JP4263682B2 - Loading control device and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to control of a drive device that drives a recording medium such as a disk or a stick memory.

  Due to their portability, portable computers such as notebook computers equipped with disk drive devices for reproducing and recording disks are often used by being moved to various places as compared with desktop computers. .

  However, when the computer is carried with the disc inserted in the disc drive device, contact with the disc eject switch may occur accidentally during the movement due to vibration or the like. May be performed, that is, a disk unloading operation may be performed. If the disk is ejected to the outside during movement, the disk or notebook computer may be damaged, leading to a serious disadvantage such as data damage.

  In particular, in the unloading operation of the slot loading type disk device, the disk is completely pushed out, so that the disk is often damaged by dropping from the computer main body.

  From the viewpoint of disk protection, Patent Document 1 discloses a disk device that prevents dirt and scratches with fingers by protruding the disk as much as possible during an unloading operation. Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a disk device in which guide rollers are provided at both ends of the disk and the disk is held by the guide roller even during an unloading operation to prevent dropping.

JP-A-8-287574 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-21618

  Examples of problems to be solved by the present invention include the above. An object of the present invention is to realize disk protection by automatically re-accommodating a disk from an unloading operation state.

The invention according to claim 1 is a loading control device for controlling loading and unloading of a recording medium by a drive device, and the disc is held while being held so that the drive device can be automatically stored therein. A holding / unloading unit that unloads the disc in a holding / unloading state that is an unloaded state, an unloading instruction unit that instructs the disc device to unload the disc, and a predetermined automatic storage condition are provided. Determination means for determining whether the disk has been held in the holding unloading state, measuring means for measuring a holding time in which the disk is held in the holding unloading state, and the holding in the case where the disk is held in the holding unloading state When the time exceeds the specified time It is or, if the the holding time be within the predetermined time automatic storage condition is provided is characterized by and a control means for automatically accommodating the disk to the drive device .

The invention according to claim 7 is a loading control program that is executed by a computer having a drive device and controls loading and unloading of a recording medium by the drive device, and can be automatically stored in the drive device. Holding unloading means for unloading the disk in a holding unloading state in which the disk is unloaded while holding the disk, unloading instruction means for instructing the disk device to unload the disk, judging means for judging whether or not a provided predetermined automatic storage conditions, measuring means for the disk to measure the retention time held by the holding unloading state, held the disk in the holding unloading state In the case that, when the retention time exceeds a predetermined time, or, if the the holding time be within the predetermined time automatic storage condition is provided, the said disk in said drive device The computer is made to function as a control means for automatically storing the computer.

In one aspect of the present invention, a loading control device that controls loading and unloading of a recording medium by a drive device unloads the disc while holding the disc so that automatic storage in the drive device is possible. Whether holding unloading means for unloading the disk in a holding unloading state, unloading instruction means for instructing the disk device to unload the disk, and whether or not a predetermined automatic storage condition is satisfied Determining means for determining the time, a measuring means for measuring a holding time during which the disk is held in the holding / unloading state, and a holding time predetermined when the disk is held in the holding / unloading state. If the time is exceeded, , When said holding time be within the predetermined time automatic storage condition is provided is provided with a control means for automatically accommodating the disk to the drive device.

The loading control device controls loading and unloading of a recording medium in a drive device mounted on an information terminal device such as a portable computer. The holding / unloading means can unload the disc while holding the disc so that it can be automatically stored in the drive device. This state is called a holding unloading state. When an unloading instruction is issued, the disc is held in the holding unloading state, the holding time during which the disc is held in the holding unloading state is measured, and whether or not a predetermined automatic storage condition is satisfied is determined. The When the disc is held in the holding unloading state, when the holding time exceeds a predetermined time, or when the automatic storage condition is satisfied even if the holding time is within the predetermined time. The disc is automatically stored in the drive device.

  As described above, when a disk unloading instruction is issued, the disk is unloaded while being held by the holding mechanism of the drive device, etc., but if the user does not remove the disk within a certain time, the disk is unloaded. Can be stored automatically so that the disk can be protected. Even within a certain time, the disk is similarly stored and protected when predetermined automatic storage conditions are satisfied.

