EP0437779A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dat drive/controller interface
Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
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Filing: 1990-12-19
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-12-19
Abstract
Abstract A DAT drive data transfer interface that includes serial data transfer circuitry for transferring main area data to be written to tape to a write formatter circuit of the DAT drive and for receiving main area data read from tape from a read formatter circuit of the drive. A parallel data transfer circuit provides for the transfer of subarea information to be written to tape and subarea information read from tape, as well providing for the transfer of certain main area information and formatter circuit control information. Drive control information for controlling the DAT drive and drive status information are communicated via drive control lines. The serial data provided by the serial data transfer circuitry emulates the output of an audio analog-to-digital converter that could be utilized in a DAT audio application, and the serial data received by the serial data transfer circuitry emulates the input to an audio digital-to-analog converter as could be utilized in a DAT audio application.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth C. Campbell
- 👤 Robert C. Richmond
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 07:10
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/06; G06F3/0601; G11; G11B; G11B20/00; G11B20/10; G06F3/0668; G06F3/0671; G06F3/0673; G06F3/0682; G11B20/12; G11B2220/00; G11B2220/90; G11B2220/91; G11B2220/916
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A computer data transfer interface for a digital audio tape (DAT) system having (a) read/write formatting circuitry for writing data to tape in accordance with the DAT format and for reading from tape data recorded thereon in accordance with the DAT format, (b) a tape drive mechanism, and (c) a drive mechanism control circuit, the interface comprising: transfer and receive means for transferring to the read/write formatting circuitry data to be written to tape and for receiving from the read/write circuitry data read from tape; and drive control means for controlling the drive mechanism control circuit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
28 words
The data transfer interface of Claim 1 further including host interface means for interfacing said transfer and receive means and said drive control means with a host computer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The data transfer interface of Claims 1 or 2 wherein the data transferred to the read/write formatting circuitry is organized to resemble audio information.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The data transfer interface of Claim 3 wherein the data received from the read/write formatting circuitry resembles audio information.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
122 words
A data transfer interface for a digital audio tape (DAT) system having a write formatter circuit for writing data to tape, a read formatter circuit for reading data from tape, and a drive mechanism control circuit, the interface comprising: serial data means for transferring to the write formatter circuit main area information to be written to tape, and for receiving from the read formatter circuit main area information read from tape; parallel data means for transferring to the write formatter circuit subarea information to be written to tape, and for receiving from the read formatter circuit subarea information read from tape; and drive control means for transferring drive control information to the drive control circuit for controlling the operation of the drive.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The data transfer interface of Claim 5 wherein said parallel data means further provides control information for controlling the operation of the read and write formatter circuits.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The data transfer interface of Claims 5 or 6 wherein said parallel data means further accesses error processing information from the read formatter circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The data interface of any one of Claims 5-7 wherein said serial data means is capable of transmitting and receiving serial data concurrently.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
The controller interface of any one of Claims 5-8 wherein the main area data received from the drive can comprise a read back version of main area data transferred to the write formatter circuit, the read back version being received after a predetermined delay relative to the original main data transfer to the write formatter circuit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
The controller interface of any one of claims 5-9, wherein the data written to and read from the tape is in the audio DAT format and wherein said parallel data means transfers to the write formatter circuit further information for the main area data blocks and also transfers to the write and read formatter circuits control information for controlling the operation thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The controller interface of Claim 10 wherein said main area data transferred to the write formatter circuit emulates the output of an audio analog-to-digital converter, and wherein said main area data from the read formatter circuit emulates the input to an audio digital-to-analog converter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
The controller interface of Claims 10 or 11 wherein the main area data received from the drive can comprise a read back version of main area data transferred to the write formatter circuit, the read back version being received after a predetermined delay relative to the original main data transfer to the write formatter circuit.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
128 words
A method for transferring computer data between a computer storage DAT drive controller and a DAT drive having read and write formatter circuits and a drive mechanism, the method comprising: transmitting to the write formatter circuit for recording in the main areas of the tape a main area serial data stream that emulates the output of an audio analog-to-digital converter; transmitting to the write formatter circuit for recording in the subareas of the tape subarea information; receiving from the read circuit a serial data stream read from the main areas of the tape and which is configured to be provided to an audio digital-to-analog converter; receiving from the read circuit subarea information read from tape; and providing control information to the drive to control the mechanical operation thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of Claim 13 wherein the step of transmitting a main area serial data stream and the step of receiving a main area serial data stream are coordinated so that the received serial data stream can comprise the read back version of the transmitted main area serial data stream and is delayed relative thereto by a predetermined interval.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for transferring computer data from a computer storage DAT drive controller to a DAT drive having read and write formatter circuits and a drive mechanism, the method comprising: transmitting to the write formatter circuit for recording in the main areas of the tape a main area serial data stream that emulates the output of an audio analog-to-digital converter; transmitting to the write circuit for recording in the subareas of the tape subarea information; and providing drive control information to the drive to control the mechanical operation thereof.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for transferring computer data from a DAT drive having read and write formatter circuits and a drive mechanism to a DAT drive controller, the method comprising: receiving from the read formatter circuit a serial data stream read from the main areas of the tape and which is configured to be provided to an audio digital-to-analog converter; receiving from the read formatter circuit subarea information read from tape; and providing drive control information to the drive to control the mechanical operation thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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