Abstract:
A next generation disk cartridge, capable of being inserted into a next generation drive, includes dummy notches located to align with the shutter door opening arms of a previous generation disk drive. The dummy notches are defined by the housing of the disk cartridge, and are thus immovable. When the cartridge is inadvertently inserted into a previous generation disk drive, the dummy notches engage the shutter door opening arm of the previous generation drive, and prevent them from collapsing. The cartridge is thus blocked from further insertion into the previous generation disk drive.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The device of the present invention relates to a next generation data storage drive and data storage cartridge for use with data libraries or data jukeboxes.  
           [0002]    As is easily appreciated by most members of today&#39;s society, information and data effect virtually all aspects of life. Computer systems are used to manage and use this data for all types of different reasons. Naturally, the storage and retrieval of data is a critical part of making these systems work.  
           [0003]    With the increased demand for data storage comes an increased demand for capacity and speed. Consequently, engineers are always looking for ways to improve current devices, often changing the design or operation of these devices. Many times, a “next generation” will be designed, which may or may not be compatible with existing systems.  
           [0004]    One approach to increasing storage capacity is to utilize a storage library, or jukebox, which includes multiple disk drives, multiple storage disks, and picker/placer mechanisms. As is well known, the picker/placer mechanisms are used to appropriately move the disks from storage locations to the drives.  
           [0005]    Again, modern data storage libraries contain vast quantities of drives and data storage cartridges or disks. Many of such libraries are upgrading to next generation disks and disk drives. These previous generation drives are not compatible with the data disks of the next generation. Although they are very similar in appearance and size to the previous generation disks, the next generation disks are likely to get erased if they are inserted into a previous generation drive. Consequently, this should be avoided.  
           [0006]    A simple solution to preventing the accidental insertion of a next generation disk into a previous generation drive, would be to make the next generation disks and drives a different size than the previous generation disks and drives. However, there are numerous reasons why the next generation disks must have cartridge geometries that are substantially identical to the cartridge geometries of the previous generation disks. For example, modern data storage libraries utilize robotic “juke box” mechanisms for the automatic retrieval and storage of the numerous disks. The grasping mechanisms on the robotic arms, and the storage slots from which the disks are retrieved, require uniform cartridge geometries if the disks of both generations are to be stored in the same library. Manufacturing efficiency is also improved if the cartridge geometries between generations are substantially identical. Further, this will allow for the gradual upgrade of libraries, should that be desirable for the user.  
           [0007]    Other attempts have been made at providing a next generation disk that is insertable into a next generation drive but not insertable into a previous generation drive. One example of such an attempt is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,115,212 to Kumagai. Kumagai discloses the use of relatively complicated misinsertion preventing members, namely a fixed post interacting with corner geometries of the various disks, in combination with trigger locks, and the like, to provide a selective disk drive. These components add manufacturing costs to the drive and reduce the reliability of the drive simply by adding parts. It would be advantageous to provide a cartridge design that utilizes otherwise necessary componentry, such as the shutter door opening arm, to distinguish the next generation cartridge from a previous generation cartridge.  
           [0008]    There is thus a need for a next generation disk that cannot be inserted into a previous generation disk drive, yet has cartridge geometries that are substantially identical to previous generation disk cartridges.  
           [0009]    There is also a need for a next generation drive capable of accepting the next generation disks.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    The present invention addresses the aforementioned needs by providing a next generation disk cartridge that is constructed and arranged so that it cannot be inserted into a previous generation disk drive. The present invention also provides a next generation drive capable of accepting the next generation disks.  
           [0011]    An example of a previous generation cartridge  1  is shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 1 a . The cartridge  1  includes a slideable, spring loaded shutter door  2  that, when opened, uncovers an access window  7  to a computer readable disk  8  inside the cartridge. The door  2  includes a notch  3  that is used by the previous generation drive tray loader  4  to open the shutter door  2 .  
           [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 shows the previous generation drive tray loader  4 . The drive tray loader  4  includes two shutter door opening arms  5 . Each opening arm  5  rotates around a proximal end  6  and has a distal end  7  positioned to interfere with the notch  3  such that the shutter door  2  is opened by the rotation of the opening arm  5  as the cartridge  1  is inserted. The second shutter door opening arm  5  is provided so that the previous generation cartridge  1  may be operably inserted into the previous generation drive tray loader  4  upside down, thereby allowing the other side of the disk  8  to be read.  
           [0013]    The cartridge of the present invention utilizes the shutter door opening arm  5  of the previous generation drive tray loader  4  to prevent insertion of the next generation disk into the drive tray loader  4 . The cartridge of the present invention includes at least one dummy notch, incapable sliding along the leading edge of the cartridge, and positioned to interact with the shutter door opening arm  5  when inserted into the previous generation drive tray loader  4 . Because the dummy notch is incapable of sliding along the leading edge of next generation cartridge, the opening arm  5  is not allowed to rotate. The next generation cartridge is thus prevented from further insertion into the drive tray loader  4 .  
           [0014]    The cartridge of the present invention also includes at least one door and corresponding notch useable to slide the door open. The notch is relocated so as not to interfere with the dummy notch. The next generation drive of the present invention has at least one opening arm that has a distal end located to interfere with the relocated notch. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a previous generation disk cartridge of the prior art;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 a  is a perspective view of a previous generation disk cartridge of the prior art with the shutter door in the open position;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 is a plan view of a previous generation disk cartridge being inserted into a previous generation drive tray loader of the prior art;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a next generation disk cartridge of the present invention;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 a  is a perspective view of a next generation disk cartridge of the present invention with one of the shutter doors in the open position while the opposite shutter door is in the closed position;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 is a plan view of a next generation disk cartridge being inserted into a next generation drive tray loader of the present invention;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 is a plan view of a next generation disk cartridge of the present invention being prevented from full insertion into a previous generation drive tray loader of the prior art; and,  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the next generation disk drive of the present invention fully assembled. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]    Referring now to FIG. 3 and FIG. 3 a , there is shown a next generation disk cartridge  20  of the present invention. The next generation disk cartridge  20  includes a housing  22  having a first side  24  and a second side  26 . An interior cavity  27  between the first side  24  and the second side  26  contains a two-sided computer readable medium, preferably in the form of a computer disk  28 .  
