Cartridge-external preamplifier for read/write control of media library

Abstract

A storage system includes a media player including a preamplifier that is adapted to provide data access to a storage cartridge lacking an independent read/write preamplifier. The media player couples to the storage cartridges across an interconnect, and the storage cartridge is adapted perform data access operations responsive to signals received from the media player through the interconnect.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A storage system comprising:
 a media player including a preamplifier; and   a storage cartridge attached to the media player across an interconnect, the storage cartridge lacking an independent read/write preamplifier and being adapted to perform data access operations responsive to signals received from the media player through the interconnect.   
     
     
         2 . The storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the storage system includes multiple storage cartridges, each of the storage cartridges being adapted to receive analog read/write signals generated within the preamplifier of the media player. 
     
     
         3 . The storage system of  claim 2 , wherein media player is adapted to selectively couple with each of the multiple storage cartridges. 
     
     
         4 . The storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the storage cartridge includes at least one HGA coupled to a flex, the flex including one or more read traces that electrically connect a read element on the HGA to the interconnect, the one or more read traces being impedance-matched to impedance of the read element to reduce reflection of read signals transmitted along the read trace. 
     
     
         5 . The storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the storage cartridge includes at least one HGA coupled to a flex, the flex including one or more write traces that electrically connect a write element on the HGA to the interconnect, the write traces being impedance-matched to impedance of the write element to reduce reflection of write signals transmitted along the write trace. 
     
     
         6 . The storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the storage cartridge includes:
 a flex including electrical traces for routing control signals between the interconnect and an HGA; and   a current shunt mechanism that selectively grounds the electrical traces when the storage cartridge is uncoupled from the media player and selectively ungrounds the electrical traces when the storage cartridge is coupled to the media player.   
     
     
         7 . The storage system of  claim 6 , wherein the current shunt mechanism is a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) switch. 
     
     
         8 . The storage system of  claim 6 , wherein the current shunt mechanism selectively interrupts a connection between an HGA and electrical ground responsive to pressure applied at the interconnect. 
     
     
         9 . The storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the media player includes a read/write controller that selectively increases overshoot of a write current pulse to improve write transition accuracy 
     
     
         10 . A method comprising:
 generating, by a preamplifier within a media player, a plurality of analog signals; and   directing the analog signals across an interconnect and to a head gimbal assembly (HGA) within a storage cartridge, the storage cartridge lacking an independent read/write preamplifier   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the media player is adapted to provide read and write access to multiple storage cartridges that are each adapted to receive the plurality of analog signals by the preamplifier of the media player. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 selectively coupling the media player to a select storage cartridge of multiple storage cartridges.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the HGA is coupled to a flex within the storage cartridge and the flex includes one or more read traces electrically connecting a read element on the HGA to the interconnect, the one or more read traces being impedance-matched to impedance of the read element to reduce reflection of read signals transmitted along the read trace. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the HGA is coupled to a flex within the storage cartridge and the flex includes one or more write traces electrically connecting a write element on the HGA to the interconnect, the one or more write traces being impedance-matched to impedance of the write element to reduce reflection of write signals transmitted along the write trace. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the storage cartridge includes a flex that further includes electrical traces for routing control signals between the interconnect and the HGA and the method further comprises:
 selectively grounding the electrical traces when the storage cartridge is uncoupled from the media player and selectively ungrounding the electrical traces when the storage cartridge is coupled to the media player.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein selectively grounding and ungrounding the electrical traces further comprises selectively grounding and ungrounding the electrical traces using a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) switch. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein selectively grounding and ungrounding the electrical traces further comprises selectively grounding and ungrounding the electrical traces responsive to pressure applied at the interconnect. 
     
     
         18 . A storage system comprising:
 multiple storage cartridges that each individually lack a read/write preamplifier; and   a media player adapted to selectively couple with and provide data access to each of the multiple storage cartridges, the media player including a preamplifier that amplifies and transmits analog signals across an interconnect to a select one of the storage cartridges coupled with the media player.   
     
     
         19 . The storage system of  claim 18 , wherein each of the multiple storage cartridges includes a head-gimbal assembly (HGA) coupled to a flex and the flex includes read and write traces impedance-matched to corresponding read and write elements on the HGA. 
     
     
         20 . The storage system of  claim 18 , wherein each of the storage cartridges includes:
 a flex including electrical traces for routing control signals between the interconnect and the HGA; and   a current shunt mechanism that selectively grounds the electrical traces when the select storage cartridge is uncoupled from the media player and selectively ungrounds the HGA when the select storage cartridge is coupled to the media player.