STORAGE SYSTEM HAVING A UNIVERSAL DISK DRIVE AND A FAMILY OF DATA MODULES

• US 3,843,967 A
• Filed: 02/26/1973
• Issued: 10/22/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard Burke Mulvany
• Original Assignee: Richard Burke Mulvany
• Inventors: Mulvany, Richard Burke
• Primary Examiner(s): Canney, Vincent P.
• Application Number:
  US05/336,116
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 360/98,133
• US Class Current: 360/98.07
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/124 involving the detection of diameter of disks feeding or guiding of a single record carrier G11B17/04 and subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/0323 for disc-packs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 25/043 using rotating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/5521 across disk tracks spiral track following G11B5/596

Abstract

A random access storage system is disclosed. The system comprises a family of data modules, the family being comprised of a plurality of different classes, each class being defined by the number of magnetic storage disks within the data module associated with that class, all data modules within any class being interchangeable with data modules of the same class and any other class, and a universal disk drive for connecting to any data module of the family of data modules.

Claims

1. A random access storage system employing a family of data modules, said family being comprised of a plurality of different classes of data modules where each class is defined by the number of magnetic disks within the data modules associated with that class, all data modules within any class being interchangeable with data modules of the same class and with each and every data module of all other classes of said family, comprising in combination:

a universal disk drive for connecting to all data modules within said family of data modules, said universal disk drive having a sensing means; and

a data module of said family of data modules connected to said universal disk drive to effectively form said random access storage system, said data module including means for indicating the number of magnetic storage disks within said data module and for coacting with said sensing means within said universal disk drive for transmitting a signal indicative of the number of magnetic storage disks within said data module to said universal disk drive.

2. The random access storage system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said data module comprises:

first and second mechanical interfaces and an electrical interface, the three interfaces being in a specific spatial relationship to each other, at least one magnetic disk, transducing means for transducing information on each of said magnetic disks, accessing means for moving said transducing means to a selected position with respect to said magnetic disk, and a drive spindle means on which said at least one magnetic disk is mounted.

3. The random access storage system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said universal disk drive comprises:

means coupled to said data modules as said first mechanical interface for rotatably driving said spindle means;

means mechanically coupled to said data modules at said second mechanical interface for selectively energizing said accessing means; and

means coupled to said data modules at said electrical interface for electrically energizing said transducing means.

4. A random access storage system employing a family of data modules, said family being comprised of a plurality of different classes of data modules where each class is defined by the number of magnetic storage disks within the data modules associated with that class, all data modules within any class being interchangeable with data modules of the same class and with each and every data module of all other classes of said Family, comprising in combination:

a universal disk drive for connecting to all data modules within said families of data modules;

a data module of said family of data modules connected to said universal disk drive to effectively form said random access storage system;

said data module comprising;

first and second mechanical interfaces and an electrical interface, said three interfaces being in a specific spatial relationship to each other, said electrical interface being comprised of an electrical plug having a plurality of pins;

at least one magnetic disk;

transducing means for transducing information to and from each of said magnetic disks;

accessing means or moving said transducing means to a selected position with respect to said magnetic disk;

a drive spindle means on which said at least one magnetic disk is mounted; and

indicating means for indicating the number of magnetic storage disks within said data module wherein said indicating means is comprised of specific designated ones of said pins of said electrical interface, at least two of said specific pins being uniquely connected for each class of data modules wherein said family of data modules so as to indicate the class of data modules of said data module;

said universal disk drive comprising;

means mechanically coupled at said first mechanical interface for rotatably driving said spindle means;

means mechanically coupled to said data modules at said second mechanical interface for selectively energizing said accessing means;

means coupled to said data modules at electrical interface for electrically energizing said transducing means; and

sensing means for sensing said indicating means of said data module connected to said universal disk drive.

5. A random access storage system employing a family of data modules, said family being comprised of a plurality of different classes of data modules where each class is defined by the number of magnetic storage disks within the data modules associated with that class, all data modules within any class being interchangeable with data modules of the same class and with any data modules of any other class, including a universal disk drive for connecting to any data module of said family of data modules to effectively form said random access storage system, said universal disk drive having means sensing indicating means within each data module of said family of data modules when said data module is connected to said universal disk drive for identifying the class of said connected data module.