Abstract: A recessed bezel and corresponding assembly are provided for internally mounting a data storage device in a computer system housing. The recessed bezel allows the removable data storage medium to be inserted into the data storage device to a loaded position, such that none of the removable data storage medium protrudes outwardly from the computer system housing.

Abstract: A tape cartridge loader includes a substantially flat actuator arm. Rotation of the arm produces a linear motion of a cartridge conveyor. The actuator arm has a sector gear formed around a portion of the periphery of the arm, specifically around the axis of rotation of the arm. The gear is stepped-down with respect to the arm, i.e. such that the centerline of the gear teeth is offset from a plane of the arm (e.g. the plane through the center of the arm). A motor and worm gear apply force to the sector gear to rotate the arm and thereby actuate the conveyor and any other elements of the loader mechanism. The gear offset may cause the force on the arm to generate a moment or torque tending to twist the arm. To compensate for this moment, the loader also includes a guide, positioned to interact with the distal end of the arm during rotation of the arm, so as to limit the twisting of the arm and counteract the torque.

Abstract: To control operations of an arcuate scanning head assembly, servo signals are written in one or more designated servo regions along a recording tape, for example along one or both edges of the recording area on the tape. To minimize the space occupied by the servo signals, the servo signals are always written with an azimuth that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tape. In the preferred embodiment, servo signals aligned with adjacent tracks are written at two different positions within a servo region. As a read head passes over a track and the servo region, the head should overlap the servo signal aligned with that track and a portion of the servo signal aligned with the adjacent track. A control system samples the signal from the read head in a first time window corresponding to passage of the head across a burst aligned with the track and in a second time window corresponding to passage of the head across a burst aligned with the adjacent track.

Abstract: A tape cartridge is provided with reliable reel lock and motor/reel coupling mechanisms whose functions are both accomplished during a single motion of the cartridge relative to the drive motor. The motor/reel coupling includes a circular set of gear teeth on the bottom of the tape reel which meshes with a complementary set of gear teeth on a motor coupling rotated by the motor when the cartridge is loaded into the tape drive and the cartridge and motor are moved towards each other. An engagement force to maintain the coupling is provided by an engagement spring in the cartridge which biases the reel towards the motor. Reel locking is accomplished by providing a second circular set of gear teeth on a top side of the tape reel which meshes with a complementary set of gear teeth provided on a slidably mounted locking bracket inside the tape cartridge. A lock spring normally biases the locking bracket towards the top of the tape reel, thus locking the reel when the cartridge is not engaged with the motor.