WO1988006793A1 - Dispositif de sauvegarde sur bande magnetique destine a etre utilise avec une unite de disque souple - Google Patents

Dispositif de sauvegarde sur bande magnetique destine a etre utilise avec une unite de disque souple Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1988006793A1
WO1988006793A1 PCT/US1988/000501 US8800501W WO8806793A1 WO 1988006793 A1 WO1988006793 A1 WO 1988006793A1 US 8800501 W US8800501 W US 8800501W WO 8806793 A1 WO8806793 A1 WO 8806793A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
tape
disk drive
backup device
data
head
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1988/000501
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
James W. Baker
Original Assignee
Baker James W
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Baker James W filed Critical Baker James W
Publication of WO1988006793A1 publication Critical patent/WO1988006793A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B23/00—Record carriers not specific to the method of recording or reproducing; Accessories, e.g. containers, specially adapted for co-operation with the recording or reproducing apparatus ; Intermediate mediums; Apparatus or processes specially adapted for their manufacture
    • G11B23/02—Containers; Storing means both adapted to cooperate with the recording or reproducing means
    • G11B23/04—Magazines; Cassettes for webs or filaments
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B25/00—Apparatus characterised by the shape of record carrier employed but not specific to the method of recording or reproducing, e.g. dictating apparatus; Combinations of such apparatus
    • G11B25/10—Apparatus capable of using record carriers defined in more than one of the sub-groups G11B25/02 - G11B25/08; Adaptor devices therefor

