JPH09146846A - Protection structure of storage medium, and data gathering device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the protection structure of the storage medium which can securely protect the storage contents of the storage medium when a user tries to extract the storage medium while the storage medium is being accessed, and to provide the data gathering device which uses the structure. SOLUTION: On the top surface of a data gathering device main body part 1, a lid 2 is fitted so that it can freely be opened and closed, and a card insertion part 3 is provided below the lid 2. A card connector is arranged in the card insertion part 3. A detection switch 7 is arranged in the data gathering device main body part 1. The detection switch 7 turns on and off as the lid 2 is opened and closed. The opening/closing state of the lid 2 is decided by a CPU according to the state of the detection switch 7, and when the lid 2 is opened, the CPU writes card management information on a PC card.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a protection structure for a storage medium and a data collection device having the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a personal computer or a data collecting device, a floppy disk for storing data,
A storage medium such as a memory card is used. The floppy disk is inserted in the floppy disk drive device,
Data is written and read (accessed). Further, the memory card is inserted from the card insertion portion and attached to a connector or the like, and data writing and reading are performed.

In such a storage medium, data as well as data management information for managing the data are stored. The data management information is, for example, a storage area of data stored in a storage medium, a free area in which new data can be stored,
Includes file name, file size, etc. Usually, this data management information is written in the storage medium when closing the file read from the storage medium.

If the storage medium is pulled out during access to the storage medium in the personal computer or the data collection device, the data management information corresponding to the data stored in the storage medium at that time is not written in the storage medium, but is stored in the storage medium. The stored data and the data management information cannot be consistent with each other. As a result, it becomes impossible to accurately read the data stored in the storage medium, and the data already stored in the storage medium may be overwritten when the data is written in the storage medium. in this way,
The stored contents of the storage medium are destroyed.

Therefore, in order to prevent the storage medium being accessed from being pulled out, the access lamp is turned on during the access to the storage medium to inform the user that the storage medium is being accessed.

However, even while the storage medium is being accessed, the user can pull out the storage medium by pressing the eject button (eject button).
It can be said that there are cases where the user pulls out the storage medium being accessed without checking the state of the access lamp.

Therefore, a photoelectric sensor is provided in the vicinity of the eject button, and when the user presses the eject button, the photoelectric sensor detects that the user is trying to pull out the storage medium, and the access operation to the storage medium is performed. A method of canceling is proposed.

However, according to this method, the time from when the extraction of the storage medium is detected by the photoelectric sensor to when the storage medium is actually extracted is extremely short.
The stored contents of the storage medium cannot be reliably protected.

When the user is operating the personal computer, the user usually recognizes that the storage medium is being accessed. Therefore, when the storage medium being accessed is removed. Is few.

On the other hand, the data collection device is used to automatically collect data sent from a sequencer, for example. Therefore, the data collection device saves the data in the storage medium while the data collection device automatically performs the data collection process without the user's operation. At this time, since the user often does not recognize that the data collection device is accessing the storage medium, the user is likely to extract the storage medium being accessed. Therefore, particularly in the data collection device, it is necessary to reliably prevent the stored contents of the storage medium from being destroyed by extracting the storage medium being accessed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium protection structure capable of reliably protecting the storage contents of a storage medium when a user tries to extract the storage medium while accessing the storage medium, and a storage medium protection structure. It is to provide a data collection device used.

[0012]

A storage medium protection structure according to a first aspect of the present invention is a storage medium insertion portion into which a storage medium is inserted, and an openable / closable lid covering the storage medium insertion portion. Detecting means for detecting the open / closed state of the lid, and managing data when the detecting means detects that the lid is opened when data is being written to the storage medium inserted in the storage medium inserting section And a processing unit for performing a protection process of writing the data management information to the storage medium inserted in the storage medium insertion unit.

A storage medium protection structure according to the second invention is
In the storage medium protection structure according to the first aspect of the present invention, the storage medium is a semiconductor memory. A storage medium protection structure according to a third aspect of the present invention is the storage medium protection structure according to the first or second aspect, wherein the processing means inserts the storage medium into the storage medium insertion unit after the protection processing. When the detecting means detects that the lid is closed, the data writing process is restarted based on the data management information.