         [0024]    The housing  22  defines a first opening  30  in the first side  24 , and preferably a second opening  32  in the second side  26 . The openings  30  and  32  allow a computer read/write head to access the two sides of the disk  28  and are preferably of a standard size.  
         [0025]    A leading edge  34  of the housing  22  includes a first dummy notch  36 , and in the case of a cartridge  20  that has a two-sided disk  28 , a second dummy notch  38 . The dummy notches  36  and  38  are constructed and arranged to receive the distal end  7  of the shutter door opening arm  5  of the previous generation disk drive tray loader  4  (FIG. 2). Alternatively, stops (not shown) are provided which protrude slightly from the leading edge  34  and prevent the distal end  7  of the shutter door opening arm  5  of the previous generation disk drive tray loader  4  from sliding along the leading edge  34 . The shutter door opening arm  5  is thus unable to collapse to allow insertion of the next generation disk cartridge  20 .  
         [0026]    As previously mentioned, the disk cartridge  20  is preferably constructed and arranged to house a two-sided disk  28 . FIGS. 3 and 3 a  show that though the disk cartridge  20  forms a single interior cavity  28 , a preferred embodiment provides two shutter doors  40  and  42 . The first shutter door  40  rides within a recess  44  in the first side  24  of the housing  22 . The first shutter door  40  covers the opening  30  when the first shutter door  40  is in the closed position (FIG. 3). The first shutter door  40  is biased to the closed position but may be slid to an open position (FIG. 3 a ) that exposes the opening  30 . The recess  44  has a limiting edge  46  that abuts against the first shutter door  40  to define the extent to which it may be opened.  
         [0027]    The second side  26  of the housing  22  is substantially identical to the first side  24 . Thus, the second shutter door  42  rides within a recess  48  in the second side  26  of the housing  22 . The second shutter door  42  covers the opening  32  when the second shutter door  42  is in the closed position (FIG. 3). The second shutter door  42  is biased to the closed position but may be slid to an open position (FIG. 3 a  shows the first shutter door  40  in the open position and the second shutter door  42  in the closed position) that exposes the opening  32 . The recess  48  has a limiting edge  49  that abuts against the second shutter door  42  to define the extent to which it may be opened.  
         [0028]    Each shutter door  40  and  42  defines a notch  50  located to operably receive a shutter door opening arm  52  of the next generation disk drive tray loader  54  (FIG. 4), which will be discussed in detail below. Notably, the two sides  24  and  26  of the body  22  are constructed and arranged such that when the next generation disk drive  22  is flipped over, the features of one side, such as the notches, shutter doors, and recesses, are located in the same places. In other words, the two sides  24  and  26  are symmetric such that the disk  20  may be inserted for operation into a drive tray loader  54  with either side  24  or  26  facing up.  
         [0029]    Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown the next generation drive tray loader  54  of the present invention. The next generation drive tray loader  54 , in pertinent part, includes a shutter door opening arm  52  with a distal end  56  and a proximal end  58 . The distal end  56  includes an engagement pad  60  configured to mate with the notch  50  of the shutter doors  40  and  42 . The proximal end  58  is pivotally attached to the body  62  of the drive tray loader  54 . The body  62  defines a travel slot  64  through which a guide  66 , attached to the opening arm  52 , rides from a first position (shown) to a second position. The opening arm  52  is biased toward the first position so the engagement pad  60  is positioned to engage the notch  50  of a disk  20  when the disk  20  is inserted.  
         [0030]    In operation, the next generation disk cartridge  20  is inserted into the next generation disk drive tray loader  54 . While being inserted, the engagement pad  60 , on the distal end  56  of the shutter door opening arm  52  will mate with the notch  50 . As the cartridge  20  continues to be inserted into the next generation drive tray loader  54 , the opening arm  52  will pivot about the proximal end  58 , and the guide  66  will travel through the travel slot  64 . As the opening arm  52  rotates, the engagement pad  60  pushes open whichever shutter door  40  or  42  corresponds with the engaged notch  50 .  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 5 shows how the next generation disk cartridge  20  is prevented from being inserted into a previous generation drive tray loader  4 . As the disk  20  is inserted into the previous generation drive tray loader  4 , one or both of the dummy notches  36  and  38  will line up to mate with shutter door opening arms  5  of the drive tray loader  4 . However, because the dummy notches  36  and  38  are defined by the housing  22  of the cartridge  20 , they will prevent the arms  5  from rotating around the proximal ends  6 . The arms  5  are thus locked and the disk cartridge  20  is prevented from further insertion into the previous generation drive tray loader  4 .  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 6 shows a completely assembled next generation disk drive  70  of the present invention. The disk drive  70  includes a housing  72  that encases the disk drive tray loader  54 . A front panel  74  provides an attractive face and defines a receiving port  76  through which a cartridge is loaded and unloaded. A drive door  78  covers the receiving port  76  when the drive  70  is not in use. The drive door  78  thus prevents dust and other contaminants from entering the disk drive  70 .  
         [0033]    It is contemplated that features disclosed in this application can be mixed and matched to suit particular circumstances. Various other modifications and changes will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, reference should be made to the claims to determine the scope of the present invention.