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a backup device for use with a computer system, and more particularly, to a tape backup device for interacting with the head of a floppy disk drive to transfer data between a magnetic tape and the floppy disk drive.
  • an electronic data handling system should have some associated mechanism or method of operation for preserving the data separately from the system itself. In this way, the data are saved in case of a loss of power to, or an internal failure of, the system.
  • data backup is provided by storing copies of the data separately from the system. These copies are updated frequently in order to minimize the effort that would be required to bring the data up to date in case of a failure.
  • Smaller computer systems such as personal computers (PCs) can likewise benefit from data backup.
  • Separate magnetic tape input/output devices are already used for backup purposes.
  • a magnetic tape device is not used for routine input/output operations with a PC, and therefore represents an addi- tional piece of equipment to be maintained with the computer system.
  • Another limitation of conventional magnetic tape backup devices is their i compatibi l ity with tape backup devices manufactured by others and even other tape backup devices of the same modeJ .
  • backup data cannot be transferred from one magnetic tape device to another.
  • the optical disk is another device that is presently being developed, and that could be useful as a backup device. Recording optical disk units, however, presently represent a relatively expensive means of data backup.
  • floppy disks are generally used for storage of a few programs and/or data for those programs. Their use as a backup device, however, is relatively inefficient because floppy disks have relatively low data storage capability.
  • the two-sided data storage capacity of a 3t ⁇ inch floppy disk is 720 kilobytes, whereas the data storage capability of built-in hard disk drives can exceed 40 megabytes. It would require at least 55 floppy disks to record all of the data that can be held on a 40 megabyte hard disk drive.
  • the present invention is directed toward a magnetic tape backup device that can transmit data with a disk drive head so that a magnetic tape can serve as a backup medium.
  • 11 is stiJ 1 another object of the present inven ⁇ tion to provide a tape backup device containing magnetic tape, the energy required to move the magnetic tape being coupled from a disk drive un t.
  • the tape backup device of the present invention is intended to transfer data between the read/write head of a magnetic floppy disk drive and a moving magnetic tape.
  • the apparatus comprises a relatively thin housing shaped to be inserted into the slot of the disk drive, a suppiy of magnetic recording tape positioned outside the disk drive, tape drive means for causing the tape to pass across a data transfer area, and data transfer means for transferring the data between the read/write head and the data transfer area.
  • the tape backup device can comprise an integral housing including a thin lip portion adapted for insertion into the magnetic floppy disk drive and a storage portion adapted to store the supply of magnetic tape.
  • the housing has an aperture that aligns with the read/write head of the disk drive when inserted into the disk drive.
  • Figure 1 is an isometric view of a personal. computer, showing a tape backup device of the present invention ready for use.
  • Figure 2 is an isometric view of the exterior of one embodiment of the tape backup device.
  • Figure 3 is an isometric view showing internal components of the tape backup device of Figure 2.
  • Figure 4 is a block diagram of the electrical circuitry for supplying electrical power to the DC motor of an embodiment of the tape backup device which can reverse the direction of the magnetic tape when the end of the tape is sensed.
  • Figure 5A is an exploded isometric view of another embodiment of the tape backup device which can reverse the direction of travel of the magnetic tape when the end of the tape is sensed.
  • Figure 5B is a top plan view of the embodiment of the tape backup device shown in Figure 5A.
  • Figure 6 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the present invention in which the magnetic tape is stored in a stuff bin.
  • Figure 7 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the invention in which the magnetic tape supply is an endless loop reel.
  • Figure 8 is an isometric view of the exterior of yet another embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 9 is a top plan view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 8.
  • Figure 10 is an isometric view of still another embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 11 is a cutaway isometric view of a write- protect lock mechanism for use with various embodiments of the present invention.
  • Figure 12 is a cutaway isometric view of another write-protect lock mechanism for use with still other embodiments of the present invention.
  • Figure 13 is an isometric view of a further embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of the data transfer means of the embodiment shown in Figure 13.
  • Figure 15 is an isometric view of another embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure _6 is a closeup view of the magnetic circuit of the embodiment of the tape backup device shown in Figure 15.
  • Figure 17 is a flow chart of the BACKUP program for use with the present tape backup device, the program controlling the tape backup device when backing up data from a host personal computer system.
  • Figure 18 is a flow chart of a RESTORE program for use with the present tape backup device, the program controlling the tape backup device when restoring data from the magnetic tape to a host personal computer system.
  • a typical personal computer system 30 includes a keyboard 32 which is con ⁇ nected to a PC housing 34 by a coiled cable 35. Cable 35, in turn, sends signals to a display device 36, such as a monitor.
  • PC housing 34 includes a dual floppy disk drive 38, comprising, for example, two 3i-inch floppy disk drives 40 and 42.
  • One embodiment of the tape backup device 44 is shown inserted into floppy disk unit 42.
  • Tape backup device 44 includes a lip portion 46 that is inserted into the floppy disk drive up to the location of the magnetic read/write head and a storage portion 48 that is supported by the lip portion 46 outside the floppy disk drive.
  • Tape backup device 44 further includes a write-protect lock 50 that can be locked to prevent inadvertent overwriting on the data stored on magnetic tape in tape backup device 44.
  • Figure 2 is an isometric view of the exterior of a 3 -inch tape backup device 44, more clear Ly showing lip portion 46, storage portion 48, and wri e/protect lock 50 with write-protect aperture 51.
  • the upper surface of storage portion 48 can be coplanar with the upper surface of lip portion 46.
  • Figure 3 is an isometric view of the tape backup device shown in Figure 2.
  • Storage portion 48 includes tape reels 52 and 54, which rotate about horizontal axes that are perpendicular to the direction of insertion that is indicated by arrow 56.
  • a single tape loop 58 extends between reels 52 and 54. Tape loop 58 leaves reels 52 and 54 in the direction of insertion (see arrow 56) and lying in the plane of the disk unit slot (normally the horizontal plane) .
