Tape Patents (Class 360/134)
  • Patent number: 7391592
    Abstract: A magnetic recording medium having a diamond-like carbon (DLC) film added therein a Group IV element of the periodic table such as silicon, particularly in the vicinity of the boundary between the magnetic material and the formed DLC film. Since a DLC having low friction coefficient can be formed, the centerline average roughness can be reduced to 30 nm or even less. Accordingly, a magnetic recording medium improved in magnetic properties and in lubricity can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigenori Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7384700
    Abstract: A leader tape comprising a support and a coating layer containing powder and a binder, wherein at least one surface of the leader tape has a center line average surface roughness (Ra) of from 10 to 60 nm, and depression hardness (DH) defined by the following equation (1) of from 60 to 140 kg/mm2 (0.588 to 1.372 GPa): DH=3.7926×10?2[Pmax/(Hmax)2](kg/mm2) ??(1) wherein Pmax is a maximum load and Hmax is a maximum displacement amount of an indenter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Satoru Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 7381484
    Abstract: A magnetic recording tape comprising a magnetic layer, a flexible support and a back coat layer in this order, wherein the support is a polyester film having an intrinsic viscosity of from 0.40 to 0.60 dl/g and a number average molecular weight of from 12,000 to 24,000, a surface of the back coat layer has protrusions having a height of 100 nm or more measured with an atomic force microscope in a density of from 10 to 500 in 90 ?m square, and a ratio of a total number of protrusions having a height of 50 nm or more on the surface of the back coat layer to a total number of protrusions having a height of 100 nm or more on the surface of the back coat layer is from 10 to 100.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kiyomi Ejiri
  • Patent number: 7379275
    Abstract: A magneto-resistive head, a magnetic tape and a magnetic tape recording/reproducing system, which are capable of suppressing the formation of protrusions around a magneto-resistive element, thereby preventing the occurrence of such problems as spacing loss and tape damage, are provided. A thermally conductive member that is connected to the magneto-resistive element is formed of a material having a thermal conductivity greater than 20 W/m·K so as to efficiently release the heat generated when the magneto-resistive element is in use and suppress the rise in temperature around the magneto-resistive element. In addition, by selecting, for a lubricant layer formed on the surface of the magnetic tape, a material whose melting point is higher than the operating temperature of the magneto-resistive element, the lubricant layer is prevented from melting even when the magneto-resistive element is in use and when the temperature of the magnetic head thus rises.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Osaki, Tetsuo Endo
  • Patent number: 7369363
    Abstract: A method for producing a magnetic tape and method for improving a winding form of the magnetic tape are provided. These methods comprises a stage for winding a magnetic tape around a tape reel; and a stage for thermally treating the magnetic tape wound around the tape reel under preset thermal treatment conditions to impart the magnetic tape to winding habit. In the winding state, the magnetic tape is wound around a tape reel whose hub circumference is formed into a tapered state in the stage for winding a magnetic tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kyohisa Uchiumi
  • Patent number: 7361422
    Abstract: A leader tape in which an non-magnetic under layer that contains a powder and a binder and a magnetic upper layer are sequentially laminated on at least one side of a support, a center line average roughness (Ra) of a surface of the support is from 30 to 50 nm, and a center line average roughness (Ra) of the multi layer coated surface is larger than that (Ra) of an opposite surface of the support, and the difference is at most 4 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Masatoshi Takahashi, Mikio Ohno
  • Patent number: 7359153
    Abstract: A recording tape cartridge is structured so as to accommodate, within a case, a reel on which is wound a magnetic tape which is a recording medium. The recording tape cartridge has a so-called WORM function such that overwriting of data on a recording region of the magnetic tape where data is already written, is prohibited. Within the case are provided a first memory board which stores data managing information for managing data written on the magnetic tape, and a second memory board which stores WORM managing information for managing writing of data to the magnetic tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuki Asano
  • Patent number: 7352528
    Abstract: A leader tape comprising a support and a coating layer containing a powder and a binder, wherein at least one surface of the leader tape has a center line average roughness (Ra) of from 10 to 60 nm, and the leader tape has a cupping of from 0 to 1 mm per a width of ½ inch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kiyomi Ejiri
