JP7056867B2 - Control devices, control programs, and control methods - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a control device, a control program, and a control method.

A technique relating to "logical formatting" for an information recording medium, which can shorten the time until formatting is completed, is disclosed (for example, Patent Document 1). Generally, the information recording medium stores recorded information in "sector" units. A sector is a minimum basic unit including user data, and includes a "user data area" and a "non-user data area". The size of the user data area is sometimes referred to as "sector size" and is generally 512 bytes or 520 bytes. The logical format process is a process of initializing the data in the user data area, and it is not possible to change the sector size or update the defective part of the sector.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-215682

By the way, in addition to the above-mentioned logical formatting process, the formatting process includes "physical formatting process". The physical formatting process is different from the above-mentioned logical formatting process, and is a process of initializing recorded information in a user data area and a non-user data area, changing a sector size, updating a defective part of a sector, and the like. That is, since the physical format processing involves changing the sector size, it may take a longer processing time than the logical format processing.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a control device, a control program, and a control method capable of shortening the processing time of the physical format processing.

The control device according to the first aspect is a control unit that controls physical formatting processing for an information recording medium including a plurality of mapping areas in which each sector maps a plurality of sectors having a non-user data area and a user data area. A control unit that changes the size of the user data area and the non-user data area of the format target sector without changing the length of the mapping area corresponding to the format target sector is provided.

The control program according to the second aspect is a control process for controlling physical formatting processing for an information recording medium including a plurality of mapping areas in which each sector maps a plurality of sectors having a non-user data area and a user data area. Therefore, the control device is made to execute a control process for changing the size of the user data area and the non-user data area of the format target sector without changing the length of the mapping area corresponding to the format target sector.

The control method according to the third aspect is a format when controlling physical formatting processing for an information recording medium including a plurality of mapping areas in which each sector maps a plurality of sectors having a non-user data area and a user data area. The size of the user data area and the non-user data area of the format target sector is changed without changing the length of the mapping area corresponding to the target sector.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a control device, a control program, and a control method capable of shortening the processing time of the physical format processing.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of the control apparatus of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the arrangement of the sector in the whole storage area (platter) of an information recording medium. It is a figure which provides the explanation of the physical format processing of the control apparatus of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the comparative example. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the hard disk drive which includes the control device of 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the control apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which provides the explanation of the management information of the 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the processing operation at the start of a high-speed format of 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the write processing which supports the high-speed format of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which provides the explanation of the light processing of the 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the read processing which supports the high-speed format of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the background format processing of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the hardware configuration example of a control device.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In the embodiment, the same or equivalent elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description is omitted.

<First Embodiment>
<Configuration example of control device>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the control device of the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, the control device 10 has a control unit 11.

The control unit 11 controls the physical formatting process for an information recording medium (for example, a hard disk) including a plurality of “mapping areas”. Each mapping area is an area for mapping one sector. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an arrangement of sectors in the entire storage area (platter) of an information recording medium. Each sector has a user data area and a non-user data area as shown in FIG. The non-user data area includes a synchronization / address mark, an ECC (Error Check and Correct) area, and a gap portion. The synchronization / address mark is used to determine the start position of a sector. In addition, ECC is used for repairing user data stored in the user data area. When using an information recording medium, it is required to use the size of the user data area supported by the host (OS (Operating System) or application, etc.). For example, when one information recording medium is reused by a plurality of hosts, it is necessary to change the size of the user data area.

Specifically, the control unit 11 changes the size of the user data area and the non-user data area of the "format target sector" without changing the length of the mapping area corresponding to the "format target sector". The length of the mapping area is a fixed length L corresponding to the maximum sector size supported by the information recording medium. Further, when the control unit 11 receives the write command and the user data, the control unit 11 writes the user data in the user data area of the write processing target sector according to the size after the size change. Here, for example, when the size of the user data area is changed to be large, the length of the void is adjusted to be short, and conversely, when the size of the user data area is changed to be small, the length of the void is adjusted. It may be adjusted longer. Also, instead of the voids, the length of the ECC included in the non-user data area may be adjusted. That is, by changing the length of the non-user data area, the sector is made to fit in the fixed length mapping area.

