JPH09282779A - Data processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a data processing device, for example, applied to an editing device that records and reproduces video data by operating a plurality of hard disk devices in parallel to reduce the load on a power supply and reduce the overall shape. To do. By issuing a predetermined control command with a delay to a plurality of data processing blocks, a temporary increase in current consumption in the data processing blocks is prevented from concentrating temporarily.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data processing device, and can be applied to, for example, an editing device for recording and reproducing video data by operating a plurality of hard disk devices in parallel. The present invention reduces the load on the power supply and downsizes the overall shape by delaying and issuing a predetermined control command so that a temporary increase in current consumption in the data processing block is not concentrated at one time.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Hitherto, in an editing system or the like, a video signal is stored in a hard disk device. In such a device, a disk array device is formed by a plurality of hard disk devices so that a high-quality, large-capacity, high-transfer-rate video signal can be reliably recorded and reproduced. RAID (Redandent Array of Inexpensive
Disks).

In this RAID disk array device,
A predetermined data string is distributed and recorded in a plurality of hard disk devices, and parity data is generated from the distributed data and recorded in another hard disk device. As a result, in this RAID disk array device, when it becomes difficult to reproduce the data in any of the hard disk devices, the exclusive OR of the data reproduced in the other hard disk devices is obtained, so that the operation can be performed easily and at high speed. Correct data can be restored, and a highly reliable recording / reproducing system can be configured accordingly.

In such a disk array device, each hard disk device is started up with a delay, and the current consumption of each hard disk device is averaged to reduce the size of the power supply and the overall size. It is done like this.

That is, in the hard disk device,
At startup, the spindle motor consumes a lot of power. Therefore, in this type of disk array device, when each hard disk device is started at the same time, the temporary increase in current consumption is concentrated at one time, and a large capacity power supply is required accordingly.
Specifically, a disk array device is configured by four hard disk devices, and the current consumption of each hard disk device is 1 [A] in a steady state after startup and 2 at startup.
In the case of [A], the total current consumption is 4 [A] in the steady state.
On the other hand, when the hard disk devices are simultaneously activated, the total current consumption becomes 8 [A] at maximum.

On the other hand, if the hard disk devices are sequentially delayed and started up, in the above example, when the remaining three hard disk devices are started up in the steady state, the remaining one hard disk device is most consumed. The current increases, and even in this case the total current consumption is 5 (= 1 × 3 + 2) [A]
Can be reduced. Therefore, the load on the power source can be reduced accordingly, and the power source can be downsized.

Further, in the hard disk device, the current consumption temporarily increases even during seeking. However, the increase in current consumption during this seek occurs in a shorter time than when the power supply is started. As a result, the increase in current consumption at the time of seek can be averaged by disposing a smoothing capacitor and a lip coil in the power supply line, thereby reducing the temporary increase in current consumption of the entire disk array device. Therefore, the power supply is downsized.

[0008]

By the way, in the hard disk device, if the seek speed is increased, the current consumption at the time of seek increases accordingly. Therefore, in the disk array device, when a high-speed hard disk device with a short access time is used, a large smoothing capacitor and a lip coil are required to be arranged in the power supply line, and there is a problem that the overall shape becomes large.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to propose a data processing device having a plurality of data processing blocks, which can reduce the load on the power supply. .

[0010]

In order to solve such a problem, in the present invention, a control command for temporarily increasing the current consumption of a data processing block waits for the completion of the corresponding process in another data processing block. To issue.

Also, regarding the control command for temporarily increasing the current consumption of the data processing block based on the calculation result of the total current consumption at the present time and the comparison result of the calculation result and the current that can be supplied by the power supply circuit, other data Issuing after waiting for the completion of the corresponding processing in the processing block.

Furthermore, a plurality of data processing blocks are time-controlled by time slots, and a control command for temporarily increasing the current consumption of the data processing blocks is distributed to each time slot and issued.

The control command for temporarily increasing the current consumption of the data processing block is issued after waiting for the completion of the corresponding process in the other data processing block, so that the temporary increase in the current consumption is temporarily concentrated. This can be avoided, and the load on the power source can be reduced accordingly.

Further, for the control command for temporarily increasing the current consumption of the data processing block based on the calculation result of the total current consumption at the present time and the comparison result of the calculation result and the current which can be supplied by the power supply circuit, other data is used. By issuing after waiting for the completion of the corresponding processing in the processing block, it is possible to prevent the increase in current consumption from being concentrated at one time so as not to exceed the rating.

