Abstract:
An electronic apparatus includes a wireless unit and a storage medium reading out device. The wireless unit for carrying out a wireless communication with an external apparatus is mounted in the storage medium reading out device which is housed in a housing portion of the storage medium reading out device.
Abstract:
A microcomputer system having a flexible magnetic disk drive and a controller therefor, with the disk drive including a stepper motor for incrementally moving a transducer from track to track on a rotating magnetic disk, and a clock which is inherently unstable in operation during a predefinable startup period thereof after being powered on. In order to enable the disk drive to internally generate stepping pulses for driving the stepper motor at twice as high a rate as by external stepping pulses from the controller without being affected by unstable clock pulses during the startup period of the clock, the controller supplies external stepping pulses to the disk drive after imparting a predetermined delay, longer than the startup period of the clock, to each series of external stepping pulses with respect to the moment a power save signal, also supplied from the controller to the disk drive, indicates that the clock and other power consuming parts of the disk drive be powered. Within the disk drive a counter counts the clock pulses for a length of time equal to half the period of each series of external stepping pulses in response to each incoming external stepping pulse, thereby providing output pulses that rise with the respective external stepping pulses. A pulse generator circuit generates internal stepping pulses in synchronism with both leading and trailing edges of the counter output pulses. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
Abstract:
A data transfer system of the type including a disk drive for selective use with flexible magnetic disk cartridges of first and second storage capacities (e.g. 1 MB and 4 MB), the first storage capacity being less than the second storage capacity, a host computer, and a controller for controlling the operation of the disk drive under the direction of the host computer. The controller is factory preprogrammed to discriminate between unformatted disk cartridges of the two different storage capacities as either of the two types of disk cartridges is loaded in the disk drive. The program is such that, in response to the first of a series of formatting commands at the first storage capacity from the host computer, the controller causes the disk drive to write track format for the second storage capacity on a preassigned track (e.g. inmost track) on the disk and then immediately to read the track format. If the retrieved track format contains errors, it follows that the loaded disk cartridge is of the first storage capacity. Accordingly, the controller proceeds to format the disk cartridge at the first storage capacity. If the retrieved track format does not contain errors, on the other hand, then the loaded disk cartridge is of the second storage capacity. Thereupon the controller signals the host computer to that effect.
Abstract:
An assembling position-adjusting mechanism of a magnetic disk apparatus able to adjust the azimuth, radial alignment, and index of a magnetic head by adjusting a position thereof during the assembling process of a spindle motor. A positioning head movable in a direction perpendicular to a top surface of a table is provided. A plurality of positioning pins are provided on the bottom of the positioning head. Moving mechanisms are provided in the positioning head so that the bottom surface of the positioning head is movable and rotatable parallel to the top surface of the table. Each positioning pin of the positioning head is inserted into a respective positioning hole of a motor assembly so as to move the motor assembly with a movement of the positioning head so that the spindle motor of the motor assembly is at an appropriate position relative to the magnetic head of the main body of the magnetic disk apparatus.
Abstract:
A tracking servo apparatus for performing a control so that a light beam is irradiated onto a predetermined track of an information recording surface of a disc shaped recording medium comprising an optical system for focusing the light beam on the information recording surface of the disc shaped recording medium, a holder for holding the optical system, tracking error detection circuit for detecting a tracking error of the light beam irradiated on the information recording surface with respect to the predetermined track by receiving a reflected light of the irradiated light beam that has been reflected from the information recording surface, and outputs an error signal in accordance with the tracking error, and a piezoelectric device which is connected to the holding means, and is deformed when supplied with an amplified voltage of the error signal so as to deflect the holder and thus moves the optical system so that the light beam is irradiated on to the predetermined track of the information recording surface.
Abstract:
A magneto-optical recording system comprises a first optical system carried by a first focusing actuator disposed at a first side of a magneto-optical recording medium and second optical system carried by a second focusing actuator disposed at a second side of the magneto-optical recording medium. When recording an information signal on the first side of the magneto-optical recording medium by means of an optical beam focused by the first optical system, the second focusing actuator is supplied with a biasing current and produces a magnetic field for recording. When recording an information signal on the second side of the magneto-optical recording medium, the first focusing actuator is supplied with a biasing current and produces a second magnetic field for recording.
Abstract:
A double capacity adapter circuit is connected between host equipment and one or more magnetic disk drives in order to adapt the host equipment, which has been programmed for use with relatively small capacity magnetic disks, for use with double capacity magnetic disks in the disk drives coupled thereto. As originally programmed, the host equipment formats one side of a small capacity magnetic disk with first format data in response to an index pulse from the associated disk drive, and the other side of the small capacity magnetic disk with second format data in response to another index pulse. In order to format the double capacity magnetic disks with the same program, the adapter circuit delays the index pulses by a time corresponding to half a revolution of the magnetic disk, thereby producing pseudo index pulses. The adapter circuit further enables the host equipment to cause each double capacity magnetic disk drive to write the first format data on a first half of one side of the double capacity magnetic disk in response to one true index pulse, and the second format data on a second half of the same side in response to one pseudo index pulse. Thus, for example, the complete format data that have been programmed to be written on four double sided small capacity disks can be written on two double sided double capacity disks.
Abstract:
An apparatus for data transfer with a magnetic disk having a metal made hub attached centrally thereto, with the hub having a first opening defined centrally therein and a second opening defined eccentrically therein. The apparatus includes a turntable mounted on a drive spindle which is engageable in the first opening in the hub of the magnetic disk loaded on the turntable. A retractable drive pin is mounted eccentrically on the turntable so as to be sprung into engagement in the second opening in the disk hub upon register therewith. In order to assure engagement of the drive pin in the second opening in the disk hub immediately upon loading of the magnetic disk on the turntable, a disk drive motor for driving the turntable via the drive spindle is connected to a supply terminal via a power control switch. When the magnetic disk is loaded on the turntable while power is being supplied from the supply terminal, a switch control circuit closes the power control switch, for causing the rotation of the turntable relative to the magnetic disk, for a preassigned length of time sufficient for the drive pin to become engaged in the second opening in the disk hub. The magnetic disk can therefore be set into rotation for immediate commencement of data transfer upon delivery of a "motor on" signal from host equipment to the power control switch.
Abstract:
A data transfer apparatus is disclosed as typified by a floppy disk drive which, together with one or more like devices, is daisy chained to a central processor unit via a controller. Each disk drive comprises a disk motor for driving a record disk under the control of a disk motor drive circuit, a head motor for incrementally moving a transducer head radially of the record disk under the control of a head motor drive circuit, and a read/write circuit for processing data read from, or to be written on, the record disk via the transducer head. Also included in each disk drive is a sensor control circuit associated with an optical sensor assembly for producing a DISK PRESENCE signal representative of the presence or absence of the record disk in the disk drive. In order to avoid waste of power, at least one, preferably all, of the disk motor drive circuit, head motor drive circuit, and read/write circuit is connected to an external power line via a power control switch which is closed in response to the DISK PRESENCE signal only when the record disk is loaded in the disk drive. Additional embodiments are disclosed wherein the power control switch responds not only to the DISK PRESENCE signal but also to a standard MOTOR ON signal or DRIVE SELECT signals, or to both, which are supplied from the host equipment.