STORAGE CARD AND DEVICES

Abstract: A data-card system is disclosed which includes a data access head-arm (152) for performing a rotational movement for accessing data recorded on a recording medium (180) over an arc segment of the rotational movement. The recording medium (180) includes a plurality of data tracks for storing the data therein and each of the tracks is substantially an arc-segment substantially parallel to a neighboring track. The data-card system further includes a movable carriage (115) for carrying out a horizontal linear movement of the data access head-arm (152) for access of the plurality of data tracks on the recording medium (180).

Description: STORAGE CARD AND DEVICES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to systems and method for reading data from and writing data to data storage medium by employing either the magnetic recording or the optical technology. More particularly, this invention is related to an improved magnetic or optical data access system. The data access system is implemented in a portable data card drive device and in a high speed subsystem for reading data from and writing data to a data card which has a novel data track configuration for storing data with uniform density. The invention is also related to the configuration to transfer the data from the recording medium as signal picked up by the drive device for processing. The invention is further related to the configuration of drive device for positioning the pickup head for performing the read /write operations, for lifting off the pickup head to initialize the operation of the disk drive. 2. Description of the Prior Art Conventional technology of reading-writing data on concentric circular data tracks often presents a problem that the data-bit density varies between the outer tracks and the inner tracks. The variable bit density in data storage is due to a geometrical factor that the outer data tracks are much longer in length than the inner tracks. A common practice is to form the inner tracks with a capacity to store the data bit at a higher bit density. A more complicate servo control system implemented with more complex signal-processing algorithms is required due to the variations of data storage density between different data tracks. Additionally, by varying the data storage density from the inner tracks toward the outside tracks, the data transfer rate is also changed in accessing data from the inner tracks then outside tracks. Such variation may also cause difficulties and complications in processing the data. Higher error rates may incur due to these variations between the inner tracks and the outer tracks. Therefore, a need still exists for an improved data-card drive system to overcome the aforementioned difficulties encountered in the prior art. Specifically, this storage card drive system must provide a uniform density for data storage and a data-card drive system to access the data-storage card. Furthermore, it would be desirable that this system is portable and is also provided with several standardized sizes for processing standardized data-storage cards. SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a data storage-card drive system with a pickup head moving above the datastorage card in rotational movement. The data read-write functions are enabled only for arc-segments of the rotational movement such that the data tracks are arranged as plurality of parallel arcs, e.g., half- circles, to overcome the aforementioned difficulties and limitations encountered in the prior art. Specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a data-storage card drive system with a pickup head driven by a brushless motor to rotate over the data-storage card with the rotation axis perpendicular to the card surface. The motor is mounted on a carriage for making horizontal movement along a longitudinal direction of the data card. The position of the pickup head is then servo-controlled by moving the carriage and the brushless motor while the data storage card either stays at a fixed position or making only horizontal linear movements. Another object of the present invention is to provide a datastorage card drive system for performing the data access tasks over a data storage medium surface, which has uniform data storage density. A new configuration of data-tracks formed as parallel arc or arc- segments, e.g., semi-circular data track, is implemented such that all data tracks have substantially the same length for data storage and the data bits are stored with uniform density. Another object of the present invention is to provide a datastorage card drive device implemented with a subsystem provided with local memory storage for conveniently interface with personal computers or peripheral devices to achieve higher speed operations. Briefly, in a preferred embodiment, the present invention includes a data-card drive system, which includes a data access means provided for performing either a continuous or intermittent rotational movement for accessing data over substantially a single arc-segment or several arc-segments of the rotational movement. In a preferred embodiment, the data access means includes a pickup head and a motor for driving the pickup head for performing the rotational movement. In another preferred embodiment, the data access means further included a data signal transformer for transforming a data signal related to accessing data by the pickup head. In another preferred embodiment, the data-card drive system further includes a movable carriage with the motor mounted thereon for carrying out a horizontal linear movement. In another preferred embodiment, the motor is mounted at a fixed position on the movable carriage. In another preferred embodiment, the data-card drive system further includes a servo control for controlling the movable carriage and the motor. These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after having read the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment which is illustrated in the various drawing figures. