JPH11195098A - Cartridge type storage medium and information recording / reproducing apparatus for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a large-capacity cartridge type storage medium and a small and thin information recording / reproducing apparatus dedicated to the cartridge type storage medium. SOLUTION: The cartridge type storage medium 1 has a cartridge 2 having the same size as an FD, an IC memory 3 housed in the cartridge, and a control means for writing information to the IC memory and reading information from the IC memory. And a battery 5 for supplying power to the IC memory and the control means, and a magnetic coil 6. The information recording / reproducing apparatus dedicated to the cartridge type storage medium 1 has a magnetic head and a recording / reproducing control circuit 102, and performs mutual magnetic / electric conversion between the magnetic head 101 and the magnetic coil 6. The recording and reproduction of information are performed by using.
With a configuration that does not require such a spindle motor and a stepping motor, a small and thin information recording / reproducing apparatus can be provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cartridge-type storage medium and an information recording / reproducing apparatus for the same, and more particularly to a cartridge-type storage medium applicable to an information recording / reproducing apparatus dedicated to a floppy disk and a dedicated storage medium for the cartridge-type storage medium. The present invention relates to an information recording / reproducing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, as a portable information storage medium for a computer on the market, for example, 3.5 is used.
2. Description of the Related Art Cartridge-type storage media represented by inch-type floppy disks (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as "FD") are widely known. In the FD, information is recorded / reproduced by a floppy disk drive (hereinafter may be abbreviated as "FDD") provided in an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer or a word processor. The FD has a flexible disk in which a magnetic material is applied to a sheet of polyester or the like. Recording and reproduction of information are performed by rotating the flexible disk and bringing a magnetic head into close contact with a predetermined portion of the flexible disk.

[0003] In recent years, information managed by individuals tends to increase with the rapid development of communications and computers. Under such circumstances, the storage capacity of the FD is reaching its limit, and some users have decided to use a large-capacity dedicated drive device (information recording /
(Reproducing device) is newly connected to the interface board of the computer.

[0004] However, when changing the conventional information storage medium from the FD to a large-capacity storage medium such as an MO, a drive device (information recording / reproducing apparatus) dedicated to the MO is newly added to the existing computer body. Must be provided, and the cost is not low. Even if a dedicated drive device is newly provided, the conventional FDD must be left in order to refer to the information recorded on the existing FD. Therefore, the conventional FD
A large-capacity storage medium capable of recording and reproducing information in D is desired, and an FD having a large storage capacity of 128 MB (megabyte) or 200 MB is currently proposed.

On the other hand, the development of computers has spread not only to so-called desktop computers and notebook computers, but also to portable small computers called mobile computers. Demands for smaller and thinner portable computers have been increasing year by year, and manufacturers have been able to supply small computers to meet this demand.

This portable small computer uses an IC memory card having a built-in RAM (random access memory) as one of information storage media.
The C memory card is inserted into a dedicated slot provided on the side of the computer to establish connection with the main unit. In general, a user of a portable small computer inputs information to the small computer while away from home, and performs information processing using a desktop computer. Information transfer to a desktop computer is performed via the above-mentioned IC memory card in addition to a telephone line.

[0007] However, few desktop computers have a card slot dedicated to an IC memory card in the main body. Therefore, in order to exchange information between a mobile computer or the like and a desktop computer, it is necessary to cope with the problem by newly providing a dedicated slot for an IC memory card on the desktop computer side.

[0008] The storage capacity of an IC memory card is relatively small. Therefore, development of a storage medium which can be used in both a portable small computer and a desktop computer and has a large storage capacity is desired.

In this case, since the storage medium such as the FD and the MO has a stepping motor (servo mechanism) and a spindle motor as components of the drive device, the miniaturization of the drive device itself is reaching its limit. is there.
Therefore, it is difficult to mount these drive devices on a portable small computer that is desired to be as small and thin as possible. Therefore, development of a thin drive device for a large-capacity storage medium that can be mounted on a small computer has been desired.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of such circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a cartridge-type large-capacity storage medium capable of recording and reproducing information even in an existing FDD.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a small, thin, simple and inexpensive drive for exclusive use of a cartridge-type storage medium without a stepping motor and a spindle motor.

