JP2001022537A - Disk drive equipped with recording and reproducing function for semiconductor memory - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate the need for an adapter for recording and reproduction, to greatly increase the speed of data transfer with a host computer, and to easily and effectively use the semiconductor memory by constituting a recording and reproducing device for floppy disk and a connecting device for semiconductor memory in one unit. SOLUTION: A disk drive 1 has the recording and reproducing device 20 for floppy disk which is connected to the host computer through an interface connector 16 and at least one connecting device 17 which is mounted with a semiconductor memory 3 and transfers data between the mounted semiconductor memory 3 and host computer. Here, the recording and reproducing device 20 and connecting device 17 are unitized in one. Consequently, the semiconductor memory 3 can be recorded and reproduced by using a standing floppy disk drive that a personal computer has.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a disk drive having a recording / reproducing function for a semiconductor memory, and more particularly to a semiconductor memory such as a memory card in addition to recording / reproducing a 3.5-inch floppy disk or optical disk. And a disk drive capable of recording and reproducing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, various types of relatively small-capacity, removable, large-capacity removable recording media have been commercially available.
Semiconductor memories (memory cards) such as “Smart Media (product name)” and “Memory Stick (product name)” are widely used. These semiconductor memories are used, for example, as storage media for digital cameras, and can store and edit the stored data with a computer. Further, since these semiconductor memories have a much larger storage capacity than a 3.5-inch floppy disk generally used as a removable type recording medium, they are also used as recording media for computers. I have.

At present, when reading and writing data between such a semiconductor memory and a computer, a cartridge type adapter which can be mounted on a floppy disk drive (hereinafter referred to as "FDD") or a PC which can be mounted on a PCMCIA slot. Card adapter is used. The latter is particularly often used in notebook personal computers.

[0004] As a cartridge type adapter, for example, there is an adapter which is commercially available under the trade name of "flash pass". This “flash path” has a slot for loading a semiconductor memory, converts data read from the loaded semiconductor memory into an analog current, and converts the data into a coil located opposite to a magnetic head of a floppy disk drive. And a signal is exchanged between the coil and the magnetic head of the floppy disk drive via current-magnetic conversion. The data supplied to the FDD side is converted into a digital signal inside the FDD in the same manner as the data read from the floppy disk, and then is supplied to a floppy disk controller provided on the host computer side via a 34-pin interface connector. (Hereinafter referred to as “FDC”) and processed according to a predetermined program (device driver). The data transfer speed between the FDD and the FDC is set to 500 kBit / s according to the standard.

On the other hand, when writing data to the semiconductor memory, a write signal is supplied to the FDD from the host computer, and the current is converted into a magnetic-current conversion between the magnetic head of the FDD and the coil on the adapter side. Thus, a current corresponding to the signal is generated in the coil on the adapter side, and the current is A / D converted and then written to a predetermined address of the semiconductor memory.

[0006]

As described above, a special adapter such as a cartridge type adapter or a PC card adapter is currently used to transfer data between a semiconductor memory and a computer.

[0007] However, these adapters are fairly expensive and impose a cost burden on the user. In addition, in the case of the cartridge type adapter, a power source (battery) for driving the internal control circuit is required, so that there is a problem that it takes time to replace the battery.

When a cartridge type adapter is used, data is transmitted to the FDC through the interface of the FDD 34 pins. However, as described above, the data transfer rate is set to 500 kbit / s, which is the FDD standard. Due to the limitation, there is a problem that it takes time to read and write data. In particular, since the storage capacity of a semiconductor memory is several tens of times larger than that of a normal floppy disk, it takes a considerable amount of time to read and write large-capacity data.

Therefore, the present invention solves the above problems,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a disk drive having a recording / reproducing function of a semiconductor memory which does not require a separate adapter.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a disk drive having a semiconductor memory recording / reproducing function which is inexpensive, does not require replacement of batteries, and does not require much time for data transmission / reception. It is.

