JP2001125748A - Electronics capable of utilizing hard disk built in other equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To utilize a hard disk built in other equipment when a power source is not turned on by handling the hard disk built in the other equipment just as set to a slave even in a state of turning off the power source of the other equipment. SOLUTION: This equipment is provided with a built-in hard disk 41, IDE controller 30 for controlling this built-in hard disk 41, power source 80, circuit 50 for using external device and connector 60 and the circuit 50 for using external device is provided with a power source feed line 51a through a gate circuit 51, a data control line 51b through the gate circuit 51 and a slave control line 53a for instructing slaving through a slave setting circuit 53 to a storage device built in the other equipment.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic device capable of using a hard disk built in another device, and more particularly, to a storage device typified by a hard disk built in another device, The present invention relates to a user-side interface auxiliary circuit for making it possible to use the device without inserting a command.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a hard disk as a component has a function called a master / slave setting in order to enable an additional hard disk. This function enables the user or the system provider to set the main hard disk (that is, the master hard disk) for hard disks that exist in the same system. (DIP switch or pin).

For example, when a user or a system provider constructs an electronic device including two hard disks, one of the physical switches (generally, a built-in hard disk) is set as a master and the other (internal). Generally, an external hard disk is set as a slave.

Generally, a PC (personal computer)
When the hard disk built in the main body is shipped from the manufacturer, the above physical switch is already set as the master. At present, the existence of the physical switch itself is not disclosed to the user. In the end,
Even if the user knows its existence, the PC itself must be disassembled in order to change the physical switch.
The situation is practically difficult.

[0005]

Therefore, when two PCs set in this way are connected and used, for example,
The following problems occur.

That is, each PC naturally has a built-in hard disk set as a master. That is,
Both are set as masters.

In such a state, in order to read / write data stored in the hard disk from one PC using the hard disk of the other PC, a cable is simply provided between the interfaces of the PCs. It cannot be realized just by connecting. That is, the conventional PC
Then, parallel port / serial port / FD (Floppy
Disk) / LAN (Local Area Network) / IR (Infrared)
/ Memory card / MO (Magnet Optical Disk) / CD-
There is no choice but to use it indirectly through a communication medium such as R (Compact Disk Recordable) or a storage device (including copy / transfer software). In addition, for this purpose, there is a problem that the power of each PC needs to be turned on.

[0008] Further, it takes a considerable amount of time to start up the system like a PC, requires communication software and the like,
The user has to prepare the storage medium, which has been a very time-consuming and time-consuming operation for the user.

In addition to the above problem, even if power is supplied from one PC to a hard disk (hard disk controller) in another PC using a special interface (in this case, the other PC is used). Although some consideration has to be given to the PC side), as described above, the internal hard disk of each PC is basically set as the master, so if this is set as a slave in any way, However, there remains a problem that one PC cannot use the internal hard disk of the other PC.

The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to set a built-in hard disk of another device as a slave even when the power of another device is not turned on. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic device that can use a built-in hard disk of another device when the power is not turned on by treating the device as if it were not.

[0011]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an electronic apparatus according to the present invention which can use a hard disk with a built-in separate device includes an interface unit connectable to a built-in storage device of another device, and a built-in storage device. And a controller that controls the internal storage device, and a power supply device that supplies power to the internal circuit, and the interface unit includes a power supply line that supplies power of its own device to the internal storage device of another device. A data control line for supplying a control signal of a controller for controlling a storage device built in the own device to a built-in storage device of another device, and a slave control line for instructing a built-in storage device of another device to be a slave device And characterized in that:

According to the electronic apparatus of the present invention having such features, even when the power of another apparatus is not turned on, the internal hard disk of another apparatus is handled as if it is set as a slave. This makes it possible to use the internal hard disk of another device.

An electronic device which can use a hard disk with another device according to the present invention has the above-mentioned configuration.
The slave control line is composed of four signal lines, and any two of the four signal lines are short-circuited and the remaining two signal lines are opened, so that the internal storage device of another device can be used. It is characterized by instructing to make a slave.

According to the electronic apparatus of the present invention having such features, it is easy to design a circuit for temporarily changing the built-in storage device to the slave storage device on another device side. In other words, only by directly connecting each signal line to the short pin, a temporary slave can be realized.

