CN1941131B - Portable electronic device with hard disk as storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is a portable electronic device whose storage medium is a hard disk. The device includes: a hard disk whose magnetic head will automatically return to a safe area after the power is cut off; a hard disk controller connected to the hard disk; The communication interface of the exchange; also includes: a sensor, which is used to sense the motion state of the hard disk in operation, and sends the motion state signal to the induction signal processor; the induction signal processor connected to the sensor is used to analyze the motion state signal, and judge whether to send a disconnection command to the hard disk power supply switch according to the analysis result; the hard disk power supply switch receives the instruction sent by the induction signal processor or the hard disk controller, and controls the power supply of the hard disk.

Description

Portable electronic device whose storage medium is a hard disk

【Technical field】

The invention relates to a portable electronic device, in particular to a portable electronic device whose storage medium is a hard disk.

【Background technique】

With the popularization of portable devices, especially more and more mobile devices connected to external computers use hard disks as storage media, such as mobile hard disks, audio/video players, and PDAs. Generally, such portable electronic devices include a hard disk, a hard disk controller, and an external box. The external box body can provide the conversion of the connection interface of the traditional hard disk, so that the portable electronic device can be connected with the computer through the USB interface to realize plug-and-play, thereby improving the convenience of using the traditional hard disk.

A portable electronic device whose storage medium is a hard disk, when it is not working, the hard disk has a strong ability to withstand shocks. Moreover, the existing portable electronic devices whose storage medium is a hard disk all have a shockproof function when they are manufactured. However, when a portable electronic device whose storage medium is a hard disk is working, its hard disk has very weak shock resistance, and when it is used, it is mostly connected to a computer, and is usually temporarily placed in a certain position by the user without fixing it. , which makes the portable electronic device sometimes drop or violently vibrate during use, causing damage to the internal hard disk of the portable electronic device. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the protection of the hard disk at work.

In Chinese Patent No. 02134495.7, a protection device and method for a hard disk drive of a portable computer are disclosed, as shown in FIG. 1 . But this patent is mainly aimed at the internal hard disk of the computer, especially the internal hard disk of the notebook. Therefore, for this patent, when the notebook is suddenly dropped or vibrated, it is necessary to consider not only protecting the hard disk, but also ensuring the normal operation of the computer. In other words, it is necessary to ensure that the hard disk works again, that is, after the magnetic head returns to the disk work area, the computer operating system can still be used normally without problems. Therefore, the technical solution of this patent is to send instructions to the magnetic head in the hard disk device to order the magnetic head to return to the safe area, so that the hard disk in the notebook is temporarily in a safe state when the notebook is suddenly dropped or vibrated. The computer operating system continues to work after disappearing.

In the current prior art, some models of IBM and Toshiba notebooks use acceleration sensors. If the hard disk is damaged, the pre-designed function of the driver will be executed on the operating system, that is, a high-level interrupt request will be issued to suspend the current work of the hard disk, and the head will immediately perform an unloading action; at the same time, the current work will be temporarily stored in the mainboard. In the cache or memory, the original task can be continued after the danger is eliminated. However, in the prior art, the CPU is required to judge whether the hard disk is damaged, and the pre-designed function of the driver program needs to be executed on the operating system. In this prior art, the work of the CPU is required.

At the same time, with the development of technology, the magnetic head berth technology of hard disk is becoming more and more mature. That is: in the case of a sudden power failure during the hard disk work, the magnetic head can automatically return to the safe zone and park in a short enough time. In this way, the possible damage to the hard disk is effectively prevented, and the safety of the hard disk is ensured when the power is suddenly cut off.