[0011]

According to the present invention, there is provided a disk drive having a recording / reproducing function for a semiconductor memory according to the present invention. The disk drive has a recording / reproducing function for a floppy disk connected to a host computer via an interface connector. A floppy disk recording / reproducing device, comprising: a device; and a semiconductor memory loaded therein, and at least one connection device for exchanging data between the loaded semiconductor memory and a host computer. The memory connection device is one unit.

According to such a disk drive integrally provided with a connection device for a semiconductor memory, it is not necessary to purchase an expensive adapter separately, and a semiconductor device can be provided by using a floppy disk drive provided in a personal computer. Recording and reproduction of the memory can be performed. Also, there is no need to replace the battery, and it can be used easily.

Preferably, a slot for loading a floppy disk into the floppy disk recording / reproducing device and a slot for loading a semiconductor memory into the semiconductor memory connecting device are mutually operated in a one-inch bay. They are arranged in a position that does not hinder them.

In this case, preferably, the disk drive may be configured to be detachably mounted in a slot of a 1-inch bay of a host computer.

Further, the disk drive may be configured as an external device which is detachable from a host computer.

Preferably, the connecting device for the semiconductor memory is configured to be connectable to a host computer via an interface connector of the recording / reproducing device for the floppy disk.

In this case, when accessing the semiconductor memory, the interface connector can be connected to a predetermined bus inside the host computer.

Further, the disk drive may have a dedicated connector for directly connecting the connection device of the semiconductor memory to a predetermined bus of a host computer. In this case, as the dedicated connector, US
A B connector can also be used.

Further, in the above-mentioned disk drive, a plurality of connection devices for the semiconductor memories can be provided so that recording and reproduction of a plurality of different types of semiconductor memories can be performed.

In the above-mentioned disk drive, it is preferable that the recording / reproducing apparatus for the floppy disk is constituted by using a thin floppy disk drive mechanism for a notebook personal computer.

Further, it is preferable that the disk drive further includes a display means for indicating which one of a floppy disk and a semiconductor memory is being accessed.

A disk drive having a semiconductor memory recording / reproducing function according to the present invention has a floppy disk recording / reproducing apparatus connected to a host computer via an interface connector, and a semiconductor memory loaded therein. At least one connection device for exchanging data between the semiconductor memory and the host computer; and a disk drive having a recording / reproducing function of the semiconductor memory, comprising: a recording / reproducing device for the floppy disk; The connection device is constituted as one unit detachably mounted in a slot of a 1-inch bay of the host computer, and the recording / reproducing device of the floppy disk utilizes a mechanism of a thin floppy disk drive for a notebook personal computer. That it is composed And butterflies.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a disk drive having a semiconductor memory recording / reproducing function, comprising: a disk drive capable of reproducing at least a disk-shaped recording medium connected to a host computer via an interface connector; At least one connection device for exchanging data between the loaded semiconductor memory and the host computer, wherein the disk drive device and the connection device for the semiconductor memory are one unit It is characterized by having become.

Preferably, the disk drive comprises an optical disk drive capable of reproducing at least an optical disk.

In this case, the disk drive can be configured as a unit that can be detachably mounted in a slot of the host computer. Further, the disk drive may be configured as an external device of a host computer.

[0026] Other objects, configurations and effects of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of the embodiments.

[0027]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, an example of a disk drive according to the present invention will be described based on an apparatus based on a floppy disk drive (FDD) for recording and reproducing a 3.5-inch floppy disk. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to such an apparatus, but can be applied to an optical disk drive such as a CD-ROM drive.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an FDD having a recording / reproducing function of a semiconductor memory according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the FDD, and FIG.
(B) and (C) are a plan view, a side view, and a bottom view of the FDD, respectively, and FIG. 4 is a front view of the FDD.

As shown, the FDD 1 according to this embodiment is configured as a unit that is removably mounted in a slot having an opening area of a 1-inch bay of a desktop personal computer or a tower personal computer. I have. Therefore, the size of the unit is basically the same as that of a normal FDD unit, and can be used in place of an existing FDD.

