HP and Philips Semiconductors Develop Chip-Based Tape-Cartridge Memory for Ultrium Format

Strategic Insights -

Hewlett-Packard Company and Philips Semiconductor Gratkorn have successfully developed a chip-based tape-cartridge memory for the Ultrium format, a high-capacity data-storage solution based on the Linear Tape-Open (LTO) technology. This innovation enables the profile and history of a tape cartridge to be recorded and interrogated without physical contact between the tape and reader, providing significant performance advantages, including faster backup, access, and restore times. The cartridge memory also offers enhanced quality and supportability due to reduced tape wear and diagnostic capabilities.

Key Takeaways:

  • The chip-based tape-cartridge memory is designed for Ultrium-format products, enabling faster backup, access, and restore times through the recording and interrogation of the tape cartridge's profile and history without physical contact.
  • The cartridge memory provides a notable quality and supportability enhancement by reducing tape wear and enabling diagnostics.
  • Philips Semiconductors has already applied the contactless card technology to other sectors, including phone cards and public-transport ticketing, and has been working with HP to develop the cartridge memory chip for the Ultrium format.
  • HP's partnership with Philips Semiconductors is a testament to the former's commitment to applying proven, state-of-the-art technologies to the Ultrium format.
  • Philips Semiconductors is a worldwide market leader in the development and manufacture of contactless information technology with a strong reputation for providing high-quality, leading-edge components.

Statistics:

  • HP has 123,500 employees worldwide.
  • HP's total revenue for the 1998 fiscal year was $47.1 billion.
  • Philips Semiconductors is the eighth largest semiconductor supplier in the world.
  • The cartridge memory provides an intelligent interface embedded in the tape cartridge, recording drive and cartridge information normally recorded on the tape header.
  • The addition of cartridge memory means there is no contact between the tape and tape drive, allowing readers to perform a full interrogation of the profile of a cartridge in a fraction of the time it would take to load and unload individual tapes.

Sources:

  • Hewlett-Packard Company press release (date not specified)
  • Philips Semiconductors press release (date not specified)
  • Ladas & Parry law firm (phone number: (213) 934-2300, fax: (213) 934-0202, e-mail: LTO_INFO@ladasparry.com)
  • LTO Technology Web site (www.lto-technology.com)