Patent ID: 7006325

Claim:
A system for interfacing with and handling disk drives in an automated library having a drawer with a drawer connector, the apparatus comprising: a disk drive carrier having a disk drive mounted thereto, a backplane connector adapted to interconnect with the drawer connector, and an interface connector, wherein the disk drive carrier is adapted to be inserted into the drawer; a picking tool having securing means for securing the disk drive carrier to the picking tool, and interface means for interfacing with the interface connector of the disk drive carrier; and control means for controlling the picking tool and communicating information with the disk drive through both the backplane connector via the drawer connector, and through the interface connector via the interface means, such that the picking tool is adapted to remove the disk drive carrier from the drawer, transport the disk drive carrier, and place the disk drive carrier in the drawer, wherein the interface connector and the interface means utilize optical service interfaces utilizing matched pairs of LEDs and phototransistors.