  • Publication number: 20080074787
    Abstract: Data-storage devices and methods are disclosed. An exemplary data-storage device includes a medium having at least two dimensions and having a surface. Multiple data-containing loci are arranged on the surface. Each locus has a respective amount of magnetically responsive particles. The respective amounts are different in at least some of the loci. The respective amount at a particular locus corresponds, at least in part, to a respective unit of data contained by the locus. The loci can be substantially two-dimensional or three-dimensional, the latter being configured as respective holes, containing respective amounts of magnetically responsive particles, extending depthwise into the medium. The loci typically range in size from the micrometer range to the nanometer range. The medium can be any of various configurations such as cards, sheets, films, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Inventors: James M. Henson, Stephan R. Fuelling
  • Patent number: 7349182
    Abstract: A magnetic recording medium for being used in a write/read system in which a difference of track width between write track width and read track width is smaller than 10 ?m, which comprises: a magnetic layer containing ferromagnetic powder and a binder; a nonmagnetic support; and a backcoating layer, in this order, at least one of the magnetic layer and the backcoating layer having servo signals for tracking control pre-recorded therein, wherein the nonmagnetic support is a film of a polyester having an intrinsic viscosity of 0.40 to 0.60 dl/g and a number average molecular weight of 12000 to 24000.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Mikio Ohno, Tomohiro Ichikawa, Tatsuo Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20080030899
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention a data storage tape is provided. In one example, the data storage tape comprises a substrate having a first recording layer and a second recording layer disposed on opposite sides of the substrate. Further, the first and second recording layers are uni-directional, and oriented in opposite directions on the first and second sides. In one example, the recording material includes an Advance Metal Evaporated (AME), and is generally suitable for vertical recording. Additionally, the tape may include various other layers and materials, for example, a coating on one or both major sides for reducing adhesion to the opposite major side (when wound on a cartridge or take-up reel, for example).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2006
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Applicant: Quantum Corporation
    Inventor: David E. Norton
  • Patent number: 7327534
    Abstract: A cartridge for operatively housing a recording/playback medium comprising a first spool and a second spool located at offset positions inside a cartridge shell body; a recording/playback medium of a fixed width and length wound around the first and second spools; and a plurality of slant tape guides positioned between the first and second spools for guiding the recording/playback medium and for creating a helical scan tape wrap angle in connection with a plurality of main tape guides, the plurality of main tape guides being positioned between the first and second spools. The cartridge shell body comprises a plurality of pull out arm assemblies serving as enclosure doors for a bottom surface of the cartridge shell body, the pull out arm assemblies further serving as semicircular side walls of the cartridge shell body; a top plate; and opposing end plates formed perpendicular to the pull out arm assemblies and the top plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory R. Clemons, Steven A. Tice
  • Patent number: 7283320
    Abstract: A magnetic recording medium having a magnetic layer containing magnetic powder provided on a support is disclosed. The magnetic layer possesses a servo band in which a servo signal for controlling tracking of a magnetic head, and a data band on which a data is recorded. The servo signal is magnetized and recorded on the servo band, having been magnetized in one direction of the track direction thereof, in the direction other than the one direction. The thickness of the magnetic layer ranging from 10 to 180 ?m, and variation [standard deviation of Mrt] of the product [Mrt] of the residual magnetism by the thickness of the magnetic field being not more than 30%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Tsujimoto, Kiyomi Ejiri
  • Publication number: 20070230054
    Abstract: A magnetic tape including: a nonmagnetic support; a substantially nonmagnetic layer containing nonmagnetic powder and a binder; and a magnetic layer containing ferromagnetic powder and a binder, in this order, wherein the magnetic tape has a coefficient of temperature expansion of from 0 to 10×10?6/° C. and a coefficient of humidity expansion of 0 to 7×10?6/% RH each in a transverse direction of the magnetic tape, and the magnetic tape has a dimensional deformation amount of from 0.01 to 0.06% in the transverse direction in case of applying a tensile stress of 1N to the magnetic tape at 60° C. for 50 hours in a longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiharu Takeda, Katsuhiko Meguro, Takeshi Nagata
