System for accessing hard disk drive built in computer in which hard disk drive built in its computer can be accessed from outside its computer even if computer is not driven

• US 6,735,671 B1
• Filed: 07/07/2000
• Issued: 05/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Kida, Minoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Thai, Tuan V.
• Application Number:
  US09/612,266
• Time in Patent Office: 1,404 Days
• Field of Search: 711/100, 711/154, 711/162, 713/300, 713/330
• US Class Current: 711/111
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0607 by facilitating the process of upgrading existing storage systems, e.g. for improving compatibility between host and storage device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0634 by changing the state or mode of one or more devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0635 by changing the path, e.g. traffic rerouting, path reconfiguration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0676 Magnetic disk device

Abstract

A system for accessing a hard disk drive built in computer includes a hard disk drive, a power supply, a controller, a power switching circuit and a signal controller. The hard disk drive stores data. The power supply supplies a power to the hard disk drive. The controller controls the hard disk drive by a internal control signal. The power switching circuit supplies one of the power and an external power which is supplied from an external computer. The signal controller selectively applies one of the internal control signal and an external control signal which is applied by the external computer.

Claims

1. A system for accessing a hard disk drive built into a computer, comprising:

a hard disk drive storing data, the hard disk drive being built into a computer;

a power supply supplying a first power to the hard disk drive;

a controller controlling the hard disk drive based on a control signal;

a power switching circuit selectively supplying one of the first power from a source within said computer and an external power from an external computer; and

a signal controller selectively applying one of an internal control signal and an external control signal which is applied from the external computer, as the control signal to the controller,

wherein said external power is supplied to said hard disk drive in response to said external control signal.

2. A system for accessing a hard disk drive built into a computer as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

a master/slave controller setting an operation mode of the hard disk drive,

wherein the hard disk drive has an Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) form and the master/slave controller selectively sets one of a master mode and a slave mode of the operation mode based on the external control signal.

3. A system for accessing a hard disk drive built into a computer as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the power switching circuit supplies the power when the power supply is activated and supplies the external power when the power supply is deactivated.

4. A system for accessing a hard disk drive built into a computer as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the power or the external power is supplied to the controller, the power switching circuit and the signal controller.

5. A system for accessing a hard disk drive built into a computer as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the external computer is connected to the computer via an interface of the computer, and

the interface comprises an IDE—

USB (Integrated Drive Electronics—

Universal Serial Bus) converter connecting the hard disk drive and a USB interface which is arranged on the interface for an external interface of the external computer,

wherein the hard disk drive has the IDE form and the hard disk drive is accessed by the external computer via the IDE—

USB converter.

6. A system for accessing a hard disk drive built into a computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the external computer is connected to the computer and an interface of the computer, and

the interface comprises an IDE—

SCSI (Integrated Drive Electronics—

Small Computer Serial Interface) converter connecting the hard disk drive and a SCSI interface which is arranged on the interface for an external interface of the external computer,

wherein the hard disk drive has IDE form and the hard disk drive is accessed by the external computer via the IDE—

SCSI converter.

7. A system for accessing a hard disk drive built into a computer as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the external computer is connected to the computer and an interface of the computer, and

the interface comprises an IDE—

RS232C (Integrated Drive Electronics—

RS232C) converter connecting the hard disk drive and a RS232C interface which is arranged on the interface for an external interface of the external computer,

wherein the hard disk drive has IDE form and the hard disk drive is accessed by the external computer via the IDE—

RS232C converter.

8. A system for accessing a hard disk drive built into a computer as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the external computer is connected to the computer and an interface of the computer, and

the interface comprises an IDE—

CPIS (Integrated Drive Electronics GPIB) converter connecting the hard disk drive and a GPIB interface which is arranged on the interface for an external interface of the external computer,

wherein the hard disk drive has IDE form and hard disk drive is accessed by the external computer via the IDE—

GPIB converter.

9. A method of driving a hard disk drive built into a first computer by a second computer, comprising:

transmitting external power and an external control signal from the second computer to the first computer;

selectively supplying to the hard disk drive built into the first computer one of internal power from a power supply associated with the first computer and the external power received from the second computer, based on whether the power supply is activated; and

controlling the hard disk drive based on one of an internal control signal and the external control signal to drive the hard disk drive,

wherein said external power is supplied to said hard disk drive in response to said external control signal.

10. A method of driving a hard disk drive built into a first computer as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

setting an operation mode of the hard disk drive,

wherein the hard disk drive has an Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) form and a master/slave controller selectively sets one of a master mode and a slave mode of the operation mode based on the external control signal.

11. A method of driving a hard disk drive built into a first computer as claimed in claim 9,

wherein a power switching circuit supplies the internal power when the power supply is activated and supplies the external power when the power supply is deactivated.

12. A method of driving a hard disk drive built into a first computer as claimed in claim 9,

wherein one of the internal power and the external power is supplied to the controller, the power switching circuit and the signal controller.

13. A method of driving a hard disk drive built into a first computer as claimed in claim 9, further comprising connecting an IDE—

USB (Integrated Drive Electronics-Universal Serial Bus) converter to the hard disk drive and a USB interface which is arranged on the interface for an external interface of the external computer;

wherein the hard disk drive has IDE form and is accessed by the external computer via the IDE—

USB converter.

14. A method of driving a hard disk drive built into a first computer as claimed in claim 9, further comprising connecting an IDE—

SCSI (Integrated Drive Electronics-Small Computer Serial Interface) converter to the hard disk drive and a SCSI interface which is arranged on the interface for an external interface of the external computer;

wherein the hard disk drive has IDE form and the hard disk drive is accessed by the external computer via the IDE—

SCSI converter.

15. A method of driving a hard disk drive build into a first computer as claimed in claim 9, further comprising connecting an IDE—

RS232C (Integrated Drive Electronics-RS232C) converter to the hard disk drive and a RS232C interface which is arranged on the interface for an external interface of the external computer;

wherein the hard disk drive has IDE form and is accessed by the external computer via the IDE—

RS232C converter.

16. A method of driving a hard disk drive build into a first computer as claimed in claim 9, further comprising connecting an IDE—

GPIB (Integrated Drive Electronics-GPIB) converter to the hard disk drive and GPIB interface which is arranged on the interface for an external interface of the external computer;

wherein the hard disk drive has IDE form and is accessed by the external computer via the IDE—

GPIB converter.

17. A method of driving a hard disk drive build into a first computer as claimed in claim 9, further comprising coupling a hard disk drive of a first computer to an external computer via an interface;

applying power and a control signal from the external computer to the hard disk drive;

accessing the hard disk drive which is activated by the power and the control signal from the external computer.