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figs. 1A and IB shows a cross sectional view and a top view respectively of a data card drive system of this invention; Fig. 1C is cross sectional view for showing the details of the motor rack mounting and the head loading /unloading assembly; Fig. ID shows a perspective view of the pickup head and the wires winding configuration serving as read /write data signal transformer; Figs. 2A to 2C are respectively a top view, a cross sectional view and a bottom view of a data storage card with data tracks formed for storing bits with uniform density in each of these data tracks; Fig. 2D to 2G show the top views of the data storage card of this invention where the data tracks can be arranged in arc-segments of different shapes, sizes, and facing different directions; Figs. 3A and 3B are a perspective view and a cross sectional view respectively of a data card storage box; and Fig. 4 is a functional block diagram of a subsystem of this invention includes a data card drive device of Fig. 1A to 1C for reading /writing data storage card of Figs. 2A to 2C. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Figs. 1A and IB show the cross sectional view and the top view of a data-card drive 100 of the present invention. The data-card drive 100 can be configured for reading and writing data-cards of different sizes, e.g., a PCMCIA type card or common credit card size. The datacard drive 100 includes a DC brushless motor 110. The brushless motor 110 is provided to operate at a low speed to conserve battery power, at high speeds to achieve fast data access time. The brushless motor 110 further is further provided to functions at two different modes, i.e., an sleep mode when not being deployed and a wake up mode for normal data access operations. The brushless motor is mounted on a carriage 115 with a pickup head assembly mounted to the motor rotating shaft assembly. Half of a magnetic transformer, which can either being a ring type, a round-disk type, or other geometrical shapes, is mounted onto the motor rotating shaft assembly, the other half of the magnetic transformer 120 of similar configuration is mounted to the fixed part of motor assembly. Signal wires 130 form head are soldered onto the rotating half of the transformer 120 with the soldering pad 125, that can also be a spring pressed connection, for transmitting the read /write signals via the magnetic transformer 120. The magnetic transformer 120 and the soldering pad 125 are covered by a magnetic flux shield plate 135 for shielding the magnetic flux generated by the magnetic transformer to prevent DC erase of data. A ground spring 140 is applied to perform the function of dissipating electric static discharges. Optionally, a brake-magnet 145 is provided to fix the "parking" position of the brushless motor in the sleep or power off mode during the time when there is no data access activities. A read /write head 150 is mounted via an extended head-arm 152 to the brushless motor 110 via a head-arm mounting assembly mounting holes 155 to the head carriage 115. A head loading /unloading arm 160 is mounted on the base-plate 170. The loading /unloading arm 160 presses to the head-arm 152 at the unload position at a drive-device power-off mode. The loadin /unloading arm 160 is removed from the head-arm 152 when a data card 180 is loaded and the power for the drive device is turned on. In order to assist a smooth loading of the data card 180 into the drive device 100, a card guide plate 185 is provided. The data-card drive system 100 further includes one or several data card pins 190 to engage and fix the position of the data card 180 when the data card 180 reaches a designated operational position. The data card pins 190 increases the compatibility and interchangeability of different types of data cards for data access operations using this data card drive system 100. The drive system 100 further includes an on/ off switch 195, which is turned on when the data card 180 reaches its final position. The brushless motor 110 is mounted onto a motor-rack mount 200 with a rack 205 and a pinion 210. A step motor 220 is employed to control the movement of the brushless motor 110 or the move the data card 180. The drive device 100 further includes a LCD display 230 to indicate the track position of the head 150 in reading or writing of data onto the data card 180. Mounted on the base plate 170 is a printed circuit board 240, which supports a track locator switch 245. The printed circuit board 240 further supports various kinds of circuits for performing the functions of control and data access. These circuits includes head tracking circuit, head loading /unloading circuits, disable /enable read-write function circuit, servo control integrated circuit (IC), motor control IC, data separator IC, ADI interface IC, USB interface IC, PCMCIA interface IC, USB connector, PCMCIA connector, and other circuits required for controlling and operating the data card drive system. Fig. IC is a cross sectional view for showing the details of the rack 205, the pinion 210, and the head loading and unloading assembly 160 to lift the head when the drive device 100 is turned off. A head arm lifter 103 has a wire type hook 103A positioned above the pickup head arm 130. The sliding of the head arm lifter 103 with the wire type hook 103A along the motor shaft assembly can lift or lower the pickup head arm 130 and in turn lift or lower the pickup head 150. The pickup head arm 130 is rotating with the motor shaft and the pickup head 130. Regardless of where the pickup