550results about "Magazines/cassettes storage" patented technology

A system for measuring changes in the resistance of a living body includes a resistance measuring circuit, an amplifier circuit and an indicator circuit in which the amplifier circuit includes a calibration circuit to give a generally constant amplitude response to a given measured input. Radio frequency insulators are included to reduce noise in the system. The circuits are operated such that when an overall change in the resistance of a living body occurs, the resistance measuring circuit is adjusted to determine the overall resistance. To account for changes in sensitivity caused by the overall change in resistance, the gain of the amplifier circuit is automatically adjusted to thereby maintain a generally constant amplitude response.

A body movement detecting apparatus includes a measuring section which outputs, as at least one time-series signal, at least one result of measurement obtained by measuring body movement, a detecting section in which, after slicing off a part of the time-series signal output from the measuring section to generate a reference signal having a predetermined interval length from a predetermined position in the time-series signal, the detecting section detects the intensity of correlation between the reference signal and each different part of the time-series signal in the vicinity of the reference signal, the different part having the predetermined interval length, and a determining section which, on the basis of the detected intensity of correlation detected by the detecting section, performs one or both of determining whether or not the body movement is periodic, and determining the period of the body movement.

A tape cartridge is provided with reliable reel lock and motor / reel coupling mechanisms whose functions are both accomplished during a single motion of the cartridge relative to the drive motor. The motor / reel coupling includes a circular set of gear teeth on the bottom of the tape reel which meshes with a complementary set of gear teeth on a motor coupling rotated by the motor when the cartridge is loaded into the tape drive and the cartridge and motor are moved towards each other. An engagement force to maintain the coupling is provided by an engagement spring in the cartridge which biases the reel towards the motor. Reel locking is accomplished by providing a second circular set of gear teeth on a top side of the tape reel which meshes with a complementary set of gear teeth provided on a slidably mounted locking bracket inside the tape cartridge. A lock spring normally biases the locking bracket towards the top of the tape reel, thus locking the reel when the cartridge is not engaged with the motor. When the cartridge and the drive motor are moved towards each other, the motor coupling engages the bottom of the tape reel, and a projection on the motor coupling extends into the tape cartridge to slide the locking bracket out of engagement with the teeth on the top of the tape reel, thereby unlocking the reel. Thus, reel unlocking and motor / reel coupling are accomplished with a single motion by reliable mechanisms.

A hands-free kit for cell-phones combines the wireless capabilities of Bluetooth and the sound and visual functionalities of a tape player. A device that has a shape of a conventional magnetic cassette comprises a Bluetooth module. The module automatically detects a data communication initiated with the portable apparatus over a wireless network when the device is inserted in the tape player. Then the module automatically configures the apparatus to transmit to the device a low frequency signal representative of the communicated data. The device converts the received low frequency signal into a magnetic signal further communicated to the tape player for play out and / or display. Thus, when a cell-phone rings, a driver inserts the device in his tape player and the cell is picked up and the conversation played out loud on the loud speakers in the car.

In a tape cartridge of the single-reel type having a hub on which a length of tape is wound, a brake mechanism contained in the hub is movable up and down to apply and release the brake on the tape reel. The brake mechanism and a brake lock release member disposed between it and the hub remain in sliding engagement after the release of the brake, and the resulting friction hampers smooth turning of the hub. Moreover, after the brake lock has been released, the center of the tape reel can be off the center of a rotating shaft of a recorder.The hub of the tape reel has holes formed in its bottom wall for engagement with the brake release plate, the brake release plate is mounted in the hub with legs fitted in the holes of the latter, the brake lock rests on the brake release plate, the brake lock is formed with a dent (or lug) with a spherical end and the brake release plate is formed with a corresponding lug (or dent) with a spherical end on its upper surface. A highly slippery sheet member is interposed between the contacting parts of the brake lock and the brake release plate.

