JPH0991147A - Storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily revise the contents of a control program, etc., to be the base of execution at low cost concerning a storage device for reading all or a part of stored contents, transferring those contents and using them for execution. SOLUTION: A mounting state is discriminated by reading identification data written in a freely exchangeably mounted external ROM 27 by an MPU 23 provided with an internal ROM 23a stored with a prescribed control program inside and when the external ROM 27 is valid, the stored control program is transferred to an external RAM 28 and when the external ROM 27 is invalid, the control program in the internal ROM 23a is transferred to the external RAM 28 so that the transferred control program can be executed and processed on this external RAM 28.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a storage device which reads out all or a part of stored contents, transfers it, and puts it into execution. In recent years, MPU (microprocessor unit), MCU (microcontrol unit), DS are used to read stored contents, transfer them, and execute them.
ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Rand) as processing devices such as P (digital signal processor) and memory
There are storage devices such as electronic devices and magnetic disk devices that incorporate om access memory). These storage devices are required to be further reduced in cost, and it is necessary to further reduce hardware costs and various expenses required for modification processing of software (control program).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a storage device incorporates a logical processing system (referred to as MPU processing system) centering on a processing device such as an MPU, and realizes various functions by its programs. The execution of the program in this MPU processing system is performed by M
It is performed in a state in which the program is loaded and stored in a memory accessible from a PU (processor).

Therefore, FIG. 8 shows an explanatory diagram of conventional program execution. FIG. 8A shows the MPU 11 and the ROM 12
The control program is stored in the ROM 12, and is executed on the ROM 12. The ROM 12 includes a mask ROM, an OTPROM (One Time Programmable ROM),
EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), EEPRO
There is M (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM). Program execution with such a configuration is the most basic, and is widely adopted in electronic devices in general.

Further, FIG. 8B shows the MPU 11 and the ROM.
12, the RAM 13 and the storage medium 14 execute the program, and a part of the control program is the ROM 1
2 and that part is executed on the ROM 12. Further, the other part of the control program is stored in the storage medium 14, which is transferred to the RAM 13 and
It is executed on the AM 13. As this storage medium, there is a magnetic disk or the like reproduced by a magnetic disk device.

Program execution by such a configuration is
It is performed in a storage device such as a magnetic disk device having a storage medium. This configuration requires access to the storage medium for program transfer, but the control program stored in the storage medium can be easily modified compared to FIG. 8A, and replacement parts and parts There is an advantage that the replacement work and the clerical work by these are unnecessary and the cost is reduced. Further, by storing the main control program in the storage medium, the capacity on the ROM 12 can be reduced.
By transferring the program from the OM 12 to the RAM 13 and executing the program, the ROM 12 can be used at a low speed and at a low cost, so that the mounting area and the cost can be reduced.

[0006]

However, the program execution with the configuration shown in FIG. 8B has the above advantages from FIG. 8A, but since the MPU 11 incorporates an internal ROM, the external ROM 12 is omitted. In order to further reduce costs, the MPU 11 also has a different type of RAM 13
When it is necessary to connect with and make settings corresponding to this, if an inexpensive but non-rewritable internal ROM such as OTPROM or mask ROM is used, the control program cannot be modified, and a different RAM The type of RAM that can be connected depending on the settings (for example, 2WE
(Write enable) type and 2CAS (column address strobe) type) are limited.

Therefore, the control program stored in the internal ROM cannot be easily dealt with when it is necessary to modify it by countermeasures against defects, addition of functions, changes, etc. As a result, the MPU 11 is replaced. Therefore, there is a problem that it takes a lot of time and cost. Further, when the control program stored in the internal ROM differs depending on the function depending on the product, the MPUs 11 are not compatible with each other and cannot be diverted to each other, and a stable supply of the MPU 11 can be achieved. There is a problem that you cannot do it.

Further, the RAM 1 connected as described above
When the three types are limited, it is not possible to use a plurality of types of RAM in a mixed manner, and thus inexpensive RAM selection and RAM are possible.
There is a problem that the stable supply of Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a storage device that can easily and inexpensively modify the contents of a control program or the like that is an execution source.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to a first aspect of the present invention, control contents of a control program / data are stored, and a predetermined area is stored in a storage device for reading out the control contents and performing processing. The identification data of the mounting state is written, and the control content of the control program / data or the control program / data different from the control program / data is stored, and the control program / data is mounted from the outside in a replaceable manner. A first external memory unit, a second external memory in which the control contents of the control program / data or different control contents are transferred, and any one of the control contents is executed, and the control program / data inside At least the internal memory unit storing the control contents of the first external memory unit is read at the time of start-up by reading the identification data of the first external memory unit. The mounting state of the memory unit is determined, and the control content stored in the first external memory unit at the time of mounting the first external memory unit is transferred to the second external memory unit, and the first external memory An arithmetic processing unit that transfers the control contents of the internal memory unit to the first external memory unit and executes any one of the control contents on the second external memory unit when the unit is not mounted. The storage device is then configured.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the second external memory units of different types can be connected, and the arithmetic processing unit has a setting means for specifying the type of the second external memory unit. It is provided. In claim 3, claim 1 or 2
In, the storage area of the first external memory unit is divided into a predetermined number of divided blocks, skip information is stored for each divided block, and the arithmetic processing unit stores in the corresponding divided block according to the skip information. The control contents thus obtained are transferred to the second external memory unit.