[0012]

This and other objects are achieved by the present invention which is defined below as (1) to (5).

(1) A 3.5-inch floppy disk cartridge mounted on an information recording / reproducing apparatus having a magnetic head and recording / reproducing information via the magnetic head. A cartridge having the same size as that of the cartridge, at least one IC memory housed in the cartridge, a control means housed in the cartridge, which writes information to the IC memory and reads information from the IC memory; and And a battery for supplying power to the IC memory and the control means, and a magnetic coil provided in the cartridge. When mounted on a recording / reproducing device, the magnetic head A cartridge-type storage medium which is provided so as to face the recording and reproduction of information through the magnetic head when recording and reproducing information.

(2) The information recording / reproducing device is 3.5
An information recording / reproducing device dedicated to an inch type floppy disk, wherein the information recording / reproducing device dedicated to the floppy disk is
The cartridge-type storage medium according to the above (1), wherein information is recorded / reproduced by a reproducing device.

(3) The information recording / reproducing device is an information recording / reproducing device dedicated to the cartridge-type storage medium, and the information recording / reproducing device dedicated to the cartridge-type storage medium records / reproduces information. The cartridge-type storage medium according to the above (1), wherein the storage medium is adapted to be used.

(4) The control means has a control circuit provided inside the cartridge, and the control circuit is based on information transmitted from a recording / reproduction control circuit of the information recording / reproducing apparatus. An address in the IC memory, and at the time of information recording, an address specifying information corresponding to a current generated in the magnetic coil according to a magnetic generation pattern given by the magnetic head of the information recording / reproducing apparatus. In the case of reproducing information, read information from the IC memory unit in accordance with a designated address and supply a current corresponding to the read information to the magnetic coil. The cartridge type storage medium according to the above (1), which is characterized in that:

Thus, it is possible to provide an information storage medium having a storage capacity larger than that of a conventional floppy disk and usable not only for an existing floppy disk drive but also for a mobile computer or the like.

(5) At least one IC memory;
Writing information to the IC memory and the IC
A control unit for reading information from a memory; a battery for supplying power to the IC memory and the control unit; and a magnetic coil electrically connected to the control unit. An information recording / reproducing apparatus for storing / reproducing information on / from a cartridge-type storage medium housed in a cartridge having the same size as a cartridge of a floppy disk, wherein the information recording / reproducing apparatus comprises a cartridge type A magnetic head provided so as to face the magnetic coil when a storage medium is mounted, and the information recording when information is recorded / reproduced on the cartridge type storage medium via the magnetic head. A recording / reproduction control circuit for controlling the operation of the reproduction apparatus; and a magnetic / electrical mutual connection between the magnetic head and the magnetic coil. Information recording and reproducing apparatus characterized by recording and reproducing information on the cartridge type storage medium by performing a conversion.

The information recording / reproducing apparatus dedicated to the cartridge type storage medium having such a configuration does not require a seek operation by a spindle motor or a stepping motor.
It is possible to provide an inexpensive information recording / reproducing apparatus dedicated to a cartridge-type storage medium having no stepping motor, no spindle motor and the like, and having a small, thin, and simple configuration.

Further, as described above, since the information recording / reproducing apparatus can be made small and thin, it becomes possible to mount the information recording / reproducing apparatus on a small computer such as a mobile computer.

[0021]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view showing the appearance of the cartridge type storage medium 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the relationship between the components of the cartridge type storage medium 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where the cartridge-type storage medium 1 is mounted on the drive device 100.

The cartridge type storage medium 1 of this embodiment is
It has an IC memory 3 housed inside the cartridge 2, a control circuit 4, a battery 5, a magnetic coil 6, a modulation / demodulation circuit 7, and the like. The coil 6 and the modulation / demodulation circuit 7 are electrically connected via the control circuit 4.

The cartridge 2 has substantially the same size and outer shape as the conventional 3.5-inch FD, and is formed of a plastic case. The cartridge 2 is provided with a write-protect tab (write-protect tab) 21 and a type determination opening 22 similar to the FD cartridge. Further, the cartridge 2 is provided with a magnetic head insertion window 23 that allows the magnetic coil 6 to face outward and allows the magnetic head on the drive device side to enter. The magnetic head insertion window 23 is opened and closed by a shutter 8 slidably attached to the cartridge 2. The shutter 8 has an opening 81 for opening the magnetic head insertion window 23 when sliding.
Has been established. In the center of the cartridge 2,
A center hole 24 is formed so as to accommodate the center drive shaft of the FDD turntable when mounted on an existing FDD.

The IC memory 3 is composed of a RAM (random access memory) capable of recording and reproducing information, and when information is recorded by a drive device (information recording / reproducing device), the control circuit 4 controls the IC. It is configured to record information at a specified address of the memory 3.

The control circuit 4 converts the information (digital signal) demodulated (A / D converted) by demodulation means described later into the I
Control means for writing information to the C memory 3 and supplying information (digital signals) read from the IC memory 3 to the modulation means, and comprises a microprocessor, a ROM (Read-On-Memory), and the like. The ROM stores a control program, and the processor performs a control operation according to the control program of the ROM. By such an electrical connection with the control circuit 4,
The IC memory 3 can record information in a format according to the same format as the conventional FD.

The battery 5 supplies power for operating each component of the cartridge type storage medium 1 via the control circuit 4. The battery 5 includes the cartridge 2
Since the battery 8 is detachably installed in the inside, it can be replaced when the battery 8 becomes unusable due to a failure or the like. It is preferable that the battery 5 supplies power only when recording / reproducing information on the cartridge type storage medium 1.

The magnetic coil 6 constitutes an information transfer section for the magnetic head of the drive device. The magnetic coil 6 is provided at a position facing the magnetic head 101 on the drive device side when the cartridge 2 is mounted on the drive device 100 as shown in FIG. A magnetic signal (magnetic generation pattern) output from the magnetic head 101 of the drive device 100 is detected by the magnetic coil 6, and a magnetic signal (magnetic generation pattern) output from the magnetic coil 6 is detected by the magnetic head 101. It has become so.

The modulation / demodulation circuit 7 amplifies and demodulates (A / A) the information (analog signal) detected by the magnetic coil 6.
This is a modulation / demodulation circuit that performs D-conversion and modulates (D / A-converts) the information (digital signal) supplied from the control circuit 4 and provides it to the magnetic coil 6 as an analog signal.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show a first embodiment of a drive device for recording / reproducing the above-mentioned cartridge type storage medium 1. FIG.
FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the cartridge type storage medium 1 is inserted into the drive device 100.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where recording / reproduction is being performed after a cartridge-type storage medium 1 is loaded in the apparatus. Hereinafter, FIG.
A first embodiment of a drive device 100 that records / reproduces information with respect to the cartridge-type storage medium 1 based on (B) will be described.

The drive device 100 is a drive device dedicated to the cartridge type storage medium 1 described above, and includes a recording / reproduction control circuit 102 (see FIG. 3) and a magnetic head 10.
1, a frame 108, a lower carriage 106 provided on the frame 108, and the lower carriage 10
6 comprises an upper carriage 107 and the like rotatably provided.

The magnetic head 101 includes a lower carriage 10
6, and is arranged so as to face the magnetic coil 6 of the cartridge type storage medium 1 when the cartridge type recording medium 1 is mounted. In this embodiment, the single magnetic head 101 functions as an information recording head and an information reproducing head.