More specifically, the FDD 1 is
Schematically, a housing 10, a recording / reproducing device 20 for a floppy disk provided in an upper part in the housing, and a top plate 3 for covering the upper portion of the recording / reproducing device 20 for a floppy disk
0, which has a slot 42 for a floppy disk and a slot 44 for a semiconductor memory 3, and is composed of a housing 10 and a front bezel 40 for covering the front surface of the recording / reproducing apparatus 20 for a floppy disk.

As shown in detail in FIG. 2, the housing 10 is formed by bending a metal plate material having a predetermined shape, and is generally provided integrally with a bottom plate 11 on both right and left sides of the bottom plate 11. And left and right side plates 12L and 12R. Each of the left and right side plates 12L and 12R is formed with a plurality of mounting portions 13 for screwing to predetermined mounting plates in a host computer (not shown). These mounting portions 13 are provided at the same positions as the mounting portions of the existing FDD so that they can be used in exchange for the existing FDD.

On the bottom plate of the housing 10, a printed circuit board 15 is provided. Various circuit components such as a driver and a memory for driving and controlling the floppy disk drive are mounted on the printed circuit board 15. At the rear of the printed circuit board 15,
Interface connector 1 having 34 connection pins
6 are provided. This interface connector 1
The connector 6 is connected to a connector of a predetermined cable, and is thereby connected to a floppy disk controller (FDC) of a host computer (not shown). A power supply connector 19 is also provided behind the printed circuit board 15 (see FIG. 3A).

In front of the printed circuit board 15, a slot 4 for a semiconductor memory of the front bezel 40 is provided.
A connector 17 for the semiconductor memory 3 inserted from the position 4 is provided. The connector 17 constitutes the connection means (connection device) of the present invention. Although not shown, a plurality of terminals that can be connected to the terminal portion of the semiconductor memory 3 are provided inside the connector 17. I have. The connector 17 is connected to the interface connector 16 via a circuit formed on the printed circuit board 15,
As will be described later, it is connected to a host computer via a predetermined pin of the interface connector 16 so that data can be read and written.

Recording / reproducing apparatus 20 for floppy disk
Is configured using a so-called thin floppy disk drive used in a notebook personal computer, and is positioned above the printed circuit board 15 so as to be positioned at a predetermined distance from the printed circuit board 15. , Screws 14, 1 on the left and right side walls 12 L, 12 R of the housing 10.
4 and supported and fixed.

This floppy disk recording / reproducing apparatus 2
Although not shown, 0 includes a loading mechanism of a floppy disk, a spindle motor, a stepping motor, a magnetic head, a carriage of a magnetic head, and the like. These spindle motors, stepping motors, magnetic heads, and the like are connected to the printed circuit board 15 via a flexible printed circuit board 22, and connected to a host computer via the interface connector 16.

As such a thin floppy disk recording / reproducing device 20, for example, a thin floppy disk drive disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 6-68197 or Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 6-77092 filed by the present applicant is used. Can be configured. In the present embodiment, since the floppy disk drive section 20 is constituted by using a thin floppy disk drive for a notebook personal computer as described above, a connector for a semiconductor memory is provided between the lower surface thereof and the printed circuit board 15. 17 is provided, so that the floppy disk drive 1 can have a semiconductor memory recording / reproducing function.

As shown in detail in FIG. 4, a slot 42 for a floppy disk is provided above the front bezel 40, and a slot 4 for a semiconductor memory is provided below the front bezel 40.
4 are provided. The slots 42 and 44 are provided with a sufficient interval so as not to hinder the attaching / detaching operation of the semiconductor memory 3. Further, the slot 44 for the semiconductor memory is provided so that the center thereof substantially coincides with the slot 42 for the floppy disk, and a sufficient operation space is secured on the left and right.