【Content of invention】

Therefore, the purpose of the present invention is to solve the above problems, to ensure the safety of the hard disk of the portable electronic device in the working state, and to more accurately control the power-off/power supply of the hard disk. The invention can realize the protection of the hard disk in the portable electronic device only by adopting a simple technical scheme of powering off the hard disk. The specific technical scheme is as follows:

A portable electronic device whose storage medium is a hard disk, the device includes: a hard disk, the magnetic head of which will automatically return to a safe area after being powered off; a hard disk controller connected to the hard disk, which is used to implement communication protocol Conversion; and a communication interface for data exchange with the outside world; also includes:

The sensor is used to sense the motion state of the working hard disk, and send the motion state signal to the induction signal processor;

The inductive signal processor connected to the sensor is used to analyze the motion state signal, and judge whether to send a disconnection command to the hard disk power supply switch according to the analysis result;

The hard disk power supply switch is used to receive instructions from the inductive signal processor connected to it or the hard disk controller connected to it, and to control the power supply of the hard disk.

The sensor is an acceleration sensor.

The induction signal processor is connected to the hard disk controller, and the hard disk controller is connected to the hard disk power supply switch.

The inductive signal processor is connected to the hard disk power supply switch.

It also includes a hard disk controller power supply switch. The induction signal processor first sends a disconnection command to the hard disk controller power supply switch connected to it to cut off the power supply to the hard disk controller. Then, the induction signal processor sends a power supply switch to the hard disk controller connected to it Send a disconnection command to cut off the power supply of the hard disk.

The device also includes an information feedback module, which is connected to the induction signal processor and used to feed back the state information sensed by the sensor to the user.

The communication interface is a UBS interface, a SATA interface, a 1394 interface, a serial/parallel interface or a network cable interface.

The information feedback module includes a USB hub and a USB interface controller, the communication interface is a USB interface, the USB hub is connected to the USB interface controller, the USB interface controller is connected to the induction signal processor, and the USB hub is also connected to the hard disk controller .

The inductive signal processor transmits the data to be fed back to the USB interface controller, and the USB interface controller transmits the data to the connected computer through the USB hub, and the computer receives the data, which is processed by the operating system and then The state information of the portable electronic device is notified to the user.

The information feedback module includes a display screen and a display controller, the induction signal processor is connected to the display controller, the display controller is connected to the display screen, the induction signal processor sends data to the display controller, and the display controller processes the data , and then reflect the status information of the portable electronic device to the display screen to notify the user.

The information feedback module includes a speaker and a speaker controller, the induction signal processor is connected to the speaker controller, the speaker controller is connected to the speaker, the induction signal processor sends data to the speaker controller, and the speaker controller The data is processed, and then the state information of the portable electronic device is sent to the speaker to inform the user.

After the inductive signal processor sends the disconnect command to power off the hard disk, it continues to analyze the motion state signal and judges whether to restore the hard disk to work.

The inductive signal processor continues to analyze the motion state signal after sending a disconnection command to make the hard disk power off, and judges whether to allow the hard disk to resume work. The controller power switch sends an ON command.

The present invention monitors the movement of the hard disk, and when the portable electronic device falls or vibrates violently, the inductive signal processor or the hard disk controller can send an off or on command to the corresponding power supply switch. Or turn on action to realize the power off or power on control of the hard disk to be powered. When the inductive signal processor sends a disconnection command to the hard disk power supply switch, the hard disk power supply switch is turned off, so that the hard disk is powered off, so that the magnetic head returns to a safe position, so as to avoid the magnetic head from hitting the disk and prevent the hard disk from being damaged. In order to better ensure the safety of portable electronic devices (such as mobile hard disks) whose storage media are hard disks, the present invention adopts a technical solution of cutting off the power supply of the mobile hard disk, which not only ensures the safety of the hard disk but also ensures that the cost does not increase significantly .

The Chinese patent No. 02134495.7 disclosed in the background technology discloses a protection device and method for a hard disk drive of a portable computer, and its technical solution is mainly aimed at the internal hard disk of a notebook. And for the hard disk inside the computer, if the scheme of sudden power failure is adopted, it will cause the collapse of the computer operating system, or cause the main board of the computer to fail to recognize the hard disk that has just been powered off after the hard disk is reconnected, causing the computer to be unable to use normally. . In comparison, since the present invention is mainly aimed at hard disks in portable electronic devices, portable electronic devices generally do not install complicated operating systems, especially mobile storage devices whose main function is storage, and the mobile storage devices may not even be installed. operating system. Because the operation of powering off the hard disk will not cause the collapse of the internal system, nor will it cause the collapse of the computer operating system for data transmission; When the hard disk power supply switch receives the connection command sent by the induction signal processor or the hard disk controller, close the switch and turn on the power of the hard disk again. After the hard disk is powered on, the computer connected to it will also recognize the hard disk again. Data communication is guaranteed to continue.

Simultaneously, the magnetic head berthing technology as the prior art has become increasingly mature, and the hard disks used in general portable electronic devices can basically realize the berthing of the magnetic head in a short enough time after the hard disk is powered off. Especially for the hard disk that adopts the emergency unloading rule of the magnetic head, the magnetic head can be parked in the safe zone within 500 milliseconds at the slowest after power failure.

In addition, the technical solution of the present invention is aimed at the portable electronic device whose storage medium is a hard disk. Due to the addition of the information feedback module, the function of timely feeding back the information of the motion state of the portable electronic device to the user is realized. On the basis of not significantly increasing the cost, the use of the user is greatly facilitated, and there is almost no prompt for the state of the portable electronic device in the existing portable electronic device.

In order to further understand the features and technical content of the present invention, the following description will be made in conjunction with specific embodiments of the present invention and the accompanying drawings. However, the figures and examples cited are not intended to limit the present invention.

【Description of drawings】

Fig. 1 is a structural diagram of a device in the prior art.

Fig. 2 is a logic block diagram of the first embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a logic block diagram of the second embodiment of the device of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a logic block diagram of the third embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a logic block diagram of the fourth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a logic block diagram of a fifth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention.

【Detailed ways】

As shown in FIG. 2 , it is the first embodiment of the present invention, and the portable electronic device in this embodiment is a mobile hard disk. The mobile hard drive includes:

A hard disk, this hard disk is the hard disk that can realize the magnetic head berth technology, and most hard disks can realize the magnetic head berth technology at present, thereby providing necessary conditions for the realization of the technical solution of the present invention;

A hard disk controller connected to the hard disk, the hard disk controller is used to convert the communication protocol, which is an important part of the traditional mobile hard disk;

One is connected to the USB interface of the hard disk controller, and communicates with the computer through the standard USB protocol.

The above is the basic structure of the traditional mobile hard disk. In this structure, the mobile hard disk further includes: a sensor for monitoring the motion state of the hard disk in the working mode, the sensor is an acceleration sensor; an induction signal processor connected to the sensor There is also a hard disk power supply switch connected to the induction signal processor, the hard disk power supply switch is a physical electrical switch, such as a switching diode. Adopting such a power-off mode of the control switch will make the operation of controlling the power supply more sensitive.

When the mobile hard disk is working normally, the acceleration sensor inside the mobile hard disk is in working condition:

1), when the acceleration sensor sends the monitored motion state data signal of the mobile hard disk to the inductive signal processor;

2) The inductive signal processor receives the signal, analyzes and calculates it, how to analyze and calculate the inductive signal processor, because each inductive signal processor may have subtle differences in function, in order to better reveal The technical solution of the present invention is illustrated by an example of a simple working principle of an induction signal processor commonly used in the art: the induction signal processor compares the signal value at this moment with the signal value of the previous monitoring cycle set, According to the result of the comparison, it is decided whether to send an instruction to the hard disk power supply switch, and what instruction to send;