  • Patent number: 7267895
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetic tape includes the steps of feeding a broad magnetic tape including a broad support formed with a magnetic recording layer on one side thereof and a back coat layer on the other surface thereof to a portion between a disk-like upper blade and a disk-like lower blade overlapping each other and rotating in opposite directions and cutting the broad magnetic tape into magnetic tapes each having a predetermined width, which method for manufacturing a magnetic tape further includes a step of setting a cutting start angle between the disk-like upper blade and the disk-like lower blade overlapping each other and rotating in opposite directions at the time that cutting of the broad magnetic tape fed to a portion between the upper blade and the lower blade by the upper blade and the lower blade is started so that a lower blade side cut surface of the magnetic tape to be formed by cutting the broad magnetic tape includes 40% to 65% of a region formed by cutting the magnetic tape by a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Sadayuki Shoudai, Tsutomu Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 7259935
    Abstract: A magnetic tape having a lower non-magnetic layer containing non-magnetic powder and a binder, and an upper magnetic layer containing ferromagnetic powder and a binder, formed on a surface of a tape-form non-magnetic support. This magnetic tape has an intermediate binder layer, which is under the upper magnetic layer and has an average dry thickness of 10 to less than 50 nm. The average dry thickness of the upper magnetic layer is 5 to 100 nm, and the squareness ratio of the upper magnetic layer in the lengthwise direction is 0.8 or more. In this magnetic tape, the thickness of the magnetic layer and the fluctuation at the interface between the magnetic layer and the intermediate binder layer under the magnetic layer can be controlled. As a result, the PW50 value of a solitary waveform and modulation noise can be reduced. Thus, the magnetic tape shows excellent C/N characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Maxell, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsutaro Inoue, Tsugihiro Doi
  • Patent number: 7212118
    Abstract: A cartridge system uses a pluggable remotely accessible tag to store information related to the cartridge. These tags may be accessed by tape drives having pluggable remotely accessing receivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Storage Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew P. Wojciechowski, Howard Hayakawa, James C. Cates, Gary Francis, William T. Veno
  • Patent number: 7157163
    Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic recording medium comprising a magnetic layer with excellent surface smoothness, which comprises a thin film magnetic layer of thickness in a range from 0.03 to 0.30 ?m that is ideal for short wavelength recording, and displays superior electromagnetic conversion characteristics. The magnetic recording medium comprises a magnetic layer containing at least a ferromagnetic powder and a binder resin on one surface of a non-magnetic support, wherein the thickness of the magnetic layer is within a range from 0.03 to 0.30 ?m, and the number of concavities with a depth of 30 nm or greater in the surface of the magnetic layer is 5 per 1 cm2 of surface area or less. Preferably, the value of the average depth Rv6 of the surface of the magnetic layer, as measured by a contact type surface roughness meter, is 12 nm or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Naoto Yajima, Takayoshi Kuwajima, Akihiko Seki, Hiroyuki Yamada, Kenichi Kitamura
  • Patent number: 7145460
    Abstract: A data tape storage cartridge for a data storage system that has a transponder for reading and writing data. The data storage tape cartridge includes a housing having a window and at least one wall. A panel is retained on the housing and configured to cover the window. A retainer is provided on the panel for the transponder. The transponder functions as an identification tag to which data is written and from which data is read to identify the data storage tape cartridge. The removable panel may also include a write protect switch that may be actuated to prevent a tape from being overwritten.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Storage Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew P. Wojciechowski, William T. Veno
  • Patent number: 7111135