  • tape loop 58 experiences two 90° turns in lip portion 46, one at each of tape rollers 62 and 64.
  • the portion of tape loop 58 that runs parallel to edge 60 of lip portion 46 passes in close proximity to aperture 66, which is cut in both the upper and lower surfaces of lip portion 46.
  • the lip portion 46 can also include a spring- loaded metal cover (not shown) that slides in the direction of edge 60 to protect the tape within the lip portion.
  • the metal cover (if any) is mechanically moved to expose aperture 66, and aperture 66 is aligned with the read/write head of the floppy disk unit. This allows data to be transferred between the magnetic tape and the read/write head.
  • the overall configuration of lip portion 46 and tape receiving and alignment means 65 comprise an interaction means by which the magnetic tape can interact with the read/write head.
  • a reversible electric motor 68 having a pulley 70 attached to its drive shaft.
  • Pulley 70 drives belt 72, which is forced to follow a path defined by pulleys 74.
  • pulleys 74 By the proper positioning of pulleys 74, belt 72 is caused to ride along the lower surface of tape reels 52 and 54, driving them in opposite rotational directions at the same circumferential speed.
  • Near each of the ends of the tape rolled on tape reels 52 and 54 are areas where the reflectivity differs from the reflectivity over the rest of the tape.
  • the change in reflectivity may be caused by a small piece of reflective tape, a piece of colored (e.g., white) tape, or a hole.
  • This change in reflectivity 5 is detected by a conventional optically sensitive switch 76, which generates a signal that causes DC electric motor 68 to change directions under control of computer 30. In this way, the entire supply of tape contained on tape reels 52 and 54 is transferred from one reel to the other and 0 back to the first reel. Each time the reel changes direction, the read/write head from the floppy disk unit is incremented (under control of a computer program to be described later) to cause data to be written on another track on the magnetic tape.
  • the electrical power supplied to DC motor 68 can be derived ' from an AC-to-DC power converter which can be plugged into the AC electrical supply system of the build ⁇ ing in which the computer is kept.
  • FIG. 4 An embodiment of an electrical circuit that controls the power connections to 0 DC electric motor 68 is shown in block diagram form in Figure 4.
  • the electrical power from power converter 78 is sent to ret iggerable one-shot circuit 80.
  • One-shot cir ⁇ cuit 80 also receives a signal from magnetically sensitive switch 82. As shown in Figure 3, magnetic switch 82 senses 5 the passage of magnet 84, which is attached to driven hub 86. Switch 82 therefore closes momentarily with each rotation of hub 86. Hub 86 can be accessed by the drive mechanism of this -drive unit through hole 87 in the lower surface of lip portion 46.
  • one-shot circuit 80 produces a pulse, lasting approximately one second in dura ⁇ tion, with each rotation of driven hub 86.
  • the conven ⁇ tional rotational, speed for the drive mechanism of a disk drive unit is five rotations per second. Therefore, the 5 one-shot circuit wil.L produce a constant-voLtage signal virtually any time that driven hub 86 is rotating.
  • the signal from circuit 80 is sent to reversing relay 88.
  • Relay 88 is under control of host computer 30, which receives a signal from optically sensitive switch 76 (electric connections not shown). Reversing relay 88 "connects electrical power of the proper polarity to DC motor 68.
  • FIG 5A is an exploded isometric view of another embodiment of the tape backup device.
  • tape backup device 90 includes two parts, a bottom part 92 and a cover part 93, which together form a lip portion 94 and a storage portion 95. These two parts are formed to interlock together, thereby composing an overall tape backup device that can be inserted into a floppy disk unit such as the 3l-inch floppy disk unit 42 shown in Figure 1.
  • Bottom part 92 consists of a cavity 96 that, when assembled, forms part of the storage portion of tape backup device 90.
  • Bottom part 92 also consists of the bottom half of a lip . portion of the assembled tape backup device 90.
  • Bottom part 92 contains belt 98, which forms a loop and passes over pulleys 100 within cavity 96. Belt 98 then passes to reversing wishbone 102 of autoreversing mechanism 103, and around pulleys 104. Belt 98 also contacts the circumference of reversing idler 106, which is attached to reversing wishbone 102. - ⁇ ⁇ Reversing wishbone 102 also includes wishbone arms 108 and 110, which are intended to receive the magnetic tape of the tape backup device in a manner to be described subsequently. Reversing wishbone 102 can be caused to rotate about wishbone pivot 112 in a normally horizontal plane. The wishbone is biased to one or the other of these two stable positions through a spring 114, which is connected between the wishbone and the outer structure of bottom part 92.
  • Bottom part 92 also contains tape rollers 116 and 118 to direct the tape loop past the disk drive read/write head.
  • One pair of rollers 116 are located at the juncture of cavity 96 and the bottom part of the lip portion in bottom part 92.
  • Tape rollers 118 are placed along the edge of the bottom part 92 that is directed furthest into the disk drive in order to redirect the tape loop by 90° so that it will pass close to the read/write head of the disk drive unit. Tape rollers 116 and 118 substantially reduce the running friction of the tape.
  • the lower half of the lip portion formed in bottom part 92 contains grooves 120, which may be coated with a friction-reducing coating such as Teflon ® in order to further reduce running friction of the tape loop. Tape rollers 118 and grooves
  • the cover part 93 of tape backup device 90 includes a cover 122 for the lip portion 94 of tape backup device 90 and cover 124 for the storage portion 95 of tape backup device 90.
  • the cover part 93 and bottom part 92 can i be snapped together after first inserting leading edge 126 of bottom part 92 into a receiving overlapping part 128 of cover part 93. Then the other end of cover part 93 is snapped into engagement with bottom part 92.
  • Cover part 93 also includes four tape reel supports 130 which receive and support two tape reels 132 from which tape loop 134 extends.
  • FIG. 5B is a top plan view of the tape backup device 90 shown in Figure 5A.
  • Lip portion 94 has a hole 138 located centrally in its bottom surface.
  • hole 138 aligns with the driven hub 140 of tape backup device 90.
  • Driven hub 140 is accessed and driven by the driving mechanism of the floppy disk unit through hole 138.
  • Driven hub 140 engages either reversing idler 106 at one point of its circumference or belt 98 at a diametrically opposed point on its ci cumference, depending on which of the two stable positions the reversing wishbone 102 assumes.
  • Tape loop 134 rides in wishbone arms 108, 110 when the tape backup device 90 is assembled.
  • Near each of the two ends of the tape, rolled on reels 132 are located tape tabs 142, which extend outwardly from the tape and engage their respective wishbone arms 108, 110.
