JP3875914B2 - Electronic device and writing operation control method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic device and a writing operation control method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, electronic devices (information-related devices and the like) equipped with a hard disk drive (hereinafter referred to as “HDD”) have been researched and developed. Such an electronic device is characterized in that it can store a large amount of data (digital data or the like) in the HDD, and it can read and write data at high speed.
Recently, studies have been made to apply to a wider range of electronic devices as HDDs are further reduced in price and capacity.
[0003]
By the way, as shown in FIG. 6, the HDD supplies a recording current to a magnetic head h wound with a coil, magnetizes the magnetic material m on the rotating disk, and records and erases data.
Such HDDs have the advantages that they can be accessed at high speed and have a large storage capacity, but they also have the disadvantage that they are vulnerable to inferior environments. Particularly problematic is the recording operation in a low temperature environment. That is, the HDD cannot perform the data write operation in a low temperature environment where the temperature is lower than the specified temperature (operation guarantee temperature).
This is because, as shown by the solid line graph and the wavy line graph in FIG. 7, the coercive force increases as the temperature (device temperature, etc.) decreases due to the characteristics of the magnetic material in the HDD. The coercive force is a magnetic force necessary for demagnetizing the magnetized magnetic material.
The solid line graph, the wavy line graph, and the like indicate that individual differences occur even in the same type of HDD. In other words, there is a deviation in the temperature characteristics of the magnetic material due to variations in the components and thickness of the magnetic material, and the magnetic force that can be generated in the magnetic head due to variations in the components and gap dimensions of the magnetic head components. Also shows that there is a difference.
[0004]
More specifically, in the HDD (magnetic material) having the temperature characteristics shown by the solid line graph in FIG. 7, if the magnetic head cannot generate a magnetic force of α1 or more, the HDD is magnetized when the temperature of the HDD is lower than the temperature T1. The magnetic material cannot be demagnetized. That is, normal data cannot be written.
Similarly, in the HDD having the temperature characteristics shown by the wavy line graph of FIG. 7, if it is impossible to generate a magnetic force of α2 or more, normal data cannot be written when the temperature of the HDD is lower than the temperature T2.
[0005]
For this reason, the electronic equipment is clearly specified with a guaranteed minimum temperature that guarantees stable operation, and the user is requested to use above that temperature, or an error is displayed when the temperature is lower than the guaranteed minimum temperature. Low temperature measures are taken such as notifying that the device cannot be used.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the electronic device described above, the guaranteed minimum temperature and the like are determined uniformly. For example, the highest temperature among the minimum operating temperatures measured in the operation limit test with a plurality of HDD samples is set as the reference, and a safety margin is expected, so that it is set to be slightly higher. It is common.
For example, when the temperature T1 and the temperature T2 that are the operation lower limit temperatures obtained by the temperature characteristics of the magnetic material and the magnetic force of the magnetic head as shown in FIG. 7 are clear, the data is normally recorded in the electronic device. As the guaranteed minimum temperature, a temperature somewhat higher than the temperature T2 is set.
[0007]
For this reason, when an electronic device is used in a low-temperature environment, the user cannot actually use the electronic device due to an error display based on a uniform guaranteed minimum temperature even though data recording is possible. There was such a scene. This has been a major limitation on electronic devices equipped with HDDs, and has caused the inconvenience of hindering free use by users.
[0008]
Here, it is conceivable to set the guaranteed minimum temperature to be lower than that in the past, for example, an average value of the operation lower limit temperature, etc., but the risk is too large to be realistic. In other words, by setting the guaranteed minimum temperature lower than before, it is possible to expand the usage opportunities in the low temperature environment. However, as described above, there are individual differences in the HDD, and therefore, depending on the electronic device, normal data writing cannot be performed even at a temperature above the guaranteed minimum temperature.
