JPH01149264A - Memory medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent recorded information from being lost even if the exposed part of a recording medium having an aperture for reading and writing of data is touched by hand or is flawed by providing a non-use region where reading and writing are not executed to said recording medium and exposing this non-use region from the aperture at the time when the reading and writing of the data are not executed. CONSTITUTION:An index hole 16 is provided to the recording medium 11. The part exposed from the aperture 14 of a case 13 in the position where this index hole 16 and the index hole 15 of the case 13 align is used as the non-use region 12. The alignment of the index holes 15, 16 is, therefore, detected by a sensor and the reading and writing of the data in the non-use region 12 are prohibited when the region 12 is exposed from the aperture 14 on rotating of the recording medium 11 in the direction of an arrow A. The recorded information is thereby prevented from being lost even if the part exposed from the aperture is touched by hand or is flawed.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to storage media, and more particularly to storage media such as floppy disks.

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, this type of storage medium has been comprised of a recording medium having a coating of magnetic material and a case for housing the recording medium. The case had an opening for reading and writing data to the recording medium. Then, the case was inserted into a disk drive device, etc., and data was read and written. Therefore, when the case (storage medium) is removed from the disk drive device (when no reading or writing is performed), the storage medium is exposed through the opening.

Therefore, if the exposed part is touched or accidentally scratched, the recorded information on that part will be lost.

There are also storage media in which a shutter is provided in the case to prevent the recording medium from being exposed.

However, this method requires a complicated shutter mechanism, which increases the cost of the storage medium, and also has the disadvantage that the shutter mechanism is easily broken mechanically.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium in which recorded information is not lost even if the portion of the recording medium exposed through the opening of the case is touched or scratched. That's true.

1. The storage medium of the present invention is a storage medium comprising a recording medium and a case having an opening for accommodating the recording medium and reading and writing data to the recording medium,
The recording medium is characterized in that an unused area is provided in which no reading or writing is performed, and the unused area is exposed from the opening when the data is not read or written to the recording medium.

Example Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail using the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a storage medium according to the present invention. In the figure, a storage medium 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention
It is composed of a recording medium 11 having a magnetic coating, a case 13 having an opening 14 for reading and writing data to and from the recording medium 11, and a drive hub hole 17. Further, the case 13 is provided with an index hole 15. Furthermore, the recording medium 11 is provided with an unused area 12 where no data is read or written.

Next, a method of using the storage medium 1 will be explained using FIGS. 2 and 3. The second is a schematic diagram of the recording medium 11, and parts equivalent to those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals. In the figure, a recording medium 11 has a magnetic coating on its surface, and data is read and written on this magnetic coating. Also,
The recording medium 11 has an index hole 16,
At the position where this index hole 16 and the index hole 15 of the case 13 match, the case 3
The portion exposed from the opening 14 becomes the unused area 12 (hatched area) (see FIG. 1).

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing how the storage medium 1 is used. When using the storage medium 1 in the figure, the recording medium 11 in the case 13 is rotated in the direction of arrow A by a motor or the like (not shown), and data is recorded on the portion exposed from the opening 14 with a head (not shown) or the like. They read and write. Recording medium 1
1 is rotated in the direction of arrow A, and the unused area 12 is the opening 1
If exposed from 4, index holes 15 and 1
6 is detected by a sensor (not shown), and no data is read or written to the unused area 12.

Furthermore, the state in which the recording medium 1 is set in the disk drive device will be explained using FIGS. 4 and 5. FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic diagrams showing a state in which the storage medium according to this embodiment is set in a disk drive device. In the figure, the storage medium 1 is in a state in which a drive hub hole 17 (see FIG. 1) and a shaft portion 21 that cuts and transmits the rotational force of the motor 2 are fitted. Then, while the recording medium 11 in the storage medium 1 is rotated by the rotational force of the motor 2, the head 4 reads and writes data.

The disk drive device is also provided with a sensor 3 that detects index holes.

The sensor 3 is composed of a light receiving element and the like, and detects light from the light emitting element 31. Only when the sensor 3 detects light from the light emitting element 31, the rotational force of the shaft portion 21 is cut off, and the shaft portion 21 becomes movable in the direction of arrow B and can be taken out (see FIG. 5).

Therefore, the storage medium 1 can be taken out only when the index holes 15 and 16 match, and the storage medium 1
The unused area 12 is always exposed from the opening 14 when the disc is taken out from the disk drive device (the first
(see figure). By doing this, even if the portion exposed through the opening 14 is touched or scratched, the recorded information will not be lost.

In this embodiment, the index hole is used as a hole for detecting an unused area, but it is clear that other holes may be provided on the concentric circles of the case. However, in that case, a sensor and a light emitting element must be newly provided, which is not a good idea.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As described above, the present invention provides an unused area in a recording medium in a storage medium case, and always exposes the unused area when the storage medium is removed from a disk drive device, thereby eliminating the need for a complicated shutter mechanism. This has the effect that recorded information will not be lost even if the exposed part is touched or scratched.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a storage medium according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a recording medium in a storage medium case according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the state of use of a storage medium according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a storage medium according to an embodiment of the present invention is set in a disk drive device. Explanation of symbols of main parts 1... Storage medium 3... Sensor 11... Recording medium 12... Unused area 14... Opening Department

Claims (1)

[Claims] A storage medium consisting of a recording medium and a case having an opening for accommodating the recording medium and reading and writing data to the recording medium, wherein the recording medium is provided with an unused area that is not read or written, A storage medium characterized in that the unused area is exposed through the opening when the data is not read or written to the storage medium.