head 150 when the rotational movement stops, the arm 160 can always engage into the head lifter 103 slot and sliding the head lifter 103 along the motor shaft. The drive device 100 as described above is also provided with an option to perform the functions of a servo writer. A novel servo writer is disclosed in this invention which can be manufactured with simplified manufacturing processes. The servo writer includes a storage card loading assembly that is structured similarly to a card guide 185 of the device 100. The storage card can be inserted horizontally inserted for direct contact with the pickup head 150. Or, depending on specific appUcation, the data storage card can be inserted from a vertical slot opening and then flip over for contact with the pickup head. In writing the servo data, the pickup head 150 is rotating along different data tracks. The pickup head is moved to different tracks during the operation of writing servo data by either moving the head /motor assembly mounted on the shaft or by keeping the head /motor assembly stationary while horizontally moving the data storage card. The magnetic transformer is employed in writing the servo data onto different data tracks where the cables are arranged without being twisted when the pickup head is making rotational movement. According to Figs. 1A, IB, and IC and above descriptions, the present invention discloses a data-card drive system 100, which includes a data access means provided for performing a rotational movement for accessing data over an arc-segment or arc-segments of the rotational movement. In a preferred embodiment, the data access means is provided for accessing data over substantially one-half of the rotational movement. In a preferred embodiment, the data access means includes a pickup head 150 and a motor 110 for driving the pickup head 150 for performing the rotational movement. In another preferred embodiment, the data access means further included a data signal transformer 120 for transforming a data signal related to accessing data by the pickup head 150. In another preferred embodiment, the data-card drive system further includes a movable carriage 115 with the motor mounted thereon for carrying out a horizontal linear movement. In another preferred embodiment, the motor 110 is mounted at a fixed position on the movable carriage 115. In another preferred embodiment, the data-card drive system 100 further includes a servo control for controlling the movable carriage 115 and the motor 110. Fig. ID is a perspective view of an alternate configuration of a data signal transformer 120'. The data signal wires 130-1 connected to the pickup head 150' supported on the arm 152' for the pickup head 150' are first winding around an inner signal transforming cylinder 122, which rotates with the rotation shaft or the motor 110. A stationary hollow pipe 124 is placed around the inner signal-transforming cylinder 122. A set of signal transforming wires wrap around this stationary hollow pipe 124. For read /write data, an electric signal representing a binary bit can be transferred from a pickup head 150 through the wires 135 to the wires wrapping around the inner signal- transforming cylinder 122. The electric signals, typically an electric pulse, transferred to the wires around the inner cylinder 122 can be detected with variations of electromagnetic field by a set of wires wrapping around the stationary hollow pipe 124. Similarly, the data signal for the pickup head 150' can also be provided to the wires wrapping around the stationary hollow pipe 124 as electric pulses and detected by the wires wrapping around the inner signal transforming cylinder 122 for transfer to the pickup head 150'. The wires around the inner and outer cylindrical pipes function as inductive coils serving the function of data signal transformation. Figs. 2A to 2C are respectively a top view, a cross sectional view, and a bottom view of a data card 180 of the present invention. The data card 180 is formed on a substrate plate 250. The substrate plate 250 for magnetic recording is composed of non-magnetizable materials with a flat surface, e.g., a plastic or glass substrate plate. For optical recording, a magnetizable material can also be employed to form the substrate plate 250. The substrate plate 250 is then coated with a thin layer of recording medium on one side or both sides. For magnetic recording, the coating are formed by magnetic particles coated on one-side or both sides of the substrate plate 250. The magnetic coating can be directly on the surface of the substrate plate 250 or on a Mylar type of material with adhesive layer for attaching to the substrate plate 250. For optical recording the recording medium layer can be formed by a process similar to that of an optical compact-disk (CD), CDR, LD, or digital video display (DVD) disks. The data card 180 can be formed with standardized sizes, e.g., PCMCIA standard sizes or standard credit card sizes, and has round or elongated holes 260 for fixing the card at pre- designated positions to initialize a data access operation. The holes 260 are fitted to the pinsl90 to provide the self-centering and locking functions. The data storage card 280 can therefore be repeatedly placed at a pre-designated position with reliable accuracy. The data card 180 is provided with a plurality of data tracks 270 for storing data bit on each track. Each of these data tracks is formed as substantially an arc or arc- segments track. The data tracks 270 are substantially of a same length and are substantially parallel to each other. The data tracks 270 are formatted to include multiple sectors. One or several of these sectors can be flexibly employed to provide servo data for the purpose of identifying track locations to enhance sector seeking during a data- access