JPH01271970A - Magnetic disk device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the destroy of the data of a magnetic disk by providing a write inhibit switch in a position where it can be operated from the outside and operating a protecting mechanism for write operation to the magnetic disk corresponding to the state of the switch. CONSTITUTION:A write operation or a read operation is designated from a connected computer to a magnetic disk device 5 through an address bus 1 and a data bus 2 and information is written into or read out of the prescribed track of a rotating magnetic disk. A write inhibit switch 3 is provided in the position where it can be operated from the outside of the disk device main body 5a and when the switch 3 is operated to instruct that writing of information into the magnetic disk is inhibited, a control circuit 4 recognizes its state and operates the write protecting mechanism of the main body 5a. Thus, the writing operation to the magnetic disk is inhibited and the destroy of the data of the magnetic disk caused by artificial misoperation, the malfunction of software, etc., can be prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a magnetic disk device used for recording and reproducing digital data.

[Conventional technology]

Conventional magnetic disk drives are configured in such a way that protection for writing data to magnetic disks is effective only for individual magnetic disks, and that measures must be taken for each individual magnetic disk. There is.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

As mentioned above, conventional magnetic disk drives do not have a write protection mechanism built into the magnetic disk drive itself. The drawback is that data on the magnetic disk may be destroyed due to an incorrect write operation on the magnetic disk due to software malfunction or the like.

[Means to solve the problem]

A magnetic disk device of the present invention includes a disk device main body having a magnetic disk, a magnetic head that writes information to or reads information from the magnetic disk, and a protection mechanism for a write operation of the magnetic head to the magnetic disk. The magnetic disk device includes a write-protection switch provided at a position that can be operated from the outside, and a control circuit that controls the operation of the protection mechanism in accordance with the state of the switch.

〔Example〕

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a magnetic disk device 5 includes a disk device main body 5a having a magnetic disk, a switch 3 for inhibiting write operation to the magnetic disk, and a switch 3 for inhibiting write operation to the magnetic disk according to the state of the switch 3. The control circuit 4 is configured to include a control circuit 4 that controls write operations. The switch 3 is provided at a position where it can be operated from the outside of the disk device main body 5a. Further, the disk device main body 5a is connected to a computer to which the magnetic disk device is connected via an address bus 1 and a data bus 2, and exchanges data and addresses.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be explained.

The magnetic disk device 5 is designated for a write operation or a read operation by an address bus 1 and a data bus 2 from a connected computer. In the write or read operation of the disk device main body 5a, the magnetic head is positioned by a carriage, and information is written or read on a predetermined track of the rotating magnetic disk. This operation is the same as that of a conventional magnetic disk device. When the switch 3 is operated to a state that instructs to prohibit writing of information to the magnetic disk, the control circuit 4 recognizes this state and operates the write protection mechanism of the disk device main body 5a. This prohibits write operations to the magnetic disk. When the switch 3 is operated to release the write protection, the control circuit 4 returns to its original state, and the disk device main body 5a can perform the conventional writing or reading operation.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the magnetic disk drive of the present invention is provided with a write protection switch and a control circuit that operates a write protection mechanism provided in the disk drive body according to the state of this switch. By operating the device to instruct write protection, it is possible to prevent data on the magnetic disk from being destroyed due to human operational errors, software malfunctions, or the like.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention. 1...address bus, 2...data bus, 3...
Write protection switch, 4... Control circuit, 5... Magnetic disk device, 5a... Magnetic disk device main body.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A magnetic disk comprising a disk device main body having a magnetic disk, a magnetic head that writes information to or reads information from the magnetic disk, and a protection mechanism for the write operation of the magnetic head to the magnetic disk. What is claimed is: 1. A magnetic disk drive, comprising: a write-protection switch provided at a position that can be operated from the outside; and a control circuit that controls the operation of the protection mechanism in accordance with the state of the switch.