JP5233892B2 - Hard disk drive device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a hard disk drive device, and more particularly to a hard disk drive device having an automatic backup function.

  A hard disk drive device is a typical magnetic recording device using a disk coated with a magnetic material and a magnetic head, and is widely used as a storage device for various electronic devices such as personal computers and video recorders. This hard disk drive device is capable of random access at a relatively high speed and is suitable for increasing the capacity, and is therefore incorporated in many electronic devices as a data storage device. For this reason, the specifications are also standardized. For example, standard specifications such as 5 inches, 3.5 inches, and 2.5 inches are defined as dimensional standards. Compatible regardless of the supplier.

  Generally, the lifetime of a hard disk drive device is 3 to 5 years when used for 8 hours every day. In addition, when an impact or the like is applied, data reading / writing may become impossible. For this reason, it is essential to back up the data recorded in the hard disk drive. For this reason, data files in the hard disk drive are regularly written to a tape streamer for backup, copied to another hard disk drive, or backed up to an optical recording medium. It is common to do.

  Also, in servers, desktop personal computers, and the like, the use of a device having an automatic backup function with added redundancy generally called a RAID system is also widespread. Patent Document 1 below discloses a technique for reducing power consumption by selectively operating only a specific drive device among a plurality of drive devices in such a RAID system or the like. On the other hand, when it is difficult to use a RAID system due to physical capacity limitations, such as a notebook personal computer, software mirroring technology is also widespread. For example, in Patent Documents 2 and 3 below, the recording area of a hard disk drive device is divided into a plurality of areas by software, and automatic backup of data is realized while being a single drive device. A technique is disclosed. Further, Patent Document 4 below discloses a method for restoring backed up data when a failure occurs. Further, Patent Document 5 below discloses a technique for backing up a server device via a LAN.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-032198 JP 2004-213365 A JP 2007-025892 A JP 2004-038931 A JP 2004-021634 A

  As described above, there are a hardware method and a software method in the method of providing the hard disk drive with an automatic backup function. Here, if a software approach is used, automatic backup can be realized using only a single hard disk drive device, but the single hard disk drive device fails and is stored in mirroring. There is a risk that data will be lost if none of the data is accessible.

  Therefore, from the viewpoint of safety, the backup by the hardware method is superior. However, when the conventional hardware method is adopted, a separate storage device needs to be prepared in addition to the hard disk drive device to be backed up, resulting in a problem that an extra installation space is required. For example, when mirroring is performed by a general RAID system, another drive device having the same capacity as the hard disk drive device to be backed up is required. In addition, when backing up to a server device via a LAN, naturally, the server device is indispensable.

  In addition, when taking an operation to sequentially save past history as backup data, not only the installation space of the hard disk drive device currently used but also the storage space of the storage device holding the past history There is also a problem that it is necessary and work for saving the history is also required. For example, if the stored data file is backed up at the end of each month, the data file status is as follows: data file at the end of April, data file at the end of May, data file at the end of June Can be stored sequentially as a history for each month, and if necessary, a data file at a specific end of the past in the past can be restored. However, in order to adopt such an operation using the conventional apparatus, a special history storing operation is required at the end of each month, and a space for storing a storage device storing these histories is also required.

  A first object of the present invention is to provide a hard disk drive device capable of automatically performing highly secure backup while being a single device. In addition, the second object of the present invention is to be able to sequentially store past histories by simple work, and to reduce the storage space required for histories as much as possible. It is to provide a hard disk drive device.

(1) According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hard disk drive device including a magnetic recording unit including a magnetic recording device and a plurality of memory units including a nonvolatile memory.
The housing for the magnetic recording unit and the housing for the memory unit can be coupled or separated from each other by the attaching / detaching means, and any one of the plurality of memory units is selectively magnetically recorded. It is configured so that it can be used in combination with a unit, and a combined housing obtained by combining both meets the first dimensional standard for a hard disk drive device,
The housing for the magnetic recording unit or the housing for the memory unit is provided with a first external connection terminal that conforms to the first dimensional standard,
The magnetic recording device is a hard disk drive device that conforms to a second dimensional standard smaller than the first dimensional standard, and includes a second external connection terminal that conforms to the second dimensional standard,
A controller is provided in the magnetic recording unit or memory unit,
At least in a state where the housing for the magnetic recording unit and the housing for the memory unit are coupled, the controller directly or indirectly connects to the first external connection terminal, the second external connection terminal, and the nonvolatile memory. To make the necessary connections,
The controller
Mode setting means for setting one of the normal mode and the restoration mode based on a user setting operation;
When a file write command is given from the external device via the first external connection terminal with the normal mode set , the nonvolatile memory in the memory unit coupled to the magnetic recording device at that time Writing processing means for performing processing for writing the same data file to be written to both of
When the normal mode is set and a file deletion command is given from the external device via the first external connection terminal, the magnetic recording device and the non-volatile memory in the memory unit coupled at that time Delete processing means for performing processing for deleting the same data file to be deleted,
In a state where the normal mode is set, when a file read command is given from the external device via the first external connection terminal, the magnetic recording device and the nonvolatile memory in the memory unit coupled at that time A read processing means for performing a process of reading a data file to be read from at least one;
When the normal mode is set and the establishment of a predetermined synchronization start condition is detected, it is stored in the data file stored in the magnetic recording device and the non-volatile memory in the memory unit connected at that time. Synchronization processing means for performing synchronization processing to rewrite the nonvolatile memory so that the data file matches,
When the restoration mode is set and the establishment of a predetermined restoration start condition is detected, the data file stored in the magnetic recording device and the nonvolatile memory in the memory unit coupled at that time are stored. Restoration processing means for performing restoration processing to rewrite the magnetic recording device so that the data file matches,
It is made to have.

(2) According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the hard disk drive device according to the first aspect described above,
The controller is provided in the magnetic recording unit, and the first external connection terminal is provided in the casing for the magnetic recording unit.

(3) According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the hard disk drive device according to the first or second aspect described above,
At least in the state where the housing for the magnetic recording unit and the housing for the memory unit are coupled, the power supplied from the external device to the first external connection terminal is supplied to the magnetic recording device, the controller, and the nonvolatile memory. Necessary wiring is provided so as to be supplied to the memory.

(4) According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the hard disk drive device according to the first or second aspect described above,
A battery or a battery is incorporated in the magnetic recording unit or the memory unit, and at least in a state where the housing for the magnetic recording unit and the housing for the memory unit are coupled, the power from the battery or the battery is And necessary wiring so as to be supplied to the controller and the nonvolatile memory.

(5) According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the hard disk drive device according to the first to fourth aspects described above,
Relay terminals are provided on the magnetic recording unit housing and the memory unit housing, respectively. When both housings are joined, the magnetic recording unit side wiring and the memory unit side wiring are connected via the relay terminals. Are connected to each other.

(6) A sixth aspect of the present invention includes a magnetic recording device, a memory socket, a non-volatile memory mounted in the memory socket, and a controller in a housing that conforms to the first dimensional standard. In the hard disk drive device
The device housing is provided with a first external connection terminal that conforms to the first dimensional standard,
The magnetic recording device is a hard disk drive device that conforms to a second dimensional standard smaller than the first dimensional standard, and includes a second external connection terminal that conforms to the second dimensional standard,
The nonvolatile memory is constituted by a plurality of N card-type memories that can be inserted and removed using a memory socket provided in the housing,
The memory socket is provided with N LEDs corresponding to N card-type memories,
The controller is connected directly or indirectly to the first external connection terminal, the second external connection terminal and the nonvolatile memory, and the stored data for each of the N card-type memories The function of notifying the presence or absence of the LED by turning on / off the corresponding LED,
In addition, this controller
Mode setting means for setting one of the normal mode and the restoration mode based on a user setting operation;
When the normal mode is set and a file write command is given from the external device via the first external connection terminal, both the magnetic recording device and the nonvolatile memory are to be written. Write processing means for performing processing to write the same data file,
When the normal mode is set and a file deletion command is given from the external device via the first external connection terminal, both the magnetic recording device and the nonvolatile memory become deletion targets. A deletion processing means for performing processing for deleting the same data file;
A data file to be read from at least one of the magnetic recording device and the non-volatile memory when a file read command is given from the external device via the first external connection terminal in a state where the normal mode is set Reading processing means for performing processing for reading
Non-volatile so that the data file stored in the magnetic recording device matches the data file stored in the non-volatile memory when the establishment of a predetermined synchronization start condition is detected with the normal mode set Synchronization processing means for performing synchronization processing for rewriting the volatile memory;
When the restoration mode is set and the establishment of a predetermined restoration start condition is detected, the data file stored in the magnetic recording device and the data file stored in the non-volatile memory are matched so that Restoration processing means for performing restoration processing for rewriting the recording device;
It is made to have.

(7) A seventh aspect of the present invention is the hard disk drive device according to the sixth aspect described above ,
A battery or a battery is incorporated in the apparatus casing, and power from the battery or the battery is supplied to the magnetic recording device, the controller, and the nonvolatile memory.

(8) An eighth aspect of the present invention is the hard disk drive device according to the first to seventh aspects described above ,
The mode setting means is configured by a mechanical switch that can maintain either of two switching states by a user's physical operation, and the normal mode, the first switching state is determined by the first switching state of the switching switch. The restoration mode is set according to the switching state of 2.

(9) A ninth aspect of the present invention is the hard disk drive device according to the first to seventh aspects described above ,
Non-volatile bit storage unit in which mode setting means records at least 1-bit information, and bit setting unit that rewrites the 1-bit information by a mode setting command given from the external device via the first external connection terminal The normal mode is set when the 1-bit information is in the first logical state, and the restoration mode is set when the 1-bit information is in the second logical state.

(10) A tenth aspect of the present invention is the hard disk drive device according to the first to ninth aspects described above ,
Provide a buffer memory in the controller,
The writing processing means temporarily stores the data to be written supplied from the external device in the buffer memory, and then writes the data to both the magnetic recording device and the nonvolatile memory. It is a thing.

(11) An eleventh aspect of the present invention is the hard disk drive device according to the first to tenth aspects described above ,
When either or both of the synchronization processing means and the restoration processing means perform synchronization processing or restoration processing, the data file stored in the magnetic recording device matches the data file stored in the non-volatile memory. Thus, only the data file in which the mismatch occurred is rewritten.

(12) A twelfth aspect of the present invention is the hard disk drive device according to the first to eleventh aspects described above ,
A reset switch for transmitting a reset signal to the controller by a user reset operation is further provided.
The synchronization processing means performs the synchronization processing using the transmission of the reset signal as a synchronization start condition.

(13) A thirteenth aspect of the present invention is the hard disk drive device according to the first to eleventh aspects described above ,
The synchronization processing means performs the synchronization process on the condition that the synchronization start command is given from the external device via the first external connection terminal.

(14) A fourteenth aspect of the present invention is the hard disk drive device according to the first to eleventh aspects described above ,
A reset switch for transmitting a reset signal to the controller by a user reset operation is further provided.
The restoration processing means performs restoration processing using the transmission of the reset signal as a restoration start condition.

(15) According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the hard disk drive device according to the first to eleventh aspects described above ,
The restoration processing means performs the restoration process on the condition that the restoration start command is given from the external device via the first external connection terminal.

(16) A sixteenth aspect of the present invention is the hard disk drive device according to the first to fifteenth aspects described above ,
When either or both of the writing processing means and the synchronization processing means write to the nonvolatile memory, the data file to be written is compressed and then written,
Either one or both of the read processing means and the restoration processing means performs a process of expanding the read data file when reading from the nonvolatile memory.

(17) A seventeenth aspect of the present invention is the hard disk drive device according to the first to sixteenth aspects described above ,
When either or both of the writing processing means and the synchronization processing means write to the non-volatile memory, a process of writing after encrypting the data file to be written is performed,
Either or both of the read processing means and the restoration processing means perform a process of decrypting the read data file when reading from the nonvolatile memory.

(18) According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, in the hard disk drive device according to the seventeenth aspect described above ,
Further provided is a DIP switch capable of setting a multi-bit logical value by a user setting operation,
Either one or both of the writing processing means and the synchronization processing means performs encryption using the logical value set by the DIP switch as the encryption key,
Either one or both of the read processing means and the restoration processing means performs decryption using a logical value set by the DIP switch as an encryption key.

(19) According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, in the hard disk drive device according to the seventeenth aspect described above ,
When the controller is given a function to write a predetermined encryption key in the management area in the non-volatile memory and an authentication command for the predetermined password from the external device via the first external connection terminal, the password A function for determining whether the password is correct and a function for reading the encryption key from the nonvolatile memory when the password is determined to be correct,
Either one or both of the writing processing means and the synchronization processing means performs encryption using the encryption key read from the nonvolatile memory,
Either one or both of the reading processing means and the restoring processing means performs decryption using the encryption key read from the nonvolatile memory.

(20) According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, in the hard disk drive device according to the first to nineteenth aspects described above ,
Each time the restoration processing means performs restoration processing, the restoration processing means performs processing for writing the cumulative number of execution times of restoration processing in the management area in the nonvolatile memory, and when the cumulative number of execution times has reached a predetermined upper limit number of times, restoration processing is performed. Is not performed.

