JPH0512026A - Magnetic disk drive - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the economization by storing only common program codes in a non-volatile storage means and storing different parts in a volatile storage means from a magnetic disk to produce programs by the same parts in plural kinds of machine. CONSTITUTION:A device consists of a central arithmetic processing means 1, a non-volatile storage means 2 where its program codes are stored, and a volatile storage means 3 where program codes are stored from another area (a magnetic disk 9 or the non-volatile storage means 2). In this case, the processing to decode compressed program codes and the processing to store program codes from another area into the volatile storage means 3 at the time of power-on are included in program codes. A command to write program codes from a higher-order device to the magnetic disk is prepared in decoded program codes. Since compressed program codes are decoded, stored, and executed in this manner, the limit of the capacity of the non-volatile storage means can be extended.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a magnetic disk device for recording / reproducing data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, magnetic disk devices have become widespread as data storage systems because of their high capacity and high speed storage devices. Since the magnetic disk device is a non-exchangeable storage medium unlike the flexible magnetic disk device and the magneto-optical disk device, a magnetic disk device having various characteristics such as a signal recording method and a data area allocation is announced. -It is being produced.

A conventional magnetic disk device will be described below. FIG. 2 shows a circuit configuration of a conventional magnetic disk device. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 3 is a hard disk controller for controlling the transfer of signals to and from the host device, and for controlling the data transfer between the magnetic disk and the buffer memory 4 and between the buffer memory 4 and the host device.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a central processing unit that operates each component of the magnetic disk device in a predetermined procedure in response to a command from a host device,
Reference numeral 2 is a non-volatile storage means for storing the program code of the central processing means, 4 is a buffer memory having a data storage capacity for a plurality of sectors, and 5 is a head amplifier which modulates and outputs the data from the buffer memory 4. A signal detection / generation circuit that detects the amplitude of the output signal from the circuit 6, 6 is a head amplifier circuit that records the signal output from the signal detection / generation circuit 5, or reproduces the data of the magnetic disk 8, and 7 is an electromagnetic conversion element. The magnetic disk device composed of these is the most widely known example.

The operation of the magnetic disk device configured as described above will be described below. The magnetic disk device operates according to a command from the host device. A command from the host device is received by the hard disk controller 3, and the central processing unit 1 interprets the command and causes the hard disk controller 3 to execute a corresponding process. Here, the hard disk controller 3 is the magnetic disk 8
The data transfer between the (actually signal detection / generation circuit 5) and the buffer memory 4 and the data transfer between the host device and the buffer memory 4 are performed at high speed. Further, the central processing means 1 also carries out a process of moving and holding the magnetic head 7 floating above the magnetic disk 8 to a target place. Here, all the execution contents of the central processing unit 1 are stored in the non-volatile storage unit 5.

In the above description, the commands issued from the host device to the magnetic disk device, that is, the command set, are roughly classified into three types: basic function commands, additional function commands, and production commands. Of these, the basic function instruction / additional function instruction is defined by the interface standard with the host device.
The production instruction is a unique instruction set for each company, which performs a necessary function only at the time of production.

[0006]

However, the above conventional magnetic disk device has the following problems.

If all the program codes are stored in the non-volatile storage means, the program codes for the instruction set, subroutine processing, etc., which are unnecessary at the time of shipment, will also be stored, and the program codes stored in the non-volatile storage means. There is a problem that the capacity of the device increases. .

Further, even if the core of the program code is common in a plurality of types of magnetic disk devices, the content of the non-volatile storage means must be changed for each model for production. is there.

The present invention solves the above problems.
The first purpose is to compress and store the program code in the non-volatile storage means, and execute the program code stored in the volatile storage means after decoding,
The present invention provides a magnetic disk device in which the limitation of the program capacity stored in the non-volatile storage means is substantially widened.

A second purpose is to store a core program code and a program code that is common between models in a non-volatile storage means, and store a non-common program code in a magnetic disk to make it volatile. A magnetic disk device that stores programs in a non-volatile storage unit and a volatile storage unit by storing the storage unit in a storage unit is provided.

[0011]

In order to solve the above problems, the magnetic disk device of the present invention has a central processing unit and a non-volatile storage means for storing the program code thereof in another area (magnetic disk). Alternatively, it is composed of volatile storage means for storing the program code from non-volatile storage means). Further, the magnetic disk device of the present invention is provided with a mechanism and a circuit for recording / reproducing data of the magnetic disk as in the conventional case.