According to a fourth aspect, in the first external memory section according to the third aspect, the control content can be freely modified by sequentially overwriting a part of the stored content. In claim 5, the first external memory unit, the second external memory unit, and the arithmetic processing unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4 have a predetermined storage medium and are externally instructed. Is provided in the control means for recording / reproducing information by the head.

As described above, according to the first to third aspects of the present invention,
An arithmetic processing unit having an internal memory unit in which control contents are stored reads the identification data written in a first external memory unit that is exchangeably executed to determine a mounting state, and When the external memory unit is mounted, the control content stored in the single region or the divided block in which the skip information is written is transferred to the second external memory unit of a predetermined type appropriately specified by the setting means, and when not mounted, The control contents of the internal memory unit are transferred to the second memory unit and executed. Accordingly, it is sufficient to mount or replace the first external memory unit when modifying the control content to be executed, and it is possible to modify the control content easily and at low cost.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the first external memory section can be rewritten substantially a predetermined number of times so that it is successively overwritten when the control content is modified. This makes it possible to easily change the control content at low cost. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the first external memory section, the second external memory section and the arithmetic processing section are provided in a control means for recording / reproducing information on / from a storage medium. As a result, it becomes possible to easily modify the recording / reproducing control content for the storage medium at low cost.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a main configuration diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows the main part of the storage device 21 showing the features of the present invention, and is the MP which is an arithmetic processing unit.
U (may be MCU) 23 is the logic processing system 22 on the board
It is installed in and manages processing of a predetermined function in each unit of the device. The MPU 22 has an internal ROM (for example, a mask RO
M) 23a and an internal RAM (for example, SRAM) 23b are built in, and the control program / data (hereinafter, referred to as a control program) of the control content is stored in the internal ROM 23a.
Is remembered.

Further, the MPU 23 performs various settings.
Input port, one of them
Connected to RAM to transfer the program to RAM.
The type of external RAM described later (for example, 2WE type,
2CAS type etc. is set.
For example, pull-up / pull-down resistor R₁Or R ₂
The setting unit 24, which is a setting unit configured by, is connected.
Resistance R₁Or R₂"1" or "0" signal in the resistance state of
Enter to set.

Further, the MPU 23 is connected to a bus 26 for inputting / outputting to / from the peripheral circuit 25, and a first bus is provided on the bus 26.
External ROM (ex. Mask RO
M) 27 can be exchangeably connected and is appropriately mounted as necessary. An external RAM (for example, DRAM) 28, which is a second external memory unit, is connected and mounted on the bus 26.

The external ROM 27 includes the internal ROM described above.
All or part of a control program having the same or different control content as the control program stored in 23 is stored. Further, identification data (predetermined data string) for identifying the mounting state is written in a predetermined portion (for example, between the header or the program) of the storage area of the external ROM 27. As a result, the external ROM 27 can be identified without requiring hardware such as a pull-up / pull-down resistor for identifying the mounting state of the external ROM 27.

On the other hand, the external RAM 28 is the above-mentioned ROM
The control program stored in 23a is transferred, or the control program stored in the external ROM 27 is transferred. The control program is executed on the external RAM 28 along with any loaded control program.

Here, a block diagram of the magnetic disk drive to which FIGS. 2 and 1 are applied is shown. FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a magnetic disk device 31 as a storage device.
Interface devices (for example, skagy devices) 33a and 33b are provided to the host computer 32, which is a host device.
Connected via

In the magnetic disk device 31, the interface circuit 34 has an HDC (hard disk controller) 3
5, the HDC 35 is connected to the host computer 32.
User data and the like are input via the interface circuit 34. Further, the HDC 35 has an internal R as described above.
MPU2 with built-in OM23a and internal RAM23b
3 is connected, and the MPU 23 is provided with an external ROM 27 and an external RAM 28. The MPU 23 includes an interface circuit 34 and an HDC 35 from the host computer 32.
Various commands such as a read command and a write command are input via the. The setting unit 24 and the bus 26 are omitted.

On the other hand, the HDC 35 is provided with a buffer 36, which stores the user data input to the HDC 35, reads and outputs the data at the time of writing, and R / W (read / read).
Data is supplied to the R / W head 38 via the write circuit 37. The R / W circuit 37 is a demodulation circuit (not shown),
A modulator circuit is provided, and a write gate signal and a read gate signal are supplied from the MPU 23.