If such an electronic device is forced to operate, the data cannot be written normally, so the data that should have been written cannot be read, or the device malfunctions, causing an unexpected failure.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an electronic apparatus and a writing operation control method that can be appropriately operated even in a low temperature environment.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an electronic device according to the first aspect of the present invention provides:
An electronic device equipped with an HDD having individual differences in normal writing temperature during low-temperature operation,
Writing means for writing data into a protected area that is specifically used in the HDD or a user area that is normally used;
Determining means for reading and verifying the data written in the protected area by the writing means and determining whether or not the data can be normally written to the HDD;
After the discriminating means discriminates that the data can be written normally, while the discriminating device judges that the data cannot be written normally, the HDD drive system is operated unrelated to the actual operation to raise the HDD temperature. Control means for controlling the writing means to write data to the user area;
It is characterized by providing.
[0012]
In order to achieve the above object, an electronic device according to the second aspect of the present invention provides:
An electronic device equipped with an HDD having individual differences in normal writing temperature during low-temperature operation,
Data acquisition means for acquiring recording data for writing to the HDD;
A first writing means for writing predetermined verification data into a protected area specifically used in the HDD when the data acquisition means acquires recording data;
Verifying means for reading verification data written in the protected area by the first writing means and verifying the success or failure of the writing;
Control means for causing the drive system of the HDD to perform an operation unrelated to the actual operation to increase the temperature of the HDD while the verification means verifies that the writing has failed;
A second writing unit for writing the recording data acquired by the data acquiring unit to a user area normally used in the HDD after the verification unit verifies that the writing is successful;
It is characterized by providing.
[0013]
In order to achieve the above object, an electronic device according to a third aspect of the present invention provides:
An electronic device equipped with an HDD having individual differences in normal writing temperature during low-temperature operation,
Writing means for writing predetermined data to the HDD with an invisible attribute or a normal attribute;
A discriminating means for reading out and verifying data written by the writing means with an invisible attribute from the HDD, and determining whether or not the data can be normally written to the HDD;
After the discriminating means discriminates that the data can be written normally, while the discriminating device judges that the data cannot be written normally, the HDD drive system is operated unrelated to the actual operation to raise the HDD temperature. Control means for controlling the writing means to write data with a normal attribute;
It is characterized by providing.
[0014]
In order to achieve the above object, an electronic device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention provides:
An electronic device equipped with an HDD having individual differences in normal writing temperature during low-temperature operation,
Data acquisition means for acquiring recording data for writing to the HDD;
First writing means for writing predetermined verification data to the HDD with an invisible attribute when the data acquisition means acquires recording data;
Verification means for reading verification data written with the invisible attribute by the first writing means from the HDD, and verifying the success or failure of the writing;
Control means for causing the drive system of the HDD to perform an operation unrelated to the actual operation to increase the temperature of the HDD while the verification means verifies that the writing has failed;
A second writing unit that writes the recording data acquired by the data acquisition unit to the HDD with a normal attribute after the verification unit verifies that the writing is successful;
It is characterized by providing.
[0015]
In order to achieve the above object, a write operation control method according to a fifth aspect of the present invention includes:
A writing operation control method in an electronic device including an HDD having individual differences in normal writing temperature during low-temperature operation,
A first writing step of writing data to a protected area specifically used in the HDD;
A determination step of reading and verifying the data written in the first writing step to determine whether or not the data can be normally written to the HDD;
A control step of causing the drive system of the HDD to perform an operation unrelated to the actual operation to increase the temperature of the HDD while it is determined that the writing is not normally performed in the determination step;
A second writing step of writing data to a user area normally used in the HDD after it is determined in the determining step that the data can be normally written;
It is characterized by providing.
