EP0280326A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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System and method for using a floppy disk controller for various types of floppy disk drives
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1988-02-26
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-02-26
Abstract
Abstract A magnetic recording/reproduction includes a first floppy disk drive (FDD) (50) of a preerase head type, which includes a first read/write (R/W) section (32, 34), and a second FDD (52) of a tunnel erase head type, which includes a second R/W section (32, 34). A selection signal generating section (19) selectively outputs first and second selection signals generated in accordance with a write command for said first and second FDD (50, 52). A mode signal supplying section outputs a mode signal generated in accordance with the write command to a write gate (WG) signal generating section. A sync signal generating section generates a sync signal from a read data (RD) signal from the first or second R/W section (32, 34) and sends it to the R/W signal generating section (12 to 18). In response to the sync signal, the WG signal generating section (12 to 18) generates a first WG signal for the first FDD (50) and a second WG signal for the second FDD (52) and selectively outputs one of the first and second WG signals to the first and second FDDs (50, 52) in accordance with the mode signal received from the mode signal supplying section (2). In accordance with the received WG signal and the first and second selection signals, the first and second FDDs (50, 52) records record data corresponding to an incoming write data (WD) signal on a disk, reads out the recorded data from the disk and generates first and second RD signals corresponding to the read record data as the RD signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroshi C/O Patent Division Okamura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 06:44
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B25/00; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/06; G06F3/0601; G11B5/00; G11B5/012; G11B5/016; G06F3/0668; G06F3/0671; G06F3/0673
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
279 words
A recording/reproduction apparatus adapted to be able to use various types of medium drives, comprising: a first medium drive (MD) (50, 50ʹ) including first read/write means (32, 34) for selectively recording on a medium first recorded data corresponding to a write data (WD) signal input thereto, in response to a write gate (WG) signal input thereto and a first selection signal input thereto, and for selectively reading said first recorded data from said medium to generate a first read data (RD) signal corresponding to said first recorded data as a RD signal in accordance with a first write command; a second MD (52) including second read/write means (32, 34) for selectively recording on said medium second recorded data corresponding to said WD signal input thereto in response to said WG signal input thereto and a second selection signal input thereto, and for relatively reading said second recorded data from said medium to generate a second RD signal corresponding to said second recorded data as a RD signal in accordance with a second write command; write gate signal generating means (12 to 18) for selectively generating a first WG signal for said first MD and a second WG signal for said second MD in response to a sync signal input thereto to selectively output one of said first and second WG signals to said first and second MDs as said WG signal in accordance with a mode signal input thereto; and selection signal generating means (19) for selectively outputting said first and second selection signals to said first and second MDs, respectively, in response to a selection signal generated in accordance with one of said first and second write commands.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
279 words
A recording/reproduction apparatus adapted to be able to use various types of medium drives, comprising: a first medium drive (MD) (50, 50ʹ) including first read/write means (32, 34) for selectively recording on a medium first recorded data corresponding to a write data (WD) signal input thereto, in response to a write gate (WG) signal input thereto and a first selection signal input thereto, and for selectively reading said first recorded data from said medium to generate a first read data (RD) signal corresponding to said first recorded data as a RD signal in accordance with a first write command; a second MD (52) including second read/write means (32, 34) for selectively recording on said medium second recorded data corresponding to said WD signal input thereto in response to said WG signal input thereto and a second selection signal input thereto, and for relatively reading said second recorded data from said medium to generate a second RD signal corresponding to said second recorded data as a RD signal in accordance with a second write command; write gate signal generating means (12 to 18) for selectively generating a first WG signal for said first MD and a second WG signal for said second MD in response to a sync signal input thereto to selectively output one of said first and second WG signals to said first and second MDs as said WG signal in accordance with a mode signal input thereto; and selection signal generating means (19) for selectively outputting said first and second selection signals to said first and second MDs, respectively, in response to a selection signal generated in accordance with one of said first and second write commands.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by further comprising sync signal generating means (2, 30) for generating said sync signal from said RD signal from one of said first and said second MDs (50, 52; 50ʹ,52).