Further, the electronic device according to the present invention, which can use the hard disk with a built-in separate device, controls the gate of all or any one or more of the power supply line, the data control line and the slave control line. A gate control means is provided.

According to the electronic apparatus of the present invention having such features, for example, only when the use of a built-in storage device of another apparatus is declared, gate control of a power supply line or the like is performed, thereby making necessary Sometimes necessary power can be supplied to a built-in storage device of another device, so that the power consumption of the entire device can be reduced.

In the electronic device according to the present invention which can use a hard disk with a built-in separate device, in each of the above structures, the gate control means determines a slave control line before controlling the power supply line. And

According to the electronic apparatus of the present invention having the above-described features, before the power is supplied to the internal storage device of another device, that is, before the internal storage device of another device is initialized and controlled, Since the control line can be determined, the design of another device can be simplified.

In each of the above-described configurations, the electronic device capable of using the hard disk with the built-in separate device according to the present invention has the storage device of the different device with respect to the built-in storage device of the own device when the power of the own device is turned on. According to the electronic apparatus of the present invention having such a feature, which is provided with a means for notifying that the apparatus is provided in a simulated manner, the cable of each line is separated after the main power supply of the apparatus is turned on. Even when connected to equipment,
It is possible to use a built-in storage device of another device.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of an electronic device capable of using a hard disk with another device according to the present invention.

The main parts of the electronic apparatus according to the present embodiment are roughly classified into a main control unit 10, a system reset circuit 15, a display device 20, an input device 25, and an IDE (Integrat).
ed Drive Electronics) Controller (or Hard D
isk controller) 30, built-in hard disk unit 40, external device use circuit (interface unit) 50,
It comprises a connector 60 and a power supply 80.

The main control unit 10 is generally composed of a CPU, a RAM, and a ROM (not shown) in a PC, and all software for initializing each peripheral device existing in the apparatus, controlling each peripheral device, and mediating between the peripheral devices. Wear (BIOS:
BASIC INPUT OUTPUT SYSTEM, OS: Operating System
m, a device driver, etc.). In the present embodiment, mainly, information specified or designated by the user via the display device 20 or the input device 25 is notified to the external device use circuit 50 as a control signal. Function. Here, the information instructed and specified by the user is information (in the present embodiment, a GPO [0] signal) that declares use of a built-in storage device (hereinafter, also referred to as a built-in hard disk) of another device. ) And the designation information of the short pin of the internal hard disk of another device (in this embodiment, the GPO
[1] signal and GPO [2] signal).

The IDE controller 30 is a controller for controlling a built-in hard disk and an additional hard disk. When a data request is issued from the main control unit 10 for executing system software or application software, the IDE controller 30 mediates therewith. It is a control unit to perform.

The built-in hard disk unit 40 includes a master device (built-in hard disk) 41 serving as a data storage portion, and a master / slave setting switch 42 for setting the built-in hard disk 41 as a master or a slave. The built-in hard disk 41 is initially set to the master by the master / slave setting switch 42. The built-in hard disk 41 and the master / slave setting switch 42 are always integrated.

The connector 60 receives a power supply from the power supply 80, a data I / O signal, a reset signal, and a slave setting signal.
This is an input / output connector for supplying to the outside.

The external device use circuit 50 is a main component of the present invention and includes a gate circuit 51, an HD reset circuit 52, a slave setting circuit 53, and a pseudo slave circuit 54.

Before describing the external device use circuit 50, the configuration of the master / slave setting switch 42 of the hard disk and the control operation of the main control unit 10 will be described.

The current hard disk has a 4 PIN jumper for setting a master / slave. FIG. 2 shows the arrangement of the 4 PIN (APIN to DPIN) jumpers. FIG. 2 shows a cable shape of the connector 60. Further, the state of the 4PIN jumper and signals (GPO [1], GP0 [
FIG. 3 shows the relationship with [2]).

Of APIN to DPIN, between A and B, A
As shown in FIG. 3, GP is short-circuited at any point between C, BD, and CD by a short pin.
The slave is set by changing the O [1] signal and the GPO [2] signal to “LOW” or “HIGH”, but the specifications vary depending on the type of the hard disk. That is, the slave is set in one of the four combinations shown in FIG. Therefore, in consideration of a system configuration that can support all hard disks built in another device, the two parameters of the GPO [1] signal and the GPO [2] signal shown in FIG. It is most reasonable to set APIN # to DPIN # as shown in FIG.

