Abstract: A data storage cartridge and a method of opening a data storage cartridge are provided. The cartridge includes: a storage medium; a housing having at least one media access aperture, the storage medium being provided within the housing such that at least one media access aperture exposes a surface of the storage medium; and a shutter assembly movable from a closed position to an open position. The shutter assembly includes: a cover configured to cover at least one media access aperture when the shutter assembly is in the closed position and to expose at least one media access aperture when the shutter assembly is in the open position; and a shutter cam coupled to the cover, said shutter cam including a lock assembly and a cam portion. The method includes unlocking a lock in the shutter assembly using a shutter opener; and sliding the shutter assembly into an open position using the shutter opener.

Abstract: The present invention provides loading and unloading mechanisms, and data drives for data storage cartridges. Embodiments of the cartridge loading and unloading mechanisms for a data storage cartridge may: operate in a manner such that the drive door of the data drive may be fully closed before the disk medium is exposed, e.g., before opening of the associated shutter of the cartridge; be powered by the same drive motor assembly that is used to move or transport the cartridge to the optical head assembly used for writing and/or reading of data from the disk medium of the cartridge; and may fit within a standard configuration for a data drive. Embodiments of the cartridge loading and unloading mechanisms, as well as the data drives, may provide reliable operation, ease of assembly, and of the parts and components necessary for the reliable operation, and positive data cartridge positioning, as well as minimizing backlash in the drive motor/gear assembly.

Abstract: A data drive and a method of operating a data drive are provided. The data drive includes a drive base; a data transfer mechanism coupled to the drive base; a carriage assembly for receiving a cartridge containing a data storage medium; and a carriage assembly actuator coupled to the drive base for translating the carriage assembly to expose a plurality of radial positions of the data storage medium to the data transfer mechanism. The method includes receiving a data storage cartridge containing a rotatable data storage medium into a carriage assembly; translating the carriage assembly across a data transfer mechanism; and reading data from the data storage medium using the data transfer mechanism as the carriage assembly is being translated across the data transfer mechanism.

Abstract: A flexible multi-channel trace interconnect array has a head end for electrically connecting write and read trace pairs respectively to write and read elements of a data transducer head, a body formed of a flexible dielectric material and carrying the write and read trace pairs, and at least one circuit end for connecting the write and read trace pairs respectively to write driver and read preamplifier circuits of a data storage device. Each trace pair includes two trace conductors each having a trace width, and an inter-conductor separation space. Adjacent trace pairs are separated by an inter-pair space having a width greater than, and preferably two to twenty times greater than the inter-conductor separation space in order to decouple adjacent channel pairs.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reducing electrostatic discharge damage to a read/write (R/W) head attached to a shutter/head assembly are disclosed. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a shutter/head assembly includes a lead screw, a head housing, and a shutter. The head assembly is configured to be coupled to a R/W head, and is rotatably coupled with the lead screw. The shutter is also rotatably coupled to the lead screw, but in such a manner that the shutter is able to rotate independently of the head housing. The shutter is also configured in such a manner so that it rotates to a radial position between the R/W head and the tape/leader ribbon when the lead screw brings the shutter toward a certain linear position, and rotates to another radial position away from the R/W head and the tape/leader ribbon when the lead screw brings the shutter toward a different linear position.