  One aspect of the loading control device includes a movement detection unit that detects movement of the information terminal device on which the drive device is mounted, and the automatic storage condition includes that the movement of the information terminal device is detected. As a result, it is possible to prevent the disc from falling or being damaged when the information terminal device or the like is moved when the disc is in the holding / unloading state.

  Another aspect of the loading control device includes a detecting unit that detects that a display panel of an information terminal device on which the drive device is mounted is closed, and the automatic storage condition is that the display panel is closed. Including that. When the information display panel is closed, the information terminal device is often moved thereafter, so that the disk can be prevented from being dropped or damaged by the movement, and the disk can be protected.

  Another aspect of the loading control device includes a power-off detection unit that detects the power-off of the information terminal device on which the drive device is mounted, and the automatic storage condition includes the power-off. Even when the power of the information terminal device is cut off, the information terminal device is often moved after that, so that the disk can be prevented from being dropped or damaged by the movement, and the disk can be protected.

  In another aspect of the loading control device, the unloading instruction unit measures a time during which the disk ejection switch of the drive device is pressed, and if the measured time is longer than a predetermined time, A signal for instructing unloading is transmitted, and if it is shorter than the predetermined time, a signal for instructing unloading is not transmitted. As a result, the disk is unloaded only when the user has intentionally instructed to unload the disk, and the disk is unloaded by an unintended removal switch operation caused by movement of the information terminal device or the like. This can be prevented and the disk can be protected.

  Another aspect of the loading control apparatus includes warning means for outputting a warning prior to automatic storage of the disk. This prevents the disk from being automatically stored without notice to the user. Therefore, it is possible to prevent user injuries, damage to the disc, and the like that may occur when the disc is automatically stored when the user attempts to remove the disc.

In another aspect of the present invention, a loading control program that is executed by a computer having a drive device and controls loading and unloading of a recording medium by the drive device can be automatically stored in the drive device. Holding unloading means for unloading the disk in a holding unloading state in which the disk is unloaded while holding the disk, unloading instruction means for instructing the disk apparatus to unload the disk, and the drive apparatus A disk presence / absence detecting means for detecting the presence / absence of the disk, a determination means for determining whether or not a predetermined automatic storage condition is satisfied, and a holding time during which the disk is held in the unloading state is measured. Measuring means, when the disk is held by the holding unloading state, when the holding time exceeds a predetermined time, or, wherein the retention time be within the predetermined time automatic storage conditions Is provided , the computer is caused to function as control means for automatically storing the disk in the drive device.

  By executing this loading control program on a computer having a drive device, the above loading control device can be realized.

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

[Disk unit]
First, a disk drive device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the internal structure of a slot loading type disk drive device 1 and is a perspective view of the disk drive device 1 as viewed from above. 1A shows a state when the disc 100 is inserted, FIG. 1B shows a state when the loading of the disc 100 starts, and FIG. 1C shows a state when the loading ends.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the disk drive device 1 includes a case 13. A front bezel 15 having a disc insertion slot (hereinafter simply referred to as “slit”, see FIG. 3) 31 is provided on the disc insertion side of the case 13. A traverse mechanism 3 and a loading mechanism are provided inside the case 13. The traverse mechanism 3 includes a pickup 3a for recording and / or reproducing information on the disk 100, a spindle motor 3b for clamping and rotating the disk 100, a thread motor 3c for moving the pickup 3a in the radial direction of the disk 100, and the like. Is provided. In the present embodiment, as will be described in detail later, the optical pickup 3a also serves as a sensor that emits a laser and detects the presence or absence of the disk 100 by the reflectance of the reflected light.

  As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the loading mechanism mainly includes movable arms 10 to 12, fixed disk guides 7 and 8, a disk clamp mechanism (not shown), and the like. The arm 10 is an arm having a disc ejection function, and rotates in the direction of arrow A in FIG. The arm 11 is an arm having a disk position detection function and rotates in the direction of arrow B. The arm 12 is an arm having a disk loading function, and is driven by the drive mechanism 12b to rotate in the direction of arrow C.

  At the tip of the arm 10, a disc guide 4 is provided as a holding portion that holds the disc 100 from below. Similarly, the arm 11 is provided with a disc guide 5 as a holding portion, and the arm 12 is provided with a disc guide 6 as a holding portion.