For example, we set the monitoring period to 0.5 seconds. When the mobile hard disk suddenly falls and is in free fall, the induction signal processor receives the signal sent by the acceleration sensor, and obtains a state value a within the period after processing. Compare this value a with the motion state signal value b recorded in the previous cycle, ie, the previous 0.5 seconds, to obtain a comparison value c, and judge whether to send an instruction to the hard disk power supply switch according to the comparison value c. The judgment standard is based on the quality of the hard disk and other conditions that affect the hard disk’s ability to withstand damage (such as: how long the hard disk will take to ensure that the magnetic head will return to the safe zone; the amplitude and frequency of the hard disk vibration will affect the safety of the hard disk, etc.) by the manufacturer. Self-set, the manufacturer can customize a benchmark value d, when the comparison value c is greater than or equal to the benchmark value d, the state of the mobile hard disk is defined as a dangerous state, when the comparison value c is less than the benchmark value d , the state of the mobile hard disk is defined as a safe state. For example, when the mobile hard disk is in free fall, set a distance of 50 centimeters as the safe distance for the hard disk to fall, and it takes T seconds for the mobile hard disk to fall 50 centimeters, then the mobile hard disk is at the moment when it falls 50 centimeters and it is exactly T seconds The moment of is considered as the critical moment of the dangerous state, which is greater than or equal to the critical moment is a dangerous state, less than 50 centimeters or less than T seconds is considered a safe state, when it is very close to 50 centimeters or approximately equal to The moment of T seconds can be defined as a state of imminent danger.

3), if the comparison value c calculated by the induction signal processor is less than the reference value d at this time, that is, the mobile hard disk is in a safe state, and the induction signal processor does not act;

4) If the comparison value c calculated by the induction signal processor is greater than or equal to the reference value d at this time, that is, the mobile hard disk is in a dangerous state of falling or vibrating so as to cause damage to the hard disk, the induction signal processing The device sends a disconnection command to the hard disk power supply switch;

5) The power supply switch of the hard disk executes the disconnection command sent by the induction signal processor. The power supply switch of the hard disk is turned off, so that the hard disk is powered off. After the hard disk is powered off, the magnetic head is parked. Lock to protect the hard drive from damage;

6) When the mobile hard disk returns to a safe state, the inductive signal processor can send a turn-on command to the hard disk power supply switch, and the hard disk power supply switch executes the turn-on command, and closes the power supply switch to re-energize the hard disk.

As shown in Figure 3, it is the second embodiment of the present invention. The portable electronic device in this embodiment is a video player whose storage medium is a hard disk. The video player includes at least:

A hard disk as a storage medium, which can realize the magnetic head berth technology;

a hard disk controller connected to the hard disk;

One is connected to the SATA interface of the hard disk controller, and communicates with the computer through the SATA protocol; it also includes:

A sensor for monitoring the motion state of the hard disk in the working mode;

An inductive signal processor of a sensor;

a hard disk power supply switch connected to the inductive signal processor; and

A hard disk controller power supply switch connected to the inductive signal processor.

When the video player is working normally, the sensor in the video player is in working state. The motion state of the video player is monitored by the sensor, and the motion state signal is sent to the induction signal processor, and the induction signal processor analyzes the value of the signal and makes a judgment;

If it is judged that the state is a dangerous state, the induction signal processor first sends a disconnection command to the hard disk controller power supply switch, and the hard disk controller power supply switch is disconnected, so that the hard disk controller is powered off, so as to cut off the ongoing communication of the hard disk. The purpose of doing it is to comply with the power-off rules of the hot-swapping principle, which is to cut off the communication first and then cut off the power, so as to ensure the security of the data. The suspension of the communication can ensure the safety of the transmitted data before the hard disk is powered off; The device sends a disconnection command to the hard disk power supply switch, and the hard disk power supply switch is disconnected to cut off the power of the hard disk to realize the berth of the magnetic head, thereby ensuring the safety of the hard disk.

When the dangerous state of the hard disk is removed, the inductive signal processor first sends a turn-on command to the hard disk power supply switch, the hard disk power supply switch is closed, and the hard disk is powered on again, and then the inductive signal processor sends a turn-on command to the hard disk controller power supply switch, The power supply switch of the hard disk controller is closed, so that the hard disk controller is powered on again, so that the communication between the hard disk and the hard disk controller is connected, and the communication of the hard disk can continue. The purpose of turning on the power of the hard disk first and then the power of the hard disk controller is also to comply with the principle of hot swapping so as to ensure the normal use of the hard disk. At this time, the hard disk of the video player can continue to work.

