Abstract: A protective cartridge case for housing a storage cartridge is provided. The protective cartridge case includes a housing having a top and bottom portion for enclosing a storage cartridge, the top and bottom portions having major surfaces that oppose each other along a vertical direction, and a latch member for selectively securing the top portion and bottom portion in a closed position. The latch member secures the top and bottom portion in a closed position with substantially zero tension on the latch member in the horizontal direction.

Abstract: A protective cartridge case for housing a storage cartridge having at least one reel is provided. The protective cartridge case includes a housing for enclosing the storage cartridge therein, the housing including a top portion and a bottom portion having opposing major inner surfaces in a closed position. A first absorbing member is disposed adjacent the inner surface of the top portion and a second absorbing member is disposed adjacent the inner surface of the bottom portion. The protective case further including a first absorbing member disposed adjacent the inner surface of the top portion and a second absorbing member disposed adjacent the inner surface of the bottom portion for absorbing forces on the cartridge during a shock event. Additional absorbing members may be disposed adjacent minor side surfaces of the housing for cushioning minor side surfaces of the cartridge.

Abstract: According to one aspect and example, a method is provided for handling write protected storage devices. The method includes generating a read signal from a portion of a magnetic storage medium and determining if a modulation pattern is present in the read signal, the modulation pattern associated with an identification mark comprising a pattern of indicia associated with a recording layer of the magnetic storage medium. The identification mark indicates that the storage medium is a write protected storage device (e.g., a write-once-read-many “WORM” storage device or the like). If the storage medium is write protected, a media drive is restricted from write operations to the storage medium according to the particular write protected scheme, e.g., WORM, write append only, or the like.

Abstract: A tape cartridge housing allowing for both pre-shell closure and post-shell closure insertion of an auxiliary memory unit is provided. A flexible tape cartridge housing allows a manufacturer of tape cartridges to select whether to incorporate an auxiliary memory unit into the tape cartridge during the manufacturing process while a tape cartridge is still not fully assembled, during the end of the manufacturing process when the tape cartridge top and bottom shells have been combined, or after the manufacturing process when the tape cartridge is ready for operation.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for identifying a single reel tape cartridge format, in a single reel tape handling device, from a plurality of available formats. According to one aspect of the invention, cartridge identification information is provisioned on a single reel tape cartridge leader. The cartridge identification information is detectable by the tape handling device and usable to identify a format of the tape cartridge from a plurality of available formats. The cartridge identification information includes at least one feature on the tape cartridge leader having characteristics indicative to the tape handling device of the format of the tape cartridge presented to the tape handling device.

Abstract: A tape cartridge having a low stress tape cartridge leader and cartridge leader shock absorption system for improved reliability. The tape cartridge includes a cartridge housing and a supply reel rotatably connected within the cartridge housing. The supply reel includes a magnetic tape media spooled thereon that is terminated at one end by a tape cartridge leader. The tape cartridge leader includes a connector to attach the leader to a tape-handling device. The tape cartridge also includes a cartridge leader stop formed in the cartridge housing. The cartridge leader stop includes a shock absorbing material to absorb impact forces between the cartridge leader stop and the tape cartridge leader. In another embodiment of the invention, the cartridge leader is configured to uniformly contact the respective portions of the cartridge housing, e.g. the leader stop, to reduce stress concentration points and the overall working load on the leader.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for identifying a single reel tape cartridge format, in a single reel tape handling device, from a plurality of available formats. According to one aspect of the invention, cartridge identification information is provisioned on a single reel tape cartridge leader. The cartridge identification information is detectable by the tape handling device and usable to identify a format of the tape cartridge from a plurality of available formats. The cartridge identification information includes at least one feature on the tape cartridge leader having characteristics indicative to the tape handling device of the format of the tape cartridge presented to the tape handling device.