  An operation at the time of loading a disk in the disk drive device 1 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C, when the user inserts the disk 100 indicated by a broken line in the direction of the arrow 150 from the slit 31, the arm moves as the disk 100 moves into the disk drive device 1. 10 rotates along the arrow A in the depth direction of the disk drive device 1, and the arm 11 rotates along the arrow B in the depth direction of the disk drive device 1. That is, when the disc 100 is inserted, the arms 10 and 11 are pushed toward the inside of the disc drive apparatus 1. The arm 11 is provided with a position detection switch (not shown). When the disk 100 is pushed to a predetermined position in the direction of arrow 150, the position detection switch is turned on to drive the drive mechanism 12b, and the arm 12 is moved in the direction of arrow C. Turn to. As a result, the disk 100 is pulled into the disk drive device 1 so as to be held by the arm 12. Then, as shown in FIG. 1 (c), the loading is completed with the disk 100 placed at a predetermined clamp position.

  Next, the operation at the time of unloading (ejecting) the disc will be described. As the disc unloading operation, the user can select and set two types of operations. One is a “disc ejection unloading operation” for completely ejecting the disc, and the other is a “disc holding unloading operation” for ejecting the disc while holding the disc.

  When the disc discharge / unloading operation is set, basically the operation opposite to the above-described loading operation is performed. That is, the disc clamp by the traverse mechanism 3 is released, and then the loading mechanism 3 performs an unloading operation. The arm 12 rotates to the position shown in FIG. 1A, and the arm 10 responsible for the unloading function rotates to move the disk 100 to the outside of the disk drive device 1 until the state shown in FIG. The disc 100 is ejected. Thereafter, the user takes out the disk 100 from the slit 31. In this specification, the control of the loading operation and the unloading operation of the disc 100 is collectively referred to as “loading control”.

  On the other hand, when the disc holding / unloading operation is set, the disc clamp by the traverse mechanism 3 is released, and then the loading mechanism 3 performs the unloading operation. In this case, the arm 12 is rotated to the position shown in FIG. 1B, and the arm 10 responsible for the unloading function is rotated to a position where the disk 100 is in contact with the arm 12, and only a part of the disk 100 is slit. 31 is exposed to the outside. At this time, the arms 10 to 12 are in a state of urging the disk 100 and support the disk 100 with the arms 10 to 12 as shown in FIG. That is, FIG. 1B also shows the state of the disk holding / unloading operation. At this time, the user can take out the disc 100 from the slit 31 by pulling out the exposed portion of the disc 100 to rotate the arm 12 to the position shown in FIG.

  However, the disc holding / unloading operation differs from the disc discharge / unloading operation in a state in which only a part of the disc 100 is exposed to the outside by the arm 10 and supported by the arms 10 to 12 as shown in FIG. It has become. Therefore, the disk 100 can be automatically stored again by rotating the arm 12 biasing the disk 100 in the direction of arrow C by the drive mechanism 12b.

[Configuration of information device]
Next, a loading control device for controlling the disk drive device 1 according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of a loading control apparatus 200 according to the present invention. The loading control device 200 is used as a control device of the disk drive device 1, and includes a control unit 21, a drive unit 22, a storage unit 23, a time measurement unit 29, a speaker 28, and an input unit 41.

  Examples of components of the input unit 41 include a main body upper surface sensor 24, a main body bottom surface sensor 25, a power switch 26, a disk eject switch 27, and the like. Here, as the sensor, an optical sensor described later is used.

  The control unit 21 is configured by, for example, a microcomputer, receives electrical signals 31 to 34 from the input unit 41, performs processing, and supplies control signals 39 and 37 to the drive unit 22 and the speaker 28, respectively. The control unit 21 is connected to the optical pickup 3a in order to detect the presence or absence of the disk 100 in the disk drive device 1. Further, the control unit 21 is connected to the storage unit 23 and the time measurement unit 29. The storage unit 23 is a memory, for example, and stores a program for executing processing. The loading control program according to the present invention can also be stored in the storage unit 23. The time measuring unit 29 is, for example, an RTC (Real Time Clock), counts seconds with a crystal resonator, and outputs a signal to the control unit 21 each time it is counted.

