JP2005235025A - Disk drive system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a disk drive system capable of efficiently using a disk drive by a plurality of host devices. <P>SOLUTION: The disk drive system is provided with; a hard disk drive 34, a disk drive 36, two host devices 30 and 32 for controlling these drives; bus switches 40 and 42 inserted to an ATA bus connecting the disk drive 36 and the host devices 30 and 32; and a switching control part 44 for switching the bus switches 40 and 42 in accordance with a type of an optical disk loaded to the disk drive 36. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a disk drive system in which a disk drive device such as a hard disk device is connected to a plurality of host devices.

Conventionally, two disk drive devices are connected via a bus, and a switch provided in the middle of the bus is opened to control these two disk drive devices with separate controllers to individually transfer data. Such an apparatus is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). In this device, it is possible to access each disk drive device from either of the two controllers by switching the open / close state of the switch, so even if one controller fails, the other controller can be used. Access to the disk drive device can be continued.
JP 2001-523858 A (page 14-17, FIG. 3-6)

  By the way, in the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, various access methods are possible for the two disk drive devices by switching the open / close state of the switch, but basically the same function is provided. Two controllers are used, and it is not assumed that two controllers having different functions and a disk drive device are combined. Therefore, even if the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1 is used, there is a problem in that the disk drive device cannot be efficiently used by two controllers (host devices) having different functions.

  The present invention was created in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a disk drive system capable of efficiently using a disk drive device by a plurality of host devices.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a disk drive system of the present invention is connected to one or a plurality of disk drive devices and a disk drive device via a bus, and controls access to the disk type recording medium by the disk drive device. A plurality of host devices, a bus switch inserted on a bus connecting the plurality of host devices and the disk drive device, and a bus switch according to the type of the disk type recording medium loaded in at least one disk drive device Switching control means for controlling the open / closed state of the disk drive and switching one host device as a connection destination of the disk drive device loaded with the disk type recording medium. As a result, it becomes possible to automatically switch the host device that controls the disk drive device according to the type of the disk type recording medium loaded in the disk drive device. Can be used well.

  Further, the above-mentioned disk type recording medium is an optical disk including a CD and a DVD, and it is desirable that the disk drive device is compatible with both the CD and DVD optical disks. Optical discs are broadly classified into CDs and DVDs, and there are three types: read-only, writable only once, and writable as many times as possible, some of which employ multiple types. There are various types of optical disks. Therefore, if a host device corresponding to all types is prepared, the device cost becomes high, so at first, a host device corresponding to a small number of types is prepared, and another host device corresponding to another type is added. There is a case. According to the present invention, even in such a case, since the host device is appropriately selected according to the type of the optical disk, the disk drive device can be used efficiently without complicated settings and complicated operations. Is possible.

  Further, the bus described above is preferably an ATA bus. Since the ATA bus can be opened (high impedance state) by opening the bus switch, the host device can be switched at an arbitrary timing by combining such an ATA bus and the bus switch. become.

  In addition, it is desirable that the plurality of host devices described above have different types of disk-type recording media to be subjected to access control. This facilitates the addition or change of the host device, and increases the flexibility of the system configuration.

  Further, it is desirable that the plurality of host devices described above maintain the operating state when changing the open / closed state of the bus switch. As a result, it is not necessary to turn off or reset the host device, and the time required for switching can be shortened.

  Hereinafter, an in-vehicle device according to an embodiment to which a disk drive system of the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an in-vehicle device according to an embodiment. 1 includes a navigation device 10, a CD player 12, a DVD player 14, a display unit 20, an amplifier 22, a speaker 24, an operation unit 26, host devices 30, 32, a hard disk drive (HDD) 34, a disk drive ( DD) 36, bus switches (bus SW) 40 and 42, a switching control unit 44, and a system control unit 50.

  The navigation apparatus 10 draws a map image around the vehicle position of the vehicle, displays an enlarged image of a right / left turn intersection along the travel route to the destination, and generates a voice signal indicating a right / left turn instruction. Provide driving guidance. The CD player 12 plays back music recorded on a CD. The DVD player 14 reads and reproduces video and music recorded on the DVD. The display unit 20 displays a map image drawn by the navigation device 10, an enlarged image of a right / left turn intersection, or the like, or displays a reproduction image of the CD player 12 or the DVD player 14. The amplifier 22 amplifies the audio signal output from the navigation device 10 and outputs it from the speaker 24, or amplifies the reproduced audio signal from the CD player 12 or DVD player 14 and outputs it from the speaker 24. The operation unit 26 is for a user to give an operation instruction to each of the navigation device 10, the CD player 12, and the DVD player 14, and includes a plurality of input keys, operation knobs, operation levers, and the like.

  The host device 30 is a controller that controls reading and writing of data with respect to the hard disk drive 34 and the disk drive 36, and these are connected via, for example, an ATA (AT attachment) bus. Similarly, the host device 32 is a controller that controls reading and writing of data with respect to the disk drive 36, and these are connected via an ATA bus.

  The hard disk drive 34 magnetically reads and writes data on a non-removable fixed disk-type recording medium, and stores map data and the like necessary for the operation of the navigation device 10. The hard disk drive 34 is used in combination with the navigation device 10. The disk drive 36 is equipped with an optical pickup for selectively loading a plurality of types of optical disks and reading data recorded on the optical disks, an optical disk rotation drive mechanism, and the like. An optical disc as a disc-type recording medium includes both a CD and a DVD. The disk drive 36 is used in combination with the CD player 12 or the DVD player 14.

  The bus switch 40 is inserted in an ATA bus that connects the host device 30 and the disk drive 36, and connects or disconnects them by switching between open and closed states. The bus switch 42 is inserted into an ATA bus that connects the host device 32 and the disk drive 36, and connects or disconnects them by switching between open and closed states. The switching control unit 44 sets the open / closed state of each of the bus switches 40 and 42 according to the type of the disk inserted into the disk drive 36. The system control unit 50 controls the entire in-vehicle device shown in FIG.

  The hard disk drive 34 and the disk drive 36 described above correspond to the disk drive device, and the switching control unit 44 corresponds to the switching control means.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the relationship between the two host devices 30 and 32, the hard disk drive 34, and the disk drive 36. As shown in FIG. 2, the disk drive 36 used in the in-vehicle apparatus of the present embodiment has data recorded on three types of optical disks (music CD, DVD-ROM, DVD-Video) as hardware capabilities. Can be read out. One host device 30 has only a function of reading / writing data from / to the hard disk drive 34 and a function of reading music data recorded on a music CD loaded in the disk drive 36. The other host device 32 has only a function of reading data recorded on the DVD-ROM and DVD-Video loaded in the disk drive 36.

  Accordingly, when focusing on the disk drive 36, it is necessary to read data by one host device 30 when a music CD is loaded, and the other host when a DVD-ROM or DVD-Video is loaded. It is necessary to read data by the device 32. Thus, it is necessary to switch the connected host devices 30 and 32 depending on which optical disk is loaded in the disk drive 36. In this embodiment, this switching is performed by the switching control unit 44 by the two bus switches 40 and 42. This is done by controlling the open / close state.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the in-vehicle device of the present embodiment, and shows a control operation mainly performed by the switching control unit 44. The switching control unit 44 monitors the disk drive 36 and determines whether or not an optical disk is loaded (step 100). If it is not loaded, a negative determination is made and this determination is repeated. Further, when an optical disk is loaded in the disk drive 36, an affirmative determination is made in the determination in step 100, and then the switching control unit 44 determines whether or not the hard disk drive 34 is being used (accessed) (step). 101). If it is not in use, a negative determination is made, and then the switching control unit 44 determines whether there is one host device corresponding to the disc type of the loaded optical disc (step 102).

