JPH0764860A - Electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an inexpensive electronic device which uses a generally- used storage device in various use circumstances to prevent the destruction of data and doesn't require a storage device resisting the use circumstances. CONSTITUTION:Plural storage devices 11 and 12 having different reliabilities in certain use circumstances, a detector 14 which detects the use circumstances, and a selector 13 which selects the storage device to be used from plural storage devices 11 and 12 based on the detection output are provided. The selector 13 selects the storage device having a higher reliability based on the detection output. After the detection output is changed from the abnormal state output to the steady state output, stored information is transferred to the storage device which has a larger storage capacity and a storage space.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic device such as a computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional electronic device, in order to prevent data destruction, a specific storage device is used in accordance with the use environment, or a wear resistant environment is provided corresponding to the storage device.

[0003]

Therefore, in the conventional electronic device, only a limited storage device can be used depending on the use environment, or an expensive storage device having a durable environment must be used. .

The above-mentioned conventional drawbacks of the present invention are eliminated, and an inexpensive electronic device that withstands changes in the operating environment is provided.

[0005]

In order to solve this problem, an electronic device of the present invention comprises a plurality of storage means having different reliability for a certain use environment, and a detection means for detecting the use environment. Selection means for selecting a storage means to be used from the plurality of storage means based on the detection output.

Here, the selecting means selects a more reliable storage means based on the detection output. Also,
After the detection output changes from the abnormal state output to the steady state output, the stored information is transferred to a storage unit having a larger storage capacity and a storage space. Also, the plurality of storage devices are secondary storage devices.

[0007]

With the above configuration, in an electronic device, it is possible to prevent data destruction by using a storage device that is generally used in various usage environments, and to store the storage device in a durable environment. It is not necessary and is cheap.

[0008]

【Example】

(Embodiment 1) FIGS. 1 to 4 are views for explaining Embodiment 1 of the present invention, which is an example for coping with a storage device which is weak against vibration.

<Example of Configuration of Electronic Device> FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic apparatus according to the present embodiment.

Reference numeral 11 in FIG. 1 is a storage device such as a magnetic storage device which is weak against vibrations, 12 is a storage device such as a semiconductor storage device which is strong against vibrations, and 13 is data supplied to either the magnetic storage device 11 or the semiconductor storage device 12. A data selector 14 for controlling whether or not to operate, a vibration detecting device 14 such as an acceleration sensor, a timer 15 for measuring elapsed time, and an I / O controller 16 which is a connection point with the electronic device body 1.

FIG. 2 shows the data selector 13 shown in FIG.
3 is a detailed block diagram of FIG.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 21 is an interface circuit with the I / O controller 16, and 22 is the magnetic storage device 11.
Interface circuit with 23, an interface circuit with the semiconductor memory device 12, 24 a DMA for transferring data
The controller 25 is the vibration detection device 14 and the timer 15.
The control circuit controls the DMA controller 24 based on the input from the. Here, the control circuit 25 is realized by a one-chip microprocessor or the like.

FIG. 3 is a detailed block diagram of the magnetic storage device 11 in FIG.

In FIG. 3, 31 is a data selector 13.
Interface circuit to be connected to the interface circuit 22 of FIG.
3 is a write / read circuit for the magnetic head 38, 34 is a positioning circuit for determining the position of the magnetic head 38, 35 is a servo amplifier for driving the actuator 39, 38 is a magnetic head for magnetizing the disk 36 or for magnetic reading, 3
An actuator 9 moves the magnetic head 38.

FIG. 4 shows the semiconductor memory device 12 shown in FIG.
3 is a detailed block diagram of FIG.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 41 is a semiconductor memory such as EEPROM which is a storage medium, and 42 is a memory 4.
1 is a writing circuit, 43 is a reading circuit of the memory 41, and 44 is an interface circuit connected to the interface circuit 23 of the data selector 13.

<Example of Processing Procedure> (1) Write Operation The operation of the first embodiment having the above configuration will be described below with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

FIG. 5 shows the operation when the user vibrates the electronic device (when the electronic device is vibrated). The vibration is converted into an electric signal by the vibration detection device 14 of FIG. 1 and input to the control circuit 25 as shown in FIG.