  The optical pickup 3 a also has a role of detecting the presence / absence of the disk 100 by emitting a laser to the disk 100 and measuring the reflected light, and transmitting the detection signal 36 to the control unit 21. If the disk 100 is not taken out, as shown in FIG. 1B, when the laser is emitted from the optical pickup 3a, the disk 100 exists at a position where the laser is blocked. Therefore, the laser emitted from the optical pickup 3a is reflected by the disk 100, and the optical pickup 3a can detect the reflected light from the disk 100. On the other hand, if the disk 100 has already been taken out, the laser emitted from the optical pickup 3a is not reflected by the disk 100, so the optical pickup 3a does not detect the reflected light. . Therefore, the presence / absence of the disk can be detected from the difference in the amount of reflected light returning to the optical pickup 3a. This method is merely an example, and the presence / absence of the disk 100 may be detected by providing a separate optical sensor or the like without using the optical pickup 3a.

  The drive unit 22 includes a motor for rotating the arms 10 to 12 in the disk drive device 1 during loading and unloading operations.

  In the state shown in FIG. 1B, which is the case of the disk holding / unloading operation, the speaker 28 automatically stores the disk 100 with respect to the user before the disk 100 is automatically stored by rotating the arm 12. It is used to sound a warning sound to the effect. The warning is not limited to a warning sound generated by using the speaker 28, and can be a warning generated by light using a light emitting element, for example.

[Configuration of input section]
Next, the input unit 41 will be described with reference to FIG. When the disc holding / unloading operation is selected as the unloading operation, the control unit 21 can execute processing for automatically storing the disc 100. The control unit 21 determines whether or not to execute the process of automatically storing the disc 100 based on the electrical signal from the input unit 41.

  As described above, the configuration function of the input unit 41 includes, for example, the main body upper surface sensor 24, the main body bottom surface sensor 25, the power switch 26, the disk eject switch 27, and the like.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a notebook personal computer as an example of an information terminal device to which the loading control device according to the present invention is applied. As shown in the figure, the personal computer 50 includes a main body 52 provided with a keyboard and a display 51 provided with a liquid crystal display panel. The main body portion 52 and the display portion 51 are attached to each other, and the personal computer 50 is put into a storage state by folding the main body portion 52 and the display portion 51 so as to overlap each other. A disk drive device 1 is provided on the side surface of the main body 52, and a speaker 28 is provided beside the liquid crystal display panel of the display unit 51.

  The main body upper surface sensor 24 is, for example, an optical sensor, and is provided on the same surface as the surface of the main body 52 where the keyboard is provided. Since the optical sensor is an element that converts the intensity of light into an electric signal, the upper surface sensor 24 of the main body has a surrounding light in a state where the main body section 52 and the display section 51 are opened (hereinafter simply referred to as “when opened”). Or the light of the lit liquid crystal display panel or the like is detected, and the amount of the light is converted into an electric signal 31 and transmitted to the control unit 21. However, in the storage state in which the main body 52 and the display 51 are overlapped (hereinafter simply referred to as “when stored”), the main body upper surface sensor 24 is covered with the display 51 and becomes dark, so that almost no light is emitted. The electric signal 31 that cannot be detected and is supplied to the control unit 21 is weak. Therefore, the control part 21 can detect that it changed from the time of opening to the time of accommodation by this electric signal 31 changing to a weak faint rapidly. If the control unit 21 detects that the disk is unloaded during the disk holding / unloading operation, that is, in the state shown in FIG. In order to protect the disk, a control signal 39 is transmitted so that the disk 100 is automatically stored in the drive unit 22. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the disk from being damaged after the personal computer 50 is stored.

  The main body upper surface sensor 24 may be provided on the screen side of the display unit 51. Even in such a case, the same operation can be performed. The detection of the opening / closing of the display unit 51 is not limited to the method using the above-described optical sensor. For example, the opening / closing of the display unit 51 is detected by configuring the main body upper surface sensor 24 with a mechanical or electrical switch. It is good.