Due to the configuration of the control unit 11, even when the size of the user data area is changed by the physical format processing, the head position of the sector does not change before and after the size change as shown in FIG. As a result, the time required for the physical formatting process can be shortened. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the physical formatting process of the control device of the first embodiment. In FIG. 3, the background format is a physical format process performed by the control unit 11 when the write command and the read command from the host are not received. Further, when the control unit 11 receives the write command and the user data for the write processing target sector, the control unit 11 performs the write processing even if the background format (physical format processing) of the write processing target sector is not completed. It can be carried out. This is because, as shown in FIG. 3, there is no change in the head position of the sector before and after the size change. With the configuration of the control unit 11, the time required for the physical format processing can be further shortened.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a comparative example. When the size of the mapping area is changed as shown in FIG. 4, the head position of the sector is changed before and after the size change. As a result, the physical formatting process takes a long time. Further, since the write processing cannot be performed on the sector for which the physical formatting processing has not been completed, the physical formatting processing will take a longer time.

<Second Embodiment>
<Hard disk drive configuration example>
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a hard disk drive including the control device of the second embodiment. In FIG. 5, the hard disk drive 20 has a host interface 21, a voice coil motor (VCM) driver 22, a voice coil motor 23, and a head 24. The hard disk drive 20 further includes a read / write (R / W) channel 25, a spindle motor (SPM) driver 26, a spindle motor 27, an information recording medium 28, and a control device 30.

The host interface 21 is an interface between the host and the control device 30.

The voice coil motor driver 22 drives the voice coil motor 23 under the control of the control device 30.

The head 24 is configured to be movable by a voice coil motor 23.

The read / write (R / W) channel 25 is a channel for performing read processing, write processing, and physical formatting processing on the information recording medium 28 via the head 24 under the control of the control device 30.

The spindle motor driver 26 drives the spindle motor 27 under the control of the control device 30. The information recording medium 28 is configured to be rotatable by a spindle motor 27.

<Configuration example of control device>
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of the control device of the second embodiment. In FIG. 6, the control device 30 has a control unit 31 and a memory 32.

The memory 32 stores (retains) management information. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the management information of the second embodiment. In particular, FIG. 7 shows a change history of management information. As shown in FIG. 7, the management information includes format bits (that is, management generation information), format completion logical block address (LBA), sector size, and initialization pattern (initialization pattern) as items. There is. The management information can be called a "mode parameter", and the area of the memory 32 in which the management information is stored can be called a "mode page". The mode page is also stored in the information recording medium 28 so that it can be retained even after the power is turned off. The "initial state" in FIG. 7 corresponds to the management information of the state in which the previous physical formatting process of the second embodiment is completed. Further, "immediately after issuing the high-speed format unit command" corresponds to the management information immediately after the start of the current physical format processing of the second embodiment. Further, "at the time of completion of the background format" corresponds to the management information at the time of completion of the current physical format processing of the second embodiment.

The format bit (that is, management generation information) is information representing the generation of physical format processing. The format complete LBA indicates the next LBA of the sector in which the physical format processing is continuously completed from the sector with LBA = 0. That is, the format complete LBA indicates the LBA of the sector to which the background format should be performed next. The LBA is an address assigned to each sector. In the second embodiment, the LBA is a value from zero to the maximum LBA. The maximum LBA is the total number of sectors-1 of the information recording medium 28.

The sector size represents the sector size that should be changed by the physical formatting process. The initialization pattern is a data pattern to be written in the target sector during the physical format processing.

When the "high-speed format command" is issued, the control unit 31 starts the current physical format on the condition that the physical format process before the current physical format process for all sectors of the information recording medium 28 is completed. Start processing. The "high-speed formatting process" is the physical formatting process of the second embodiment. In the "initial state" of FIG. 7, the value of the management generation information of the previous physical format processing is "zero", and the format completion LBA is the maximum LBA + 1. The maximum LBA + 1 format completion LBA means that the previous physical format processing has been completed.

Further, when the control unit 31 starts the current physical format processing for all sectors of the information recording medium 28, the value of the management generation information included in the above management information is set to the generation information indicating the generation of the current physical format processing. Update to the value of. For example, the control unit 31 can calculate the value of the management generation information of the current physical format processing by logically denying the value of the management generation information of the previous physical format processing. In the example of FIG. 7, since the value of the management generation information of the previous physical format processing in the "initial state" is "zero", the value of the management generation information of the current physical format processing is "1" which logically negates "zero". ".

Further, when the control unit 31 starts the current physical format processing for all sectors of the information recording medium 28, the initialization pattern included in the above management information may be changed. In the example of FIG. 7, the initialization pattern is changed from "00" to "FF". Further, when the control unit 31 starts the current physical formatting process for all the sectors of the information recording medium 28, the control unit 31 changes the sector size included in the above management information. FIG. 7 shows an example in which the sector size 512 bytes of the previous physical formatting process is changed to the sector size 520 bytes by the current physical formatting process.

