US4780866A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus combining an information-bearing disk and a disk drive mechanism
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1988-03-21
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Granted: 1988-10-25
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Expires: 2008-03-21
Abstract
Abstract An information-bearing disk (magnetic-rigid or floppy, magneto-optical-Kerr or Faraday, optical or an equivalent thereof) includes equally spaced data-storing tracks grouped in a plurality of annular zones encircling the center of the disk. The ratio of the radius of the innermost track of any given zone to the radius of the innermost track of the adjacent inner zone is a constant, k, calculated from: ##EQU1## where R o is the outer radius of the outermost zone of the disk, R i is the inner radius of the innermost zone of the disk, and N is the number of disk zones. With this arrangement of data and by rotating the disk at each one of N substantially constant speeds corresponding to the playing back of data, respectively, from each of the N zones at a fixed predetermined rate, an aggregate number of only (2N-1) individually distinct playback data rates occurs when data is read from each of the N zones.
Inventors
- 👤 Anthony A. Syracuse
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 20:54
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B20/00; G11B20/10; G11B20/12; G11B20/1217; G11B20/1258
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
242 words
A method for retrieving data with a playback system comprising a disk drive mechanism in combination with a disk having digital data stored on concentric tracks grouped into a plurality of N annular zones encircling the center of the disk, the ratio of the radius of the outermost track of any given zone to the radius of the innermost track of the same zone is a constant which is substantially the same for each zone, each track within a given zone has substantially the same number of bit cells and the density of bit cells for the innermost track of each zone is the same from zone to zone, said method comprising: (a) rotating the disk at any one of N substantially constant speeds corresponding to the playing back of data, respectively, from each of the N zones at a fixed predetermined rate; and (b) maintaining the speed of the disk at whichever one of the N substantially constant speeds is selected as data is read from any of the zones, whereby N individually distinct data rates occur when data is played back from each of the N zones while the disk is rotated at one of the N substantially constant speeds but an aggregate maximum number of only (2N-1) individually distinct playback data rates occurs when data is read from each of the N zones while the disk is rotated at each one of the aforementioned N substantially constant playback speeds.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
242 words
A method for retrieving data with a playback system comprising a disk drive mechanism in combination with a disk having digital data stored on concentric tracks grouped into a plurality of N annular zones encircling the center of the disk, the ratio of the radius of the outermost track of any given zone to the radius of the innermost track of the same zone is a constant which is substantially the same for each zone, each track within a given zone has substantially the same number of bit cells and the density of bit cells for the innermost track of each zone is the same from zone to zone, said method comprising: (a) rotating the disk at any one of N substantially constant speeds corresponding to the playing back of data, respectively, from each of the N zones at a fixed predetermined rate; and (b) maintaining the speed of the disk at whichever one of the N substantially constant speeds is selected as data is read from any of the zones, whereby N individually distinct data rates occur when data is played back from each of the N zones while the disk is rotated at one of the N substantially constant speeds but an aggregate maximum number of only (2N-1) individually distinct playback data rates occurs when data is read from each of the N zones while the disk is rotated at each one of the aforementioned N substantially constant playback speeds.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
268 words
A playback system comprising a disk drive mechanism in combination with an information-bearing disk having digital data stored on concentric tracks grouped into a plurality of N annular zones encircling the center of said disk, the ratio of the radius of the outermost track of any given zone to the radius of the innermost track of the same zone is a constant which is substantially the same for each zone, each track within a given zone has substantially the same number of bit cells and the density of bit cells for the innermost track of each zone is the same from zone to zone, said drive mechanism including a radially movable playback tranducer head, and control means, coupled to said transducer head and to said disk, for rotating said disk at any one of N substantially constant speeds corresponding to said transducer head playing back data, respectively, from each of the N zones at a fixed predetermined rate, said control means cooperatively radially positioning said transducer head for data play back from tracks of any of the N zones while maintaining the speed of the disk at whichever one of the N substantially constant speeds is selected, wherein N individually distinct data rates occur when data is played back from each of the N zones while the disk is rotated at one of the N substantially constant speeds but an aggregate maximum number of only (2N-1) individually distinct playback data rates occurs when data is read from each of the N zones while the disk is rotated at each one of the aforementioned N substantially constant playback speeds.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
268 words
A playback system comprising a disk drive mechanism in combination with an information-bearing disk having digital data stored on concentric tracks grouped into a plurality of N annular zones encircling the center of said disk, the ratio of the radius of the outermost track of any given zone to the radius of the innermost track of the same zone is a constant which is substantially the same for each zone, each track within a given zone has substantially the same number of bit cells and the density of bit cells for the innermost track of each zone is the same from zone to zone, said drive mechanism including a radially movable playback tranducer head, and control means, coupled to said transducer head and to said disk, for rotating said disk at any one of N substantially constant speeds corresponding to said transducer head playing back data, respectively, from each of the N zones at a fixed predetermined rate, said control means cooperatively radially positioning said transducer head for data play back from tracks of any of the N zones while maintaining the speed of the disk at whichever one of the N substantially constant speeds is selected, wherein N individually distinct data rates occur when data is played back from each of the N zones while the disk is rotated at one of the N substantially constant speeds but an aggregate maximum number of only (2N-1) individually distinct playback data rates occurs when data is read from each of the N zones while the disk is rotated at each one of the aforementioned N substantially constant playback speeds.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4514771A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-10-25 | 1992-04-25 | 1992-10-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-10-25 | 1996-04-25 | 1996-10-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-10-25 | 2000-04-25 | 2000-10-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |