JP2004355143A - Disk device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce power consumption for a command issued by a host computer to determine whether a disk device for a removable medium is loaded with a medium. <P>SOLUTION: While a medium detection circuit 32 detects that a tray 34 is loaded with no medium 36, a host computer 10 is requested to shift to a power down mode, which stops or reduces access by the host computer 10 to the disk device while the disk device carries no medium. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a disk drive, and more particularly to a disk drive which is connected to a host computer and which is capable of removing power from a disk drive with removable media.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a personal computer, an ATA / ATAPI (AT Attachment / AT Attachment Packet Interface) is used as an interface for connecting a host computer and a storage device that handles removable media such as a CD-ROM drive and a DVD-ROM drive. Serial ATA, USB, IEEE 1394 standard and the like are known.
[0003]
In the ATA / ATAPI standard, a host computer determines whether or not a medium is inserted in a connected disk device by issuing a command such as TESTUNIT READY to the disk device. When a medium can be detected in the disk device, it is possible to read information of the disk, read / write data to / from the disk, and the like.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2-176921
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The conventional disk device is configured as described above.According to the conventional standard, it is necessary for the host computer to always check the presence or absence of the media in the disk device at regular intervals even when the disk device has no media. Even when no media is inserted in the disk device, that is, even when the disk device is not accessible, the host computer and the disk device periodically communicate with each other, consuming wasteful power.
[0006]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a disk device capable of suppressing waste of power consumption of a host computer in a state where no media is inserted in the disk device. And
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a disk device which is connected to a host computer and in which a removable medium is mounted, wherein a medium detection circuit for detecting the presence or absence of a medium in the disk device; And a power control request circuit that outputs a request command to the host computer to cause the host computer to transition to the power down mode when it is determined that the medium does not exist in the disk device. .
[0008]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the disk device according to the first aspect, the power control requesting circuit includes a state in which the medium detection circuit detects a state in which the medium does not exist in the disk apparatus. When a transition to the power-on mode is detected, the host computer outputs a request command for the host computer to make a transition from the power-down mode to the power-on mode.
[0009]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a disk device which is connected to a host computer via a cable and in which a removable medium is mounted, a medium detection circuit for detecting presence / absence of a medium in the disk device. A cable connection control circuit that disconnects the electrical connection between the host computer and a cable when the medium detection circuit determines that the medium does not exist in the disk device. is there.
[0010]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the disk device according to the third aspect, the cable connection control circuit is configured such that the medium detection circuit changes a state in which the medium does not exist in the disk apparatus to a state in which the medium exists. When the transition to is detected, the connection state between the host computer and the cable is changed from a state of being not electrically connected to a state of being electrically connected.
[0011]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the disk device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the disk device further includes a tray state detection circuit that detects open / close of a tray for mounting the medium. The detection of a medium in the disk device by the media detection circuit is performed only when a trigger signal indicating that the tray is closed is output after the tray is opened by the tray state detection circuit.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, a disk device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 4. FIG.
FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a system using a disk device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a host computer, reference numeral 30 denotes a disk device from which a medium such as a CD-ROM drive or DVD-ROM drive can be removed, and reference numeral 20 denotes a cable for physically connecting the host computer and the disk device.
[0013]
FIG. 2 shows a detailed configuration example of the disk device 30 in FIG. The disk device 30 of FIG. 2 includes a power mode transition request circuit 31, a media detection circuit 32, a tray state detection circuit 35, a tray 34, and a pickup 33.
[0014]
The tray 35 is a container for inserting the medium 36 into the disk device 30 by opening and closing. The pickup 33 is a circuit that irradiates a laser to the medium 36 inserted in the tray 34 and detects a signal of the reflected light.
[0015]
The media detection circuit 32 is a circuit that detects whether a medium 36 such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM is inserted into the disk device 30 according to an output from the pickup 33. The power mode transition request circuit 31 is a circuit for requesting the host computer 10 to transition to a power mode in accordance with the output from the media detection circuit 32, and realizes a power control request circuit. I have. The tray state detection circuit 35 is a circuit for detecting the open / close state of the tray 34 for inserting the medium 36 into the disk device 30.
[0016]
The operation of the disk device 30 configured as described above will be described below.
The reflection signal 38 from the medium 36 is a reflection signal for the laser emitted from the pickup 33. The medium detection circuit 32 detects whether the medium 36 is inserted in the tray 35 based on the reflection signal 38. The detection result by the media detection circuit 32 is input to the subsequent power mode transition request circuit 31 as an output.
[0017]
In FIG. 4, a reflection signal 38 (MEDIA_DET) output from the medium detection circuit 32 indicates that the medium 36 is inserted into the tray 34 when it is at a high level. When MEDIA_DET is at a low level, it indicates that the medium 36 is not inserted into the tray 34. That is, when the MEDIA_DET in FIG. 4 transitions from the high level to the low level, it means that the medium 36 has been removed from the tray 34.