  • Figure 5B shows the reversing mechanism with driven hub 140 engaging reversing idler 106, which, in turn, engages belt 98 and drives it in a clockwise direc ⁇ tion.
  • Belt 98 drives against the bottom surfaces of tape reels 132, thereby causing tape loop 134 to also be driven in a clockwise direction.
  • wishbone 102 is caused to rotate in a clockwise direction about pivot 112, overcoming the force of spring 114 and causing wishbone 102 to snap clockwise so that belt 98 is brought into direct contact with driven hub 140. This will cause belt 98 to move in a counterclockwise direction and likewise drive tape loop 134 in a clockwise direction.
  • Tape loop 134 will continue moving in a counter ⁇ clockwise direction until tape tabs 142 in the supply reel strike wishbone arm 110 and cause the wishbone to move to its other stable position. In this way, tape 134 can be caused to move between the reels in the oscillating manner " just described.
  • the read/write head of the floppy disk unit is brought into close proximity with that portion of tape loop 134 which appears through aperture 144 formed in the bottom surface of lip portion 94.
  • the read/write head can then interact with the magnetic coating on tape loop 134 to cause data to be transferred between the disk drive head and the magnetic tape.
  • FIG. 6 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the tape backup device of the present invention.
  • Tape backup device 160 comprises storage portion 162 and lip portion 164.
  • Lip portion 164 is inserted into a loppy disk unit and contains hole 166 for receiving the drive mechanism of the disk drive unit to rotate driven hub 167.
  • Lip portion 164 includes aperture 168, through which the disk drive read/write head comes into close proximity with tape loop 170.
  • Tape loop 170 is caused to undergo two 90° turns by tape rollers 172 located in lip portion 164.
  • Tape rollers 172 and aperture 168 comprise a tape receiving and alignment means 173 in lip portion 164.
  • Storage portion 162 contains a stuff bin 174, which receives the continuous loop of tape 170 after it has passed through lip portion 164.
  • the tape 170 is stored in stuff bin 174 in a serpentine fashion, with the tape being held vertically.
  • the tape is pulled through lip portion 164 in a counterclockwise direction by electric motor 176.
  • Electric motor 176 drives a capstan 178 against a pinch roller 180.
  • electric motor 176 need rotate only in a clockwise direction, as seen from above.
  • the electrical power supplied to electric motor 176 can be derived from a power supply connected to the building AC power supply.
  • the electrical power passes through a one-shot circuit which responds to closures of magnetic switch 179 caused by magnet 181, which is is attached to the circumference of hub 167.
  • the power from switch 179 passes to a computer- controlled switch (not shown) which, in turn, is connected to electric motor 176.
  • tape transition sections are formed in storage portion 162 to give the tape a 90° twist from horizontal to vertical planes as it enters the stuff bin 174, and from vertical to horizontal planes as it leaves stuff bin 174.
  • Vertical tape guides 182 and horizontal tape guides 184 cause these two transitions. While it may be most practical to use a magnetic tape that has a coating on only one side, there may be advantages to having the magnetic tape twist at rollers 182 and 184 so that the tape can be in the form of a Mobius strip. This will entail using a magnetic tape that is capable of recording on both sides of the tape, and will double the amount of information the tape can store.
  • FIG 7 is a top plan view of yet another embodiment of the present invention.
  • tape backup device 200 comprises storage portion 202 and lip portion 204. While lip portion 204 is very similar to lip portion 164 found in Figure 6, it further includes a magnet 206 and magnetic switch 208 which serve to detect rotation of the driven hub when lip portion 204 is inserted into the floppy disk unit.
  • FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the exterior of an- alternative embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is specifically directed toward 5 —inch (or other) disk drives which cannot be activated until a gate has been closed across the disk drive opening.
  • Tape backup device 240 comprises a storage portion 242 and a lip portion 244.
  • Lip portion 244 has the general configura ion of a 5 ⁇ -inch floppy disk consisting of a circular hole 246 which exposes a central hole 248 in an inner disk 250. Inner disk 250 will be described in greater detai 1 subse- quently.
  • Lip portion 244 further contains a write-protect notch 252 that prevents data from being written on tape backup device 240 unless notch 252 is open.
  • Lip portion 244 also contains an aperture 254 that per i ts the read/write head of the disk drive unit to come into close proximity with the magnetic tape passing through lip portion 244.
  • lip portion 244 contains a fixed indexing hole 255.
  • Tape backup device 240 is shaped to allow edge 256 to be contained within the disk drive unit when the tape backup device is fully inserted into a disk drive. Full insertion eliminates the interference between the gate of the disk drive unit and edge 256, and thus allows the gate to be closed. Closure of the gate enables the disk drive unit to access data from tape backup device 240.
  • Figure 9 is a top plan view of the tape backup device 240 of Figure 8.
  • Storage portion 242 contains magnetic tape on two reels, each rotating about a vertical axis.
  • the tape in lip portion 244 by way of contrast, moves in a horizontal plane.
  • the two tape reels 258 found in storage portion 242 supply tape loop 260 in lip portion 244.
  • storage portion 242 contains a transi ⁇ tion section 262 which contains two pairs of vertically oriented rollers 264 and two pairs of horizontally oriented rollers 266.
  • the tape extending between a pair of verti ⁇ cally oriented rollers 264 and a pair of horizontally oriented rollers 266 twists 90°, enabling the desired angular transition of the magnetic tape between the storage and lip portions.
  • Tape reels 258 are driven by an endless belt 268 that is routed around rollers 270 and drive wheel 272.
  • Drive wheel 272 is driven by electric motor 274.
  • Belt 268 engages a portion of the circumference of both of tape reels 258, rotating them in the same direction. In this way, one of the tape reels 258 acts as a take-up reel while the other acts as a supply reel.
  • Electric motor 274 can rotate in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. The direction of rotation is controlled by an autoreverse mechanism similar to autoreverse mechanism 103 of Figure 4. Power connections to motor 274 can also be completed as described in relation to Figure 4.
  • Tape loop 260 in lip portion 244 undergoes two 90° changes of direction around tape rollers 276 and a 180° change of direction around tape roller 278. In this way, tape loop 260 moves past aperture 254, allowing the read/ write head of the disk drive unit to access tape loop 260.