[0016]
In order to achieve the above object, a write operation control method according to a sixth aspect of the present invention includes:
A writing operation control method in an electronic device including an HDD having individual differences in normal writing temperature during low-temperature operation,
A first writing step of writing data to the HDD with an invisible attribute;
A verification step of reading the data written in the first writing step from the HDD and verifying the success or failure of the writing;
A control step of causing the drive system of the HDD to perform an operation unrelated to the actual operation to increase the temperature of the HDD while it is verified that the writing has failed in the verification step;
A second writing step of writing data to the HDD with normal attributes after verifying that the writing was successful in the verification step;
It is characterized by providing.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An electronic device equipped with a hard disk drive (hereinafter referred to as “HDD”) according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0018]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an electronic device applied to the embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, the electronic device 1 includes a control microcomputer 11, an HDD 12, an external buffer 13, an input signal processing circuit 14, and an output signal processing circuit 15.
[0019]
The control microcomputer 11 is composed of, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a one-chip microcomputer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and the like, and controls the entire electronic device 1.
Specifically, the control microcomputer 11 supplies data (digital data) input from the input signal processing circuit 14 to the HDD 12 via the external buffer 13 and stores the data. Further, the data read from the HDD 12 is supplied to the output signal processing circuit 15 via the external buffer 13.
When the control microcomputer 11 writes data to the HDD 12, the control microcomputer 11 performs trial writing of data in an area that is not normally used (a protection area described later). Then, when data cannot be properly written, it is determined that the current temperature of the HDD 12 is lower than the actual operation lower limit temperature, and the HDD 12 (mechanism 12a) has an operation unrelated to the actual operation (for example, idle rotation of the spindle motor or The magnetic head is reciprocated, and the temperature of the HDD 12 is increased.
Then, when the data can be appropriately written by the trial writing again, the control microcomputer 11 writes the data to be recorded in the area normally used (a user area described later).
[0020]
The HDD 12 is a recording device that rotates a disk of aluminum or the like coated with a magnetic material and reads and writes data with a magnetic head, and includes a mechanism unit 12a and a circuit unit 12b.
The mechanism unit 12a includes a spindle motor that rotates a disk, an actuator (voice coil motor) of a magnetic head, and the like. The circuit unit 12b includes an internal buffer, a control circuit board, and the like.
As shown in FIG. 2, the HDD 12 has a system area 12x, a protect area 12y, and a user area 12z.
[0021]
The system area 12x is an area in which information necessary for controlling and managing the HDD 12 is recorded. Specifically, alternative sector information, adjustment parameter information, information on the self-diagnosis function, and the like are recorded in the system area 12x. The system area 12x is an area that can only be closed and used in the HDD 12 and cannot be used from the outside.
[0022]
The protected area 12y is a specific area that is specifically used inside the electronic apparatus 1. Specifically, verification data or the like for verifying whether or not the HDD 12 is in a data recordable state (the temperature of the HDD 12 is higher than the actual lower limit operating temperature) is recorded in the protected area 12y. .
[0023]
The user area 12z is an area mainly released to a user who uses the electronic device 1. Data input through the input signal processing circuit 14 is recorded in the user area 12z.
[0024]
The external buffer 13 includes a RAM having a predetermined capacity, temporarily holds data input from the input signal processing circuit 14, and supplies the stored data to the HDD 12 for storage. Further, the data read from the HDD 12 is temporarily held and supplied to the output signal processing circuit 15.
[0025]
The input signal processing circuit 14 inputs, for example, sound, video, documents, and other digital data to be stored, and supplies them to the HDD 12 via the external buffer 13.
[0026]
The output signal processing circuit 15 outputs data such as sound and video read from the HDD 12 and supplied via the external buffer 13.
[0027]
Hereinafter, the operation of the electronic apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining data write processing executed by the control microcomputer 11. This data writing process is started when a write request to the HDD 12 occurs, such as when data is input to the input signal processing circuit 14.
[0028]
First, the control microcomputer 11 writes predetermined verification data in the protected area 12y (step S11). That is, the control microcomputer 11 performs trial writing of data in the protected area 12y that is not normally used in the HDD 12.
The data to be written in the protected area 12y is not limited to the verification data, and may be actual recording data or meaningless data.
[0029]
The control microcomputer 11 reads the verification data from the protected area 12y (step S12).
The control microcomputer 11 determines whether or not the verification data is normally read (step S13). That is, in order to verify whether or not the verification data has been normally written, reading of the written verification data is attempted to determine whether or not the reading is successful.
In other words, it is determined whether or not the current temperature of the HDD 12 is equal to or higher than the actual operating lower limit temperature of the HDD 12, that is, whether or not data can be written to the HDD 12.
The success or failure of data reading can be determined by, for example, an error correction code (ECC) embedded in the data.
[0030]
When the control microcomputer 11 determines that the reading is not normally performed, the control microcomputer 11 instructs the input signal processing circuit 14 and the like to wait for writing (step S14). That is, since it is not in a state where data can be written to the HDD 12, the input signal processing circuit 14 or the like is instructed to wait for writing. The input signal processing circuit 14 or the like is restricted from inputting new data until the write wait instruction is canceled.
[0031]
The control microcomputer 11 operates the mechanism unit 12a of the HDD 12 and waits for a predetermined time (step S15). That is, the control microcomputer 11 raises the temperature of the HDD 12 by performing an operation unrelated to the actual operation, such as idle rotation of the spindle motor of the mechanism unit 12a and reciprocation of the magnetic head.
[0032]
Then, the control microcomputer 11 returns the process to step S11 and repeatedly executes the processes of steps S11 to S15 described above until the temperature of the HDD 12 rises and the verification data can be written normally (can be read normally).
Although data that could not be normally written is recorded in the protected area 12y, this area is an area that has not been released to the user in the first place. Is not tied. In addition, if the old data is overwritten with new data at the next trial writing, the data can be read out at the time of normal writing, so that no particular problem occurs.
[0033]
When it is determined in step S13 that the verification data is normally read from the HDD 12 (normally written), the control microcomputer 11 writes the recording data in the user area 12z, The instruction to wait for writing is canceled (step S16). That is, the control microcomputer 11 writes the data input from the input signal processing circuit 14 in the user area 12z of the HDD 12 and restarts the input signal processing circuit 14 or the like for new data input.
[0034]
By such a data writing process, before the data to be written to the HDD 12 is written to the user area 12z, the data is trial-written to the protected area 12y. As a result of the trial writing, if it is verified that the data cannot be written to the HDD 12, the mechanism 12a of the HDD 12 performs the idle rotation of the spindle motor, the reciprocating movement of the magnetic head, etc. without writing the data to the user area 12z. To increase the temperature of the HDD 12. At this time, since the HDD 12 (mechanism 12a) is operated unrelated to the actual operation such as idling, the temperature can be raised earlier than in the normal operation. That is, in a short time, the temperature of the HDD 12 becomes higher than the actual operation lower limit temperature.
If it is verified that the data can be written to the HDD 12 as a result of the trial writing again, the data is written to the user area 12z.
[0035]
As a result, an electronic device equipped with an HDD can be appropriately operated even in a low temperature environment.
[0036]
In the data writing process of FIG. 3 described above, when data cannot be read normally by trial writing, the input signal processing circuit 14 or the like is instructed to wait for writing in step S14, and new data is written. Restricted input. However, when the remaining capacity of the external buffer 13 has a margin, the data supplied from the input signal processing circuit 14 may be sequentially stored in the external buffer 13 without instructing to wait for writing. When data can be written to the HDD 12, data is written to the HDD 12 at once.
In this case, the processing of the entire electronic device 1 can be advanced without waiting for the user until the temperature of the HDD 12 rises.
[0037]
In the above embodiment, the protected area 12y is secured in the HDD 12, and trial writing of data is performed in this area. However, the area for trial writing of data is not limited to the protected area 12y, but is arbitrary.
For example, the trial writing of data may be performed in the user area 12z without securing the protected area 12y in the HDD 12.
