Method and apparatus for making a drive compatible with a removable cartridge

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Filing Information

  • Patent Number: US6717762
  • Application Number: US9590511
  • Filing date: 06/09/2000
  • Issue date: 04/06/2004
  • Predicted expiration date: 01/22/2022
  • Patent term adjustment: 592
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  • U.S. Classifications: 360/75  ·
  • International Classifications: --
  • International Classifications: 360 75 · 360710 · 360711 ·
16 Claims, 9 Drawings


Abstract

An information storage device includes a cradle which can removably receive a cartridge that contains a rotatable hard disk. A read/write head is supported for movement adjacent the disk by a pivotal actuator arm. The cradle controls alignment of the head with the disk using feedback servo tracking. Servo parameters needed by the cradle to perform this tracking may be stored in a special wide track which is on the disk, and which may be a read-only track. Alternatively, the track may store updated firmware that can be loaded into the cradle. One approach to reading this special wide track is to effect servo tracking using default servo parameters. A different approach is to bias the actuator arm against a mechanical stop.

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Other Publications

“IBM Travelstar E—External Hard Disk Drive—Installation and Operation Guide”, IBM Storage Systems Division, San Jose, California, 2000, 10 sheets.

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Independent Claims | See all claims (16)

  1. 1. An apparatus, comprising: an information storage cartridge which includes: a port, an information storage medium, and structure operable to transfer information between said port and said information storage medium, said information storage medium storing a first program; and a receiving unit which can removably receive said cartridge, which has a port that operatively cooperates with said port of said cartridge when said cartridge is received in said receiving unit, and which has structure that can communicate with said structure in said cartridge through said ports when said cartridge is received in said receiving unit, said structure in said receiving unit including a memory which stores a second program, and including a processor which can execute the program stored in said memory, said structure in said receiving unit having an operational mode which, when said cartridge is removably received in said receiving unit, facilitates an upgrade of said receiving unit that includes reading said first program through said ports from said information storage medium in said cartridge and storing said first program in said memory in place of said second program, wherein said receiving unit is capable of full operational interaction with a predetermined type of cartridge in response to execution by said processor of said first program, and incapable of full operational interaction with said predetermined type of cartridge in response to execution by said processor of said second program.
  2. 9. A method comprising the steps of: providing an information storage cartridge which includes a port, an information storage medium, and structure for transferring information between said port and said information storage medium; storing a first program in said information storage medium; providing a receiving unit which can removably receive said cartridge, which has a port that operatively cooperates with said port of said cartridge when said cartridge is received in said receiving unit, and which can communicate with said cartridge through said ports when said cartridge is received in said receiving unit; storing a second program in a memory provided in said receiving unit; providing a processor which can execute the program stored in said memory; effecting an upgrade during an operational mode when said cartridge is removably received in said receiving unit, said effecting of said upgrade including the steps of reading said first program through said ports from said information storage medium in said cartridge, and storing said first program in said memory in place of said second program; and causing said receiving unit to be capable of full operational interaction with a predetermined type of cartridge in response to execution by said processor of said first program, and incapable of full operational interaction with said predetermined type of cartridge in response to execution by said processor of said second program.