Information storing device and method for controlling same to record/reproduce information by selecting one of working modes

• US 6,151,182 A
• Filed: 09/29/1999
• Issued: 11/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Japan Limited (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Koizumi, Yuichi, Amano, Hideaki, Kodama, Koji, Tsuneta, Katsuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): FABER, ALAN
• Application Number:
  US09/408,167
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: 369/53, 369/243, 369/266, 369/267, 318/440, 318/779, 318/62, 318/66, 360/69, 360/31, 360/75, 360/73.03
• US Class Current: 360/69
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/32 Means for saving power
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3268 Power saving in hard disk drive
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/00 Driving, starting, stopping record carriers not specifically of filamentary or web form, or of supports therefor; Control thereof; Control of operating function ; Driving both disc and head
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/02 Control of operating function, e.g. switching from recording to reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/20 Driving; Starting; Stopping; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 21/083 on discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 25/043 using rotating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/121 the apparatus comprising a single recording/reproducing device
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/122 Arrangements for providing electrical connections, e.g. connectors, cables, switches
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/125 the apparatus comprising a plurality of recording/reproducing devices, e.g. modular arrangements, arrays of disc drives
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/5547 "Seek" control and circuits therefor G11B5/5556 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

An information storing device and an information processing device having a memory for registering a plurality of working modes at recording/reproduction and a switching circuit for selecting one of the plurality of working modes, which select the optimum working mode automatically or by an instruction of an operator according to power supply capacity of a device of higher rank to effect recording/reproduction.

Claims

1. An information storing device being easily connected to or disconnected from an information processing device of higher rank, including:

a recording medium housed in said information storing device for storing information;

a motor rotating said recording medium;

a connector coupling said information storing device with said information processing device of higher rank, said connector including electric power supplying lines and data transferring lines;

a memory registering a plurality of working modes of said motor rotation, said working modes including a plurality of different rotation currents of said motor rotating said recording medium; and

a CPU housed in said information storage device, controlling;

a first function transmitting information on currents required by said working modes to said information processing device of higher rank;

a second function receiving information on current from said information processing device of higher rank;

a third function starting a high speed processing of said information storing device, which has priority over driving said information storing device at low power consumption mode.

2. The information storing device according to claim 1, wherein said first function transmits successively said working modes in response to said information from said information processing device of higher rank.

3. The information storing device according to claim 1, said CPU further controlling:

a fourth function monitoring that said information on currents is transmitted in a circular order.

4. The information storing device according to claim 1, said CPU further controlling:

fourth function displaying a table showing relations between currents which are to be supplied from said information processing device of higher rank and said working modes.

5. A method of controlling an information storing device being connected to an information processing device of higher rank, and the information storing device having a recording medium for storing information, a motor for rotating said recording medium, a connector for said information storing device to easily connect to or disconnect from said information processing device of higher rank and a plurality of working modes of said motor rotation, said working modes including a plurality of different rotation currents of said motor for driving said recording medium, comprising steps of:

transmitting information on currents required in each of a plurality of said working modes, to said information processing device of higher rank;

checking whether current according to said information on currents can be supplied or not; and

starting a high speed processing of said information storing device, which has priority over driving said information storing device at low power consumption mode.

6. The method of controlling an information storing device according to claim 5, wherein said transmitting step performs successively transmitting information in a descending order of currents.

7. The method of controlling an information storing device according to claim 5, wherein said transmitting step performs transmitting information in a descending order of currents, every time said motor rotation is terminated.

8. An information storing device being easily connected to or disconnected from an information processing device of higher rank, including:

a recording medium housed in said information storage device for storing information;

a motor rotating said recording medium;

a connector coupling said information storing device with said information processing device of higher rank, said connector including electric power supplying lines and data transferring lines;

a memory registering a plurality of working modes of said motor rotation, said working modes including a plurality of different starting times of said motor; and

a CPU housed in said information storing device, controlling;

a first function transmitting information on currents required by said working modes to said information processing device of higher rank;

a second function receiving information on current from said information processing device of higher rank;

a third function starting a high speed processing of said information storing device, which has priority over driving said information storing device at low power consumption mode.