Since the upper carriage 107 is rotatably attached to the lower carriage 106 via an urging means such as a coil spring, the cartridge type storage medium 1
When the is mounted, the upper carriage 107 rotates in the direction of the cartridge 2. When the cartridge 2 is further inserted from the state shown in FIG. 4A and reaches the recording / reproducing position shown in FIG. 4B, the magnetic head 101 faces the magnetic coil 6 of the cartridge-type storage medium 1. The cartridge 2 is sandwiched between the carriages 106 and 107.

The lower carriage 106 may be provided so as to be able to move up and down with respect to the bottom side of the frame 108. As a result, when the cartridge type storage medium 1 is inserted as shown in FIG. 4A, the lower carriage 106 is raised, so that the magnetic head 101 can be brought into contact with the magnetic coil 6.

In FIGS. 4A and 4B, a mechanism for attaching and detaching the cartridge 2 and a mechanism for guiding the cartridge 2 to the recording / reproducing position are omitted, but a well-known mechanism employed in the FDD is used. It goes without saying that it is available.

Next, a method for recording / reproducing information on / from the cartridge type storage medium 1 via the magnetic head 101 of the drive device 100 will be described in detail.

First, when information is recorded on the cartridge type storage medium 1, the recording / reproduction control circuit 102 of the drive device 100 converts the magnetic generation pattern according to the address information of the IC memory 3 and the information to be recorded on the medium. The magnetic head 101 is generated. An analog current is generated in the magnetic coil 6 of the cartridge type recording medium 1 according to the magnetic generation pattern. The analog current is amplified and A / D-converted by the modulation / demodulation circuit 7 and supplied to the control circuit 4.

The control circuit 4 specifies the address of the IC memory 3 based on the address information of the information corresponding to the read magnetic generation pattern. The address specified here corresponds to the information storage position (track position, sector position) in the case of FD. Thus, information to be recorded, which is given from the drive device 100 via the magnetic head 101 or the like, is recorded in the IC memory 3 in accordance with the address specified by the control circuit 4.

On the other hand, reproduction of information stored in the cartridge type storage medium 1 is performed as follows. First, based on information sent from the recording / reproduction control circuit 102 of the drive device 100, the control circuit 4 of the cartridge-type storage medium 1 specifies addresses in the IC memory 3 one after another. Further, the control circuit 4 controls the IC memory 3 specified by itself.
Retrieve the stored information from the address in the
A magnetic change pattern corresponding to the extracted information is generated in the magnetic coil 6 as appropriate. And the drive device 10
On the 0 side, the magnetic change pattern of the magnetic coil 6 is detected via the magnetic head 101.

That is, when information is read by the magnetic head 101, the magnetic coil 6 causes a change in the magnetic field in accordance with a change in the current corresponding to the read information flowing therethrough. Generates a current corresponding to Therefore, if the magnetic pattern (current) of the magnetic coil 6 is changed by the control circuit 4 in the same manner as in the case of the magnetic disk (FD), the magnetic head 1
01 can be read.

By the above series of operations, the IC memory 3
Information stored in the magnetic coil 6 and the magnetic head 10
1 is played.

FIG. 9 schematically shows the recording of information on the cartridge type storage medium 1 and the reproduction of information from the cartridge type storage medium 1 by the drive device of the present invention described above.

In the present invention, the magnetic head on the drive device side is described as a single magnetic head. However, a plurality of magnetic heads including a read-only magnetic head and a write-only magnetic head may be provided.

According to the configuration of the magnetic head 101 and the magnetic coil 6, the recording / reproducing of information with respect to the cartridge type storage medium 1 becomes possible without the need for the seek operation by the stepping motor and the rotation drive by the spindle motor.

With such a configuration of the drive device 100 dedicated to the cartridge-type storage medium 1, it is possible to provide a small and thin drive device. That is, when recording / reproducing information to / from the cartridge-type storage medium 1, it is not necessary to drive the spindle motor and the stepping motor. As a result, a small and thin drive device without these motors and the like is required. Can be provided.

Further, such a small and thin drive device having no stepping motor and spindle motor makes it possible to mount a drive device for a large-capacity storage medium on a small computer such as a mobile computer.