  • tape backup device 240 When tape backup device 240 is correctly inserted into a properly operating disk drive unit, the disk drive unit's spindle pulley engages inner disk 250 and causes it to rotate. It is important that motor 272 of the tape backup device 240 causes tape loop 260 to move through lip portion 244 when the spindle pulley is rotating. Spindle pulley rotation is detected by means of a magnet 280 attached to inner disk 250 and a magnetic motor switch 282 that detects rotations of inner disk 250. Motor switch 282 is connected to a conventional circuit that produces a signal indicating that the spindle pulley of the disk drive unit is rotating. This signal is transmitted to the host computer system to control the switch between electric motor 274 and the motor power supply.
  • the disk drive unit also contains a protection circuit that detects whether an inserted disk is rotating.
  • the circuit optically detects whether fixed indexing hole 255 aligns with indexing hole 283 in inner disk 250, once per rotation of inner disk 250. If the protection circuit does not detect light pulses sufficiently often, the disk drive unit stops its drive motor.
  • Figure 10 is an isometric view of another embodi ⁇ ment of a tape backup device for a 5-g—inch floppy disk drive.
  • the power to drive the supply and take-up reels is coupled from the spindle pulley of the disk drive unit, into which the tape backup device is inserted.
  • belt 302 rotates tape reels 300 in opposite directions about their horizontal axes.
  • Belt 302 is routed by means of pulleys 304 between tape reels 300 in the storage portion 306 and the lip portion 308.
  • Belt 302 engages an inner pulley 310 which is engaged by the spindle pulley of the disk drive unit.
  • a bistable autoreversing mechanism senses when the magnetic tape on the supply reel is about to come to its end, and causes the direction of rotation of tape reels 300 to be changed.
  • Tape loop 312 follows a path in lip portion 308 that is very similar to the path followed by tape loop 260 in lip portion 244 of Figure 9.
  • inner pulley 310 contains a hole 314 that aligns with holes through the outer surfaces of lip portion 308 once per rotation of inner pulley 310.
  • An optical circuit that is part of the disk drive into which the tape backup device of Figure 10 is inserted determines whether tape loop 312 is moving through lip portion 308.
  • Figures 11 and 12 are isometric views of tape backup devices intended for use with 3i ⁇ inch and 5i-inch disk drives, respectively. These tape backup devices have lockable write-protect mechanisms that prevent the data on the magnetic tape in the tape backup devices from being overwritten by the disk drive unit.
  • turning the key 320 in lock 322 causes pin 324 to move from the vertical position to a horizontal position or vice versa. This in turn causes cylindrical sleeve 326 to move forward and backward in the direction of insertion of the tape backup device.
  • a metal plate 328 attached to sleeve 326 and having an aperture at 330, moves together with the movement of sleeve 326, and causes aperture 330 to be aligned or not aligned with a hole 332 in lip portion 334.
  • An optical sensor in the floppy disk drive detects when aperture 330 aligns with hole 332 and will not permit data to be written to the tape backup device if the hole and aperture are aligned.
  • key 320 is in its "open" position, the hole and aperture do not align and the disk drive permits data to be written into the tape backup device.
  • Figure 12 shows a similar mechanism for a tape backup device for use with a 5i ⁇ inch disk drive.
  • this tape backup device turning a key in lock 340 actuates bar 342 back and forth in the direction of insertion of the tape backup device.
  • a shutter 334 moves with bar 342 and aligns with notch 346 in lip portion 348 when lock 340 is in the "lock” position.
  • a disk drive unit into which the tape backup device of Figure 12 is inserted wi LI therefore detect whether the key is in the "open” or "lock” positions and enable or disable any attempts to write on the tape contained in the tape backup device.
  • Figure 13 is an isometric view of yet another embodiment of the present invention.
  • lip portion 360 which is shaped very much like a floppy disk, can be inserted into a disk drive unit.
  • Circuit 362 can then interact with the read/write head of the disk drive unit.
  • the signals received by circuit 362 are transmitted over wire 364 to a tape recording device having a conventional read/write head, for example, the read/write head 366 of tape recorder 368.
  • An electric motor 370 causes the tape in tape cartridge 372 to move past the head of tape recorder 368.
  • Data received from circuit 362 over wire 364 can be recorded on tape cartridge 372.
  • Data read from tape cartridge 372 can be transmitted over wire 364 to
  • Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of the electronic circuitry of circuit 362 in Figure 13.
  • disk drive read/write head 380 interacts magnetically with translator head 382 and generates a WRITE signaL on line 384. This signal passes through one-shot device 386 and, possibly, through coupling capacitor 388 to the write/erase winding 390 in tape head 366 of tape recorder 368 (see Figure 13) .
  • tape head 366 interacts magnetically with the tape in tape cartridge 372 and leads to amplified signals on line 394. These signals then pass to translator head 382, which then interacts magnetically with the read/write head 380 in the disk drive unit.
  • FIG 15 is an isometric phantom view of yet another embodiment of the present invention.
  • Tape backup device 400 contains a tape loop 402, such as from an endless tape reel, and an electric motor 404 that is mechanically linked to the tape to cause it to move past tape head 406.
  • Motor 404 can be connected to a power . supply as described above in connection with other embodi- ments.
  • tape head 406 interacts, by means of magnetic flux, with tape loop 402.
  • Tape head 406 is part of a magnetic circuit that includes non-touching soft iron pieces 408 which extend toward edge 410 of lip portion 412 (see Figure 15).
  • Changes in magnetic flux that are detected by tape head 406 are therefore magnetically transmitted through soft iron pieces 408 to the proximity of the read/write head of the disk drive unit.
  • This magnetic signal is received by the read/write head of the disk drive unit and then passed on to the associated personal computer.
  • signals from the personal computer can be sent to the read/write head of the disk drive unit and received by soft iron pieces 408 for transmittal to tape head 406.
  • the resulting magnetic flux is passed to tape loop 402 which moves past tape head 406 to record the signals emanating from the read/write disk drive head.
  • the tape In each of the embodiments discussed above, one of two possible tape transport mechanisms is used.
  • a reversing mechanism will cause the tape to move from one reel to the other and then back to the first reel.
  • the disk drive head During each pass of the tape past the disk drive head, the disk drive head writes on a single track along the magnetic tape. When the tape reverses direction, the disk drive head increments and is placed over the location of the next adjacent unwritten track. In this manner, the tracks on the magnetic tape are written upon in a serpentine fashion.
  • the tape which is at least as wide as the aperture through which the disk drive read/write heads gain access to the tape, can contain twenty tracks. Each track can consist of 6,000 sectors and each sector can contain 512 bytes.