Further, the control command for temporarily increasing the current consumption of the data processing block is distributed to each time slot and issued so that the increase of the current consumption can be prevented from concentrating at one time.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

(1) First Embodiment FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a disk array device applied to a recording / reproducing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The disk array device 1 connects the disk array controller 2 to an editing device through a SCSI interface, and inputs / outputs video data D1 data-compressed by MPEG or the like, control commands and the like between the editing device through the SCSI interface. .

Here, the disk array controller 2
The video data D1 input from the editing device is sequentially distributed and recorded in the three hard disk devices HDD0 to HDD2. Further, parity data is generated from the distributed video data and recorded in the remaining hard disk device HDD3. On the contrary, in response to a request from the host side, the video data is reproduced from the hard disk devices HDD0 to HDD2 and output in the original arrangement. At this time, if an abnormality is detected in any of the hard disk devices HDD0 to HDD2, the fourth hard disk device HDD3
The video data of the hard disk device in which the abnormality has occurred is restored and output using the parity data that has been more reproduced and the video data that has been reproduced from another hard disk device.

The disk array controller 2 analyzes the control command input from the editing device which is a host,
Based on the analysis result, a control command is issued to the hard disk devices HDD0 to HDD3 as necessary to execute a series of recording / playback processing of video data. The disk array controller 2 is used for each hard disk device HD.
A control command is issued to D0 to HDD3 by the SCSI interface.

FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing the processing procedure of the disk array controller 2. The disk array controller 2 is a hard disk device HDD0 to HD
Regarding a predetermined control command for temporarily increasing the current consumption of D3, the control command is issued by this processing procedure. Here, the predetermined control command is a seek control command and a write and read control command that involves seek processing for execution. The disk array controller 2 uses the main program processing program of the main routine to issue a control command to the hard disk device HDD0.
~ The processing procedure of FIG. 1 is started for each HDD 3. Thus, for example, when a write control command is issued to two hard disk devices, the processing procedure shown in FIG. 1 is simultaneously executed in parallel for the two hard disk devices.

That is, the disk array controller 2
Moves from step SP1 to step SP2, judges whether the seeking flag is set to the value 0, and if a negative result is obtained here, step SP2 is repeated. Here, the seek flag is a flag common to the four hard disk devices HDD0 to HDD3, and when a seek, write, or read control command is issued to any of the hard disk devices HDD0 to HDD3,
When the disk array controller 2 sets the value 1 and the processing corresponding to this control command is completed, the disk array controller 2 sets the value 0 by the response from the hard disk devices HDD0 to HDD3.

As a result, the disk array controller 2
When the other hard disk devices HDD0 to HDD3 are executing seek, write, and read processes, the processing procedure of step SP2 is repeated, and when these processes are completed in the other hard disk devices HDD0 to HDD3, step SP3 Move on to. Here, the disk array controller 2 sets the seeking flag to the value 1, then moves to step SP4, specifies the corresponding hard disk devices HDD0 to HDD3 by the ID numbers, and issues the control command. Further, the disk array controller 2 monitors the status of the interface bus, and when the status of operation completion is sent from the corresponding hard disk devices HDD0 to HDD3, step SP
Move to 5.

Here, the disk array controller 2
After setting the seeking flag to the value 0, step SP
Then, the procedure goes to 6 to end this processing procedure. As a result, the disk array controller 2 issues a seek, write, and read control command that temporarily increases the current consumption of the hard disk device, after waiting for the completion of the corresponding processing in the other hard disk device.

In the above configuration, the video data D1 output from the host is the hard disk drive HDD according to the control command added to the video data D1.
0 to HDD2 are distributed and recorded, and parity data of video data recorded in hard disk devices HDD0 to HDD2 is recorded in hard disk device HDD3. On the other hand, hard disk devices HDD0 to H
The video data recorded on the DD 2 is returned to the original array by the disk array controller 2 and output to the editing device.

If any of the hard disk devices HDD0 to HDD3 is performing seek, write, and read processing to and from the hard disk devices HDD0 to HDD3 for recording and reproducing the video data and the like, a seek flag is set. The disk array controller 2 issues a seek, write, and read control command after the value is set to 1 and the seek flag is reset to 0. As a result, even if the current consumption of the hard disk drive temporarily increases due to the execution of these control commands that involve seek processing, this temporary increase in current consumption is held so that it does not concentrate temporarily, and as a whole The increase in current consumption is reduced.

According to the above configuration, when any of the hard disk devices HDD0 to HDD3 is executing seek, write, and read processing, the seek, write, and read control commands are waited for until the processing is completed. By issuing it, it is possible to set so that the temporary increase in current consumption in the hard disk drive will not be concentrated at one time, and as a result, the smoothing capacitor and the ripple coil inserted in the power supply line can be downsized to reduce the overall shape. be able to.

(2) Second Embodiment FIGS. 3 and 4 are flowcharts showing the processing procedure of the disk array controller according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the disk array device according to this embodiment, the disk array controller 2 described above with reference to FIG. 2 executes this processing procedure instead of the processing procedure described above with reference to FIG. 1, and issues a control command.
Also in this embodiment, the disk array controller 2 uses the hard disk drive HDD to which the control command is issued by the processing program of the main routine.
The processing procedure of FIG. 3 is activated when a seek, write, or read control command is issued for each of 0 to HDD 3.

That is, the disk array controller 2
Moves from step SP10 to step SP11, where it is determined whether or not the variable indicating the seek remaining time is 0.
When a negative result is obtained here, the disk array controller 2 repeats step SP2 and waits for the variable indicating the seek remaining time to change to the value 0. On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step SP11, the disk array controller 2 proceeds to step SP1.
After shifting to 2 and setting the variable indicating the seek remaining time to the value 10, after shifting to step SP13 and issuing the necessary control command (also in this case, either the seek, write, or read control command), The processing moves to step SP14 and this processing procedure ends.

Here, the variable representing this seek remaining time is
By the interrupt process of 1 [msec] cycle, the processing procedure shown in FIG. 4 is executed and updated. That is, the disk array controller 2 activates the interrupt processing by the built-in timer, and in the interrupt processing, step S
The process moves from P20 to step SP21, and it is determined whether or not the variable indicating the seek remaining time is larger than the value 0. If a negative result is obtained here, the disk array controller 2
Moves to step SP23 and returns to the main routine.
On the other hand, if the variable indicating the seek remaining time is larger than the value 0, the disk array controller 2 proceeds to step S
After P21, the process proceeds to step SP22, the variable representing the seek remaining time is reduced by 1, and then the process proceeds to step SP23 to end this processing procedure.

As a result, the disk array controller 2
Instead of the seek flag in the first embodiment,
Other hard disk drive H can be used by time management using variables.
When the DD0 to HDD3 start the seek, write, and read processes, the seek, write, and read control commands are issued after waiting a period of 10 [msec].

That is, in the writing process, the magnetic head is sought and on-tracked to a desired track, and then the magnetic head is driven to record desired data on the hard disk. In the reading process, the magnetic head is similarly sought and on-tracked to a desired track, and then a reproduction signal obtained from the magnetic head is processed to reproduce the data recorded on the hard disk. When a write and read control command is issued by this, in the hard disk device,
This seek processing of the magnetic head increases the current consumption.

On the other hand, the seek process is actually completed within a period of several [msec]. As a result, when the other hard disk devices HDD0 to HDD3 start seek, write, and read processing, 10 [mse
If the seek, write, and read control commands are issued after the elapse of the period [c], even if the current consumption of the hard disk drive temporarily increases due to this seek, this increase is not concentrated all at once. Can be controlled.

According to the configurations shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, another hard disk device HDD0
~ When the HDD 3 starts the seek, write, and read processes, the seek, write, and read control commands are issued after waiting for a period of 10 [msec], and the increased current consumption of other hard disk devices After the reduction, the control command such as seek can be issued to the subsequent hard disk device. As a result, the control command can be issued at a shorter time interval as compared with the first embodiment, and the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

(3) Third Embodiment FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the processing procedure of the disk array controller according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the disk array device according to this embodiment, the disk array controller 2 described above with reference to FIG. 2 executes this processing procedure instead of the processing procedure described above with reference to FIG. 1, and issues a control command. Also in this embodiment, the disk array controller 2 uses the processing programs of the main routine to issue control commands to the hard disk devices HDD0 to H0.
The processing procedure of FIG. 5 is started when the write and read control commands are issued for each DD3. In this embodiment, when issuing a seek control command, the disk array controller executes the same processing as in the first embodiment.

