WO2007010644A1

WO2007010644A1 - Information processor

Info

Publication number: WO2007010644A1
Application number: PCT/JP2006/303453
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shiro Ogura; Nobuhiro Tanaka
Original assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
Priority date: 2005-07-21
Filing date: 2006-02-24
Publication date: 2007-01-25
Also published as: JP2007026620A

Abstract

The information processor is provided with a hard disc drive (12) wherein information is stored; density detecting means (21, 23) for detecting density of air; and a control section (15), which performs information processing to have a prescribed function operate, based on the information stored in the hard disc drive when the density detected by the density detecting means is higher than a prescribed value, and stops operation of the hard disc drive when the density becomes a prescribed value or less.

Description

Specification

Information processing device

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus including a hard disk drive (HDD), and more particularly to a technique for preventing damage to the hard disk drive.

Background art

Conventionally, for example, an information processing apparatus including a navigation apparatus and! /, And a hard disk drive are known. In a hard disk drive, a technique is used in which an air layer is generated between the disk and the magnetic head by rotation of the disk coated or vapor-deposited with a magnetic material, and the magnetic head is slightly lifted. With this technology, high-density magnetic recording has been realized by reducing the distance between the disc and the magnetic head while maintaining non-contact.

[0003] Therefore, in the conventional hard disk drive, various devices have been made to avoid contact between the disk and the magnetic head. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that an information storage device capable of reproducing Z storage, for example, an in-vehicle information processing device equipped with a hard disk drive, for example, a car navigation device, prevents normal flying of the magnetic head due to dew condensation. An in-vehicle information processing device that prevents the occurrence of a failure due to contact with a disk, and in the event that condensation occurs or is possible, the condensation or possibility disappears and force is reproduced or stored. Disclose.

[0004] This in-vehicle information processing device has detection means for detecting the presence / absence of a dew condensation possibility condition. When the power of the powerful navigation device is turned on, the dew possibility condition is satisfied from the detection means. If a detection result is detected, the reproduction and storage operations are prohibited, and the condensation part, for example, the head is rotated, for example, until the detection result that the condensation possibility condition is not satisfied is obtained. It is configured to allow reproduction and storage operations only when a detection result is obtained after satisfying the dew condensation possibility condition.

[0005] Patent Document 2 describes a hard disk drive equipped with a hard disk. It discloses a navigation device that prevents the disc from being damaged by vibration, impact, sharp curves and sudden braking. The navigation apparatus includes map storage means for storing map information, current position detection means for detecting the current position, search means for searching for a route from the current position to the destination, and predetermined map information from the map storage means. And a route searched by the search means when the current position approaches the predetermined position based on the predetermined position information included in the map information where vibration or impact occurs when passing. The above-mentioned predetermined range of map information is stored in the storage means, and a control unit that prohibits access to the storage means, and a route guidance means that performs route planning based on the map information stored in the storage means are provided. .

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-168259

Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-264115

[0007] By the way, in the current hard disk drive, if the air density decreases due to low atmospheric pressure or high temperature, the flying height of the magnetic head decreases and there is a risk of failure due to contact between the magnetic head and the disk. For example, the use at high altitudes of 3000m or higher is restricted. Therefore, there is a problem that information processing devices such as navigation devices and portable audio players equipped with hard disk drives may be damaged when used at high altitudes.

[0008] The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and can be installed even when used at high altitudes, and can be prevented from being damaged, and has excellent convenience and reliability. It is an object to provide an information processing apparatus.

Disclosure of the invention

[0009] An information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a hard disk drive that stores information, a density detection unit that detects air density, and a hard disk drive that has a density detected by the density detection unit that is greater than a predetermined value. And a control unit that executes information processing for realizing a predetermined function based on the stored information and stops the operation of the hard disk drive when a predetermined value or less is reached.

[0010] According to the navigation device of the present invention, when the air density becomes a predetermined value or less due to, for example, high altitude or low atmospheric pressure, the hard disk drive is Since the Eve operation is stopped, the disk force, which is the recording medium when the air density is greater than the specified value, reduces the flying height of the magnetic head in a hard disk drive that operates by flying the magnetic head. Can be prevented from being damaged. Therefore, it is possible to provide an information processing apparatus that is highly convenient and reliable.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a navigation apparatus as an information processing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the navigation device as the information processing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an operation guarantee range of a hard disk drive used in a navigation apparatus as an information processing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a navigation apparatus as an information processing apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an operation guarantee range of a hard disk drive used in a navigation apparatus as an information processing apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation of the navigation device as the information processing device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, in order to describe the present invention in more detail, the best mode for carrying out the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following, a navigation device will be described as an example of an information processing device equipped with a hard disk drive. Embodiment 1.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a navigation apparatus as an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The navigation device includes a sensor unit 11, a hard disk drive 12, a semiconductor memory 13, a control unit 15, and an output unit 16.