Claim 4
Independent Claim
135 words
The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said write gate signal generating means (12 to 18) comprises: timer means (12) for generating first and second trigger signals in response to said sync signal; first WG signal generating means (16) for generating said first WG signal in accordance with said first trigger signal from said timer means (12); second WG signal generating means (14) for generating said second WG signal in accordance with said second trigger signal from said timer means (12); and selection means (19) for selectively outputting one of said first WG signal from said first WG signal generating means and said second WG signal from said second WG signal generating means to said first and second MDs, (50, 52; 50ʹ,52) in accordance with said mode signal.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
156 words
The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by further comprising: write data signal generating means (20 to 28; 20ʹ to 28) responsive to said first and second WG signals from said write gate signal generating means and said mode signal, for selectively generating a first WD signal to output said generated first WD signal as said WD signal to said first MD, for selectively generating a second WD signal to output said generated WD signal as said WD signal to said first and second MDs (50, 52; 50ʹ,52), and for selectively generating a third WD signal from write data input thereto to output said generated third WD signal to said first and second MDs (50, 52; 50ʹ,52), said second WD signal being generated following generation of said first WD signal when said first WD signal is generated, and said third WD signal being generated following generation of said second WD signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
278 words
The apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that said write data signal generating means (20 to 28) comprises: first register means (26) for holding first data, and for selectively generating said first WD signal corresponding to said first data in response to a first output instruction input thereto to output said generated first WD signal as said WD signal to said first MD; second register means (28) for holding second data, and for selectively generating said second WD signal corresponding to said second data in response to a second output instruction input thereto to output said generated second WD signal as said WD signal to one of said first and second MDs (50, 52; 50ʹ,52); first control means (20) for selectively generating said first output instruction in response to said first WG signal and said mode signal to output said generated first output instruction to said first register means (26), and for generating a first output enable signal upon completion of said first WD signal; second control means (22) for selectively generating said second output instruction in response to said second WG signal, said mode signal, and said first enable signal from said first control means (20) to output said generated second output instruction to said second register means (28), and for generating a second output enable signal upon completion of said second WD signal; and data converter means (24) for generating said third WD signal from said write data in response to said second output enable signal from said second control means (22) to output said generated third WD signal as said WD signal to one of said first and second MDS (50, 52; 50ʹ 52).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
277 words
The apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that said write data signal generating means (20ʹ to 28) comprises: first register means (26ʹ) for holding first data, and for selectively generating said first WD signal corresponding to said first data in response to a first output instruction input thereto and said mode signal to output said generated first WD signal as said WD signal to said first MD (50, 52; 50ʹ 52); second register means (28) for holding second data, and for generating said second WD signal corresponding to said second data in response to a second output instruction input thereto to output said generated second WD signal as said WD signal to said first and second MDs (50, 52; 50ʹ 52); first control means (20ʹ) for selectively generating said first output instruction in response to said first WG signal to output said generated first output instruction to said first register means (26ʹ), and for generating a first output enable signal upon completion of said first WD signal; second control means (22ʹ) for selectively generating said second output instruction in response to said second WG signal and said first enable signal from said first control means (20ʹ) to output said generated second output instruction to said second register means (28), and for generating a second output enable signal upon completion of said second WD signal; and data converter means (24) for generating said third WD signal from said write data in response to said second output enable signal from said second control means (22ʹ) and for outputting said generated third WD signal as said WD signal to one said first and second MDs (50, 52; 50ʹ 52).
Claim 8
Independent Claim
49 words
The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by further comprising mode signal supplying means (2, 42) for generating and outputting said mode signal to said write gate signal generating means (12 to 18) in accordance with one of said first and second write commands.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
90 words
The apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that said first MD (50, 50ʹ) further comprises means (42) for selectively generating a first mode signal in accordance with a first preset mode to output said first mode signal as said mode signal in accordance with said first selection signal; and wherein said second MD (52) further comprises means (42) for selectively generating a second mode signal in accordance with a second preset mode to output said second mode signal as said mode signal in accordance with said second selection signal.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
104 words
The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said medium is a magnetic disk, said first read/write means (32, 34) includes a first read/write head, and said first MD (50) further comprises: erase means (38) having a erase head provided upstream of said first read/write head (34) with respect to rotation of said magnetic disk, for erasing said first recorded data in response to an erase signal input thereto; and erase signal generating means (40) for generating and outputting a said erase signal to said erase means (38) during a period when said WG signal is being input.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
121 words
The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said medium is a magnetic disk, said first read/write means (32, 34) includes a first read/write head (34), and said first MD (50ʹ) further comprises: erase means (38) having a erase head (34) provided upstream of said first read/write head with respect to rotation of said magnetic disk, for erasing said first recorded data in response to an erase signal input thereto; and erase signal generating means (40ʹ) for generating said erase signal which becomes active at a same timing as said WG signal and becomes inactive earlier than said WG signal by a predetermined time, and for outputting said erase signal to said erase means (38).