(21) According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, in the hard disk drive device according to the first to twentieth aspects described above ,
The restoration processing means reads and checks information indicating the restoration possible period written in the management area in the non-volatile memory before performing the restoration processing, and performs the restoration processing only at a time point within the restoration possible period. It is what I did.

(22) According to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, in the hard disk drive device according to the first to twenty-first aspects described above ,
To the controller
When the normal mode is set and an initialization command is given from the external device via the first external connection terminal, initialization processing is performed for both the magnetic recording device and the nonvolatile memory. An initialization processing means is further provided.

  According to the hard disk drive device of the present invention, the magnetic recording device and the non-volatile memory that meet the second dimensional standard are incorporated in the housing that conforms to the first dimensional standard, and mirroring by the controller in the normal mode. The action is executed. Thereby, the data in the magnetic recording device is always stored in the nonvolatile memory. For this reason, a highly secure backup is automatically performed even though it is a single device, and data is restored in the magnetic recording device using data in the nonvolatile memory when trouble occurs. Can do. In addition, since the nonvolatile memory portion can be easily removed as necessary, past history can be sequentially stored by a simple operation. Here, since the non-volatile memory is a relatively small storage device, it is possible to reduce the storage space for history storage.

It is a perspective view which shows the general hard disk drive apparatus (two types from which a dimension specification differs) utilized conventionally. 1 is a perspective view of a hard disk drive device according to a first embodiment of the present invention (some internal components are indicated by broken lines). FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the hard disk drive device shown in FIG. 2 is separated into two units 100 and 200. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of the hard disk drive device shown in FIG. 2. It is a block diagram which shows a unit required when taking the operation | movement which preserve | saves a past log | history sequentially using the hard-disk drive apparatus shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the operation condition in April using the unit shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the operation | use condition from the end of April to May using the unit shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the storage object unit at the time of operating from April to August using the unit shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a process for restoring a past state during operation using the unit shown in FIG. 5. It is a perspective view of the hard-disk drive device which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention (a part of internal component is shown with a broken line). It is a rear view of the memory interface 220 (memory socket) and the non-volatile memory 230 (card type memory) shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the basic composition of the hard disk drive device shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the modification which performs data compression in the hard-disk drive device which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the modification which performs data encryption in the hard-disk drive device which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the modification which sets the encryption key used for data encryption with a DIP switch. It is a block diagram which shows the modification which stores the encryption key used for data encryption in a non-volatile memory.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on the illustrated embodiments.

<<< §1. Basic concept of the present invention >>
As already described, the hard disk drive device is a versatile device incorporated in various electronic devices, and standard dimensions such as 5 inches, 3.5 inches, and 2.5 inches are currently defined. .

  FIG. 1 shows a typical hard disk drive device that has been conventionally used. Here, the device 10 shown in the upper part is a device that conforms to the first dimensional standard, and is provided with an external connection terminal 12 on the side surface of the device housing 11 and a platter 13 incorporated therein. On the other hand, the device 20 shown in the lower stage is a device that conforms to the second dimensional standard, and is provided with an external connection terminal 22 on the side surface of the device housing 21 and a platter 23 incorporated therein. . In addition, in each device, a spindle motor that rotates the platter, a magnetic head that reads and writes data, a drive motor that drives the magnetic head, a controller that controls these, and the like are incorporated. The description is omitted here.

  Here, as an example, it is assumed that the first dimensional standard is a 3.5-inch hard disk drive standard and the second dimensional standard is a 2.5-inch hard disk drive standard. Currently, 3.5-inch standard devices are widely used for desktop personal computers, and 2.5-inch standard devices are widely used for notebook personal computers. In the case of the 3.5-inch standard apparatus 10, a platter 13 having a diameter of 3.5 inches is used, and the external dimensions of the apparatus housing 11 have predetermined standard dimensions. The external connection terminal 12 also conforms to the 3.5 inch standard. In the figure, an example in which a signal terminal 12A and a power supply terminal 12B are provided as the external connection terminals 12 is shown. On the other hand, in the case of the 2.5 inch standard apparatus 20, a platter 23 having a diameter of 2.5 inches is used, and a predetermined standard dimension is also defined for the external shape of the apparatus housing 21. The external connection terminal 22 also conforms to the 2.5 inch standard. In the figure, an example in which a signal terminal 22A and a power supply terminal 22B are provided as the external connection terminals 22 is shown. Note that the terminal configuration shown in the drawing of this application is for convenience of explanation, and does not conform to the correct standard.

  The first point of view of the present invention is that the hard disk drive device 20 conforming to the second dimensional standard smaller than the first dimensional standard is incorporated in the casing 11 of the device 10 conforming to the first dimensional standard. Thus, an extra storage space is secured in the housing 11, and a nonvolatile memory is incorporated into the extra storage space. By doing so, both the hard disk drive device (second dimensional standard) and the non-volatile memory are incorporated inside, although the outer shape is a single hard disk drive device that conforms to the first dimensional standard. Therefore, redundant storage by so-called mirroring becomes possible by writing the same data in both. That is, the data file stored in the hard disk drive is automatically backed up to the nonvolatile memory.

  Therefore, here, an example will be described in which a standard of 3.5 inches is selected as the first dimensional standard and a standard of 2.5 inches is selected as the second dimensional standard. As long as the second dimension standard is smaller than the dimension standard, any combination of dimension standards may be selected as both standards.

  On the other hand, the second focus of the present invention is that the nonvolatile memory in which backup data is stored can be removed. Then, if necessary, the nonvolatile memory portion can be exchanged, and the past history can be sequentially stored by a simple operation. Further, since the storage space necessary for history storage is not the entire hard disk drive device but only the nonvolatile memory portion, the storage space can be greatly reduced.

<<< §2. Structure of the first embodiment >>
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hard disk drive device 30 according to the first embodiment of the present invention (some internal components are indicated by broken lines). As shown in the figure, the apparatus 30 is composed of a magnetic recording unit 100 and a memory unit 200.

  A first external connection terminal 120 that conforms to a first dimensional standard (for example, 3.5 inch standard) is provided on the side surface of the casing 110 for the magnetic recording unit 100. In the case of this example, the first external connection terminal 120 includes a signal terminal 120A and a power supply terminal 120B. In addition, a magnetic recording device 130 and a controller 140 are built in the housing 110, and a DIP switch 150 is provided above the first external connection terminal 120. Here, the magnetic recording device 130 is constituted by a hard disk drive device of the second dimensional standard (for example, 2.5 inch standard), and the second external connection terminal 132 that matches the second dimensional standard is provided. I have. In other words, the magnetic recording device 130 shown in FIG. 2 uses the hard disk drive device 20 shown in the lower part of FIG. 1 as it is.

  On the other hand, a memory interface 220 and a nonvolatile memory 230 are built in the housing 210 for the memory unit 200. In the example shown here, eight card-type memories are used as the nonvolatile memory 230, and the memory interface 220 is configured by a memory socket for inserting and removing these card-type memories. As the card type memory, for example, an SD memory card such as a micro SD card or a mini SD card, or other card type flash memory may be used.

  In the case of the basic embodiment shown here, the total storage capacity (for example, 128 GB) of the non-volatile memory 230 is set to be greater than or equal to the total storage capacity (for example, 120 GB) of the magnetic recording device 130, and magnetic recording All data files stored in the device 130 can be backed up to the nonvolatile memory 230.

  As described above, the hard disk drive device 30 shown in FIG. 2 is a device constituted by the magnetic recording unit 100 incorporating the magnetic recording device 130 and the memory unit 200 incorporating the nonvolatile memory 230. The housing 110 for 100 and the housing 210 for the memory unit 200 are configured to be coupled or separated from each other by attaching / detaching means (not shown in FIG. 2). In addition, the composite casing obtained by combining the two is designed to meet the first dimensional standard for the hard disk drive device (in the example shown here, the 3.5 inch standard).

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the hard disk drive device 30 shown in FIG. 2 is separated into two units 100 and 200. As shown in the figure, a relay terminal 115 and fitting projections 116 and 117 are provided in the vicinity of the coupling surface of the casing 110 for the magnetic recording unit 100, and in the vicinity of the coupling surface of the casing 210 for the memory unit 200. Are provided with relay terminals 215 and fitting holes 216 and 217 (these components are not shown in FIG. 2).

  When the two casings 110 and 210 are coupled, the corresponding electrodes of the relay terminals 115 and 215 come into contact with each other, and the wiring on the magnetic recording unit 100 side and the wiring on the memory unit 200 side are connected. Further, the front end claw portion of the fitting projection 116 is fitted into the fitting hole portion 216, and the front end claw portion of the fitting projection portion 117 is fitted into the fitting hole portion 217, whereby the two units 100 and 200 are fitted. Is maintained in a coupled state. Since the fitting protrusions 116 and 117 are made of an elastic material, it is possible to release the fitting state and to separate the two units 100 and 200 as illustrated by elastically deforming as necessary. It is.

  As described above, the fitting projections 116 and 117 and the fitting holes 216 and 217 function as attachment / detachment means for coupling and separating the magnetic recording unit 100 and the memory unit 200 from each other. Of course, as the attaching / detaching means, various structures can be used as long as they do not deviate from the dimensional standards, and various concrete attaching / detaching methods can be used. For example, attachment / detachment means for fixing both housings using screws can be used, and attachment / detachment means for fixing both housings using the attractive force of a magnet can also be used.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the magnetic recording unit 100 and the memory unit 200 are coupled to each other, as described above, the composite casing obtained by coupling both meets the first dimensional standard, and Since the external connection terminal 120 also conforms to the first dimensional standard, the hard disk drive device 30 shown in FIG. 2 is treated as an apparatus equivalent to the conventional hard disk drive device 10 shown in FIG. be able to. Further, as described in §3, since the device 30 has a data storage function equivalent to that of the conventional device 10, it is not different from the conventional device 10 in terms of not only the outer shape but also the function.

  Therefore, for example, with respect to a desktop personal computer using the conventional device 10 according to the first dimensional standard, there is no problem even if the conventional device 10 is replaced with the device 30 according to the present invention shown in FIG. An equivalent function as a device can be achieved. In addition, since the apparatus 30 according to the present invention is provided with an automatic backup function as described in §3, the magnetic recording apparatus 130 may fail and a data file may be lost. However, the data file can be restored by the backup data stored in the nonvolatile memory 230.

  The controller 140 is an electronic circuit having a function of performing such automatic backup processing and restoration processing, and specific processing functions will be described later. Although the wiring is not shown in the figure, in practice, a predetermined wiring is provided between the first external connection terminal 120 and the controller 140, and the controller 140 connects the signal terminal 120A. Thus, signals can be exchanged with an external device (for example, a personal computer). Further, power is supplied to the controller 140 from the power terminal 120B. Similarly, a predetermined wiring is also provided between the second external connection terminal 132 and the controller 140, and the magnetic recording device 130 is supplied with power from the controller 140 via the second external connection terminal 132. And exchange of signals with the controller 140.

  Further, wiring is also provided between the controller 140 and the relay terminal 115 (see FIG. 3), and wiring is also provided between the relay terminal 215 (see FIG. 3) and the memory interface (memory socket) 220. ing. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, when the magnetic recording unit casing 110 and the memory unit casing 210 are coupled, the controller 140 and the nonvolatile memory (card type memory) 230 are relayed. A state of being indirectly connected through the terminals 115 and 215 is established. For this reason, the nonvolatile memory 230 can be supplied with power from the controller 140 and can be accessed by the controller 140.

  2 and 3 show a typical example in which the controller 140 is provided in the magnetic recording unit 100 and the first external connection terminal 120 is provided in the case 110 for the magnetic recording unit. 140 can be provided in the memory unit 200, and the first external connection terminal 120 can be provided on the side of the memory unit housing 210. That is, when implementing the first embodiment of the present invention, the controller 140 may be provided in either the magnetic recording unit 100 or the memory unit 200. Similarly, the first external connection terminal 120 conforming to the first dimensional standard may be provided in either the magnetic recording unit casing 110 or the memory unit casing 210.

  Regardless of where the controller 140 or the first external connection terminal 120 is provided, the controller 140 is configured so that the controller 140 is in the state where the housing 110 for the magnetic recording unit and the housing 210 for the memory unit are coupled. If necessary wiring is provided so as to be directly or indirectly connected to the external connection terminal 120, the second external connection terminal 132, and the nonvolatile memory 230, the controller 140 Can perform the necessary functions. Further, at least in a state where the magnetic recording unit casing 110 and the memory unit casing 210 are coupled, the power supplied from the external device to the first external connection terminal 120 is supplied to the magnetic recording unit. If necessary wiring is provided so as to be supplied to the device 130, the controller 140, and the nonvolatile memory 230, power can be supplied from an external device to each component.

  In the case of the example shown here, as shown in FIG. 3, relay terminals 115 and 215 are provided in a case 110 for a magnetic recording unit and a case 210 for a memory unit, respectively. For this reason, when the two housings are joined, the wiring on the magnetic recording unit 100 side and the wiring on the memory unit 200 side are connected via the relay terminals 115 and 215, and the necessary power supply or Signal exchange is performed.

