JP2004110622A - Storage medium writer and control method for storage medium writer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a storage medium writer and a control method of the storage medium writer by which a user can extract a memory card by a natural and comprehensive operation and safely extract the memory card when he/she desires to extract the memory card. <P>SOLUTION: The storage medium writer has a power switch means by which the user performs on/off control of power of the entire storage medium writer and a power feed control means which continues power feed to a storage medium and a storage medium reading/writing means until data writing is terminated from an external information processing terminal to the storage medium when the power switch means receives an instruction of power interruption. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a storage medium writing device and a control method of the storage medium writing device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, semiconductor memory cards have attracted attention as storage media for digital cameras and the like. In addition, it is required that a PC (personal computer) reads and writes a memory card. Therefore, a memory card reader / writer for reading and writing a memory card on a PC has been developed. Further, there is a demand for outputting a digital camera image in a printer, a copy, a facsimile, and the like, and printers, a copy, a facsimile, and the like having a memory card reader are increasing.
[0003]
When writing data from a PC to a memory card using a memory card reader, the processing speed of a nonvolatile memory built into the memory card is lower than the processing speed of the PC. System), the writing to the memory card is performed on behalf of the application, and the writing is executed after a lapse of time. Therefore, the OS notifies the application that the writing to the memory card is completed before the actual writing to the memory card is completed.
[0004]
As a result, the application can operate at high speed without being dragged by the processing speed of the storage medium whose processing speed is low. On the other hand, there is a state in which the OS has not yet written to the storage medium despite the fact that the writing appears to be completed to the user. In this state, if the memory card is removed or the power of the card reader is turned off, writing cannot be completed. If the necessary data has not yet been written to the memory card, if the storage medium is removed during the writing, the written contents and the file allocation table will be inconsistent, the data will be destroyed by software, and if the data is removed during power supply. In the worst case, the memory card may be physically destroyed.
[0005]
Therefore, in the conventional product, the procedure for safely removing the memory card with the OS on the PC is described in the attached manual, etc. That is, after the delayed writing in the OS is completed, the power supply to the memory card is stopped. Then, it is obliged to remove the memory card.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the procedure for safely removing the memory card by the OS on the PC is not well known in the first place, the operation is difficult to understand. Further, it is not intuitive to operate the PC when the attention is paid to the memory card reader to remove the memory card.
[0007]
In addition, although the problem is likely to occur for beginners, there is a problem that the memory card is broken by software or hardware, so that the stored contents cannot be read out and cannot be solved by beginners.
[0008]
The present invention is directed to a storage medium writing device and a storage medium that allow a user to remove a memory card by a natural and easy-to-understand operation when the user wants to remove the memory card, and that can safely remove the memory card. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for controlling a medium writing device.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention provides an image information control unit for controlling image information, a first interface unit for connecting an external information processing terminal and the image information control unit, a storage medium read / write unit for reading / writing a storage medium, Second interface means for connecting a control unit to the storage medium read / write means, power supply switch means for turning on / off the entire power supply of the storage medium writing apparatus, and power supply switch means for turning off the power supply; Storage medium writing means having power supply control means for continuing to supply power to the storage medium and the storage medium read / write means until data writing from the external information processing terminal to the storage medium is completed when the instruction is received. Device.
[0010]
Embodiments and Examples of the Invention
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a storage medium writing device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, together with a power supply, a recording unit, and a card reader unit.
[0011]
The storage medium writing device 100 includes a CPU 101, a ROM 102, a RAM 103, a power control unit 104, a power switch 105, a display unit 106, a USB host control unit 107, and a USB function control unit 108.
[0012]
The CPU 101 is a system control unit, and controls the entire storage medium writing device 100.
[0013]
The ROM 102 stores a control program executed by the CPU 101, an embedded operating system (OS) program, and the like. In the above embodiment, each control program stored in the ROM 102 performs software control such as scheduling and a task switch under the management of the embedded OS stored in the ROM 102.
[0014]
The RAM 103 is configured by a DRAM (dynamic RAM) or the like, stores program control variables and the like, stores set values, management data of the storage medium writing device 100, and the like, and has various work buffer areas.
[0015]
The power control unit 104 controls a power supply 109 described later to supply power to each unit.
[0016]
The power switch 105 is a simple switch, and notifies the power control unit that the user has pressed the switch. When the entire power supply of the storage medium writing device 100 is turned off, the power supply control unit 104 also controls the power supply 109 based on the judgment, and turns off the power supply. This power switch 105 alone cannot turn off the power supply 109.
[0017]
The display unit 106 includes an LED (light emitting diode), an LCD (liquid crystal display), and the like, and is a display unit that displays an operation status, a status status, and a card reader status of the storage medium writing device 100.
[0018]
The USB host control unit 107 is a control unit that performs communication using a protocol defined by the USB communication standard. The USB communication standard is a standard capable of performing bidirectional data communication at high speed, and a plurality of hubs or functions (slaves) can be connected to one host (master). The USB host control unit 107 has a host function in USB communication.
[0019]
The USB function control unit 108 performs communication control of the USB interface I / F1, performs protocol control according to the USB communication standard, converts data from a USB control task executed by the CPU 101 into a packet, and transmits the packet to the external processing device 200. , A USB packet is transmitted, and conversely, a USB packet from the external processing device 200 is converted into data and transmitted to the CPU 101.
[0020]
The power supply 109 converts an input of a home power supply or the like into a voltage suitable for each device in the system, individually supplies power to each part, and stops supply. The components 102 to 108 are interconnected via a CPU bus 110 managed by the CPU 101.
[0021]
The recording unit 120 is a printing device configured by a laser beam printer, an inkjet printer, or the like, and prints on a printing member based on color image data or monochrome image data. The communication with the USB host control unit 107 is performed according to a protocol defined by the USB communication standard. In particular, the recording unit 120 has a function function.
[0022]
The card reader unit 130 has various memory card interfaces, and reads and writes the memory card. The communication with the USB host control unit 107 is performed according to a protocol defined by the USB communication standard. In particular, the recording unit 120 has a function function.
[0023]
In this embodiment, the USB communication of the recording function uses a one-to-one connection mode.
[0024]
The components 101 to 108 are mutually connected via a CPU bus 110 managed by the CPU 101.
[0025]
Note that the external processing device 200 is an example of an external information processing terminal, the USB host control unit 107 and the USB function control unit 108 are examples of an image information control unit, and the card reader unit 130 is a storage medium read / write unit. USB interface I / F1 is an example of first interface means for connecting an external information processing terminal and an image information control unit, and USB interface I / F2 is an image information control unit and a storage medium reading / writing means. 5 is an example of a second interface unit for connecting to the second interface.
[0026]
The CPU 101 is an example of an image information control unit that controls image information, and the power switch 105 is an example of a power switch unit that controls a user to turn on and off the entire power of the storage medium writing device. The power control unit 104 supplies power to the storage medium and the storage medium read / write unit until data writing from the external information processing terminal to the storage medium is completed when the power switch unit receives a power-off command. This is an example of the power supply control means for maintaining the power supply.
[0027]
Next, an outline of the external processing device 200 constituting the storage medium writing system will be described.
[0028]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the external processing device 200.
[0029]
The external processing device 200 includes a CPU 201, a ROM 202, a RAM 203, an internal storage device 204, an external storage device 205, an external storage disk 206, an operation unit 207, a display unit 208, a communication unit 209, and a USB host. And a control unit 210.
[0030]
The CPU 201 controls the overall operation of the external processing device 200 via the system bus according to a program read from the programs stored in the ROM 202, the RAM 203, or the internal storage device 204 and the external storage device 205. It is.
[0031]
The ROM 202 stores a control program for the CPU 201 and the like.
[0032]
The RAM 203 temporarily stores programs and image data and operates the external processing device 200 at high speed.
[0033]
The internal storage device 204 stores an operating system, various application programs, image data, and the like. That is, in the internal storage device 204, various control commands for the storage medium writing device 100 including the character data processing step in this embodiment, application software for transmitting and receiving data, printer driver software, scanner driver software, facsimile driver software, USB class driver software and USB bus driver software for each function are installed.