That is, the disk array controller 2
Moves from step SP30 to step SP31, determines whether or not the seeking flag is set to the value 0, and if a negative result is obtained here, step SP31 is repeated. Here, in this embodiment, the seeking flag is set to four hard disk devices HDD0 to HDD0.
3 is a flag common to all the hard disk devices, and when a seek control command is issued to any of the hard disk devices HDD0 to HDD3, the disk array controller 2 sets the value to 1, and when the processing corresponding to this control command is completed, The disk array controller 2 sets the value 0 according to the response from the hard disk devices HDD0 to HDD3.

As a result, the disk array controller 2
When the other hard disk devices HDD0 to HDD3 are executing the seek process, the processing procedure of step SP31 is repeated and the other hard disk devices HDD0 to
~ When these processes are completed in the HDD 3, the process proceeds to step SP32. In step SP32, the disk array controller 2 sets the seeking flag to 1
After that, the process proceeds to step SP33, and the corresponding hard disk devices HDD0 to HDD3 are specified by the ID numbers and the seek control command is issued. Here, this seek control command is issued with an address that identifies the sector to be written and read added, so that in this embodiment, the writing and reading processes are performed by setting the magnetic head to the target track in advance. Seek. Disk array controller 2
Monitors the status of the interface bus, and when the operation completion status is sent from the corresponding hard disk devices HDD0 to HDD3, moves to step SP34.

Here, the disk array controller 2
After setting the seeking flag to the value 0, step SP
In step 35, a write or read control command is issued, and in step SP36, this processing procedure is completed. As a result, the disk array controller 2 separates the seek processing in which the current consumption actually increases in the write and read processing, and when another hard disk device is executing the seek processing, the seek processing is executed. Wait for completion and issue a separate seek control command.

According to the configuration shown in FIG. 5, regarding the writing and reading processes, the seek process in which the current consumption actually increases is separated, and when another hard disk device is executing the seek process. By issuing a separate seek control command after waiting for the completion of this seek processing, the entire operation is controlled so as not to concentrate at one time only during the period when the current consumption actually increases, and the first operation is performed. The same effect as that of the embodiment can be obtained. Therefore, in continuous access to the hard disk device, there are many cases where continuous areas and adjacent tracks are accessed. Therefore, if the seek command is separately controlled as described above, the second embodiment It is possible to issue a write and read control command at a much shorter time interval than the above.

(4) Fourth Embodiment FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a disk array device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The disk array device 10 has a plurality of slots SL1 to SLn, and the hard disk devices HDD1 to HDDn are exchangeably held in the plurality of slots SL1 to SLn. As a result, in the disk array device 10, at most n hard disk devices HDD1 to HDDn record and reproduce video data D1 and parity data. Further, the disk array device 10 has N power supply circuits P1 to PN, supplies power from the power supply circuits P1 to PN to the hard disk devices HDD1 to HDDn through the slots SL1 to SLn, and the disk array controller 11 and the like. It is designed to supply power to.

Here, the slots SL1 to SLn are formed in the same shape, and the hard disk devices HDD1 to HDD1 are respectively formed.
The HDDn is housed and the disk array controller 2 and the hard disk devices HDD1 to HDDn are connected via a connector connected to the SCSI bus. Further, each of the slots SL1 to SLn is wired so that the terminal voltage of a part of the connector changes due to the connection of the connector and the hard disk devices HDD1 to HDDn, and the detection signal S1 for detecting the mounting of the hard disk devices HDD1 to HDDn.
~ Sn, this terminal voltage is output to the disk array controller 11.

The power supply circuits P1 to PN are power supply circuits having a so-called self-diagnosis function. When the power supply is stopped by the operation of the built-in protection circuit, the warning signals AL1 to ALN are used to notify the disk array controller 11 of the abnormality.
The temperature sensor 12 is arranged close to the power supply circuits P1 to PN, detects the temperature of the power supply circuits P1 to PN, and outputs a temperature detection signal ST.

The disk array controller 11 switches and controls the operation of the disk array device 10 in response to a control command input from the editing device. In this control, the disk array controller 11 executes the processing procedure of FIG. 7 when issuing the seek, write, and read control commands, and as a result, the detection signal S1.
.About.Sn, temperature detection signal ST, and warning signals AL1 to ALN are used as a reference to prevent an increase in current consumption exceeding the capacity of the power supply circuits P1 to PN. The disk array controller 11 has a built-in memory that consumes a current (hereinafter referred to as a main body current) of the disk array device 10 required to execute the processing procedure of FIG. Device HDD1-HD
The current consumption of Dn in the steady state, the maximum current consumption during seek, the maximum capacity of the power supply circuits P1 to PN, the temperature characteristic data, and the like are held.

