Patents by Inventor Timothy Craig Ostwald
Timothy Craig Ostwald has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 8855808Abstract: Embodiments include systems and methods for targeting using storage magazines. Some embodiments operate in context of a data storage environment, in which the magazines are used to hold data cartridges, and the data cartridges are installed in, removed from, and ferried between the magazines by a robotic mechanism. Magazine implementations include integrated targeting features in the magazine base structure. For example, some side walls of the magazine slots are shaped for optical targeting, while other side walls of the magazine slots are shaped for lead-in (i.e., to minimize undesirable collisions or interference between the cartridges and the magazine slot walls). Some embodiments describe novel locating functionality in context of magazines with integrated targeting features. Other embodiments include other geometric magazine features.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2012Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Oracle International CorporationInventors: Timothy Craig Ostwald, Matthew David Woodbury, Daniel James Plutt
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Patent number: 8800858Abstract: Systems and methods are described for using topographic and/or contrast spot scanning to facilitate various types of functionality in context of a data storage library. A robotic mechanism includes a hand assembly that has one or more integrated spot scanners. The hand assembly is configured to travel in at least two directions and to rotate, thereby locating and/or pointing the spot scanner in desired locations throughout the data storage library. By sweeping the spot scanner across a scan window, contrast and/or topographic data can be acquired and decoded to generate a profile of a region. The profile can be interpreted to facilitate functions, such as calibration of robot location with respect to media cartridges, targeting, proximity detection, empty cell detection, etc.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2012Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Oracle International CorporationInventors: Daniel James Plutt, Timothy Craig Ostwald, Joseph Paul Manes
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Publication number: 20130346687Abstract: Embodiments include systems and methods for detecting logical presence and location of modules, detecting physical presence and location of modules, and mapping the logical and physical locations together for use by the storage library. For example, when an expansion module is installed, it is connected to a network and it reports its logical presence and logical network location to a base controller in the base module. A robotic mechanism is used to trigger one or more presence sensors to detect physical presence and location of the installed expansion module. The base controller or another component generates and stores a mapping between the logical location and the physical location. The storage library can use the mapping to translate between logical and physical functionality.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2012Publication date: December 26, 2013Applicant: ORACLE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONInventors: James Lee Ries, Terry Lynn Lane, Timothy Craig Ostwald
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Publication number: 20130317643Abstract: Embodiments include systems and methods for targeting using storage magazines. Some embodiments operate in context of a data storage environment, in which the magazines are used to hold data cartridges, and the data cartridges are installed in, removed from, and ferried between the magazines by a robotic mechanism. Magazine implementations include integrated targeting features in the magazine base structure. For example, some side walls of the magazine slots are shaped for optical targeting, while other side walls of the magazine slots are shaped for lead-in (i.e., to minimize undesirable collisions or interference between the cartridges and the magazine slot walls). Some embodiments describe novel locating functionality in context of magazines with integrated targeting features. Other embodiments include other geometric magazine features.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2012Publication date: November 28, 2013Applicant: ORACLE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONInventors: Timothy Craig Ostwald, Matthew David Woodbury, Daniel James Plutt
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Publication number: 20130292461Abstract: Systems and methods are described for using topographic and/or contrast spot scanning to facilitate various types of functionality in context of a data storage library. A robotic mechanism includes a hand assembly that has one or more integrated spot scanners. The hand assembly is configured to travel in at least two directions and to rotate, thereby locating and/or pointing the spot scanner in desired locations throughout the data storage library. By sweeping the spot scanner across a scan window, contrast and/or topographic data can be acquired and decoded to generate a profile of a region. The profile can be interpreted to facilitate functions, such as calibration of robot location with respect to media cartridges, targeting, proximity detection, empty cell detection, etc.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2012Publication date: November 7, 2013Applicant: ORACLE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONInventors: Daniel James Plutt, Timothy Craig Ostwald, Joseph Paul Manes
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Publication number: 20130221086Abstract: Systems and methods are described for using topographic and/or contrast spot scanning to facilitate various types of functionality in context of a data storage library. A robotic mechanism includes a hand assembly that has one or more integrated spot scanners. The hand assembly is configured to travel in at least two directions and to rotate, thereby locating and/or pointing the spot scanner in desired locations throughout the data storage library. By sweeping the spot scanner across a scan window, contrast and/or topographic data can be acquired and decoded to generate a profile of a region. The profile can be interpreted to facilitate functions, such as calibration of robot location with respect to media cartridges, targeting, proximity detection, empty cell detection, etc.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 29, 2012Publication date: August 29, 2013Applicant: Oracle International CorporationInventors: Jon Mark Holdman, Daniel James Plutt, Timothy Craig Ostwald