<<< §3. Operation of the first embodiment >>
Next, the operation of the hard disk drive device 30 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2 will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of the hard disk drive device 30 shown in FIG. As described in §2, the hard disk drive device 30 is composed of a magnetic recording unit 100 and a memory unit 200 that are detachable from each other, and a hard disk that conforms to the first dimensional standard in a state where they are coupled. Functions as a drive device.

  A magnetic recording device 130 and a controller 140 are incorporated in the case 110 for the magnetic recording unit 100, and a first external connection terminal 120 that conforms to the first dimensional standard is provided on the side of the case 110. And a relay terminal 115 are provided. Here, the magnetic recording device 130 is configured by a hard disk drive device that conforms to a second dimensional standard smaller than the first dimensional standard, and includes a second external connection terminal 132 that conforms to the second dimensional standard. ing.

  On the other hand, a memory interface 220 and a nonvolatile memory 230 are incorporated in a housing 210 for the memory unit 200, and a relay terminal 215 is provided on a side surface of the housing 210.

  When the housings 110 and 210 are coupled, the relay terminals 115 and 215 are electrically connected, and the wiring on the magnetic recording unit 100 side and the wiring on the memory unit 200 side are connected. As a result, the controller 140 is connected to the first external connection terminal 120, the second external connection terminal 132, and the nonvolatile memory 230. Further, as shown in the figure, the external device 500 is connected to the first external connection terminal 120. The external device 500 is an electronic device such as a personal computer, for example, and the hard disk drive device 30 functions as a data storage device for the external device 500.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the first external connection terminal 120 includes a power supply terminal 120B, and power is supplied from the external device 500 to the power supply terminal 120B. This power is supplied to the controller 140, the magnetic recording device 130, and the nonvolatile memory 230 through wiring in the device.

  The controller 140 is an electronic circuit having a function of managing the overall operation of the hard disk drive device 30, and temporarily stores a microprocessor, a memory storing a program executed by the microprocessor, and data to be processed. And a buffer memory. Eventually, various processes performed by the controller 140 are executed by the operation of a microprocessor based on a predetermined program. Here, the controller 140 is a set of a plurality of processing means having individual processing functions. The contents of processing executed by each processing means will be described as a body.

  The lower part of FIG. 4 shows a plurality of processing means constituting the controller 140 as blocks. As shown in the figure, the processing means constituting the controller 140 are a mode setting means 141, a writing processing means 142, a deletion processing means 143, a reading processing means 144, a synchronization processing means 145, an initialization processing means 146, and a restoration processing means 147. is there. Hereinafter, the processing contents of these means will be described in order.

<1> Processing Contents of Mode Setting Unit The mode setting unit 141 is a component that sets one of a normal mode and a restoration mode based on a user setting operation. The hard disk drive device according to the present invention operates in two modes, a normal mode and a restoration mode. In the normal mode, the controller 140 uses the magnetic recording device 130 and the nonvolatile memory 230 in a mirrored manner, and copies the data to be stored in the magnetic recording device 130 into the nonvolatile memory 230 for automatic backup. Do. On the other hand, in the restoration mode, conversely, processing for copying data in the nonvolatile memory 230 into the magnetic recording device 130 is performed.

  As described above, the processing contents of the normal mode and the restoration mode are different from each other so that it can be said to be the opposite. That is, in the normal mode, based on the basic idea that the stored contents of the magnetic recording device 130 are backed up to the nonvolatile memory 230, the stored contents of the nonvolatile memory 230 always match the stored contents of the magnetic recording device 130. Such processing is performed. On the other hand, in the restoration mode, on the premise that the stored contents of the magnetic recording device 130 are hindered, the contents backed up in the nonvolatile memory 230 are transferred to the magnetic recording device 130 and restored. Is called. Therefore, in the present invention, these two processes are clearly distinguished in the form of “mode” so that the restoration process is not erroneously performed during the normal mode, and the normal process is erroneously performed during the restoration mode. Care is taken not to be done.

  That is, the user should normally use the hard disk drive device 30 after setting the normal mode. As shown in the lower part of FIG. 4, in this normal mode setting, the write processing unit 142, the deletion processing unit 143, the read processing unit 144, the synchronization processing unit 145, and the initialization processing unit 146 execute each process. The restoration processing means 147 is configured not to execute restoration processing. Therefore, as long as the normal mode is set, the restoration processing by the restoration processing unit 147 is not erroneously performed.

  On the other hand, if any trouble occurs in the magnetic recording device 130, a restoration process is required. In this case, the user sets the restoration mode and operates the restoration processing unit 147. In the restoration mode setting, only the restoration processing unit 147 is configured to execute the process, so that the contents of the nonvolatile memory 230 are not erroneously altered.

  As the mode setting means 141, it is preferable to use a mechanical changeover switch (so-called toggle switch) that can maintain one of two switching states by a physical operation of the user. If the normal mode is set according to the first switching state of the changeover switch and the restoration mode is set according to the second switching state, the user can reliably set the desired mode by the physical switching operation of the switch. It can be performed.

  As such a change-over switch, for example, a one-bit switch of the DIP switch 150 shown in FIG. 2 can be used. However, as described above, if the mode setting by the mode setting unit 141 is wrong, a fatal result such as loss of data may be brought about. Therefore, in practice, a larger toggle switch is used on the operation panel. It is preferable to specify “normal mode” and “restoration mode”. Of course, such a change-over switch may be provided on the housing 110 side for the magnetic recording unit or on the housing 210 side for the memory unit.

  As another configuration example, the mode setting unit 141 may be configured by a non-volatile bit storage unit that records at least one bit of information and a mode setting command given from the external device 500 via the first external connection terminal 120. A bit setting unit that rewrites 1-bit information may be used. In this case, if the normal mode is set when the 1-bit information is in the first logical state, and the restoration mode is set when the 1-bit information is in the second logical state, the user can use the mode setting command. A desired mode can be set by the switching operation.

  Specifically, the bit setting unit is provided with a function for interpreting a mode setting command given from the external device 500. If the command is a command for setting the normal mode, the bit setting unit If the corresponding bit is set to the first logical state (for example, “0”) and the command is set to the restoration mode, the corresponding bit in the bit storage unit is set to the second logical state (for example, “1”). What is necessary is just to perform the process to perform. In this case, it is necessary to add a function for generating a digital signal corresponding to the mode setting command and giving it to the first external connection terminal 120 on the external device 500 side. It can be added by an operation of installing a predetermined program (driver program for the hard disk drive device 30) in the external device 500.

  As described above, the writing processing unit 142, the deletion processing unit 143, the reading processing unit 144, the synchronization processing unit 145, and the initialization processing unit 146 are only used when the setting mode of the mode setting unit 141 is “normal mode”. The process is executed, and the restoration processing unit 147 executes the process only when the setting mode of the mode setting unit 141 is “restoration mode”. Subsequently, processing contents by these individual processing means will be described in order.

<2> Processing Contents of Write Processing Unit When the normal mode is set, the write processing unit 142 receives a file write command from the external device 500 via the first external connection terminal 120. In addition, the same data file to be written is written to both the magnetic recording device 130 and the nonvolatile memory 230. As described above, since the controller 140 includes a buffer memory that temporarily stores data to be processed, the write processing unit 142 converts the data to be written supplied from the external device 500 into this data. After temporarily storing the data in the buffer memory, the writing process may be performed on both the magnetic recording device 130 and the nonvolatile memory 230.

  In many cases, the write processing to the magnetic recording device 130 transfers the file write command given from the external device 500 to the first external connection terminal 120 as it is to the second external connection terminal 132. All you need to do is do it. For example, the magnetic recording device 130 is a hard disk drive device formatted in accordance with the currently most popular “FAT32” specification, and the external device 500 uses an OS that supports reading and writing to the hard disk drive device of the specification. In this case, since the external device 500 can directly access the magnetic recording device 130, the controller 140 only has to play a role of relaying signals exchanged between the two.

  In general, reading / writing of data from / to a platter in a hard disk drive is performed in units of sectors of a track. For this reason, when writing a specific data file to the platter, a FAT (File Allocation Table) indicating what sector the data file with the file name is written to is created, and this is designated as a specific management sector. It is necessary to store and manage in However, since such a file management function is already prepared as a function of an existing controller (a component different from the controller 140) incorporated in the magnetic recording device 130, writing to the magnetic recording device 130 is possible. When processing is performed, it is not necessary to prepare such a file management function in the controller 140 used in the present invention. In other words, since the substantial writing process to the magnetic recording device 130 is executed by the controller built in the magnetic recording device 130, the controller 140 connects the first external connection terminal 120 and the second external connection terminal 120. It suffices to perform the function of relaying signals going back and forth between the external connection terminals 132.

  On the other hand, the substantial writing process to the nonvolatile memory 230 must be performed by the controller 140. Therefore, when writing to the non-volatile memory 230, the controller 140 needs to divide the address space into a plurality of sectors, create a FAT in a predetermined management sector, and perform file management. Since such a file management method is a known technique, a detailed description thereof is omitted here. Note that the above-described example is merely an embodiment, and depending on the OS to be used, the processing content and file management method that the controller 140 may handle may be different. Therefore, in implementing the present invention, the processing contents of the controller and the file management method are not limited to the embodiments described herein.

  Thus, when a file write command is given from the external device 500, the controller 140 writes the same data file to be written to both the magnetic recording device 130 and the nonvolatile memory 230. Therefore, the data file stored in the magnetic recording device 130 is always stored in the nonvolatile memory 230, and the configuration of the data file stored in both is always the same. Become.

<3> Processing Contents of Deletion Processing Unit Such data file configuration consistency is maintained even when a file is deleted. That is, when the normal mode is set and a file deletion command is given from the external device 500 via the first external connection terminal 120, the magnetic recording device 130 and the nonvolatile memory 230 are deleted by the deletion processing unit 143. In both cases, the same data file to be deleted is deleted. Also in this case, the substantial process of deleting the file in the magnetic recording device 130 is executed by the controller built in the magnetic recording device 130. Therefore, if the controller 140 performs the function of relaying the file deletion command, It ’s enough. On the other hand, since the controller 140 needs to perform a substantial process of deleting a file in the nonvolatile memory 230, the controller 140 executes a necessary process such as rewriting the FAT in the nonvolatile memory 230. To do.

<4> Processing Contents of Read Processing Unit On the other hand, when a file read command is given from the external device 500 via the first external connection terminal 120 in the state where the normal mode is set, the read processing unit 144 Thus, the process of reading the data file to be read and transmitting it to the external device 500 via the first external connection terminal 120 is executed. As described above, the data file configuration stored in the magnetic recording device 130 and the data file configuration stored in the nonvolatile memory 230 always coincide with each other by the functions of the write processing unit 142 and the deletion processing unit 143. Thus, when a file read command is given, the data file to be read can be read from the magnetic recording device 130 or can be read from the nonvolatile memory 230. Therefore, the read processing unit 144 may perform a process of reading a data file to be read from at least one of the magnetic recording device 130 and the nonvolatile memory 230 and transmitting the data file to the external device 500.

  In the case of the embodiment described here, the read processing means 144 normally performs a process of reading a data file to be read from the magnetic recording device 130 and transmitting it to the external device 500. However, when reading from the magnetic recording device 130 fails, the same data file is read from the nonvolatile memory 230 and transmitted to the external device 500 instead. In this case, since error information indicating that reading from the magnetic recording device 130 has failed is also transmitted to the external device 500, the user can obtain a desired data file. Recognize that an abnormality has occurred.

  Of course, after the data files read from both sides are temporarily stored in the buffer memory, the two are compared to confirm a match, and then the process of transmitting them to the external device 500 may be performed. In this case, if the two do not match, it can be determined that some abnormality has occurred, so, for example, the two mismatched data files are transmitted to the external device 500, and the error information is combined. Can be processed.

  As described above, as long as the hard disk drive 30 is used in a normal mode, the mode setting unit 141 is set to the “normal mode”, and the write processing unit 142, the deletion processing unit 143, and the read processing unit. If each process is executed in 144, the data file can be written, deleted, and read without any trouble. At this time, as described above, the contents stored in the magnetic recording device 130 are automatically backed up in the nonvolatile memory 230. However, in some cases, it may be necessary to perform special processing such as synchronization processing, initialization processing, and restoration processing described below.

<5> Processing Contents of the Synchronization Processing Unit The synchronization processing forcibly matches both the magnetic recording device 130 and the nonvolatile memory 230 when a situation in which the data file configuration is inconsistent occurs. This is the process of synchronizing. When the synchronization processing unit 145 detects the establishment of a predetermined synchronization start condition in a state where the normal mode is set, the data processing unit 145 stores the data file stored in the magnetic recording device 130 and the data stored in the nonvolatile memory 230. A synchronization process for rewriting the nonvolatile memory 230 is performed so that the file matches.

