Self identifying universal data storage element with human intelligible write protect mechanism

摘要

A mechanism for defining a write protect state of a data storage media enclosed in a housing of a data storage element is disclosed. The mechanism includes an aperture formed in an exterior surface of the housing, wherein the aperture has a first region and a second region. A member is movably secured within the aperture and is manually moveable between a first position wherein the member is positioned proximate the aperture first region, and a second position wherein the member is positioned proximate the aperture second region. A first human intelligible mark is placed on the housing proximate the aperture first region. The first human intelligible mark depicts a portion of a predetermined symbol corresponding to one of a write enabled state and a write protect state of the data storage media. A second human intelligible mark is placed on the member. The second human intelligible mark depicts a remaining portion of the symbol. The second human intelligible mark is alignable with the first human intelligible mark by moving the member into the first position. When the first and second human intelligible marks are aligned, the first and second human intelligible marks depict an unbroken image of the symbol, thereby indicating that the data storage media is in the one of the write enabled state and the write protect state. When the first and second human intelligible marks are not aligned, the first and second human intelligible marks depict a broken image of the symbol, thereby indicating that the data storage media is in another of the write enabled state and the write protect state of the data storage media.