In step 51, when an electric signal indicating that vibration has been received is received from the vibration detecting device 14, the control circuit 25 outputs a preset signal to the timer 15 in step 52. By repeating this setting and adjusting the time until the timeout, the timer 15 outputs a signal indicating whether or not a sufficient time has elapsed since the vibration detection device 14 last vibrated.

FIG. 6 shows the operation when the electronic device main body 1 requests a write operation to the secondary storage device.

At step 61, when there is a write operation request signal from the electronic device body 1 to the control circuit 25, at the next step 62, the control circuit 25 causes the semiconductor memory device 1 to operate.
Check if there is already a file to write to 2. As a result, if there is a corresponding file, the process proceeds to step 63 and the data from the electronic device body 1 is written in the semiconductor memory device 12. This is done by transferring data from the interface circuit 21 via the interface circuit 23 by the DMA controller 24.

If there is no corresponding file, the process proceeds to step 64 and the output of the timer 15 is confirmed. Timer 15
If is running, then step 63 as before.
If the timer 15 is not in operation, it means that a sufficient time has passed since the vibration, so it is judged that the vibration is decelerating and the routine proceeds to step 65, where the electronic data is stored in the magnetic storage device 11. Write the data from the device body 1. This is done by transferring data from the interface circuit 21 via the interface circuit 22 by the DMA controller 24.

(2) Read Operation FIG. 7 shows the operation when the electronic device body 1 requests the read operation from the secondary storage device.

At step 71, when there is a read operation request signal from the electronic apparatus main body 1 to the control circuit 25, at step 72, the control circuit 25 causes the semiconductor memory device 12 to operate.
Check to see if there is a file to read. As a result, if there is a corresponding file, step 7
In step 3, the electronic device body 1 is loaded with data from the semiconductor memory device 12. This is the DMA controller 2 from the interface circuit 23 through the interface circuit 21.
4 by data transfer. If there is no corresponding file, go to step 74,
The data from the magnetic storage device 11 is sent to the electronic device body 1. This is done by transferring data from the interface circuit 22 via the interface circuit 21 by the DMA controller 24.

(3) Processing when the timer counts out FIG. 8 shows the operation when the timer 15 counts out. In step 81, the timer 15 counts out and outputs an output signal to the control circuit 25 when a predetermined time has passed since the preset. Then, in step 82, the file is transferred from the semiconductor memory device 12 to the magnetic memory device 11. This is the DMA controller 2 from the interface circuit 23 through the interface circuit 22.
4 by data transfer. After that, the approximate file is erased from the semiconductor memory device 12. This operation is performed for all files in semiconductor memory device 12.

As the storage device used in the configuration of the above-described embodiment, there are, for example, a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, a high density floppy disk, etc. as a storage device which is weak against vibration. In addition, as a vibration-resistant storage device, for example, a flash ROM (EEPROM), SRAM, D
There are semiconductor elements such as RAM disks using RAM and FRAM and magnetic tapes resistant to vibration.

The number of storage devices may be a plurality of media. For example, a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, SRAM and DRAM may be used.

The vibration detecting device is not limited to the accelerometer but may be any device that can detect vibration, such as a device using a spring or a pendulum.

(Second Embodiment) As a second embodiment, an example for coping with a memory device sensitive to temperature will be described.

<Structural Example of Electronic Device> FIGS. 9 and 10 are views for explaining the present embodiment when a temperature sensor is used.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the electronic device of this embodiment. 9, 13 and 16 are the same as FIG. Reference numeral 91 is a storage device using a magneto-optical disk, 92 is a storage device using a hard disk, and 94 is a temperature sensor. In FIG. 10, reference numeral 24 is an interface circuit with the magneto-optical disk device, 25 is an interface circuit with the hard disk device, and other configurations are the same as in FIG.

<Example of Processing Procedure> The operation in this configuration is performed so that an erroneous value is not written in the temperature-sensitive magneto-optical disk when the temperature is above a certain level.

(1) Writing Operation First, the operation when the electronic device body 1 requests the writing operation to the secondary storage device is as follows.