  Specifically, the process of reading the data file stored in the magnetic recording device 130 to the buffer memory in the controller 140 and writing the data file in the nonvolatile memory 230 is performed on all data stored in the magnetic recording device 130. Run it on the file. In other words, a process of copying all data files stored in the magnetic recording device 130 to the nonvolatile memory 230 is performed. At this time, if initialization processing (formatting processing) is required for the nonvolatile memory 230, copying is executed after the initialization processing is executed.

  When this synchronization process is executed, the consistency between the data file stored in the magnetic recording device 130 and the data file stored in the nonvolatile memory 230 is checked, and only the data file in which the mismatch occurs is rewritten. May be performed. That is, when there is a file that is stored in the magnetic recording device 130 but not stored in the nonvolatile memory 230, a process of copying the file to the nonvolatile memory 230 is performed, and the magnetic recording device 130 and the nonvolatile memory If there is a file that is stored in both the memory 230 but the contents do not match, a process in which the file in the magnetic recording device 130 is overwritten on the nonvolatile memory 230 is performed and stored in the magnetic recording device 130. If there is a file that is not stored but stored only in the nonvolatile memory 230, a process for deleting the file may be performed.

  A typical case where synchronization processing is required is when the nonvolatile memory 230 is replaced. A specific operation example will be described in detail in §4. In the configuration shown in FIG. 4, when the memory unit 200 is removed from the magnetic recording unit 100 and a new memory unit 200 is coupled, the magnetic recording device 130 and the new memory are combined. The configuration of the data file does not match that of the nonvolatile memory 230 in the unit. In such a case, before starting use in the normal form, it is necessary to perform a synchronization process to match the data file configuration.

  As described above, the synchronization process is a process that should be executed when it is necessary to make the configuration of the data file in the nonvolatile memory 230 intentionally match the configuration of the data file in the magnetic recording device 130. The processing means 145 executes the synchronization process only when it is detected that a predetermined synchronization start condition is satisfied in the state where the normal mode is set.

  As the synchronization start condition, an arbitrary condition can be set in consideration of user convenience when designing the hard disk drive device according to the present invention. The simplest synchronization start condition that can be set using hardware is a condition that “a predetermined switch is operated”. For example, a reset switch that transmits a reset signal to the controller 140 by a user's reset operation may be provided, and the synchronization processing unit 145 may perform synchronization processing on the condition that the reset signal is transmitted as a synchronization start condition. That's fine.

  The reset switch may be provided on the magnetic recording unit housing 110 side, or may be provided on the memory unit housing 210 side. For example, if a reset switch (reset button) having a function of transmitting a reset signal to the controller 140 when a pressing operation is detected, a reset signal is sent to the controller 140 when the user presses the reset button. Is given, and the synchronization processing means 145 starts the synchronization processing. In this case, “the reset button is pressed” is set as the synchronization start condition, and the synchronization start condition is satisfied when the user presses the reset button. When the user wants to perform the synchronization process, the user may perform an operation of pressing the reset button.

  If the reset switch is configured by a toggle switch that can be switched to one of two states of ON / OFF, the reset operation can be performed even when the hard disk drive 30 is not supplied with power. it can. For example, when power is supplied to the synchronization processing means 145, the ON / OFF state of the toggle switch is checked. If the toggle switch is in the ON state, it is determined that the synchronization start condition is satisfied, and the synchronization processing is performed. It is sufficient to have a function to start.

  In general, the replacement operation of the memory unit 200 is performed in a state in which power is not supplied to the hard disk drive device 30 (a state in which the external device 500 is not turned on, or a hard disk drive device in order to avoid electrical trouble). 30 will be performed with the device 30 removed from the external device 500). Therefore, the user may perform an operation of switching the reset switch to the ON state during the replacement work. In this state, since the power is not supplied, the controller 140 is not yet operated. However, if power is supplied from the external device 500 thereafter, the controller 140 sets the reset switch to the ON state. Is detected and the establishment of the synchronization start condition is recognized, and the synchronization process is started. Thus, after the synchronization process is completed, the user may perform an operation of switching the reset switch to the OFF state.

  Of course, it is also possible to use a synchronization start condition that can be set by software. For example, if a predetermined synchronization start command is determined in advance and “synchronization start command is given” is set as a synchronization start condition, the synchronization processing means 145 sends the first external connection terminal from the external device 500. The synchronization process can be performed on the condition that the synchronization start command is given via the synchronization start condition. If the user wants to perform synchronization processing, the user may operate the external device 500 so that a synchronization start command is given to the hard disk drive device 30. As described above, the function of generating the synchronization start command can be added by installing a predetermined program (driver program for the hard disk drive device 30) in the external device 500.

<6> Processing Contents of Initialization Processing Means A general data recording apparatus requires initialization processing at the start of use. For example, in the case of a hard disk drive device, a physical format for setting tracks and sectors and a logical format for setting a recording area such as FAT are executed by the initialization process. A similar initialization process is also required for the nonvolatile memory.

  When the normal mode is set and the initialization processing unit 146 receives an initialization command from the external device 500 via the first external connection terminal 120, the initialization processing unit 146 includes the magnetic recording device 130, the nonvolatile memory 230, and the like. Both have a function of performing initialization processing. Since the initialization process for such a recording medium is a known technique, a detailed description of the initialization process itself is omitted here.

  When the initialization process is performed, all the data files stored in the magnetic recording device 130 and the nonvolatile memory 230 are erased. Therefore, the user executes the initialization process when starting to use the hard disk drive 30 anew. The function of generating an initialization command can also be added by installing a predetermined program (a driver program for the hard disk drive device 30) in the external device 500.

  When the magnetic recording unit 100 or the memory unit 200 is sold as a product, practically, initialization processing is performed in a standard format (for example, FAT32) suitable for a general OS for personal computers at the time of factory shipment. It is preferable to leave. Then, as long as the user connects and uses the external device 500 corresponding to the standard format, the initialization process can be omitted. From this point of view, the initialization processing means 146 is not an essential component for carrying out the present invention. That is, as long as the user uses a product that has been initialized at the time of factory shipment, the user need not perform the initialization process.

<7> Processing Contents of Restoration Processing Means Restoration processing is a special process executed only in the restoration mode, and its purpose is to change the data file configuration in the magnetic recording device 130 and the data file configuration in the nonvolatile memory 230. To match.

  The first case where the user needs this restoration processing is a case where the magnetic recording apparatus 130 currently in use has some trouble and does not operate normally. Generally, the lifetime of a hard disk drive device is 3 to 5 years, and it is inevitable that the magnetic recording device 130 will eventually be unable to read and write normally. As described above, when the magnetic recording device 130 cannot read / write normally, the write processing unit 142 or the read processing unit 144 notifies the external device 500 of error information (failure with respect to the file write command or the file read command). Is transmitted).

  A user who recognizes that some trouble has occurred in the magnetic recording device 130 currently in use by such error information, will deal with the trouble by replacing the magnetic recording device 130 with a normal one. . Specifically, only the magnetic recording device 130 may be replaced with a new one, or the entire magnetic recording unit 100 may be replaced with a new one. In any case, since the data file accumulated so far is not stored in the new magnetic recording device 130, the memory unit 200 used so far is used for the magnetic recording including the new magnetic recording device 130. The unit 100 is connected to perform restoration processing.

  In the second case where the user needs the restoration process, no trouble has occurred in the magnetic recording device 130 currently in use, but the data file structure in the magnetic recording device 130 is returned to the past state. This is the case when circumstances arise. Various data files are newly written to, overwritten (rewritten), or deleted from the magnetic recording device 130, and the configuration of the data file changes sequentially. Similarly, the configuration of the data file in the non-volatile memory 230, which plays a role of holding a backup of the data file stored in the magnetic recording device 130, also changes sequentially.

  However, the user can exchange the memory unit 200 at a desired time as in the usage mode illustrated in §4. In this case, the configuration of the data file in the magnetic recording device 130 changes sequentially, but the configuration of the data file in the nonvolatile memory 230 of the memory unit 200 removed for replacement is maintained as it was at the time of replacement. The Therefore, when it is desired to restore the configuration of the data file at the time of replacement at a later date, the memory unit 200 is connected to the magnetic recording unit 100 again, and a restoration process for copying the contents of the nonvolatile memory 230 into the magnetic recording device 130 Just do it.

  This restoration process can be said to be a process common to the above-described synchronization process in terms of a process of copying the contents of one recording medium to the other recording medium. The difference between the two is the direction of copying. That is, in the synchronization process described above, the contents of the magnetic recording device 130 are copied to the nonvolatile memory 230, whereas in the restoration process described here, the contents of the nonvolatile memory 230 are copied to the magnetic recording device 130. It will be.

  In short, the restoration processing unit 147 stores the data file stored in the magnetic recording device 130 and the non-volatile memory 230 when the restoration mode is set and the establishment of a predetermined restoration start condition is detected. A restoration process for rewriting the magnetic recording device 130 is performed so that the data file matches the existing data file.

  Specifically, the process of reading the data file stored in the nonvolatile memory 230 to the buffer memory in the controller 140 and writing the data file in the magnetic recording device 130 is performed on all data stored in the nonvolatile memory 230. Run it on the file. At this time, if initialization processing (formatting processing) is required for the magnetic recording device 130, copying is executed after the initialization processing is executed.

  When this synchronization process is executed, the consistency between the data file stored in the magnetic recording device 130 and the data file stored in the nonvolatile memory 230 is checked, and only the data file in which the mismatch occurs is rewritten. May be performed. That is, if there is a file stored in the non-volatile memory 230 but not stored in the magnetic recording device 130, a process of copying the file to the magnetic recording device 130 is performed, and the non-volatile memory 230 and the magnetic recording are recorded. If there is a file that is stored in both of the devices 130 but the contents do not match, the file in the nonvolatile memory 230 is overwritten on the magnetic recording device 130 and stored in the nonvolatile memory 230. If there is a file that is not stored but only stored in the magnetic recording device 130, the file may be deleted.

  As described above, the restoration process is a process to be executed when it is necessary to make the configuration of the data file in the magnetic recording device 130 intentionally match the configuration of the data file in the nonvolatile memory 230. The restoration processing unit 147 executes the restoration process only when it is detected that a predetermined restoration start condition is satisfied in a state where the restoration mode is set.

  As the restoration start condition, the same condition setting as the above-described synchronization start condition can be performed. The simplest restoration start condition that can be set using hardware is a condition that “a predetermined switch is operated”. For example, a reset switch that transmits a reset signal to the controller 140 by a user reset operation may be provided, and the restoration processing unit 147 may perform synchronization processing using the transmission of the reset signal as a restoration start condition. That's fine.

  This reset switch may also be used as the reset switch used for setting the synchronization start condition described above. Therefore, it may be provided on the case 110 side for the magnetic recording unit, or may be provided on the case 210 side for the memory unit. Further, it may be configured by a reset button that generates a reset signal by a user's pressing operation, or may be configured by a toggle switch that can be switched to one of two states of ON / OFF.

  Alternatively, it is possible to set the restoration start condition to be “start of power supply”. In this case, when the restoration mode is set by the mode setting unit 141, the restoration start condition is satisfied when the power supply to the controller 140 is started, and the user performs any special operation. The restoration process will be executed without doing it. For example, the user removes the hard disk drive 30 from the external device 500, replaces the memory unit 200 with another memory unit to be restored, and sets the restoration mode by the mode setting means 141 (for example, restores the DIP switch). If the hard disk drive device 30 is connected to the external device 500 and power is supplied again, the controller 140 immediately recognizes that the restoration start condition is satisfied and starts the restoration process. become. If the user performs an operation to switch the mode setting unit 141 to the normal mode after the restoration process is completed, the normal usage mode can be used thereafter by using the restored magnetic recording apparatus 130.

  Of course, it is also possible to use restoration start conditions that can be set by software. For example, if a predetermined restoration start command is determined in advance and “restore start command is given” is set as a restoration start condition, the restoration processing unit 147 sends the first external connection terminal from the external device 500. The restoration process can be performed using the restoration start command given through 120 as a restoration start condition. If the user wants to perform restoration processing, the user may operate the external device 500 so that a restoration start command is given to the hard disk drive device 30. As described above, the function of generating the restoration start command can be added by installing a predetermined program (driver program for the hard disk drive device 30) in the external device 500.

<<< §4. Usage form of the first embodiment >>
Here, an example of a specific usage mode of the hard disk drive device 30 according to the first embodiment described so far will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing units necessary for performing an operation of sequentially storing past histories using the hard disk drive device 30. In this example, one magnetic recording unit 100 and a plurality of memory units 200A, 200B, 200C, 200D, 200E,... That can be coupled to the magnetic recording unit 100 are prepared. In the example described here, since the operation of exchanging the memory unit 200 is performed every month, if one year of operation is performed, twelve memory units 200 are required.

  As already described, a magnetic recording device 130 comprising a hard disk drive device is incorporated in the magnetic recording unit 100, and each of the memory units 200A, 200B, 200C, 200D, 200E,. A memory 230 is incorporated. The user selectively uses any one of the plurality of memory units in combination with one magnetic recording unit 100.