  • the sectors on a particular track are written sequentially until they have each been filled with data.
  • the disk drive head then moves to an adjacent track and begins to fill this new track with data until all sectors are filled.
  • the endless loop tape is then filled in a spiraling fashion.
  • the first track of a floppy disk contains a directory and file allocation tables.
  • the directory tells what files are located on the floppy disk and the file allocation table indicates where a particular file might be found on the floppy disk.
  • the same conven ⁇ tion can be used in the tape backup device of the present invention.
  • the first track can consist of periodic repeti ⁇ tions of the directory and the file allocation table, regardless of whether the tape is reel-to-reel or endless.
  • the backup and restore programs that the host personal computer system uses in conjunction with the tape backup device of the present invention can be recorded on the first track. Because the directory, the file allocation table, and possibly the backup and restore programs can be written periodically on the first track, the disk drive unit will be capable of reading these data and programs without using any floppy disk to load in the backup or restoration programs.
  • FIG 17 is a flow chart of a BACKUP program that can be used with the tape backup device of the present invention.
  • the first step in the BACKUP program is to determine the size of the host computer's memory.
  • the program determines the type of disk drive unit used with the host computer system.
  • Blocks 424 and 426 test the direct memory access channel between the host computer's memory and the disk drive unit, and determine the type of central processing unit the computer system has.
  • the user is then prompted to insert the backup data device into the disk drive unit (block 428).
  • the disk drive unit is tested to see whether the read and write operations are effective.
  • decision block 432 the user is prompted to decide whether to back up all, or only certain, direc ⁇ tories. If all directories are to be backed up, control of the program passes to decision block 434. Otherwise, the user is prompted to specify which directories are to be backed up (block 436) . Control then passes to decision block 434. Decision block 434 prompts the user to specify which disk drive contains the backup data device. In decision block 436, the user is prompted to decide whether backup should occur with the software working in the fore ⁇ ground or in the background. In block 438, the BACKUP program checks the file allocation table to assess the degree to which the files are fragmented. If they are judged to be too fragmented, the specified tables are optimized (block 440).
  • a disk-to-tape organiza ⁇ tion file is created, and in block 446, the program deter ⁇ mines the time required for the backup operation. If the user has chosen to do the background operation in the foreground, the program will cause a countdown clock to be displayed on the computer system display device.
  • the tape in the tape backup device is caused to move (block 448) by sending a start signal to the computer.
  • Data from the hard disk files are then read into random access memory (RAM) buffers (step 450) in decision block 452, which forms a decision loop with block 450.
  • Block 452 determines whether the buffers are approximately 75% full.
  • control passes to block 454, which supervises the writing of the data from the RAM buffers to the tape in the tape backup device.
  • data are also being read from the hard disk files to the RAM buffer.
  • Decision block 456 forms a decision loop with block 454.
  • decision block 460 it is determined whether all files have been backed up. If they have not, control returns to decision block 450 to read in the next file (along path 461) .
  • Block 462 forms a decision loop with decision block 464 and block 466. If, in decision block 464, any discrepancies are found between the files recorded on the magnetic tape of the tape backup device and the files on the hard disk, the copy of the file on the magnetic tape is nullified and control of the program is passed to block 466. At this step, the files with errors are recopied to new locations on the magnetic tape. The verification step block 462 is then repeated for the files that have just been recopied.
  • block 468 which will create the directory and two file allocation tables on the magnetic tape of the tape backup device. As stated above, the directory and file allocation tables can be placed on track 1 of the tape. Once the directory and file allocation tables have been created, the tape movement in the tape backup device is stopped (block 470) .
  • FIG 18 presents a flow chart for the RESTORE program, it can be appreciated how a control program will bring data which has been recorded on the magnetic tape of the tape backup device back to the hard disk of the host personal computer.
  • the program determines the memory size of the host computer.
  • the program determines the type of floppy disk drive used with the personal computer.
  • Block 484 tests for the integrity of the direct memory access channel.
  • Block 486 determines the type of central processing unit used by the host computer. .
  • the program prompts the user to insert the tape backup device into a floppy disk drive, and in block 490, the disk drive unit's READ operation is tested. After these initialization steps are successfully completed, control passes to the decision loop comprising decision block 492 and block 494. Decision block 492 prompts the user to decide whether all directories are to be restored. If not, control passes to block 494, where the user is prompted for the directories which are to be restored.
  • program control eventually passes to decision block 496, which prompts the user to specify which disk drive is to be used. Upon receiving the answer to that question, the program then prompts the user, in block 498, to specify whether the RESTORE program is to be run as a foreground or a background job.
  • control passes to block 500, where the program determines which subdirectory the data shall be restored to, and in block 502, the specified directories and file allocation tables are read from the tape.
  • the next step, given in block 504 is to read the directory and file allocation tables that are stored on the hard disk. In block 506, the program determines where each file to be restored will be placed on the hard disk and determines the length of time the transfer will take.
  • the program starts a countdown timer (block 508) and begins to read data from the magnetic tape of the tape backup device into the RAM buffer (block 510) .
  • the status of the RAM buffer is monitored by the decision loop comprising block 510 and decision block 512.
  • program control passes to block 514, where the data are written from the RAM buffer to the hard disk.
  • Decision block 516 forms a decision loop with block 514.
  • the occupancy of the RAM buffer is determined. When that occupancy falls below 25%, program control passes to decision block 518, where it is determined whether all files have been restored. If they have not, control returns to block 510, where data continue to be read from the tape into the RAM buffer. Once all specified files have been restored, program control passes to block 520 and the tape movement of the tape backup device ends.

