
A storage device detector system for use with a gripper assembly in a storage library system, comprising:
- a light source for directing light to an expected position of a storage device;
- a sensor for detecting light;
- and
- at least one controller, wherein the at least one controller and the sensor are configured to detect light reflected from the expected position of the storage device and determine the presence of the storage device based on frequency components of at least a portion of a signal associated with a linear scan by the sensor exceeding a threshold, wherein the frequency components vary with a distance of the sensor from a reflecting surface.
A storage library system having a storage device detector system, comprising:
- a light source for directing light to the expected position of a storage device;
- a linear scanner;
- and
- at least one controller, wherein the at least one controller and linear scanner are configured to
- detect light reflected from the expected position of the storage device and determine the presence of a storage device based on at least a portion of frequency components of an output from the linear scanner exceeding a threshold, wherein the frequency components vary with a distance of the sensor from a reflecting surface, and
- determine the presence of a label associated with the storage device.
A method for determining the presence of a storage device in an automated storage library system, comprising:
- directing light to a storage slot for holding a storage device;
- detecting light reflected from the storage slot with a sensor;
- and
- determining if a storage device is within the storage slot based on at least a portion of frequency components from an output signal of the sensor associated with a linear scan by the sensor exceeding a threshold, wherein the freciuency components vary with a distance of the sensor from a reflecting surface.
A method for determining the presence of a storage device in an automated storage library system, comprising:
- directing light to a storage slot for holding a storage device;
- detecting light reflected from the storage slot with a sensor;
- determining if a storage device is located within the storage slot based on at least a portion of frequency components of analog data associated with a linear scan by the sensor exceeding a threshold, wherein the frequency components vary with a distance of the sensor from a reflecting surface;
- and
- reading a barcode label associated with the storage device based on the light detected by the sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.