Further, when the control unit 31 receives the write command and the user data for the write processing target sector from the host, the control unit 31 writes the user data in the user data area of the write processing target sector in a size according to the sector size of the management information. Further, the control unit 31 writes the generation information value of the above management information in the "generation information area (format bit area)" of the non-user data area of the write processing target sector. Based on the generation information value written in this generation information area, the control unit 31 can determine that the write processing target sector is a sector for which physical formatting processing has already been completed.

Further, when the control unit 31 receives a read command for the read processing target sector from the host, the control unit 31 compares the management generation information value of the above management information with the generation information value written in the generation information area of the read processing target sector. do. If the two match as a result of this comparison, the control unit 31 outputs the user data written in the user data area of the read processing target sector to the host that is the source of the read command. On the other hand, if the two do not match as a result of this comparison, the control unit 31 outputs the initialization pattern of the above management information to the host that is the source of the read command.

Further, the control unit 31 controls the "background format". "Background format" is a physical format process performed at idle when a read command and a write command from a host are not received. The "background format" is performed until the current physical formatting process is completed for all sectors of the information recording medium 28. The control unit 31 executes background formatting for the processing target sector corresponding to the “format completion LBA” of the above management information. The processing target sector corresponding to the "format completion LBA" of the above management information is simply referred to as a "processing target sector" below.

Specifically, the control unit 31 compares the value of the management generation information of the above management information with the value of the generation information written in the generation information area of the processing target sector. As a result of this comparison, if the two do not match, the control unit 31 acquires the format size value and the initialization pattern of the above management information. Then, the control unit 31 writes the initialization pattern having the acquired format size to the processing target sector. Further, the control unit 31 writes the management generation information value acquired from the above management information to the "generation information area (format bit area)" of the non-user data area of the processing target sector. Then, the control unit 31 increments the "format completion LBA" of the above management information. As a result, the next sector becomes the sector to be processed in the background format.

On the other hand, if the two match as a result of this comparison, the control unit 31 increments the "format complete LBA" of the above management information without performing background formatting on the processing target sector. As a result, the next sector becomes the sector to be processed in the background format.

<Operation example of control device>
An example of the processing operation of the control device 30 having the above configuration will be described.

<Processing at the start of high-speed formatting>
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing operation at the start of the high-speed format of the second embodiment. The processing flow shown in FIG. 8 starts, for example, when a high-speed format is issued.

The control unit 31 reads the format complete LBA (= f) from the mode page (that is, management information), and determines whether or not the read format complete LBA is larger than the maximum LBA (step S101). As mentioned above, the starting condition for the current high speed format is that the previous high speed format has been completed. A format complete LBA greater than the maximum LBA means that the previous high speed format has been completed.

When the read format completion LBA is larger than the maximum LBA (step S101YES), the control unit 31 logically negates the format bit (that is, the management generation information) of the mode page (step S102). By this process, the user data of all sectors of the information recording medium 28 can be immediately and substantially invalidated. Here, as described above, the starting condition of the current high-speed format is that the previous high-speed format has been completed. Due to this start condition, there are only two types of sectors in the high-speed format, the sector for which the current high-speed format has been completed and the sector for which the current high-speed format has not been completed. It can be bit information.

Next, the control unit 31 saves the initialization pattern used in this high-speed format in the mode page (step S103).

Next, the control unit 31 changes the sector size of the mode page to the sector size used in this high-speed format (step S104).

Next, the control unit 31 changes the value f of the format completion LBA of the mode page to “zero” (step S105).

This completes the process at the start of high-speed formatting. When the read format complete LBA is equal to or less than the maximum LBA (step S101NO), the previous high-speed format has not been completed yet. Therefore, the processing flow of FIG. 8 ends with a failure.

<Light processing>
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of write processing that supports the high-speed format of the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the light processing of the second embodiment. The processing flow shown in FIG. 9 starts when a write command and user data for the write processing target sector (LBA = i) are received.

The control unit 31 reads the format bit of the mode page (that is, the management generation information of the management information), puts it at the beginning of the received user data, and creates ECC (step S201). For example, when the sector with LBA = 1 shown in FIG. 10 is the write target sector, "1", which is the value of the management generation information of the current physical format processing, is placed at the beginning of the 520-byte user data, and these sectors are arranged. Create an ECC using the whole. That is, here, the reliability of both the format bit and the user data is ensured by ECC. Incidentally, since all the sectors included in the track shown in the upper part of FIG. 10 have a value of the generation information area of zero, they correspond to the previous physical format processing and are the sectors in which the current physical format processing is not performed. be.

