TWI490695B - Portable electronic apparatus and method for protecting storage device thereof - Google Patents

Description

Portable electronic device and storage device protection method thereof

The present invention relates to a storage device protection method for a portable electronic device, and more particularly to a portable electronic device and a storage device protection method thereof that can avoid damage of the storage device due to dropping or shaking.

In recent years, portable electronic devices have been widely loved by consumers. As the demand for digital media increases, when a user wants to store a favorite picture or video file for backup, it can be achieved by a storage device such as a hard disk provided in the portable electronic device.

From a structural point of view, a hard disk usually includes a magnetic head read/write arm, a spindle motor, and a disk. The disc contains multiple volumes. The spindle motor is used to rotate the disc quickly to facilitate reading of the data on the disk by the head read/write arm. Therefore, in the state of high-speed rotation, any external force may cause reading errors of the data or damage of the hard disk.

In the prior art, an acceleration sensor is generally disposed on the hard disk to detect the falling state of the hard disk and output a detection signal to the processing unit. When the processing unit determines that the signal detected by the acceleration sensor is greater than a predetermined value, the processing unit drives the switch to cut off the power and controls the head to return. However, since the acceleration sensor is located on the hard disk, the detected state cannot be used by other application software. In addition, when the hard disk is dropped, the power of the hard disk is cut off instantaneously, which is more likely to cause damage to the hard disk. In addition, the prior art also informs the computer controller in a complicated procedure, and then judges the program, and then sends a software command to stop the operation of the hard disk. However, the response time of this method is too slow and may not be able to achieve the function of hard disk protection.

One of the objectives of the present invention is to provide a portable electronic device and a storage device protection method thereof, which use a sensing unit, such as a gravity sensor (G-senser), to sense the instantaneous drop, shaking, etc. of the storage device. Then, the control unit sends a control signal to interrupt the storage device for data transmission to avoid damage to the storage device.

According to an embodiment, the portable electronic device of the present invention comprises a housing, a storage device, a sensing unit and a switching unit. The storage device, the sensing unit, and the switching unit are all disposed in the housing. The switching unit is electrically connected to the sensing unit and the storage device. The sensing unit is configured to detect a momentum of the portable electronic device. When the detected momentum is greater than a predetermined value, the sensing unit sends a control signal. The switching unit accepts the control signal and interrupts the storage device for data transmission.

According to another embodiment, the storage device protection method of the present invention comprises the steps of: detecting a momentum of a portable electronic device, wherein the portable electronic device includes a storage device disposed therein; and when the detected momentum is greater than When a predetermined value is reached, the storage device is interrupted for data transmission.

The advantages and spirit of the present invention will be further understood from the following detailed description of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a portable electronic device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the portable electronic device 1 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , the portable electronic device 1 includes a housing 10 , a storage device 12 , a sensing unit 14 , a switching unit 16 , and a processing unit 18 . The switching unit 16 is electrically connected to the sensing unit 14 and one of the data lines 120 of the storage device 12 , and the processing unit 18 is electrically connected to the sensing unit 14 . The storage device 12 can be a hard drive or other storage medium. The sensing unit 14 can be a G-sensor or other sensor. In this embodiment, the switching unit 16 can be a multiplexer, but is not limited thereto. The processing unit 18 can be a central processing unit (CPU) or other processor with computing functions. In addition, in this embodiment, the data line 120 of the storage device 12 conforms to the Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) specification.

The portable electronic device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an example of a notebook computer, but is not limited thereto. In general, in addition to the above components, the portable electronic device 1 usually has software and hardware components necessary for operation, such as a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) and a random access memory ( Random Access Memory (RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM), main board (MB), power supply, backlight module, operation system (OS), etc. Depending on the application. The functions and structures of the above-mentioned components can be easily achieved and utilized by those skilled in the art, and will not be described in detail herein. In practical applications, the sensing unit 14 and the switching unit 16 can be disposed on the motherboard, and then electrically connected by circuit wiring on the motherboard.

In this embodiment, the sensing unit 14 can be used to detect three axial accelerations, movements, vibrations, tilt angles, and the like of the object in the three-dimensional space. The user can set the control by the software command. When the sensing unit 14 detects that the momentum of the portable electronic device 1 is greater than a predetermined threshold, the sensing unit 14 sends a control signal to the processing unit. 18 or other simple circuit to perform immediate protection actions. In other words, when the housing 10 of the portable electronic device 1 is dropped from a high place or shaken violently, the sensing unit 14 issues a control signal.

In this embodiment, one end of the switching unit 16 can be connected to a certain DC voltage source Vcm (for example, 250 mV), as shown in FIG. When the sensing unit 14 sends a control signal, the switching unit 16 accepts the control signal, and in turn provides the storage device 12 with a constant voltage to interrupt the data line 120 of the storage device 12 and interrupt the data transmission. At this point, the storage device 12 will enter an idle state. After detecting the idle state for a period of time, the physical layer of the storage device 12 will return the read/write head (from standby to parking) to a safe area, thereby achieving the function of protecting the storage device 12.

