JPH0444149A - Lap-top computer system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automate the changeover of drive Nos. of a floppy disk drive by switching the drive Nos. when it is detected that an intra-station floppy disk drive device is not connected to a drive bay. CONSTITUTION:When a detection circuit 28 detects a fact that an FDD 27a is packaged in a drive bay 27, a drive No. switch circuit 25 switches a control signal line 23 for a drive 1 toward a drive bay 27 and a control signal line 24 for a drive 2 toward a floppy disk device 3 respectively. Meanwhile the circuit 25 switches the line 23 toward the device 3 and the line 24 toward the bay 27 respectively when the circuit 28 detects no FDD 27a in the bay 27. As a result, the drive Nos. of a floppy disk drive are automatically switched.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a laptop computer system, and more particularly to a laptop computer system in which a peripheral device for function expansion can be connected to an external interface.

[Conventional technology]

Traditionally, this kind of laptop computer system is
Expansion devices such as floppy disk devices can be connected to the external interface.

This laptop computer system allows various combinations, such as connecting a docking station or a floppy disk device to a laptop computer, or connecting both. Drive numbers such as drive 1:, drive 2:, etc. are assigned to the floppy disk drives. Therefore, each time the system configuration changes, the drive number of the floppy disk drive must be set again.

Typically, drive n of a floppy disk controller:
The control signal for this must be input to drive n:. Therefore, when the system configuration changes and the drive numbers change, it is necessary to allocate control signals to the corresponding drives accordingly.

- For boat fishing, this assignment is done using a dip switch or by running a setup program to switch the circuit for assigning control signals using software.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, the conventional allocation method has the disadvantage that it is time-consuming.

[Means to solve the problem]

The laptop computer system of the present invention includes a laptop computer, a floppy disk drive dedicated to a small and lightweight system that can be connected to the laptop computer and can be carried together with the laptop computer, and a floppy disk drive dedicated to the laptop computer and the A laptop computer system comprising a docking station that can be connected to a floppy disk device and has a built-in relatively large input/output device, storage device, etc., and can expand functionality to the same level as a desktop computer, The docking station has a drive bay to which an in-station floppy disk drive device can be connected, and an in-station floppy disk controller that controls the in-station floppy disk drive device, and the floppy disk device has an in-station floppy disk drive device. a drive device, an in-device floppy disk controller that controls the in-device floppy disk drive device, and when the floppy disk device is connected to the laptop computer, the in-device floppy disk drive device controls the in-device floppy disk drive device; controlled by the disk controller,
a switching circuit for switching the in-device floppy disk drive device to be controlled by the in-station floppy disk controller when connected to the docking station; a detection circuit for detecting whether or not the in-station floppy disk drive device is connected to the bay; and when the detection circuit detects that the in-station floppy disk drive device is connected to the drive bay;
The in-station floppy disk drive device is designated as a first drive number, the in-device floppy disk drive device is designated as a second drive number, and the in-station floppy disk drive device is connected to the drive bay by the detection circuit. and a drive number switching circuit that switches the drive number so that the internal floppy disk drive device is designated as the first drive number when it is detected that the floppy disk drive device in the device is not set to the first drive number.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing a laptop computer system in which a docking station and a floppy disk drive are connected to a laptop computer, and Figure 2 is a laptop computer system in which a floppy disk drive is connected directly to a laptop computer. FIG.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, 1 is a laptop computer, 2 is a docking station, and 3 is a floppy disk device.

The laptop computer 1 is equipped with a connector 4-a,
Docking station 2 connects connector 4b and connector 4
-c, the floppy disk device 3 has a connector 4
-d.

Connector 4-a and connector 4-C have the same external shape,
Connector 4-b and connector 4-d have the same external shape. Connector 4-a can be connected to either connector 4b or connector 4-d.

Laptop computer 1 is a central processing unit (CPU)
11, and a system bus 12 connected between the CPUI 1 and the connector 4-a.

The CPU 1.1 controls devices in the docking station 2 or floppy disk drive 3 connected to the connector 4-a via the system bus 12.