[0034]
Normally, it receives data from another computer-readable medium storing the application software and the driver software, that is, an external storage disk (floppy (registered trademark) disk, CD-ROM medium) 206, and controls the external storage device 205. Thereby, the application software and the driver software are installed. Alternatively, the communication unit (network or modem) 209 may receive application software and driver software via a communication line, and install the application software and the driver software in the internal storage device 204.
[0035]
The operation unit 207 controls a keyboard and a mouse (not shown) as means for inputting instructions from the operator. When printing is started, the keyboard and mouse of the operation unit 207 are usually used.
[0036]
The display unit 208 performs various displays for the operator. If the external processing terminal 200 starts printing, a confirmation dialog or the like is displayed on the display unit 208 to prompt the operator to input. Further, during the execution of the printing operation, information indicating the printing status is provided to the operator.
[0037]
The communication unit 209 connects to a network (not shown), connects to an Internet provider via a communication line, and communicates data, image information, and the like with a partner communication device. When connecting to a network or a communication line, a known method is used and will not be described in detail in this specification.
[0038]
The USB host control unit 210 performs communication control of the USB interface, converts data from the CPU 201 into a packet according to the USB communication standard, transmits a USB packet to the storage medium writing device 100, and conversely. The USB packet from the storage medium writing device 100 is converted into data and transmitted to the CPU 201. As for the communication control method, a known method is used and will not be described in detail in this specification.
[0039]
Next, the operation of data processing in the storage medium writing device 100 will be described in detail.
[0040]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a power-off processing operation in the storage medium writing device 100 executed by the CPU 101 in the above embodiment.
[0041]
In step 301, it is detected that the user has pressed the power switch 105 of the storage medium writing device 100 to remove the memory card.
[0042]
In step 302, as a response of the power switch 105, the power supply control unit 104 and the power supply 109 stop supplying power to a portion not related to reading and writing of the memory card. If a display such as an LED indicating that the memory card is being used is lit on the display unit, the display continues to be lit, but other displays are also stopped to indicate to the user that the power has been turned off.
[0043]
In step 303, the PC determines whether writing to the memory card is in progress. If the writing is being performed, the process of step 303 is repeated, and the end of the writing is awaited.
[0044]
In step 304, it is determined in advance whether removal of the memory card is prohibited from the PC. If it is prohibited, wait until the prohibition release command comes.
[0045]
In step 305, it is determined whether or not the last sector written by the PC to the memory card is an area for storing the first FAT (file allocation table). If the writing to the FAT has not been completed, the process of step 305 is repeated, and the process waits for writing from the PC. This is effective for the OS that writes the FAT last, but may be omitted when the OS is not the OS that writes the FAT last.
[0046]
In step 306, power supply to the memory card is stopped so that the memory card can be safely removed.
[0047]
In step 307, it is determined that all writing has been completed, the display indicating that the memory card is being used is stopped, and the user is notified that the card may be removed.
[0048]
In step 308, the power supply to the portion where the power supply was not stopped in step 302 is stopped, and the entire storage medium writing device 100 is stopped.
[0049]
In the embodiment, at least one of the first interface means and the second interface means conforms to a Universal Serial Bus (USB) communication standard.
[0050]
In the above embodiment, the image information control unit is means for analyzing the contents written from the external information processing terminal to the storage medium, and the power supply control means is the last of the storage areas of the storage medium. This is a means for continuing to supply power to the storage medium and the storage medium read / write means until the writing to the location where the data is written to is completed.
[0051]
That is, in the above embodiment, when the operation of removing the memory card is performed, the system notifies the user of the removal of the memory card through the card reader unit 130 to the system. Therefore, a method of newly providing a switch for notifying the card reader that the memory card is to be removed is conceivable, but an increase in the number of switches may hinder other operations. In the above embodiment, by turning off the power of the card reader unit 130, the user is notified that the memory card will be removed from the system.