    Abstract: A tape cartridge having dual cartridge memory modules to provide memory redundancy, and a method and apparatus for providing redundancy of cartridge memory information within a tape cartridge. The tape cartridge comprises at least first and second cartridge memory modules, each of which stores an identical set of critical information. Each of the first and second cartridge memory modules includes enough critical information to recover from a failure of either of the cartridge memory modules. The method comprises the steps of providing at least two cartridge memory modules in the tape cartridge, and storing an identical set of critical information in each of the two cartridge memory modules. Each of the two cartridge memory modules includes enough critical information to recover from a failure of either cartridge memory module. In a preferred embodiment, the CM modules are stacked one on top of another and increase the amount of space available for tape directory storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Roger Javier Justo, Arturo Avila Mojica
  • Patent number: 7068464
    Abstract: Magnetic tape onto which information may be recorded on either side exhibits the risk of having information recorded on one side affect the opposite side when the two sides are adjacent, such as when the tape is wound in a tape pack. The chance that information recorded onto one surface of a double sided magnetic tape will affect information recorded on the other surface of the magnetic tape is reduced by keeping fields emanating from a recorded region less than about one-half the coercivity of the magnetic medium onto which the information is recorded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Storage Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Richard H. Dee
  • Patent number: 7056607
    Abstract: Provided is a magnetic recording medium permitting the controlling of backcoat layer transfer to a magnetic layer surface, a reduction in dropout even when employing microgranular magnetic material, as well as good running stability, durability, and storage properties. The magnetic recording medium has a magnetic layer with a ferromagnetic powder and a binder on one surface of a nonmagnetic support and a backcoat layer with a nonmagnetic powder and a binder on the other surface of the nonmagnetic support. The nonmagnetic powder is an acicular particle having a mean particle diameter of 5 to 300 nm, and the backcoat layer includes water-soluble cations in a quantity of 100 ppm or less and water-soluble anions in a quantity of 150 ppm or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Zinbo, Noriko Inoue
  • Patent number: 6940672
    Abstract: In general, the invention provides two-sided magnetic data storage tape comprising azimuthal magnetic transition layouts that can substantially reduce demagnetization of recorded magnetic transitions on the surfaces of the tape. The invention specifically balances the goal of simplified media manufacture with the goal of reducing or avoiding media degradation when the tape is spooled. The two-sided magnetic data storage tape defines a substantially similar easy axis of magnetic anisotropy on a first and a second side of the tape, which can simplify media manufacture. Recorded magnetic transitions on the opposing sides of the tape define azimuths that are substantially different, which can help avoid media degradation when the tape is spooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Daniel P. Stubbs, Yung Yip
  • Patent number: 6916521
    Abstract: A cleaning medium for a magnetic recording apparatus is disclosed, comprising a nonmagnetic support having provided thereon a lower coating layer mainly containing a nonmagnetic inorganic powder and a binder, and a cleaning layer containing at least a ferromagnetic inorganic powder and a binder provided on the lower coating layer, wherein the thickness of the cleaning layer is from 0.05 to 1.0 ?m, the thickness of the lower coating layer is from 0.2 to 5.0 ?m, the thickness of the support is from 2.0 to 10 ?m, and the thickness in total of the cleaning medium (cleaning tape) is from 4.0 to 15 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Ishiguro, Yutaka Kakuishi, Satoru Hayakawa, Minoru Sueki
  • Patent number: 6914254
    Abstract: The evaluation reference tape includes at least one recess formed on a magnetic recording layer of a magnetic tape by processing the magnetic recording layer. In the method and apparatus for manufacturing the magnetic recording layer, at least one recess is formed on the magnetic recording layer of the magnetic tape by a laser beam or laser beams in a visible region, an ultraviolet region or both which is incident on the magnetic recording layer of the magnetic tape while the magnetic tape is transported in the longitudinal direction. The evaluation reference tape can perform sensitivity correction of a dropout testing apparatus in accordance with a depth or size of a defect of the magnetic tape and evaluation of the recording/replaying system of the magnetic tape without destroying the evaluation reference tape itself. The method and apparatus can efficiently manufacture the evaluation reference tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Osamu Iwasaki
  • Publication number: 20040240111
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a low-noise, high-output and large-capacity magnetic recording medium compatible with the AIT3 format in which a metal magnetic film is formed by the vacuum evaporation process under supply of oxygen is disclosed. In the vacuum evaporation process, the running speed of a non-magnetic support is controlled within a range from 150 to 200 m/min, and on thus continuously fast-running, non-magnetic support, a Co magnetic thin film is formed under supply of oxygen so as to achieve a coercive force Hc of the Co magnetic thin film of 100 to 115 kA/m, and a squareness ratio of 0.79 or larger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventors: Yasumi Sato, Jota Ito