[0018]
The power mode transition request circuit 31 detects that the MEDIA_DET has transitioned from the high level to the low level, and requests the host computer 10 to transition to the power down mode.
[0019]
As means for requesting the host computer 10 to transition to the power down mode, for example, a handshake of a primitive called PMREQ_P or PMREQ_S and a primitive called PMACK or PMNAK known in the Serial ATA standard can be performed. Accordingly, access to the disk device 30 from the host computer 10 in a state where the medium 36 is not present in the disk device 30 is stopped or reduced, and power consumption is suppressed.
On the other hand, when the MEDIA_DET in FIG. 4 changes from the low level to the high level, it means that the medium 36 has been inserted into the tray 34.
[0020]
The power mode transition request circuit 31 detects that the MEDIA_DET has transitioned from the low level to the high level, and requests the host computer 10 to transition to the power-on mode.
[0021]
Here, the detection timing of the medium 36 by the medium detection circuit 32 is compared only when the trigger signal 39 output after the tray 34 is opened and closed by the tray state detection circuit 35 is High as shown in FIG. When the detection circuit 32 detects that the medium 36 is not inserted into the tray 34, the operation of the pickup 33 and the medium detection circuit 32 is stopped until the trigger signal 39 is output from the tray state detection circuit 35 next. The power consumption of the computer system can be further reduced.
[0022]
As described above, according to the disk device of the first embodiment of the present invention, while the medium detection circuit 32 detects that the medium 36 is not inserted into the tray 34, the host computer 10 Since the host computer 10 is requested to transition to the power down mode, the power consumption of the host computer 10 during the period when the medium 36 is not present can be reduced.
[0023]
Further, by using the trigger signal 39 output from the tray state detection circuit 35 for detecting the opening and closing of the tray, the operation of the pickup 33 and the media detection circuit 32 is stopped until the operation of the tray 34 is performed. Power consumption can be reduced.
[0024]
(Embodiment 2)
Next, a disk device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 3, and 4. FIG.
FIG. 3 shows a configuration of a data transfer circuit constituting a disk device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. 3, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 denote the same or corresponding parts, and are different from the configuration of the first embodiment in that a cable connection control circuit 37 is provided instead of the power mode transition request circuit 31. is there. The cable connection control circuit 37 is a circuit for electrically controlling the connection state of the cable 20 with the host computer 10.
[0025]
Hereinafter, the operation will be described.
The reflection signal 38 is a reflection signal for the laser emitted from the pickup 33. The medium detection circuit 32 detects whether the medium 36 is inserted into the tray 34 based on the reflection signal 38. The detection result by the media detection circuit 32 is input as an output to the cable connection control circuit 37 at the subsequent stage.
[0026]
In FIG. 4, a reflection signal (MEDIA_DET) output from the medium detection circuit 32 indicates that the medium 36 is inserted into the tray 34 when it is at a high level. When MEDIA_DET is at a low level, it indicates that the medium 36 is not inserted into the tray 34. That is, when the MEDIA_DET in FIG. 4 transitions from the high level to the low level, it means that the medium 36 has been removed from the tray 34.
[0027]
The cable connection control circuit 37 detects that the MEDIA_DET has transitioned from the high level to the low level, and sets the signal line 20 connected to the host computer 10 to a high impedance state, whereby the physical connection is established. Cable is not connected to the host computer 10 in a simulated manner.
[0028]
On the other hand, when the MEDIA_DET in FIG. 4 changes from the low level to the high level, it means that the medium has been inserted into the tray 34.
[0029]
The cable connection control circuit 37 detects that the MEDIA_DET has transitioned from the low level to the high level, and releases the high impedance state of the signal line 20 so that the cable is connected to the host computer 10.
[0030]
Here, the detection timing of the medium 36 by the medium detection circuit 32 is compared only when the trigger signal 39 output after the tray 34 is opened and closed by the tray state detection circuit 35 is High as shown in FIG. When the detection circuit 32 detects that the medium 36 is not inserted into the tray 34, the operation of the pickup 33 and the medium detection circuit 32 is stopped until the trigger signal 39 is output from the tray state detection circuit 35 next. The power consumption of the computer system can be further reduced.
[0031]
As described above, according to the disk device of the second embodiment of the present invention, during the period in which the state in which the medium 36 is not inserted into the tray 34 is detected by the medium detecting circuit 32, the high impedance state of the signal line 20 is detected. Is canceled, it appears as if the cable is connected to the host computer 10, so that the power consumption of the host computer 10 during the period when the medium 36 does not exist can be reduced.