Further, the MPU 23 drives the VCM 40 via a VCM (voice coil motor) driver 39,
The CM 40 causes the R / W head 38 to seek in the radial direction of a magnetic disk, which will be described later, to record / reproduce information on a predetermined track. Furthermore, MPU23 is SPM
(Spindle motor) SPM 42 via driver 41
The SPM 42 rotates the magnetic disk 43, which is a storage medium, at a constant speed.

Therefore, FIG. 3 shows an explanatory view of an example of the address map of the MPU and the address map of the external ROM shown in FIG. Further, FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of program loading in the MPU of FIG. MPU2 shown in FIG.
3 is an address 51a corresponding to the internal ROM 23a, an address 51b corresponding to the external ROM 27, and the external RAM 2
It has an address 51c for eight. Also, external ROM
Reference numeral 27 denotes a header 52a in which the mounting state identification data and the like are written, and an area 52 in which a control program is written.
b.

The processing operation of the MPU 23 is shown in FIG.
First, each input port is read and stored in the internal RAM 23b, and the external RAM 28 and the like are identified by the setting unit 24 (step (S) 1). And this external RAM2
RAM (DRAM) controller (MP
The setting is provided in U23 (not shown) (S2). Also, the header 52a of the external ROM 27
The initial address is set (S3).

Next, the header 5 in the external ROM 27
The identification data of 2a and other information are read (S
4) It is determined whether the external ROM 27 is valid or invalid (S5). If the external ROM 27 is not mounted or if the header information is different from the initial setting value even if it is mounted (meaning execution by the control program of the internal ROM 23a), the external ROM 27 becomes invalid and the internal ROM 2
The control program stored in 3a is stored in the external RAM 28
(S6). The control program is transferred onto the external RAM 28 (transfer # 1 in FIG. 3).

On the other hand, when the external ROM 27 is mounted and the header information matches the initial setting value, the external ROM 27
Area 27 of the external ROM 27 is determined to be valid.
The control program stored in b is transferred to the external RAM 28 (S7). The control program is transferred onto the external RAM 28 (transfer # 0 in FIG. 3).

When any one of the above control programs is transferred to the external RAM 28, the program transferred to the external RAM 28 is verified (S8), and then jumped to an entry point on the external RAM 28 for control. The program is executed and processed (S
9).

In this way, the external ROM 27 in which the modified control program is stored when it becomes necessary to take countermeasures against malfunctions or to add or change functions in the control program stored in the initial internal ROM 23a External RO when it is necessary to modify the control program of the external ROM 27 to be executed by connecting or implementing
The data of M27 can be sequentially overwritten, and ROM conversion or MPU2 for modifying the control program as in the past
It can be performed easily and inexpensively without the need for replacement of No. 3. In this case, MPU2 between different types of similar devices
3 can be diverted.

In addition, the internal ROM 23a and the external ROM 27
Since the control program of the above is loaded into the external RAM 28, an inexpensive low-speed internal ROM 23a and external ROM 27
Can be used, and since the control program is transferred as in the present invention, the processing time after transfer can be shortened.

Further, the modified control program is external R
Since it is executed on the AM 28, it does not require hardware (comparator, multiplexer, etc.) for switching and connecting a data bus for comparing address values and outputting a signal, and also does not require an interrupt function. The functions described above can be realized, and cost reduction and speedup can be achieved.

Further, as described above, the mounting state of the external ROM 27 is identified from the identification data, and the loading of the control program can be automatically switched between the external ROM 27 and the internal ROM 23a. It does not require any special hardware such as an up / pull-down resistor and can be made cheaper.

Further, depending on the setting, a plurality of types of external RAM
28 can be used, inexpensive RAM selection, R
A stable supply of AM can be achieved. next,
FIG. 5 shows an explanatory diagram of the address map of the external ROM in the second embodiment of the present invention. Further, FIG. 6 shows a partial flowchart of program loading in the second embodiment. In FIG. 5, the address map 51a of the MPU 23 is shown.
51c are the same as those in FIG. 3, the external ROM 27 divides the storage area into a predetermined number of divided blocks 61, 62, 63, ... And the headers 61a, 62a, in which at least skip information is stored in each divided block. , And areas 61b, 62b, 63b, ... In which the control program is stored.

An external ROM is provided in the first header 61a.
27 mounting state identification data are stored. The control program is the whole or a part of the program to be processed and executed, and a basically different (or the same) control program is stored for each divided block 61, 62, 63, ....

Such an external ROM 27 is an EPROM.
It is effective when using the or OTPROM. The loading of the control program is the same as in FIG. 4 (S1 to S6) until it is determined whether the external ROM 27 is valid or invalid. Therefore, in FIG. 6, when it is determined that the external ROM 27 is valid, the header (61a) of the external ROM 27 is read (S11). It is determined whether or not the header is skipped by looking at the skip information (information about whether or not the head is skipped) included in the read header (S12).