Furthermore, if the stepping motor and the spindle motor become unnecessary, for example, it is not necessary to control the seek operation by the stepping motor, so that an information recording / reproducing apparatus having a simplified control system as compared with the conventional FDD is provided. Can be provided.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a second embodiment of the drive device dedicated to the cartridge-type storage medium 1, and the same members as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. . Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the drive device of the present invention will be described.

The drive device 200 of the second embodiment
Employs a cartridge attaching / detaching mechanism similar to the FD attaching / detaching mechanism (elevating mechanism) used in the existing FDD. With such an attachment / detachment mechanism, the cartridge holder 109 accommodating the cartridge type storage medium 1 can be moved between an ascending position (cartridge attaching / detaching position) and a descending position (information recording / reproducing position). I have.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a state where the cartridge type storage medium 1 is inserted into the drive device 200. In this state, the cartridge holder 109 for receiving the cartridge type storage medium 1 is at the raised position. is there.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the cartridge type storage medium 1 is mounted (loaded) on the drive device 200. In this state, the cartridge holder 109 containing the cartridge type storage medium 1 is at the lowered position. is there.

More specifically, the cartridge attaching / detaching mechanism includes a cartridge holder 109 having a size and shape capable of accommodating the cartridge type storage medium 1.
And an eject plate 112 for moving the cartridge holder 109 up and down.

A pair of guide pins 110 are provided on the left and right side surfaces of the cartridge holder 109, respectively. These guide pins 110, 110 are vertically guided by left and right side walls (not shown) of the frame 108.

The eject plate 112 is
The frame 108 is slidably provided between a first position shown in FIG. 5 and a second position shown in FIG. The eject plate 112 is urged by a spring (not shown) so as to move from the first position to the second position, and is held at the first position by a latch mechanism (not shown) when the cartridge 1 is not inserted. It is configured.

The latch mechanism is released by a cartridge insertion operation. When the latch mechanism is released, the eject plate 112 is moved from the first position to the second position by the urging force of the spring. Move toward.

The latch mechanism also has a shutter opening / closing mechanism for the cartridge 2 as in the case of the existing FDD. The shutter 8 is opened when the cartridge type storage medium 1 is inserted, and the magnetic coil 6 is released. It is exposed.

The eject plate 112 has a pair of side walls, and each side wall has a pair of inclined cam grooves 111, which engage with the guide pins 110, 110.
111 are formed.

When the eject plate 112 moves from the first position to the second position, the inclined cam grooves 111 and 111 move through the inclined cam surface to the cartridge holder 1.
The function of pushing down the guide pin 110 of 09 is to move the cartridge holder 109 from the raised position shown in FIG. 5 to the lowered position shown in FIG.

On the contrary, these inclined cam grooves 111, 11
1 functions to push up the guide pins 110 of the cartridge holder 109 when the eject plate 112 moves from the second position to the first position, and moves the cartridge holder from the lower position to the upper position.

A carriage mechanism for holding the magnetic head 101 is provided at the back side of the drive device 200 in the cartridge insertion direction. The carriage mechanism includes a lower carriage 106 fixed to a frame 108 and a lower carriage 10 similar to the first embodiment.
Upper carriage 1 provided rotatably with respect to 6
07, and the magnetic head 101 is provided upward at the tip of the lower carriage 106.

The upper carriage 107 is adapted to interlock with the cartridge holder 109. That is, when the cartridge holder 109 is lowered from the raised position shown in FIG. 5 to the lowered position shown in FIG. 6, the upper carriage 107 is rotated downward accordingly, and presses the cartridge holder 109 from above. .

In the drive device 200 of the second embodiment having the above configuration, the eject plate 112 and the cartridge holder 109 are respectively at the first position and the raised position shown in FIG. 5 when not in use.

In this state, when the cartridge 2 is inserted into the cartridge holder 109 and reaches a predetermined position, the leading end of the cartridge 2 releases the above-mentioned latch mechanism, and
Accordingly, the eject plate 112 moves from the first position shown in FIG. 5 to the second position shown in FIG. 6 by the urging force of the spring.