[0032]
Further, by using the trigger signal 39 output from the tray state detection circuit 35 for detecting the opening and closing of the tray, the operation of the pickup 33 and the media detection circuit 32 is stopped until the operation of the tray 34 is performed. Power consumption can be reduced.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the disk device of the present invention, in a disk device connected to a host computer and mounted with a removable medium, a media detection circuit for detecting the presence or absence of a medium in the disk device And a power control request circuit that outputs a request command to the host computer to cause the host computer to transition to a power down mode when the medium detection circuit determines that the medium is not present in the disk device. The host computer does not need to constantly monitor whether media is inserted in the disk drive during the period when no media is present in the disk drive. Power consumption can be reduced. There is a cormorant effect.
[0034]
Further, according to the disk device of the present invention, in the disk device according to the first aspect, the power control request circuit may be configured to detect the presence of the medium from the state where the medium does not exist in the disk device in the medium detection circuit. When a transition to the power-on mode is detected, the host computer outputs a request command to the host computer to make a transition from the power-down mode to the power-on mode. It is no longer necessary to constantly monitor whether a medium is inserted, and it is possible to suppress the waste of power consumption when there is no medium in the disk device, and it is possible to return to the original state after the medium is inserted. There is effect.
[0035]
Further, according to the disk device of the present invention, in a disk device which is connected to a host computer via a cable and in which a removable medium is mounted, media detection for detecting the presence or absence of a medium in the disk device And a cable connection control circuit that disconnects the electrical connection between the host computer and the cable when the medium detection circuit determines that the medium is not present in the disk device. Therefore, the electrical connection between the host computer and the disk device is interrupted during the period when no media exists in the disk device, and the host computer must constantly monitor whether the media is inserted in the disk device. Disappears and there is no media in the disk unit. There is an effect that it is possible to suppress the waste of power.
[0036]
Further, according to the disk device of the present invention, in the disk device of the third aspect, the cable connection control circuit determines that the medium is not present in the medium detecting circuit in the medium detecting circuit. When the transition to the connection state is detected, the connection state between the host computer and the cable is changed from a state of being not electrically connected to a state of being electrically connected. It is not necessary to constantly monitor whether or not a medium is inserted in the device, and it is possible to suppress the waste of power consumption when there is no medium in the disk device, and it is possible to return to the original state after the medium is inserted. There is an effect that can be.
[0037]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the disk device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, further comprising a tray state detection circuit for detecting open / close of a tray for mounting the medium. Since the detection of a medium in the disk device by the medium detection circuit is performed only when a trigger signal indicating that the tray is closed is output after the tray is opened by the tray state detection circuit, Until the tray is operated, the supply of power to the optical pickup and the medium detection circuit can also be stopped, which has the effect of further reducing power consumption.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a system using a disk device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a disk device according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a disk device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining signals of a media detection circuit used in FIGS. 2 and 3;
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining signals of a tray state detection circuit used in FIGS. 2 and 3;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Host computer 20 Cable 30 Disk device 31 Power mode transition request circuit 32 Media detection circuit 33 Pickup 34 Tray 35 Tray state detection circuit 36 Media 37 Cable connection control circuit 38 Reflection signal from medium 39 Tray state trigger signal 40 Media detection circuit Output signal

Claims (5)

In a disk device that is connected to the host computer and has removable media,
A medium detection circuit for detecting the presence or absence of a medium in the disk device;
A power control request circuit that outputs a request command to the host computer to cause the host computer to transition to a power down mode when the media detection circuit determines that the medium does not exist in the disk device;
A disk device comprising: The disk device according to claim 1,
The power control request circuit,
When the medium detection circuit detects a transition from a state where the medium does not exist in the disk device to a state where the medium exists, the host computer makes a transition from the power down mode to the power on mode with respect to the host computer. To output the request instruction,
A disk device characterized by the above-mentioned. In a disk device that is connected to a host computer via a cable and that mounts removable media,
A medium detection circuit for detecting the presence or absence of a medium in the disk device;
A cable connection control circuit that, when the medium detection circuit determines that the medium does not exist in the disk device, disconnects the electrical connection between the host computer and the cable;
A disk device comprising: The disk device according to claim 3,
The above cable connection control circuit,
When the medium detection circuit detects a transition from a state in which the medium is not present in the disk device to a state in which the medium is present, the connection state between the host computer and the cable is changed from a state in which the medium is not electrically connected. To be electrically connected,
A disk device characterized by the above-mentioned. The disk device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A tray state detection circuit that detects open / close of the tray on which the medium is mounted;
After the tray is opened by the tray state detection circuit, the detection of the media in the disk device by the media detection circuit is performed only when a trigger signal indicating that the tray is closed is output.
A disk device characterized by the above-mentioned.

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