Smart-diskette read/write device having fixed head

• US 5,471,038 A
• Filed: 04/06/1994
• Issued: 11/28/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Kagaku Media Company Limited (Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SmartDiskette GmbH
• Inventors: Barrett, Paul, Eisele, Raymund H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelms, David C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, VU ANH
• Application Number:
  US08/211,488
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 235/492, 235/493, 235/380, 235/449, 235/487, 360/137, 360/132, 360/133
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0601 Interfaces specially adapted for storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0664 at device level, e.g. emulation of a storage device or system
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/0327 for special applications not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 25/04 using flat record carriers, e.g. disc, card
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 5/142 Contactless power supplies, e.g. RF, induction, or IR
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/00 Arrangements for writing information into, or reading information out from, a digital store G11C5/00 takes precedence; auxiliary circuits for stores using semiconductor devices G11C11/4063, G11C11/413

Abstract

A data storage system includes a data read/write device which can be incorporated in electronic data processing (EDP) devices with the external shape of an 88.9 mm (31/2 inch) diskette drive, which contains a read/write head and a controller, which transacts the protocol to write and read and is connected with a processor of the EDP device, and further includes a data carrier constructed as a smart-diskette in the shape and the dimensions of a 88.9 mm (31/2 inch) diskette which can be inserted into the data read/write device. The data carrier has electronic components, including controller, microprocessor and memory as well as a stationary magnetic transducer which is firmly connected with the data carrier. Data transfers are carried out through and between the read/write head and the stationary magnetic transducer. The data read/write device has no moving parts at all, i.e., there is no drive motor for a magnetic diskette present, and the read/write head is fastened stationarily in the data read/write device, so that data exchanges between the data read/write device and the data carrier constructed as a smart-diskette are carried out only through the read/write head and the stationary magnetic transducer with the data carrier microprocessor and memory.

Claims

1. A data storage system comprising:

a data read/write device which can be incorporated in electronic data processing (EDP) devices with the external shape of a 88.9 mm (31/2) inch diskette drive, which contains a read/write head and a controller, which transacts the protocol to write and read and is connected with a processor of the EDP device, and

a data carrier constructed as as smart-diskette in the shape and the dimensions of a 88.9 mm (31/2 inch) diskette which can be inserted into the data read/write device, which data carrier therefore has electronic components, including controller, microprocessor and memory as well as a stationary magnetic transducer which is firmly connected with the data carrier,

wherein data transfers are carried out through and between the read/write head and the stationary magnetic transducer, and

wherein the data read/write device has no moving parts at all, i.e., there is no drive motor for a magnetic diskette present, and the read/write head is fastened stationarily in the data read/write device, so that data exchanges between the data read/write device and the data carrier constructed as a smart-diskette are carried out only through the read/write head and the stationary magnetic transducer with the data carrier microprocessor and memory.

2. The data storage system according to claim 1, wherein a plug connector is situated in the data read/write device, for supplying current for the electronic components of the data carrier constructed as a smart-diskette.

3. The data storage system according to claim 1, wherein conventional diskettes cannot be used with the data read/write device, the data read/write device thereby providing access security for an associated EDP device.

4. The data storage system according to claim 1, wherein data exchanges between the data read/write device and the data carrier constructed as a smart-diskette are at a rate up to approximately 500 kbits per second.

5. The data storage system according to claim 2, wherein the data carrier constructed as a smart-diskette includes a battery which is charged by the current supplied by the plug connector of the data read/write device.

6. A data storage device for use in electronic data processing equipment having a processor therein including note-book personal computers, the data storage device for receiving a smart-diskette data carrier therein and facilitating an exchange of data between the electronic data processing equipment processor and the smart-diskette data carrier, the smart-diskette data carrier having a stationary magnetic transducer, a microprocessor and memory thereon, the data storage device comprising:

a frame having the shape of a diskette drive for incorporation into associated electronic data processing equipment, and for receiving a smart-diskette therein;

a fixed non-moving read/write head for effecting data transfers with the stationary magnetic transducer of a smart-diskette data carrier received in the data storage device; and

controller means for controlling data transfers between the fixed non-moving read/write head of the data storage device and the stationary magnetic transducer of a smart-diskette data carrier received in the data storage device.

7. The data storage device according to claim 6, wherein the frame having the shape of a diskette drive has the shape of a 31/2 inch diskette drive.

8. The data storage device according to claim 6, wherein the controller means interfaces the data storage device with the processor of electronic data processing equipment in which the data storage device is incorporated.

9. The data storage device according to claim 6, further comprising plug connection means for providing power to a smart-diskette data carrier from electronic data processing equipment in which the data storage device is incorporated.

10. The data storage device according to claim 7, wherein the data storage device does not include any diskette driving means, wherein the frame having the shape of a 31/2 inch diskette drive can receive a standard 31/2 inch diskette therein, and wherein, because the data storage device has a fixed non-moving read/write head and does not have any diskette driving means, the data storage device will not operate with a standard 31/2 inch diskette and will only operate with a smart-diskette data carrier.

11. The data storage device according to claim 7, wherein the electronic data processing equipment in which the storage device is incorporated is part of a network of electronic data processing equipment and does not include a standard diskette drive for security reasons, wherein the smart-diskette data carrier contains necessary authorization data for accessing the electronic data processing equipment, and wherein the data storage device together with the smart-diskette data carrier thereby provide for access security to the electronic data processing equipment.