In the storage medium protection structure according to the first to third aspects of the invention, the storage medium insertion portion in which the storage medium is inserted is covered with a lid. Therefore, when the user pulls out the storage medium from the storage medium insertion section, the user must first open the lid and then pull out the storage medium from the storage medium insertion section. When the lid is opened, the detection means detects that the lid is opened, and the processing means writes the data management state in the storage medium. Therefore, even if the user pulls out the storage medium during access to the storage medium, the data currently stored in the storage medium and the corresponding data management information are surely written in the storage medium. As a result, the consistency between the data stored in the storage medium and the data management information is ensured.

In this case, since it takes a certain amount of time for the user to open the lid and pull out the storage medium, the processing means secures time for performing a predetermined protection process on the storage medium. Therefore, even if the user pulls out the storage medium from the storage medium insertion portion during access to the storage medium, the stored contents of the storage medium are surely protected.

Particularly, in the storage medium protection structure according to the second aspect of the present invention, when the user pulls out the storage medium during access to the high-speed storage medium composed of the semiconductor memory,
The stored contents of the storage medium are surely protected.

Further, in the storage medium protection structure according to the third aspect of the present invention, after the protection processing, when the user closes the lid with the storage medium inserted in the storage medium insertion section, the data management information is generated. Access to the storage medium is restarted.

A data collecting apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is a storage medium insertion section into which a storage medium is inserted, an openable / closable lid that covers the storage medium insertion section, data input means for inputting data, and data input means. Data writing means for writing the data input by the method to the storage medium inserted in the storage medium insertion portion, detection means for detecting the open / closed state of the lid, and data writing processing for the storage medium inserted in the storage medium insertion portion. And a processing unit for performing a protection process of writing data management information for managing data to the storage medium inserted in the storage medium insertion unit when the detection unit detects that the lid has been opened. It is a thing.

A data collecting apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the fourth aspect.
In the data collection device according to the invention, the storage medium is a semiconductor memory. A data collecting apparatus according to a sixth invention is the data collecting apparatus according to the fourth or fifth invention, wherein the processing means, after the protection processing, closes the lid with the storage medium inserted in the storage medium inserting section. When the detection means detects that the data has been written, the data writing process is restarted based on the data management information.

In the data collecting device according to the fourth to sixth inventions, since the data collecting device according to the first invention is provided, the data collecting process is automatically performed and the access to the storage medium is continued. In such a case, even if the storage medium is taken out without the user knowing that the storage medium is being accessed, the stored contents of the storage medium are surely protected.

In particular, in the data collecting apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, if the user pulls out the storage medium while accessing the high-speed storage medium composed of the semiconductor memory, the stored contents of the storage medium are surely protected. To be done.

Further, in the data collecting apparatus according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, after the protection processing, when the user closes the lid with the storage medium inserted in the storage medium inserting section, the data is stored based on the data management information. Access to the medium is resumed.

[0023]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a data collection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the data collection device of this embodiment, a PC card including a flash memory is used as a storage medium. What is a PC card?
A type of C memory card, PCMCIA (Personal
Computer Memory Card International Association)
And the specifications developed by JEIDA (Japan Electronic Industry Development Association).

In FIG. 1, a lid 2 curved in an arcuate shape in cross section is attached to the upper surface of the main body 1 of the data collecting device so as to be openable and closable, and a card insertion portion 3 is provided below the lid 2. A card connector is arranged inside the card insertion portion 3. When the user inserts the PC card into the card insertion portion 3, the PC card is attached to the card connector. An eject button (eject button) 4 is provided near the card insertion portion 3. When the user presses the eject button 4, the PC card inserted in the card insertion portion 3 is ejected to the outside.

Further, inside the main body 1 of the data collection device, a detection switch 7 composed of a limit switch is arranged. The detection switch 7 is turned on and off by opening and closing the lid 2.

