Disk drive device

• US 20020021512A1
• Filed: 04/23/2001
• Published: 02/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Inventors: Kaneko, Michihiro, Matsuo, Kazunori, Nagaki, Koichi, Watanabe, Tomo, Yamauchi, Keiichi
• Granted Patent: US 6,937,417 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 360/6
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/08 by using devices external to the driving mechanisms, e.g. coin-freed switch coin actuated mechanisms G07F5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 21/12 Raising and lowering; Back-spacing or forward-spacing along track; Returning to starting position otherwise than during transducing operation
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/00 Arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus with cameras or projectors G03B31/00 ; recording/reproducing of music for electrophonic musical instruments G10H1/0033; automatic arrangements for answering calls or for recording messages for absent subscribers H04M1/64; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with dictation recording and playback systems H04M11/10; connection of TV recorder with other related apparatus, e.g. TV camera or receiver, in which the TV signal is significantly involved H04N, e.g. H04N23/00, H04N5/765; combination of radio or TV with other apparatus, e.g. with vehicles H05K11/00

Abstract

A disk drive device in which emergency unloading at the start of the engine is prevented, a head may have a prolonged life and improved reliability as an HDD is achieved. A disk drive device is driven or the movement of a magnetic head is allowed after an engine start in a vehicle is detected by an engine start detecting part, so that emergency unloading can be prevented at the start of the engine. In order to detect the engine start, voltage values on four power supply lines for a vehicle power supply device are monitored or the outputs of various sensors such as a tachometer, a vibration detection sensor, an engine sound detection sensor, a vehicle speed pulse, a gyro sensor and a parking brake are monitored. In another embodiment, the number of emergency unloading occurrence at the start of the engine is reduced, which allows the head to have a prolonged life, so that the disk drive device has improved reliability as an HDD. The voltage values on two power supply lines, first and second power supply lines for a vehicle power supply device are monitored. The magnetic head is allowed to move when the voltage values on the first and second power supply lines attain a prescribed value after a prescribed time period after the voltage value on the first power supply line attains prescribed value.

Claims

1. A disk drive device for recording and/or reproducing information to and/or from an information recording disk and driven by a power supply voltage in a vehicle, comprising an engine start detecting part for detecting an engine start of said vehicle, said disk drive device being driven after said engine start detecting part detects an engine start of said vehicle.

5. The disk drive device according to claim 1, further comprising a voltage value monitoring circuit for monitoring voltage values on a first power supply line provided with a backup power supply and a second power supply line provided with a power supply when an engine key is inserted and turned from a first position to a second position,

said engine start detecting part outputting an engine start detection signal when the voltage value on said second power supply line reaches a prescribed value, and then the value on the first power supply line or the values on the first power supply line and the second power supply line become lower than said prescribed value and then higher than said prescribed value, based on an output value from said voltage value monitoring circuit.

6. The disk drive device according to claim 5, further comprising a voltage value monitoring circuit for monitoring a voltage value on a third power supply line provided with a power supply when an engine key is turned from the second position to a third position, and a voltage value on a fourth power supply line provided with a power supply when the engine key is turned from said third position to a fourth position,

said engine start detecting part outputting an engine start detection signal when the voltage value on said second power supply line or said third power supply line reaches a prescribed value, and then the voltage value on said first power supply line or the voltage values on said first power supply line and said second power supply line become lower than said prescribed value and then higher than said prescribed value, based on an output value from said voltage value monitoring circuit.

7. The disk drive device according to claim 1, wherein

said engine start detecting part outputs a signal representing an operation state of the engine by sensing an output of an engine tachometer.

8. The disk drive device according to claim 1, wherein

said engine start detecting part outputs a signal representing an operation state of the engine by sensing vibration of the engine inside and outside the vehicle.

9. The disk drive device according to claim 1, wherein

said engine start detecting part outputs a signal representing an operation state of the engine by sensing an engine sound.

10. The disk drive device according to claim 1, wherein

said engine start detecting part outputs a signal representing an operation state of the engine by sensing traveling of the vehicle based on a vehicle speed pulse.

11. The disk drive device according to claim 1, wherein

said engine start detecting part outputs a signal representing an operation state of the engine by sensing traveling of the vehicle using a gyro sensor.

12. The disk drive device according to claim 1, wherein

said engine start detecting part outputs a signal representing an operation state of the engine by sensing an operation position of a parking brake.

13. The disk drive device according to claim 1, wherein

said engine start detecting part outputs a signal representing an operation state of the engine by sensing operation of a generator in the vehicle.

14. The disk drive device according to claim 1, wherein

said engine start detecting part outputs a signal representing an operation state of the engine by sensing activation of a starter-motor.

15. The disk drive device according to claim 10, wherein

information on a previous off state of the engine is backed up in a memory, and said information is displayed on a screen in response to detection of a power supply being provided to said second power supply line.

18. The disk drive device according to claim 16, further comprising a power supply part for providing a power supply voltage to each part of said disk drive device in connection with the key switch in said vehicle,

said counter starting counting operation after the power supply voltage by said power supply part is provided to said disk drive device by said key switch.

19. The disk drive device according to claim 16, further comprising a voltage value monitoring circuit for monitoring a voltage value at said power supply part;

and

a controller for detecting a voltage value result at said voltage monitoring circuit after said first prescribed time period, controlling said counter to count again when said voltage value is lower than a prescribed value, and driving said disk drive device when said counter has counted a second prescribed time period.

20. The disk drive device according to claim 16, further comprising a forcible moving part for forcibly moving said head to a retreat position when said power supply voltage in said vehicle is interrupted.

21. The disk drive device according to claim 20

said forcible moving part forcibly moves said head to a retreat position by providing said head driving part with counter electromotive force generated by the inertial rotation of a spindle motor driving said recording medium to rotate.

22. The disk drive device according to claim 16, further comprising an engine start detecting part detecting an engine start of the vehicle,

said disk drive device being driven when an engine start of the vehicle is detected by said engine start detecting part during the operation of said counter counting said first prescribed time period.

2. A disk drive device for recording and/or reproducing information to and/or from an information recording disk and driven by a power supply voltage in a vehicle, comprising:

a head for reading and/or writing information from and/or to said information recording disk;

a head driving part for giving a driving instruction to said head;

an engine start detecting part for detecting an engine start of said vehicle; and

a head movement allowing part for allowing the head to be moved by said head driving part after an engine start of the vehicle is detected by said engine start detecting part.

3. The disk drive device according to claim 2, further comprising a forcible moving part for forcibly moving said head to a retreat position when the power supply voltage in said vehicle is interrupted.

4. The disk drive device according to claim 3, wherein

said forcible moving part forcibly moves said head to the retreat position by providing said head driving part with counter electromotive force generated by the inertial rotation of a spindle motor driving said recording disk to rotate.

16. A disk drive device driven by a power supply voltage in a vehicle, comprising:

a counter for starting counting operation based on a prescribed signal related to a key switch in said vehicle; and

a controller for driving said disk drive device when said counter has counted a first prescribed time period.

17. A disk drive device driven by a power supply voltage in a vehicle, comprising:

a head for reading/writing information from/to a recording medium mounted to said disk drive device;

a head driving part for giving a driving instruction to said head;

a counter for starting counting operation based on a prescribed signal related to a key switch in said vehicle; and

a head movement allowing part for allowing the head to be moved by said head driving part when said counter has counted a first prescribed time period.