That is, the disk array controller 11
Shifts from step SP41 to step SP42 and executes the calculation process of the consumed current IT when the command is issued here. Here, as shown in FIG. 8, in the calculation process of the current consumption IT, the disk array controller 11 proceeds from step SP43 to step SP44.
Then, the main body current is set to the consumption current IT. The disk array controller 11 then proceeds to step SP45.
In, the variable m indicating the number of the slots SL1 to SLn
Is set to a value of 1, then the process proceeds to step SP46, and it is determined whether or not this variable m is larger than the number of slots n. If a negative result is obtained here, the disk array controller 11 moves to step SP47 and executes the consumption current calculation processing of the slot SLm designated by this variable m.

Here, as shown in FIG. 9, this slot S
In the Lm current consumption calculation process, the disk array controller 11 proceeds from step SP49 to step SP5.
By moving to 0 and determining the signal level of the corresponding detection signals S1 to Sn, it is determined whether or not the hard disk device is arranged in the slot SLm. If a negative result is obtained here, the disk array controller 11 moves to step SP51, sets the current consumption of the slot SLm to the value 0, and then moves to step SP52 to end this processing procedure.

On the other hand, when a hard disk device is arranged in the slot SLm, a positive result is obtained in step SP50, and the disk array controller 2 moves to step SP53. Here, it is determined whether or not the seek remaining time of the hard disk device HDDm specified by the variable m is larger than 0. Here, in this embodiment, each hard disk device HDD1
To HDDn are respectively assigned with seek remaining times, and when the seek, write, and read control commands are issued to the respective hard disk devices HDD1 to HDDn, the corresponding seek remaining times are set to a predetermined value, and the seek remaining time is set to a predetermined period described later. The seek remaining time is sequentially reduced by interrupt processing.

As a result, the disk array controller 1
1 is slot SLm based on this seek remaining time
The seek process is still executed by determining whether or not the hard disk device HDDm arranged in the above section starts the seek, write, and read processes and has passed a certain period (10 [msec] in this embodiment). Determine whether or not If the seek remaining time is 0 here, a negative result is obtained, and the disk array controller 11 determines that the seek processing is complete, and proceeds to step SP56.

Here, the disk array controller 11
Determines whether the number S of the hard disk device from which the control command is to be issued and the variable m are equal to each other. If a negative result is obtained here, the disk array controller 1
1 moves to step SP54 and the hard disk device H
After setting the steady current of the DDm to the consumption current of the slot SLm, the process proceeds to step SP52 and this processing procedure is ended. If a positive result is obtained in step SP56, that is, if the hard disk device HDDm is a hard disk device from which a seek command is to be issued from these, the disk array controller 11 moves to step SP55 and sets the maximum current consumption of the hard disk device to the slot SLm. After setting the current consumption of
The procedure moves to P52 and the processing procedure is terminated.

On the other hand, when a positive result is obtained in step SP53, the disk array controller 11
In this case, since it can be judged that the seek is being processed,
After moving to step SP55 and setting the maximum current consumption of the hard disk drive to the current consumption of the slot SLm,
The process moves to step SP52 and this processing procedure ends.

As a result, the disk array controller 1
In No. 1, the consumption current of each slot SLm is calculated by prediction depending on the presence / absence of a hard disk device in the slot SLm, and further with the lapse of time after issuing a control command to the hard disk device.

When the current consumption of the slot SLm designated by the variable m is calculated in this way, the disk array controller 11 moves to step SP60 of the current consumption calculation process (FIG. 8) and calculates the slot SLm calculated here.
The current consumption of is added to the total current consumption IT. Subsequently, the disk array controller 11 moves to step SP62, increments the variable m by the value 1, and then returns from step SP46 to step SP47.

As a result, the disk array controller 1
1 is a sequential step SP46-SP47-SP60-S
By repeating the processing procedure of P62-SP46, the current consumption of each slot SL1 to SLn is sequentially added to the main body current, and the current consumption I of the entire disk array device 10 at the present time is increased.
Calculate T by prediction.