  As the main body bottom surface sensor 25, for example, an optical sensor is used, and provided on the bottom surface portion of the main body portion 52. When the personal computer is placed on a desk or the like (hereinafter simply referred to as “when installed”), the bottom sensor 25 of the main body is darkened by being blocked by the desk top surface, etc., so that most of the light can be detected. I can't. Therefore, at this time, the electrical signal 32 transmitted from the main body bottom surface sensor 25 to the control unit 21 is weak. On the other hand, when the personal computer 50 is lifted by the user, the personal computer 50 is separated from the installation location such as the desk top surface (hereinafter simply referred to as “lifting”). It becomes possible to detect, and an electric signal 32 having a strength suitable for the amount of light can be sent to the control unit 21. Therefore, the control part 21 can detect the change from the time of installation to the time of lifting by the change in which this electric signal 32 becomes strong rapidly. If the control unit 21 detects that the disk is unloaded during the disk holding / unloading operation, that is, in the state shown in FIG. In order to protect the disk, a control signal 39 is transmitted so that the disk 100 is automatically stored in the drive unit 22. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the disc from dropping which may occur when the personal computer 50 is lifted. The main body bottom surface sensor 25 may be a vibration element that converts vibration of the personal computer 50 into an electric signal instead of an optical sensor.

  The disk ejection switch 27 is for ejecting the disk 100 inserted into the disk drive apparatus 1 by an external switch operation, and is usually close to the slit 31 of the disk drive apparatus 1 as shown in FIG. It is often attached to the side surface of the main body 52. Therefore, for example, when the user stores and carries the personal computer 50 in a bag or the like, the disk eject switch 27 on the side surface of the main body 52 is accidentally pressed due to the impact of vibration or the like caused by the transportation inside the bag or the like. May end up. If such a malfunction occurs, the personal computer 50 unloads the disk 100 while it is moving, which may damage the disk 100.

  In order to prevent this, upon receiving an electrical signal 34 indicating that the switch has been pressed from the disk eject switch 27, the control unit 21 measures the time during which the switch has been pressed. Specifically, the control unit 21 measures the time during which the switch is pressed based on the electrical signal 34 by the time measuring unit 29. If the measured time is shorter than the predetermined time, the control unit 21 determines that a malfunction has occurred and does not perform the unloading operation of the disk 100. By doing so, unloading operation due to malfunction can be prevented, and the disk can be prevented from being damaged. The predetermined time is usually set shorter than the time when the user intentionally presses the button, and the user can set or adjust the predetermined time.

  The power switch 26 is a switch for performing “power on”, “power off”, and “standby” operations of the personal computer 50. “Power on” means activation of the personal computer 50, “Power off” means that the personal computer 50 in the activated state is turned off, and “Standby” means a device that is being executed for power saving. Means to temporarily stop the program. That is, when “power off” and “standby”, it means that the user does not use the personal computer for a while. When the disk holding / unloading operation is performed, that is, in the state shown in FIG. 1B, the control unit 21 immediately receives an electric signal 33 instructing power off or standby from the power switch 26 to protect the disk. A control signal 39 is transmitted to the drive unit 22 so that the disk 100 is automatically re-stored. In this way, it is possible to prevent the disk from being damaged after the personal computer 50 is “powered off” or “standby”.

  Note that it is not always necessary to operate all the components of the input unit 41 at the same time. The user can select and set which component to activate. For example, when the user operates the personal computer 50 on the knee, the main body bottom surface sensor 25 may detect ambient light leaking from between the knees. In such a case, the control unit 21 may determine that it is “when lifting”, which may cause a malfunction such as the user being unable to remove the disc. Therefore, when the user wants to operate in such a posture, the control unit 21 does not operate the main body bottom surface sensor 25 by changing the setting so that the control unit 21 does not operate the electric power from the main body bottom surface sensor 25. The signal 32 can be set to be ignored. In this way, the present invention can be set to operate only the components necessary for the user, so that the loading control of the disc 100 can be adapted to the usage mode of the user.

