JPH04139691A - Flexible disk device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a malfunction, and to improve a reliability by keeping a flexible disk device on standby when surrounding environment of the device is inappropriate beyond the permissible range of temperature and humidity. CONSTITUTION:The environmental condition of temperature and humidity at the surface of an FD 5 which is mounted to a disk rotating functional part 3, in the neighborhood of a head, and at the inside central part of an FDD 1 or the like, is detected by temperature and humidity detectors 8a, 8b, and 8c. A environment decision part 10 sums up the detected output signals, decides whether the FDD 1 is in permissible environment or not, and outputs the decided signal to an FDD function controlling part 13. At that time, when any of the detectors 8a, 8b, and 8c detects the inappropriate environment for use, a controlling part 13 turns-on a environment displaying functional part 12, transmits an environmental condition signal 15 to an FDC 2, and prevents the transmission of an operational command from the FDC 2. Thus, the use under the inappropriate environmental condition can be preliminarily avoided, and the malfunction can be prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a flexible disk device (FDD) used for writing and outputting data using a flexible disk as a recording medium.

Conventional technology In order to achieve compatibility with flexible disks and prevent deterioration of magnetic properties, it is important to use flexible disk devices within temperature and humidity specifications.
Domestic and international flexible disk standards have been established.

Nevertheless, in conventional flexible disk devices, when a flexible disk is set,
Write and read operations are performed regardless of the surrounding environment such as temperature and humidity.

Problems to be solved by the invention The compatibility standard for flexible disks is ISO
(International Organ
on for 5 standardization), and in accordance with this, in Japan, JIS (Japan Standardization)
nese Industrial 5 standards
), and in the United States it is called ANSI (American
National 5 standards In5tit
ute), and the European manufacturer organization has ECM A (E
european corxputer manufac
turers Ass.

cation).

8-inch and 5.25-inch flexible discs use a soft jacket, and the material is usually vinyl chloride-based, so the jacket surface temperature is about 53°C.
If the temperature is exceeded, permanent deformation may occur. 3.5-inch flexible disks use hard cases such as ABS, so the temperature conditions are relatively high. E
T (Polyethylene telephtha
If the temperature (late) exceeds 60°C, there is a risk of softening.

On the other hand, the magnetic sheet of a flexible disk is approximately 75 mm thick.
A magnetic layer of several micrometers is covered on both sides of a base material of micrometers, and the expansion and contraction rates due to changes in temperature and humidity are determined by the coefficient of the base material.

ISO defines the thermal expansion coefficient and humidity expansion coefficient of a flexible disk as the following equations (1) and (2), respectively.

aT = (17 soil 8) x 10-8m1cm/℃-
(1) a11= (0~15) x 10-6 mg+
/m/%PH- (2) The expansion and contraction of the magnetic sheet of a flexible disk due to temperature and humidity is large (and causes malfunction due to off-track.ISO sets the upper limit of the wet bulb temperature condition to 2).
9° C. (and 26.5° C.), and the relationship between the allowable temperature and humidity of the flexible disk is as shown in FIG.

The shaded area in Figure 3 indicates that flexible disks can be used (
acceptable) environment. Therefore, it is difficult to achieve data compatibility outside the permissible environment.

However, in the conventional flexible disk device described above, when used in a region with low temperature such as a cold region, or conversely when used in a high temperature midsummer, the allowable operating temperature or humidity of the flexible disk is Because they are often operated in inappropriate environments, abnormal operation of the device or deterioration of the magnetic properties of the magnetic sheet of the flexible disk may occur. Further, there is a problem in that it is difficult for the user to confirm whether or not the flexible disk device and the flexible disk are in an environment with a temperature and humidity suitable for use.

The present invention solves the conventional problems as described above, and when the surrounding environment in which it is used is an inappropriate environment with temperature or humidity outside the permissible range specified in Japan and overseas, By notifying the user to standby and sending the message to the flexible disk controller, malfunctions can be prevented and reliability can be improved, data on the flexible disk can be protected, and magnetic properties can be prevented from deteriorating. The object of the present invention is to provide a flexible disk device that can perform the following functions.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a detection means for detecting at least one of the temperature and humidity of the usage environment, such as inside the device, the surface of the mounted flexible disk, and the vicinity of the magnetic head. and a notification means for notifying whether the usage environment is suitable or not.
The apparatus further includes a determining means for determining whether or not the operating environment is suitable for controlling the notifying means and the flexible disk controller based on the detection output of the detecting means.

As the notification means, a lighting display means can be used.

Therefore, according to the present invention, when the device is used, the determination means determines that at least one of the temperature and humidity inside the device, the surface of the mounted flexible disk, the vicinity of the magnetic head, etc. is an inappropriate environment outside the allowable range for use. The flexible disk controller determines that the environment is inappropriate for use based on the detection output from the detection means, and accordingly controls the notification means to notify that the environment is inappropriate for use and to wait for use. The flexible disk controller can be controlled so that commands such as disk rotation and head drive are not sent from the controller. In addition, when the environment such as temperature becomes usable, the determination means determines that the environment is permissible for use based on the detection output from the detection means, and accordingly controls the notification means to confirm that the environment is permissible. At the same time, the flexible disk controller can be controlled to send commands to rotate the disk, drive the head, etc., and start normal operation.

EXAMPLE Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 show a flexible disk device according to an embodiment of the present invention, with FIG. 1 being a schematic configuration diagram and FIG.
The figure is a schematic block diagram.

