Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus is provided in which an increase in recording density is achieved and in which the tape loading mechanism is simplified. A recording/reproducing apparatus of the type which uses a tape cassette which has a tape reel in a cartridge and in which a tape including a tape-shaped recording medium is wound around the tape reel, includes a take-up reel adapted to take up the tape-shaped recording medium and having a height equal to that of the tape reel of the tape cassette attached to the recording/reproducing apparatus, and a rotary head for recording and/or reproducing information on and/or from the tape-shaped recording medium by a helical scan system.

Abstract: A low cost communications device (remote memory interface) highly adaptable to design changes. A data processing means encodes transmit data and decodes received data by software processing. A data processing means can be contrived for example with a general-purpose microcomputer, to decoded received data encode transmit data by software processing so that designing and mounting a dedicated IC is not necessary and a more compact communications device can be manufactured at a lower cost. The encode/decode method and other communications specifications can also be easily changed by modifying the software.

Abstract: When a tape cassette is mounted, a tape drive apparatus judges whether the tape cassette is of a first mode (normal mode) or a second mode (multi-partition mode) based on one or both of management information that is read out from the magnetic tape and management information that is read out from a memory (MIC) incorporated in the tape cassette. The tape drive apparatus then an performs an operation setting in accordance with the mode thus judged.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a recording medium in which a recording medium is recognized by reading identification information from a non-contact-type memory of the recording medium via a remote memory interface. An identifier corresponding to the recognized recording medium is set and given to the non-contact-type memory of the recording medium via the remote memory of the recording medium interface. An operation on the non-contact-type memory is performed with identification of the recording medium by using a command including the identifier.

Abstract: Hard disk drive unit with buffer and cue data areas efficiently records files to magnetic tape. Recording and reproducing apparatus includes changer unit for selecting and carrying tape cassettes and accommodating magnetic tapes with predetermined recording areas, tape drive unit for loading tape cassettes and recording and reproducing magnetic tapes, hard disk drive unit having a buffer area for recording and reproducing data in the tape drive unit, and controller unit for managing recording areas of tape cassette magnetic tapes arranged in the changer unit as a continuously formed area. Storage level is set corresponding to remaining capacity of buffer area and remaining capacity of one BOF data area, or number of past access times to corresponding file in a file information table and final access time, etc. Based on storage level, control operations are performed. Frequently used file data can be selectively recorded to buffer or BOF data areas.

Abstract: A tape cassette including a cartridge and one tape reel provided in the cartridge, with a recording medium in the form of a tape being wound upon the tape reel. In the tape cassette, a reader tape that is more rigid than the recording medium in the form of a tape is connected to an unwinding end of the recording medium in the form of a tape; a toothed portion (a protrusion) is formed on at least a portion of both side edges of the reader tape; the tape reel has a flange on a top portion and on a bottom portion of a hub, and feed teeth (engaging portions) that engage the protrusions of the reader tape are formed on outer peripheral edges of the flanges. Rotation of the tape reel in one direction causes the engaging portions to feed the protrusions, whereby the reader tape is sent out from the cartridge. The tape cartridge of the invention can be reliably mounted to a recording/reproducing apparatus.

Abstract: A tape cassette including a cartridge and one tape reel provided in the cartridge, with a recording medium in the form of a tape being wound upon the tape reel. In the tape cassette, a reader tape that is more rigid than the recording medium in the form of a tape is connected to an unwinding end of the recording medium in the form of a tape; a toothed portion (a protrusion) is formed on at least a portion of both side edges of the reader tape; the tape reel has a flange on a top portion and on a bottom portion of a hub, and feed teeth (engaging portions) that engage the protrusions of the reader tape are formed on outer peripheral edges of the flanges. Rotation of the tape reel in one direction causes the engaging portions to feed the protrusions, whereby the reader tape is sent out from the cartridge. The tape cartridge of the invention can be reliably mounted to a recording/reproducing apparatus.

Abstract: A tape cassette including a cartridge and one tape reel provided in the cartridge, with a recording medium in the form of a tape being wound upon the tape reel. In the tape cassette, a reader tape that is more rigid than the recording medium in the form of a tape is connected to an unwinding end of the recording medium in the form of a tape; a toothed portion (a protrusion) is formed on at least a portion of both side edges of the reader tape; the tape reel has a flange on a top portion and on a bottom portion of a hub, and feed teeth (engaging portions) that engage the protrusions of the reader tape are formed on outer peripheral edges of the flanges. Rotation of the tape reel in one direction causes the engaging portions to feed the protrusions, whereby the reader tape is sent out from the cartridge. The tape cartridge of the invention can be reliably mounted to a recording/reproducing apparatus.

Abstract: A tape cassette including a cartridge and one tape reel provided in the cartridge, with a recording medium in the form of a tape being wound upon the tape reel. In the tape cassette, a reader tape that is more rigid than the recording medium in the form of a tape is connected to an unwinding end of the recording medium in the form of a tape; a toothed portion (a protrusion) is formed on at least a portion of both side edges of the reader tape; the tape reel has a flange on a top portion and on a bottom portion of a hub, and feed teeth (engaging portions) that engage the protrusions of the reader tape are formed on outer peripheral edges of the flanges. Rotation of the tape reel in one direction causes the engaging portions to feed the protrusions, whereby the reader tape is sent out from the cartridge. The tape cartridge of the invention can be reliably mounted to a recording/reproducing apparatus.