Further, with the movement of the eject plate 112, the guide pin 1 of the cartridge holder 109 is moved.
10 is pushed down by the inclined cam groove 111 of the eject plate 112, whereby the cartridge holder 109 moves to the lowered position shown in FIG.

In this lowered position, the cartridge type storage medium 1 in the cartridge holder 109 is at the recording / reproducing position. Further, the magnetic coil 106 is exposed by opening the shutter 8 by the latch mechanism. Further, the magnetic head 10 of the lower carriage 106 is moved through the magnetic head insertion window 23 of the cartridge 2.
1 faces the magnetic coil 6 of the cartridge type storage medium 1. At this time, the upper carriage 107 presses the upper surface of the cartridge 2 downward.

When the magnetic head 101 faces the magnetic coil 6, the magnetic head 101 preferably contacts the magnetic coil 6.

The mutual conversion between the magnetic head and the magnetic coil 6 between the magnetic head 101 and the magnetic coil 6 is performed through detection of a predetermined magnetic change pattern. Therefore, as long as the magnetic change pattern can be detected, a predetermined gap (gap) may be provided so that the magnetic head 101 faces the magnetic coil 6 in a non-contact state.

In the above state, recording / reproduction of the cartridge type storage medium 1 is performed via the magnetic head 6.

When the recording / reproduction is completed and the cartridge type storage medium 1 is taken out, the eject plate 112
Is operated to move the eject plate 112 from the second position (FIG. 6) to the first position (FIG. 5) against the urging force of the spring.

With the movement of the eject plate 112, the inclined cam grooves 111, 111
The guide pins 110, 110 are pushed up to move the cartridge holder 109 from the lowered position to the raised position.

When the cartridge holder 109 reaches the position shown in FIG. 5, the cartridge type storage medium 1 can be removed.

When the eject plate 112 moves to the first position, the above-described latch mechanism is engaged with the eject plate 112 again, and as a result, the eject plate 112 is held at the first position.

Also in the second embodiment, a carriage moving mechanism such as a stepping motor and a lead screw for moving the magnetic head 101 is not required, and a spindle motor such as an existing FDD is not required. Therefore, the structure of the drive device can be simplified and reduced in size as compared with the existing FDD, and in particular, the drive device 100 can be made thinner by the amount excluding the spindle motor mechanism.

The second embodiment is different from the one shown in FIG.
In comparison with the first embodiment of (B), a height in the vertical direction is required for the lifting mechanism of the cartridge holder 109. However, this height is very small as compared with the case where the spindle motor is provided, and is not so large as to hinder the thinning of the drive device.

On the other hand, the attachment / detachment mechanism for the cartridge-type storage medium 1 of the second embodiment facilitates the attachment / detachment of the cartridge-type storage medium 1 and stably holds the cartridge-type storage medium 1 at the recording / reproducing position. Further, there is an advantage that information can be recorded / reproduced with high accuracy.

FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the information recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention, and a drive device (FDD) 3 for a 3.5-inch size FD, which is widely used widely.
00 shows a case where the cartridge type storage medium 1 of the present invention is applied to 00. Hereinafter, an FDD 3 that enables recording and reproduction of information with respect to the cartridge type storage medium 1 of the present invention.
The configuration and operation of 00 will be described.

The FDD 300 includes a spindle motor 116 for rotating the FD flexible disk and a magnetic head 1.
Stepping motor 11 for seeking operation of 01
7 and a carriage mechanism connected to a spindle motor 117 via a lead screw 118.

This carriage mechanism includes a lower carriage 1
06 and an upper carriage 107, and a magnetic head is provided inside each of the distal ends. In the third embodiment, recording / reproducing of information on the cartridge-type storage medium 1 is performed according to the first embodiment and the second embodiment.
As in the embodiment, only the magnetic head 101 of the lower carriage 106 is used.