Next, the control unit 31 writes the user data and ECC to the write processing target sector in the sector size determined by the mode page (step S202). Further, the control unit 31 updates the value of the generation information area (format bit area) of the write processing target sector according to the value of the management generation information on the mode page (step S202).

Since the generation information is managed as described above, the write processing can be executed without checking the value of the generation information area (format bit area) of the write processing target sector.

<Lead processing>
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of read processing that supports the high-speed format of the second embodiment. The processing flow shown in FIG. 11 starts when a read command for a read processing target sector (LBA = i) is received.

The control unit 31 reads the format bit (that is, the value of the generation information area) of the read processing target sector and the user data (step S301).

Next, the control unit 31 determines whether or not the format bit of the read read processing target sector and the format bit of the mode page (that is, the management generation information) match (step S302).

When both match (step S302YES), the control unit 31 outputs the user data read in step S301 to a higher level (that is, the host) (step S303).

On the other hand, when the two do not match (step S302NO), the control unit 31 reads the initialization pattern of the mode page (step S304).

The control unit 31 outputs the read initialization pattern to the upper level (that is, the host) as if the initialization pattern is written in the read processing target sector (LBA = i) (step S305).

Since the generation information is managed as described above, the control unit 31 determines whether or not the format bit of the read read processing target sector and the format bit of the mode page (that is, the management generation information) match. can do. As a result, the user data of the sector to which the format bit corresponding to the previous physical format processing has not been completed and the format bit corresponding to the previous physical format processing can be immediately and substantially invalidated.

<Background format processing>
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the background format processing of the second embodiment. The processing flow shown in FIG. 12 starts when a write command and a read command from the host are in an idle state in which the control unit 31 has not arrived.

The control unit 31 reads the format completion LBA (= f) of the mode page (that is, management information), and determines whether or not the read format completion LBA is equal to or less than the maximum LBA (step S401).

When the read format completion LBA is larger than the maximum LBA (step S401NO), the current physical format processing has already been completed for all sectors, so the processing flow of FIG. 12 ends. At this time, the state of the management information is the state of "when the background format is completed" in FIG. 7.

When the read format complete LBA is equal to or less than the maximum LBA (step S401YES), the control unit 31 reads the format bits (that is, generation information) of the processing target sector corresponding to the format complete LBA (step S402).

Next, the control unit 31 determines whether or not the processing target sector is an unformatted LBA (that is, an unformatted sector) based on the format bits of the read processing target sector (step S403). Specifically, the control unit 31 compares the format bit of the read processing target sector with the format bit of the mode page, and determines whether or not they match. Then, the control unit 31 determines that the processing target sector is a formatted LBA when both match, and determines that the processing target sector is an unformatted LBA when the two do not match.

When the sector to be processed is an unformatted LBA (step S403YES), the control unit 31 reads the initialization pattern of the mode page (step S404).

Next, the control unit 31 writes the initialization pattern in the format size to the processing target sector (step S405). Further, the control unit 31 updates the value of the format bit area of the processing target sector by the format bit of the mode page (step S405).

Next, the control unit 31 increments the value of the format completion LBA of the mode page (step S406). Here, if the sector to be processed is not an unformatted LBA (step S403NO), the processing step proceeds to step S406 without going through steps S404 and S405.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, in the control device 30, the control unit 31 has a memory 32 for storing management information. Then, when the control unit 31 starts the current physical format processing for all sectors of the information recording medium 28, the value of the management generation information included in the management information is the value of the generation information indicating the generation of the current physical format processing. Update to.

With the configuration of the control device 30, the user data of all sectors of the information recording medium 28 can be immediately and substantially invalidated. As a result, the processing time of the physical format processing can be shortened.

Further, when the control unit 31 performs the physical formatting process on the sector to be formatted in the control device 30, the control unit 31 writes the value of the generation information indicating the generation of the current physical formatting process in the generation information area of the non-user data area of the sector to be formatted. ..

The configuration of the control device 30 enables read processing and write processing for sectors for which physical formatting processing has not been completed.

Further, in the control device 30, the control unit 31 starts the current physical format processing on the condition that the physical format processing before the current physical format processing for all the sectors of the information recording medium 28 is completed.

Depending on the configuration of the control device 30, the sector type during the current physical format processing for all sectors of the information recording medium 28 can be set to the sector in which the current physical format processing has not been completed and the sector in which the current physical formatting processing has been completed. It can be limited to two types. As a result, the generation information can be converted into 1-bit information.

