JP2001035055A - Optical disk library device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To suppress the occurrence of failure due to dust mixing based on air cooling in an optical disk library device. An optical disk transport means for storing a plurality of optical disks and transporting a selected optical disk to a drive.
In the optical disk library device 1 including: a plurality of drives 3-1 to 3-4 provided in the optical disk library device 1, a cooling fan provided for each drive, and a temperature for detecting a temperature of each drive. It is characterized by comprising a detection means T and a control means 5 for controlling the drive having the lowest temperature to mount an optical disk when a plurality of empty drives are present.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical disk library apparatus, and more particularly, to an optical disk library apparatus in which dusts accompanying air cooling are reduced as much as possible.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an optical disk library device, a predetermined optical disk is taken out from a medium storage shelf for storing a large number of optical disks by a medium transport mechanism and driven by a drive device to read and write necessary data.

[0003] Since this drive device generates a large amount of heat,
In addition to cooling the drive device with a fan, an air filter portion is provided in the optical disk library device, and the drive device is cooled by inhaling clean air removed by the air filter portion.

[0004]

That is, in a general cooling method for a drive device of an optical disk library device, outside air is taken into the device by a fan and the drive device is cooled by forced air cooling. Even if the outside air is taken into the apparatus, there is a problem that even a small amount of dust enters the inside of the apparatus, and the optical system unit for the drive apparatus which is extremely susceptible to dust easily breaks down.

Further, in the conventional optical disk drive, power is supplied to the drive even during standby, so that it is necessary to always cool the drive even during standby, and even if no drive is used, a failure due to dust contamination due to cooling can occur. Was more likely to occur.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an optical disk library device in which such a problem is improved.

[0007]

FIG. 1 shows an outline of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is an optical disk library device, 2
Is a medium storage shelf, 3-1 to 3-4 are drives, 4 is a medium transport mechanism, 5 is a library control unit (ARC), 6-1 to 6
-4 is a fan, 7 is an air filter, 8 is a medium exchange unit, T
Denotes a temperature detecting unit.

The above object of the present invention can be achieved by the following constitution.

(1) In an optical disk library device 1 having a plurality of optical disks stored therein and having an optical disk transport means 4 for transporting a selected optical disk to a drive, a plurality of drives 3-1 provided in the optical disk library device 1 3-4, a cooling fan provided for each drive, a temperature detecting means T for detecting the temperature of each drive, and when a plurality of empty drives are present, an optical disk is mounted on the drive with the lowest temperature. Control means 5 for performing the control as described above.

(2) In an optical disk library device 1 having a plurality of optical disks stored therein and having an optical disk transport means 4 for transporting a selected optical disk to a drive, a plurality of drives 3-1 provided in the optical disk library device 1 And 3-4, when the power of the drive of the transfer destination instructed by the host is not turned on, the control unit 5 which performs power-on control of the drive, performs medium transfer control, and reports the completion of the move process to the host. It is characterized by having.

(3) In the optical disk library apparatus of (1), there is provided control means 5 for recognizing whether or not the drive has an optical disk mounted thereon and, when the drive is not mounted, shutting off the power supply of the drive. It is characterized by having done.

(4) In the optical disk library apparatus of the above (1), it is monitored whether or not the drive is busy for a certain period of time, and when it is determined that the drive has not been accessed for a certain period of time, control for turning off the power of the drive is performed. Means are provided.

(5) In the optical disk library device of (1), a cooling fan is provided for each drive,
When the temperature of the drive is equal to or lower than a specified temperature, a control means for controlling the corresponding cooling fan to stop is provided.

Thus, the following functions and effects can be obtained.

(1) In response to a move command from the host, the control unit in the optical disk library apparatus selects the drive having the lowest temperature from among the free drives and performs emulation for distributing the move command from the host. A high drive can be put into a standby state preferentially, heat generation of the drive can be suppressed, operation of the cooling fan can be suppressed, the amount of dust mixed into the optical disk library apparatus can be reduced, and the failure occurrence rate of the drive can be reduced. be able to.

(2) When the power of the drive at the transfer destination specified by the host is not turned on, the control means of the optical disk library device controls the power supply to this drive, controls the medium transfer, and controls the host. Since a move processing completion report is sent to the host, a general-purpose host can be used. In addition, unnecessary intake is not performed by selectively stopping the cooling fan, and a failure due to dust absorption can be suppressed.