For example, each block 61, 6 in the MPU 23
Data other than "00h" is stored as the identification addresses of 2, 63, ... And the header 6
Data is read from 1a, 62a, 63a, ... If the read data is other than “00h”, the block is judged to be valid, and if it is “00h”, it is judged to be invalid. That is, if it is determined to be invalid, header skip is performed, and the transfer address is shifted to the next block (S1
3) The header reading is repeated until it becomes valid (S1).
1 to S13).

When the block is judged to be valid, the control program stored in the block of the external ROM 27 is loaded into the external RAM 2 via the internal RAM 23b.
8 (S14). The transferred control program is transferred onto the external RAM 28. External R
After transfer to AM28, the process is the same as S8 and subsequent steps in FIG.

Here, FIG. 7 shows an explanatory view of the block change of the external ROM in the second embodiment. External ROM 27
In the case of OTPROM or EPROM, it can be rewritten multiple times in the direction of changing each bit of each word from "1" to "0". For example, when a specific bit is "1", Assuming that the block is valid, it is possible to change the valid block by overwriting it so that it is valid when it is “0”.

For example, in the case of the data "FFh" of a predetermined block shown in FIG. 7A, if it is desired to change or make a control program of another type, the above "FFh" data is used.
As shown in (B), the block is overwritten, and the block at the skip destination is changed or overwritten with another type of control program.

As described above, when the control program is modified, by using a memory such as an OTPROM as the external ROM, successive overwrites can be performed, and the program can be modified easily at low cost.

[0040]

As described above, according to the first to third aspects of the present invention, the first external unit in which the arithmetic processing unit including the internal memory unit in which the control contents are stored is executed interchangeably. The identification data written in the memory unit is read to determine the mounting state, and the control content stored in the single area or the divided block in which the skip information is written when mounting the first external memory unit is appropriately set. Second of the specified type specified in
Of the internal memory unit is transferred to the second memory unit and executed when not mounted, so that the first external memory unit is mounted when the control contents to be executed are modified, Alternatively, only the replacement is sufficient, and the control content can be modified easily and at low cost.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the first external memory section can be rewritten substantially a predetermined number of times, and the control content is sequentially overwritten when the control content is modified, whereby the control content can be easily modified at low cost. Can be done at. Claim 5
According to another aspect of the invention, by providing the first external memory unit, the second external memory unit, and the arithmetic processing unit in the control means for recording / reproducing information on / from the storage medium, It is possible to easily change the control content of reproduction at low cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a main configuration diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a magnetic disk device to which FIG. 1 is applied.

3 is an address map and external RAM of the MPU of FIG.
3 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the address map of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of program loading of the MPU of FIG.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an address map of an external ROM in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial flowchart of program loading in the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a block change of an external ROM in the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of conventional program execution.

[Explanation of symbols]

 21 storage device 23 MPU 23a internal ROM 23b internal RAM 24 setting unit 27 external ROM 28 external RAM 31 magnetic disk device

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A storage device for storing control contents of a control program / data, for reading the control contents for processing, wherein mounting state identification data is written in a predetermined area, and the control program / data is also stored. Alternatively, a control content of a control program / data different from the control program / data is stored, and a first external memory unit which is mounted so as to be exchangeable from the outside, and a control content of the control program / data or A second external memory to which different control contents are transferred and any of the control contents is executed, and at least an internal memory unit in which the control contents of the control program / data are stored are provided. The first
The mounting state of the first external memory unit is determined by reading the identification data of the external memory unit of the first external memory unit, and the control content stored in the first external memory unit at the time of mounting the first external memory unit is determined by the first external memory unit. 2 is transferred to the external memory unit, and the control contents of the internal memory unit are transferred to the first external memory unit when the first external memory unit is not mounted.
And an arithmetic processing unit that transfers the control contents to the external memory unit and executes any of the control contents on the second external memory unit. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second external memory units of different types are connectable, and the arithmetic processing unit is provided with setting means for specifying the type of the second external memory unit. A storage device characterized by. 3. The storage area of the first external memory unit according to claim 1, wherein the storage area of the first external memory unit is divided into a predetermined number of divided blocks, and skip information is stored for each divided block, and the arithmetic processing unit stores the skip information. A storage device, wherein the control content stored in the corresponding divided block according to skip information is transferred to the second external memory unit. 4. The storage device according to claim 3, wherein the control content can be freely modified by sequentially overwriting a part of the stored content. 5. The first according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
The external memory unit, the second external memory unit, and the arithmetic processing unit are provided in a control unit that has a predetermined storage medium and causes the head to record / reproduce information according to an instruction from the outside. Storage device.