A conversion device includes a mounting device sized and shaped to fit in a cassette deck of a cassette tape player. The mounting device forms a cutoff zone defined by opposite side edges into which a playing device for compression / decompression, storage and playback of digital sounds is received. Slots are defined in the side edges of the cutoff zone and corresponding projections are formed in opposite sides of the playing device for slidably engaging the slots of the cutoff zone of the mounting device. A signal converter is provided between the playing device and mounting device for receiving MP3 signals from the playing device and converting the MP3 signals into signals recognizable by the cassette tape player.

A method to control the inside environment of a cartridge is disclosed. The method includes providing a cartridge having a first chamber for the data storage media and a second chamber for material to control contaminants inside the cartridge. A selectively openable structure permits communication of the air within the first chamber to the material in the second chamber to decontaminate the first chamber.

A data storage cartridge having an data storage device, such as an encased magnetic disk drive assembly, is, in one embodiment, of generally an exterior dimensional form factor of a tape cartridge having a leader block with a hole therethrough for engagement by a threading pin. To distinguish the cartridge from a tape cartridge, the cartridge shell comprises a blocking portion at the location of the leader block hole. A transfer station both identifies the cartridge and indicates the presence of the cartridge at an end of travel in a cartridge receiver, employing an optical source and an opposed sensor directed toward the leader block hole when a cartridge is at the end of travel. In another embodiment, an encased magnetic disk drive assembly is supported and mounted in a cartridge shell by a shock mount. A flex cable interconnects the rear of the encased magnetic disk drive assembly with an external data transfer interface at the opposite side of the cartridge for data transfer with respect to a transfer station and to provide mechanical isolation.

A recording medium cartridge with a recording medium and cartridge memory records a first CRC code produced from data of the recording medium in the cartridge memory in an unrewritable state. A recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing the recording medium cartridge is provided with a CRC code producing means, CRC code recording means, CRC code comparing means, and authentication determining means. The comparing means compares a fourth CRC code produced from data recorded in the recording medium with the first CRC code corresponding to the data recorded in the cartridge memory. The authentication determining means determines authentication of the data recorded in the recording medium based on a comparison result of the comparing means.

In a tape cartridge which turnably holds within a housing a single tape reel on which a length of tape is wound, the tape reel consisting of an upper flange, a lower flange, and a hub which is open at top and is closed at the bottom, the hub having a metal disk in the center of the outer bottom surface and teeth formed around the outer periphery of the metal disk for engagement with a drive shaft of a recorder, the underside of the hub having throughholes for engagement with a brake release plate, the hub having teeth formed on the inner bottom surface to engage a brake lock, the brake release plate consisting of a main plate disposed between the brake lock and the inner surface of the hub and a plurality of legs adapted to fit in the throughholes in the bottom of the hub, the brake lock having brake teeth formed on the periphery of its underside and a contact area in the center for engagement with the brake release plate, the teeth of the hub and the brake teeth of the brake lock being in mesh to prevent unwanted turning of the tape reel, and further including a spring member provided between the brake lock and an upper casing of the housing to urge the brake lock in the braking position:the invention forms a short toe on the outer end of each leg of the brake release plate so as to prevent the leg from coming off, out of engagement with, a corresponding hole of the hub; provides a reinforcing structure between the center of main plate and the legs of the brake release plate; precludes the possibility of a once-incorporated brake release plate coming off from the hub during the course of assembling; and ensures positive release action of the brake release plate.

A cleaning tape for a magnetic head system having a magnetoresistance effect head as a reproducing head, comprising a nonmagnetic support, and a cleaning layer containing a magnetic powder and a binder formed on one surface of said support, wherein said cleaning layer has a specific surface resistivity of 3x103 to 5x108 OMEGA / cm2, does not cause performance failure due to the electrostatic breakdown of the magnetic head or the generation of an electric current, which does not cause performance failure due to electrostatic breakdown of a magnetic head or the generation of an electric current.

A tape reel assembly for a tape drive system component, such as a data storage tape cartridge, is described that includes a hub. The hub defines an inner surface and a tape winding surface, and at least a portion of the hub is made of plastic. The tape winding surface has an effective radial modulus of greater than 0.3 million pounds-per-square-inch.

