Abstract: A Robot includes a main body, a Portable device and a supporting structure. The supporting structure is disposed at the main body for detachably connecting the Portable device. The Portable device reads digital media data from the main body or the Portable device itself, and plays the digital media data as video. After the Portable device is detached from the supporting structure, the main body and the Portable device operate independently.

Abstract: A library apparatus includes: a support body; a media container rack rotatable around a horizontally extending rotation shaft and having cells radially arranged to respectively contain removable storage media in a horizontal direction; a media drive fixed to the support body and accessing a storage medium loaded therein; and a media delivery device that delivers the storage media between the media container rack and the media drive. The apparatus further includes: a guide member that guides the media delivery device; and a controller which controls the media drive and rotation of the media container. The controller causes the guide member to guide the media delivery device and rotates the media container rack so as to set the target cell at a position where the media delivery device guided by the guide member can take and put one of the storage media out of and back in a target cell.

Abstract: To provide a plurality of magazines very closely by saving the space for forming the moving path that is required for allowing a cartridge transporting device to move. A movable magazine that is capable of moving in the lateral direction individually is provided between a first and a second fixed magazines located on both sides. The movable magazine is moved from the position of a cartridge loading/unloading face that corresponds to a cell to which a cartridge as a mount target for a magnetic tape drive is being housed or a cell to which a cartridge that is unmounted from the magnetic tape drive is to be housed so as to form a longitudinal moving path for allowing the cartridge transporting device to move between the magazines neighboring to each other.

Abstract: Logic circuits and operations respond to received various control signals, including (1) data exchange commands directing the drive to read and/or write data to a media item mounted by the drive, and (2) robotic device management commands. The logic responds to incoming data exchange commands by reading and/or writing to the loaded media item. The processor responds to at least some robotic device management signals by forwarding them to a robotic media transport device. The processor withholds the data exchange commands from the robotic device, since they are only pertinent to operations of the drive itself. The robotic device may be configured to restrict host access to library components according to predefined logical partitions.

Abstract: A method and system for accessing media objects in an automated storage library using a robotic mechanism included mounting the robotic mechanism to a horizontally arranged track arranged in the same plane as first and second horizontal rows of media object storage cells. Each of the media object storage cells houses a media object. The horizontally arranged track is disposed adjacent to the first row of media object storage cells. The robotic mechanism is mounted to the track for moving horizontally along the track. A media object manipulation mechanism such as a gripper mechanism is coupled to the robotic mechanism. The media object manipulation mechanism is vertically movable for moving between the first and second rows of media object storage cells when the robotic mechanism is coupled to the track to manipulate the media objects housed within the first and second rows of media object storage cells.

Abstract: A disk array controller apparatus (10) is disclosed having at least two logical ports (Logical Port #0-Logical Port #3) for interfacing with a host (12) and having one or more physical ports (Physical Port #0-Physical Port #4), each physical port arranged for attaching at least one disk drive to the controller,. and the controller including a switch (26), said switch providing dynamically configurable data paths (30) between the logical data ports and physical data ports, responsive to the contents of a Mapping Register (24). The Mapping Register defines a desired array disk drive array by specifying an association of each logical port to one of the physical ports. The mapping register can be organized as a logical mapping register, comprising a field for each logical port of the controller, and includes provision for designating a redundant array for RAID operations.

Abstract: An autochanger includes an imaging device affixed to a media handling device. The autochanger is of the type that uses optical indicia to identify media pieces located therein. The imaging device is movable between a first position and a second position relative to the media handling device. The autochanger moves the imaging device to positions relative to the media pieces where the imaging device can read the indicia. The autochanger further moves the imaging device relative to the media handling device to optimize the reading capability of the imaging device without increasing the size of the autochanger.

Abstract: An optical data-storage medium comprises a base structure adapted to supply a peripheral surface with a medium adhered thereon, forming a data surface responsive to a light beam for providing optical signals corresponding to a plurality of data, wherein the plurality of data are arranged in a three dimensional pattern, most preferably, a plurality of helixes suitable for application of parallel processing of information. For this purpose, an optical data-storage apparatus is designed from a single platform to accommodate the optical data-storage medium rotatable therein about an axial line at a steady and constant speed, and to allow a plurality of optical heads each capable of providing a light beam jointly movable in a direction generally parallel to the axial line so as to simultaneously process a plurality of data bits at a time, i.e., in parallel.

Abstract: A climatic cabinet with at least one door, having a storage station with at least one object storage device, which exhibits several storage locations arranged one on top of the other, and having a transport device for feeding objects to the object storage locations, wherein the transport device has an object receiver, wherein the object receiver is secured to a vertical carriage in such a way that it can be moved vertically and horizontally, and wherein the storage station and transport device are arranged on mounting plates. The functionality of the climatic cabinet and its functionality are achieved through improvements in the transport device.

Abstract: Data storage units (1) for storing a plurality of individual data storage media (12), the units comprising at least one removable magazine (9, 10) in which the individual data storage media (12) can be stored within the units (1), the magazines (9, 10) being removable from the front of the units (1). At least one drive (5, 6) which reads data from or writes data to individual data storage media (12) is positioned relative to the magazine(s) (9, 10) so that the storage media (12) are fed therein and removed therefrom in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the media are removed from the magazine(s) (5, 6). A selector (20) facilitates the selective removal of media (12) from the magazines (9, 10) in which they are stored, and feeds them into the drive (5, 6), and vice versa.

Abstract: An optical data-storage medium comprises a base structure adapted to supply a peripheral surface with a medium adhered thereon, forming a data surface responsive to a light beam for providing optical signals corresponding to a plurality of data, wherein the plurality of data are arranged in a three dimensional pattern, most preferably, a plurality of helixes suitable for application of parallel processing of information. For this purpose, an optical data-storage apparatus is designed from a single platform to accommodate the optical data-storage medium rotatable therein about an axial line at a steady and constant speed, and to allow a plurality of optical heads each capable of providing a light beam jointly movable in a direction generally parallel to the axial line so as to simultaneously process a plurality of data bits at a time, i.e., in parallel.

Abstract: A disc player and changer mechanism adapted for use in a jukebox comprises a disc carrier which has a clamping arm movably mounted thereto, a translating tower and a drive system operable to move the carrier and/or the translating tower. The clamping arm includes a first disc engaging portion at one end thereof, which is positioned substantially opposite to a second disc engaging portion of the disc carrier. The disc carrier is slidably mounted on the translating tower and the clamping arm is movable as the disc carrier is moved on the translating tower such that the first disc engaging portion moves to contact an edge of a disc while the second disc engaging portion correspondingly contacts the edge of the disc substantially diametrically opposite of the first disc engaging portion. The disc is thus positively secured between the first and second disc engaging portions and may be transported from its initial position to a disc playing mechanism in a conventional manner.