1 and 2, 1 is a flexible disk device (hereinafter referred to as FDD), 2 is a flexible disk controller (hereinafter referred to as FDD) that controls the drive of FDDI.
(referred to as DC). In the FDDI, reference numeral 3 denotes a disk rotation function unit, which mounts and rotates a flexible disk (hereinafter referred to as FD) 5, which is a recording medium inserted through an insertion slot 4. 6 is a head drive unit that moves the head to a writing/reading position for the FD 5; 7 is a writing/reading function unit having a head; 8a, 8b, 8c, -8;
n is a temperature/humidity detector placed at a desired location within the FDDl; for example, the temperature/humidity detector 8a is the FD5.
The temperature/humidity detector 8b is disposed near the head, and the temperature/humidity detector 8C is disposed in the center of the FDDl, and each detects a detection output signal 9 as.
9 b) 9 c's...9n is generated. Reference numeral 10 denotes a usage environment determination unit, which includes temperature and humidity detectors 8a and 818c.
Detection output signal 9 a s 9 b from s...8n
FDDI and FD5 by s 9 c s...9n
It is determined whether the environment is in a permissible use environment or in an inappropriate use environment, and a determination output signal 11 is generated. 12 is a display function section that has an LED (light emitting diode) and displays the usage environment; 13 is an FDD function control section, which includes a disk rotation function section 3, a head drive section 6, a write/read function section 7;
etc., performs input/output signal 14, that is, input/output interface control with the FDC 2, controls lighting of the usage environment display function unit 12 based on the determination output signal 11 from the usage environment determination unit 10, The FDD environmental status signal 15 is transmitted to the FDC2.

The operation of the above configuration will be described below.

When using FDDI, temperature and humidity detector 8a% 8
bs 8 Cs...Disk rotation function section 3 by 8n
The temperature, humidity, and environmental conditions at various locations such as the surface of the FD 5 mounted on the FD 5, the vicinity of the head, and the center of the FDDI are detected. These detection output signals 9as 9b, 9cs...9
Based on n, the usage environment determination unit 10 calculates the FDDI
is in an allowable use environment or an inappropriate use environment, and outputs the judgment output signal 11 to the FDD function control unit 1.
Output to 3. At this time, each temperature and humidity detector 8 a -
If any one of 8b, 8c, .=8n is detected to be an inappropriate environment for use, the use environment determination unit 10 determines that the environment is inappropriate for use, and the FDD function control unit 13 outputs the determination output. The usage environment display function section 12 is turned on by the signal 11 to inform the user that the environment is inappropriate for use and to wait for use, and the FDC 2 is activated to display the FDD.
Send the environmental status signal 15, for example turning off the "ready signal". Therefore, since it is possible to prevent the FDC 2 from issuing an operation command to the FDDI, it is possible to prevent the use of the FDDI under environmental conditions where its use is inappropriate. Then, the environmental situation signal 15 can be used to control a desired device, and the surrounding environment of the FDDI and FD 5 can be changed to a use-permissible environment. In other words, when the temperature is high, the cooling equipment is driven, and when the temperature is low, the heating or blowing equipment is driven, etc.
The environmental status signal 15 can be fed back so that the environmental status allows use of FDDl and FD5. Note that it is also possible to control the entire installation environment of a system using FDDI to a permissible environmental condition.

On the other hand, temperature and humidity detectors 8a, 8b, 8c s...8n
As a result of the detection, if the usage environment determination unit 10 determines that the temperature and humidity environment is within the usable temperature and humidity environment range from the beginning or from the beginning, the FDD function control unit 13 lights up the usage environment display function unit 12 to start the use. It is also possible to inform the user that the environment is permissible for use by lighting the color flJ, which is different from the color that lights up when the environment is inappropriate. ), FDDI can be used by sending a “ready signal” on to the FDC.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, at least one of the temperature and humidity of the surface of the flexible disk, etc., is detected by the detection means, and based on this detection power, the determination means determines whether the environment is permissible for use. , determine whether the environment is inappropriate for use,
If it is determined that the environment is inappropriate for use (1), the notifying means may notify the user of this fact, and the flexible disk controller may not issue a command.

It is possible to prevent malfunctions and improve reliability and durability by preventing the use of unsuitable environmental conditions such as 1, protect the data, and prevent deterioration of magnetic properties.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 and 2 show a flexible disk device according to an embodiment of the present invention, with FIG. 1 being a schematic configuration diagram and FIG.
The figure is a schematic block diagram, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the wet bulb temperature (WBT) environment of the ISO standard regarding flexible disks. l...Flexible disk device (FDD), 2...
・Flexible disk controller (FDC), 3・
...T disk rotation function section, 5...Flexible disk (FD), 6...Head drive section, 7...Continuous writing function section, 8a', 8b, 8cs...8n...Temperature Humidity detector, 10... Usage environment determination section, 11...
Judgment output signal, 12... Usage environment display function section, 13.
...FDD function control unit, 15...Environmental situation signal. Name of agent: Patent attorney Koshin Kenji Two Akira Idiots Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 〆See [0C]

Claims (1)

[Claims] a detection means for detecting at least one of temperature and humidity of the usage environment; a notification means for notifying whether the usage environment is suitable; and a use for controlling the notification means and the flexible disk controller based on the detection output of the detection means. A flexible disk device comprising: determination means for determining whether an environment is suitable.