2A and 2B are side views showing the operating state of the detection switch 7 when the lid 2 is opened and closed. FIG. 2A shows the lid 2 closed, and FIG. 2B shows the lid 2 opened. Indicates. As shown in FIG. 2, a support plate 5 is vertically provided on the back side of the lid 2, and an end portion of the support plate 5 is rotatably supported by a shaft 6. A protrusion 5 a is provided on a side portion near the end of the support plate 5.

As shown in FIG. 2A, when the user closes the lid 2, the support plate 5 rotates about the shaft 6 in the direction of the arrow X, and the projection 5a causes the contact 7a of the detection switch 7 to move. Press. As a result, the contact 7a is pushed in the direction of arrow A, and the detection switch 7 is turned on. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2B, when the user opens the lid 2, the support plate 5 rotates about the shaft 6 in the direction of the arrow Y, and the projection 5a separates from the contact 7a of the detection switch 7. . As a result, the contact 7a projects in the direction of arrow B, and the detection switch 7 is turned off. Thus, the detection switch 7 is turned on and off by opening and closing the lid 2. The detection switch 7 may be turned off when the lid 2 is closed, and the detection switch 7 may be turned on when the lid 2 is opened.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the data collection device of FIG. The data collection device body 1 is a CPU
(Central Processing Unit) 11, ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, Flash Memory 14, PC Card Interface 15,
Card connector 16, input interface 17, A / D
It includes an (analog / digital) converter 18, a digital input / output interface 19 and a detection switch 7.

The CPU 11 performs a data collecting process and controls each unit in the data collecting apparatus main body 1. R
The OM 12 stores a control program that defines the operation of the CPU 11. The RAM 13 is used as a temporary storage area for data. A changeable program is stored in the flash memory 14. The A / D converter 18 converts an analog signal into a digital signal and inputs the digital signal into the CPU 11. The digital input / output interface 19 outputs digital data output from the CPU 11 to the outside, and inputs digital data given from the outside to the CPU 11.

When the user opens the lid 2 and inserts the PC card 30 into the card insertion portion 3 of FIG. 1, the PC card 30 is attached to the card connector 16. The PC card interface 15 writes data given from the CPU 11 to the PC card 30 via the card connector 16 or gives data read from the PC card 30 via the card connector 16 to the CPU 11.

The input interface 17 inputs the on / off state of the detection switch 7 to the CPU 11. Information on whether the PC card 30 is inserted in the card insertion portion 3 is given to the CPU 11 from the PC card interface 15.

In this embodiment, the card insertion portion 3 constitutes a storage medium insertion portion, the detection switch 7 constitutes detection means,
The CPU 11 constitutes a processing means. The A / D converter 8 and the digital input / output interface 19 form a data input unit, and the CPU 11, the PC card interface 15 and the card connector 16 form a data writing unit.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the processing of the CPU 11 of FIG. The PC card protection processing by the CPU 11 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
Here, it is assumed that the PC card 30 is attached to the card connector 16. The data management information includes, for example, a storage area of data stored in a storage medium, a free area in which new data can be stored, a file name, a file capacity, and the like.

First, the CPU 11 determines the state of the detection switch 7 (step S1). When the lid 2 is closed, the CPU 11 performs normal processing such as data collection processing (step S2). When the lid 2 is opened, the CPU 1
1 writes the card management information into the PC card 30 via the PC card interface 15 and the card connector 16 (step S3). As a result, the PC card 30 can be removed (step S4).

In the data collecting apparatus of this embodiment, since it takes some time for the user to open the lid 2 and pull out the PC card 30, it takes time for the CPU 11 to perform the protection process on the PC card 30. Reserved. Therefore, when the data collection process is automatically performed inside the data collection device and the PC card 30 is continuously accessed, even if the user removes the PC card 30 without knowing that the PC card 30 is being accessed. , The contents stored in the PC card 30 are surely protected.

Further, since the data management information is written in the PC card 30 in the protection processing by the CPU 11, the data stored in the PC card 30 at that time and the data management information are consistent with each other.

