IP Library Granted Patent US 7,492,541
Granted Patent B2
US 7,492,541 · App. 11/690,325 · Granted Feb 17, 2009

Apparatus and method of monitoring hard disk drive

Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,492,541
App. No.
11/690,325
Granted
Feb 17, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus and method of monitoring a hard disk drive (HDD) include a HDD motor state detector for detecting the state of the motor of the HDD. Because the control information on the HDD is not acquired while the motor of the HDD is stopped, the HDD is not accessed and the motor is not operated. This structure can provide a HDD monitoring apparatus that prevents troubles induced during the motor is running.

Claims (44)

1. A hard disk drive (HDD) monitoring apparatus comprising:

an elapsed time detector for detecting a predetermined time period has elapsed while a system including a HDD is in operation;

a HDD motor state detector for detecting a state of a motor of the HDD;

a HDD control information acquirer for acquiring control information on the HDD;

an information storage for storing the control information; and

a controller for taking control so that the HDD control information acquirer acquires the control information, and the information storage stores the control information, when the elapsed time detector detects the predetermined time period has elapsed and the HDD motor state detector detects the motor of the HDD is not stopped.

2. The hard disk drive monitoring apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control information is SMRT information.

3. The hard disk drive monitoring apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control information includes information related to identification of the HDD, and information on coupling and decoupling a docking station.

4. The hard disk drive monitoring apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the information storage is the HDD.

5. The hard disk drive monitoring apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the information storage is a removable disk.

6. The HDD monitoring apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

an impact detector composed of at least either impact sensor or acceleration sensor,

wherein the controller controls so as to acquire the control information in the HDD control information acquirer and store in the information storage if the degree of system impact or acceleration is within a specified range on the basis of the signal about impact or acceleration sent out from the impact detector.

7. The hard disk drive monitoring apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a monitor unit for monitoring at least either data recording state or reproducing state in the HDD,

wherein if the monitor unit does not detect abnormal recording state or reproducing state, the controller controls so as to acquire the control information in the HDD control information acquirer and store in the information.

8. The hard disk drive monitoring apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the abnormal reproducing state includes a high state of error rate depending on the output data being reproduced and demodulated.

9. A hard disk drive (HDD) monitoring method comprising:

detecting a predetermined time period has elapsed while a system including a HDD is in operation;

detecting a state of a motor of the HDD;

acquiring control information on the HDD, when detecting the predetermined time period has elapsed and the motor of the HDD is not stopped; and

recording the control information.

10. A hard disk drive (HDD) monitoring apparatus comprising:

a power supply state change detector for detecting a change in a state of a power supply of a system including a HDD;

a HDD motor state detector for detecting a state of a motor of the HDD;

a HDD control information acquirer for acquiring control information on the HDD;

an information storage for storing the control information; and

a controller for taking control so that the HDD control information acquirer acquires the control information and the information storage stores the control information, when the power supply state detector detects a change in the power supply of the system and the HDD motor state detector detects that the motor of the HDD is not stopped.

11. The hard disk drive monitoring apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the control information is SMRT information.

12. The hard disk drive monitoring apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the control information includes information related to identification of the HDD, and information on coupling and decoupling a docking station.

13. The hard disk drive monitoring apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the information storage is the HDD.

14. The hard disk drive monitoring apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the information storage is a removable disk.

15. The HDD monitoring apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising:

an impact detector composed of at least either impact sensor or acceleration sensor,

wherein the controller controls so as to acquire the control information in the HDD control information acquirer and store in the information storage if the degree of system impact or acceleration is within a specified range on the basis of the signal about impact or acceleration sent out from the impact detector.

16. The hard disk drive monitoring apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising:

a monitor unit for monitoring at least either data recording state or reproducing state in the HDD,

wherein if the monitor unit does not detect abnormal recording state or reproducing state, the controller controls so as to acquire the control information in the HDD control information acquirer and store in the information.

17. The hard disk drive monitoring apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the abnormal reproducing state includes a high state of error rate depending on the output data being reproduced and demodulated.

18. A hard disk drive (HDD) monitoring method comprising:

detecting a change in a state of a power supply of a system including a HDD;

detecting a state of a motor of the HDD;

acquiring control information on the HDD, when detecting the power supply of the system has changed and the motor of the HDD is not stopped; and

recording the control information.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 24, 2008
From: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 021897/0689 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 11, 2007
From: GOKITA, JUNKO
To: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 019946/0423 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2006-098822 · Mar 31, 2006 · national
JP 2007-005616 · Jan 15, 2007 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20070230011A1 · Oct 4, 2007