[0031] Also, APIN-DP
By having parameters corresponding to the four PINs of IN, it is possible to provide a system with a small load in error processing such as a short circuit between A and D, which is a meaningless combination, and in porting. When setting as a master, it is only necessary to point at a short pin.

Although not described in detail in the present invention, a certain device is required to use the built-in hard disk in another device that uses the built-in hard disk. For example, when used, it is necessary that the jumper state set on the master is short-circuited by a pseudo circuit and set on the slave state.

Next, the main controller 10 will be described. FIG. 4 is an example of a screen for allowing a user to input and set signals of GPO [0], GPO [1], and GPO [2]. In the present embodiment, the HIG of GPO [1] and GPO [2]
In this embodiment, the user directly inputs the H / LOW setting. However, if the standardization of the short pin for setting the hard disk as a slave is performed,
It is not necessary to directly input the HIGH / LOW settings of PO [1] and GPO [2]. For example, if the model name of another device is G
If a table to be converted into PO [1] and GPO [2] is previously provided in the device, the user can specify the model name and use the GPO to set the internal hard disk of another device as a slave. HIGH / [1], GPO [2]
LOW setting can be performed.

However, in the present embodiment, when the user sets HIGH / LOW according to the screen shown in FIG. 4 and presses the use button, the main control unit 10 sets the set G
The PO [1] signal and the GPO [2] signal are output to the slave setting circuit 53. Further, the main control unit 10 outputs the GPO [0] signal to the gate circuit 51 and the HD reset circuit 52.

Next, each component of the external device use circuit 50 will be described. The slave setting circuit 53 is a circuit for notifying that the internal hard disk of another device set as a master is set as a slave. The slave setting circuit 53 transmits the GPO [1] signal and the GPO [2] signal from the main control unit 10 to the APIN.
♯ to DPIN♯ signal, and converted to slave control line 5
Notification is made from 3a to another device via the connector 60 (see also FIG. 2). FIG. 5 shows a flow of this series of signals.

Note that the GPO [1] signal and the GPO
[2] The process of converting a signal into an APIN # to DPIN # signal is performed according to the table shown in FIG. 3. In the conversion process, any one of the APIN # to DPIN # signal lines is shorted (connected). )It is to be. An example is shown in FIG.

In FIG. 6, GPO [1] = GPO
When [2] = LOW, the APIN signal line and B
The PIN♯ signal line is short-circuited (connected), and the other CPIN♯ signal line and the DPIN♯ signal line are
Leave open.

The gate circuit 51 includes the IDE controller 3
This is a circuit for connecting and disconnecting between the connector 0 and the connector 60. That is, it is for supplying the power inside the device main body to the internal hard disk of another device (see FIG. 7).

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the flow of each signal to the gate circuit 51. The gate circuit 51 is basically responsible for gate processing of a power supply line (POWER) 51a to a built-in hard disk of another device, and a data control line for the built-in hard disk of another device (in FIG. 7 and FIG. 1, OTHER 51) gate processing is also performed. OTHER♯ is a data signal for READ / WRITE to an internal hard disk of another device.

The gate processing of the gate circuit 51 and the control of the reset signal (HDRESET #) for the internal hard disk of another device in the HD reset circuit 52 are controlled by the GPO [0] signal output from the main control unit 10. . The time chart is shown in FIG.

In FIG. 8, when the GPO [0] signal is received (that is, the GPO [0] signal is changed from HIGH to LO).
After changing to W), after a delay process of several msec, the power supply line (POWER) 51a is opened, and after a few msec, a reset signal (HDRESET #) is output (that is, HDRESET # is changed from LOW to H).
IGH). This delay processing of several milliseconds is because some time is required until the supplied power is stabilized.

FIG. 9 schematically shows the role of the pseudo slave circuit 54. First, the control in a situation where the extended hard disk 90 is added will be described.