  • Patent number: 6772272
    Abstract: A method to write information to a designated information storage medium using an allocated data storage device using a specified information recording format, whereby a previously-determined media bit for the designated information storage medium is examined, and a previously-determined device bit for the allocated data storage device is examined, and the write capability of the designated information storage medium using the specified information recording format is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Susan Encinas, Daniel James Winarski
  • Publication number: 20040070879
    Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge includes an opening 1C through which a magnetic tape is drawn out, and a slide door 6 that slides along a sidewall 1D provided with the opening 1C to open and close the opening 1C. The opening 1C is provided in part of the sidewall 1D across a lower half 1A and an upper half 1B of the cartridge case 1. At least one of a lower half portion and an upper half portion of the sidewall is provided with a holding groove 1L that receives a front end portion 6A of the slide door 6 when the opening is closed. Therefore, the upper half 1B and the lower half 1A of the magnetic tape cartridge may be smoothly combined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Yamamoto, Kenji Ishikawa, Yusuke Ishihara, Naoki Okutsu
  • Patent number: 6710974
    Abstract: A tape cassette has a cassette case with top face, under face, front face, rear face, and a pair of right and left side face portions. A pair of supply and take-up tape containers sides is provided in the cassette case. A tape is wound around a pair of reels and contained in the pair of tape containers. A first wall portion connects the rear and right side face portion with each other and forms part of the take-up side tape container. A second wall portion connects the rear and left side face portion with each other and forms part of the supply side tape container. A first prism portion extends from the rear face portion to the right side face portion and refracts or reflects light from a light emission element of a recording and reproducing apparatus for detecting presence and absence of the tape cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Victor Company of Japan, Limited
    Inventors: Shigeru Ishikawa, Hiroyuki Umeda, Hisashige Fujiwara, Yasufumi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 6700742
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a magnetic tape cartridge including a cartridge case in which a single reel with magnetic tape wound on an outer periphery of a reel drum is rotatably housed. The magnetic tape cartridge further includes a locking member, provided within the reel drum so that it is movable between a locking position and an unlocking position in the axial direction of the reel. The locking member is used for locking the reel to restrain rotation of the reel during periods of non-use. In the magnetic tape cartridge, a first radial clearance between the locking member and the reel drum is set smaller than a second radial clearance between the reel and the cartridge case so that when the magnetic tape cartridge is vertically loaded into a cartridge drive unit, chucking failure is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Tsuyuki, Hideaki Shiga, Daisuke Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6686025
    Abstract: A magnetic recording medium that does not develop film swelling when exposed to severe conditions has a nonmagnetic substrate having a trench formed in the area within 2 mm from and concentrically with the outer circumference or the inner circumference of the nonmagnetic substrate, or formed outside the data area concentrically with the outer circumference or the inner circumference of the nonmagnetic substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira Iso
  • Patent number: 6681276
    Abstract: A memory card player, designed to reproduce a variety of digital audio data files from a memory card, is disclosed. Such data files are downloaded by a computer through the Internet or through a PC communication network and are transferred from the computer to the memory card. In an embodiment, the memory card player is integrated with a conventional cassette player, thus selectively playing a cassette tape or a memory card. This player is thus thin, and so it is convenient to a user while carrying it. The memory card player installs one or more memory cards at the same time, thus having a large memory capacity. In the player, a deck body, having a cassette playing unit, is provided with an openable door. A memory card holder is set on the interior surface of the door and holds a memory card. Each of the holders has a plurality of contact terminals for coming into contact with the memory card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hwoa Su Jeong, Jin Woo Seo