When there is a write operation request signal from the electronic device body 1 to the control circuit 25, the control circuit 25 checks whether or not there is already a file to be written in the hard disk device 92. As a result, if there is a corresponding file, the data from the electronic device body 1 is written in the hard disk device 92. This is done by transferring data from the interface circuit 21 to the interface circuit 24 by the DMA controller 24. If there is no corresponding file, the output of the temperature sensor 94 is confirmed. If the temperature is equal to or higher than a certain fixed value, the data from the electronic apparatus main body 1 is written in the hard disk device 92 as described above. However, if the temperature is equal to or lower than the certain value, the magneto-optical disk device 91 is written. Write the data from the electronic device body 1. This is done by transferring data from the interface circuit 21 to the interface circuit 24 by the DMA controller 24.

(2) Read Operation Next, the operation when the electronic device body 1 requests the read operation from the secondary storage device will be described.

When there is a read operation request signal from the electronic device body 1 to the control circuit 25, the control circuit 25 checks whether or not the hard disk device 92 has a file to be read. As a result, if there is a corresponding file, the data is sent from the hard disk device 92 to the electronic device body 1. This is done by transferring data from the interface circuit 25 to the interface circuit 21 by the DMA controller 24. If there is no corresponding file, the data from the magneto-optical disk device 91 is sent to the electronic device body 1. This is done by transferring data from the interface circuit 24 to the interface circuit 21 by the DMA controller 24.

(3) Processing of steady temperature state When the temperature falls from a certain value or more to a certain value or less, that is, when the temperature becomes a steady state, the control circuit 25 outputs the temperature from the temperature sensor 94. An edge trigger interrupt occurs. Then, the file is written from the hard disk device 92 to the magneto-optical disk device 91. This is from the interface circuit 25 to the interface circuit 2
4 by the DMA controller 24 transferring data. After that, the hard disk device 92
Delete the file from. This operation is performed for all files in the hard disk device 92.

If the hard disk device 92 and the magneto-optical disk device 91 are difficult to synchronize when the semiconductor memory devices coexist in FIG. 10, after transferring the contents of the hard disk device 92 to the semiconductor memory device, Then, the semiconductor memory device is transferred to the magneto-optical disk device 91 so that synchronization is not required.

Further, although the semiconductor memory device, the hard disk device, and the magneto-optical disk device have been described in this embodiment, an optical disk device, a magnetic tape device, semiconductor memory devices having different speeds, semiconductor memory devices having the same speed, etc. Can be used.

Even if the same storage device is used, for example,
If one of the two causes an error at a certain temperature, it may be learned by learning and an optimum storage device may be selected according to the usage environment.

From the viewpoint of operation according to the external environment or situation, the present invention may be configured to use other sensors such as a humidity sensor or a combination thereof.

Further, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In an electronic device, it is possible to prevent data destruction by using a storage device that is generally used for various usage environments, and it is not necessary to use a storage device that is resistant to the usage environment, which is inexpensive. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of a data selector according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a detailed block diagram of the semiconductor memory device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a detailed block diagram of the semiconductor memory device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an operation flow when the user of the first embodiment vibrates the electronic device.

FIG. 6 is an operation flow chart when a write operation of the first embodiment is requested.

FIG. 7 is an operation flow diagram when a read operation of the first embodiment is requested.

FIG. 8 is an operation flow diagram when the timer of the first embodiment counts out.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an outline of a second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a detailed block diagram of a data selector according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Electronic Device Main Body 11 Magnetic Storage Device 12 Semiconductor Storage Device 13 Data Selector 14 Vibration Detection Device 15 Timer 16 I / O Controller 21 Interface Circuit 22 Interface Circuit 23 Interface Circuit 24 DMA Controller 25 Control Circuit 31 Interface Circuit 32 Disk Control Circuit 33 Writing Read circuit 34 Positioning circuit 35 Servo amplifier 36 Magnetic disk medium 37 Drive motor 38 Magnetic head 39 Actuator 41 Semiconductor memory 42 Write circuit 43 Read circuit 44 Interface circuit 91 Magneto-optical disk device 92 Hard disk device 94 Temperature sensor

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Kazutoshi Shimada 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of storage means having different reliability for a certain use environment, a detection means for detecting the use environment, and a storage means to be used from the plurality of storage means based on the detection output. An electronic device comprising: 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit selects a storage unit with higher reliability based on the detection output. 3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein after the detection output changes from an abnormal state output to a steady state output, the stored information is transferred to a storage means having a larger storage capacity and a storage space. apparatus. 4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of storage devices are secondary storage devices.