Abstract

Un dispositif de sauvegarde sur bande, destiné à être utilisé dans une unité de disque magnétique (38) d'un ordinateur personnel, comprend un logement relativement peu épais (46) destiné à être inseré dans l'unité de disque, une certaine longueur de bande d'enregistrement magnétique (52, 54) à l'extérieur de l'unité de disque, un organe d'entraînement de bande (68-74) et un organe de transfert de données. Dans un premier mode de réalisation, l'organe de transfert de données peut comporter un moyen servant à placer la tête de lecture/écriture de l'unité de disque et la bande d'enregistrement magnétique à proximité suffisante pour permettre le transfert magnétique de données entre elles. Dans un second mode de réalisation, l'organe de transfert de données peut comporter une circuit magnétique placé entre la tête de l'unité de disque et la bande magnétique. Dans un troisième mode de réalisation, l'organe de transfert de données peut comporter une tête de transducteur servant à lire les données à partir de la tête de l'unité de disque et à écrire les données sur cette tête, un organe servant à placer la tête de l'unité de disque et la tête de transducteur à proximité suffisante pour leur permettre d'entrer en interaction directe, une tête de lecture servant à lire les données à partir de la bande magnétique et à écrire les données sur cette bande magnétique et un circuit connecté entre la tête de transducteur et la tête de lecture et servant à transmettre les données d'une tête à l'autre. La bande magnétique peut être stockée sur deux bobines de bande (52, 54) séparées ou sur une seule bobine de bande sans fin. Lorsque la bande magnétique est stockée sur deux bobines séparées, le dispositif de sauvegarde de bande peut en outre comporter un mécanisme ''autoreverse'' permettant d'inverser le sens de défilement de la bande lorsque l'une des bobines est vide. Un organe d'entraînement de bande servant à faire avancer la bande magnétique jusqu'à ce qu'elle dépasse l'organe de transfert de données peut comprendre un organe destiné au couplage de l'énergie mécanique depuis le mécanisme d'entraînement de l'unité de disque ou depuis un moteur électrique séparé contenu dans le dispositif de sauvegarde des données. L'énergie provenant du mécanisme d'entraînement ou du moteur électrique peut être transferée au moyen d'une boucle sans fin entraînant la bobine de bande.
PCT/US1988/000501 1987-02-27 1988-02-18 Dispositif de sauvegarde sur bande magnetique destine a etre utilise avec une unite de disque souple WO1988006793A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US1988687A 1987-02-27 1987-02-27
US019,886 1987-02-27

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1988006793A1 true WO1988006793A1 (fr) 1988-09-07

Family

ID=21795570

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1988/000501 WO1988006793A1 (fr) 1987-02-27 1988-02-18 Dispositif de sauvegarde sur bande magnetique destine a etre utilise avec une unite de disque souple

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO1988006793A1 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0427172A2 (fr) * 1989-11-10 1991-05-15 Tandberg Data A/S Micro-ordinateur avec unité de mémoire enfichable pour protection des données
WO1995022096A1 (fr) * 1994-02-08 1995-08-17 Handelsbolaget Stalcastin Dispositif permettant la communication entre un ordinateur et un peripherique
DE19703782A1 (de) * 1997-02-01 1998-08-06 Thomas Frohberg Mini-Kassettenabspielgerät mit Universal-Schnittstelle + optimierte Analogkassette