operation. The servo-data are provided in sectors near both ends of the arc or arc-segments data tracks 270 as shown in Fig. 2A. For the purpose of more precisely positioning the data card 180 in a drive device, a notch 275 is formed near the inner end of the data card 180. With the notch 275, the data card 180 is more conveniently placed into the drive device fitted to the initial card position ready for operation relative to the position of the pickup head 150. The data card 180 is then covered by a protective coating 280 preventing damages from exposure to water, dust and other foreign particles introduced through the daily operational environment. The data card 180 is then stored in a data card envelop 290 for storage and shipment. Figs. 2D to 2E are top views of the data storage card 180 for showing different configuration of the data tracks 270. The data tracks 270-1 can be parallel arcs facing opposite directions on either side of the data card 180 as shown in Fig. 2D. Alternately, each of the data tracks 270-1 as parallel arc as that shown in Fig. 2D, can be partitioned into a plurality of arc-segment 270-2 as that shown in Fig. 2E. In a similar manner, the data tracks can be parallel arcs 270-3 formed over the entire data card area as that shown in Fig. 2F. Furthermore, each of the parallel arcs 270-3 of Fig. 2F, can also be partitioned into a plurality of arc segments 270-4 as that shown in Fig. 2G. Figs. 3A and 3B are a perspective view and a side view of a data card storage rack 295 for storing a plurality of data card 180 therein. The data card storage rack 295 as shown can be formed as partitioned storage box with each compartment ready to receive one data card 180. The data card storage rack 295 can function as a portable digital camera album or a backup data store for long term data storage. Fig. 4 shows a subsystem 300 of this invention that includes a data card drive device 310 identical with the drive device 100 described above according to Figs. 1A to IC. The disk drive device 310 performs the data access tasks on a data storage card 320 identical to the data card 180 described above according to Figs. 2A to 2C. The subsystem 300 further includes a local memory 330, which can be a DRAM or SRAM memory device connected to the disk drive device 310. The data stored in data card 320 can be first down loaded to the memory device 330 through a data bus for data storage. The subsystem 300 further includes a function control panel 340 to allow a user to control the subsystem startup, shutdown, save, update, and duplication of the data stored in the card. The subsystem 300 is further provided with a connection terminal 350 for connection to a personal computer, a printer, a scanner or other peripheral devices for operation together with the drive device subsystem 300. A power supply 360 is employed and connected to the subsystem 300 to provide power necessary for operating the drive device 310, the memory 340 and the control panel 330. Therefore, the present invention discloses a data storage-card drive system with a pickup head moving above a data-storage card in rotational movement. The data read-write functions are enabled only for an arc segment, e.g., half-circle, or several arc segments of the rotational movement. The data tracks are arranged as plurality of parallel arcs, e.g., half-circles, or arc-segments with uniform data bit storage density. Specifically, a pickup head is provided, which is driven by a brushless motor to rotate over the data-storage card. The motor is mounted on a carriage for making horizontal movement along a longitudinal direction of the data card. The position of the pickup head is then servo-controlled by moving the carriage and the brushless motor while the data storage card either stays at a fixed position or making only forward-backward movements. The difficulties and limitations encountered in the prior art due to a non-uniform data storage density among different data tracks are resolved by this invention. The technical difficulties caused by problems in loadin /unloading of the pickup head to the recording medium, the transfer of read /write signal between the pickup head and the processing circuits, and the self centering of the data card in a data card drive device are also resolved by this invention. Furthermore, the difficulty of positioning and lifting horizontal rotating pickup head parallel to a flat recording surface at any intermediate stop location to convert the signal from the flat card to parallel rotating pickup head to process circuit Although the present invention has been described in terms of the presently preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that such disclosure is not to be interpreted as limiting. Various alternations and modifications will no doubt become apparent to those skilled in the art after reading the above disclosure. Accordingly, it is intended that the appended claims be interpreted as covering all alternations and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims: CLAIMS We claim: 1. A data-card drive system comprising: a data access means provided for performing a rotational movement for accessing data over an arc segment of said rotational movement. 2. The data-card drive system of claim 1 wherein: said data access means is provided for accessing data over substantially one-half of the rotational movement. 3. The data-card drive system of claim 1 wherein: said data access means is provided for accessing data over several arc-segments during said rotational movement. 4. The data-card drive system of claim 2 wherein: said data access means further included a data signal transformer for transforming a data signal related to accessing data by said pickup head. 5. The data-card drive system of claim 3 further comprising: a movable carriage with said motor mounted thereon for carrying out a horizontal linear movement. 