Thus, the current consumption I at the present time
When T is calculated by prediction, the disk array controller 11 moves to step SP65 (FIG. 7) and executes the calculation processing of the power capacity IS. In this power capacity calculation process, the disk array controller 11 returns from step SP68 to step SP68, as shown in FIG.
Moving to 69, the power supply capacity IS is set to 0 here.
Subsequently, the disk array controller 11 performs step S
Moving to P70, the variable M for specifying the power supply circuits P1 to PN is set to the value 1.

Subsequently, the disk array controller 2
Moving to step SP71, this variable M is the number N of power supply circuits.
Determine if it is greater than. If a negative result is obtained here, the disk array controller 11 proceeds to step SP.
72, and the power supply circuit PM designated by this variable M
The capacitance current calculation process is executed.

As shown in FIG. 11, in this capacity / current calculation process, the disk array controller 11 proceeds from step SP73 to step SP74, and determines the signal level of the warning signal ALM for the power supply circuit PM corresponding to the variable M. Thus, it is determined whether the power supply circuit PM is operating normally. If a negative result is obtained here,
The disk array controller 11 executes step SP75.
Then, after setting the current capacity value of the power supply circuit PM to the value 0, the process returns from step SP76 to step SP72. On the other hand, when the power supply circuit PM is operating normally, a positive result is obtained in step SP74,
The disk array controller 11 executes step SP77.
Move to and load the maximum capacity recorded in memory. Further, the disk array controller 11 uses the temperature detection signal S obtained from the temperature sensor 12 for the loaded maximum capacity.
It is corrected by T, and the correction result is set in the capacity of the power supply circuit PM. Here, in the correction processing by the temperature detection signal ST, the temperature T detected by the temperature sensor 12 is used as an argument, and a linear expression using the maximum capacity KC and the constant KD loaded from the memory is processed to calculate the temperature. The maximum rating (= T × KC + KD) at T is calculated and executed. As a result, the disk array controller 11 calculates the capacity of the power supply circuit PM in consideration of the fluctuation of the power supply capacity due to temperature, and then the steps SP76 to SP8.
0 (FIG. 10).

Next, the disk array controller 11
In this step SP80, after adding the capacity of the power supply circuit PM to the total power supply capacity IS, in step SP8
1, the variable M is incremented by 1 and the process returns to step SP71. As a result, the disk array controller 11 sequentially performs steps SP71-SP72-SP8.
The processing procedure of 0-SP81-SP71 is repeated, the maximum capacities of the power supply circuits P1 to PN that are operating normally are sequentially added, and the current IS that can be supplied by the entire disk array apparatus 10 is calculated. Further, when the current IS is calculated in this manner, the disk array controller 11 shifts from step SP82 to step SP83 when a positive result is obtained in step SP71 (FIG. 7).

Here, the disk array controller 11
Judges whether the consumption current IT exceeds the power supply capacity IS, and if a positive result is obtained here, step SP42.
Return to As a result, the disk array controller 11
Is a period until the seek processing in any hard disk device is completed and the current consumption IT decreases (that is, a period until the seek remaining time of any hard disk device becomes 0 due to interrupt processing of a fixed cycle). ), Step SP42-SP65-SP83-SP4
The processing procedure of 2 is repeated.

In this way, if the seek processing is completed in any of the hard disk devices and the current consumption IT drops, or if the power supply circuits P1 to PN still have a margin, a negative result is obtained in step SP83. As a result, the disk array controller 11 moves to step SP84 and the corresponding hard disk device S
Then, a seek, write or read control command is issued. Subsequently, the disk array controller 11 proceeds to step SP85, sets the seek remaining time of the hard disk device S, and then proceeds to step SP86 to end this processing procedure.

As a result, the disk array controller 1
1 controls the entire operation so that the increase in the current consumption due to the processing such as seek is not concentrated at one time in a range where the power supply has a margin and in consideration of the change in the power supply due to temperature.

For this reason, FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing an interrupt process for updating the remaining seek time.
The disk array controller 11 activates this interrupt processing at a cycle of 1 [msec] by a built-in timer. That is, the disk array controller 11 moves from step SP90 to step SP91, and the slot S
After setting the variable m indicating the numbers of L1 to SLn to the value 1, the process proceeds to step SP92, and it is determined whether or not this variable m is larger than the number of slots n.