In the drawing, reference numeral 45 indicates an eject button of a floppy disk. Reference numeral 47
Reference numeral 48 denotes a lamp indicating that the floppy disk drive is used, and reference numeral 48 denotes a lamp indicating that the semiconductor memory is used. These lamps 47,
Although 48 is provided separately, for example, light emitting diodes of two different colors may be provided at the same position, and different colors may be used to indicate that each medium is used.

FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 show a disk drive (FD) having a recording / reproducing function of a semiconductor memory according to the present invention.
D) schematically shows a different embodiment of the connection relationship between 1 and the host computer 50.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the semiconductor memory is directly connected to an expansion board (ISA board) 54 on the motherboard 52 of the host computer 50 via the interface connector 16 of the FDD 1.

That is, as shown, an ISA board 54 is provided on a motherboard 52 of the host computer 50, and the ISA board 54
Controller 56 is provided. And FDD
The intermediate connector 58 of the flat cable 57 connected to the first interface connector 16 is connected to the ISA board 54 so that data is exchanged with the ISA bus 51.

The tip connector 59 of the flat cable 57 is connected to a floppy disk drive connector (not shown) provided on the motherboard 52 through a connector.
Connected to FDC53. In the present embodiment, the FDC 53
Has been described as an example in which an IC incorporated in an IC called Super I / O is used. However, it goes without saying that an ordinary IC with a built-in FDC can also be used.
The Super I / O is an IC (module) incorporating a keyboard and a mouse controller in addition to the FDC. In the present embodiment, data is exchanged between the Super I / O 53 and the ISA bus 51. It has become.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, although not shown, a judging means for judging whether a floppy disk or a semiconductor memory is loaded is provided, and which medium is accessed according to the judgment result. You can choose.

As the determination means, various configurations can be adopted. For example, a switch or a sensor for detecting a state change due to insertion and ejection of the semiconductor memory is provided on the drive side, and the semiconductor memory is connected from the drive side to the host side. You may be notified whether it is mounted. In this case, during recording or reproduction of the floppy disk, it is preferable that such an event is not notified even if the semiconductor memory is mounted, and that the notification is made after the access to the floppy disk is completed. Also,
Such a determination may be made through the aforementioned controller on the Super I / O side, or may be made through software for drive control of a disk drive provided in the host computer. When the access to the medium is switched as a result of the determination as described above, one of the pins of the interface connector is set for access switching, and a signal of 1 or 0 is supplied to the pin to switch the access. You can do it too.

By the above-described determination means, it is determined that the floppy disk is loaded, and when accessing the floppy disk, the
The FDC 53 in the I / O and the interface connector 16 are connected to each other, and the FDC 53
Under this control, data is read from and written to a floppy disk. In this case, the intermediate connector 58 of the flat cable 57 and the ISA board 54
Is in a disabled state.

On the other hand, it is determined by the determining means that the semiconductor memory is loaded, and when accessing the semiconductor memory, the interface connector 16 of the FDD 1 and the ISA board 54 are connected to each other by a predetermined signal from the CPU of the host computer 50. Are connected by a flat cable 57 via an intermediate connector 58. Under the control of the controller 56 of the semiconductor memory 3, data is directly transferred between the semiconductor memory 3 and the host computer 50 via the ISA board 54 and the ISA bus 1.

In the above-described embodiment, the reading of data from the semiconductor memory 3 and the writing of data to the semiconductor memory are performed through the interface connector 16 of the FDD 1 without using an adapter such as a cartridge type adapter. Memory 3 and ISA bus 51 (I
Directly with the SA board 54). Therefore, there is no need to prepare an adapter separately, so there is no cost for purchasing the adapter, and there is no need to replace the battery.

Also, as in the case where an adapter is used,
Since data is transmitted and received directly to and from the ISA bus instead of transmitting and receiving data via the FDC, a much higher data transfer speed can be realized as compared with the case where an adapter is used. Actually, when an adapter is used, the data transfer speed is 500 kbit / s as described above, but when a semiconductor memory such as "Smart Media (product name)" is used, the data transfer speed is as follows. , Read, 650k Byte / s, Wr
In the case of ite, it is 490 k Byte / s. Therefore, compared to the case where a cartridge type adapter is used, it is possible to realize a data transfer rate of about 10 times for reading and about 8 times for writing.

FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment, in which a super I / O with a built-in FDC is mounted on a motherboard 52.
In addition to the O53a, an IC 56a having a built-in controller for a semiconductor memory is provided, and these are selected and used according to the medium used.

That is, as shown, the motherboard 52 of the host computer 50 is separately provided with a Super I / O 53a having a built-in FDC and an IC 56a having a built-in controller for a semiconductor memory.
Each is connected to the ISA bus 51. As in the case of FIG. 5, a determination means for determining which of the floppy disk and the semiconductor memory is loaded is provided, and it is possible to select which medium is to be accessed according to the determination result. .

In this embodiment, the determination means determines that the floppy disk drive is loaded, and when accessing the floppy disk drive, the flat cable 5
7, the FDC 53a in the Super I / O and the interface connector 16 are connected, and data reading and data writing from the floppy disk are performed under the control of the FDC 53a as in the case of the normal FDD. .

On the other hand, the semiconductor memory 3
Is determined to be loaded, and when accessing it, a predetermined signal from the CPU of the host computer 50 causes the interface connector 16 of the FDD 1 and the controller 56a of the semiconductor memory 3 to communicate with the interface connector 16 of the FDD 1 via the flat cable 57. It will be in the connected state. Then, under the control of the controller 56a, the semiconductor memories 3 and I
Data is directly transferred to and from the SA bus 51.

In the above embodiment, similarly to the embodiment of FIG. 5, reading of data from the semiconductor memory 3 and writing of data to the semiconductor memory 3 are performed through the interface connector 16 without using an adapter. It is performed directly between the semiconductor memory 3 and the ISA bus 51.
Therefore, there is no need to prepare an adapter, the cost for purchasing the adapter is not required, and there is no need to replace the battery.

Data transfer between the semiconductor memory and the semiconductor memory is not directly performed through the FDC as in the case of using an adapter, but is performed directly with the ISA bus. In comparison, a much higher data transfer speed can be realized.

Further, unlike the embodiment of FIG. 5, there is no need to provide a separate ISA board for the semiconductor memory 3, so that the configuration can be simplified and the wiring work can be facilitated.

FIG. 7 shows still another embodiment. In this embodiment, an IC (module) 55 in which a floppy disk FDC 53b and a semiconductor memory controller 56b are integrated into one chip is used. The one-chip IC 55 is connected to the ISA bus 51.

In this embodiment, as in the case of FIG.
A determination means for determining which of the floppy disk and the semiconductor memory is loaded is provided, and it is possible to select which medium is to be accessed according to the determination result.

Then, it is determined by the determination means that the floppy disk drive is loaded, and when the floppy disk drive is accessed, the FDD 1 interface connector 16 and the FDC 53 b in the IC 55 are connected via the flat cable 57. And normal FDD
As in the case of (1), under the control of the FDC 53b, data is read from and written to the floppy disk.

On the other hand, when the semiconductor memory is determined to be loaded by the determination means, and the semiconductor memory is accessed, the controller of the semiconductor memory is connected to the interface connector of the FDD 1 by a predetermined signal from the CPU of the host computer 50. Are connected via the flat cable 57, and directly transfer data between the semiconductor memory and the ISA bus under the control of the controller.

In the above embodiment, similarly to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, reading of data from the semiconductor memory and writing of data to the semiconductor memory are performed through the interface connector 16 without using an adapter. It is performed directly between the memory 3 and the ISA bus 51. Therefore, there is no need to prepare an adapter, the cost for purchasing the adapter is not required, and there is no need to replace the battery.

The data transfer between the semiconductor memory and the semiconductor memory is performed not directly through the FDC as in the case of using an adapter but directly with the ISA bus. In comparison, a much higher data transfer speed can be realized.

