Cartridge reel lock release sensing systems and methods
AssigneeQuantum Corporation
InventorKristian S. Schartau
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tape drive having a reel release sensing procedure and system is provided. In one example, the tape drive includes a motor coupled to a reel driver for driving a reel of a storage device, a sensor for detecting movement associated with the reel driver, and a controller. The controller operates to activate the motor to rotate the reel driver prior to coupling the tape to a drive leader. The controller further determines if the reel driver moved in response to activating the motor based on a signal from the sensor, and causes the tape to be loaded into the drive if the reel moved (or moved more than a predetermined amount/distance). For example, the controller may determine the reel is released if the reel driver moved in response to activating the motor and is not released otherwise.
Claims26
A tape media drive for use with a removable storage device having a rotatable reel, the media drive comprising:
- a motor coupled to a reel driver for driving a reel of a storage device;
- a sensor for detecting movement associated with the reel driver;
- and
- a controller for:
- activating the motor to rotate the reel driver prior to coupling a drive leader to the storage device,
- determining if the reel driver moved more than a predetermined amount in response to activating the motor based on a signal from the sensor, and
- causing the tape to be loaded into the media drive if the reel moved more than the predetermined amount.
A tape media drive for use with a removable storage device having a rotatable reel and a reel lock, the media drive comprising:
- a motor coupled to a reel driver for driving a reel of a storage device;
- a sensor for detecting movement associated with the reel driver;
- and
- a controller for activating the motor to rotate the reel driver in a direction to unwind tape from the reel and determining if the reel is released based upon a signal from the sensor.
A media drive controller for controlling a removable storage device media drive, the media drive controller comprising logic for:
- commanding a reel driver to rotate a reel of a storage device prior to coupling to a drive leader;
- detecting movement of the reel driver based on a signal received from at least one sensor;
- and
- coupling the drive leader to a cartridge leader if the detected movement exceeds a predetermined amount.
A method for sensing if a reel of a storage device is released when received in a media drive, the method comprising,
- rotating a reel driver to rotate a reel of a storage device prior to coupling the storage device to a drive leader;
- detecting movement of the reel driver based on a signal received from at least one sensor;
- and
- loading the media if the detected movement exceeds a predetermined amount.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.