As shown in Figure 4, it is the third embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is a mobile hard disk, and the difference from the first embodiment mainly lies in the addition of a USB hub and a USB interface controller, which are connected to the USB interface; the induction signal processor is connected to the USB interface controller, and the USB interface controller is connected to the USB interface controller. hub, at the same time, the hard disk controller is also connected to the USB hub. Due to the existence of the USB hub, the operating system of the computer that performs data transmission with the mobile hard disk will think that there are two devices connected to it. One device is actually: a sensor, an induction signal processor connected to the sensor, and a USB interface controller. Another device is actually: hard disk controller and hard disk. In this way, the inductive signal processor can promptly and effectively process the signal obtained by the inductive signal processor with the signal of the status signal of the mobile hard disk at any time, and then send it to the computer operating system through the USB hub, without having to Restricted by other channels, in order to let the user know what state the mobile hard disk is in.

If the mobile hard disk is in an intermediate state, that is to say, when the mobile hard disk is about to be in danger and will not immediately cause danger to the hard disk, the induction signal processor sends a signal to the computer through the USB hub, and the computer receives the signal and registers the corresponding register. If the value in the computer changes, when the next time period arrives and the computer queries the value, a warning message will be displayed on the monitor of the computer or an alarm sound will be emitted from the computer speaker.

If the state of the mobile hard disk has constituted a danger of damage to the hard disk, the induction signal processor sends a signal to the computer through the USB hub, and the computer receives the signal and changes the value in the corresponding register, and the computer inquires in this time period When this value is reached, a warning message will be displayed on the monitor of the computer or an alarm sound will be issued from the computer speaker. At the same time, the inductive signal processor sends a disconnection command to the hard disk power supply switch, and the hard disk power supply switch is disconnected, so that the hard disk is powered off and the magnetic head berth to protect the hard drive.

When the mobile hard disk is no longer in a dangerous state, the inductive signal processor immediately sends an on command to the hard disk power supply switch, the hard disk power supply switch is closed, the hard disk is powered on, and the mobile hard disk can continue to be used normally.

As shown in Fig. 5, it is the fourth embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is a video player, and the difference from the second embodiment is mainly that the display screen and display controller on the video player can be used for alarming. The display screen is connected to the display controller, and the display controller is connected to the induction signal processor. The display controller receives and processes the signal sent by the induction signal processor, and sends the processed information reflecting the state of the portable electronic device to the display The screen notifies the user what state the portable electronic device is in at this time. For example, when the hard disk in the video player is in a dangerous state, the inductive signal processor immediately sends a disconnection command to the hard disk power supply switch, and the hard disk power supply switch is disconnected, so that the hard disk is powered off; at the same time, the inductive signal processor sends a command to the display controller Signal, and then the display controller sends information to the display screen. When the dangerous state of the hard disk in the video player is removed, the inductive signal processor immediately sends a connection command to the hard disk power supply switch, and the hard disk power supply switch is closed, so that the hard disk is powered on and continues to work.

In addition, the alarm function in this embodiment can also be completed/realized by the speaker and the speaker controller. The inductive signal processor sends the signal to the speaker controller, and after the analysis and processing by the speaker controller, it sends a sound signal to the speaker and sends out a prompt sound, so as to let the user know the state of the video player.

As shown in Figure 6, the fifth embodiment of the present invention differs from the above-mentioned embodiments mainly in that the hard disk controller controls the power supply of the hard disk, that is to say, the induction signal processor is not directly connected to the hard disk power supply switch, that is, it is not directly The hard disk power supply switch is controlled to be turned off or on, but through the hard disk controller connected to it, the hard disk controller controls the hard disk power supply switch to control the hard disk power supply. When the inductive signal processor sends information to the hard disk controller, the hard disk controller receives an instruction to control the power supply switch of the hard disk.

The existing data transmission protocols of mobile devices connected to external computers are usually USB interface and SATA interface. It can also be a 1394 interface, a serial/parallel interface or a network cable interface.