(3) Since the medium is unmounted when the power supply is cut off, the start of the device can be completed while the medium to be accessed is transferred to the drive when the access is resumed. As a result, access to the medium can be resumed without feeling the device startup waiting time.

(4) The power supply to the drive is shut off when there is no access to the drive for a certain period of time. Therefore, unnecessary heat generation when there is no access can be prevented, and the cooling fan can be stopped. Accidents due to contamination can be prevented. In addition, since the host can be used without being conscious of the power-off, the connectivity of the optical disk library apparatus to the host is facilitated.

(5) Since a cooling fan is installed for each drive in the optical disk library device and divided into drives for cooling, only the drives requiring cooling can be cooled, and the entire drive becomes large. The cooling amount can be reduced to an amount corresponding to the required amount, the amount of dust can be reduced, and the failure rate can be reduced as compared with the case of cooling with a fan having a capacity.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 to 7. FIG. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an interface and a power management function thereof, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an operation state of a library control unit in the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the monitoring task, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the waiting time monitoring task.

In FIG. 2, not only the drives 3-1 and 3-2, but also the same number as in FIG. 1, and a cooling fan (not shown) is provided for each drive. In FIG. 2, a medium storage shelf 2, a medium transport mechanism 4, an air filter 7, a medium exchange unit 8, and the like, which are not shown, are provided.

In FIG. 1, an optical disk library apparatus 1 stores a large number of optical disks such as magneto-optical disks, and performs data read / write processing on a specific optical disk based on an instruction from a host (not shown). , A medium storage shelf 2, a drive 3, a medium transport mechanism 4, a library control unit 5, a cooling fan 6, an air filter 7, a medium exchange unit 8, and the like. As shown in FIG. 2, the optical disk library device 1 further includes a power supply box 9, a switch 10, and the like.

The medium storage shelf 2 stores a large number of optical disks, and a host table (not shown) manages a correspondence table between the disk numbers of the optical disks and their storage positions. Of course, this correspondence table can also be managed by the library control unit 5.

The drives 3 perform recording / reproducing processing on the selected optical disk, and are provided with a plurality of drives 3-1 to 3-4. In the example of FIG.
Although the case where four units 1-3 to 4 are installed is shown, the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of installed units can be set as appropriate. Each of the drives 3-1 to 3-4 is provided with a temperature measuring unit T for measuring an internal temperature and measuring the temperature in FIG.
Is notified to the library controller 5 via the library interface L as shown in FIG.

The medium transport mechanism 4 takes out a predetermined optical disk stored in the medium storage shelf 2 and removes it from the drive 3.
-1 to 3-4, or drive 3-1 to 3-
The optical disk mounted on the storage medium 4 is stored in the medium storage shelf 2.

The library control unit 5 mounts the requested optical disk on the basis of a command from a host (not shown) in the drives 3-1 to 3-4 to perform recording / reproduction, detects an empty drive, 3-1 to 3-
The optical disk library apparatus 1 performs various controls such as monitoring the internal temperature of the optical disk drive 4, stopping the cooling fan corresponding to the drive, and selecting the drive with the lowest temperature. The SCSI interface S for transmitting and receiving control signals from the host and the drives 3-1 and 3-3
-2... Are transmitted and received. It also manages the currently mounted optical disk and its mounted driver.

The cooling fan 6 includes drives 3-1 and 3-2.
.. is cooled for each drive.
1, 3-2... Corresponding to the cooling fans 6-1, 6-2,.
・ Is installed.

The air filter 7 is a filter for taking clean cooling air into the optical disk library device 1.

The medium exchange section 8 is used for exchanging the optical disk stored in the medium storage shelf 2 with another external optical disk.

The power supply box 9 is a power supply unit of the optical disk library device 1 and is used for step-rectifying an externally transmitted AC voltage to a desired DC voltage.

The switch 10 turns off the power of the optical disk library device 1 when it is not used.

When the library control unit 5 of the optical disk library apparatus 1 does not receive the recording / reproducing command from the host, it performs the temperature monitoring control in each drive shown in FIGS. . These will be described below.

(1) Temperature monitoring control The library control unit 5 executes the temperature monitoring task shown in FIG. 5 at specified time intervals, and performs temperature monitoring control of all drives 3-1, 3-2,.

