Disk cartridge for optical disk drives

Abstract

This application describes structures of storage media for optical storage systems, including systems in the near-field configuration to couple radiation between the optical head and the media at least in part by evanescent fields. Disk cartridges for various optical disk drives are also described.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for data storage, comprising: 
 a cartridge to enclose a disk capable of storing data and to have a cartridge door to permit access to a disk surface of the disk;    a carrier structured to enclose said cartridge and have a carrier door to permit access to said cartridge, said carrier including an electronic element to have updatable information about contents of data in the disk enclosed in said cartridge, a display operable to display said updatable information, and a user control to control which portion of said information is displayed;    a locking element operable to lock said cartridge within said carrier;    a disk drive to receive said carrier and said cartridge;    a detection unit within said disk drive to detect that a carrier has been received at least partially within said disk drive; and    a transfer unit within said disk drive to transfer a cartridge from within said carrier to an interior of said disk drive.    
     
     
         2 . A cartridge system for a recording medium, comprising: 
 a recording medium;    a cartridge enclosing said recording medium, said cartridge having a cartridge door to permit access to said recording medium;    an electronic element in said cartridge having updatable information indicative of contents of data in said recording medium enclosed in said cartridge;    a display located in said cartridge operable to display said data; and    a user control for controlling which portion of said information is displayed.    
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the electronic element stores at least one of a file directory, a file size, or a date.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a power supply for said electronic element.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the power supply is a battery.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the user control includes at least one button.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the recording medium is a disk.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the recording medium is a tape.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the recording medium is a hard drive.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a carrier enclosing said cartridge, said carrier including a display operable to display data.  
     
     
         11 . A cartridge and carrier system of a disk, comprising: 
 a disk having updatable information indicative of contents of data on said disk;    a cartridge enclosing said disk, said cartridge having a cartridge door to permit access to said disk surface;    a display located in said cartridge operable to display said data; and    a user control for controlling which portion of said information is displayed.