Further, in the control device 30, the control unit 31 executes the background format processing at idle. As a result, the physical formatting process can be executed without interfering with the read and write from the host.

The management information includes the format completion LBA. This makes it possible to manage the progress of the background format processing. The control unit 31 may calculate the completion rate of the physical format processing by dividing the format completion LBA by the maximum LBA while the background format processing is in progress. Then, the control unit 31 may display the calculated completion rate on the monitor (not shown).

<Modification example>
The control device 30 described above can be modified as follows. For example, the memory 32 may store a "management table" that holds information indicating whether or not the physical formatting process of each sector is completed. The control unit 31 manages this management table. By using this management table, the control unit 31 can confirm that the read processing target sector is an unfinished sector of the physical format processing without reading the information of the read processing target sector of the information recording medium 28. As a result, when the sector to be read processed is an unfinished sector of the physical format processing, the read processing as in step S301 becomes unnecessary, so that the response speed at the time of the read processing to the unfinished sector of the physical format processing is increased. Can be done.

By using the control device 30 described above for the hard disk drive (HDD), the following effects can be obtained. It is possible to start using the HDD without waiting for the physical format time, which tends to be long due to the increase in the capacity of the HDD. Therefore, it is possible to improve the convenience at the time of evaluation, manufacturing, and inspection of the HDD. By implementing the physical format at the user's site, the effect of shortening the manufacturing time can be expected. In addition, the risk of formatting interruption can be reduced by significantly reducing the physical formatting time. Further, by improving the convenience of the physical format, the HDD can be shared as a component in hosts that require different sector sizes.

<Other embodiments>
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration example of the control device. In FIG. 13, the control device 100 has a processor 101 and a memory 102. The control devices 10 and 30 of the first embodiment and the second embodiment may have the same configuration as the control device 100, respectively. The control units 11 and 31 of the control devices 10 and 30 may be realized by the processor 101 reading and executing the program stored in the memory 102. Further, the memory 32 of the control device 30 may be realized by the memory 102.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be appropriately modified without departing from the spirit.

10, 30 Control device 11, 31 Control unit 20 Hard disk drive 21 Host interface 22 Voice coil motor driver 23 Voice coil motor 24 Head 25 Read / write channel 26 Spindle motor driver 27 Spindle motor 28 Information recording medium 32 Memory

Claims (9)

A control unit that controls physical formatting processing for an information recording medium including a plurality of mapping areas in which each sector maps a plurality of sectors having a non-user data area and a user data area, and is a mapping area corresponding to a sector to be formatted. A control device including a control unit that changes the size of a user data area and a non-user data area of the format target sector without changing the length of the. When performing physical formatting processing on the formatting target sector, the control unit writes a value of generation information indicating the generation of the current physical formatting processing to the generation information area of the non-user data area of the formatting target sector.
The control device according to claim 1. It also has a memory to store management information.
When the control unit starts the current physical format processing for the plurality of sectors, the value of the management generation information included in the management information is converted into the value of the generation information indicating the generation of the current physical format processing. Update,
The control device according to claim 2. The control unit performs the current physical formatting process on the plurality of sectors on the condition that the physical formatting process before the current physical formatting process is completed for all of the plurality of sectors. To start,
The control device according to claim 3. The generation information is information represented by one bit.
The control device according to claim 4. When the control unit receives a read command for a read processing target sector among the plurality of sectors, the control generation information includes the value of the management generation information and the value of the generation information written in the generation information area of the read processing target sector. If they do not match, the initialization pattern used to initialize the format target sector is output to the source of the read command.
The control device according to any one of claims 3 to 5. The management information includes, in addition to the management generation information, information regarding the change size of the current physical formatting process for the plurality of sectors.
When the control unit receives a write command and user data for a write processing target sector among the plurality of sectors, the control unit writes the value of the management generation information in the generation information area of the write processing target sector, and at the same time, writes the value of the management generation information. The user data is written in the user data area of the write processing target sector in a size according to the change size.
The control device according to any one of claims 3 to 6. It is a control process that controls physical formatting processing for an information recording medium including a plurality of mapping areas in which each sector maps a plurality of sectors having a non-user data area and a user data area, and is a mapping area corresponding to a sector to be formatted. A control program that causes a control device to execute a control process for changing the size of a user data area and a non-user data area of the format target sector without changing the length of the. The length of the mapping area corresponding to the sector to be formatted when controlling the physical formatting process for an information recording medium containing a plurality of mapping areas in which each sector maps a plurality of sectors having a non-user data area and a user data area. The size of the user data area and the non-user data area of the format target sector is changed without changing.
Control method.

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