If a negative result is obtained here, the disk array controller 11 moves to step SP93 and judges whether or not the variable indicating the seek remaining time is greater than 0 for the hard disk device HDDm corresponding to this variable m. . If a negative result is obtained here, the disk array controller 11 proceeds to step SP94, increments the variable m by the value 1, and then proceeds to step SP92.
Return to On the other hand, when a positive result is obtained in step SP93, the disk array controller 11
After moving to step SP95 and subtracting 1 from the variable representing the remaining time of this seek, it moves to step SP94.

As a result, the disk array controller 1
1 is step SP92-SP93-SP94-SP9
2 or steps SP92-SP93-SP95-SP9
The processing procedure of 4-SP92 is repeated for each of the slots SL1 to SLn, and the seek remaining time variable is subtracted by 1 for each of the hard disk devices in the seek operation. Then, the process proceeds from step SP92 to step SP96 to end this processing procedure. .

According to the fourth embodiment, the currents that can be supplied to the power supply circuits P1 to PN of a plurality of systems are calculated,
In addition, this controllable command is waited for by the completion of seek, write, and read processing of other hard disk devices by time management using variables within the range of this current that can be supplied Is issued, it is possible to execute these processes at the same time in the range where the power supply has a margin.

Therefore, it is possible to effectively avoid the situation in which the current consumption exceeds the power supply capacity, and simultaneously execute the processing such as seeking in a possible range in parallel, thereby reducing the load on the power supply. Data can be processed at high speed.

At this time, the total power consumption at the present time is calculated by prediction, and a series of processing is executed by comparing the calculation result with the power supply capacity to replace the hard disk device when the hard disk device is replaced or added. Correspondingly, the issuing timing of the control command can be varied, and the reduction of the data processing speed can be effectively avoided and the load on the power source can be reduced accordingly.

(5) Fifth Embodiment FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a disk array device according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. In this disk array device 20, a disk array controller 21
Distributes the video data D1 and outputs it to the hard disk devices HD1 to HD3.
The video data output from 1 to HD3 is output in the original arrangement. In addition, the disk array controller 21
According to the control command added to the video data D1,
The control command is output to each of the hard disk devices HD1 to HD3.

On the other hand, each hard disk device HD1
To HD3 are seeking signals SK1 to SK during the seek period.
Raise the signal level of K3. In addition, when the signal level of the seek prohibition signal SDEN rises, each of the hard disk devices HD1 to HD3 suspends execution of the seek, write, and read commands until the seek prohibition signal SDEN falls. The OR circuit 22 uses the exclusive OR signal of these seeking signals SK1 to SK3 as the seek inhibition signal SDEN for each hard disk device HD.
1 to HD3.

As a result, in this disk array device 20, even if a seek command or the like is simultaneously input from the disk array controller 21, if any of the hard disk devices HD1 to HD3 starts seeking,
In the other hard disk devices HD1 to HD3, seek processing is sequentially started after the seek of the hard disk device that started this seek is completed.
As a result, the temporary increase in current consumption is prevented from being concentrated at one time.

According to the configuration shown in FIG. 13, the hard disk device side waits for the completion of the seek process of another hard disk device and then starts the seek process.
The increase in current consumption can be prevented from concentrating at one time, and the load on the power supply can be reduced accordingly.

(6) Other Embodiments In the above-described embodiments, in each hard disk device, waiting for the completion of seek processing, or seek,
Although the case where these control commands are issued or these processes are executed after waiting for the completion of the writing and reading processes has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and these control commands are issued at preset timings. By allocating the current, it is possible to prevent a temporary increase in the consumption current from being concentrated at one time. That is, as shown in FIG. 14, the fixed period T is divided according to the number of hard disk devices, or divided regardless of the number of hard disk devices, and for example,
The fourth time slot T1 to T4 is formed. Further, each hard disk device is connected to each of these time slots T1 to T
For control commands assigned to No. 4 and in which current consumption such as seek and write increases temporarily, a control command is issued to each hard disk device in the corresponding time slot. Even in this case, the load on the power source can be reduced, and the overall shape can be reduced accordingly.

Further, in the above-described fourth embodiment, the case where the current which can be supplied from the power source is corrected by the detection result of the temperature sensor 12 by approximating the linear expression has been described.
The present invention is not limited to this, and various correction methods can be widely applied, for example, when the detected temperature is converted into a correction coefficient by a table and the maximum capacity is corrected by this correction coefficient.