After step S4, when the user closes the lid 2 with the same PC card 30 attached to the card connector 16, the CPU 11 causes the PC to open the PC based on the card management information stored in the PC card 30. Access to the card 30 is restarted.

In the above example, the CPU 11 determines the open / closed state of the lid 2 based on the state of the detection switch 7.
When the lid 2 is opened, the CPU 11 may start the protection process by the interrupt process from the detection switch 7.

The form of the lid 2 that covers the card insertion portion 3, the opening / closing method, and the type and mounting position of the detection switch 7 are not limited to those in the above embodiment. 5 and 6,
7 and 8 are schematic perspective views showing other examples of the lid and the detection switch.

In the example of FIG. 5, the lid 21 is attached to the data collecting apparatus main body 1 by a hinge so as to be openable and closable. In the example of FIG. 6, the removable lid 22 is the data collection main body 1
Attached to. In the example of FIG. 7, a slidable lid 23 is attached to the data collection device body 1. Further, in the examples of FIGS. 5 and 6, the detection switch 7 is arranged at a position visible from the outside, and in the example of FIG. 7, the detection switch 7 is arranged at a position not visible from the outside. FIG.
In the above example, a protrusion 24a is provided on the edge of the lid 24, and a photoelectric switch 71 that functions as a photointerrupter as a detection switch is attached to a corresponding position of the data collection device main body 1. A proximity switch may be used as the detection switch.

The lid may be formed of a grid member so that it can be determined from the outside whether or not a PC card is inserted in the card insertion portion, or a window may be provided in the lid. In the above-described embodiment, the PC card including the flash memory is used as the storage medium, but an IC memory card including the SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) or other semiconductor memory may be used, or another floppy disk or the like. A storage medium may be used.

The storage medium protection structure of the present invention is not limited to a data collection device, but is also applied to a personal computer for storing data in a storage medium such as a floppy disk, an IC memory card, and other various data processing devices. can do.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a data collection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing an operating state of the detection switch when the lid is opened and closed.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the data collection device of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of a CPU of the data collection device of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing another example of the lid and the detection switch.

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing another example of the lid and the detection switch.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view showing another example of the lid and the detection switch.

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view showing another example of the lid and the detection switch.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Data Collection Device Main Body 2, 21, 22, 23, 24 Lid 3 Card Insertion Section 4 Eject Button 7 Detection Switch 71 Photoelectric Switch

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A storage medium insertion section into which a storage medium is inserted, an openable / closable lid that covers the storage medium insertion section, a detection unit that detects an open / closed state of the lid, and the storage medium insertion section is inserted into the storage medium insertion section. When data is written to the storage medium, data management information for managing data when the detection means detects that the lid is opened is inserted in the storage medium insertion section. A storage medium protection structure comprising: a processing unit that performs a protection process for writing on a medium. 2. The protection structure for a storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the storage medium is a semiconductor memory. 3. The data management means, when the detecting means detects, after the protection processing, that the lid is closed in a state where the storage medium is inserted in the storage medium inserting section after the protection processing. 3. The storage medium protection structure according to claim 1, wherein the data writing process is restarted based on information. 4. A storage medium insertion portion into which a storage medium is inserted, an openable / closable lid covering the storage medium insertion portion, data input means for inputting data, and data input by the data input means. Data writing means for writing to the storage medium inserted in the storage medium insertion section, detection means for detecting the open / closed state of the lid, and data writing processing for the storage medium inserted in the storage medium insertion section are performed. In this case, when the detection means detects that the lid has been opened, the data management information for managing the data is written into the storage medium inserted into the storage medium insertion portion, and the processing means performs a protection process. A data collection device characterized by the above. 5. The data collecting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the storage medium is a semiconductor memory. 6. The data management means, when the detecting means detects, after the protection processing, that the lid is closed in a state where the storage medium is inserted in the storage medium inserting section after the protection processing. 6. The data collecting device according to claim 4, wherein the writing process of the data is restarted based on the information.