  If there is not one host device corresponding to the disc type (in the case of this embodiment, one of music CD, DVD-ROM, and DVD-Video), a negative determination is made, and then the switching control unit 44 , One host device is selected (step 103). The case where there is not one host device corresponding to the disc type is, for example, a case where both the host devices 30 and 32 have a function of reading data recorded on a music CD, and in this case, which host Since music CD data can be read using the device, one host device is selected according to a predetermined priority order. In the example shown in FIG. 2, since there is one host device corresponding to the disk type of this optical disk, no matter what type of optical disk is loaded in the disk drive 36, the determination in step 102 is affirmative.

  After one host device is selected in step 103, or after an affirmative determination is made in step 102, the switching control unit 44 controls the open / close state of the bus switches 40 and 42 to control the disk drive 36. Are connected to a host device corresponding to the loaded optical disk (step 104). Thereafter, the data read by the connected host device is sent to the CD player 12 or the DVD player 14, and a predetermined reproduction operation is performed.

  If the hard disk drive 34 is in use when the optical disk is loaded into the disk drive 36, an affirmative determination is made in step 101, and the switching control unit 44 then determines the disk type of the loaded optical disk. It is determined whether the host device corresponding to is in use (step 106). If it is not in use, a negative determination is made and the process proceeds to step 102 to determine whether there is one host device corresponding to the disk type.

  If the host device corresponding to the disk type is in use, an affirmative determination is made in step 106. For example, when the hard disk drive 34 is in use and the music CD is loaded into the disk drive 36, the same host device 30 as that used when accessing the hard disk drive 34 is used. Judgment is made. Next, the switching control unit 44 (or the system control unit 50) displays a predetermined message (step 107). Thereafter, the switching control unit 44 performs switching control of the bus switches 40 and 42 according to the instruction of the user who confirmed the content of this message (step 108). In the above example, when the operation of the host device 30 competes, a message is displayed and the user inputs some instruction. However, the function of the host device that is operating first is given priority and a new one is given. The reading of data from the optical disk loaded in the disk may be prohibited, or conversely, priority may be given to the reading of data from the newly loaded optical disk to temporarily stop the function of the host apparatus that is operating first. .

  4-6 is a figure which shows the specific example of the switching control of the bus switches 40 and 42 by the switching control part 44. FIG. FIG. 4 shows a state after the music CD is loaded in the disk drive 36 when the hard disk drive 34 is not used. In this state, the bus switch 40 on the host device 30 side is turned on, and the bus switch 42 on the host device 32 side is turned off. Data of the music CD loaded in the disk drive 36 is read by the host device 30, and music playback is performed by the CD player 12. The data flow at this time is indicated by the symbol A. Further, since the ATA bus between the host device 32 and the disk drive 36 is in an open state, there is no particular problem even if the operating state (operating state) of the host device 32 is maintained.

  Thereafter, when the music CD loaded in the disk drive 36 is replaced with DVD-Video (FIG. 5), the bus switch 40 on the host device 30 side is turned off, and the bus switch 42 on the host device 32 side is turned on. At this time, since the host device 32 is in an operating state, it is not necessary to restart it, and the data recorded on the DVD-Video can be read out immediately after the disk drive 36 is connected, and the reproduction operation by the DVD player 14 is started. It becomes possible to do. The data flow at this time is indicated by the symbol B.

  Thereafter (FIG. 6), since the ATA bus connecting the hard disk drive 34 and the host device 30 is cut off from the disk drive 36 side by the bus switch 40 turned off, the hard disk drive 34 by the host device 30. Can be accessed, map data recorded in the hard disk drive 34 can be read, and processing such as map display by the navigation device 10 can be performed. The data flow at this time is indicated by the symbol C.

  In this way, it becomes possible to automatically switch the host device that controls the disk drive 36 in accordance with the type of the optical disk loaded in the disk drive 36, and the plurality of host devices 30 and 32 allow the disk drive 36 and The hard disk drive 34 can be used efficiently.

  In addition, since the ATA bus can open the bus switches 40 and 42 to be in an open state (high impedance state), by combining such an ATA bus and the bus switches 40 and 42, any timing can be obtained. The host devices 30 and 32 can be switched at

  In addition, since the two host devices 30 and 32 are different in the type of the optical disk to be subjected to access control, it is easy to add or change the host device, and the flexibility of the system configuration can be increased.

