MAGNETIC TAPE CARTRIDGE WITH INCREASED DATA STORAGE CAPACITY

1 . An LTO compatible tape cartridge that is configured to be selectively positioned substantially within a tape drive that operates in compliance with an LTO specification, the LTO compatible tape cartridge comprising:

a cartridge body having a size and shape that is suitable for use within the tape drive that operates in compliance with the LTO specification;

a magnetic tape that is retained within the cartridge body; and

a cartridge hub that is positioned within the cartridge body, the cartridge hub being configured so that the magnetic tape is wound around the cartridge hub within the cartridge body, the cartridge hub including a hub diameter that is less than or equal to approximately 35.00 millimeters.

2 . The LTO compatible tape cartridge of claim 1 wherein the hub diameter is between approximately 5.00 millimeters and 35.00 millimeters.

3 . The LTO compatible tape cartridge of claim 1 wherein the hub diameter is less than or equal to approximately 20.00 millimeters.

4 . The LTO compatible tape cartridge of claim 1 wherein the cartridge body includes a cartridge length that is measured from a front to a rear of the cartridge body, and a cartridge width that is measured from a first side to a second side of the cartridge body; wherein the cartridge length and the cartridge width provide boundaries for a maximum wound tape diameter as the magnetic tape is wound around the cartridge hub within the cartridge body; and wherein the maximum wound tape diameter is at least approximately 97.50 millimeters.

5 . The LTO compatible tape cartridge of claim 4 wherein the cartridge length of the cartridge body is approximately 102 millimeters; and wherein the cartridge width of the cartridge body is approximately 105 millimeters.

6 . The LTO compatible tape cartridge of claim 5 wherein the cartridge body has a body thickness of less than approximately 1.25 millimeters.

7 . The LTO compatible tape cartridge of claim 5 wherein one or more cutout sections are formed into the cartridge body.

8 . The LTO compatible tape cartridge of claim 1 wherein the cartridge body further includes a cartridge height that is measured from a top to a bottom of the cartridge body; and wherein the magnetic tape has a tape width that is at least approximately 13.50 millimeters.

9 . The LTO compatible tape cartridge of claim 8 wherein the cartridge height of the cartridge body is approximately 21.50 millimeters.

10 . The LTO compatible tape cartridge of claim 1 further comprising a drive engaging member that is coupled to the cartridge hub; wherein the tape drive includes a cartridge engaging member that selectively engages the drive engaging member, a cartridge reel motor that rotates the cartridge engaging member, the drive engaging member and the cartridge hub as the magnetic tape is wound around the cartridge hub, and a resilient member that moves the cartridge engaging member so that the cartridge engaging member engages the drive engaging member; and wherein the drive engaging member has a diameter that is greater than the hub diameter.

11 . The LTO compatible tape cartridge of claim 1 further comprising an alignment assembly that is coupled to the cartridge body, the alignment assembly including an alignment roller that is in contact with an outer surface of the magnetic tape as the magnetic tape is wound around the cartridge hub, and a resilient member that is coupled to the alignment roller, the resilient member providing a biasing force such that the alignment roller is always in contact with the outer surface of the magnetic tape as the magnetic tape is wound around the cartridge hub.

12 . An LTO compatible tape cartridge that is configured to be selectively positioned substantially within a tape drive that operates in compliance with an LTO specification, the LTO compatible tape cartridge comprising:

a cartridge body having a size and shape that is suitable for use within the tape drive that operates in compliance with the LTO specification;

a magnetic tape that is retained within the cartridge body; and

a cartridge hub that is positioned within the cartridge body, the cartridge hub being configured so that the magnetic tape is wound around the cartridge hub within the cartridge body;

wherein the magnetic tape has a tape width of at least approximately 13.50 millimeters.

13 . The LTO compatible tape cartridge of claim 12 wherein the tape width is between approximately 13.50 millimeters and 18.00 millimeters.

14 . The tape cartridge of claim 12 wherein the tape width is at least approximately 16.50 millimeters.

15 . The LTO compatible tape cartridge of claim 12 wherein the cartridge body including a cartridge height that is measured from a top to a bottom of the cartridge body; and wherein the cartridge height of the cartridge body is approximately 21.50 millimeters.

16 . The LTO compatible tape cartridge of claim 12 wherein the cartridge hub does not include a flange assembly that is coupled thereto.

17 . The LTO compatible tape cartridge of claim 12 wherein the cartridge body has a body thickness of less than approximately 1.25 millimeters.

18 . The LTO compatible tape cartridge of claim 12 further comprising a drive engaging member that is coupled to the cartridge hub; wherein the tape drive includes a cartridge engaging member that selectively engages the drive engaging member, a cartridge reel motor that rotates the cartridge engaging member, the drive engaging member and the cartridge hub as the magnetic tape is wound around the cartridge hub, and a resilient member that moves the cartridge engaging member so that the cartridge engaging member engages the drive engaging member; wherein the cartridge hub includes a hub diameter that is less than or equal to approximately 35.00 millimeters; and wherein the drive engaging member has a diameter that is greater than the hub diameter.

19 . The LTO compatible tape cartridge of claim 12 further comprising an alignment assembly that is coupled to the cartridge body, the alignment assembly including an alignment roller that is in contact with an outer surface of the magnetic tape as the magnetic tape is wound around the cartridge hub, and a resilient member that is coupled to the alignment roller, the resilient member providing a biasing force such that the alignment roller is always in contact with the outer surface of the magnetic tape as the magnetic tape is wound around the cartridge hub.

20 . An LTO compatible tape cartridge that is configured to be selectively positioned substantially within a tape drive that operates in compliance with an LTO specification, the LTO compatible tape cartridge comprising:

a cartridge body having a size and shape that is suitable for use within the tape drive that operates in compliance with the LTO specification, the cartridge body includes a cartridge length that is measured from a front to a rear of the cartridge body, a cartridge width that is measured from a first side to a second side of the cartridge body, a cartridge height that is measured from a top to a bottom of the cartridge body, and a body thickness of less than approximately 1.25 millimeters;

a magnetic tape that is retained within the cartridge body, the magnetic tape having a tape width that is between approximately 13.50 millimeters and 18.00 millimeters;

a cartridge hub that is positioned within the cartridge body, the cartridge hub being configured so that the magnetic tape is wound around the cartridge hub within the cartridge body, the cartridge hub including a hub diameter that is between approximately 5.00 millimeters and 35.00 millimeters; and

an alignment assembly that is coupled to the cartridge body, the alignment assembly including an alignment roller that is in contact with an outer surface of the magnetic tape as the magnetic tape is wound around the cartridge hub, and a resilient member that is coupled to the alignment roller, the resilient member providing a biasing force such that the alignment roller is always in contact with the outer surface of the magnetic tape as the magnetic tape is wound around the cartridge hub;

wherein the cartridge length and the cartridge width provide boundaries for a maximum wound tape diameter as the magnetic tape is wound around the cartridge hub within the cartridge body; and

wherein the maximum wound tape diameter is at least approximately 97.50 millimeters.

21 . The LTO compatible tape cartridge of claim 20 wherein the cartridge length of the cartridge body is approximately 102 millimeters; wherein the cartridge width of the cartridge body is approximately 105 millimeters; and wherein the cartridge height of the cartridge body is approximately 21.50 millimeters.