In addition, the processing unit 18 can also receive the control signal sent by the sensing unit 14 and stop the currently executing application or take the necessary operational mechanism. In other words, when the housing 10 of the portable electronic device 1 is dropped from a high place or shaken violently, not only the head of the storage device 12 is returned to a safe area, but also the executing application is followed. Stop execution or take the necessary operational mechanisms to avoid crashing due to unanticipated data signals.

Please refer to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the portable electronic device 3 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The main difference between the portable electronic device 3 and the portable electronic device 1 is that one end of the switching unit 16 of the portable electronic device 3 is grounded or AC coupled ground. When the sensing unit 14 sends a control signal, the switching unit 16 accepts the control signal, and instead provides the zero potential of the storage device 12 to interrupt the data line 120 of the storage device 12 and interrupt the data transmission. It should be noted that the components of the same reference numerals as those shown in FIG. 2 have the same structure and function principle, and are not described herein again.

Please refer to FIG. 4, which is a functional block diagram of the portable electronic device 5 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The main difference between the portable electronic device 5 and the portable electronic device 1 is that the switching unit 16 of the portable electronic device 5 is a Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor transistor (MOS transistor), and one end thereof Connected to a certain DC voltage source Vcm (for example, 250mV). When the sensing unit 14 sends a control signal, the switching unit 16 accepts the control signal, and in turn provides the storage device 12 with a constant voltage to interrupt the data line 120 of the storage device 12 and interrupt the data transmission. It should be noted that the components of the same reference numerals as those shown in FIG. 2 have the same structure and function principle, and are not described herein again.

Please refer to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the portable electronic device 7 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The main difference between the portable electronic device 7 and the portable electronic device 5 described above is that one end of the switching unit 16 of the portable electronic device 5 is grounded or connected in an alternating current. When the sensing unit 14 sends a control signal, the switching unit 16 accepts the control signal, and instead provides the zero potential of the storage device 12 to interrupt the data line 120 of the storage device 12 and interrupt the data transmission. It should be noted that the components of the same reference numerals as those shown in FIG. 4 have the same structure and function principle, and are not described herein again.

Please refer to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a method for protecting a storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The storage device protection method of the present invention includes the following steps: Step S100: detecting the momentum of the portable electronic device 1, portable The electronic device 1 includes a storage device 12 disposed therein; and step S102: interrupting the storage device 12 for data transmission when the detected momentum is greater than a predetermined value.

Please refer to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a method for protecting a storage device according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 together with the portable electronic device 1 , the storage device protection method of the present invention includes the following steps: Step S200: detecting the momentum of the portable electronic device 1 , portable The electronic device 1 includes a storage device 12 disposed therein; step S202: interrupting the storage device 12 for data transmission when the detected momentum is greater than a predetermined value; and step S204: stopping the current when the detected momentum is greater than a predetermined value The application being executed.

In summary, the portable electronic device and the storage device protection method of the present invention utilize a sensing unit, such as a gravity sensor, to detect an instantaneous drop, shake, etc. of the storage device, and then control the switching unit to interrupt the storage. The device transmits data to avoid damage to the storage device.

The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and all changes and modifications made to the scope of the present invention should be within the scope of the present invention.

1. . . Portable electronic device

10. . . case

12. . . Storage device

14. . . Sensing unit

16. . . Switching unit

18. . . Processing unit

120. . . Data line

Vcm. . . Fixed DC voltage source

S100-S102, S200-S204. . . Process step

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a portable electronic device according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the portable electronic device in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a portable electronic device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a functional block diagram of a portable electronic device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of a portable electronic device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a flow chart of a method of protecting a storage device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a flow chart of a method of protecting a storage device in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

1. . . Portable electronic device

12. . . Storage device

14. . . Sensing unit

16. . . Switching unit

18. . . Processing unit

120. . . Data line

Vcm. . . Fixed DC voltage source

Claims (10)

A portable electronic device includes: a housing; a storage device disposed in the housing; a sensing unit disposed in the housing for detecting a momentum of the portable electronic device, When the momentum is greater than a predetermined value, the sensing unit sends a control signal; and a switching unit is disposed in the housing, and is electrically connected to the sensing unit and the storage device, and the switching unit is subjected to the control signal Controlling, providing a certain voltage or a zero potential to the storage device to interrupt the storage device for data transmission. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the switching unit is electrically connected to one of the storage devices, and the switching unit is controlled by the control signal to interrupt the storage device for data transmission via the data line. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the storage device is a hard disk. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the sensing unit is a gravity sensor. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the switching unit is a multiplex And one end is grounded or connected to a voltage source. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the switching unit is a metal oxide semi-transistor, and one end thereof is grounded or connected to a certain voltage source. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the data line conforms to a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) specification. The portable electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a processing unit electrically connected to the sensing unit, the processing unit being controlled by the control signal to stop the application currently being executed. A storage device protection method includes the steps of: detecting a momentum of a portable electronic device, wherein the portable electronic device includes a storage device disposed therein; and when the momentum is greater than a predetermined value, a switching unit provides A certain voltage or a zero potential is applied to the storage device, and the storage device is interrupted for data transmission. The storage device protection method of claim 9, further comprising the step of: stopping the application currently being executed when the momentum is greater than the predetermined value.