Further, as in the embodiment shown in FIG.
There is no need to provide an A board, and since the IC 55 in which the FDC 53b and the controller 56b of the semiconductor memory are integrated into one chip is used, the configuration can be further simplified and the wiring work can be facilitated.

Although the present invention has been described based on the preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and improvements are possible.

For example, in the above embodiment, the FDD 34
Data is read from and written to the semiconductor memory via the pin interface connector 16.
It goes without saying that this interface connector may be a 26-pin interface connector for a notebook personal computer, for example. Also, a USB connector may be provided instead of the 34-pin interface connector 16 and used.

The case where the host computer is connected to the ISA bus has been described as an example.
Not limited to the ISA bus, an expansion slot such as a PCI bus or a PCI / ISA bus may be used. Further, a memory socket such as a DIMM or a SIMM may be used. In that case, it is possible to further increase the data transfer speed.

Furthermore, a dedicated interface for the semiconductor memory, which is different from the FDD interface connector for the semiconductor memory, is provided in the FDD, and data can be directly transferred between the semiconductor memory and a predetermined bus through the interface.

The number of connectors and slots for semiconductor memories is not limited to one, and two or more slots for different types of semiconductor memories can be provided. For example, one FDD is provided with a slot and a connector to which “Smart Media (trade name)” and “Memory Stick (trade name)” are respectively mounted, and three types of media are provided by one drive. May be recorded and reproduced. Also in this case, the 34-pin interface connector for FDD can be shared. Further, in addition to the above-described semiconductor memory, another semiconductor memory such as “multimedia card / MMC (product name)” can be used.

In the above embodiment, the case where the existing FDD is provided with the recording / reproducing function of the semiconductor memory is described, but the application of the present invention is not limited to the FDD. Instead of FDD, an optical disk drive such as a CD-ROM drive, a CR-R drive, or a DVD drive is provided with a semiconductor memory recording / reproducing function. For example, data can be exchanged with a host computer through an IDE (Integrated Device Electronics) interface connector. It is also possible to make them exchange. The present invention is also applicable to a magneto-optical disk drive such as an MO.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the description has been given based on the unit type FDD detachably provided in the personal computer main body. However, the present invention relates to a so-called external type which is connected to the personal computer main body via a cable. FDD
And other optical disk drives, and can transmit and receive data via respective interface connectors.

The disk drive having the recording / reproducing function of the semiconductor memory according to the present invention can be used by replacing an existing disk drive having no such function. In this case, it is necessary to provide the host computer with a function of determining whether an existing disk drive or a disk drive having a semiconductor memory recording / reproducing function of the present invention is mounted. This determination function can be performed by plug & play.

[0071]

According to the disk drive having the recording / reproducing function of the semiconductor memory of the present invention, an adapter is not required for recording / reproducing of the semiconductor memory. Not only become
The data transmission speed with the host computer is greatly increased, and the semiconductor memory can be used simply and effectively.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment in which a disk drive of the present invention is applied to a floppy disk drive.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of FIG.

3 (a) is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 (b) is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 (c) is a view of FIG. It is a bottom view of an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a first embodiment showing a connection relationship between a disk drive 1 having a recording / reproducing function of a semiconductor memory of the present invention and a host computer 50;

FIG. 6 is a second embodiment showing a connection relationship between the disk drive 1 having the semiconductor memory recording / reproducing function of the present invention and the host computer 50;

FIG. 7 is a third embodiment showing a connection relationship between a disk drive 1 having a recording / reproducing function of a semiconductor memory of the present invention and a host computer 50;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 FDD (disk drive) 3 Semiconductor memory (memory card) 10 Housing 11 Bottom plate 12L, 12R Side plate 13 Mounting part 14 Screw 15 Printed circuit board 16 Interface connector 17 Connector (connection means for semiconductor memory) 19 Power supply connector 20 For floppy disk Recording / reproducing device 22 Flexible printed circuit board 30 Top plate 40 Front bezel 42 Floppy disk slot 44 Semiconductor memory slot 45 Eject button 47 FD display lamp 48 Semiconductor memory display lamp 50 Host computer 51 ISA bus 52 Motherboard 53, 53a, 53b FDC 54 ISA board 55 IC (module) 56, 56a, 56b Controller for semiconductor memory 57 Flat cable 58 Intermediate cable Kuta 59 tip connector

