Automated disk drive library with removable media
First Claim
1. An automated disk drive library, comprising:
- a disk drive assembly;
a rack having a drawer for supporting the disk drive assembly;
a picker mechanism for selectively inserting and removing the disk drive assembly relative to the drawer;
control means for controlling operations of the automated disk drive library;
data coupling means for providing a primary data interconnection between the disk drive assembly and the control means;
power means for providing connectorless power from the control means to the disk drive assembly; and
engagement means for automatically engaging and disengaging the disk drive assembly with the drawer.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automated disk drive library has a rack with drawers that are interconnected with a host computer. A drive carrier having a disk drive is mounted in each drawer. The drive carrier has a front bezel that senses whether the disk drive is latched within the drawer and communicates with the computer. The front bezel also has an optical sensor that may be coupled to an optical probe as an auxiliary data interface with computer. The main data interface for the disk drive is provided by a self-healing optical coupler at the back of the carrier and drawer. Power to the disk drive is supplied via a magnetic coupling with split core transformers on the drive carrier and drawer. The disk drive and carrier may be manually or automatically installed into and removed from drawer via a drive mechanism in the drawer.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An automated disk drive library, comprising:
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a disk drive assembly;
a rack having a drawer for supporting the disk drive assembly;
a picker mechanism for selectively inserting and removing the disk drive assembly relative to the drawer;
control means for controlling operations of the automated disk drive library;
data coupling means for providing a primary data interconnection between the disk drive assembly and the control means;
power means for providing connectorless power from the control means to the disk drive assembly; and
engagement means for automatically engaging and disengaging the disk drive assembly with the drawer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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4. The automated disk drive library of claim 4 wherein the auxiliary means comprises a sensor mounted to the disk drive assembly for coupling with a probe that is external to the drawer.
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11. An automated disk drive library, comprising:
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a disk drive assembly;
a rack having a drawer for supporting the disk drive assembly;
a picker mechanism for selectively inserting and removing the disk drive assembly relative to the drawer;
control means for controlling operations of the automated disk drive library;
optical data coupling means for providing a primary data interconnection between the disk drive assembly and the control means;
magnetic power means for providing connectorless power from the control means to the disk drive assembly;
sensor means for detecting interconnection of the disk drive assembly with the drawer; and
engagement means for automatically engaging and disengaging the disk drive assembly with the drawer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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18. An automated disk drive library, comprising:
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a plurality of disk drive assemblies, each having a disk drive mounted to a drive carrier;
a rack having a plurality of drawers, wherein each of the drawers supports one of the disk drive assemblies;
a picker mechanism for selectively inserting and removing the disk drive assemblies relative to the drawers;
control means for controlling operations of the automated disk drive library;
an optical self-healing coupler associated with each of the disk drive assemblies and drawers, each of the self-healing couplers having a first element on the disk drive assemblies for interconnecting with a second element in the drawers, wherein the self-healing couplers provide primary data interconnection between the disk drive assemblies and the control means;
an optical data sensor mounted to each of the disk drive assemblies opposite the self-healing couplers, wherein the data sensors provide secondary data interconnections between the disk drive assemblies and the control means;
a split core transformer on each of the disk drive assemblies and drawers, wherein the split core transformers magnetically couple to transfer power to the disk drive assemblies;
an interconnection sensor and an interconnection magnet on the disk drive assemblies that are actuated in response to a position of the disk drive assemblies relative to the drawers for detecting interconnection of the disk drive assemblies with the drawers;
an engagement sensor and an engagement magnet on the drawers and disk drive assemblies for detecting a position of each of the disk drive assemblies relative to the drawers; and
a driving mechanism in each of the drawers for automatically engaging and disengaging the disk drive assemblies with the drawers in response to detection of the position of the disk drive assemblies relative to the drawers.
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Specification