First, when the main power is turned on, the system reset circuit 15 resets each device.
♯ signal is output, and this reset signal (RESET
♯) is output to the built-in hard disk 41 and the extended hard disk 90. When receiving this signal, D
The control between the built-in hard disk 41 and the extended hard disk 90 is performed using the ASP signal line 30b and the PDIAG signal line 30c. Here, the DASP # signal is a signal indicating that the hard disk is operating when LOW, or that a slave hard disk (here, the extended hard disk 90) exists at the time of startup. Further, the PDIAG # signal is a signal which becomes high during the diagnosis by the slave device itself diagnosing whether the slave device (here, the extended hard disk 90) can operate normally.

The signal lines 30b, 30c
Is also used at times other than during this initialization process, so it is actually connected to the IDE controller 30.
If it is limited to this initialization process, the internal hard disk 4
1 and the extended hard disk 90 can be considered as a signal line.

FIG. 10 shows a time chart when the expansion hard disk 90 side is viewed as a center.

On the extended hard disk 90 side, as shown in FIG.
In response to the T♯ signal being converted from LOW to HIGH,
After several msec (about 300 msec at maximum), D
The ASP signal is changed from HIGH to LOW, and after several seconds (about 30 seconds at the maximum), the PDIA
The G signal is changed from HIGH to LOW, and after a few msec (about 10 msec at the maximum), the DASP
Change the signal from LOW to HIGH (DASP
Stop signal output).

The built-in hard disk 41 is provided with this DASP
変 化 By monitoring a change in the signal (whether or not the signal is once LOW), the presence or absence of the extended hard disk 90 is confirmed, and the presence or absence of the extended hard disk 90 is stored in the storage area 41a of the internal hard disk 41 (see FIG. 9). The presence / absence of the stored extended hard disk 90 is determined as long as the main power is not turned off (to be precise, RES
Unless the initialization process by the output of the ET signal is performed again). The control operation so far is the control content of the white arrow shown in FIG.

Next, the main controller 10 sends the RE to the extended hard disk 90 via the IDE controller 30.
The control content when the AD / WRITE process is performed will be described. This control content is a control content indicated by a white arrow in FIG.

That is, when a request is made to the extended hard disk 90 to output certain sector data of a certain track, the IDE controller 30 sends a slave signal to a certain signal line (ID #, ETC # signal line 30a in FIG. 9). A signal indicating that the signal is a signal for the device and a signal indicating a place where data output is desired are output. Specifically, the signal indicating that the signal is for the slave device is indicated by setting the ID signal to “HIGH”. As for the signal indicating the place where the data is desired to be output, the contents of the track and the sector are set in the ETC signal and output. Naturally, this signal line 30a is connected to both hard disks 41 and 90.

In the built-in hard disk 41, if the ID signal indicating the receiver signal line is "HIGH" (slave device), the presence / absence of the slave stored in the storage area 41a of the built-in hard disk 41 at the time of the above initialization processing After confirming the information, if the content is “Yes”, naturally no response is made. That is, the received ETC signal is for the extended hard disk 90 and not for the built-in hard disk 41.
On the other hand, when the slave presence / absence information stored in the storage area 41a is “absent”, the internal hard disk 41
Output the response. That is, the content corresponding to the track and sector set in the ETC # signal is read and output.

In the above description of the control contents, when the main power supply is turned on, the RESET signal is received, and the built-in hard disk 41 and the extended hard disk 9 are utilized by using the DASP signal line 30b and the PDIAG signal line 30c.
If control is not performed between 0 and 0, READ /
The WRITE process cannot be performed. Therefore, in order to avoid such a problem, in the present embodiment,
A pseudo slave circuit 54 is provided.

That is, in the pseudo slave circuit 54 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the ID #, ETC # signal lines 30a are not connected, and only the DASP # signal lines 30b and the PDIAG # signal lines 30c are provided. Is connected. That is, the initialization processing for the extended hard disk is performed only by the DASP signal and the PDIAG signal. The control content is
Similar to the extended hard disk 90, it is as shown in the time chart of FIG. Note that ID @, ETC shown in FIG.
The {signal line 30a} corresponds to the signal line 51b of OTHER in FIG. Thus, even if another device is connected after the main power is turned on, the internal hard disk of the another device can be used.