  • Patent number: 6671126
    Abstract: An overvoltage protection means is described, with a first electrode (1), with a second electrode (2), with an air breakdown spark gap (3) which is present or which acts between the electrodes (1, 2), and with a housing which holds the electrodes (1, 2), when the air breakdown spark gap (3) is initiated an arc (4) forming between the first electrode (1) and the second electrode (2) As claimed in the invention, an overvoltage protection means is devised which is characterized by high line follow current extinguishing capacity, but which nevertheless can be implemented with a simple structure, by the fact that a third electrode (5) is assigned to the first electrode (1) and the second electrode (2) and between the first electrode (1) and the third electrode (5) a second air breakdown spark gap (6) is present or active, that the third electrode (5) is connected via at least one impedance, especially a varistor (7), directly or indirectly to the second electrode (2), and that after discharging the surge current
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Rainer Durth, Martin Wetter, Joachim Wosgien
  • Patent number: 6661610
    Abstract: The evaluation reference tape includes at least one recess formed on a magnetic recording layer of a magnetic tape by processing the magnetic recording layer. In the method and apparatus for manufacturing the magnetic recording layer, at least one recess is formed on the magnetic recording layer of the magnetic tape by a laser beam or laser beams in a visible region, an ultraviolet region or both which is incident on the magnetic recording layer of the magnetic tape while the magnetic tape is transported in the longitudinal direction. The evaluation reference tape can perform sensitivity correction of a dropout testing apparatus in accordance with a depth or size of a defect of the magnetic tape and evaluation of the recording/replaying system of the magnetic tape without destroying the evaluation reference tape itself. The method and apparatus can efficiently manufacture the evaluation reference tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Osamu Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 6620483
    Abstract: Provided is a magnetic recording medium suited to magnetic recording and reproduction systems employing linear methods and incorporating magnetoresistive reproduction heads. The magnetic recording medium comprising a magnetic layer for servo signal recording, a nonmagnetic layer, and a magnetic layer for information recording in this order on a nonmagnetic support, wherein said magnetic layer for information recording exhibits a coercivity of at least 7.96 kA/m (100 Oe) higher than a coercivity of said magnetic layer for servo signal recording and an interface roughness at the interface of said magnetic layer for servo signal recording and said nonmagnetic layer ranges from 7 to 12 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kasuga, Minoru Sueki
  • Patent number: 6606220
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for creating beginning-of-tape (BOT) and end-of-tape (EOT) indicators on a magnetic tape by altering a discrete area or areas of the recording area or the non-recording area of a magnetic tape, such that the area or areas are optically detectible. The invention provides a method for creating BOT and EOT indicators by removing a discrete area or areas of the ferromagnetic layer or the non-ferromagnetic layer of a magnetic tape, such that the mark reflects or transmits light differently than unmarked portions of the tape. The invention also provides a method for creating BOT and EOT indicators by placement of a fluorescent or optical dye on the ferromagnetic layer or non-ferromagnetic layer of a magnetic tape. Such fluorescent or optical dye is optically detectible, and further reduces any physical distortion in the magnetic tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Quantum Corporation
    Inventors: William Glatfelter, George A. Saliba, Satya Mallick, Chan Kim
  • Publication number: 20030117747
    Abstract: A normal tape reel is disclosed, comprising a tape reel portion and a magnetic tape wound on the reel core of the tape reel portion, wherein the ratio of the winding radius R of the magnetic tape to the radius r of the reel core (R/r) is not smaller than 3.5 and the winding hardness of the magnetic tape is adjusted to a range of from 1.9 to 11.5 N.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanosuke Kunikata, Masaki Suzuki, Hiroaki Takano
  • Publication number: 20020163760
    Abstract: A tape drive assembly includes a tape drive adapted to receive a tape cartridge and control electronics. The control electronics are adapted to identify whether the tape cartridge comprises a disaster recovery tape, identify a disaster recovery request, and configure the tape drive as a bootable device in response to identifying the disaster recovery request. A method for restoring a computer having a tape drive includes autonomously determining whether a tape cartridge inserted into the tape drive comprises a disaster recovery tape; identifying a disaster recovery request; and configuring the tape drive to emulate a bootable device in response to identifying the disaster recovery request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Inventors: Alan M. Lindsey, Kyle A. Walczak