  As described above, in the present invention, the control unit 21 uses the electrical signals 31 to 34 transmitted from the components of the input unit 41 to, for example, “when stored”, “when lifting”, “power off”, It is possible to determine whether or not the state is not suitable for performing a disk unloading operation such as “standby” (also referred to as “a state in which an automatic storage condition is provided”). As shown in FIG. 1B, during the disc holding unloading operation in which the disc is partially exposed to the outside, the control unit 21 is in an unsuitable state for the disc unloading operation (ie, If it is determined that automatic storage conditions are satisfied, the disk is automatically stored again. As a result, the present invention can prevent the disk from being damaged due to the continued state of the unloading operation.

  In addition, since the present invention can be set to operate only the components necessary for the user, the loading control can be adapted to the usage mode of the user. In the present invention, the loading of the disk can be controlled by the program, so that the type of the disk to be protected is not limited. In addition, hardware to be added to enable execution of the loading control of the present invention may be minimal, such as addition of sensors, and others are mainly software changes, additions, etc., which can be realized at low cost. it can.

[Unloading process]
Next, the unloading process according to the present invention will be described.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the first embodiment of the unloading process. This process is realized by the control unit 21 shown in FIG. 2 executing a program prepared in advance in the storage unit 23 and controlling the drive unit 22.

  When the control unit 21 detects the electrical signal 34 from the disk ejection switch 27, the time measurement unit 29 measures the time during which the electrical signal 34 is detected, thereby measuring the time during which the disk ejection switch 27 is pressed. To do. This is because the electric signal 34 is due to the user depressing the disk eject switch 27 with the intention of ejecting the disk, or because it is accidentally pressed due to vibration during transportation, that is, due to normal operation. This is to determine whether it is due to malfunction or malfunction. Therefore, in this embodiment, if the time during which the disk ejection switch 27 is pressed is shorter than a predetermined time, for example, 1 second, the control unit 21 determines that it is malfunctioning (step S1), and is 1 second or longer. If so, the control unit 21 determines that the operation is normal. If the control unit 21 determines that there is a malfunction, the operation of step S9 is completed without performing the unloading operation of the disc 100 (step S1: No).

  If it is determined in step S1 that the operation of the disk ejection switch 27 is due to normal operation (step S1: Yes), the control unit 21 uses the detection signal 36 from the optical pickup 3a to detect the inside of the disk drive device 1. The presence or absence of the disk 100 is detected (step: S2). If the control unit 21 does not detect the disk 100, it is not necessary to perform the unloading operation, so that the operation of step S9 is completed (step S2: No).

  When the disc 100 is detected in step S2 (step S2: Yes), the control unit 21 performs an unloading operation. Here, the control unit 21 determines which of the disk discharge unloading operation and the disk holding unloading operation is set as the unloading operation (step S3). This setting can be performed by the user, and is set to any one here. If the disc ejection / unloading operation is set here (step S3: No), the control unit 21 instructs the drive unit 22 to completely eject the disc 100 from the disc drive apparatus 1. A control signal 39 is transmitted. As a result, as shown in FIG. 1A, the disk 100 is completely ejected from the disk drive device 1 (step S4), and the operation of step S9 is completed.

  On the other hand, if the disc holding / unloading operation is set in step S3, the control unit 21 supports the disc 100 with respect to the drive unit 22 by the arm, and only a part of the disc 100 is disc drive. A control signal 39 for instructing the exposure from the apparatus 1 to the outside is transmitted. As a result, the disk 100 is ejected so as to be partially exposed from the disk drive device 1 as shown in FIG. 1B, but the disk 100 is supported by the arm, that is, the disk holding plan loading state is maintained ( Step S5). The user can take out the disc 100 by pulling out the exposed portion of the disc 100.

  It should be noted that when the disk ejection process is executed on the program, for example, when the computer 50 is activated and the disk ejection process is executed by a command on an OS (Operation System) or the like, the disk ejection switch 27 is set. It can be set in advance whether to perform the disc discharge unloading operation or the disc holding unloading operation when the button is pressed. Specifically, when a disk ejection process is executed by a command on a program such as an OS (Operation System), the user himself / herself performs this process by operating a keyboard or a mouse. Sometimes it can be considered that the user has a clear intention to remove the disc 100, i.e. normal operation. Therefore, when the disc ejection process is executed in the program, the unloading operation is set to the disc ejection unloading operation for completely ejecting the disc as shown in FIG. In this case, since there is a possibility of malfunction as described above, the disc holding / unloading operation for holding the disc can be set.