[0013] The sensor unit 11 includes an altitude sensor 21, a temperature sensor 22, and an atmospheric pressure sensor 23. The altitude sensor 21 and the atmospheric pressure sensor 23 correspond to the density detecting means of the present invention. For example, a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver is used as the altitude sensor 21. be able to. The GPS receiver extracts the position information and altitude information from the GPS satellite force and the received GPS data force, and sends them to the control unit 15. The temperature sensor 22 detects the temperature (strictly speaking, the ambient temperature) of the hard disk drive 12 and sends it to the control unit 15 as temperature information. The atmospheric pressure sensor 23 detects atmospheric pressure and sends it to the control unit 15 as atmospheric pressure information.

The hard disk drive 12 stores map data. The map data stored in the hard disk drive 12 is read by the control unit 15 and used for realizing a navigation function.

[0015] It should be noted that when the altitude information is included in the map data stored in the hard disk drive 12, the control unit 15 should be configured so that the map data force also acquires the altitude information instead of the altitude sensor 21. It is out.

The semiconductor memory 13 corresponds to the storage unit of the present invention, and DRAM (Dynamic Random Access

Memory) and flash memory. The semiconductor memory 13 is used for temporarily storing the map data stored in the hard disk drive 12 when the operation of the hard disk drive 12 is stopped. The storage unit according to the present invention is not limited to the semiconductor memory 13, and other memories that can store and read map data without depending on the air density, such as a CD (Compact Disc) and a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). ) Or MO (Magneto-Optical disk) can be used.

[0017] The control unit 15 is configured by, for example, a microcomputer, and controls the entire navigation device. For example, the control unit 15 executes processing for realizing the navigation function, and controls the operation of the hard disk drive 12 and the stop of the operation. Details of the processing performed by the control unit 15 will be described later.

[0018] The output unit 16 also includes, for example, a display device and an audio output device force. The output unit 16 displays a map on the display device according to the display data sent from the control unit 15, and outputs in-house voice for navigation according to the voice data sent from the control unit 15. To do.

Next, the operation of the navigation apparatus configured as described above as the information processing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The

[0020] When the navigation device is activated, first, the control unit 15 reads the hard disk drive 12 map data and executes a process for realizing the navigation function (step ST11). The navigation function includes functions such as displaying the current position of the vehicle and searching and guiding routes.

[0021] Next, it is checked whether the altitude is 3000 m or higher (step ST12). That is, the control unit 15 obtains altitude information from the altitude sensor 21 that detects the altitude every moment, and checks whether the obtained altitude information indicates an altitude of 3000 m or more. The control unit 15 can be configured to acquire atmospheric pressure information from the atmospheric pressure sensor 23 that detects the atmospheric pressure every moment, and to check whether the acquired atmospheric pressure information indicates an atmospheric pressure corresponding to 3000 m or more. Further, the control unit 15 can be configured to determine whether or not the distance is 3000 m or more based on at least one of the altitude information acquired from the altitude sensor 21 and the atmospheric pressure information acquired from the atmospheric pressure sensor 23. According to this configuration, the altitude can be detected even if either the altitude sensor 21 or the atmospheric pressure sensor 23 has a failure.

[0022] If it is determined in step ST12 that the altitude is not 3000 m or higher, the sequence returns to step ST11, and the above-described processing is repeated. As a result, the navigation function based on the map data stored in the hard disk drive 12 is continuously provided to the user in the lowland where the altitude is lower than 300 Om. On the other hand, if it is determined in step ST12 that the altitude is 3000 m or higher, the map data is transferred to the semiconductor memory 13 (step ST13). That is, the control unit 15 reads map data (for example, road information of 3000 m or more ahead) required from the node disk drive 12 and stores it in the semiconductor memory 13.

[0023] Next, the operation of the hard disk drive 12 is stopped (step ST14). That is, the control unit 15 sends a stop command to the hard disk drive 12 to stop its operation. As a result, the hard disk drive 12 can be prevented from being damaged. At this time, a message indicating that the hard disk drive 12 has stopped operating is output by display 16 and voiced to notify the user. [0024] After that, the control unit 15 reads the map data from the semiconductor memory 13 and executes a process for realizing the navigation function (step ST15). The processing in step STl5 is the same as the processing in step ST11 described above except that the map data is read from the semiconductor memory 13.

[0025] Next, it is checked whether the altitude is lower than 3000 m (step ST16). That is, the control unit 15 acquires altitude information from the altitude sensor 21, and checks whether the acquired altitude information indicates an altitude lower than 3000 m. The control unit 15 can be configured to acquire atmospheric pressure information from the atmospheric pressure sensor 23 and check whether the acquired atmospheric pressure information indicates a pressure equal to or lower than 3000 m. Further, the control unit 15 may be configured to determine whether the altitude is lower than 3000 m based on at least one of altitude information acquired from the altitude sensor 21 and barometric pressure information acquired from the barometric sensor 23. it can. According to this configuration, even if a failure occurs in either the altitude sensor 21 or the atmospheric pressure sensor 23, altitude detection is possible.