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Publication number: 20130200139Abstract: Systems and methods are described for using topographic and/or contrast spot scanning to facilitate various types of functionality in context of a data storage library. A robotic mechanism includes a hand assembly that has one or more integrated spot scanners. The hand assembly is configured to travel in at least two directions and to rotate, thereby locating and/or pointing the spot scanner in desired locations throughout the data storage library. By sweeping the spot scanner across a scan window, contrast and/or topographic data can be acquired and decoded to generate a profile of a region. The profile can be interpreted to facilitate functions, such as calibration of robot location with respect to media cartridges, targeting, proximity detection, empty cell detection, etc.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2012Publication date: August 8, 2013Applicant: ORACLE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONInventors: Jon Mark Holdman, Daniel James Plutt, Timothy Craig Ostwald
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Publication number: 20130181794Abstract: Systems and methods are described for providing selective biasing of a platform in context of one or more modules. While moving in the Z-direction with respect to the modules, the platform travels in an unbiased manner. For example, one or more alignment features on the platform are engaged with one or more alignment features on the modules to allow the platform to substantially float within an X-Y region defined by the alignment features. When the platform reaches its desired Z-location, magnetic features bias the platform into a substantially locked and repeatable X-Y position (e.g., using permanent magnets and/or electromagnets). In some embodiments, the platform is locked into an accurate position to allow a robotic mechanism of a storage library to move around efficiently within the modules while still being able to perform operations that involve accurate positioning (e.g., pick and place operations on media cartridges).Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2012Publication date: July 18, 2013Applicant: ORACLE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONInventors: Timothy Craig Ostwald, Joseph Paul Manes, Daniel James Plutt
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Patent number: 7004392Abstract: A robot apparatus and a barcode scanner to be used for collecting positional data parallel to the scan direction in, for example, a library storage system is provided. In one embodiment, the robotic apparatus includes a barcode scanner having a scan path and an attenuation surface within the scanner scan path. The barcode scanner scans the target while the robotic apparatus is moved in a direction parallel with the scan path. Positional data is collected in conjunction with the readability limits of the barcode target. The central position of the target in a parallel direction to the scan path is determined based on the readability of the barcode target and the correlating positional data. The barcode scanner can also scan the target while the robotic apparatus is moved in a direction perpendicular with the scan path. Positional data is collected in conjunction with the readability limits of the barcode target.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2001Date of Patent: February 28, 2006Assignee: Storage Technology CorporationInventors: Adam Wayne Mehlberg, Daniel James Plutt, Timothy Craig Ostwald
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Patent number: 6922307Abstract: A data storage library having two inward facing storage arrays and two outward (i.e., back to back) facing arrays between the two inward facing arrays, such that an access device positioned to access one of the outward facing arrays can perform a rotation to be positioned to access one of the inward facing arrays. Thus a single access device can access all four arrays only by performing translations and rotations as necessary.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2001Date of Patent: July 26, 2005Assignee: Storage Technology CorporationInventors: Timothy Craig Ostwald, Daniel J. Plutt, Bernard Alan Johnson, Donald Robert Manes, Roger Harry Grow
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Publication number: 20030123184Abstract: A data storage library having two inward facing storage arrays and two outward (i.e., back to back) facing arrays between the two inward facing arrays, such that an access device positioned to access one of the outward facing arrays can perform a rotation to be positioned to access one of the inward facing arrays. Thus a single access device can access all four arrays only by performing translations and rotations as necessary.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2001Publication date: July 3, 2003Applicant: Storage Technology CorporationInventors: Timothy Craig Ostwald, Daniel J. Plutt, Bernard Alan Johnson, Donald Robert Manes, Roger Harry Grow
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Publication number: 20030111536Abstract: A robot apparatus and a barcode scanner to be used for collecting positional data parallel to the scan direction in, for example, a library storage system is provided. In one embodiment, the robotic apparatus includes a barcode scanner having a scan path and an attenuation surface within the scanner scan path. The barcode scanner scans the target while the robotic apparatus is moved in a direction parallel with the scan path. Positional data is collected in conjunction with the readability limits of the barcode target. The central position of the target in a parallel direction to the scan path is determined based on the readability of the barcode target and the correlating positional data. The barcode scanner can also scan the target while the robotic apparatus is moved in a direction perpendicular with the scan path. Positional data is collected in conjunction with the readability limits of the barcode target.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2001Publication date: June 19, 2003Applicant: Storage Technology CorporationInventors: Adam Wayne Mehlberg, Daniel James Plutt, Timothy Craig Ostwald