  • Publication number: 20020131206
    Abstract: Pancake of media in strip or tape form and method of making the pancake, the pancake including a hub onto which the media is wound until an outer wound layer is formed on the pancake, and a sealing element attached to the outer wound layer of the pancake such that a free end of the outer wound layer of the pancake is formed in a region beneath the sealing element. The process provides for winding the media onto a hub and attaching a sealing element to an outer layer of the media, wherein the sealing element is attached to the outer wound layer of the pancake such that a free end of the outer wound layer of the pancake is formed in a region beneath the sealing element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Applicant: EMTEC MAGNETICS GmbH
    Inventor: Bernd Scholtysik
  • Publication number: 20020101685
    Abstract: The invention provides a tape library wherein the accommodated number of cassette tapes can be adjusted freely. Where one or more expansion units are connected to a basic unit, when a transport mechanism is positioned within the basic unit, a control circuit section of the basic unit controls the position and operation of the transport mechanism with reference to a position reference point of the basic unit, but when the transport mechanism is within an expansion unit, the control circuit section controls the position and operation of the transport mechanism with reference to a position reference point of the expansion unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2001
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Inventors: Yoshitsugu Taki, Masahiro Kodama, Ryuji Takatsuka, Toshiya Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 6349008
    Abstract: A magnetic recording medium wherein, when the axis of easy magnetization of the magnetic recording medium for magnetically recording information by means of a magnetic head is projected onto a surface of the magnetic recording medium, the axis projected onto the surface of the magnetic recording medium exists so as to be unidirectionally inclined with respect to the direction of a track on which information is to be recorded, whereby, by using the magnetic recording medium, there can be provided a magnetic head and a magnetic read-write apparatus greatly improved in longitudinal recording density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takanobu Takayama, Kiwamu Tanahashi, Kazuetsu Yoshida, Mikio Suzuki, Yoshiyuki Hirayama, Masaaki Futamoto, Yohji Maruyama
  • Patent number: 6349016
    Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge has a cartridge casing, a single reel around which a magnetic tape is wound and which is contained in the cartridge casing for rotation and a leader pin fixed to the leading end portion of the magnetic tape. The leader pin is provided at its opposite ends with engagement portions which are brought into engagement with a tape drawing mechanism of a recording and reproducing system when the magnetic tape cartridge is loaded in the recording and reproducing system. The end face of each engagement portion is provided with a recess at which the tape drawing mechanism chucks the leader pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoo Morita, Hideaki Shiga, Daisuke Takahashi, Yusuke Ishihara, Seiji Tsuyuki
  • Patent number: 6338448
    Abstract: A pack of magnetic recording tape (100) comprises a splicing tape (120) which adheres a web of a magnetic tape (122) to a leader (124). The leader (124) attaches to a reel hub (126) around which the tape is to be wound. The length L of the splicing tape in a direction parallel to an elongate dimension (127) of the magnetic tape is on the order of N&pgr;D, where D is the diameter of reel hub and N is an integer. In one embodiment, the length L of splicing tape is just slightly less than the circumference of the reel hub. The tape assembly comprising the combination of the magnetic tape, the leader, and the splicing tape greatly reduces the amount of permanent tape deformation, and provides a more efficient tape pack with smaller discontinuities. Consequentially, the stress on the magnetic tape is greatly reduced, which reduces the amount of permanent deformation and the number of magnetic tape layers that are affected by the deformations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Exabyte Corporation
    Inventor: Steven L. Magnusson
  • Patent number: 6328766
    Abstract: A media element library defines a viral configuration different from the physical configuration of media and drives actually present in the library. A plurality of host computer systems communicate with the library as if they were communicating with a conventional library having a physical configuration identical to the virtual configuration defined by the library.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Overland Data, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert M. Long
  • Patent number: 6322015