Abstract: A tape streaming drive capable of unloading and loading a tape in a shorter time. The tape streaming drive includes a motor driving and servo circuit 150 having the function of controlling the running of a magnetic tape, and a system controller 161 having the controlling function of the motor driving and servo circuit 150 for moving the magnetic tape to an ejection area provided in the last position of the partition directly previous to the current partition.

Abstract: In a tape cassette including a magnetic tape having a plurality of partitions in which recording data is written, numbers P1, P2, P3, . . . respectively assigned to the partitions are arranged in an ascending order from the beginning end BOT of the magnetic tape toward an end EOD thereof. When a partition is newly appended, the last partition is divided, and the region behind the dividing part is used as a new partition which is assigned by a number Pn+1 obtained by increasing the maximum number Pn among the partition numbers which existed before the division, so that partitions can be freely appended or deleted.

Abstract: A recording medium handling apparatus, such as a library apparatus, is designed to be able to carry out excellent information communication with a specific recording medium having a noncontact type memory. The recording medium handling apparatus includes a magazine for housing a plurality of tape cassettes arranged side by side, and an interface circuit capable of executing data transmission with respect to the memory in the tape cassette in a noncontact manner by executing wireless communication with a remote memory chip in the tape cassette through an antenna.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing apparatus using a cassette, which is capable of being set to a write-protect mode for a stored recording medium, includes a head for recording data inputted from an outside of the apparatus in the recording medium and reproducing data recorded in the recording medium; a detector for detecting whether the cassette is set to a record-possible mode or the write-protect mode; and a controller for controlling the apparatus so as to record input data from the outside of the apparatus and attribute information of the recording medium in the recording medium when the cassette is set to the record-possible mode and record the attribute information but not the input data in the recording medium when the cassette is set to the write-protect mode.

Abstract: A recording medium cartridge has a bar code label provided on the outer surface of its case so that the bar code of the bar code label indicates identification information associated the with recording medium disposed in the case. A memory circuit is provided inside the case so that identification information identical to the information indicated by the bar code label may be stored in the memory circuit. A recording/reproducing apparatus includes a bar code reader for reading the bar code of the bar code label, and a memory reader for reading the identification information stored in the memory circuit. Either the identification information read by the bar code reader or the identification information read by the memory reader is employed as the identification information associated with the recording medium cartridge.

Abstract: An information recording/reproducing apparatus inculding a identifying means for identifying an loaded cassette as a first type tape cassette or a second type tape cassette, the loaded cassette having a tape-shaped record medium in a cartridge, the first type tape cassette having a non-volatile memory in the cartridge, the second type tape cassette not having a non-volatile memory in the cartridge, an initializing portion for initializing at least the non-volatile memory when the loaded cassette is the first type tape cassette and for initializing the tape-shaped record medium when the loaded cassette is the second tape cassette, and a recording/reproducing portion for recording/reproducing data to/from the tape-shaped record medium in the tape cassette, the tape-shaped record medium being initialized by the initializing portion.

Abstract: An information recording/reproducing apparatus including an identifying portion for identifying a loaded cassette as a first type tape cassette or a second type tape cassette, the loaded cassette having a tape-shaped record medium in a cartridge, the first type tape cassette having a non-volatile memory in the cartridge, the second type tape cassette not having a non-volatile memory in the cartridge, an initializing portion for initializing at least the non-volatile memory when the loaded cassette is the first type tape cassette and for initializing the tape-shaped record medium when the loaded cassette is the second tape cassette, and a recording/reproducing portion for recording/reproducing data to/from the tape-shaped record medium in the tape cassette, the tape-shaped record medium being initialized by the initializing portion.

Abstract: A tape cassette and tape recording/reproducing apparatus including a tape partitioned into a plurality of partitions for recording data thereon, and a separate memory included in the tape cassette for storing control information relating to each tape partition, thereby reducing the time and number of operations needed to access a particular partition.

Abstract: A master slice type semiconductor circuit device including a memory block having at least one memory circuit; one conductive layer provided to peripheral portions of the memory circuit and used as an input portion thereto; power source lines provided to the peripheral portion of the memory circuit and formed by a conductive layer different from the conductive layer of the input portion; and a contact hole for connecting between the two conductive layers at a selected input portion. The selected input portion connected by the contact hole is set or clamped to a predetermined logic level by the power source line. This enables a change of the memory capacity or the function of the memory block to satisfy customer requirements.

Abstract: A gate array type semiconductor device including at least a plurality of basic cell arrays and diffusion regions for suppressing latchup in the basic cells forming the basic cell arrays. Each of the diffusion regions has a comb-shaped structure, i.e., wide tooth parts, narrow tooth parts, and a base part, formed as an integral structure. These parts partially surround each basic cell.

Abstract: A gate array integrated device including a plurality of single column type arrays, a plurality of matrix type arrays such as double column type arrays (BC2), and longitudinal connection areas (CH) provided between the single column type arrays and the matrix type arrays. One of the single column type arrays facing at least one side of each of the matrix type arrays.