  Now, the user's work procedure when starting the operation from April 1 will be described. First, on April 1 (first day of operation start), as shown in FIG. 6 (a), a memory unit 200A for storing April is combined with the magnetic recording unit 100 to form the hard disk drive device 30. This is connected to the external device 500 (in this example, a personal computer). At this time, neither the magnetic recording unit 100 nor the memory unit 200A is in an unused state, and no user data file is stored. The mode is set to the normal mode. Basically, the mode will continue to be used in the normal mode.

  If necessary, the user gives an initialization command from the external device 500, and the initialization processing means 146 performs initialization processing on the magnetic recording device 130 and the nonvolatile memory 230 (as described above, the magnetic recording unit 100). If the memory unit 200A is initialized at the time of shipment from the factory, the initialization work by the user is not necessary).

  In this state, the user uses the hard disk drive device 30. That is, as shown in FIG. 6B, the contents of April are accumulated in the magnetic recording unit 100 and the memory unit 200A. As described above, if a data file write process (a new file write process or an overwrite process for an existing file) or a delete process is performed from the external device 500, both the magnetic recording unit 100 and the memory unit 200A are processed. On the other hand, since the same file writing and file deletion are performed, the configuration of the data file stored in both is always the same.

  Thus, if the configuration shown in FIG. 6 (b) is used from April 1 to April 30, the configuration of the data file stored in the magnetic recording unit 100 and the memory unit 200A is finally shown in FIG. As shown in 7 (a), both are the contents at the end of April. Here, the user performs a month-end exchange operation. That is, when the work for one day using the external device 500 is completed, the work for replacing the memory unit 200A with the memory unit 200B is performed. In order to avoid the occurrence of electrical trouble, this replacement operation is performed in a state where power is not supplied to the hard disk drive device 30 (a state where the external device 500 is not turned on or the hard disk drive device 30 is connected to the external device 500 It is preferable to carry out in the state where it has been removed from.

  FIG. 7B shows a state in which this replacement work is completed. As shown in the figure, the data file stored in the magnetic recording unit 100 remains as of the end of April, but the replaced memory unit 200B is unused. Therefore, the user performs an operation for executing the synchronization process. For example, in an embodiment in which “reset button pressing operation” is a synchronization start condition, the user causes the synchronization processing unit 145 to perform synchronization processing by performing an operation of pressing the reset button after completion of the replacement work. Alternatively, in the case of an embodiment in which “synchronization start command is given” is a synchronization start condition, the user operates the external apparatus 500 to transmit a synchronization start command after completion of the exchange work, and the synchronization processing means 145 causes the synchronization process to be executed.

  FIG. 7 (c) shows a state where the synchronization processing is completed in this way. As shown in the figure, the data file in the magnetic recording unit 100 (contents at the end of April) is copied to the memory unit 200B as it is (at this time, initialization of the nonvolatile memory is performed as necessary). ), The configuration of the data files stored in both is the same. This completes the month-end processing. The removed memory unit 200A (which stores the contents at the end of April) may be stored in an arbitrary storage location.

  The user will continue to use the hard disk drive device 30 in this state from May 1st. That is, as shown in FIG. 7D, the contents of May are accumulated in the magnetic recording unit 100 and the memory unit 200B. Of course, the configuration of the data files stored in both is always the same.

  Thus, if the configuration shown in FIG. 7D is used from May 1 to May 31, the configuration of the data files stored in the magnetic recording unit 100 and the memory unit 200B will eventually be Will be the content at the end of May. Here, the user executes the exchange work at the end of May. That is, the work of replacing the memory unit 200B with the memory unit 200C is performed.

  FIG. 7 (e) shows a state in which this replacement work is completed. As shown in the figure, the data file stored in the magnetic recording unit 100 remains as of the end of May, but the replaced memory unit 200C is unused. Therefore, if the synchronization processing is executed, as shown in FIG. 7 (f), the data file in the magnetic recording unit 100 (contents at the end of May) is copied to the memory unit 200C as it is. The structure of the stored data file is the same. This completes the month-end processing at the end of May. The removed memory unit 200B (which stores the contents at the end of May) may be stored in an arbitrary storage location.

  In this way, if the memory unit is replaced at the end of each month and the synchronization process is performed, the hard disk drive 30 itself can continue to be used. On the other hand, the removed memory unit is accumulated in the storage location. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a memory unit to be stored when such operation is performed from April to August. As shown in the figure, the contents of the end of April, the end of May, the end of June, the end of July, and the end of August are stored in each of the memory units 200A, 200B, 200C, 200D, and 200E, respectively. This means that the data file configuration at any month end can be restored if necessary.

  Generally, in a redundant system that creates an automatic backup by mirroring, even if a failure occurs in one medium, it is possible to retrieve data from the other medium. However, if the user intentionally deletes or modifies, the deleted file or the file before modification cannot be restored. For example, in the illustrated example, the data file structure of the hard disk drive 30 as of September 15 is that both the magnetic recording unit 100 and the memory unit 200F are September 15 as shown in FIG. Since it has been updated to the contents of the day, files that have been deleted or modified during the work in June cannot be retrieved. However, as shown in FIG. 8, if the contents at the end of the month are stored in separate memory units, it is possible to restore files that have been deleted or modified in the past.

  Here, as an example, let us consider a case where the data file structure at the end of May needs to be restored as of September 15th. For example, if you want to reinstate a file that was deleted during work in June, or if you want to reinstate the state before modification of a file whose contents have been modified during work in June, the data at the end of May What is necessary is just to restore the file structure.

  In this case, the user performs an operation of replacing the memory unit 200F with the memory unit 200B. FIG. 9B shows a state in which this replacement work is completed. As shown in the figure, the data file stored in the magnetic recording unit 100 has the contents as of September 15, but the data file stored in the replaced memory unit 200B has the contents at the end of May. Therefore, the user performs an operation for executing the restoration process.

  First, the mode setting is switched from the conventional mode to the restoration mode. Specifically, in the embodiment in which the mode setting is performed by the changeover switch, the setting for switching the switch to the “restoration mode” is performed. Alternatively, in the embodiment in which mode setting is performed by a mode setting command, a command for setting the “restoration mode” is transmitted from the external device 500. In the figure, the “restoration mode” is set by drawing the outline of the block with a bold line.

  Subsequently, an operation for satisfying the restoration start condition is performed. For example, in the case of an embodiment in which “reset button pressing operation” is used as the restoration start condition, the restoration processing unit 147 is caused to execute the restoration process by performing an operation of pushing the reset button. Alternatively, in the case of an embodiment in which “restore start command is given” is a restore start condition, a restore start command is transmitted from the external device 500 (a command that uses both the mode setting command and the restore start command). May be sent). Note that, in the embodiment in which the “start of power supply” is a restoration start condition, no special work is required to satisfy the restoration start condition, and power supply to the hard disk drive device 30 is not performed. If this happens, the restoration process starts automatically.

  FIG. 9C shows a state in which the synchronization process is completed in this way. As shown in the figure, the data file (content at the end of May) in the memory unit 200B is copied to the magnetic recording unit 100 as it is, and the configuration of the data files stored in both is the same. Although the contents of September 15 stored in the magnetic recording unit 100 are lost, the contents remain in the removed memory unit 200F.

  In this state, in order to continue using the hard disk drive device 30, the memory unit 200B is replaced with a new memory unit 200G. FIG. 9 (d) shows a state where the replacement work is completed. As shown in the figure, the data file stored in the magnetic recording unit 100 has the contents at the end of May, but the replaced memory unit 200G is unused. Therefore, the user performs an operation for executing the synchronization process after returning the mode setting to the “normal mode”.

  FIG. 9 (e) shows a state where the synchronization processing is completed in this way. As shown in the figure, the data file in the magnetic recording unit 100 (contents at the end of May) is copied to the memory unit 200G as it is, and the configuration of the data files stored in both is the same. Therefore, the user can read out the necessary data file to the external device 500 using the data file as of the end of May, and can perform a desired operation. Of course, the result of the operation is stored in the magnetic recording unit 100 and backed up in the memory unit 200G.

  Thus, returning the stored data file to the contents at a specific point in the past and continuing to use the data file in that state is particularly when the hard disk drive device 30 is used as a startup disk of the external device 500. Useful. Since the OS program is incorporated in the boot disk, for example, when the OS is upgraded, the OS program on the boot disk is rewritten to a new version. However, as a result of working with this new version of the OS, the inconvenience that the old application program does not operate normally or peripheral devices do not operate is found, and there is a desire to return to the old version of the OS. Not a few. In such a case, as in the above example, it is possible to return to the state before the version upgrade of the OS (the state as of the end of May) and continue using it as it is.

  Of course, it is possible to return to the original state of September 15 shown in FIG. 9 (a) from the state shown in FIG. 9 (e). In this case, it is only necessary to perform the work of replacing the memory unit 200G with the memory unit 200F, set the restoration mode, and then execute the restoration process again. If the mode is returned to the normal mode after the restoration process is completed, the use can be resumed from the state shown in FIG.

  As described above, since the data in the magnetic recording device is always backed up in the nonvolatile memory, the hard disk drive device according to the present invention uses the data in the nonvolatile memory in the magnetic recording device when trouble occurs. Not only has the advantage that data can be restored, but also the nonvolatile memory part can be easily removed as needed, so past history can be stored sequentially by simple operations. It also has the advantage of being possible. In fact, as in the example shown in FIG. 3, the magnetic recording unit 100 and the memory unit 200 can be easily attached and detached, and the convenience for the user is extremely high.

  As shown in the example of FIG. 8, when the operation of exchanging the memory unit 200 every month is performed, 12 sets of memory units 200 are accumulated in the storage place in one year. Since it can be configured using a semiconductor memory such as an SD card or a mini-SD card, it becomes a relatively small device. Therefore, the storage space for storing the history can be greatly reduced as compared with the case where the general hard disk drive is replaced and stored every month. Further, instead of storing the memory unit 200 shown in FIG. 2 as it is, if the portion of the card type memory 230 is extracted from the memory socket 220 and only the card type memory 230 is stored, the storage efficiency can be further improved. it can.

  Moreover, semiconductor memories such as micro SD cards and mini SD cards are suitable for long-term storage. For example, when storing a magnetic recording medium such as a tape streamer for a long period of time, it is necessary to consider temperature management and humidity management of the storage location in order to avoid the occurrence of mold. In addition, when storing an optical recording medium such as a DVD for a long period of time, it is necessary to take care not to damage the surface. On the other hand, the semiconductor memory does not need to be handled with great care even when stored for a long time.

  In addition, the semiconductor memory can be easily discarded. For example, in the case of a business data file, an operation is often performed in which old ones are discarded sequentially on the basis of discarding ones after five years. In the case of an optical recording medium such as a tape streamer or a DVD, it is necessary to dissolve or pulverize the medium in order to completely discard the data, and the work load is considerably large. On the other hand, in the case of a semiconductor memory, data can no longer be read simply by breaking the chip into two, so the burden of discarding data is very light.

  Furthermore, since the memory unit 200 according to the present invention can be handled as a versatile hard disk drive device in a state where it is coupled to the magnetic recording unit 100, it has a function as a very versatile medium. Until now, a variety of media based on various standards have been marketed as data recording media, but many media have disappeared from the market with the passage of time. Such an abandoned medium is becoming difficult to obtain a reproducing apparatus, and there is a high possibility that there will be no data reading means in the future. On the other hand, the hard disk drive has been used as the most versatile data recording medium so far, and it is unlikely that data will be completely read in the future. From this point, it can be said that the memory unit 200 according to the present invention is a medium whose reading means will continue to be stably supplied in the future.

<<< §5. Structure and operation of the second embodiment >>
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a hard disk drive device 40 according to the second embodiment of the present invention (some of the internal components are indicated by broken lines). The hard disk drive device 30 shown in FIG. 2 includes the detachable magnetic recording unit 100 and the memory unit 200. The hard disk drive device 40 shown in FIG. It is composed of one unit. As shown in the figure, the device casing 400 is composed of a magnetic recording device storage portion 410 and a memory storage portion 420, but they are joined and never separated. The device housing 400 is designed to meet the first dimensional standard (3.5 inch standard in the example shown) related to the hard disk drive device.

  The magnetic recording device storage portion 410 corresponds to the magnetic recording unit 100 of the device 30 shown in FIG. 2 and has a first surface that conforms to a first dimensional standard (for example, 3.5 inch standard) on its side surface. The external connection terminal 120 is provided. Also in this example, the first external connection terminal 120 includes a signal terminal 120A and a power supply terminal 120B. A magnetic recording device 130 and a controller 140 are built in the magnetic recording device housing portion 410, and a DIP switch 150 is provided above the first external connection terminal 120. Here, the magnetic recording device 130 is constituted by a hard disk drive device of the second dimensional standard (for example, 2.5 inch standard), and the second external connection terminal 132 that matches the second dimensional standard is provided. I have.

