JPH04298856A - Recording and reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To offer a recording and reproducing device capable of adopting the control procedures of two kinds or more. CONSTITUTION:On the recording and reproducing device provided with a recording and reproducing means to record and reproduce a data to a recording medium and controlled so as to give and receive a data with a connected equipment by the prescribed control procedure, a switching means 21 constituted so as to switch to any control procedure selectively from plural control procedures as the control procedure with the above-mentioned connected equipment is provided. Further, the switching means 21 is constituted so as to select based on a medium identifying signal obtained by the difference of the kind of the recording medium, further, is constituted so as to select based on a demand from the connected equipment, further, is constituted so as to convert the control procedure signal sent to the recording and reproducing device to another control procedure signal.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording/reproducing apparatus such as an external recording/reproducing apparatus connected to a computer system.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional technique will be explained using a magnetic disk device. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a system configuration around a floppy disk device (hereinafter abbreviated as FDD), as shown in, for example, "Essentials of Floppy Disk Device Design and Application," published by the Japan Industrial Technology Center and supervised by Shoji Takahashi, page 129. In the figure, 1 is the host computer, 2 is the magnetic disk device, 3 is the magnetic disk control device, and 4 is the host computer 1.
5 is a system interface control circuit that connects the system interface bus with the magnetic disk control device; 6 is a drive interface bus that connects the magnetic disk device 2 and the magnetic disk control device 3; 7 is a drive interface control circuit that connects the drive interface bus 6 and the magnetic disk control device 3; 8 is a positioning control circuit; 9 is a recording/reproducing circuit; 10 is a magnetic head; 11
is an interface control circuit, 12 is another input/output device, 1
A connector 3 connects the drive interface bus 6 to the interface control circuit 11.

Next, the function and operation of the conventional technology will be explained. There are two ways to connect signals between the host computer 1 and the magnetic disk device 2. One is a connection method in which the host computer 1 controls all the magnetic disk devices 2, and the other is a connection method in which the host computer 1 controls the magnetic disk device 2 entirely. In this connection method, a magnetic disk control device 3 is placed between the host computer 2 and the host computer 1, and control of the magnetic disk is separated from the host computer 1, and the magnetic disk control device 3 performs the connection. In both connection methods, the signals connected to the magnetic disk device 2 are operation control signals and data signals.

The operation of the latter connection method will be explained below. The host computer 1 magnetically detects data to be recorded in the magnetic disk device 2 and the address where the data is recorded or the address where the data to be reproduced is recorded.
via the system interface bus 4. The magnetic disk control device 3 transfers a data signal for recording a control signal for positioning to the above address to the magnetic disk device 2, and transfers the data signal reproduced from the magnetic disk device 2 to the host computer 1. The above signals are transferred via the drive interface bus 6. In the magnetic disk device 2, a positioning control circuit 8 positions the magnetic head 10 in accordance with a control signal received from the magnetic disk control device 3. The recording/reproducing circuit 9 records data on a recording medium (not shown) using a magnetic head 10 in accordance with a control signal. Further, the magnetic head 10 reproduces the data from the recording medium as a data signal. The signals transferred through the drive interface bus 6 are controlled by the drive interface control circuit 7 and the interface control circuit 11 according to defined specifications.

The data and addresses sent from the host computer 1 to the magnetic disk control device 3 have a type suitable for handling by the host computer 1, which does not depend on the structure of the magnetic disk device 2. Therefore, the magnetic disk control device 3 converts the data and addresses into data signals and control signals in a format suitable for the magnetic disk device 2, and also converts the data reproduced from the magnetic disk device 2 into a format suitable for handling by the host computer 1. Convert to

Regarding the signal specifications for the drive interface bus 6, there are several interface standards that define signal types, timing, and electrical characteristics. For example, FDD interface is used for FDD, ST-506 and ESDI are used for fixed disk device (hereinafter abbreviated as HDD).
, AT, SCSI, etc. Each of the above standards has its own characteristics in the type of data to be transferred, transfer speed, control method, expandability, etc., and the magnetic disk device 2 has its own interface depending on its device performance and the specifications of the host computer 1 to be connected. Selecting a standard. Since the host computer 1 uses the magnetic disk control device 3 as an intermediary as described above, it can be directly connected to the magnetic disk device 2 without being aware of the above standards.

[0007]

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] Conventional recording and reproducing devices are configured as described above, so when a host computer connects a recording and reproducing device that has a different interface standard from the current one, it is necessary to connect a control device that meets that interface standard. In addition, there were problems such as software assets created on the assumption that the host computer would directly control the recording/reproducing device could no longer be used as they were.

[0008] The present invention was made to solve these problems, and allows connected equipment such as a host computer to connect with a recording/playback device that differs from the current control procedure, and also allows existing software assets to be used. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording/reproducing device that can employ two or more types of control procedures so that it can be used effectively as is.

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A recording and reproducing device of the present invention includes a recording and reproducing means for recording and reproducing data on a recording medium, and is controlled so that data is exchanged with a connected device according to a predetermined control procedure. The recording and reproducing apparatus is provided with a switching means configured to selectively switch the control procedure with the connected device to one of a plurality of control procedures.

Further, the switching means is configured to select based on a medium identification signal obtained depending on the type of recording medium.

Further, the switching means is configured to select based on a request from a connected device.

Further, the switching means is configured to convert a control procedure signal sent to the recording/reproducing device into another control procedure signal.

[0013]

[Operation] The recording/reproducing apparatus of the present invention has two types of switching means configured to selectively switch the control procedure with the connected device to one of a plurality of control procedures. or more control procedures,

Furthermore, since the switching means is configured to select based on a medium identification signal obtained depending on the type of recording medium, errors in switching can be eliminated.

00
15] In addition, since the switching means is configured to be selected based on the request from the connected device, it is possible to achieve connection consistency with many connected devices.

Furthermore, since the switching means is configured to convert the control procedure signal sent to the recording/reproducing device into another control procedure signal, it becomes easy to integrate various control procedures.

[0017]

[Example] Example 1. An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a recording/reproducing apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, 11A is an interface control circuit for procedure A, 11B is an interface control circuit for procedure B, 13A is a connector for procedure A, 13B is a connector for procedure B, 14 is a recording medium, 15 is a switching circuit for selecting a signal path, 16 is a changeover switch for selecting a signal path; 21 is a changeover means consisting of interface circuits 11A, 11B, connectors 13A, 13B, changeover circuit 15, and changeover switch 16;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a connector attachment section showing the recording/reproducing apparatus of the first embodiment. In the figure, 17 is a power supply connector.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be explained. In the device of this embodiment, a signal path for procedure A is configured by a drive interface bus 6A, an interface control circuit 11A, and a connector 13A, and a signal path for procedure A is configured by a drive interface bus 6B, an interface control circuit 11B, and a connector 13A.
B constitutes the signal path of procedure B. switching circuit 1
5 selects the signal control circuit for procedure A or procedure B according to the changeover switch 16 set by the user. The selected signal control circuit uniquely determines the interface standard and signal path of this device, making it possible to send and receive control signals and data signals, record and reproduce data, and support multiple signal paths and interface standards in the same way as conventional devices. Can be done.

Example 2. In the above example 1, the connector is 2
However, it is also possible to use one multi-pin connector. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a connector attachment section showing the recording/reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

Example 3. Although the first embodiment described above is an example in which the user selects the signal path with respect to the host computer, it is also possible to select the signal path according to the standard of the recording medium 14. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a recording medium exchange type recording/reproducing apparatus according to the present invention. 18 in Figure 4
is a medium identification circuit that generates different electrical signals to identify different media.

The operation of the third embodiment will be explained. When the recording medium 14 of the recording medium exchange type recording/reproducing apparatus 2 is replaced, the recording medium identification circuit 18 sends a medium standard identification signal to the switching circuit 15, and the switching circuit 15 selects a signal path. This makes it possible to achieve the same effects as in the first embodiment.

Example 4. Apart from the first and third embodiments described above, it is also possible to select a signal path according to a connection request from a host computer. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the recording/reproducing apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 5, 19 is a monitoring circuit that monitors connection requests from the host computer.

The operation of the fourth embodiment will be explained. The monitoring circuit 19 constantly monitors the signal path, and determines which signal path the host computer 1 and the isk control device 3 request using magnetism. The monitoring circuit 19, which has confirmed the connection request from one signal path, notifies the switching circuit 15 that the connection request has come, and the switching circuit 15 confirms that the other path is not connected, and confirms that the connection request has been made. Select signal path. At this time, the other signal path is kept in a disconnectable state until the operation of the selected signal path is completed. By configuring as described above, it is possible to connect the recording/reproducing device 2 and the host computer 1 using a plurality of signal paths and connection procedures.

Example 5. Another embodiment according to the present invention is shown in FIG.
Explain using. In FIG. 6, 20 is a procedure conversion circuit that converts a signal according to procedure B to procedure A.

The operation of the fifth embodiment will be explained. The procedure conversion circuit 20 converts the signal transmitted to the recording/reproducing device 2 through the drive interface bus according to procedure B into procedure A. The switching circuit 15 selects the signal converted into the procedure A and the signal 6 to be transmitted to the recording/reproducing device 2 through the drive interface bus according to the procedure A according to the switch 16 and transfers the selected signal to the signal control circuit 11. By uniquely determining the signal path by the switching circuit 15 as described above, it is possible to realize the same operation as the conventional device and provide a plurality of signal paths. If procedure A is a representative procedure, procedure B is converted to procedure A, and the subsequent processing may be the same as procedure A, thus integrating the procedures and sharing the processing.

By the way, in the above embodiment, the connector 13 is used to connect the recording/reproducing device 2 and the drive interface bus 6, but it goes without saying that an FFC cable, an FPC cable, or other signal conductor can be used. .

Further, although the above invention has been described with respect to a magnetic disc device, it goes without saying that it can also be used in other recording/reproducing devices.

[0029]

Effects of the Invention The recording and reproducing apparatus of the present invention includes a recording and reproducing means for recording and reproducing data on a recording medium, and is controlled so that data is exchanged with a connected device according to a predetermined control procedure. Since the apparatus is equipped with a switching means configured to selectively switch the control procedure with the connected device to one of the plurality of control procedures, it is possible to adopt two or more types of control procedures. This has the effect of providing a recording/reproducing device that performs the following functions.

Furthermore, since the switching means is configured to select based on the medium identification signal obtained depending on the type of recording medium, errors in switching are eliminated. Further, since the switching means is configured to select based on the request from the connected device, consistency of connection with many connected devices can be achieved. In addition, since the switching means is configured to convert the control procedure signal sent to the recording/reproducing device into another control procedure signal, it is easy to integrate various control procedures, and the processing can be shared. Each has its own effect.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a connector attachment section showing Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a connector attachment section showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a fourth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a fifth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a conventional recording/reproducing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Host computer 2 Magnetic disk device 3 Magnetic disk control device 4 System interface bus 5 System interface control circuit 6 Drive interface bus 7 Drive interface control circuit 8 Positioning control circuit 9 Recording/reproducing circuit 10 Magnetic head 11 Interface control circuit 12 Other input/output Device 13 Connector 14 Recording medium 15 Switching circuit 16 Switch 17 Power supply connector 18 Medium identification circuit 19 Monitoring circuit 20 Procedure conversion circuit 21 Switching means Note that the same reference numerals in the drawings indicate the same or equivalent parts.

Claims (4)

[Claims] Claim 1: A recording and reproducing device comprising a recording and reproducing means for recording and reproducing data on a recording medium, and controlled to exchange data with a connected device according to a predetermined control procedure, comprising: 1. A recording/reproducing apparatus comprising a switching means configured to selectively switch a procedure to one of a plurality of control procedures. 2. The recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switching means is configured to select based on a medium identification signal obtained depending on the type of recording medium. 3. The recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switching means is configured to select based on a request from a connected device. 4. The recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switching means is configured to convert a control procedure signal sent to the recording and reproducing apparatus into another control procedure signal.