Recording medium cartridge

Abstract

A recording tape cartridge is structured so as to accommodate, within a case, a reel on which is wound a magnetic tape which is a recording medium. The recording tape cartridge has a so-called WORM function such that overwriting of data on a recording region of the magnetic tape where data is already written, is prohibited. Within the case are provided a first memory board which stores data managing information for managing data written on the magnetic tape, and a second memory board which stores WORM managing information for managing writing of data to the magnetic tape.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A recording medium cartridge accommodating a recording medium within a case, and preventing data from being overwritten onto a recording region of the recording medium where data is already written, the recording medium cartridge comprising:
 a medium state indicating device; and   a switching mechanism that, in accordance with a relative position of a member with respect to the case, switches the medium state indicating device among:   a first state corresponding to the recording medium being unused,   a second state corresponding to data being written on the recording medium and there not being a reading history of the data, and   a third state corresponding to data written on the recording medium having a reading history,   such that the state can be recognized by a user or a recording medium handling device.   
     
     
         10 . The recording medium cartridge of  claim 9 , wherein the member is displaced by a drive device used for writing data on the recording medium to switch the medium state indicating device from the first state to the second state, and the member is displaced by a drive device used for reading data written on the recording medium to switch the medium state indicating device from the second state to the third state. 
     
     
         11 . The recording medium cartridge of  claim 9 , wherein the member has a first indicating portion, a second indicating portion, and a third indicating portion having respectively different colors, and at a time of the first state, only the first indicating portion is exposed from the case, and at a time of the second state, only the second indicating portion is exposed from the case, and at a time of the third state, only the third indicating portion is exposed from the case. 
     
     
         12 . The recording medium cartridge of  claim 10 , wherein the member has a first indicating portion, a second indicating portion, and a third indicating portion having respectively different colors, and at a time of the first state, only the first indicating portion is exposed from the case, and at a time of the second state, only the second indicating portion is exposed from the case, and at a time of the third state, only the third indicating portion is exposed from the case. 
     
     
         13 . The recording medium cartridge of  claim 9 , wherein, due to a medium state indicating device varying, as the first state, the second state, or the third state and in accordance with the position of the member with respect to the case, an electrical resistance between the case and the member which changes, the medium state indicating device makes the medium handling device, which detects the electrical resistance, recognize which state among the first state, the second state and the third state the recording medium cartridge is in. 
     
     
         14 . The recording medium cartridge of  claim 10 , wherein, due to the medium state indicating device varying, as the first state, the second state, or the third state and in accordance with the position of the member with respect to the case, an electrical resistance between the case and the member which changes, the medium state indicating device makes the medium handling device, which detects the electrical resistance, recognize which state among the first state, the second state and the third state the recording medium cartridge is in. 
     
     
         15 . The recording medium cartridge of  claim 11 , wherein, due to a medium state indicating device varying, as the first state, the second state, or the third state and in accordance with the position of the member with respect to the case, an electrical resistance between the case and the member which changes, the medium state indicating device makes the medium handling device, which detects the electrical resistance, recognize which state among the first state, the second state and the third state the recording medium cartridge is in. 
     
     
         16 . The recording medium cartridge of  claim 12 , wherein, due to a medium state indicating device varying, as the first state, the second state, or the third state and in accordance with the position of the member with respect to the case, an electrical resistance between the case and the member which changes, the medium state indicating device makes the medium handling device, which detects the electrical resistance, recognize which state among the first state, the second state and the third state the recording medium cartridge is in. 
     
     
         17 . A recording medium cartridge accommodating a recording medium within a case, and preventing data from being overwritten onto a recording region of the recording medium where data is already written, the recording medium cartridge comprising:
 a first indicating portion provided so as to be exposed to an exterior of the case, a state of the first indicating portion changing, so as to be able to be recognized by a user or a recording medium handling device, when data is written to the recording medium which is unused; and   a second indicating portion provided so as to be exposed to an exterior of the case, a state of the second indicating portion changing, so as to be able to be recognized by a user or a recording medium handling device, when data written on the recording medium is read initially.   
     
     
         18 . The recording medium cartridge of  claim 17 , wherein the first indicating portion and the second indicating portion are each structured of a material whose color changes irreversibly when heated by a drive device.