  On the other hand, the memory storage unit 420 corresponds to the memory unit 200 of the device 30 shown in FIG. 2, and the memory interface 220 and the nonvolatile memory 230 are incorporated therein. Also in the example shown here, as with the device 30 shown in FIG. 2, eight card-type memories are used as the nonvolatile memory 230, and the memory interface 220 is used to insert and remove these card-type memories. Consists of memory sockets. As the card type memory, an SD memory card such as a micro SD card or a mini SD card, or other card type flash memory may be used. Again, the total storage capacity of the non-volatile memory 230 is set to be equal to or greater than the total storage capacity of the magnetic recording device 130, and all data files stored in the magnetic recording device 130 are transferred to the non-volatile memory 230. Can be backed up.

  As shown in the figure, the memory accommodating portion 420 is a structure that is substantially composed only of a bottom plate, and a memory socket 220 is attached to the upper surface thereof. The eight card-type memories 230 are inserted into the memory socket 220 and can be freely inserted and removed. In the case of the device 30 shown in FIG. 2, when the card type memory 230 is replaced, the entire memory unit 200 is replaced. In the case of the device 40 shown in FIG. 10, a method of directly inserting and removing the card type memory 230. I will take. In the case of the example shown in FIG. 10, in order to facilitate such insertion / removal work, the memory storage unit 420 is configured only by the bottom plate so that the memory socket 220 and the card type memory 230 are exposed. If necessary, a cover that can be detached or opened at the time of replacing the memory may be provided to cover the memory socket 220 and the card-type memory 230.

  After all, the device 40 shown in FIG. 10 is a hard disk drive device including the magnetic recording device 130, the nonvolatile memory 230, and the controller 140 in the housing 400 that matches the first dimensional standard. . The housing 400 is provided with a first external connection terminal 120 that matches the first dimensional standard, and the magnetic recording device 130 matches the second dimensional standard that is smaller than the first dimensional standard. And a second external connection terminal 132 that conforms to the second dimensional standard. The non-volatile memory 230 is a card-type memory that can be inserted and removed using a memory socket 220 provided in the housing 400, and the controller 140 includes a first external connection terminal 120 and a second external connection. The terminal 132 and the non-volatile memory 230 are directly or indirectly connected.

  Since the housing 400 conforms to the first dimensional standard and the external connection terminal 120 also conforms to the first dimensional standard, the hard disk drive device 40 shown in FIG. 1 can be handled as an apparatus equivalent to the conventional hard disk drive apparatus 10 shown in FIG. In addition, since the device 40 has a data storage function equivalent to that of the conventional device 10 due to the function of the controller 140, the device 40 is not different from the conventional device 10 in terms of not only the outer shape but also the function. Further, as with the device 30 shown in FIG. 2, since the automatic backup function is provided, even if a failure occurs in the magnetic recording device 130 and a data file is lost, the nonvolatile memory 230 is lost. Data files can be restored by the backup data stored in.

  Although the wiring is not shown in the figure, in practice, a predetermined wiring is provided between the first external connection terminal 120 and the controller 140, and the controller 140 connects the signal terminal 120A. Thus, signals can be exchanged with an external device (for example, a personal computer). Further, power is supplied to the controller 140 from the power terminal 120B. Similarly, a predetermined wiring is also provided between the second external connection terminal 132 and the controller 140, and the magnetic recording device 130 is supplied with power from the controller 140 via the second external connection terminal 132. And exchange of signals with the controller 140. Further, wiring is also provided between the controller 140 and the memory socket 220, and the nonvolatile memory 230 can be supplied with power from the controller 140 and can be accessed by the controller 140.

  Although not appearing in FIG. 10, eight LEDs are provided on the back side of the memory socket 220. FIG. 11 is a rear view of the memory socket 220 and the nonvolatile memory 230 shown in FIG. The non-volatile memory 230 is configured by a total of eight card-type memories 231 to 238 (for example, micro SD cards). Has been placed. These LEDs 241 to 248 are controlled to be turned on / off by the controller 140 and have a function of notifying the presence / absence of data stored in the corresponding card type memory. That is, the LED corresponding to the card type memory in which data is stored is turned on, and the LED corresponding to the card type memory in which data is not stored is turned off.

  For example, when the controller 140 is programmed to use the eight card-type memories 231 to 238 in this order, first, FAT data necessary for file management is written in a predetermined sector in the memory 231. As a result, the data files are sequentially stored in other sectors in the memory 231. As long as the total capacity of the data file to be saved is small, all data including FAT data will be accommodated in the memory 231. In this case, since the memory 231 is the only memory in which data is stored, only the corresponding LED 241 is turned on, and the LEDs 242 to 248 are turned off. Eventually, when the total capacity of data files to be saved increases, data that could not be accommodated in the memory 231 will be stored in the memory 232. In this case, the LEDs 241 and 242 are turned on, and the LEDs 243 to 248 are turned off.

  Here, a case where eight card-type memories 231 to 238 are used will be described as an example. Generally, when a plurality of N card-type memories are provided as the nonvolatile memory 230, the N card-type memories are provided. A function in which N LEDs are provided corresponding to the memory, and the controller 140 notifies the presence / absence of stored data for each of the N card-type memories by turning on / off the corresponding LED. Should be fulfilled. Note that the LEDs are not necessarily arranged in the memory socket 220, and may be arranged in any place as long as the correspondence between the individual LEDs and the individual card-type memories is recognized. However, for practical use, it is preferable that the memory socket 220 is arranged in correspondence with the mounting position of each memory so as to intuitively understand the correspondence with the memory, as in the example shown in FIG.

  FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of the hard disk drive device 40 shown in FIG. As described above, the apparatus housing 400 includes the magnetic recording device storage unit 410 and the memory storage unit 420, and the magnetic recording device storage unit 410 includes a first external connection that conforms to the first dimensional standard. Terminal 120, magnetic recording device 130, and controller 140 are provided. Here, the magnetic recording device 130 is configured by a hard disk drive device that conforms to a second dimensional standard smaller than the first dimensional standard, and includes a second external connection terminal 132 that conforms to the second dimensional standard. ing. On the other hand, a memory interface 220 and a nonvolatile memory 230 are incorporated in the memory storage unit 420. In the example shown here, the non-volatile memory 230 is configured by eight card-type memories 231 to 238, and the memory interface 220 is configured by a memory socket in which these memories can be inserted and removed. The memory socket 220 is provided with eight LEDs 241 to 248 corresponding to each memory.

  As illustrated, the external device 500 is connected to the first external connection terminal 120. The external device 500 is an electronic device such as a personal computer, for example, and the hard disk drive device 40 functions as a data storage device for the external device 500. As shown in FIG. 10, the first external connection terminal 120 includes a power supply terminal 120B, and power is supplied from the external device 500 to the power supply terminal 120B. This power is supplied to the controller 140, the magnetic recording device 130, and the nonvolatile memory 230 through wiring in the device.

  The basic function of the controller 140 is the same as the function of the controller (see FIG. 4) in the device 30 according to the first embodiment. That is, the controller 140 in the device 40 shown in FIG. 12 is also an electronic circuit having a function of managing the operation of the hard disk drive device 40, a microprocessor, a memory storing a program executed by the microprocessor, And a buffer memory for temporarily storing data to be processed. If attention is paid to the function, the controller 140, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 12, the mode setting unit 141, the writing processing unit 142, the deletion processing unit 143, the reading processing unit 144, the synchronization processing unit 145, and the initialization processing unit 146. , Restoration processing means 147, and the functions of these means are as described in §3.

  That is, the mode setting unit 141 has a function of setting either the normal mode or the restoration mode based on a user setting operation, and the writing processing unit 142 is in a state in which the normal mode is set. Thus, when a file write command is given from the external device 500 via the first external connection terminal 120, both the magnetic recording device 130 and the nonvolatile memory 230 are the same as a write target. The deletion processing unit 143 has received a file deletion command from the external device 500 via the first external connection terminal 120 in a state in which the normal mode is set. In this case, both the magnetic recording device 130 and the nonvolatile memory 230 have a function of performing processing for deleting the same data file to be deleted, The output processing unit 144 is configured to store the magnetic recording device 130 and the nonvolatile memory 230 when a file read command is given from the external device 500 via the first external connection terminal 120 in a state where the normal mode is set. It has a function of performing a process of reading a data file to be read from at least one of them.

  In addition, the synchronization processing unit 145 stores the data file stored in the magnetic recording device 130 and the nonvolatile memory 230 when detecting the establishment of a predetermined synchronization start condition in a state where the normal mode is set. The initialization processing means 146 is set to the normal mode and the first external connection terminal from the external device 500 has a function of performing a synchronization process for rewriting the nonvolatile memory 230 so that the data file matches. When the initialization command is given via 120, the restoration processing means 147 has a function of performing initialization processing on both the magnetic recording device 130 and the nonvolatile memory 230, and the restoration processing unit 147 sets the restoration mode. In this state, when it is detected that a predetermined restoration start condition is satisfied, the data file stored in the magnetic recording device 130 and the nonvolatile memory 230 are stored. It has a function of performing restoring processing to rewrite the magnetic recording device 130 as data files and matches being paid.

  The LED control unit 148 is a component newly provided in the device 40 according to the second embodiment, and has a function of controlling the on / off states of the LEDs 241 to 248. That is, whenever the data stored in the nonvolatile memory 230 is updated by the functions of the write processing unit 142, the deletion processing unit 143, the synchronization processing unit 145, and the initialization processing unit 146, the LED control unit 148 is updated. Checks whether data is stored in each of the card-type memories 231 to 238 (for example, FAT may be checked), and the LED corresponding to the card-type memory in which the data is stored is turned on. The LED corresponding to the card-type memory in which no data is stored is controlled to be turned off.

  The usage mode of the hard disk drive device 40 according to the second embodiment is substantially the same as the usage mode of the hard disk drive device 30 according to the first embodiment described in §4. However, instead of replacing the memory unit 200, the user performs an operation of replacing the card type memory 230. Therefore, as described in §4, when the operation of exchanging the memory at the end of each month is adopted, in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the memory unit 200 for each month is accumulated and stored. However, in the second embodiment described here, the monthly card-type memory 230 is accumulated and stored.

  In addition, in the memory replacement work at the end of each month, it is not necessary to replace all of the eight card-type memories, and it is sufficient to replace only the card-type memory corresponding to the lit LED. For example, if the operation is started from April 1, the total capacity of the data stored in the magnetic recording unit 100 will not be so large as of the end of April. Even so, not all eight card-type memories will be used.

  The user can grasp the card type memory in which data is currently stored by checking the lighting state of the LED. For example, if only the LEDs 241 and 242 are lit at the end of April, it is sufficient to replace only the two corresponding memories 231 and 232, and the remaining six memories 233 to 238 are replaced. do not have to. In this case, the user should clearly store that the two removed memories 231 and 232 are “memory to be inserted into the first and second sockets at the end of April”. Good. Then, if it is necessary to restore to the state at the end of April, these two memories can be inserted into the first and second sockets for restoration processing.

  Similarly, if the total capacity of the stored data is slightly increased at the end of May and the three LEDs 241, 242, and 243 are in the lighting state, the corresponding three of the memories 231, 232, and 233 You only need to replace the sheets. In this case, the user clearly keeps the removed three memories 231, 232, and 233 as “memory to be inserted into the first to third sockets at the end of May”. do it. As described above, if a function for notifying the storage state of data by the LED is provided, replacement and storage can be performed in units of memory one by one, thereby enabling more efficient operation.

  The provision of the LEDs 241 to 248 and the LED control means 148 is not an essential requirement for carrying out the second embodiment. If the LED data storage state notification function is not provided, the user may always replace all eight memories. However, in practice, a function for notifying the storage status of data by LEDs is provided so that only necessary replacement can be performed in memory units as in the above example so that efficient operation is possible. It is preferable to do this.

<<< §6. Some variations >>>
An essential feature of the present invention is a hard disk drive device having a magnetic recording device, a detachable nonvolatile memory, and a controller, at least in a state in which the nonvolatile memory is mounted, The outer shape of the device housing conforming to the dimensional standard is formed, the device housing is provided with a first external connection terminal conforming to the first dimensional standard, and the magnetic recording device is connected to the first dimension. The hard disk drive device conforms to a second dimensional standard smaller than the standard, and is constituted by a device including a second external connection terminal conforming to the second dimensional standard. Then, the controller reads the predetermined data file from at least one of the magnetic recording device and the nonvolatile memory, and the processing for writing and deleting the same data file to both the magnetic recording device and the nonvolatile memory. Provided with a function for executing processing, processing for copying a data file stored in the magnetic recording device to the nonvolatile memory, and processing for copying the data file stored in the nonvolatile memory to the magnetic recording device In the point. Here, some modifications applicable to the hard disk drive device according to the present invention having such characteristics will be described.

<1> Drive by Built-in Battery The devices 30 and 40 according to the embodiments described so far have been configured to supply power from the external device 500 via the first external connection terminal 120. A battery or a battery (secondary battery) may be built in and driven.

  For example, in the case of the hard disk drive device 30 according to the first embodiment, a battery or a battery is incorporated in the magnetic recording unit 100 or the memory unit 200, and at least the case 110 for the magnetic recording unit and the case for the memory unit. If the necessary wiring is provided so that power from the battery or the battery is supplied to the magnetic recording device 130, the controller 140, and the nonvolatile memory 230 in a state in which the external device 500 is coupled to the external device 500. Can be operated without power supply.