In summary, for those skilled in the art, various other corresponding changes and deformations can be made according to the technical scheme and technical concept of the present invention, and all these changes and deformations should belong to the rights described in the present invention. the scope of protection required.

Claims (13)

1. A portable electronic device whose storage medium is a hard disk, the device comprising: a hard disk, whose magnetic head will automatically return to a safe area after being powered off; a hard disk controller connected to the hard disk, which is used for communication protocol conversion; and a communication interface for data exchange with the outside world; it is characterized in that it also includes: The sensor is used to sense the motion state of the working hard disk and send the motion state signal to the induction signal processor; The inductive signal processor connected to the sensor is used to analyze the motion status signal, and judge whether to send a disconnection command to the hard disk power supply switch according to the analysis result; The hard disk power supply switch is used to receive instructions from the inductive signal processor connected to it or the hard disk controller connected to it, and to control the power supply of the hard disk. the 2. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the storage medium is a hard disk, wherein the sensor is an acceleration sensor. the 3. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the storage medium is a hard disk, wherein the induction signal processor is connected to a hard disk controller, and the hard disk controller is connected to a hard disk power supply switch. the 4. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the storage medium is a hard disk, wherein the inductive signal processor is connected to a power supply switch of the hard disk. the 5. The storage medium according to claim 4 is a portable electronic device of a hard disk, characterized in that it also includes a hard disk controller power supply switch, and the inductive signal processor first sends a disconnection command to the hard disk controller power supply switch connected to it to cut off the power supply of the hard disk controller. The power supply of the hard disk controller, and then, the inductive signal processor sends a disconnection command to the hard disk power supply switch connected to it to cut off the power supply of the hard disk. the 6. The portable electronic device whose storage medium is a hard disk according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the device also includes an information feedback module, and the information feedback module is connected to an induction signal processor for sensing the state of the sensor information back to the user. 7. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the storage medium is a hard disk, wherein the communication interface is a UBS interface, a SATA interface, a 1394 interface, a serial/parallel interface or a network cable interface. 8. The portable electronic device in which the storage medium is a hard disk according to claim 6, wherein the information feedback module includes a USB hub and a USB interface controller, the communication interface is a USB interface, and the USB hub is connected to the USB interface control The USB interface controller is connected to the induction signal processor, and the USB hub is also connected to the hard disk controller. 9. The portable electronic device in which the storage medium is a hard disk according to claim 8, wherein the data to be fed back is transmitted to the USB interface controller by the inductive signal processor, and the USB interface controller transmits the data through the USB The hub transmits the data to an external computer, and the computer receives the data, processes the operating system, and then notifies the user of the state information of the portable electronic device. 10. The portable electronic device in which the storage medium is a hard disk according to claim 6, wherein the information feedback module includes a display screen and a display controller, the induction signal processor is connected to the display controller, and the display controller is connected to the display screen The inductive signal processor sends the information data reflecting the state of the portable electronic device to the display controller, and the display controller processes the data, and then reflects the state information of the portable electronic device to the display screen to notify the user. the 11. The portable electronic device in which the storage medium is a hard disk according to claim 6, wherein the information feedback module includes a loudspeaker and a speaker controller, the induction signal processor is connected to the speaker controller, and the speaker controller Connecting the speaker, the inductive signal processor sends the data of the alarm signal to the speaker controller, and the speaker controller processes the data, and then sends the status information of the portable electronic device to the speaker to notify the user. 12. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the storage medium is a hard disk, wherein the induction signal processor continues to analyze the motion state signal after sending a disconnect command to power off the hard disk, and judges whether to restore the hard disk. work, if it is necessary to resume work, then send a connection command to the hard disk power supply switch. 13. The portable electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the storage medium is a hard disk, wherein the inductive signal processor continues to analyze the motion state signal after sending a disconnect command to power off the hard disk, and judges whether to restore the hard disk. To work, if it is necessary to resume work, first send a turn-on command to the hard disk power supply switch, and then send a turn-on command to the hard disk controller power supply switch. the

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