    Abstract: A method of attaching a tape having longitudinal edges to a tape cartridge reel includes cutting an end of the tape non-perpendicularly to the longitudinal edges laterally across the width of the tape. The end of the tape is then attached to the tape cartridge reel. The method may also include cutting an end of the tape such that at least two of the laterally spaced apart servo stripes running longitudinally along the tape are cut at different longitudinal positions along the tape. The method may further include cutting the tape end such that at least two of the laterally spaced apart data tracks running longitudinally along the tape are cut at different longitudinal positions along the tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Storage Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Steven G. Trabert
  • Patent number: 6319595
    Abstract: Magnetic tape (1) comprising a substrate, a magnetic layer provided on one side of the substrate and a backcoating layer (5) provided on the other side of the substrate, wherein the backcoating layer (5) is a layer capable of magnetic recording on which three or more servo tracks (10a, 10b, 10c) have magnetically been formed in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the tape, and the backcoating layer (5) has a higher coercive force than the coercive force of the whole of all the layers on the magnetic layer side and a lower saturation flux density than the saturation flux density of the whole of all the layers on the magnetic layer side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Quantum Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Katashima, Manabu Hosoya
  • Patent number: 6305630
    Abstract: A data cartridge includes a length of magnetic tape which is formed at one end with a first pattern of holes to enable identification of the end of the tape and a second pattern of holes located within the first pattern of holes and configured to provide a binary code to enable automatic identification of the cartridge type or tape type. The binary code provides for a least significant bit and a most significant bit in a hexadecimal configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventor: Danny J. Argento
  • Patent number: 6303280
    Abstract: There is disclosed a transparent magnetic recording medium comprising at least one magnetic recording layer containing ferromagnetic particles, on a support, wherein an overcoat solution which comprises at least one kind of lubricant wax dispersion and at least one kind of anionic surfactant in an amount of 0.1% to 30%, based on the total weight of the lubricant wax dispersion, is coated on the at least one magnetic recording layer. There is also disclosed a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material having the transparent magnetic recording layer. The transparent magnetic recording medium can exhibit both a good state of coated surface and secure magnetic input/output performance. The silver halide photographic light-sensitive material can provide a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material having the transparent magnetic recording layer with the above-described property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naohiro Matsunaga, Tsutomu Arai, Tomokazu Yasuda
  • Patent number: 6289171
    Abstract: An arrangement for recording a digital video signal and a corresponding digital audio signal in slant tracks on a longitudinal magnetic record carrier, tracks having an audio signal recording sector and a video signal recording sector, for storing the digital audio signal and the digital video signal respectively, includes first and second input terminals (10,11) for receiving the digital audio signal and the digital video signal respectively, a conversion circuit (14,16,26) for converting the digital audio- and video signals so as to obtain a composite signal which can be recorded on the record carrier, a recording device (28,30) for the recording of the converted audio- and video signals in said composite signal in the audio signal recording sector and the video signal recording sector respectively of a track, the video signal recording sector in a track further comprising an auxiliary signal recording part for storing the digital audio signal as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: U. S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Wilhelmus J. Van Gestel
  • Patent number: 6228461
    Abstract: A magnetic recording tape favorably employable for recording computer data is composed of a support, and on one side of the support, a non-magnetic layer composed of a non-magnetic powder and a binder, and a magnetic recording layer composed of a ferromagnetic powder and a binder superposed in order, and on the other side, a back-coating layer containing carbon black, in which the magnetic recording tape has a lateral thermal expansion coefficient of not more than 0.0015%/° C., a lateral humidity expansion coefficient of not more than 0.0015%/% RH, a longitudinal offset proof stress of not less than 10 N, and a longitudinal breaking strength of not less than 30 N.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Sueki, Masatoshi Takahashi, Yutaka Kakuishi