The program code includes a process of decoding the compressed program code and a process of storing the program code from another area (magnetic disk or non-volatile storage means) in the volatile storage means when the power is turned on. In the decrypted program code, a command for writing the program code from the host device to the magnetic disk is prepared.

[0013]

According to the present invention, the compressed program code is first decoded, stored in the volatile storage means and executed by the above-described structure and method, so that the capacity of the non-volatile storage means is substantially expanded. It becomes possible. Second, the program code that is not common to multiple models is stored in the volatile storage means from the magnetic disk, and the common core program code is stored in the non-volatile storage means, thereby expanding the program capacity limit. It is also possible to manufacture several models using the same non-volatile storage means.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a specific embodiment of the magnetic disk device of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the circuit of the magnetic disk device is a hard disk controller 4 for controlling the exchange of signals with the host device, and a central part for operating each component of the magnetic disk device in a predetermined procedure in response to a command from the host device. Arithmetic processing means 1, non-volatile storage means 2 for storing the program code of the central processing means 1, volatile storage means 3 for storing the program code from the magnetic disk 9 or the non-volatile storage means 2, a plurality of sectors. Of the buffer memory 5 having a data storage capacity of 5 and the data from the buffer memory 5 are modulated and output, and output from the signal detection generation circuit 6 and the signal detection generation circuit 6 that detect the amplitude of the output signal from the head amplifier circuit 7. A head amplifier circuit 7 for recording signals or reproducing data on the magnetic disk 9, a magnetic head 8 as an electromagnetic conversion element, and the like. Consisting of elements.

The operation of the embodiment of the present invention based on the above components will be described below with reference to FIG.

In the embodiment of claim 1, the program code is compressed and stored in the non-volatile storage means 2. After powering on the magnetic disk device, the central processing means 1 first decodes the compressed program code and volatile storage means 3
The process of storing in. After that, the central processing means 1 is all operated by the program code in the volatile storage means 3. Here, the program code for decoding the program code is stored in the non-volatile storage means 2 without being compressed.

Next, the embodiment of claim 2 will be specifically described. In order to write the data to be stored in the volatile storage means 3 to the magnetic disk 9, the host device issues a specific command to the magnetic disk device. The central processing unit 1 interprets the instruction received by the hard disk controller 4 and performs the processing associated therewith. Here, the central processing unit 1 operates the hard disk controller 4 in order to receive data from the host device. The hard disk controller 4 receives the data from the host device and once writes the data in the buffer memory 5. Then, the data is written from the buffer memory 5 to the magnetic disk 9 through the signal detection / generation circuit 6, the head amplifier circuit 7, and the magnetic head 8. After the power is turned on again after this processing, the central processing means 1 reads the program code written in a predetermined area of the magnetic disk 9 by operating the hard disk controller 4 in the initialization processing of the magnetic disk device, It is temporarily stored in the buffer memory 5. Then, it is stored in the volatile storage means 3 via the internal register of the hard disk controller 4. After that, the central processing unit is operated by the program code of the volatile storage unit 3 and the non-volatile storage unit 2.

[0019]

According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained by the configuration described above.

First, since only the program code common to a plurality of models is stored in the non-volatile storage means, and different parts are stored in the volatile storage means from the magnetic disk and executed, the same parts are used in the plurality of models. Since it can be produced by the above method, there is an economic advantage.

Secondly, since the program code is compressed and stored in the non-volatile storage means, more program codes can be stored, so that the program design can be afforded and additional functions can be added. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a magnetic disk device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a conventional magnetic disk device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Central processing means 2 Non-volatile storage means 3 Volatile storage means 4 Hard disk controller 5 buffer memory 6 Signal detection generation circuit 7 Head amplifier circuit 8 magnetic head 9 magnetic disk

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Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A central processing unit for controlling a magnetic disk device, a non-volatile storage unit for storing a compressed program code, and a volatile storage unit, wherein the compressed program code is decoded. Then, the magnetic disk device is stored in the volatile storage means and executed by the central processing means. 2. A central processing unit for controlling the magnetic disk device and a volatile storage unit are provided, and a program code is read from the magnetic disk to the volatile storage unit.
A magnetic disk drive, which is executed by the central processing means.