An external data storage device includes a housing unit having a control board with a coupler that is adapted for establishing electrical coupling with a computer device, and a power-managing module capable of being activated regardless of whether there is coupling between the external data storage device and the computer device. A data storage unit is mounted in the housing unit, and is electrically coupled to the control board. A light-generating assembly is mounted on the housing unit, and is electrically coupled to and controlled by the control board of the housing unit. The light-generating assembly provides decorative illumination regardless of whether there is coupling between the external data storage device and the computer device, and status indication for indicating an operating state of the data storage unit when there is such coupling.

A recording tape cartridge rotatably accommodating, within a case, a reel on which a recording tape is wound. A leader portion is provided at a distal end of the recording tape. The leader portion has a leader tape connected to the recording tape, and holding blocks provided at vertical direction outer sides of a distal end of the leader tape. In a state in which the holding blocks are held so as to face an opening of the case, the holding blocks are exposed from cut-out portions. Due to the holding blocks being nipped and held by a guiding mechanism of a drive device and the guiding mechanism moving, the holding blocks are separated from the case.

A recording tape cartridge has a reel at whose axially central portion is provided a reel hub which is shaped as a cylindrical tube having a bottom and around whose outer peripheral surface a recording tape is wound; an engaging gear provided within the reel hub; a case rotatably accommodating the reel; and a braking member having a braking gear which can mesh with the engaging gear. The engaging gear is formed in a form of internal teeth or in a form of external teeth. A tooth surface of each tooth is substantially parallel to an axis of the reel hub. The braking member is supported so as to be unable to rotate with respect to the case, and moves along an axis of the reel, and can be disposed at a rotation locking position, at which the braking gear meshes with the engaging gear, and a released position at which meshing is released.

A data storage tape cartridge for a high speed tape drive. The tape cartridge encloses the tape reel having a drive hub that defines a reel lock. A ring of beveled gear teeth on the tape reel engage a ring of beveled gear teeth affixed to the tape cartridge for locking the reel to the cartridge. A spring biases the teeth into engagement. When the data storage tape cartridge is inserted into a data storage system, a drive hub engages the tape reel to shift the tape reel relative to the tape cartridge and disengage the rings of beveled gear teeth. In the same motion, the tape reel is centered within the data storage tape cartridge and a hub engagement member is lifted off of a flange of the tape reel.

A configurable slide imaging system includes a plurality of slide cassettes, each cassette configured for accessibly storing a plurality of specimen slides, a plurality of imagers, each operatively coupled with one or more processors for processing images obtained of respective specimen slides retrieved from the storage cassettes, and a slide transport system including a movable arm having a slide engagement mechanism, the slide transport system configured for retrieving slides from the slide cassettes and positioning them on a slide stage of a respective-imager, and for retrieving slides from a slide stage of an imager and transporting them to a respective storage cassette. The number of imagers may be selected, and their operation synchronized, so as to minimize down time of the extendable arm 204.

An electrical connection releasably, repeatably electrically couples with respect to a matching connection of a portable cartridge. A substrate in the portable cartridge has electrical contacts on a facing surface of a flex cable mounted on a backing plate. A matching circuitized flexible substrate has electrical contacts on a facing surface thereof, which are arranged to match the portable cartridge electrical contacts when in a face-to-face relationship, and is mounted on a compression element with protruding compression members. Elongated electrical contacts are registered with two adjacent individual compression members. A loader exerts a normal force to the cartridge to compress the compression element and create non-wiping contact between the facing electrical contacts.

An environmentally controlled cartridge and method for protecting data storage media from disallowed humidity levels and contaminants. The cartridge has a first chamber and a second chamber. The first chamber is operative to contain the data storage media and is openable to the ambient environment to provide drive access to the media. A charged desiccant is disposed in communication with the second chamber and may further include a pollutant getter. The second chamber is in selective communication with the first chamber.