[0026] If it is determined in step ST16 that the altitude is not lower than 3000 m, the sequence returns to step ST15, and the above-described processing is repeated. As a result, the navigation function based on the map data stored in the semiconductor memory 13 is continuously provided to the user at high altitudes higher than 300 Om. On the other hand, when it is determined in step ST16 that the altitude is lower than 3000 m, the hard disk drive 12 is then started (step ST17). That is, the control unit 15 sends an activation designation to the hard disk drive 12 to start its operation. Thereafter, the sequence returns to step ST11 and the above-described processing is repeated.

[0027] As described above, according to the present invention, when the altitude sensor 21 detects that the altitude is 3000 m or higher, or the atmospheric pressure sensor 23 decreases the altitude to 3000 m or less. When it is detected that the hard disk drive 12 has been detected, the operation of the hard disk drive 12 is stopped, and the hard disk drive 12 can be prevented from being damaged.

[0028] When the operation of the hard disk drive 12 is stopped, the map data stored in the hard disk drive 12 is transferred to the semiconductor memory 13, and the map data is read from the semiconductor memory 13 to continue the navigation function. Configured so that the hard disk The navigation function can be executed while preventing the drive 12 from being damaged.

[0029] In the first embodiment described above, the operation of the hard disk drive 12 and the altitude at which the operation is stopped are set to 3000 m. However, hysteresis is applied to the altitude when the hard disk drive 12 is operated and the altitude when the hard disk drive 12 is stopped. Can be configured to have For example, the operation of the node disk drive 12 can be stopped at an altitude of 3000 m or more, and then the operation of the hard disk drive 12 can be resumed when the altitude is lowered to 2800 or less. According to this configuration, the map data stored in the hard disk drive 12 and stored in the semiconductor memory 13 frequently occurs when traveling while moving up and down at an altitude of about 3000 m, and the navigation function is obstructed. If you do, you can prevent the occurrence of a situation.

[0030] When the navigation device is activated at an altitude of 3000 m or higher, the hard disk drive 12 is not activated, and there is map data in the semiconductor memory 13 until the altitude is lower than 3000 m. The navigation function can be configured to run only on Thereby, even when the navigation device is activated at a high altitude, the hard disk drive 12 can be prevented from being damaged.

Next, a modified example of the present invention will be described. The navigation device according to this modified example controls the operation of the hard disk drive 12 and the stop of the operation in consideration of the temperature in addition to the altitude. As described above, the factors causing a decrease in the flying height of the magnetic head of the hard disk drive 12 include a decrease in air density due to a temperature increase in addition to a decrease in air density due to a decrease in atmospheric pressure. In general, the guaranteed operating range of the hard disk drive 12 regarding the flying height of the magnetic head is defined two-dimensionally by altitude and temperature, as shown in FIG.

[0032] In the navigation device according to this modification, both the altitude (atmospheric pressure) and temperature are used, and the operation of the hard disk drive 12 and the stop of the operation are controlled. Specifically, in steps ST12 and ST16 shown in FIG. 2, it is checked whether the hard disk drive 12 shown in FIG. 3 is an operation guarantee area or an operation non-guarantement area.

With this configuration, the altitude detected by the altitude sensor 21 is equal to or lower than a predetermined value, or the atmospheric pressure detected by the atmospheric pressure sensor 23 is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, and the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 22 is If the hard disk drive 12 is within the guaranteed operating range, Since the process for realizing the navigation function is executed based on the map data stored in the hard disk drive, the operation of the hard disk drive 12 is stopped in other cases. Can be avoided strictly.

[0034] Embodiment 2.

The navigation apparatus as the information processing apparatus according to the present invention is configured to cool the hard disk drive 12 when the temperature rises.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a navigation apparatus as an information processing apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. This navigation device is configured by adding a cooling device 14 to the navigation device according to the first embodiment. The cooling device 14 is composed of, for example, a cooling fan, and is activated in response to a command sent from the control unit 15 or reduces the temperature of the hard disk drive 12 by increasing the rotation speed.

[0036] As described above, the guaranteed operating range of the hard disk drive 12 is defined two-dimensionally by altitude and temperature. The cooling device 14 is used to lower the temperature so that the hard disk drive 12 falls within the guaranteed operating range. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, if the navigation device is present at point A at altitude HI (lower than 3000m) and temperature T1, this point A is the non-guaranteed operation area of the hard disk drive 12. It is necessary to stop the operation of the hard disk drive 12. Here, if the temperature can be lowered to T 2 by the cooling device 14, the point A moves to the point A ′ and becomes the operation guarantee region of the node disk drive 12, so that the hard disk drive 12 can be operated.