Further, in the above-mentioned fourth embodiment,
At the seek time, the case where the current value of the hard disk device is uniquely set to the maximum current has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the moving amount of the magnetic head by the seek is calculated, and the moving amount is set to, for example, The current consumption may be calculated by approximation using a linear expression. Also in this case, the movement amount may be converted into a correction coefficient using a table, and the standard value may be corrected using this correction coefficient to calculate the current consumption.

Further, in the above-mentioned fourth embodiment, the case where the power supply circuits P1 to PN of a plurality of systems are supplied to the hard disk device and the disk array controller has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the disk array controller is not limited to this. Can be widely applied to the case of separately supplying power.

Further, in the above-mentioned fourth embodiment,
The case where the loading of the hard disk device is detected by connecting the connector has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various detection methods can be widely applied, for example, when a switch or the like is arranged to detect.

In the above fifth embodiment,
The case where the seek processing is sequentially executed on the hard disk device side by the processing of the seek signals SK1 to SK3 indicating the seek is described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the hard disk device side is allowed to increase the current. Even if the seek is repeated and the seek is finely repeated within this current range, the increase in the consumption current can be prevented from concentrating at one time.

In the above embodiment, the RAI
The case where the present invention is applied to the disk array device according to D has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a recording and reproducing device that simply distributes and records video data and further records and reproduces audio data. Can be widely applied to.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the case where a plurality of data processing blocks are configured by the hard disk device has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and data is recorded by various recording / reproducing devices such as a magneto-optical disk device. The present invention can be widely applied to the case of forming a processing block, and further to the case of forming a data processing block by an arithmetic processing circuit or the like.

[0077]

As described above, according to the present invention, by temporarily issuing a predetermined control command to a plurality of data processing blocks, the current consumption in the data processing blocks can be temporarily increased. By avoiding concentration, it is possible to reduce the burden on the power supply and downsize the smoothing capacitor and the like, and accordingly downsize the entire shape.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a disk array controller in a disk array device according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a block diagram showing the disk array device of FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a disk array controller in the disk array device according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing interrupt processing of the disk array controller of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a disk array controller in a disk array device according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a disk array device according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the disk array controller in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a process of calculating current consumption in FIG.

9 is a flowchart showing a current consumption calculation process of the slot of FIG.

10 is a flowchart showing a power capacity calculation process of FIG. 7. FIG.

11 is a flowchart showing a capacity calculation process of the power supply of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing interrupt processing of the disk array controller in FIG.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a disk array device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a disk array device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 10, 20 ... Disk array device, 2, 11, 2
1 ... Disk array controller, 12 ... Temperature sensor, HD1-HD3, HDD0-HDD3 ... Hard disk device, SL1-SLn ... Slot, P1-PN
……Power supply

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of data processing blocks that execute predetermined data processing in response to a control command, a control circuit that issues the control command to the data processing block, and a power supply that supplies power to the data processing block. A circuit, wherein the control circuit issues a control command for temporarily increasing the current consumption of the data processing block after waiting for completion of the corresponding process in another data processing block. Processing equipment. 2. The data processing block is a hard disk device, and the control command for temporarily increasing the current consumption is a seek, write and / or read control command. Data processing device. 3. The data processing block is a hard disk device, the control command for temporarily increasing the current consumption is a seek control command, and the control circuit issues a seek control command. 2. The data processing device according to claim 1, wherein the write and read control commands are issued after the magnetic head is sought to the track. 4. A plurality of data processing blocks that execute predetermined data processing in response to a control command, a control circuit that issues the control command to the data processing block, and a power supply that supplies power to the data processing block. A circuit, the control circuit calculates the total current consumption at the present time, and temporarily increases the current consumption of the data processing block according to the comparison result of the calculation result and the current that can be supplied by the power supply circuit. A data processing device, which issues a control command after waiting for completion of a corresponding process in another data processing block. 5. The control circuit corrects a current that can be supplied from the power supply circuit by a temperature detection result of a temperature detection means and compares the current with the calculation result.
A data processing device according to claim 1. 6. The power supply circuit is formed of a plurality of power supply systems, and the control circuit calculates a current that can be supplied by the power supply circuit from a current that can be supplied by each power supply system. Item 4. The data processing device according to item 4. 7. A plurality of data processing blocks that execute predetermined data processing in response to a control command, a control circuit that issues the control command to the data processing block, and a power supply that supplies power to the data processing block. A control circuit that time-controls the plurality of data processing blocks by time slots, and issues control commands for temporarily increasing the current consumption of the data processing blocks by distributing to each time slot. A data processing device characterized by the above.