Further, the FDD 300 is provided with detection means including a detection switch (not shown). For example, when the detection switch detects the FD, the FDD 30
0 is held in the FD control state, and when the detection switch detects the cartridge type storage medium 1, the FDD 30
0 is switched from the FD control state to the control state of the cartridge type storage medium 1.

The switching of the control state is performed by an electrical connection between the recording / reproduction control circuit 102 of the FDD 300 and the detection switch.

The above-described detection of the cartridge type storage medium 1 is performed by, for example, detecting the presence or absence of the type discriminating opening 22 provided on the cartridge 2 side. Note that such detection is a well-known technique, and is used for detecting, for example, 2DD and 2HD which are types of FDD.

Further, the detection switch is electrically connected to a spindle motor 116 and a stepping motor 117 via a recording / reproduction control circuit 102. That is, when the detection switch detects the cartridge type storage medium 1, the recording / reproduction control circuit 102 causes the spindle motor 116 to move to the predetermined recording / reproduction position (the magnetic head 106 and the magnetic coil 6 of the cartridge 2).
(The position opposite to.) And the stepping motor 117 is made inoperative.

Note that such control can be changed by appropriately adjusting the control program of the recording / reproduction control circuit 102.

According to the third embodiment described above, it is possible to record and reproduce information by the conventional FDD without needing a drive device dedicated to the cartridge type storage medium 1.

FIG. 8 is a correlation diagram showing the correlation between the FD 11 and FDD 300 and the cartridge type storage medium 1 of the present invention and its dedicated information recording / reproducing devices 100 and 200. In the figure, “○” indicates drive devices 100, 200, 3
00 for the cartridge type storage medium 1 or F of the present invention.
D11 indicates an applicable relationship, and "x" indicates an inapplicable relationship.

As can be seen from this figure, the cartridge type storage medium 1 according to the present invention can be used not only for the dedicated information recording / reproducing devices (drive devices) 100 and 200 but also for the existing FDD 300 for FD. It is.
As a result, data can be exchanged between a mobile personal computer equipped with a drive device dedicated to the cartridge type storage medium and a desktop personal computer equipped with the FDD via a compatible portable medium.

[0087]

As described above, according to the cartridge-type recording medium of the present invention, it can be used as an information recording / reproducing apparatus with little improvement to the conventional floppy disk drive. That is, the large-capacity storage medium of the present invention can be used without purchasing a new drive device.

Further, since the cartridge type storage medium of the present invention and the conventional floppy disk can use a common drive device, even if the cartridge type storage medium is widely used, the information on the floppy disk can be stored. The floppy disk drive can be used for recording and playback.

Further, since the cartridge type storage medium does not require the driving of the spindle motor and the stepping motor at the time of inputting / outputting information, the dedicated drive device for this cartridge type storage medium has a spindle motor, a stepping motor, a carriage moving mechanism and the like. It can be configured as an inexpensive dedicated drive device that is small, thin, and has a simple configuration.

Further, since the drive device dedicated to the cartridge type storage medium can be made much smaller and thinner than the conventional FDD, the cartridge type storage medium can be used for a small computer such as a mobile personal computer. A dedicated drive device can be mounted.

As a result, large-capacity information can be easily exchanged via a common medium between a mobile personal computer or the like on which the drive device dedicated to the cartridge type storage medium is mounted and a desktop computer on which the floppy disk drive is mounted. It is possible to do.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall view of a cartridge type storage medium of the present invention, and a part is shown in a perspective view.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a cartridge type storage medium.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a cartridge type storage medium is mounted on a drive device.

4A and 4B are cross-sectional views showing a first embodiment of a drive device dedicated to a cartridge-type storage medium. FIG. 4A shows a state in which the cartridge-type storage medium is inserted, and FIG. This shows the recording / reproducing state of the medium.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of a drive device dedicated to a cartridge-type storage medium, and shows a state in which the cartridge-type storage medium is inserted into a cartridge holder at an elevated position.