  On the other hand, in the case of the hard disk drive device 40 according to the second embodiment, a battery or a battery is incorporated at any location in the device housing 400, and the power from the battery or the battery is supplied to the magnetic recording device 130 and the controller. Wiring to be supplied to 140 and the nonvolatile memory 230 may be provided.

  When a battery is incorporated, charging can be performed using the power supplied when the external device 500 is connected.

  Of course, even when a battery or a battery is incorporated, it is assumed that a predetermined command signal is given from the external device 500 when the writing processing unit 142, the deletion processing unit 143, and the reading processing unit 143 are operated. The device may be driven using the power supplied from the external device 500. On the other hand, the synchronization processing unit 145 and the restoration processing unit 147 are built in even if the external device 500 is not connected if the synchronization start condition and the restoration start condition are established by operating the reset switch. The synchronization process and the restoration process can be executed by supplying power from the batteries.

  In the second embodiment, when the LEDs 241 to 248 are provided, the LEDs 241 to 248 can be turned on by supplying power from a built-in battery or a battery even if the external device 500 is not connected. As shown in FIG. 10, even when the hard disk drive device 40 is removed, the lighting state of the LEDs can be confirmed.

<2> Data Compression Processing In the devices 30 and 40 according to the embodiments described so far, the total storage capacity of the nonvolatile memory 230 is set to be equal to or greater than the total storage capacity of the magnetic recording device 130, and the magnetic recording device All the data files stored in 130 can be backed up to the non-volatile memory 230.

  However, when the writing processing unit 142 and the synchronization processing unit 145 (or one of them) write to the nonvolatile memory 230, the writing processing unit 142 and the synchronization processing unit 145 perform the writing process after compressing the data file to be written, and the reading process If the means 144 and the restoration processing means 147 (or one of them) perform the process of expanding the read data file when reading from the nonvolatile memory 230, the total storage capacity of the nonvolatile memory 230 will be described. However, even if it is smaller than the total storage capacity of the magnetic recording device 130, all data files stored in the magnetic recording device 130 can be compressed and backed up to the nonvolatile memory 230.

  FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a modified example for performing such data compression. When writing a data file to the magnetic recording device 130, the controller 140 performs the writing as it is, and when reading the data file from the magnetic recording device 130, only the reading process is performed. However, when a data file is written to the nonvolatile memory 230, a compression process based on a predetermined algorithm is executed, a process of writing the compressed data is performed, and a data file is read from the nonvolatile memory 230. Then, the read data is subjected to a decompression process corresponding to the compression process to extract a target data file.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when the operation of exchanging the nonvolatile memory 230 is performed every month as in the usage mode described in §4, as shown in FIG. 8, the number of the nonvolatile memories 230 to be stored continuously increases every month. In such a case, as shown in FIG. 13, if data compression is performed when writing to the nonvolatile memory 230, the capacity of the memory 230 can be saved, and the procurement cost of the memory 230 can be saved. The storage space of the memory 230 can be saved. Note that since data compression is not performed on the data file stored in the magnetic recording device 130, if the normal reading process is performed from the magnetic recording device 130, the adverse effect of reading delay due to the data decompression process is avoided. Can do.

<3> Data Encryption Processing In order to increase the security of the nonvolatile memory 230 stored as a backup, the data file may be stored after being encrypted. That is, when the writing processing unit 142 and the synchronization processing unit 145 (or one of them) write to the nonvolatile memory 230, the writing processing unit 142 and the synchronization processing unit 145 perform a writing process after encrypting the data file to be written. If the means 144 and the restoration processing means 147 (or one of them) perform the process of decrypting the read data file when reading from the non-volatile memory 230, the non-volatile memory 230 includes: Since the data file is stored in an encrypted state, it is possible to reduce the possibility of unauthorized use even if it is in the hands of an unauthorized person.

  FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a modified example in which such data encryption is performed. When writing a data file to the magnetic recording device 130, the controller 140 performs the writing as it is, and when reading the data file from the magnetic recording device 130, only the reading process is performed. However, when a data file is written to the nonvolatile memory 230, an encryption process based on a predetermined algorithm is executed, the encrypted data is written, and the data file is read from the nonvolatile memory 230. In this case, the read data is subjected to a decryption process corresponding to the encryption process to extract a target data file.

  Also in this case, since the data file stored in the magnetic recording device 130 is not encrypted, if a normal reading process is performed from the magnetic recording device 130, a read delay due to the decrypting process is caused. Can be avoided.

  Note that many encryption algorithms that are currently used generally perform encryption using an encryption key. When encryption using an encryption key is performed in this way, the security can be further enhanced by setting the encryption key with a DIP switch. That is, a DIP switch capable of setting a multi-bit logical value by a user setting operation is provided, and the write processing unit 142 or the synchronization processing unit 145 uses the logical value set by the DIP switch as an encryption key. The read processing unit 144 or the restoration processing unit 145 performs decryption using the logical value set by the DIP switch as the encryption key. The DIP switch may be provided in any part of the apparatus housing, for example, like the DIP switch 150 shown in FIGS.

  FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a modification in which an encryption key used for data encryption is set by a DIP switch. As shown in the figure, when writing the data file F into the nonvolatile memory 230, first, the encryption process P1 is performed to create the encrypted data file C, and writing is performed in the form of the encrypted data file C. On the other hand, at the time of reading, the decryption process P2 is executed on the encrypted data file C read from the nonvolatile memory 230 to obtain the original data file F. Here, the encryption process P1 and the decryption process P2 are mathematical processes based on a predetermined algorithm using the same encryption key K, and the encryption key used when performing the decryption process P2 is If it is different from the encryption key used when performing the encryption process P1, the correct data file F cannot be obtained.

  Therefore, the logical value set by the DIP switch is used as the encryption key K. In the illustrated example, a logical value “10011010” is set by the 8-bit DIP switch D. In this case, the encryption process P1 using the 8-bit logical value as the encryption key K is executed. Therefore, it is necessary to set the same logical value to the DIP switch D also when performing the decoding process P2.

  In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 10, as shown in §4, when the operation of storing and exchanging the memory every month is performed, the user inputs a specific logic to the DIP switch 150 shown in the month. The value may be set as the encryption key K. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 8, the memory unit 200A storing the contents at the end of April, the memory unit 200B storing the contents at the end of May, the memory unit 200C storing the contents at the end of June, and so on. As described above, the memory unit for each month is stored and stored. If it is determined that a different logical value is set as the encryption key K every month, the correct encryption key is assigned to each memory unit for each DIP. Unless the switch 150 is set, correct data file restoration processing cannot be performed.

  For example, when restoring the contents at the end of May using the memory unit 200B shown in FIG. 8, the same logical value as the encryption key K set during May is set in the DIP switch 150 and the restoration process is performed. Without it, you will not be able to restore the correct data file. Therefore, even if the memory units 200A to 200E shown in FIG. 8 are in the hands of an unauthorized person, the stored data file cannot be taken out unless the correct encryption key K for each is known.

  In the case of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the DIP switch can also be provided on the memory unit housing 210 side. In this case, independent DIP switches are provided for the individual memory units 200A to 200E shown in FIG. Therefore, the user sets the DIP switch of the memory unit to a predetermined correct encryption key K only when each of the memory units 200A to 200E is connected to the magnetic recording unit 100 (different for each memory unit). The encryption key K may be set, or a common encryption key K may be set). When the magnetic recording unit 100 is detached and stored, the logical value of the DIP switch is set to a frank value. You can do it.

  Another method for handling the encryption key used for the encryption process is to provide a management area M in the nonvolatile memory 230 and store the encryption key K in the management area M, as shown in FIG. The management area M can be provided at an arbitrary location, but for example, it may be provided adjacent to an area for recording FAT data. In this case, the controller 140 has a function of writing a predetermined encryption key K in the management area M in the nonvolatile memory 230 prior to executing the encryption process. The encryption key K may be a value generated by the controller 140 itself based on a predetermined algorithm, or may be a value given from the external device 500.

  The controller 140 also has a function of determining whether or not the password is correct when an authentication command for a predetermined password is given from the external device 500 via the first external connection terminal 120. Keep it. The password determination algorithm may be arbitrary. For example, an algorithm may be used that calculates a hash value for a given password and determines that it is correct when the obtained hash value matches a specific value. The encryption key K written in the management area M is read from the non-volatile memory 230 only when it is determined that the given password is correct, and the write processing means 142 or the synchronization processing means. 145 performs encryption using the encryption key K read from the nonvolatile memory 230, and the read processing means 144 or the restoration processing means 147 uses the encryption key K read from the nonvolatile memory 230. Decryption is performed.

  If such a method is adopted, the encryption key K cannot be read from the management area M unless the correct password is given from the external device 500, so that an effect of preventing the data file from being decrypted by an unauthorized person can be obtained.

<4> Restriction on Restoration Process As described above, in the hard disk drive device according to the present invention, the user performs a restoration process using an arbitrary nonvolatile memory 230 as necessary, thereby the nonvolatile memory 230. Can be restored in the magnetic recording device 130. In the basic embodiment described in §3, the read processing unit 144 has a function of reading a data file from both the magnetic recording device 130 and the non-volatile memory 230. If the reading function is limited to only the reading function from the magnetic recording device 130, the only method for extracting the data file in the nonvolatile memory 230 is the restoring process by the restoring processing means 147.

  In this case, adding a restriction to the restoration process by the restoration processing unit 147 is useful for protecting the data file in the nonvolatile memory 230 from unauthorized access. In the example illustrated in FIG. 16, the cumulative execution count N and the restoration possible period T recorded in the management area M are information used to add a restriction to such restoration processing.

  First, the cumulative execution count N is information used to limit the number of restoration processes. In order to limit the number of times based on this information, the restoration processing unit 147 is provided with a function of performing a process of writing the cumulative execution number N of the restoration process in the management area M in the nonvolatile memory 230 every time the restoration process is performed. In addition, when the cumulative number of executions N has reached a predetermined upper limit number, the restoration process may be prevented from being performed.

  For example, in the initialization process, the initial value 0 is written in the management area M as the cumulative execution count N. On the other hand, before executing the restoration process, the restoration processing unit 147 reads the value of the cumulative number of executions N and checks whether or not a predetermined upper limit number has been reached. Here, if the upper limit number has been reached, the restoration process is not performed. If the upper limit number has not been reached, the restoration process is executed, and the value of the cumulative execution number N is rewritten to a value increased by one. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the restoration process from being executed without restriction.

  Specifically, if the upper limit number is set to 1, if the restoration process is executed once, the cumulative execution number N reaches the upper limit value 1, so that the restoration process can be performed thereafter. Disappear. Of course, such a limitation on the number of restoration processes cannot prevent the restoration process itself from being performed by an unauthorized person. However, since it is possible to prevent the restoration process from being performed indefinitely, the effect of stopping damage expansion due to unauthorized use can be obtained. In addition, there is an advantage that an authorized user is given an opportunity to inform the fact that restoration processing by an unauthorized person has been performed. For example, when the upper limit number is set to 1, even after a restoration process by an unauthorized person is performed, even a legitimate user cannot perform the restoration process. Therefore, a legitimate user can have a suspicion that restoration processing by an unauthorized person has been performed from the fact that restoration processing cannot be performed even though he / she does not remember the restoration processing.

  On the other hand, the restoration possible period T is information that limits the execution period of the restoration process. In order to perform the period limitation based on this information, the restoration processing unit 147 reads and checks the information indicating the restoration possible period written in the management area in the nonvolatile memory 230 before performing the restoration process. The restoration process may be performed only at a point in time during the restoration possible period. The restoreable period T in the management area M may be set so that an arbitrary period desired by the user can be set by a period setting command given from the external device 500. Alternatively, when the initialization process is executed, a predetermined restoration possible period T may be automatically set based on the time of the initialization process. Once the recoverable period T is set, if the resetting cannot be performed unless the initialization process is performed, the period can be prevented from being rewritten by an unauthorized person. .

  The recoverable period T may be any information as long as it indicates a period during which the restoration process can be executed. For example, information indicating the end of a period such as “until June 30, 2010” or information indicating the start of a period such as “from June 30, 2010” may be used. Alternatively, information indicating a daily time zone such as “10 am to 5 pm” or information indicating a day of the week such as “Monday to Friday” may be used. Further, only information indicating one time point such as “June 15, 2010” is recorded in the management area M, and the restoration processing means 147 side, for example, “from the recording time point in the management area M” You may perform the handling of "it is set as the period which can be restored within three months."

  In order to determine whether or not the time point at which the restoration process is to be executed is a time point within the restoration possible period T, a clock function for recognizing when the current time point is necessary. In order to obtain such a clock function, a clock circuit (a clock circuit used in a personal computer or the like) may be provided in the controller 140. If a function for synchronizing the time of the clock circuit in the controller 140 with the time of the clock circuit in the external device 500 at the time of connection to the external device 500 such as a personal computer is provided, the correct time can always be set. Become.