S1. The library control unit 5 detects the internal temperature measured by the temperature measuring unit T provided in each of the drives 3-1, 3-2,... Via the library interface.

S2. Thus, the library control unit 5 determines whether the temperature in each drive is higher or lower than a predetermined temperature.

S3. If the temperature is equal to or lower than the specified temperature, it is determined whether or not the cooling fan of the corresponding drive is operating. If it is operating, the cooling fan is stopped and the process ends.

S4. In S2, if the temperature in the drive exceeds the specified temperature, it is checked whether the cooling fan of the drive is operating. If it is operating, it is left as it is. If not, the cooling fan is started. Let it.

(2) Mount Monitoring Monitoring Control The library control unit 5 executes the standby time monitoring task shown in FIG. 6 at specified time intervals, monitors whether or not the optical disk is mounted on each non-busy drive, and When an optical disk is mounted on a non-drive, control is performed to unmount the optical disk.

S1. The library control unit 5 monitors the busy signal of the library interface at specified time intervals, and determines whether all the drives 3-1, 3-2,... When there is no access for a certain period of time, it is determined that the corresponding drive is not busy.

S2. The library control unit 5 determines whether an optical disk is mounted on the drive determined to be not busy.

S3. When determining that the optical disk is not mounted, the library control unit 5 shuts off the power supply of the drive.

S4. Then, the same processing as the temperature monitoring task described in FIG. 5 is executed.

S5. In S2, when the library control unit 5 determines that the corresponding drive has an optical disk mounted thereon, the library control unit 5 executes unmount control and returns to S3.

(3) Description of Operation of Library Control Unit 5 in First Embodiment In the first embodiment of the present invention, it is assumed that the library control unit 5 receives a recording / playback command from a host (not shown). The operation will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. In the library control unit 5, FIG.
As described above, the temperature monitoring task is executed at regular intervals to monitor the temperatures of all the drives, and the standby time is monitored at regular intervals as described in FIG. These prescribed times may be the same or different.

S1. The library control unit 5 receives a recording / playback command from a host (not shown).

S2. The library control unit 5 makes a determination based on a comparison table that manages whether the requested optical disk has been mounted on the drive.

S3. If it is not mounted in S2, it is determined whether there is a free drive. If there is no free drive, the host notifies the host that command execution is rejected.

S4. However, if there is a free drive, it is determined whether or not there are a plurality of free drives. If not, the requested optical disc is mounted on the one free drive. Then, control proceeds to S8 described later.

S5. If there are multiple empty drives, check the internal temperature of each empty drive.

S6. The library controller 5 selects the drive with the lowest temperature, which is recognized based on the check of the internal temperature, and turns on the drive. Then, initialization at the time of turning on the power, such as clearing the register and the home position of the driving device, is performed.

S7. Then, the library control unit 5 mounts a predetermined optical disk on the corresponding drive.

S8. After this mounting, recording and reproduction are performed.

S9. Then, the library control unit 5 executes the same task processing as the temperature monitoring task described in FIG. 5, and stops the cooling fan of the cooled drive.

S10. In S2, if the requested optical disk is mounted on the drive, the process goes to S8.
Then, recording and reproduction are performed.

(4) Description of the Second Embodiment of the Present Invention A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the interface and the power management function, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the optical disk library device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a case where there are two drives as shown by the drives 3-1 'and 3-2'.
The same number of units are prepared, and a cooling fan (not shown) is provided for each drive. In FIG. 3, the medium storage shelf 2, the medium transport mechanism 4, the air filter 7,
The medium exchange unit 8 and the like are omitted. And drive 3-
SCSI interfaces S are also provided at 1 'and 3-2', but these are not shown.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

S1. The host issues a MOVE command to the library control unit 5 of the optical disk library device 1.

S2. The library control unit 5 uses the MOV
Receive the E command.

S3. The library control unit 5 uses the MOV
The drive to which the optical disk is transported specified by the E command checks whether or not the power is on.

S4. If the power of the drive is not turned on, the library control unit 5 turns on the power of the drive. Then, initialization at the time of turning on the power, such as clearing the register and the home position of the driving device, is performed.

S5. Then, the library control unit 5 controls the transfer processing of the specified optical disk, and the medium transfer mechanism 4 shown in FIG. 1 transfers the specified optical disk to the powered-on drive.

