Abstract: A tape cartridge is provided with a reel mounted for rotation in a housing. Tape with a length, a width and a thickness, is wound upon the reel in a length direction of the tape. A leader is mounted to a free end of the tape. The leader has at least one portion with a width greater than the tape width to clean a tape path, such as a guide and/or a lens. Another tape cartridge is provided with a reel mounted for rotation in a housing. Tape is wound upon the reel in a length direction of the tape. A leader is mounted to a free end of the tape. A brush is mounted to a portion of the leader for cleaning a tape path.

Abstract: A system and method for providing direct read after write functionality in an optical data storage device include an optical head having a first coherent light source modulated at higher power during writing of data to the optical medium and a second coherent light source operating in a continuous wave mode at lower power while the first coherent light source is writing data. Optic components combine light from the first and second light sources and focus light from the first coherent light source to a first spot of a selected track on the optical medium and focus light from the second coherent light source to a second spot on the selected track downstream from the first spot relative to movement direction of the optical medium to read and verify the data directly after writing during the write process rather than in a separate verification process.

Abstract: Various embodiments herein include utilities that facilitate the substantially flat and aligned mounting of optical tape segments on testing drums to increase testing accuracy of the tape segments. In this regard, a drum for testing optical tape media is disclosed having a substantially planar portion onto which first and second ends of an optical tape segment may be mounted to thereby secure the entire tape segment around an outer testing surface of the drum. Also disclosed is fixture that may be used to precisely mount and secure the tape segment over the outer mounting surface of a drum in a manner that reduces axial run-out and wrinkling of the optical tape.

Abstract: In one embodiment of a data storage device, the inside of its housing 111 is divided into first and second spaces 1 and 2 by a chassis 110. The data storage device includes at least one optical pickup 104 that writes data on a storage medium and a heat radiating member 109 which is thermally coupled to the optical pickup 104 to transfer the heat generated by the optical pickup 104. The optical pickup 104 and the heat radiating member 109 are arranged in the first and second spaces 1 and 2, respectively.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for data storage based on fibers are described. Data are stored as marks in a surface of a fiber or in a volume near the surface of the fiber. Data marks are written to or read from the fiber by irradiating the surface of the fiber with at least one radiation beam. The fiber has calibration marks for controlling a speed of the fiber relative to the at least one radiation beam.

Abstract: This invention relates to holographic film for recording multicolor volume holograms, especially full color volume reflection holograms, and to manufacturing techniques for such film, and to corresponding methods of recording multicolor and full-color volume, in particular volume reflection holograms. We describe a holographic film for recording a multicolor volume hologram, the film comprising: a carrier; a first photosensitive recording layer sensitive to one or both of red and green laser light; and a second photosensitive recording layer sensitive to blue laser light. Both the first and second photosensitive recording layers comprise silver halide and have a grain size of less than 30 nm, and at least one of the photosensitive recording layers has a thickness of greater than 3 ?m and less than 5 ?m.