<5> Construction of RAID System In the hard disk drive device according to the present invention, since the same data file is stored in both the magnetic recording device 130 and the nonvolatile memory 230, redundancy is ensured. In order to further improve the degree, it is also possible to construct a RAID system in the magnetic recording device 130 or the nonvolatile memory 230.

  For example, in the hard disk drive device 30 shown in FIG. 2, if two hard disk drive devices with smaller dimensions are incorporated as the magnetic recording device 130, a RAID system can be constructed with these two hard disk drive devices. it can. When this RAID system is operated in the mirroring mode, one data file is stored in two hard disk drive devices, and a backup of the data file is also stored in the nonvolatile memory 230. Therefore, the redundancy is further improved.

  Of course, it is also possible to construct a RAID system on the non-volatile memory 230 side. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 2, the nonvolatile memory 230 is configured by eight card-type memories, but this is divided into two groups of four each, and a RAID system is constructed with these two groups of memories. By operating in the mirroring mode, the same data file can be distributed and stored in two groups, and the redundancy can be improved.

10: Hard disk drive device (first dimensional standard)
11: Device housing (first dimension standard)
12: External connection terminal (first dimension standard)
12A: Signal terminal 12B: Power supply terminal 13: Platter (first dimension standard)
20: Hard disk drive device (second dimension standard)
21: Device casing (second dimension standard)
22: External connection terminal (second dimension standard)
22A: Signal terminal 22B: Power supply terminal 23: Platter (second dimension standard)
30: Hard disk drive device (first dimension standard)
40: Hard disk drive device (first dimension standard)
100: Magnetic recording unit 110: Case 115 for magnetic recording unit: Relay terminal 116: Protrusion for fitting (detaching means)
117: fitting protrusion (detachment means)
120: First external connection terminal (first dimension standard)
120A: Signal terminal 120B: Power supply terminal 130: Magnetic recording device (hard disk drive device of the second dimensional standard)
132: Second external connection terminal (second dimension standard)
140: Controller 141: Mode setting means 142: Write processing means 143: Deletion processing means 144: Read processing means 145: Synchronization processing means 146: Initialization processing means 147: Restoration processing means 148: LED control means 150: DIP switch 200 : Memory units 200A to 200E: Memory unit 210: Memory unit housing 215: Relay terminal 216: Fitting hole (detachment means)
217: fitting hole (detachment means)
220: Memory interface (memory socket)
230: Non-volatile memory (card type memory)
231 to 238: non-volatile memory (card type memory)
241 to 248: LED
400: Device housing 410: Magnetic recording device storage unit 420: Memory storage unit 500: External device (PC)
C: Encrypted data file D: DIP switch F: Data file K: Encryption key M: Management area N: Cumulative execution count P1: Encryption process P2: Decryption process T: Restorable period

Claims (22)

A hard disk drive device having a magnetic recording unit incorporating a magnetic recording device and a plurality of memory units incorporating a nonvolatile memory,
The case for the magnetic recording unit and the case for the memory unit can be coupled to or separated from each other by an attaching / detaching means, and any one of the plurality of memory units can be selectively selected. The combined housing obtained by combining the magnetic recording unit and the magnetic recording unit conforms to the first dimensional standard for the hard disk drive device,
The case for the magnetic recording unit or the case for the memory unit includes a first external connection terminal that conforms to the first dimensional standard,
The magnetic recording device includes a hard disk drive device that conforms to a second dimensional standard that is smaller than the first dimensional standard, and includes a second external connection terminal that conforms to the second dimensional standard. ,
The magnetic recording unit or the memory unit is provided with a controller.
At least in the state where the housing for the magnetic recording unit and the housing for the memory unit are coupled, the controller has the first external connection terminal, the second external connection terminal, and the non-volatile Necessary wiring is made so that it is connected directly or indirectly to the memory.
The controller is
Mode setting means for setting one of the normal mode and the restoration mode based on a user setting operation;
In a state where the normal mode is set, when a file write command is given from the external device via the first external connection terminal, the magnetic recording device and the memory unit currently connected at that time Write processing means for performing processing for writing the same data file to be written to both the nonvolatile memory and
In a state where the normal mode is set, when a file deletion command is given from the external device via the first external connection terminal , the nonvolatile memory in the memory unit coupled to the magnetic recording device at that time is provided. Delete processing means for performing processing for deleting the same data file to be deleted with respect to both of the memory and
When a file read command is given from the external device through the first external connection terminal in the state where the normal mode is set , the nonvolatile memory in the magnetic recording device and the memory unit coupled at that time is provided. Read processing means for performing a process of reading a data file to be read from at least one of the directional memories ;
When it is detected that a predetermined synchronization start condition is satisfied while the normal mode is set, the data file stored in the magnetic recording device and the non-volatile memory in the memory unit coupled at that time are stored. Synchronization processing means for performing synchronization processing to rewrite the nonvolatile memory so that the data file being matched
When it is detected that a predetermined restoration start condition is satisfied in the state where the restoration mode is set, the data file stored in the magnetic recording device and the nonvolatile memory in the memory unit coupled at that time are stored. Restoration processing means for performing restoration processing for rewriting the magnetic recording device so that the data file being matched with each other,
A hard disk drive device comprising: The hard disk drive device according to claim 1,
A hard disk drive device comprising: a controller provided in a magnetic recording unit; and a first external connection terminal provided in a housing for the magnetic recording unit. The hard disk drive device according to claim 1 or 2,
At least in the state where the housing for the magnetic recording unit and the housing for the memory unit are coupled, the power supplied from the external device to the first external connection terminal is supplied to the magnetic recording device, the controller, and the nonvolatile memory. A hard disk drive device, wherein necessary wiring is provided so as to be supplied to a memory. The hard disk drive device according to claim 1 or 2,
A battery or a battery is incorporated in the magnetic recording unit or the memory unit, and at least in a state where the housing for the magnetic recording unit and the housing for the memory unit are coupled, the power from the battery or the battery is A hard disk drive device, wherein necessary wiring is provided so as to be supplied to a magnetic recording device, a controller, and a nonvolatile memory. In the hard disk drive device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A relay terminal is provided in each of the housing for the magnetic recording unit and the housing for the memory unit, and when the two housings are coupled, the wiring on the magnetic recording unit side and the memory are connected via the relay terminal. A hard disk drive device, wherein wiring on a unit side is connected. A hard disk drive device including a magnetic recording device, a memory socket, a non-volatile memory attached to the memory socket, and a controller in a housing that conforms to the first dimensional standard,
The housing includes a first external connection terminal that meets the first dimensional standard,
The magnetic recording device includes a hard disk drive device that conforms to a second dimensional standard that is smaller than the first dimensional standard, and includes a second external connection terminal that conforms to the second dimensional standard. ,
The non-volatile memory is a plurality of N card-type memories that can be inserted and removed using the memory socket ,
The memory socket is provided with N LEDs each corresponding to the N card-type memories,
The controller is directly or indirectly connected to the first external connection terminal, the second external connection terminal, and the nonvolatile memory, and stores each of the N card-type memories. Has the function of notifying the presence / absence of the data being made by turning on / off the corresponding LED,
Furthermore, the controller
Mode setting means for setting one of the normal mode and the restoration mode based on a user setting operation;
In a state where the normal mode is set, when a file write command is given from the external device via the first external connection terminal, both the magnetic recording device and the nonvolatile memory are Write processing means for performing processing for writing the same data file to be written;
In a state where the normal mode is set, when a file deletion command is given from the external device via the first external connection terminal, both the magnetic recording device and the nonvolatile memory are A deletion processing means for performing processing for deleting the same data file to be deleted;
In a state where the normal mode is set, when a file read command is given from the external device via the first external connection terminal, the read target is read from at least one of the magnetic recording device and the nonvolatile memory. Reading processing means for performing processing for reading the data file to be,
The data file stored in the magnetic recording device matches the data file stored in the non-volatile memory when the establishment of a predetermined synchronization start condition is detected in the state where the normal mode is set. Synchronization processing means for performing synchronization processing to rewrite the nonvolatile memory as described above,
The data file stored in the magnetic recording device matches the data file stored in the non-volatile memory when it is detected that a predetermined restoration start condition is satisfied with the restoration mode set. A restoration processing means for performing restoration processing for rewriting the magnetic recording device,
A hard disk drive device comprising: The hard disk drive device according to claim 6 ,
A hard disk drive device, wherein a battery or a battery is incorporated in a housing, and power from the battery or the battery is supplied to a magnetic recording device, a controller, and a nonvolatile memory. In the hard disk drive device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 ,
The mode setting means is configured by a mechanical switch that can maintain either of two switching states by a user's physical operation, and the normal mode, the first switching state is determined by the first switching state of the switching switch. 2. A hard disk drive device, wherein a restoration mode is set according to the switching state of 2. In the hard disk drive device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 ,
A non-volatile bit storage unit in which mode setting means records at least 1-bit information, and a bit setting unit that rewrites the 1-bit information by a mode setting command given from an external device via the first external connection terminal The hard disk drive device is characterized in that a normal mode is set when the 1-bit information is in the first logical state, and a restoration mode is set when the 1-bit information is in the second logical state. . In the hard disk drive device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 ,
The controller has a buffer memory,
The writing processing means temporarily stores the data to be written given from the external device in the buffer memory, and then writes the data to both the magnetic recording device and the nonvolatile memory. Hard disk drive device characterized by this. In the hard disk drive device according to any one of claims 1 to 10 ,
When either or both of the synchronization processing means and the restoration processing means perform synchronization processing or restoration processing, the data file stored in the magnetic recording device matches the data file stored in the non-volatile memory. A hard disk drive device characterized by checking the data and rewriting only the data file in which the inconsistency occurs. The hard disk drive device according to any one of claims 1 to 11 ,
It further has a reset switch for transmitting a reset signal to the controller by a user reset operation,
A hard disk drive device, wherein the synchronization processing means performs the synchronization processing on the condition that the reset signal is transmitted as a synchronization start condition. The hard disk drive device according to any one of claims 1 to 11 ,
A hard disk drive device characterized in that the synchronization processing means performs the synchronization processing on the condition that the synchronization start command is given from the external device through the first external connection terminal. The hard disk drive device according to any one of claims 1 to 11 ,
It further has a reset switch for transmitting a reset signal to the controller by a user reset operation,
A hard disk drive device characterized in that the restoration processing means performs restoration processing using the transmission of the reset signal as a restoration start condition. The hard disk drive device according to any one of claims 1 to 11 ,
A hard disk drive device characterized in that the restoration processing means performs restoration processing on the condition that a restoration start command is given from the external device via the first external connection terminal. In the hard disk drive device according to any one of claims 1 to 15 ,
When either or both of the writing processing means and the synchronization processing means write to the nonvolatile memory, the data file to be written is compressed and then written,
A hard disk drive device, wherein either one or both of a read processing unit and a restoration processing unit performs a process of expanding a read data file when reading from a nonvolatile memory. The hard disk drive device according to claim 1 ,
When either or both of the writing processing means and the synchronization processing means write to the non-volatile memory, a process of writing after encrypting the data file to be written is performed,
A hard disk drive device, wherein one or both of a read processing unit and a restoration processing unit perform a process of decrypting a read data file when reading from a nonvolatile memory. The hard disk drive device according to claim 17 ,
A DIP switch that can set a logical value of a plurality of bits by a user setting operation;
Either one or both of the writing processing means and the synchronization processing means performs encryption using the logical value set by the DIP switch as an encryption key,
A hard disk drive device, wherein either one or both of a read processing unit and a restoration processing unit perform decryption using a logical value set by the DIP switch as an encryption key. The hard disk drive device according to claim 17 ,
When the controller is given a function to write a predetermined encryption key in the management area in the nonvolatile memory and an authentication command for the predetermined password is given from the external device via the first external connection terminal, the password A function for determining whether the password is correct, and a function for reading the encryption key from the nonvolatile memory when the password is determined to be correct,
Either one or both of the writing processing means and the synchronization processing means performs encryption using the encryption key read from the nonvolatile memory,
One of the reading processing means and the restoring processing means, or both, performs decryption using the encryption key read from the non-volatile memory. In the hard disk drive device according to any one of claims 1 to 19 ,
Each time the restoration processing means performs restoration processing, the restoration processing means performs processing for writing the cumulative number of times of restoration processing into the management area in the non-volatile memory, and if the cumulative number of times of execution has reached a predetermined upper limit number of times, restoration is performed. A hard disk drive device characterized by not performing processing. The hard disk drive device according to any one of claims 1 to 20 ,
The restoration processing means reads and checks information indicating the restoration possible period written in the management area in the nonvolatile memory before performing the restoration processing, and performs the restoration processing only at a point in time within the restoration possible period. A hard disk drive device characterized by that. In the hard disk drive device according to any one of claims 1 to 21 ,
The controller
When the normal mode is set and an initialization command is given from the external device via the first external connection terminal, initialization processing is performed for both the magnetic recording device and the nonvolatile memory. A hard disk drive device further comprising initialization processing means.

Images