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3624310A (en) * 1969-11-21 1971-11-30 Motorola Inc Tape player phonograph adapter permitting operation of tape cartridges or cassettes on conventional phonograph
FR2161529A5 (fr) * 1971-11-24 1973-07-06 Gilbraut Clement
US3763330A (en) * 1971-06-28 1973-10-02 Tapecon Auxiliary device for a cassette tape recorder including a plug conformed as a cassette for interconnection
GB2018490A (en) * 1978-04-10 1979-10-17 Tapecon Host and accessory magnetic recorders
EP0069545A2 (fr) * 1981-07-02 1983-01-12 Irwin International, Inc. Appareil d'enregistrement sur disque avec un module intégral en cassette à bande
EP0139181A1 (fr) * 1983-09-27 1985-05-02 D. La Porte Söhne Gmbh Dispositif de sécurité pour une cassette vidéo
EP0195571A2 (fr) * 1985-03-18 1986-09-24 Hewlett-Packard Company Cassette à bande
EP0214820A2 (fr) * 1985-08-30 1987-03-18 Sony Corporation Cartouche pour bande magnétique
EP0228286A2 (fr) * 1985-12-28 1987-07-08 Sony Corporation Cassettes à bande magnétique

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3624310A (en) * 1969-11-21 1971-11-30 Motorola Inc Tape player phonograph adapter permitting operation of tape cartridges or cassettes on conventional phonograph
US3763330A (en) * 1971-06-28 1973-10-02 Tapecon Auxiliary device for a cassette tape recorder including a plug conformed as a cassette for interconnection
FR2161529A5 (fr) * 1971-11-24 1973-07-06 Gilbraut Clement
GB2018490A (en) * 1978-04-10 1979-10-17 Tapecon Host and accessory magnetic recorders
EP0069545A2 (fr) * 1981-07-02 1983-01-12 Irwin International, Inc. Appareil d'enregistrement sur disque avec un module intégral en cassette à bande
EP0139181A1 (fr) * 1983-09-27 1985-05-02 D. La Porte Söhne Gmbh Dispositif de sécurité pour une cassette vidéo
EP0195571A2 (fr) * 1985-03-18 1986-09-24 Hewlett-Packard Company Cassette à bande
EP0214820A2 (fr) * 1985-08-30 1987-03-18 Sony Corporation Cartouche pour bande magnétique
EP0228286A2 (fr) * 1985-12-28 1987-07-08 Sony Corporation Cassettes à bande magnétique

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0427172A2 (fr) * 1989-11-10 1991-05-15 Tandberg Data A/S Micro-ordinateur avec unité de mémoire enfichable pour protection des données
EP0427172A3 (en) * 1989-11-10 1992-08-05 Tandberg Data A/S Microcomputer with plug-in memory unit for data protection
US5596762A (en) * 1989-11-10 1997-01-21 Tandberg Data Storage As Small-size computer having pluggable memory unit for data protection
WO1995022096A1 (fr) * 1994-02-08 1995-08-17 Handelsbolaget Stalcastin Dispositif permettant la communication entre un ordinateur et un peripherique
DE19703782A1 (de) * 1997-02-01 1998-08-06 Thomas Frohberg Mini-Kassettenabspielgerät mit Universal-Schnittstelle + optimierte Analogkassette

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0110050A1 (fr) Unité de disques pour disques souples à différentes largeurs de piste
US4890179A (en) Magnetic tape backup device for use with a floppy disk drive
US4479618A (en) Tape cassette adapter
KR930011697B1 (ko) 디스크 드라이브 겸용 테이프 카트릿지
EP0866451B1 (fr) Appareil d'enregistrement et de reproduction
US5202809A (en) Magnetic tape cartridge for helical scan transports with a single reel
US4779156A (en) Chucking mechanism for magnetic tape cartridge used with disk drive
WO1988006793A1 (fr) Dispositif de sauvegarde sur bande magnetique destine a etre utilise avec une unite de disque souple
KR940011094B1 (ko) 디스크 드라이브 겸용 자기테이프 카트리지
CA1304498C (fr) Cartouche de bande magnetique compatible avec un lecteur de disque et mecanismed'entrainement pour cette cartouche
EP0389121A1 (fr) Dispositif indicateur pour une cartouche de bande d'enregistrement magnétique
US20020044382A1 (en) Data storage read/write head cleaning tape cartridge
EP0516424B1 (fr) Appareil pour charger une cassette à bande
EP0219950A2 (fr) Cartouche à bande magnétique
JPS63200378A (ja) ディスク・ドライブ用テープカートリッジ
EP0228903A2 (fr) Têtes magnétiques
US4888659A (en) Tape cartridge for use in disc drive
JPS6251084A (ja) テ−プカセツト
EP0232620A2 (fr) Cassettes à bande magnétique
JPH054143Y2 (fr)
JPS6251085A (ja) テ−プカセツト
JP3331921B2 (ja) メモリカートリッジ
JPH04263163A (ja) 情報記録再生装置
Bradley et al. Storage Peripherals
Roman et al. Floppy Drives

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): JP

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE FR GB IT LU NL SE