Claim 12
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of sharing various types of medium drives (MDs), one of the MDs as a first MD being of different type of another as a second MD, comprising: generating a mode signal for selectively supplying a write gate (WG) signal to one of the first and second MDs; and selectively generating a first signal for the first MD and a second WG signal for the second MD to supply one of the first and second WG signals, selected in accordance with the mode signal to one of the first and second MDs as the WG signal.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of sharing various types of medium drives (MDs), one of the MDs as a first MD being of different type of another as a second MD, comprising: generating a mode signal for selectively supplying a write gate (WG) signal to one of the first and second MDs; and selectively generating a first signal for the first MD and a second WG signal for the second MD to supply one of the first and second WG signals, selected in accordance with the mode signal to one of the first and second MDs as the WG signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according claim 11, characterized in that said generating of the mode signal includes generating the mode signal in accordance with a write command for one of said first and second MDs.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 11, characterized in that said generating of the mode signal includes generating the mode signal in accordance with a preset mode.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method according to claim 11, characterized in that said generating of the first and second WG signal signals is operated in response to a sync signal, and the method further comprises generating the sync signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
158 words
The method according to claim 14, characterized in that said generating of the sync signal comprises: selectively generating first and second selection signals for the first and second MDs, respectively, in response to a selection signal generated in accordance with a write command for one of said first and second MDs; selectively reading first recorded data from a first medium in accordance with the write command to selectively generate a first read data (RD) signal corresponding to the first recorded data as a RD signal in accordance with the first election signal; selectively reading second recorded data from a second medium is accordance with the write command to selectively generate a second RD signal corresponding to the second recorded data as the RD signal in accordance with the second selection signal; and generating the sync signal in accordance with the RD signal corresponding to identification code data as part of one of the first and second recorded data.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
85 words
The method according to claim 11, characterized in that said selective generating of the first and second WG signals comprises: generating first and second trigger signals in response to the sync signal; selectively generating the first WG signal in accordance with the first trigger signal; selectively generating the second WG signal in accordance with the second trigger signal; and selectively supplying one of the generated first and second WG signals selected in accordance with the mode signal to one of said first and second MDs.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
155 words
The method according to claim 11, characterized by further comprising: selectively generating a first write data (WD) signal to supply the generated first WD signal as a WD signal to the first MDs, in response to the first and second WG signals and the mode signal, generating a second WD signal to selectively supply the generated WD signal as said WD signal to one of the first and second MDs in response to the first and second WG signals and the mode signal, the second WD signal being generated following generation of the first WD signal when the first WD signal is generated; and generating a third WD signal from input write data to selectively supply the generated third WD signal to one of the first and second MDs in response to the first and second WG signals and the mode signal, the third WD signal being generated following generation of the second WD signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
118 words
The method according to claim 11, characterized in that said sync signal is generated when an identification (ID) code data in an ID field of a sector of the medium to be accessed is detected, the sector comprising said ID field, a gap field and a data field, the data field including a sync subfield and a data subfield; and said generating of the first WG signal includes generating the first WG signal for a first period when a read/write gap of a read/write head in the first MD is in a field from a position preceding by a first distance to the data field to an end of the data field in response to the sync signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
100 words
The method according to claim 11, characterized in that said generating of the first WD signal includes generating the first WD signal corresponding to gap data written in the gap field located from the position preceding by the first distance to the data field to a start of the data field, and said generating of second WD signal includes generating the second WD signal corresponding to sync data written in the sync subfield, and said generating of third WD signal includes generating the third WD signal corresponding to the write data when the read/write gap is in the data subfield.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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