Richard E Copeland

US Patent:

6549371, Apr 15, 2003

Filed:

Feb 23, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/510910

Inventors:

Olin S. Giles - New London NC
Richard L. Copeland - Boynton Beach FL
Hubert A. Patterson - Boca Raton FL

Assignee:

Sensormatic Electronics Corporation - Boca Raton FL

International Classification:

G11B 1500

US Classification:

360137, 324655, 3405725

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for determining the position of magnetic tape within a magnetic tape cassette to ascertain whether the magnetic tape is in a rewound position within the cassette is provided. In a first aspect of the present invention, the magnetic tape cassette has two internal magnetic tape take-up reels. The magnetic tape stored on the tape-up reels is detected. The rewound status of the tape is determined by whether the magnetic tape is detected on only one reel or on both reels. In a second aspect of the present invention, a preselected amount of magnetic tape is detected within the magnetic tape cassette. The magnetic tape cassette is oriented and the position of the detected magnetic tape is determined relative to the orientation of the magnetic tape cassette. In a third aspect of the present invention, an electronically detectable member positioned in a known location of the cassette is detected. A preselected amount of magnetic tape within the cassette is detected.