electronic machinery

Abstract

To obtain an electronic device that suppresses the occurrence of non-volatile memory malfunctions in sleep mode, which maintains power to the storage device. [Solution] The electronic device 1 comprises a storage device 25 with built-in non-volatile memory and a controller 21 that can set the power supply mode of the electronic device 1 to a sleep mode that maintains power supply to the storage device 25. When the controller 21 changes the power supply mode to sleep mode, it sends a shutdown notification command to the storage device 25 to stop the data status check operation in the storage device 25.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic device.

Background Art

[0002] When the main body of a certain information device shifts to a power-saving mode, the number of shifts to the power-saving mode is counted. If the number of shifts is less than a predetermined number, the storage device (hard disk drive) is not shifted to the power-saving mode. When the number of shifts reaches the predetermined number, the storage device (hard disk drive) is shifted to the power-saving mode (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In recent years, storage devices using rewritable non-volatile memories such as SSDs (Solid State Drives) may be used in electronic devices. In such a storage device, when there is no external access, the internal controller performs an operation of checking the data state of the non-volatile memory.

[0005] However, if access to the non-volatile memory is frequently performed for such data state checking, problems such as read disturb may occur. Therefore, when the power to the storage device is maintained in the sleep mode (power-saving mode), since the state where there is no external access to the storage device continues, such problems may occur in the sleep mode.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and aims to provide an electronic device that suppresses the occurrence of non-volatile memory malfunctions in sleep mode, which maintains power to the storage device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The electronic device according to the present invention comprises a storage device with built-in non-volatile memory and a controller capable of setting the power supply mode of the electronic device to a sleep mode that maintains power supply to the storage device. When the controller changes the power supply mode to the sleep mode, it sends a shutdown notification command to the storage device to stop the data status check operation in the storage device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, an electronic device is obtained that suppresses the occurrence of non-volatile memory malfunctions in a sleep mode that maintains power to the storage device.

[0009] The above or other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become even more apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the electronic device 1 shown in Figure 1. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the figures.

[0012] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The electronic device 1 shown in Figure 1 is an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a multifunction device. As shown in Figure 1, the electronic device 1 comprises a controller 21, internal devices 22 such as a printing device, an operation panel 23, a communication device 24, a storage device 25, and a power supply device 26.

[0013] The controller 21 includes a computer, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), and implements various processing units using software and / or hardware. It controls the internal devices 22, the operation panel 23, and other components, and performs various data processing operations, reading and writing data necessary for data processing, as well as user data, to the storage device 25.

[0014] The controller 21 switches the power supply mode of the electronic device 1 between normal mode and sleep mode (energy-saving mode), which consumes less power than normal mode.

[0015] The control panel 23 includes an input device 31 such as a touch panel and hard keys for detecting user operations, and a display device 32 such as a liquid crystal display for displaying the operation screen to the user.

[0016] The communication device 24 is a wired or wireless network interface, and performs data communication with the host device 3, etc., via the network 2.

[0017] The storage device 25 includes a non-volatile memory and a controller (internal controller) for the non-volatile memory. The internal controller communicates with the controller 21 and performs read and write operations on the non-volatile memory.

[0018] In this embodiment, the storage device 25 is an SSD, and the non-volatile memory mentioned above is a NAND flash memory.

[0019] The power supply device 26 supplies power from the commercial power supply to each part, and individually turns on / off the power supply to the storage device 25 according to the power supply mode.

[0020] The controller 21 can use the power supply device 26 to set the power supply mode of the electronic device 1 to a sleep mode (a second sleep mode described later) that maintains the power supply to the storage device 25. That is, in that sleep mode, the power supply to at least one internal device other than the storage device 25 is cut off.

[0021] Furthermore, when the controller 21 changes the power supply mode to that sleep mode (the second sleep mode), it transmits a shutdown notification command to the storage device 25 to stop the operation of checking the data state in the storage device 25. Note that the shutdown notification command is transmitted in advance in order to suppress data damage in the storage device 25 caused by the shutdown when shutting down the storage device 25 from the controller 21 side.

[0022] For example, when the storage device 25 is a NAND flash SSD, the shutdown notification command is the StandbyImmediate command.

[0023] Also, in this embodiment, when the controller 21 changes the power supply mode to that sleep mode (the second sleep mode), when the type of the storage device 25 is a specific type, it does not transmit a shutdown notification command to the storage device 25. That is, for types other than the specific type, a shutdown notification command is transmitted. Here, this specific type is a type in which the storage device 25 performs a write operation to a specific storage area when receiving the shutdown notification command. Here, the above-mentioned type of the storage device 25 is the model number of the storage device 25 and / or the firmware version of the storage device 25.

[0024] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the power supply mode of the electronic device 1 is in sleep mode, the controller 21 selects either a first sleep mode in which the power supply to the storage device 25 is cut off, or a second sleep mode in which the power supply to the storage device 25 is maintained.

[0025] For example, the sleep mode may be selectable by the user between a first sleep mode and a second sleep mode. In this case, the controller 21 may present a message to the user prompting them to change from the first sleep mode to the second sleep mode if the frequency of access to the storage device 25 while in the first sleep mode exceeds a predetermined threshold. The controller 21 may also present a message to the user prompting them to change from the second sleep mode to the first sleep mode if the frequency of access to the storage device 25 while in the second sleep mode falls below a predetermined threshold.

[0026] These messages are displayed, for example, on the display device 32 or the host device 3, and the controller 21 selects either the first sleep mode or the second sleep mode and sets it as a sleep mode according to predetermined user operations on the input device 31 or the host device 3. When the host device 3 is used as a user interface, the driver in the host device 3 displays the above messages and sends user operation information to the controller 21.

