Patent Publication Number: US-2004042108-A1

Title: Information processor and storage device control method

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention relates to an information processor and a storage device control method and, more particularly, to an information processor and a storage device control method which can be stably operated even in very low temperature environments.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] A hard disk drive (hereinafter, referred to as “HDD”) of a conventional information processor cannot execute a read or write operation normally in very low temperature environments (approximately at − 20 ° C.) due to temperature characteristics of a disk and a head of the HDD. Therefore, there is a limitation on use that the information processor should be used at 5° C. or higher when used at low temperature.  
       [0003] However, when the information processor is a portable information device such as a notebook personal computer and carried out to be used away from home or on the move, the information processor may be operated in very low temperature environments. In such cases, in the above-mentioned conventional processor, the HDD cannot execute the read or write operation normally.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004] The present invention has for its object to provide an information processor and a storage device control method, which enable a system to stably operate even in very low temperature environments.  
       [0005] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description and specific embodiments described are provided only for illustration since various additions and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will be apparent to those of skill in the art from the detailed description.  
       [0006] According to a 1 st aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processor including: a storage device that has a storage medium for storing data, a motor for driving the storage medium, and a motor for accessing the data on the storage medium, and accesses the data on the storage medium; a temperature detection means for detecting an ambient temperature around the storage device; and a control means for controlling the storage device not to access the data on the storage medium but to start only the motor for driving the storage medium and the motor for accessing the data on the storage medium when the temperature detected by the temperature detection means is lower than a predetermined temperature. Therefore, the system of the information processor can operate stably even in very low temperature environments.  
       [0007] According to a 2nd aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling a storage device that has a storage medium for storing data, a motor for driving the storage medium and a motor for accessing the data on the storage medium, and accesses the data on the storage medium, including steps of: detecting an ambient temperature around the storage device; and controlling the storage device not to perform the data accessing to the storage medium but to start only the motor for driving the storage medium and the motor for accessing the data on the storage medium when the ambient temperature around the storage device is lower than a predetermined temperature. Therefore, the system of the information processor can operate stably even in very low temperature environments. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0008]FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of an information processor according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0009]FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a method for controlling a HDD according to the first embodiment.  
     [0010]FIG. 3 is a characteristic diagram showing an example of a relationship between the spindle motor operation time and the HDD ambient temperature in the information processor according to the first embodiment.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0011] [Embodiment 1] 
     [0012]FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of an information processor according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0013] As shown in FIG. 1, an information processor  11  according to the first embodiment includes a HDD  12  including a disk-type storage medium that stores control programs such as an operating system and application programs, and various data, a spindle motor for driving the disk-type storage medium, and a head for accessing the data on the disk-type storage medium; a thermister  13  that is provided in the proximity of the HDD  12  to detect an ambient temperature around the HDD  12 ; and a system board  14  for implementing a system of the information processor  11 , a power supply, and the like. On the system board  14 , a microcomputer  15  for controlling the entire system, a power supply  16  for supplying power to the entire system including the HDD  12 , a HDD controller  17  for controlling the action of the HDD  12 , and a power switch  18  that is used by the user to start the system are packaged.  
     [0014] Next, a method for controlling the HDD  12  according to the first embodiment will be described.  
     [0015]FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a method for controlling the HDD according to the first embodiment.  
     [0016] Initially, when a user turns ON the power switch  18 , information indicating that the power switch is turned ON is detected by the microcomputer  15  (step S 21 ).  
     [0017] After the detection, the microcomputer  15  controls the power supply  16  for supplying power to the entire system including the HDD  12  (step S 22 ).  
     [0018] Then, the microcomputer  15  checks an ambient temperature around the HDD  12 , which is detected by the thermister  13  (step S 23 ), and decides whether or not the detected temperature is 5° C. or higher. When the ambient temperature around the HDD  12  is 5° C. or higher, the HDD controller  17  starts the head of the HDD  12  to start the data accessing, thereby executing a normal system booting sequence to boot the system (step S 25 ).  
     [0019] On the other hand, when the microcomputer  15  decides that the ambient temperature around the HDD  12  is lower than 5° C. in step S 23 , the microcomputer  15  starts the spindle motor in the HDD  12  or the control motor for the head in the HDD  12 , thereby to make the HDD  12  itself produce heat (step S 24 ). Thereafter, the operation returns to step S 23  to check the ambient temperature around the HDD  12 , which is detected by the thermister  13 . The thermister temperature monitoring routine from steps S 23  to S 24  is repeated until the ambient temperature around the HDD  12  becomes 5° C. or higher. After the ambient temperature becomes 5° C. or higher, the HDD controller  17  starts the head of the HDD  12  to start the data accessing, thereby to boot the system.  
     [0020]FIG. 3 shows an example of a relationship between the spindle motor operation time and the HDD ambient temperature in the information processor according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the rotating time of the spindle motor in the HDD and the HDD ambient temperature increasing effect according to the first embodiment.  
     [0021] In FIG. 3, the ambient temperature around the HDD  12  abruptly increases at the start of the spindle motor or the control motor for the head and thereafter the temperature increase curve becomes gentle due to heat radiation of the HDD  12  itself, while the temperature reaches approximately 5° C. in about 30 seconds from the start. The time when the temperature reaches approximately 5° C. comes earlier when the surroundings of the HDD  12  are more sealed.  
     [0022] As described above, according to the information processor and the storage device (HDD) control method of the first embodiment, when the HDD ambient temperature detected by the thermister is lower than a predetermined temperature, the HDD is controlled so that the data access is not performed but only the spindle motor is started, whereby the system can operate stably even in the very low temperature environments.  
     [0023] In this first embodiment, the microcomputer  15  decides whether or not the ambient temperature around the HDD  12  is 5° C. or higher. However, the ambient temperature around the HDD  12 , which is decided by the microcomputer  15 , may be any temperature as long as this is a temperature at which the HDD can operate stably.  
     [0024] Further, when the HDD has such a construction that hardly conducts self-produced heat to the surroundings of the HDD, a waiting time until the system is booted becomes longer. Accordingly, the waiting time may be informed the user as required by using a LED display, a LCD display or the like.  
     [0025] In this first embodiment, the description has been given taking the HDD as an example, while the storage device may be a CD drive or the like as long as it includes a motor.