S6. An optical disk is mounted on the drive, and the library controller 5 moves the optical disk to the host.
Report completion of processing.

S7. With this report, the host sends a recording / playback command to the corresponding drive, and the command is received by the drive.

S8. Then, recording / reproduction is performed on the corresponding drive.

S9. After the recording / reproduction, the library control unit 5 executes the same task processing as the temperature monitoring task described in FIG. 5 and stops the cooling fan of the cooled drive.

S10. In step S3, if the drive of the transfer destination is powered on, the process proceeds to step S5.
A medium transport process is performed.

In FIG. 7, when a recording / reproducing command is issued from the host to the library and the command is received, step S7 'is a duplicate of step S7 in this flowchart.

In the above description, the optical disk is a magneto-optical disk. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
And so on.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 7-272476 describes that when the optical recording / reproducing drive is inactive for more than a predetermined time, the drive is set to a power save state and the driving of the cooling fan is stopped. However, this is different from the present invention in configuration and effect because a cooling fan is not provided for a plurality of drives.

[0071]

According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) In response to the move command from the host, the control unit in the optical disk library device selects the drive having the lowest temperature among the free drives and performs emulation for distributing the move command from the host. A high drive can be put into a standby state preferentially, heat generation of the drive can be suppressed, operation of the cooling fan can be suppressed, the amount of dust mixed into the optical disk library apparatus can be reduced, and the failure occurrence rate of the drive can be reduced. be able to.

(2) When power is not supplied to the drive at the transfer destination specified by the host, the control means of the optical disk library apparatus performs power-on control for this drive, performs medium transfer control, and controls the host. Since a move processing completion report is sent to the host, a general-purpose host can be used. In addition, unnecessary intake is not performed by selectively stopping the cooling fan, and a failure due to dust absorption can be suppressed.

(3) Since the medium is unmounted when the power supply is cut off, the activation of the device can be completed while the medium to be accessed is transported to the drive when the access is resumed. As a result, access to the medium can be resumed without feeling the device startup waiting time.

(4) When there is no access to the drive for a certain period of time, the power supply to the drive is shut off, so that unnecessary heat generation when there is no access can be prevented, and the cooling fan can be stopped. Accidents due to contamination can be prevented. In addition, since the host can be used without being conscious of the power-off, the connectivity of the optical disk library apparatus to the host is facilitated.

(5) Since a cooling fan is provided for each drive in the optical disk library apparatus and divided into drives for cooling, only the drives requiring cooling can be cooled, and the entire drive becomes large. The cooling amount can be reduced to an amount corresponding to the required amount, the amount of dust can be reduced, and the failure rate can be reduced as compared with the case of cooling with a fan having a capacity.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an interface and a power management function according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an interface and a power management function according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an operation state of a library control unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a temperature monitoring task.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a standby time monitoring task.

FIG. 7 is an operation explanatory diagram according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Optical disk library apparatus 2 Medium storage shelf 3 Drive 4 Medium conveyance mechanism 5 Library control part 6 Cooling fan 7 Air filter 8 Medium exchange part 9 Power supply box 10 Switch

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An optical disk library device having a plurality of optical disks stored therein and having an optical disk transport means for transporting a selected optical disk to a drive, comprising: a plurality of drives provided in the optical disk library device; A cooling fan, a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of each of the drives, and a control means for controlling, when a plurality of empty drives are present, mounting the optical disk in the drive with the lowest temperature. Optical disk library device. 2. An optical disk library device having a plurality of optical disks stored therein and having an optical disk transport means for transporting a selected optical disk to a drive, comprising: a plurality of drives provided in the optical disk library device; An optical disk library device comprising: a control unit for performing power-on control of a drive at a transfer destination when the drive is not turned on, performing medium transfer control, and reporting a completion of a move process to a host. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising control means for recognizing whether or not the drive has an optical disk mounted thereon, and controlling the power of the drive to be turned off when the drive is not mounted. Optical disk library device. 4. A control means for monitoring whether or not the drive is busy for a certain period of time and, when it is determined that the drive has not been accessed for a certain period of time, controlling the drive to turn off the power supply. An optical disk library device according to item 1. 5. A control means for installing a cooling fan for each drive, and controlling the cooling fan to stop when the temperature of the drive is lower than a specified temperature. An optical disk library device according to item 1.