[0027] Alternatively, the controller 21 may automatically change the power supply mode of the electronic device 1 from the first sleep mode to the second sleep mode if the frequency of access to the storage device 25 during the first sleep mode exceeds a predetermined threshold. Furthermore, the controller 21 may automatically change the power supply mode of the electronic device 1 from the second sleep mode to the first sleep mode if the frequency of access to the storage device 25 during the second sleep mode falls below a predetermined threshold.

[0028] Next, the operation of the electronic device 1 described above will be explained. Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the electronic device 1 shown in Figure 1.

[0029] When the electronic device 1 is started up, the controller 21 sets the power supply mode to normal mode (step S1), and then repeatedly determines whether or not to switch to sleep mode (step S2). For example, if the period of inactivity exceeds a predetermined value or if a specific user operation is detected, it switches to sleep mode.

[0030] If it is determined that the device should enter sleep mode, the controller 21 determines whether or not the second sleep mode is set as the sleep mode (step S3).

[0031] If the second sleep mode is not set (i.e., the first sleep mode is set), the controller 21 cuts off the power to the storage device 25 with the power supply unit 26 and changes the power supply mode to sleep mode (step S4).

[0032] Subsequently, the controller 21 repeatedly determines whether or not to switch to normal mode (step S5). For example, if user operation to the input device 31 is detected or if a job request such as a print job is received by the communication device 24, it switches to normal mode.

[0033] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S3 that the second sleep mode is set, the controller 21 identifies the type of storage device 25 (step S6) and, based on that type, determines whether or not to send a shutdown notification command to the storage device 25 (step S7).

[0034] If the controller 21 determines that it should send a shutdown notification command to the storage device 25, it sends the shutdown notification command to the storage device 25 to stop the data status check operation in the storage device 25 (step S8), and then changes the power supply mode to sleep mode while maintaining power to the storage device 25 (step S9).

[0035] On the other hand, if the controller 21 determines that it does not need to send a shutdown notification command to the storage device 25, it changes the power supply mode to sleep mode while maintaining power to the storage device 25 without sending a shutdown notification command to the storage device 25 (step S9).

[0036] Subsequently, the controller 21 repeatedly determines whether or not to switch to normal mode (step S10). For example, if user operation to the input device 31 is detected or if a job request such as a print job is received by the communication device 24, it switches to normal mode.

[0037] As described above, according to the above embodiment, the electronic device 1 comprises a storage device 25 with built-in non-volatile memory and a controller 21 that can set the power supply mode of the electronic device 1 to a sleep mode that maintains power supply to the storage device 25. When the controller 21 changes the power supply mode to sleep mode, it sends a shutdown notification command to the storage device 25 to stop the data status check operation in the storage device 25.

[0038] This suppresses the occurrence of non-volatile memory malfunctions in sleep mode, which maintains power to the storage device 25.

[0039] Furthermore, various changes and modifications to the embodiments described above will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the subject matter and without diminishing the intended advantages. In other words, such changes and modifications are intended to be included in the claims. [Industrial applicability]

[0040] The present invention is applicable, for example, to electronic devices that incorporate a storage device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1 Electronic equipment 21 Controllers 25 Storage devices

Claims

1. In electronic devices, A storage device with built-in non-volatile memory, The electronic device includes a controller that can set the power supply mode of the electronic device to a sleep mode that maintains power supply to the storage device, When the controller changes the power supply mode to the sleep mode, it sends a shutdown notification command to the storage device to stop the data status check operation in the storage device. Electronic devices characterized by the following:

2. When the controller changes the power supply mode to the sleep mode, if the type of the storage device is a specific type, it does not send the shutdown notification command to the storage device. The aforementioned specific type is a type in which the storage device performs a write operation to a specific storage area when it receives the shutdown notification command. The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized by the following:

3. The electronic device according to claim 2, characterized in that the type of the storage device is the model number of the storage device or the firmware version of the storage device.

4. The controller selects either a first sleep mode, which cuts off the power supply to the storage device, or a second sleep mode, which maintains the power supply to the storage device, when the power supply mode of the electronic device is in sleep mode. The sleep mode is selectable by the user from either the first sleep mode or the second sleep mode. The controller, when the frequency of access to the storage device during the first sleep mode exceeds a predetermined threshold, presents a message to the user prompting them to change from the first sleep mode to the second sleep mode. The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized by the following:

5. The controller selects either a first sleep mode, which cuts off the power supply to the storage device, or a second sleep mode, which maintains the power supply to the storage device, when the power supply mode of the electronic device is in sleep mode. The sleep mode is selectable by the user from either the first sleep mode or the second sleep mode. The controller, when the frequency of access to the storage device during the second sleep mode falls below a predetermined threshold, presents a message to the user prompting them to change from the second sleep mode to the first sleep mode. The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized by the following:

6. The controller selects either a first sleep mode, which cuts off the power supply to the storage device, or a second sleep mode, which maintains the power supply to the storage device, when the power supply mode of the electronic device is in sleep mode. The controller automatically changes the power supply mode of the electronic device from the first sleep mode to the second sleep mode if the frequency of access to the storage device during the first sleep mode exceeds a predetermined threshold. The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized by the following:

7. The controller selects either a first sleep mode, which cuts off the power supply to the storage device, or a second sleep mode, which maintains the power supply to the storage device, when the power supply mode of the electronic device is in sleep mode. The controller automatically changes the power supply mode of the electronic device from the second sleep mode to the first sleep mode when the frequency of access to the storage device falls below a predetermined threshold during the second sleep mode. The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized by the following:

8. The aforementioned non-volatile memory is a NAND flash memory. The aforementioned shutdown notification command is the StandbyImmiate command. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by the following:

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