US5434722A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dual interface for disk drives
Assignee: Brier Tech Inc
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Filing: 1994-04-18
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Granted: 1995-07-18
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Expires: 2014-04-18
Abstract
Abstract A disk drive that can read from and write to both standard floppy disks and high capacity floppy disks. The present invention provides a single slot disk drive that can accept both standard floppy disks and high capacity floppy disks. After a floppy disk is inserted, physical cues on the floppy disk are used to inform the disk drive as to the nature (standard or high capacity) of the inserted disk. The disk drive incorporates two interfaces, a standard floppy disk controller and an IDE interface for high capacity disks. The disk drive is configured so that both interfaces can communicate with a host computer at all times, regardless of what type of disk is inserted in the disk drive. This allows the host computer to operate as if it had two separate disk drives available.
Inventors
- 👤 John F. Bizjak
- 👤 Lindell M. Wilson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 04:09
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/06; G06F3/0601; G11; G11B; G11B19/00; G11B19/02; G11B19/20; G11B5/00; G11B5/48; G11B5/488; G11B5/4886; G06F3/0668; G06F3/0671; G06F3/0673
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
282 words
A disk drive for reading and writing user data from first and second types of removable disk and reading servo information data only from said second type of removable disk comprising: a magnetic read/write head assembly having a first core for reading and writing user data on said first type of removable disk, and a second core for reading and writing user data on said second type of removable disk; a first user path, connected to said first core, for transferring user data to and from said first core; a second user path, connected to said second core, for transferring user data to and from said second core, said second user path being separate and distinct from said first user data path; identifying means for identifying said removable disk as being said first or said second type; control means coupled to said identifying means for selecting said first user data path only when said first type of removable disk is identified and for selecting said second user data path only when said second type of disk is identified; a first interface, separately coupled to both said control means and said first user data path, for communicating between said first user data path and a host computer only when said first type of removable disk is resident in said disk drive; a second interface, separately coupled to both said control means and said second user data path, for communicating between said second user data path and a host computer only when said second type of removable disk is resident in said disk drive, said second interface being a different type than said first interface and being separate and distinct from said first interface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
282 words
A disk drive for reading and writing user data from first and second types of removable disk and reading servo information data only from said second type of removable disk comprising: a magnetic read/write head assembly having a first core for reading and writing user data on said first type of removable disk, and a second core for reading and writing user data on said second type of removable disk; a first user path, connected to said first core, for transferring user data to and from said first core; a second user path, connected to said second core, for transferring user data to and from said second core, said second user path being separate and distinct from said first user data path; identifying means for identifying said removable disk as being said first or said second type; control means coupled to said identifying means for selecting said first user data path only when said first type of removable disk is identified and for selecting said second user data path only when said second type of disk is identified; a first interface, separately coupled to both said control means and said first user data path, for communicating between said first user data path and a host computer only when said first type of removable disk is resident in said disk drive; a second interface, separately coupled to both said control means and said second user data path, for communicating between said second user data path and a host computer only when said second type of removable disk is resident in said disk drive, said second interface being a different type than said first interface and being separate and distinct from said first interface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The disk drive of claims 1 wherein said first type of removable disk comprises a standard floppy disk.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The disk drive of claim 1 wherein said second type of removable disk comprises a high capacity floppy disk.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The disk drive of claim 1 wherein said identifying means comprises a media sensor that detects the presence and absence of openings on said removable disk.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The disk drive of claim 1 further comprising motor means coupled to said control means for rotating said removable disk at a first rate when said removable disk is of said first type and at a second rate when said removable disk is of said second type.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The disk drive of claim 5 wherein said first rate comprises 300 RPM.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The disk drive of claim 5 wherein said second rate comprises 720 RPM.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The disk drive of claim 1 further comprising positioning means coupled to said read/write head assembly for positioning said read/write head assembly with respect to a surface of said removable disk.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The disk drive of claim 8 wherein said positioning means receives position information from a transducer assembly when said first type of removable disk is resident in said disk drive.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The disk drive of claim 8 wherein said positioning means receives servo information data from said read/write head assembly when said second type of removable drive is in said disk drive.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The disk drive of claim 8 wherein said positioning means comprises a voice coil motor for positioning said read/write head assembly.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The disk drive of claim 1 wherein said read/write head assembly comprises a third core for reading servo information data on said second type of removable disk.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The disk drive of claim 1 wherein said first interface comprises a floppy disk drive interface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The disk drive of claim 1 wherein said second interface comprises an IDE (Integrated Device Electronics) interface.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-07-17 | 1999-01-16 | 1999-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-07-17 | 2003-01-16 | 2003-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-07-17 | 2007-01-16 | 2007-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |