JPH07200177A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an information processor which can connect a data record ing and reproducing device, equipped with at least two kinds of storage unit among different kinds of recording medium, through a small number of cables. CONSTITUTION:This information processor has the data recording and reproducing device 10 constituted by integrating at least two storage units 11 and 12 among storage units such as an FDD unit, a HDD unit, a CD-ROM unit, a DAT unit, a QIC unit, an MO unit, and an MD unit for data, and, the two storage units and host unit are connected through a common interface unit 50 which is common to the two storage units.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, and more particularly to an information processing apparatus having at least two types of storage units for different types of recording media.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Up to now, in an information processing apparatus of a scale of a personal computer, a magnetic disk drive unit (hereinafter referred to as an FDD unit) as an external storage unit or a hard disk drive unit (hard disk drive unit) different from a hard disk built in the main body of the apparatus. Hereinafter, the HDD unit will be referred to as a separate type. However, recently, in addition to FDD units and HDD units, compact disc ROM (read only memory)
Unit (hereinafter referred to as CD / ROM unit) or digital audio tape drive unit (hereinafter referred to as DA
T unit), QIC tape cartridge drive unit (hereinafter referred to as QIC unit), further magneto-optical disk drive unit (hereinafter referred to as MO unit), data mini disk drive unit (hereinafter referred to as data MD unit), etc. Also, there is an increasing demand for utilizing the above as an external storage unit for a data processing device.

However, when each of the above storage units is used as an external storage unit, there are advantages and disadvantages as described below, and several types of storage units should be used in combination in such a form that their advantages can be utilized. I have no choice. For example, in the case of a CD / ROM unit, the compact disc can be removed from the storage unit body,
It has the advantage of being able to store large amounts of data. However, the CD / ROM unit has the drawback that it cannot be re-recorded and the access speed is slow. Considering this point, C
D / ROM unit combined with HDD unit, C
It is conceivable that the data stored in the D / ROM unit is once transferred to the HDD unit, and then the data is transferred between the HDD unit and the host unit.

Further, in the case of the FDD unit, the magnetic disk has an advantage that it can be re-recorded at a low cost and can be removed from the storage unit main body, but it has a drawback that the access speed is slow. Therefore, the above-mentioned CD
Similar to the ROM unit, the FDD unit is combined with the HDD unit to store the data stored in the FDD unit in HD.
A possible method of use is to transfer the data between the HDD unit and the host unit after transferring the data to the D unit.

Next, as for the MO unit, although it is possible to store a large capacity, the access speed is slow. Therefore, in the case of the MO unit, the same usage as that of the above-mentioned CD / ROM unit or FDD unit can be considered. In addition, since the hard disk cannot be replaced in the HDD unit, the data in the HDD unit can be backed up by the MO unit. In the case of the data MD unit, the same usage as that of the MO unit described above can be considered.

Further, in the HDD unit, high-speed access is possible and large-capacity storage is possible, but the hard disk cannot be replaced. Therefore, by combining the HDD unit with a QIC unit, the data of the HDD unit is transferred to
It is possible to use it by saving it so that it is backed up by the unit. In the case of the DAT unit, the same usage as the above-mentioned QIC unit can be considered.

As can be understood from the above description, by using each of the storage units described above in combination with another storage unit having a different function, the effectiveness can be exhibited more than when used alone. However, each of the above storage units is unitized as a single unit, and the arrangement space becomes a problem when a plurality of storage units are used in combination. That is, although the size of each storage unit has been reduced, disposing the storage units in a separate manner requires a certain space for arrangement.

In order to solve such a problem, the applicant of the present invention has proposed a data recording / reproducing apparatus as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 (Japanese Patent Application No. 5-264754). The data recording / reproducing apparatus will be briefly described below.

Referring to FIG. 2, in this example, the FDD unit 11 and the HDD unit 12 are integrated by a mounting member 13 to form an FDD-HDD type data recording / reproducing apparatus 10. FDD unit 1
1. Since the internal structure of the HDD unit 12 is well known,
Illustration and description will be omitted. The front plate of the FDD unit 11 is provided with an opening 11-1 for inserting and removing a magnetic disk (not shown), and the FDD unit 1
An eject button 11-2 for ejecting the magnetic disk housed in the unit 1 is provided. HDD unit 12
As is well known, a hard disk (not shown) is hermetically built in, and the hard disk is not taken out.

The HDD unit 12 is integrated by a metal mounting member 13 so as to overlap the FDD unit 11. The mounting member 13 has a plurality of mounting pieces 13-1 formed by bending downward so as to contact the side plates on both sides of the FDD unit 11, and the HDD unit 1
2 has a plurality of mounting pieces 13-2 formed by bending upward so as to contact the side plates on both sides. The side plate of the FDD unit 11 is provided with a plurality of screw holes 11-3. By screwing the screw 14 into the screw hole 11-3 through the hole 13-3 provided in the mounting piece 13-1, the FD
The attachment member 13 is attached to the D unit 11.

On the other hand, the side plates on both sides of the HDD unit 12 are provided with a plurality of screw holes 12-1. Screw hole 12 through hole 13-4 provided in mounting piece 13-2
The HDD unit 12 is attached to the attachment member 13 by screwing the screw 15 into -1. In this way, the FDD unit 11 and the HDD unit 12 are integrated via the mounting member 13.

In this example, the depth dimension of the HDD unit 12 is smaller than the depth dimension of the FDD unit 11. In this case, the front plate of the FDD unit 11 and the HDD unit 1
It is up to you whether to align the front plate of 2 with the same face. In any case, the front plate of the FDD unit 11 and the front plate of the HDD unit 12 are provided with an entrance / exit 16-1 for inserting and ejecting a magnetic disk, and an eject button 1.
It is covered with a front panel 16 having a hole 16-2 for projecting 1-2 forward. Front panel 1
6 is fixed to the FDD unit 11 with a screw (not shown), for example.

FIG. 3 shows an example of use of the data recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. The FDD-HDD type data recording / reproducing apparatus 10 is used in a personal computer type information processing apparatus. This information processing apparatus includes an apparatus main body 21, which has a CPU as a host unit,
A display device 22 placed on the device body 21,
A keyboard 23 for data input is included. Data recording
The playback device 10 is incorporated in the device body 21. In FIG. 3, the data recording / reproducing device 10 is projected from the device main body 21, but in reality, the data recording / reproducing device 10 is
The front surface is set so as to be flush with the front plate of the apparatus main body 21.

By the way, since the signals output from the FDD unit 11 and the HDD unit 12 have different formats, an interface is required to connect them to the CPU in the apparatus main body 21.

Referring to FIG. 4, the FDD unit 11, H
Each of the DD units 12 is an FD for the FDD unit.
D interface unit 31, H for HDD unit
It is connected to the bus 33 of the CPU through the DD interface unit 32.

[0016]

However, in such an information processing apparatus, the number of connecting cables increases as the number of storage units connected to the apparatus main body 21 increases. Further, the connection between each interface unit and the apparatus main body 21 is performed by connecting the connector provided on the cable derived from the interface unit to the bus connector provided on the apparatus main body 21. For this reason, the apparatus main body 21 is provided with a plurality of bus connectors, but the number thereof is limited, and it is impossible to construct a system in which various types of storage units are connected and fully utilized. There is a point.

In view of such a problem, an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus capable of connecting a data recording / reproducing apparatus having at least two types of storage units for different recording media with a small number of cables. To provide.

[0018]

According to the present invention, an FDD
Unit, HDD unit, CD / ROM unit, D
There is provided a data recording / reproducing device in which at least two storage units out of storage units such as an AT unit, a QIC unit, an MO unit, and a data MD unit are integrally configured so as to overlap each other. An information processing apparatus characterized in that the connection with the host unit is made via a common interface unit common to the two storage units.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, an FDD-HDD type data recording / reproducing device 10 in which an FDD unit 11 and an HDD unit 12 are integrally configured, and an FDD unit 11 are provided.
FDD-CD / ROM type data recording / reproducing device 4 in which a CD and a ROM unit 41 are integrally configured.
A case where 0 and 0 are connected to the information processing apparatus main body having a built-in CPU via the bus 33 will be described.

FDD in the data recording / reproducing apparatus 10
Cables from the unit 11 and the HDD unit 12 are connected to the common interface unit 50. The shared interface unit 50 is the FDD unit 11
And an information processing apparatus main body, and an interface function that enables exchange of signals between the HDD unit 12 and the information processing apparatus main body. Only one cable is required between the interface unit 50 and the information processing apparatus main body. That is, the connector (not shown) provided on the cable output from the shared interface unit 50 is connected to the bus connector (not shown) provided on the bus 33.

On the other hand, in the data recording / reproducing apparatus 40, the cables coming out from the FDD unit 11 and the CD / ROM unit 41 are connected to the common interface unit 50 '. The common interface unit 50 'is F
An interface function that enables the exchange of signals between the DD unit 11 and the information processing apparatus body, and a CD / RO.
It has an interface function that enables the exchange of signals between the M unit 41 and the information processing apparatus main body. The connector provided on the cable extending from the shared interface unit 50 ′ is connected to the bus connector provided on the bus 33.

As described above, in the case of the structure shown in FIG. 4, the number of cables required for connection between each interface unit and the main body of the apparatus is four according to the present invention. The number of bus connectors used may be two.

Recently, as a means for connecting a plurality of storage devices such as a CD-ROM and a tape streamer in addition to a hard disk to the main body of the information processing device, an enhanced IDE (Enhanced Intelligent) is used.
What is referred to as drive electronics is provided. The shared interface unit used in the present invention may utilize this enhanced IDE. However, in this case, the ID for each storage unit
It is necessary to include a controller chip for the E interface and a device driver.

In FIG. 1, the FDD unit and the HDD unit are used as the data recording / reproducing apparatus.
-HDD type data recording / reproducing apparatus and FDD-CD / R with FDD unit and CD / ROM unit
Although an OM type data recording / reproducing apparatus is shown as an example, an HDD-CD / ROM type data recording / reproducing apparatus including an HDD unit and a CD / ROM unit, and an MO unit and a CD / ROM unit are also included. M
O-CD / ROM type data recording / reproducing device, FD
FDD-QI by D unit 11 and QIC unit
C type data recording / reproducing device, HDD unit and Q
The present invention can be applied to various combinations of data recording / reproducing devices such as an HDD-QIC type data recording / reproducing device with an IC unit.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the data recording / reproducing apparatus in which the two storage units are integrally formed as described above, but is applicable to the case where a plurality of storage units are separately arranged. Needless to say.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, even if the number of storage units connected to the information processing apparatus main body increases, the cable for connecting to the information processing apparatus main body is the storage unit 2 You only need one per table. As a result, the limited number of bus connectors provided in the main body of the information processing apparatus can be effectively used, and it becomes possible to connect various types of storage units and fully utilize them.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram for explaining an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view for explaining an example of a data recording / reproducing apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view for explaining a usage example of the device shown in FIG.

4 is a block diagram for explaining an interface unit connected to each storage unit shown in FIG. 2. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 FDD unit 12 HDD unit 13 Mounting member 16 Front panel 21 Device body of information processing device 22 Display device 23 Keyboard 41 CD / ROM unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A magnetic disk drive unit, a hard disk drive unit, a compact disk ROM
(Read-only memory) unit, digital audio tape drive unit, QIC tape cartridge drive unit, magneto-optical disk drive unit,
There is provided a data recording / reproducing device in which at least two storage units among storage units such as a data mini disk drive unit are integrally configured, and the connection between the two storage units and the host unit is made into the two storage units. An information processing apparatus, characterized in that the processing is performed via a common interface unit common to the units.