Digital data recorder and method

• US 4,378,574 A
• Filed: 06/25/1980
• Issued: 03/29/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Sundstrand Data Control, Inc.
• Inventors: Stephenson, Edward A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Canney, Vincent P.
• Application Number:
  US06/162,886
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 360/5, 360/6, 360/7, 360/52, 360/71
• US Class Current: 360/71
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 9/28 Producing one or more recordings, each recording being of the values of two or more different variables G01D9/38, G01D9/40 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0601 Interfaces specially adapted for storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0682 Tape device

Abstract

A digital data recorder has a microprocessor control which directs data to the read/write transducer and actuates the tape drive. The recorder accepts data in serial digital form and has an analog-to-digital converter-multiplexer which receives analog data and adapts it for digital recording. Data is read from the tape through an output connector to one of several retrieving devices. An identifying input to the microprocessor from the retrieving device provides for control of the read transducer and the tape drive to direct the appropriate data to the retrieving device.

Claims

1. In a digital tape recorder having a read/write transducer and drive means for moving a recording tape with respect to said transducer for reading data from the tape to be received by one of a plurality of retrieval devices selectably connectable with the recorder, an improved data handling and control means comprising:

means for generating an identifying control input signal for each of the retrieval devices;

a data output connector for selectable connection of a retrieval device with the recorder, the control input signal for said connected retrieval device being coupled to the recorder through said connector, and data read from the tape by said transducer being received by said selected retrieval device through said connector;

a microprocessor control for selecting tape drive and data transmission conditions in accordance with said control input signal for operation compatible with said connected retrieval device;

means responsive to the microprocessor control for operating said tape drive and transducer to read the data recorded on the tape and direct it to the data output connector in accordance with said control input signal;

means included in said microprocessor control for monitoring the operating conditions;

means for providing a status indication of operating conditions from the microprocessor to the data output connector; and

means for displaying said status indication for verification of the operation.

2. In a digital tape recorder having a read/write transducer and drive means for moving a recording tape with respect to said transducer for reading data from the tape to be received by one of a plurality of retrieval devices selectably connectable with the recorder, an improved data handling and control means comprising:

means for generating an indentifying control input signal for each of the retrieval devices;

a data output connector for selectable connection of a retrieval device with the recorder, the control input signal for said connected retrieval device being coupled to the recorder through said connector and data read from the tape by said transducer being received by said selected retrieval device through said connector;

a microprocessor control for selecting tape drive and data transmission conditions in accordance with said control input signal for operation compatible with said connected retrieval device;

means responsive to the microprocessor control for operating said tape drive and transducer to read the data recorded on the tape and direct it to the data output connector in accordance with said control input signal; and

means for detecting the beginning and the end of the tape, the microprocessor in accordance with the control input signal, selecting a forward direction tape drive to the end of the tape or a reverse direction tape drive to the beginning of the tape wherein data is received from the tape in either a forward or reverse direction.

3. In a digital tape recorder having a read/write transducer and drive means for moving a recording tape with respect to said transducer for reading data from the tape to be received by one of a plurality of retrieval devices selectably connectable with the recorder, an improved data handling and control means comprising:

means for generating an identifying control input signal for each of the retrieval devices;

a data output connector for selectable connection of a retrieval device with the recorder, the control input signal for said connected retrieval device being coupled to the recorder through said connector and data read from the tape by said transducer being received by said selected retrieval device through said connector;

a retrieval device connected with the recorder through the data output connector, said retrieval device receiving only a single track of data which has been recorded on the tape and including means for selecting plural parameters from the recorded information;

a microprocessor control for selecting tape drive and data transmission conditions in accordance with said control input signal for operation compatible with said connected retrieval device;

means responsive to the microprocessor control for operating said tape drive and read transducer to direct a single track of data to the data output connector in accordance with said control input signal.

4. In a digital tape recorder having a read/write transducer and drive means for moving a recording tape with respect to said transducer for reading data from the tape to be received by one of a plurality of retrieval devices selectably connectable with the recorder, an improved data handling and control means comprising:

means for generating an identifying control input signal for each of the retrieval devices;

a data output connector for selectable connection of a retrieval device with the recorder, the control input signal for said connected retrieval device being coupled to the recorder through said connector and data read from the tape by said transducer being received by said selected retrieval device through said connector;

a retrieval device connected with the recorder through the data output connector, said retrieval device receiving only a single track of data which has been recorded on the tape and including means for selecting a single parameter of the recorded information and for displaying it in visual form;

a mircroprocessor control for selecting tape drive and data transmission conditions in accordance with said control input signal for operation compatible with said connected retrieval device;

means responsive to the microprocessor control for operating said tape drive and read transducer to direct a single track of data to the data output connector in accordance with said control input signal.

5. The method of operating a digital data tape recorder having a microprocessor control, a read/write transducer, a data buffer for receiving data to be recorded on tape, drive means for moving a recording tape having multiple tracks with respect to said transducer for recording data from the buffer onto the tape and for reading data from the tape to be received by one of a plurality of retrieval devices selectably connectable with the recorder, means for detecting the beginning of the tape and means for detecting the end of the tape, comprising:

operating said transducer and drive means in accordance with a first program of the microprocessor during the recording of data from the data buffer onto the tape, said first program including;

directing data to said data buffer;

moving said recording tape with respect to said transducer in either a first or second direction;

directing data from said buffer to said transducer for recording data on the tape;

verifying data recorded on the tape;

detecting the end of the tape;

incrementing the tape track in reponse to the detection of the end of the tape; and

erasing a section of the tape after incrementing said tape track and while data continues to be directed to said data buffer;

providing a control input signal for identifying the connected retrieval device;

operating said transducer and drive means in accordance with a second program of the microprocessor during the retrieval of data from the tape output to said connected retrieval device, said second program including a plurality of subprograms, one of said subprograms being selected in response to the control input signal for said connected retrieval device, said second program and the selected subprogram including;

selecting either the beginning of tape detecting means or the end of tape detecting means;

moving said recording tape with respect to said transducer in a first direction towards the selected detecting means;

moving said recording tape with respect to said transducer in a second direction opposite of the first direction;

reading data from said recording tape during continuous movement of the tape in said second direction; and

directing data read from said tape to the connected retrieval device.