  Thereafter, the control unit 21 detects again the presence or absence of the disk 100 in the disk drive device 1 based on the detection signal 36 from the optical pickup 3a (step S6). If the disk 100 is not detected, the user has already pulled out the disk 100. In this case, the operation in step S9 is completed (step S6: Yes). However, when the control unit 21 detects that the disk 100 is still present in the disk drive device 1 (step S6: No), the control unit 21 transmits a control signal 37 to the speaker 28, so that the user A warning for notifying the automatic re-storage of the disk 100 is issued (step S7). Specifically, a warning sound is emitted from the speaker 28 and / or light is emitted by a light emitting element or the like. This operation may be repeated several times until the disk 100 is automatically re-stored. On the other hand, if the user feels that the warning sound is bothersome, it is possible to set so as not to issue a warning, in which case step S7 is omitted.

  Immediately after issuing the warning, the control unit 21 transmits a control signal 39 to the drive unit 22 to rotate the arm 12 energizing the disk 100 in the direction of arrow C by the drive mechanism 12b. Thus, the disk 100 is automatically re-stored (step S8), and the operation is completed (step S9).

  Here, when the operation is completed after the disk 100 is automatically re-stored, the control unit 21 returns to the mode for performing the unloading process by the disk ejection switch 27, that is, the state in which step S1 can be performed again. .

  As described above, in the first embodiment of the unloading process, the unloading process due to a malfunction can be prevented by measuring the time when the disk ejection switch is pressed. In addition, when a disc is not taken out by a user even after a lapse of a certain time after the disc holding / unloading operation is performed, the disc drive device 1 automatically performs the disc pull-in operation to protect the disc. Can do. In addition, by issuing a warning before the disc pull-in operation is performed automatically, the user can take out the disc and the timing of the disc pull-in operation so that the user's unexpected injury, etc. Can be prevented.

(Second embodiment)
In the first embodiment of the unloading process described above, when the user depresses the disk eject switch 27, the disk drive device 1 performs the disk holding / unloading operation, and the state of this disk holding / unloading operation, that is, FIG. The disc 100 is automatically re-stored after a predetermined time has elapsed from a state in which a part of the disc 100 is exposed to the outside. However, it may be desirable to protect the disk by automatically re-accommodating the disk even before a certain time has elapsed. For example, the user moves the personal computer 50 in spite of the state of the disc holding / unloading operation as shown in FIG. 1B, that is, the state where a part of the disc 100 is exposed to the outside. This may lead to damage to the disc 100 or the personal computer 50 main body. Therefore, in the second embodiment, when it is determined that the disk holding / unloading operation in the first embodiment is not suitable for unloading the disk (that is, the automatic storage condition is provided). This is to prevent the disk 100 from being damaged by re-storing the disk 100 even before a predetermined time for re-storing the disk in the first embodiment has elapsed. Whether or not the automatic storage condition is satisfied can be determined based on electrical signals 31 to 34 from the main body upper surface sensor 24, the main body bottom surface sensor 25, the power switch 26, and the like.

  At the start of the unloading process shown in FIG. 5, the user has already executed the above-described disk ejecting process by a command on the computer or operated the disk ejecting switch 27, so that the disk has already been unloaded. It is assumed that the operation has been performed (step S11).

  The control unit 21 detects the presence / absence of the disk 100 in the disk drive device 1 based on the detection signal 36 from the optical pickup 3a (step S12). If the disk 100 is not detected (step S12: Yes), the user has already pulled out the disk 100. In this case, the operation of step S17 is completed.

  On the other hand, if there is a disk (step S12; No), the control unit 21 determines whether it is appropriate to continue the disk holding / unloading state, specifically based on a sensor response or the like. It is determined whether or not the storage conditions are satisfied (step S13).

  Here, the automatic storage condition specifically indicates that the main body top surface sensor 24 indicates “when stored”, and the main body bottom surface sensor 25 indicates “when lifted”. This can be either when the switch 26 indicates "power off" or "standby".