9. The information storing device according to claim 8, said CPU further controlling:

fourth function displaying a table showing relations between currents which are to be supplied from said information processing device of higher rank and said working modes.

10. A method of controlling an information storing device being connected to an information processing device of higher rank, and the information storing device having a recording medium for storing information, a motor for rotating said recording medium, a connector for said information storing device to easily connect to or disconnect from said information processing device of higher rank and a plurality of working modes of said motor rotation, said working modes including a plurality of different starting times of said motor, comprising steps of:

transmitting information on currents required in each of a plurality of said working modes, to said information processing device of higher rank;

checking whether current according to said information on currents can be supplied or not; and

starting a high speed processing of said information storing device, which has priority over driving said information storing device at low power consumption mode.

11. The method of controlling an information storing device according to claim 10, wherein said transmitting step performs transmitting information in a descending order of currents, every time said motor rotation is terminated.

12. An information storing device being easily connected to or disconnected from an information processing device of higher rank, including:

a recording medium housed in said information storing device for storing information;

a motor rotating said recording medium;

a connector coupling said information storing device with said information processing device of higher rank, said connector including electric power supplying lines and data transferring lines;

a memory registering a plurality of working modes of said motor rotation, said working modes including a plurality of different rotation currents of said motor rotating said recording medium; and

a CPU housed in said information storing device, controlling;

a first function transmitting information on currents required by said working modes to said information processing device of higher rank;

a second function receiving information on current from said information processing device of higher rank;

a third function driving said information storing device at low power consumption mode, which has priority over starting a high speed processing of said information storing device.

13. The information storing device according to claim 12, wherein said first function transmits in a descending order of currents.

14. The information storing device according to claim 12, said CPU further controlling:

a fourth function displaying a list of said plurality of working modes and currents which can be supplied on said information storing device; and

an input portion of said information processing device of higher rank, receiving a working mode specified by an operator.

15. A method of controlling an information storing device being connected to an information processing device of higher rank, and the information storing device having a recording medium for storing information, a motor for rotating said recording medium, a connector for said information storing device to easily connect to or disconnect from said information processing device of higher rank and a plurality of working modes of said motor rotation, said working modes including a plurality of different rotation currents of said motor for driving said recording medium, comprising steps of:

transmitting information on currents required in each of a plurality of said working modes, to said information processing device of higher rank;

checking whether current according to said information on currents can be supplied or not; and

driving said information storing device at low power consumption mode, which has priority over starting a high speed processing of said information storing device.

16. An information storing device being easily connected to or disconnected from an information processing device of higher rank, including:

a recording medium housed in said information storage device for storing information;

a motor rotating said recording medium;

a connector coupling said information storing device with said information processing device of higher rank, said connector including electric power supplying lines and data transferring lines;

a memory registering a plurality of working modes of said motor rotation, said working modes including a plurality of different starting times of said motor; and

a CPU housed in said information storing device, controlling;

a first function transmitting information on currents required by said working modes to said information processing device of higher rank;

a second function receiving information on current from said information processing device of higher rank;

a third function driving said information storing device at low power consumption mode, which has priority over starting a high speed processing of said information storing device.

17. A method of controlling an information storing device being connected to an information processing device of higher rank, and the information storing device having a recording medium for storing information, a motor for rotating said recording medium, a connector for said information storing device to easily connect to or disconnect from said information processing device of higher rank and a plurality of working modes of said motor rotation, said working modes including a plurality of different starting times of said motor, comprising steps of:

transmitting information on currents required in each of a plurality of said working modes, to said information processing device of higher rank;

checking whether current according to said information on currents can be supplied or not; and

driving said information storing device at low power consumption mode, which has priority over starting a high speed processing of said information storing device.