6 is a drive device dedicated to the cartridge type storage medium of FIG. 5, and shows a state where the cartridge holder is lowered and the cartridge type storage medium is mounted.

FIG. 7 shows a drive unit (FD) dedicated to a floppy disk.
FIG. 4D is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a cartridge-type storage medium is mounted on D).

FIG. 8 is a correlation diagram showing a correlation between a floppy disk, an FDD, a cartridge-type storage medium, and a drive device dedicated to the cartridge-type storage medium.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram schematically showing recording of information on a cartridge-type storage medium and reproduction of information from the cartridge-type storage medium by a drive device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cartridge type storage medium 2 Cartridge 3 IC memory 4 Control circuit 5 Battery 6 Magnetic coil 7 Modulation / demodulation circuit 8 Shutter 11 Floppy disk (FD) 21 Write-protect tab 22 Type discriminating opening 23 Magnetic head insertion window 24 Center hole 81 Opening Unit 100 Drive device 101 Magnetic head 102 Recording / reproduction control circuit 105 Eject button 106 Lower carriage 107 Upper carriage 108 Frame 109 Cartridge holder 110 Guide pin 111 Inclined cam groove 112 Eject plate 116 Spindle motor 117 Stepping motor 118 Lead screw 200 Second embodiment Drive Device of Embodiment 300 Drive Device of Third Embodiment (Floppy Disk Drive / FD)

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A cartridge-type storage medium mounted on an information recording / reproducing apparatus having a magnetic head and recording / reproducing information via the magnetic head, wherein the cartridge-type storage medium is 3.5 inches. A cartridge having a size similar to that of a cartridge of a type floppy disk; at least one IC memory housed in the cartridge; information housed in the cartridge; writing information to the IC memory and reading information from the IC memory Control means; a battery provided in the cartridge, for supplying power to the IC memory and the control means; and a magnetic coil provided in the cartridge.・ When mounted on a playback device, Is provided so as to be, the cartridge type storage medium during recording or reproducing of the information is characterized by being adapted to record and reproduce information via the magnetic head is performed. 2. The information recording / reproducing device is an information recording / reproducing device dedicated to a 3.5-inch floppy disk, and the information recording / reproducing device dedicated to the floppy disk records / reproduces information. The cartridge-type storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the storage medium is adapted to be used. 3. The information recording / reproducing device is an information recording / reproducing device dedicated to the cartridge-type storage medium, and information is recorded / reproduced by the information recording / reproducing device dedicated to the cartridge-type storage medium. 2. The cartridge type storage medium according to claim 1, wherein: 4. The control means has a control circuit provided inside the cartridge, and the control circuit is configured to perform control based on information transmitted from a recording / reproducing control circuit of the information recording / reproducing apparatus. An address in the IC memory is specified, and at the time of information recording, information corresponding to a current generated in the magnetic coil according to a magnetic generation pattern given by the magnetic head of the information recording / reproducing device is set to the specified address. Therefore, control is performed to write data into the IC memory, and at the time of reproducing information, information is read from the IC memory unit in accordance with a designated address, and a current corresponding to the read information is supplied to the magnetic coil. The cartridge-type storage medium according to claim 1, wherein 5. At least one IC memory, wherein information is written to the IC memory and the IC memory is written.
A control unit for reading information from a memory; a battery for supplying power to the IC memory and the control unit; and a magnetic coil electrically connected to the control unit. An information recording / reproducing apparatus for storing / reproducing information on / from a cartridge-type storage medium housed in a cartridge having a size similar to a floppy disk cartridge, wherein the information recording / reproducing apparatus comprises: A magnetic head provided so as to face the magnetic coil when a storage medium is mounted, and the information recording when information is recorded / reproduced on the cartridge type storage medium via the magnetic head. A recording / reproducing control circuit for controlling the operation of the reproducing device; and a magnetic / electrical device between the magnetic head and the magnetic coil. An information recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing information on / from the cartridge type storage medium by performing mutual conversion.