6. The data-card drive system of claim 4 wherein: said motor is mounted at a fixed position on said movable carriage. 7. The data-card drive system of claim 4 further comprising: a servo control for controlling said movable carriage and said motor. 8. The data-card drive system of claim 4 further comprising: a head lifting mechanism for loading and unloading said pickup head. 9. The data-card drive system of claim 4 further comprising: a switch mounted on said drive device for moving said pickup head for accessing data at a user intended location. 10. The data-card drive system of claim 4 further comprising: a LCD display panel mounted on said drive device for displaying a location of said pickup head. 11. A data-storage card comprising: a data-storage medium layer supported on said card; and said data-storage medium layer includes a plurality of data storage tracks for storing data therein and each of said tracks is substantially an arc-segment substantially parallel to a neighboring track. 12. The data storage card of claim 11 wherein: each of said data-storage tracks are substantially of a same track length. 13. The data-storage card of claim 11 wherein: said data-storage tracks further storing servo control data. 14. The data storage card of claim 13 wherein: said data-storage tracks further storing said servo-control data at a substantially same relative position on said datastorage tracks. 15. The data storage card of claim 14 wherein: said data-storage tracks further storing said servo-control data near edges of said data-storage card on said datastorage tracks. 16. The data storage card of claim 11 wherein: each of said data-storage tracks are substantially semicircular arc-segment. 17. The data storage card of claim 11 wherein: each of said data-storage tracks includes several arc segments. 18. The data storage card of claim 11 further comprising: self -positioning guiding means for guiding a said card to a loading position into a data card drive device. 19. The data storage card of claim 11 wherein: said data storage card having a first side and a second sided and said data-storage tracks are disposed on said first and second sides. 20. The data storage card of claim 11 further comprising: a jacket for storing said data storage card. 21. A server writer system comprising: a loadin /unloading mechanism for loading and unloading a pickup head over a recording medium; and a pickup head mounting carriage having a spindle assembly and a data access means for generating a servo and data signals for a recording medium. 22. The server writer system of claim 21 wherein: said data access means is provided for performing a rotational movement for accessing data over an arc segment of said rotational movement. 22. The servo writer system of claim 21 wherein: said data access means is provided for accessing data over substantially one-half of the rotational movement. 23. The servo writer system of claim 21 wherein: said data access means is provided for accessing data over several arc-segments during said rotational movement. 24. The servo writer system of claim 22 wherein: said data access means further included a data signal transformer for transforming a data signal related to accessing data by said pickup head. 25. The servo writer system of claim 23 further comprising: a movable carriage with said motor mounted thereon for carrying out a horizontal linear movement. 26. The servo writer system of claim 24 wherein: said motor is mounted at a fixed position on said movable carriage. 27. The servo writer system of claim 24 further comprising: a servo control for controlling said movable carriage and said motor. 28. The servo writer system of claim 21 further comprising: a card guiding system for loading and unloading a data card to said pickup head. 9. A data-card subsystem comprising: a data card drive system includes a data access means provided for performing a rotational movement for accessing data over an arc segment of said rotational movement; a data memory means; and a control means for controlling a data transfer between said data card drive system and said data memory means. 30. The data-card subsystem of claim 29 wherein: said data access means is provided for accessing data over substantially one- half of the rotational movement. 31. The data-card drive system of claim 29 wherein: said data access means is provided for accessing data over several arc-segments during said rotational movement. 32. The data-card drive system of claim 30 wherein: said data access means further included a data signal transformer for transforming a data signal related to accessing data by said pickup head. 33. The data-card drive system of claim 32 further comprising: a movable carriage with said motor mounted thereon for carrying out a horizontal linear movement. 34. The data-card drive system of claim 33 wherein: said motor is mounted at a fixed position on said movable carriage. 35. The data-card drive system of claim 32 further comprising: a servo control for controlling said movable carriage and said motor. 36. The data-card drive system of claim 32 further comprising: a head lifting mechanism for loading and unloading said pickup head. 37. The data-card drive system of claim 32 further comprising: a switch mounted on said drive device for moving said pickup head for accessing data at a user intended location. 38. The data-card drive system of claim 32 further comprising: a LCD display panel mounted on said drive device for displaying a location of said pickup head.

Inventors: KING FRANCIS K, LIU JEFFREY F, KING, FRANCIS, K., LIU, JEFFREY, F.
Applicants: DCARD INC, DCARD, INC.
Application year: 1999
Main classification: G11B25
IPC codes: G06K7, G06K19, G11B5, G11B7, G11B17, G11B21, G11B25