JPH09179788A - Access storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device removing a mechanical part, capable of resisting vibration and shock and making it unnecessary for a user to be conscious of carrying or a setting place. SOLUTION: The access storage device 11 is constituted of a conversion circuit 13 for converting an SCSI standard signal inputted from an external system 12 into a PCMCIA standard signal, plural flash memory cards 16 for storing file data inputted from the external system 12, a storing memory 15 for storing the volume labels of the file data, and an SRAM 14 for reading out the volume labels stored in the memory 15 and temporarily storing the read labels. At the time of starting processing for the file data stored in the cards 16, the volume labels stored in the memory 15 are inputted to the SRAM 14, and at the end of the processing, the volume lables stored in the SRAM 14 are transferred to the memory 15.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

The present invention relates to audio equipment,
The present invention relates to a large-capacity access storage device used for video equipment, digital equipment, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a hard disk has been generally used as an access storage device of this kind, and the access method is a direct access method in which a user designates an address on the hard disk, a track number, a key value, etc. Has been taken. As a file management method, there are volume labels (VTOC: Volume Table) for managing the location of files existing in the volume, attributes such as file length, and free areas in the volume.
A management table called "Contents of Contents" is used.
By using such a volume label, the file data in the hard disk is directly erased, read or written.

[0003]

However, since such a hard disk drive includes a rotary drive part, it not only causes mechanical troubles, but is also vulnerable to vibration and shock, and is easy to carry and install. There was a problem that I had to be careful.

The present invention solves such a conventional problem, and an object thereof is to provide a large-capacity and high-speed access storage device having no mechanical portion.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention uses a semiconductor memory card such as a flash memory card instead of a hard disk, and since it has no mechanical portion, it has less trouble. The reliability can be improved.

[0006]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION According to the first aspect of the present invention, a SCSI standard signal from an external system is sent to PCMCI.
A conversion circuit for converting to A standard signal, a plurality of semiconductor memory cards for storing file data input from an external system, a storage memory for storing the volume label of the file data, and a volume label stored in the storage memory And a SRAM for reading and temporarily storing the data and storing the volume label in the storage memory at the start of processing the file data in the semiconductor memory card.
The access storage device is characterized in that the volume label in the SRAM is transferred to the storage memory at the end of the process while being read into the AM, and the semiconductor memory card can be handled at high speed as in the conventional hard disk.
Since it has no mechanical parts, it is strong against vibration and shock, and you do not have to worry about carrying it or installing it.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the volume label can be transferred from the SRAM to the storage memory by a command, and the usability can be improved in addition to the effect of the first aspect. .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the storage memory is an EPROM or a flash memory, and in addition to the effects of the first and second aspects, a rewriting and reading speed comparable to that of the SRAM can be obtained. A high-speed access storage device can be realized.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the semiconductor memory card is a flash memory card, and in addition to the effects of the first to third aspects, it is possible to easily increase the capacity by adding more. Have.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an access storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes an access storage device, which exchanges file data with the external system 12. In the access storage device 11, 13 is a SCSI-PCMCIA conversion circuit for mutually converting signals between SCSI which is a standard interface standard for connection with the external system 12 and PCMCIA which is an interface standard for a flash memory, and 14 is a conversion circuit. Volume label S that is connected to the output side of 13 and temporarily holds the volume label
A RAM (static RAM) 15 is a storage memory connected to the SRAM 14 for storing the volume label, and EPROM or flash memory is used. Reference numeral 16 denotes a flash memory card as a semiconductor memory card for storing file data, which is connected to the output side of the conversion circuit 13, and includes a PCMCIA / IF controller 17 and a flash memory 18.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described. When the power of the access storage device 11 is turned on, the storage memory 15 transfers the volume label data stored therein to the SRAM 14. As a result, when the external system 12 requests rewriting, reading, or writing to the flash memory card 16 through the SCSI-PCMCIA conversion circuit 13, the SRA
The M14 checks the volume label and accesses the corresponding flash memory card 16, and the PCMCIA / IF controller 17 performs the necessary processing on the flash memory 18. In the access storage device 11, the SRAM 14 manages the volume label data from power-on to power-off, and when the power is turned off, the volume label data is transferred from the SRAM 14 to the original storage memory 15. Further, when a command is input from the external system 12, the volume label data can be transferred from the SRAM 14 to the storage memory 15 regardless of power off.

As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, the storage memory 15 transfers the volume level data to the SRAM 14 when the power is turned on.
Can be used as a memory for volume level, and the SRAM1
Since the volume level data is transferred from 4 to the storage memory 15, the flash memory card 16 having a large capacity can be stored.
Can be used at the same speed as a conventional hard disk. In addition, since the development of flash memory in recent years has been remarkable, if a larger capacity flash memory card is developed, the flash memory card 1
6 has compatible pin assignments, so the memory capacity can be increased simply by replacing it.

[0013]

As is apparent from the above embodiment, the present invention uses a semiconductor memory card such as a flash memory card instead of the conventional hard disk, and has no mechanical portion. It is strong against vibrations and shocks, has no need to be careful about carrying or setting place, and has an effect of reducing power consumption.

Further, according to the present invention, by using a flash memory card instead of the hard disk,
Since the pin assignment is compatible based on the PCMCIA standard, the capacity can be easily increased by simply replacing the flash memory card with a larger capacity.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an access storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Access Storage Device 12 External System 13 SCSI-PCMCIA Conversion Circuit 14 SRAM for Volume Label 15 Storage Memory 16 Flash Memory Card 17 PCMCIA / IF Controller 18 Flash Memory

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A conversion circuit for converting a SCSI standard signal from an external system into a PCMCIA standard signal, a plurality of semiconductor memory cards for storing file data input from the external system, and a volume label for the file data. A storage memory and an SRAM for reading and temporarily holding the volume label stored in the storage memory are provided, and the volume label in the storage memory is stored in the SRAM when the processing of the file data in the semiconductor memory card is started. Along with loading
An access storage device, wherein the volume label in the SRAM is transferred to a storage memory at the end of processing. 2. A volume label is SR by a command.
The access storage device according to claim 1, wherein the access storage device can be transferred from the AM to a storage memory. 3. The access storage device according to claim 1, wherein the storage memory is an EPROM or a flash memory. 4. The access storage device according to claim 1, wherein the semiconductor memory card is a flash memory card.