[0038]
Hereinafter, an electronic apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention that performs trial writing of data in the user area 12z will be described. The configuration of the electronic device is the same as that of the electronic device 1 shown in FIG.
[0039]
Nevertheless, the HDD 12 has a system area 12x and a user area 12z as shown in FIG. That is, unlike FIG. 2, the protected area 12 y is not secured in the HDD 12.
An invisible file (invisible attribute data) F is recorded in the user area 12z at the time of trial writing.
[0040]
Hereinafter, the operation of the electronic apparatus 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining data write processing executed by the control microcomputer 11. This data writing process is also started when a write request to the HDD 12 occurs, such as when data is input to the input signal processing circuit 14.
[0041]
First, the control microcomputer 11 writes predetermined verification data as an invisible file F in the user area 12z (step S21). That is, the control microcomputer 11 performs trial writing with invisible attribute data in the user area 12 z normally used in the HDD 12.
Also in this case, the data for test writing is not limited to the verification data, and may be actual data for recording or meaningless data.
[0042]
The control microcomputer 11 reads the invisible file F from the user area 12z (step S22).
The control microcomputer 11 determines whether or not the invisible file F has been normally performed (step S23). That is, an attempt is made to read the written invisible file F to determine whether or not the data writing is successful.
[0043]
When the control microcomputer 11 determines that the reading is not normally performed, the control microcomputer 11 instructs the input signal processing circuit 14 or the like to wait for writing (step S24).
The control microcomputer 11 operates the mechanism unit 12a of the HDD 12 and waits for a predetermined time (step S25). That is, the control microcomputer 11 increases the temperature of the HDD 12 by causing the mechanism 12a to perform an operation unrelated to the actual operation.
[0044]
Then, the control microcomputer 11 returns the process to step S21 and repeatedly executes the processes of steps S21 to S25 described above until the temperature of the HDD 12 rises and the invisible file F can be normally written (can be read normally).
The invisible file F may be maintained in a state where it cannot be normally written, but since it is an attribute that cannot be seen by the user (user application, etc.), it is not mistakenly read. . In addition, if the old data (invisible file F) is overwritten with new data (invisible file F) at the next trial writing, the data can be read out at the time of normal writing. Absent.
[0045]
If it is determined in step S23 that the invisible file F has been normally read from the HDD 12 (normally written), the control microcomputer 11 records data for recording with the normal attribute in the user area 12z. And the instruction for waiting for writing is canceled (step S26).
[0046]
In such a data writing process shown in FIG. 5 as well, trial writing of data with an invisible attribute is performed before recording data to be written to the HDD 12 is written to the user area 12z. At this time, if it is verified that the data cannot be written to the HDD 12, the HDD 12 is caused to perform the idle rotation of the spindle motor, the reciprocating movement of the magnetic head, etc. without writing the recording data. Increase the temperature.
If it is verified that the data can be written in the HDD 12 as a result of the trial writing again, the recording data is written in the user area 12z.
[0047]
As a result, an electronic device equipped with an HDD can be appropriately operated even in a low temperature environment. In this case, since it is not necessary to set (secure) the protected area 12y in the HDD 12, there is also an advantage that extra labor is not required when replacing the HDD.
[0048]
In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which trial writing of data is performed every time when a write request to the HDD 12 is generated. However, the trial is performed only when the power is turned on or the like in which the temperature of the HDD 12 is often lowered. You may make it write.
In addition, a temperature sensor or the like for measuring the temperature of the HDD 12 is further arranged so that data is written every time a write request is made only when the temperature of the HDD 12 is lower than the reference minimum temperature by the temperature sensor measurement. It may be.
[0049]
In the above-described embodiment, the electronic apparatus including the HDD 12 has been described as an example. However, the present invention can be appropriately applied to an electronic apparatus including a storage device having a drive unit other than the HDD.
[0050]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, an electronic device equipped with an HDD can be appropriately operated even in a low temperature environment.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining each area secured in an HDD.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining data write processing according to the embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining a user area including an invisible file.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining data write processing according to another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining how data is recorded in an HDD.
FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relationship between coercive force and temperature.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Electronic device 11 Control microcomputer 12 HDD
13 External buffer 14 Input signal processing circuit 15 Output signal processing circuit

Claims (6)

An electronic device equipped with an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) having individual differences in normal writing temperature during low-temperature operation,
Writing means for writing data into a protected area that is specifically used in the HDD or a user area that is normally used;
Determining means for reading and verifying the data written in the protected area by the writing means and determining whether or not the data can be normally written to the HDD;
After the discriminating means discriminates that the data can be written normally, while the discriminating device judges that the data cannot be written normally, the HDD drive system is operated unrelated to the actual operation to raise the HDD temperature. Control means for controlling the writing means to write data to the user area;
An electronic device comprising: An electronic device equipped with an HDD having individual differences in normal writing temperature during low-temperature operation,
Data acquisition means for acquiring recording data for writing to the HDD;
A first writing means for writing predetermined verification data into a protected area specifically used in the HDD when the data acquisition means acquires recording data;
Verifying means for reading verification data written in the protected area by the first writing means and verifying the success or failure of the writing;
Control means for causing the drive system of the HDD to perform an operation unrelated to the actual operation to increase the temperature of the HDD while the verification means verifies that the writing has failed;
A second writing unit for writing the recording data acquired by the data acquiring unit to a user area normally used in the HDD after the verification unit verifies that the writing is successful;
An electronic device comprising: An electronic device equipped with an HDD having individual differences in normal writing temperature during low-temperature operation,
Writing means for writing predetermined data to the HDD with an invisible attribute or a normal attribute;
A discriminating means for reading out and verifying data written by the writing means with an invisible attribute from the HDD, and determining whether or not the data can be normally written to the HDD;
After the discriminating means discriminates that the data can be written normally, while the discriminating device judges that the data cannot be written normally, the HDD drive system is operated unrelated to the actual operation to raise the HDD temperature. Control means for controlling the writing means to write data with a normal attribute;
An electronic device comprising: An electronic device equipped with an HDD having individual differences in normal writing temperature during low-temperature operation,
Data acquisition means for acquiring recording data for writing to the HDD;
First writing means for writing predetermined verification data to the HDD with an invisible attribute when the data acquisition means acquires recording data;
Verification means for reading verification data written with the invisible attribute by the first writing means from the HDD, and verifying the success or failure of the writing;
Control means for causing the drive system of the HDD to perform an operation unrelated to the actual operation to increase the temperature of the HDD while the verification means verifies that the writing has failed;
A second writing unit that writes the recording data acquired by the data acquisition unit to the HDD with a normal attribute after the verification unit verifies that the writing is successful;
An electronic device comprising: A writing operation control method in an electronic device including an HDD having individual differences in normal writing temperature during low-temperature operation,
A first writing step of writing data to a protected area specifically used in the HDD;
A determination step of reading and verifying the data written in the first writing step to determine whether or not the data can be normally written to the HDD;
A control step of causing the drive system of the HDD to perform an operation unrelated to the actual operation to increase the temperature of the HDD while it is determined that the writing is not normally performed in the determination step;
A second writing step of writing data to a user area normally used in the HDD after it is determined in the determining step that the data can be normally written;
A write operation control method comprising: A writing operation control method in an electronic device including an HDD having individual differences in normal writing temperature during low-temperature operation,
A first writing step of writing data to the HDD with an invisible attribute;
A verification step of reading the data written in the first writing step from the HDD and verifying the success or failure of the writing;
A control step of causing the drive system of the HDD to perform an operation unrelated to the actual operation to increase the temperature of the HDD while it is verified that the writing has failed in the verification step;
A second writing step of writing data to the HDD with normal attributes after verifying that the writing was successful in the verification step;
A write operation control method comprising:

Images