Next, the operation of the navigation device as the information processing device according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Note that the flow chart of FIG. 6 shows only the cooling control process related to the control of the cooling device 14, and the process for realizing the navigation function is performed in parallel with this cooling control process. Suppose.

[0038] When the navigation device is activated, it is first checked whether or not it is currently in the operation guarantee area of the hard disk drive 12 (step ST21). That is, the control unit 15 is based on the altitude information acquired from the altitude sensor 21 and the temperature information acquired from the temperature sensor 22. Then, it is checked whether the current state is in the operation guarantee area of the node disk drive 12 shown in FIG.

[0039] When it is determined in step ST21 that the hard disk drive 12 is in the operation guarantee area, the sequence returns to step ST21, and the above-described process for checking whether or not it is in the operation guarantee area is repeated. On the other hand, if it is determined in step ST21 that the hard disk drive 12 is not in the operation guarantee area, that is, in the non-operation guarantee area, the cooling device 14 is activated or the rotation speed of the cooling fan is increased (step ST21). ST2 2). That is, the control unit 15 starts rotation of the cooling fan or increases the rotation speed by sending a predetermined command to the cooling device 14. As a result, the hard disk drive 12 is cooled, and its state moves, for example, from point A to point A 'shown in FIG.

[0040] Next, it is checked whether the hard disk drive 12 is in the operation guarantee area (step ST23). If it is determined in step ST23 that the hard disk drive 12 is not in the operation guarantee area, the sequence returns to step ST22 and the above-described processing is repeated. On the other hand, if it is determined in step ST23 that the hard disk drive 12 is in the operation guarantee region, then the operation of the cooling device 14 is stopped or the rotational speed of the cooling fan is reduced (step ST24). That is, the control unit 15 sends a predetermined command to the cooling device 14, for example, when the hard disk drive 12 is cooled to determine that the state has moved from point A to point A 'in FIG. This stops the rotation of the cooling fan or reduces the rotation speed. Thereafter, the sequence returns to step ST21 and the above-described processing is repeated.

[0041] According to the navigation device as the information processing device, it is possible to avoid a state in which the hard disk drive 12 cannot be operated because the temperature is high even when the altitude is lower than 3000 m. As a result, the opportunity for hard disk drive 12 to operate can be increased Industrial applicability

[0042] As described above, the information processing apparatus according to the present invention has an air density of a predetermined value or less with respect to the navigation apparatus, for example, when the altitude is increased or the atmospheric pressure is decreased. Since the hard disk drive operation is stopped when the air density becomes higher, the disk force that is the recording medium when the air density is greater than the predetermined value. It is suitable for preventing damage caused by a decrease in the flying height.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] A hard disk drive that stores information,

Density detecting means for detecting the density of air;

When the density detected by the density detection means is larger than a predetermined value, a process for realizing a predetermined function is executed based on information stored in the hard disk drive. Control unit that stops hard disk drive operation

An information processing apparatus comprising:

[2] The density detection means consists of an altitude sensor that detects altitude,

When the altitude detected by the altitude sensor is smaller than a predetermined value, the control unit executes a process for realizing a predetermined function based on the information stored in the hard disk drive, and has reached a predetermined value or more. Sometimes stop the hard disk drive

The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

[3] The density detection means consists of an atmospheric pressure sensor that detects atmospheric pressure,

The control unit executes a process for realizing a predetermined function based on the information stored in the hard disk drive when the atmospheric pressure detected by the atmospheric pressure sensor is larger than a predetermined value, and has become a predetermined value or less. Sometimes stop the hard disk drive

The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

[4] Equipped with a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the hard disk drive.

The control unit stores information stored in the hard disk drive when the density detected by the density detection means is larger than a predetermined value and the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is within an operation guarantee range of the hard disk drive. Execute the process to realize the specified function based on the above, otherwise stop the operation of the hard disk drive

The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

[5] Does not depend on the air density! If the density detected by the density detector is greater than a predetermined value, the control unit executes a process for realizing a predetermined function based on information stored in the hard disk drive, and is detected by the density detector When the density is below a predetermined value, the information stored in the hard disk drive is stored in the storage unit, and then the operation of the hard disk drive is stopped. Based on the information stored in the storage unit, the information is stored. Execute the process to realize the function of

The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

[6] A cooling device for cooling the hard disk drive is provided.

The control unit operates the cooling device when the density detected by the density detecting means is larger than a predetermined value and the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is outside the guaranteed operating range of the hard disk drive.

The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein:

[7] The hard disk drive stores map information,

The control unit executes a process for realizing a navigation function based on the map information stored in the hard disk drive when the density detected by the density detecting unit is larger than a predetermined value, and becomes less than the predetermined value. The hard disk drive stops operating when

The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.