  In addition, since the two host devices 30 and 32 can maintain the operation state when changing the open / closed state of the bus switches 40 and 42, it is not necessary to turn off or reset the host devices 30 and 32. Thus, the time required for switching can be shortened.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation implementation is possible within the range of the summary of this invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the disk drive system configured by combining the hard disk drive 34 and the disk drive 36 and the two host devices 30 and 32 has been described. However, the hard disk drive and two or more disk drives are combined. You may do it. Further, the number of host devices may be one, or a combination of three or more may be used.

  In the above-described embodiment, each of the host device 30 and the host device 32 has a different function. However, a part of the functions may be provided. For example, when one host device 30 has a function of accessing the hard disk drive 34 and a function of reading music CD data, the other host device 32 has a function of reading DVD-ROM and DVD-Video data. A function of accessing the hard disk drive 34 may be provided. In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, there are four host devices 30 and 32, each of which can be arbitrarily combined with the hard disk drive 34 and the disk drive 36, respectively. It is desirable to connect via bus switches 140-146 so that any combination can be realized. As a result, the hard disk drive 34 and the disk drive 36 can be used simultaneously at any time.

  In the above-described embodiment, the music CD, DVD-ROM, and DVD-Video have been described as examples of the optical disk that can be loaded into the disk drive 36. However, in general, the optical disk is broadly divided into a CD and a DVD, and is read out. There are three types: dedicated, one time writable, and many times writable, and some of them employ a plurality of types. As the disk drive 36, those corresponding to all of these types of optical disks may be used, or those corresponding to only some types may be used. In particular, if a host device corresponding to all types is prepared, the cost of the device increases. Therefore, first, a host device corresponding to a small number of types is prepared, and another host device corresponding to another type is added. There is a case. Even in such a case, in the in-vehicle device of the present embodiment, the host device is appropriately selected according to the type of the optical disk, and therefore the disk drive 36 and the hard disk drive 34 are not performed without complicated settings and complicated operations. Can be used efficiently.

  Moreover, although embodiment mentioned above demonstrated using the vehicle-mounted apparatus as an example, you may apply this invention to apparatuses other than vehicle-mounted.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the vehicle-mounted apparatus of one Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the relationship between two host apparatuses, a hard disk drive, and a disk drive. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of the vehicle-mounted apparatus of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the specific example of switching control of the bus switch by a switching control part. It is a figure which shows the specific example of switching control of the bus switch by a switching control part. It is a figure which shows the specific example of switching control of the bus switch by a switching control part. It is a figure which shows the modification of the connection form using a bus switch.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Navigation apparatus 12 CD player 14 DVD player 20 Display part 22 Amplifier 24 Speaker 26 Operation part 30, 32 Host apparatus 34 Hard disk drive (HDD)
36 Disk drive (DD)
40, 42 Bus switch (Bus SW)
44 switching control unit 50 system control unit

Claims (5)

One or more disk drive devices,
A plurality of host devices connected to the disk drive device via a bus and controlling access to the disk-type recording medium by the disk drive device;
A bus switch inserted on a bus connecting the plurality of host devices and the disk drive device;
The open / close state of the bus switch is controlled in accordance with the type of the disk type recording medium loaded in at least one of the disk drive apparatuses, and the connection destination of the disk drive apparatus loaded with the disk type recording medium is one. Switching control means for switching the host device,
A disk drive system comprising: In claim 1,
The disc type recording medium is an optical disc including a CD and a DVD,
The disk drive system is a single disk drive system that supports both CD and DVD optical disks. In claim 1 or 2,
The disk drive system according to claim 1, wherein the bus is an ATA bus. In any one of Claims 1-3,
2. The disk drive system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of host devices are different in type of the disk type recording medium to be subjected to access control. In any one of Claims 1-4,
The plurality of host devices maintain an operation state when changing the open / close state of the bus switch.

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