An electronically updatable external labeling system for a data storage element, such as a data storage cartridge for magnetic tape media. An electronic persistent visual display is at a cartridge external surface. An electronic persistent visual display has a stable image “memory effect” for an extended period of time. An input is provided for a signal for updating the visual display; and an update agent, such as a power source, is provided for operating the visual display in response to the input signal, such that the visual display comprises an updated persistent visual display label. Further, a nonvolatile electronic memory may be provided, such that both the visual display and the memory are electronically updatable.

An electrical connection releasably, repeatably electrically couples with respect to a matching connection of a portable cartridge. A substrate in the portable cartridge has electrical contacts on a facing surface of a flex cable termination mounted on a backing plate. A matching circuitized flexible substrate has electrical contacts on a facing surface thereof, which are arranged to match the portable cartridge electrical contacts when in a face-to-face relationship, and is mounted on a compression element with protruding compression members. Elongated electrical contacts are registered with two adjacent individual compression members. A loader exerts a normal force to the cartridge to compress the compression element and create non-wiping contact between the facing electrical contacts.

A cartridge includes a housing having a medium chamber defined therein for accommodating the recording medium and also having at least one access opening defined therein, a slide shutter slidably mounted on the housing for movement between an opened position in which the access opening is opened and a closed position in which the access opening is closed, and a biasing member for biasing the slide shutter towards the closed position. The biasing member is in the form of a twin-coiled torsional spring including first and second coils connected together by means of a bridge and first and second spring arms extending outwardly from the first and second coils, respectively. The first spring arms has a free end engaged to the slide shutter and the second spring arm has a free end engaged to a portion of the housing.

A recording tape cartridge includes: a case accommodating a reel on which a recording tape is wound; a brake member provided non-rotatably with respect to the case; a lock member provided in a mounting portion on the inner surface of a top plate of the case to be slidable in a radial direction of the reel; and a falling-out preventing member for keeping the lock member from being removed from the mounting portion. The brake member is arranged to selectively assume a rotation locking position where the brake member is engaged with the reel to prevent the reel from being rotated and a rotation permitting position where the brake member is disengaged from the reel to permit the reel to be rotated. The lock member is arranged, when the brake member assumes the rotation locking position, to be interposed between the upper surface of the reel and a top plate of the case, thereby preventing the reel from being moved axially thereof. The lock member is also arranged, when the brake member is moved from the rotation locking position to the rotation permitting position, to be removed from between the upper surface of the reel and the top plate of the case in response to the movement of the brake member, thereby permitting the reel to be moved axially thereof. When the brake member assumes the rotation locking position, a clearance is defined between the lock member and the brake member, and the clearance is made smaller than the movement stroke of the brake member from the rotation locking position to the rotation permitting position.

An apparatus is provided for reducing tape media edge damage in data regions and controlling the position of the tape media in a passive manner. A curved tape guide surface of a tape guide roller controls tape media edge damage by restoring the tape media to a properly aligned position on a tape guide roller by using tape guide rollers with curved edge stops that exert a force to the tape media during a lateral shift. As the tape moves around the roller, the restoring force exerted by the curved portion of the tape guide roller on the tape during any lateral shift restores the tape to a centered position. Keeping the tape media in a centered position reduces tape edge wear, lessens degradation of the integrity of the tape and increases the useful lifetime of the tape.

There is disclosed a data storage media cartridge comprising: a casing; a data storage media; and a sensor device capable of sensing an environmental parameter to which said media cartridge is exposed.

A method of assembling an ink ribbon cartridge comprises inserting a leaf spring having a mounting frame and a flat spring finger that longitudinally extends from the mounting frame, beginning at an opening in the mounting frame, and at an acute angle from the opening, into a housing-half to position the spring finger pointing at the acute angle into the housing-half, and inserting an ink ribbon spool having opposite hub ends and a rotation axis into the housing-half, laterally relative to the rotation axis, to cause one of the hub ends to depress the spring finger at least partially into the opening, whereby the spring finger will urge the spool in one direction along the rotation axis.