The docking station 2 has a floppy disk controller (FDC) 21, FDC 21 and connector 4-b.
It has a system bus 22 connected between the two. When connector 4-a and connector 4-b are connected, FDC
21 is controlled by CPU II via system buses 12 and 22.

The system bus 22 is connected to a drive number switching circuit 25 via a drive 1: control signal line 23 and a drive 2: control signal line 24.

The drive number switching circuit 25 is connected to the connector 4-c and the connector 26. Connector 26 has drive bay 2
7 is connected. In the drive bay 27, a floppy disk drive (FDD) 27a can be attached and detached. The detection circuit 28 detects the presence or absence of the FDD 27a and sends the detection result to the drive number switching circuit 25. The docking station 2 also has a termination circuit 29 connected to the connector 4-c.

The floppy disk device 3 includes FDC31 and FDC31.
and the system bus 32 connected between the connector 4-d and the connector 4-d.
has. When connector 4-d and connector 4-c are connected as shown in FIG. 1, FDC 31 is connected to termination circuit 29 via system bus 32. When connector 4-d and connector 4-a are connected as shown in FIG.
It is connected to CPU II via.

The FDC 31 is connected to one input terminal A of the switching circuit 33, and the other input terminal B of the switching circuit 33 is connected to the signal line 34.
is connected to connector ld via. Further, a switching control terminal of the switching circuit 33 is also connected to the connector 4-d. The input/output terminal Z of the switching circuit 33 is FDD35
connected to.

As shown in FIG. 1, connector 4-d and connector 4-
When c is connected, the switching control terminal of the switching circuit 33 is grounded within the docking station 2. When connector 1-d and connector 4-a are connected as shown in FIG. Connected to 0. When the switching control terminal is grounded, the switching circuit 33
connects input terminal B and input/output terminal Z. When the switching control terminal is connected to the positive power supply VCC, the switching circuit 3
3 connects input terminal A and input/output terminal Z.

Next, referring to FIG. 1, the laptop computer 1
A laptop computer system in which a docking station 2 and a floppy disk device 3 are connected will be described.

In this case, the FDC 31 of the floppy disk drive 3 has an internal system bus 32 and a connector 4-d.

4-c to the termination circuit 29 in the docking station 2. Since the termination circuit 29 terminates the internal system bus 32 so that the FDC 31 is inactive, the FDC 31 does not operate.

On the other hand, since the switching control terminal is grounded, the switching circuit 33 detects that the floppy disk device 3 is connected to the docking station 2, and input terminal B
and input/output terminal Z. Thereby, the FDC 21 in the docking station 2 and the FDD 35 in the floppy disk device 3 are connected via the signal line 34 and the drive number switching circuit 25. Therefore, the FDC 21 in the docking station 2 controls the FDD 27a in the docking station 2 and the FDD 35 in the floppy disk device 3.

Next, referring to FIG. 2, the laptop computer 1
A laptop computer system in which a floppy disk device 3 is directly connected to the computer will be described.

In this case, the FDC 31 of the floppy disk device 3 is connected to the system bus 12 in the laptop computer 1 via the internal system bus 32 and the connector 4-d4-a. At this time, the switching control terminal is connected to the positive power supply V. 0, the input terminal A and the input/output terminal Z are connected under the control of the switching circuit 33. Then, the signal line 34 connected to the input terminal B of the switching circuit 330 becomes in a high impedance state. In this way, FDC
31 is connected to the CPUI 1 in the laptop computer 1 and drives the FDD under the control of the CPUI 1.

Next, the operations of the detection circuit 28 and drive number switching circuit 25 in the docking station 2 will be explained with reference to FIG.

As described above, the FDC 21 has the drive 1: control signal line 23 and the drive 2: control signal line 24.

Assume that the detection circuit 28 detects that the FDD 27a is mounted in the drive bay 27. In response to this detection result, the drive number switching circuit 25 selects drive 1:
control signal line 23 to the drive bay 27 side, drive 2
: Switch the control signal line 24 to the floppy disk device 3 side. As a result, the FDD27a has drive 1:
However, drive 2: is assigned to the FDD 35.