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Koichi Seno 1-1, Bandai, Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture Inside MITSUMI Newtronics Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yoshimi Hanatori 1-1, Bandai 1-1, Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture MITSUMI Newtronics Incorporated (72) Inventor Makoto Sato 1-1, Bandai, Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture F-term in MITSUMI Newtronics Corporation (reference) 5B065 BA02 BA09 ZA03 ZA11

Claims (16)

[Claims] A recording / reproducing apparatus for a floppy disk connected to a host computer via an interface connector, a semiconductor memory mounted thereon, and a data transfer apparatus for exchanging data between the loaded semiconductor memory and the host computer. A disk drive having a recording / reproducing function for a semiconductor memory, comprising: at least one connection device; wherein the recording / reproducing device for the floppy disk and the connection device for the semiconductor memory are one unit. . 2. A slot for loading a floppy disk into the floppy disk recording / reproducing device and a slot for loading a semiconductor memory into the semiconductor memory connection device do not interfere with each other in a 1-inch bay. 2. The disk drive according to claim 1, wherein the disk drives are arranged in a positional relationship with no disk. 3. The disk drive according to claim 1, wherein the disk drive is configured to be removably mounted in a slot of a 1-inch bay of a host computer. 4. The disk drive according to claim 1, wherein the disk drive is configured as an external device detachable from a host computer. 5. The semiconductor memory connecting device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting device is configured to be connectable to a host computer via an interface connector of the floppy disk recording / reproducing device. Disk drive as described in. 6. The floppy disk drive according to claim 5, wherein said interface connector is connected to a predetermined bus in a host computer when accessing a semiconductor memory. 7. The disk drive according to claim 1, further comprising a dedicated connector for directly connecting the connection device of the semiconductor memory to a predetermined bus of a host computer. 8. The floppy disk drive according to claim 7, wherein said dedicated connector is a USB connector. 9. The disk according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said semiconductor memory connection devices are provided so as to be able to record and reproduce a plurality of different types of semiconductor memories. drive. 10. The disk drive according to claim 1, wherein the floppy disk recording / reproducing device is configured using a thin floppy disk drive mechanism for a notebook personal computer. 11. The disk drive according to claim 1, further comprising display means for indicating which one of a floppy disk and a semiconductor memory is being accessed. 12. A recording / reproducing apparatus for a floppy disk connected to a host computer via an interface connector, a semiconductor memory loaded therein, and a data transfer device for exchanging data between the loaded semiconductor memory and the host computer. A disk drive having a semiconductor memory recording / reproducing function having at least one connection device, wherein the floppy disk recording / reproduction device and the semiconductor memory connection device are detachably mounted in a slot of a 1-inch bay of a host computer. Wherein the recording / reproducing apparatus for the floppy disk is configured using a mechanism of a thin floppy disk drive for a notebook personal computer. Equipped disk drive. 13. A disk drive device capable of reproducing at least a disk-shaped recording medium connected to a host computer via an interface connector, a semiconductor memory being loaded, and data being transferred between the loaded semiconductor memory and the host computer. And a connection device for the semiconductor memory, wherein the disk drive device and the connection device for the semiconductor memory are a single unit. Disk drive. 14. The disk drive according to claim 13, wherein the disk drive is an optical disk drive capable of reproducing at least an optical disk. 15. The floppy disk drive according to claim 14, wherein the disk drive is configured as a unit that can be removably mounted in a slot of a host computer. 16. The floppy disk drive according to claim 15, wherein said disk drive is configured as an external device of a host computer.