  If the automatic storage condition is not provided (step S13; No), the control unit 21 issues a warning to inform the user that the disk 100 is to be automatically stored again after a certain period of time (step S14) ( Step S15). On the other hand, when the automatic storage condition is provided (step S13; Yes), the control unit 21 immediately issues a warning (step S15). Note that, similarly to step S7 in the first embodiment, the user can also set so as not to issue this warning. In this case, step S15 is omitted.

  After issuing the warning, the control unit 21 transmits a control signal 39 to the drive unit 22 to rotate the arm 12 biasing the disk 100 in the direction of arrow C by the drive mechanism 12b. Then, the disk 100 is automatically re-accommodated (step S16), and the operation is completed (step S17).

  As described above, in the second embodiment of the unloading process, the user carried the personal computer 50 or turned off the power, for example, by forgetting to remove the disk in the disk holding unloading state. Even in such a case, it is possible to prevent damage to the disk and the like by automatically detecting and re-accommodating the disk with a sensor.

[Modification]
In each of the embodiments described above, an example of the mechanism of the slot loading type disk drive device shown in FIG. 1 is given as the disk device, but the application of the present invention is not limited to this. In other words, any mechanism that realizes an unloading state in which the user can take out the disk and can automatically re-store the disk can be used. Therefore, the present invention can be applied to a tray loading type disk device as long as the above unloading state can be realized. Furthermore, as long as it has the above mechanism, it is not limited to a disk drive device. For example, if there is a recording medium drive device such as a stick memory having the above-described mechanism, the present invention can be applied to these drive devices.

  In addition, a notebook computer has been exemplified as an information terminal device, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to other portable computers and desktop computers. Yes.

It is a top view which shows the internal structure of the disc drive apparatus based on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the loading control apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view of a portable personal computer which is an example of an information terminal device. It is a flowchart of 1st Example of the unloading process by this invention. It is a flowchart of 2nd Example of the unloading process by this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Disk drive apparatus 21 ... Control part 22 ... Drive part 24 ... Main body upper surface part sensor 25 ... Main body bottom part sensor 26 ... Power switch 27 ... Disc ejection switch 200- ..Information terminal devices

Claims (7)

A loading control device for controlling loading and unloading of a recording medium by a drive device,
Holding unloading means for unloading the disk in a holding unloading state in which the disk is unloaded while holding the disk so as to be automatically housed in the drive device;
Unloading instruction means for instructing the disk device to unload the disk;
Determination means for determining whether or not predetermined automatic storage conditions are provided;
Measuring means for measuring a holding time during which the disk is held in the holding unloading state;
In the case where the disk is held in the holding unloading state, the automatic storage condition is satisfied when the holding time exceeds a predetermined time, or even if the holding time is within the predetermined time. And a control means for automatically storing the disk in the drive device.   2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a movement detection unit configured to detect movement of the information terminal device on which the drive device is mounted, wherein the automatic storage condition includes detection of movement of the information terminal device. Loading control device.   The detection device for detecting that the display panel of the information terminal device on which the drive device is mounted is closed, and the automatic storage condition includes that the display panel is closed. 2. The loading control device according to 2.   4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a power-off detection unit configured to detect power-off of an information terminal device on which the drive device is mounted, wherein the automatic storage condition includes the power-off. The loading control device according to.   The unloading instruction means measures a time during which the disk ejection switch of the drive device is pressed, and if the measured time is longer than a predetermined time, sends a signal instructing unloading, and 5. The loading control device according to claim 1, wherein a signal instructing unloading is not transmitted if the time is shorter than the time of 5.   6. The loading control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising warning means for outputting a warning prior to automatic storage of the disk. A loading control program that is executed by a computer including a drive device and controls loading and unloading of a recording medium by the drive device,
Holding unloading means for unloading the disk in a holding unloading state in which the disk is unloaded while the disk is held so as to be automatically housed in the drive device;
Unloading instruction means for instructing the disk device to unload the disk;
Determination means for determining whether or not a predetermined automatic storage condition is satisfied;
Measuring means for measuring a holding time during which the disk is held in the holding unloading state;
In the case where the disk is held in the holding unloading state, the automatic storage condition is satisfied when the holding time exceeds a predetermined time, or even if the holding time is within the predetermined time. A loading control program for causing the computer to function as control means for automatically storing the disk in the drive device.

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