Conversely, the detection circuit 28 detects the FDD 27 in the drive bay 27.
Suppose that a is not detected. In response to this detection result, the drive number switching circuit 25 switches the drive 1: control signal line 23 to the floppy disk device 3 side and the drive 2: control signal line 24 to the drive bay 27 side. As a result, drive 1: is automatically assigned to the FDD 35.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, in a laptop computer whose device configuration changes frequently, the floppy disk is automatically transferred without changing the dip switch or changing the settings with the setup program every time the configuration is changed. This has the effect of being able to switch the drive number of the disk drive.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing a laptop computer system in which a docking station and a floppy disk drive are connected to a laptop computer, and Figure 2 is a block diagram showing a laptop computer system in which a floppy disk drive is connected directly to a laptop computer. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the system. 1... Laptop computer, 2... Driving station, 3... Floppy disk device, 4
a, 4 b + 4 c + 4 d
...Connector, 11...Central processing unit (CPU)
, 12... System bus, 21... Floppy disk controller (FDC), 22... System bus, 23... Drive 1: control signal line, 24... Drive 2: control signal line, 25... Drive number switching circuit, 26... Connector, 27... Drive bay, 27a... Floppy disk drive (FDD)
, 28...detection circuit, 29...termination circuit, 31...
・Floppy disk controller (FDC), 32・
...System bus, 33...Switching circuit, 34...
Signal line, 35...Floppy disk drive (FD)
D).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A laptop computer, a floppy disk device dedicated to a small and lightweight system that can be connected to the laptop computer and carried along with the laptop computer, and A laptop computer system comprising: a docking station that can be connected to a disk device and has a built-in relatively large input/output device, storage device, etc., and can expand functionality to the same level as a desktop computer; , a drive bay to which an in-station floppy disk drive device can be connected, and an in-station floppy disk controller that controls the in-station floppy disk drive device; an in-device floppy disk controller that controls an in-device floppy disk drive device; and when the floppy disk device is connected to the laptop computer, the in-device floppy disk drive device is controlled by the in-device floppy disk controller; ,
a switching circuit for switching the in-device floppy disk drive device to be controlled by the in-station floppy disk controller when connected to the docking station; a detection circuit for detecting whether or not the station floppy disk drive device is connected; and when the detection circuit detects that the station floppy disk drive device is connected to the drive bay, the station floppy disk drive device is connected to the station floppy disk drive device; The disk drive device is designated as a first drive number, the internal floppy disk drive device is designated as a second drive number, and the detection circuit detects that the internal floppy disk drive device is not connected to the drive bay. A laptop computer system comprising: a drive number switching circuit that, upon detection, switches the drive number so that the internal floppy disk drive device is designated as the first drive number. 2. A floppy disk drive device for use in a compact and lightweight system that can be connected directly to a laptop computer or via a docking station and that can be carried along with the laptop computer. a floppy disk controller that controls the floppy disk drive device; and when the floppy disk device is connected to the laptop computer, the floppy disk drive device is controlled by the floppy disk controller and is connected to the docking station. A floppy disk device comprising: a switching circuit for switching the floppy disk drive device to be controlled by a floppy disk controller in the station when the floppy disk drive device is connected. 3. In a docking station that can be connected to a laptop computer and a floppy disk device, and has a built-in relatively large input/output device, storage device, etc., and can expand its functionality to the same level as a desktop computer, the floppy disk inside the station a drive bay to which a drive device can be connected; a floppy disk controller that controls the in-station floppy disk drive device; and a detection circuit that detects whether or not the in-station floppy disk drive device is connected to the drive bay; When the detection circuit detects that the in-station floppy disk drive device is connected to the drive bay, the in-station floppy disk drive device is set to the first drive number and the floppy disk drive device in the floppy disk device is changed to the first drive number. is designated as the second drive number, and when the detection circuit detects that the station floppy disk drive device is not connected to the drive bay, the floppy disk drive device in the floppy disk device is designated as the first drive number. A docking station comprising: a drive number switching circuit that switches the drive number as specified by the drive number.