[0052]
Then, from when the power switch 105 is pressed until the writing of the memory card from the PC is completed, the power is continuously supplied to the memory card, the part that controls the memory card, and the part that communicates with the PC. During the writing of the memory card, the fact that the power of the card reader is turned off is displayed to indicate that the writing is being performed on the memory card. For example, an access lamp is provided next to the memory card slot, and the access lamp is turned on during delayed writing even if the main power is turned off.
[0053]
In order to realize the above processing, it is necessary to know exactly that the writing has been completed. However, depending on the OS, writing may take a considerable amount of time, and may be interrupted in the middle of writing, and restarted after a while. Therefore, it may be easy to judge that writing has been completed after a while after writing. Can not.
[0054]
Therefore, in the first case, it may be prohibited to remove the memory card during writing from the PC. In this case, when permission to remove the memory card is given, it is recognized that the writing has been completed. In the second case, depending on the OS, the data to be written is written first, and after all the data is finished, finally, the data is written to the file allocation table (FAT). In this case, it is considered that the writing is completed when the FAT is written.
[0055]
As described above, when the user wants to remove the memory card, the user can press the power switch, turn off the access lamp, and then remove the memory card.
[0056]
That is, according to the above embodiment, when the user wants to remove the memory card, the power switch 105 should be pressed, and the memory card should be removed after the busy lamp goes off. The memory card can be removed, and the memory card can be safely removed.
[0057]
At this time, since writing from the PC has been completed, the possibility of destroying data by removing the memory card during writing can be eliminated. Further, since the power supply to the memory card is stopped, there is no possibility of electrical breakdown.
[0058]
In the above embodiment, since the delayed writing is performed safely, the performance of the PC is improved by using the delayed writing even in the OS that is not the delayed writing by default.
[0059]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, when the user wants to remove the memory card, the user can press the power switch, remove the memory card after the busy lamp goes out, and remove the memory card by a natural and easy-to-understand operation. And the memory card can be safely removed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a storage medium writing device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, together with a power supply, a recording unit, and a card reader unit.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an external processing device 200.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a power-off processing operation in the storage medium writing device 100 executed by the CPU 101 in the embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
100 ... storage medium writing device
101 ... CPU,
104 power supply control unit,
105 ... power switch,
106 ... display unit,
107 ... USB host control unit,
108: USB function control unit,
109 ... power supply,
120: recording unit,
130 ... Card reader part,
200: external processing device,
I / F1, I / F2... USB interface.

Claims (5)

In a storage medium writing device,
An image information control unit for controlling image information;
First interface means for connecting the external information processing terminal and the image information control unit;
Storage medium reading / writing means for reading / writing the storage medium;
Second interface means for connecting the image information control unit and the storage medium read / write means;
Power switch means for a user to turn on and off the entire power supply of the storage medium writing device;
Power supply control means for continuing power supply to the storage medium and the storage medium read / write means until data writing from the external information processing terminal to the storage medium is completed when the power switch means receives a power-off command; When;
A storage medium writing device, comprising: In claim 1,
A storage medium writing device, wherein at least one of the first interface means and the second interface means conforms to a universal serial bus communication standard. In claim 1 or claim 2,
The image information control unit is means for analyzing the content written from the external information processing terminal to the storage medium,
The power supply control unit is a unit that continues to supply power to the storage medium and the storage medium read / write unit until writing to a location to be written last in a storage area of the storage medium is completed. Storage medium writing device. In any one of claims 1 to 3,
While writing to the storage medium from the external information processing terminal, and while power is supplied to the storage medium and the storage medium read / write means, the display apparatus has a display means for displaying the fact. Storage medium writing device. In a control method of a storage medium writing device,
An image information control step of controlling image information;
A storage medium reading / writing step for reading / writing the storage medium, the storage medium reading / writing means for reading / writing the storage medium;
The power of the entire storage medium writing device is turned on and off by a user. When a power switch unit that receives a power-off command receives a power-off command, data writing from the external information processing terminal to the storage medium is completed. A power supply control step of maintaining power supply to the storage medium and the storage medium read / write means;
A method for controlling a storage medium writing device, comprising:

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