[0053]

According to the present invention, an electronic device which can use a hard disk with a built-in separate device includes a power supply line for supplying power of the device to a built-in storage device of the other device, and a storage device built in the device. A data control line for supplying a control signal of a controller for controlling the internal storage device of another device to the internal storage device of another device, and a slave control line for instructing the internal storage device of another device to perform slave operation. Even when the power of the device is not turned on, the internal hard disk of another device can be used by treating the internal hard disk of another device as if it were set as a slave.

In the electronic device according to the present invention which can use the hard disk with another device, the slave control line includes four signal lines, and any two of the four signal lines are short-circuited. Then, the remaining two signal lines are opened to instruct the internal storage device of another device to become a slave, so that the internal storage device is temporarily changed to the slave storage device on the other device side. The circuit design for changing to the above becomes easy. In other words, only by directly connecting each signal line to the short pin, a temporary slave can be realized.

The electronic device according to the present invention, which can use the hard disk with a built-in separate device, controls the gate of all or any one or more of the power supply line, the data control line, and the slave control line. Since the configuration is provided with the gate control means, for example, only when the use of the built-in storage device of another device is declared, by performing the gate control of the power supply line and the like, the necessary power can be supplied when necessary. Can be supplied to a built-in storage device of another device, so that the power consumption of the entire device can be reduced.

According to the electronic apparatus of the present invention which can use a hard disk with a built-in separate apparatus, the gate control means is configured to determine the slave control line before controlling the power supply line. Before the power is supplied to the internal storage device of another device, that is, before the internal storage device of another device is initialized and controlled, the slaved control line can be determined, so that the design of another device can be simplified. it can.

According to the electronic device of the present invention which can use the hard disk with the built-in separate device, when the power of the own device is turned on, the storage device of the different device is simulated with respect to the built-in storage device of the own device. Since it is configured to have a means for notifying that the device is provided, even if the cable of each line is connected to another device after the main power of the own device is turned on, the built-in storage device of another device can be used. It is possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of an electronic device that can use a hard disk with another device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a cable shape of a connector.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a correspondence table between a state of a 4PIN jumper and a signal output from a main control unit.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a screen for allowing a user to input and set signals of GPO [0], GPO [1], and GPO [2].

FIG. 5 shows the GPO [1] signal and GPO [2] signal as A
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a flow of a series of signals that are converted into PIN # to DPIN # signals and notified to another device.

FIG. 6 shows GPO [1] signal and GPO [2] signal as A
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a process of converting signals into PIN # to DPIN # signals.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a flow of a signal passing through a gate circuit.

FIG. 8 is a time chart illustrating an example of gate processing in a gate circuit.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating the role of a pseudo slave circuit.

FIG. 10 is a time chart illustrating an example of a processing operation on the extended hard disk side.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 Main control unit 15 System reset circuit 20 Display device 25 Input device 30 IDE controller 40 Internal hard disk unit 41 Internal hard disk (master device) 42 Master / slave setting switch 50 External device use circuit 51 Gate circuit 51a Power supply line 51b Data control line 52 HD reset circuit 53 Slave setting circuit 53a Slave control line 54 Pseudo slave circuit 60 Connector 80 Power supply 90 Extended hard disk

Claims (5)

[Claims] An electronic device having an interface unit connectable to a built-in storage device of another device, a built-in storage device of the own device, a controller for controlling the built-in storage device, and a power supply for supplying power to an internal circuit. The interface unit includes a power supply line for supplying power of the own device to a built-in storage device of another device, and a control signal of a controller for controlling a storage device built in the own device. An electronic device capable of using a hard disk built in another device, comprising: a data control line to be supplied to the built-in storage device; and a slave control line instructing the built-in storage device of another device to be slaved. . 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the slave control line comprises four signal lines, and any two of the four signal lines are short-circuited, and the other two signal lines are opened to provide another signal line. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein a command is issued to a built-in storage device of the device to make the device slave.
An electronic device that can use the hard disk built in another device described in. 3. The semiconductor device according to claim 1, further comprising gate control means for performing gate control of all or at least one of the power supply line, the data control line, and the slave control line. An electronic device that can use the hard disk built in another device described in. 4. The electronic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said gate control means determines a slave control line before controlling a power supply line. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for notifying a built-in storage device of the own device that a storage device of another device is provided in a pseudo manner when the power of the own device is turned on. An electronic device capable of using the hard disk built in another device according to 1, 2, 3 or 4.