1. A record image recording apparatus comprising:
a carriage on which a recording head is mounted, configured to reciprocate in main scanning directions;
a first gear configured to rotate around a rotation axis of the first gear extending along the main scanning directions on the basis of an output of a driving motor;
a second gear meshed with the first gear and slidably supported by a support shaft extending along the main scanning directions, the second gear being movable at a plurality of slide positions;
a plurality of transmission gears arranged in parallel, each of which is meshable with the second gear at a corresponding one of the plurality of slide positions of the second gear;
a lever member slidably supported by the support shaft and pivotably supported around the support shaft, the lever member being disposed in one of opposite side regions of the second gear in a first direction which is one direction of the main scanning directions, the lever member comprising a lever arm protruding into a moving space through which the carriage moves;
a switch member slidably supported by the support shaft and disposed in the one of the opposite side regions in which the lever member is disposed, the switch member having a first inclined portion and a second inclined portion each contactable with a contact portion of the lever member;
a first force applying portion configured to apply a force in the first direction to the second gear such that the force is applied from the second gear to the lever member;
a second force applying portion configured to apply a force larger than the force applied by the first force applying portion to the switch member, in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction so that the switch member comes into contact with the lever member;
a first guide member configured to guide the lever arm while the lever arm slides on the first guide member in the main scanning directions, and configured to position the lever arm at selectively one of a plurality of slide positions of the lever arm, the plurality of slide positions of the lever arm corresponding to the respective positions of the plurality of transmission gears; and
a second guide member configured to restrict a circumferential rotation of the switch member with respect to the support shaft,
wherein the first guide member is provided with a plurality of peripheries including a first periphery and a second periphery each extending along the main scanning directions, the plurality of peripheries defining a long hole through which the lever arm is inserted,
wherein the first periphery is provided with: a plurality of lock portions which lock the lever arm to which the force in the second direction is applied; and a third inclined portion which causes the lever arm to pivot in a direction in which the lever arm comes close to the second periphery,
wherein the third inclined portion is positioned at a part of the first periphery nearer to the second force applying portion than the lock portions in the main scanning directions,
wherein the second periphery is provided with a fourth inclined portion which causes the lever arm to pivot in a direction in which the lever arm comes close to the first periphery,
wherein the fourth inclined portion is positioned at a part of the second periphery opposing to one of the plurality of lock portions nearest to the first force applying portion in the main scanning directions,
wherein the lever member is guided by the third inclined portion in the direction in which the lever arm comes close to the second periphery so that a contact position of the switch member in contact with the contact portion of the lever member moves from on the first inclined portion to on the second inclined portion, whereby the switch member is configured to cause a switch from a state in which the lever member is applied with a force from the switch member in the direction in which the lever arm comes close to the first periphery to a state in which the lever member is applied with a force from the switch member in the direction in which the lever arm comes close to the second periphery, and
wherein the lever member is guided by the fourth inclined portion in the direction in which the lever arm comes close to the first periphery so that the contact position of the switch member in contact with the contact portion of the lever member moves from on the second inclined portion to on the first inclined portion, whereby the switch member is configured to cause a switch from a state in which the lever member is applied with the force from the switch member in the direction in which the lever arm comes close to the second periphery to a state in which the lever member is applied with the force from the switch member in the direction in which the lever arm comes close to the first periphery.
2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the first inclined portion is inclined such that, when the lever arm pivots in the direction in which the lever arm comes close to the first periphery, the switch member moves in a direction in which the switch member moves away from the lever member in the main scanning directions, and
wherein the second inclined portion is inclined such that, when the lever arm pivots in the direction in which the lever arm comes close to the second periphery, the switch member moves in a direction in which the switch member moves away from the lever member in the main scanning directions.
3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein the switch member comprises a series of the first inclined portion, the second inclined portion, and an end portion of the switch member nearest to the lever member.
4. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the switch member comprises a switch arm pivotably supported about the support shaft and protruding in a radial directions of the support shaft,
wherein the second guide member is provided with a plurality of peripheries including a third periphery and a fourth periphery each extending along the main scanning directions, the plurality of peripheries defining a long groove through which the switch arm is inserted, whereby the second guide member restricts a circumuferential rotation of the switch member with respect to the support shaft within a predetermined range,
wherein the third periphery is provided with a fifth inclined portion configured to cause the switch arm to slide on the fifth inclined portion so as to cause the switch member to pivot in a direction in which the contact portion of the lever member in contact with the first inclined portion comes close to the second inclined portion, and wherein the fourth periphery is provided with a sixth inclined portion configured to cause the switch arm to slide on the sixth inclined portion so as to cause the switch member to pivot in a direction in which the contact portion of the lever member in contact with the second inclined portion comes close to the first inclined portion.
5. The image recording apparatus according to claim 4,
wherein (i) a duration in which the lever member is guided by the third inclined portion in the direction in which the lever arm comes close to the second periphery and (ii) a duration in which the fifth inclined portion causes the switch member to pivot in the direction in which the contact portion of the lever member comes close to the second inclined portion overlap with each other or are identical with each other.
6. The image recording apparatus according to claim 4,
wherein (i) a duration in which the lever member is guided by the fourth inclined portion in the direction in which the lever arm comes close to the first periphery and (ii) a duration in which the sixth inclined portion causes the switch member to pivot in the direction in which the contact portion of the lever member comes close to the first inclined portion overlap with each other or are identical with each other.
7. The image recording apparatus according to claim 4,
wherein a pivoting amount of the switch member with respect to the support shaft in the pivoting caused by the fifth inclined portion is larger than a pivoting amount of the lever member with respect to the support shaft in the pivoting caused by the third inclined portion.
8. The image recording apparatus according to claim 4,
wherein a pivoting amount of the switch member with respect to the support shaft in the pivoting caused by the sixth inclined portion is larger than a pivoting amount of the lever member with respect to the support shaft in the pivoting caused by the fourth inclined portion.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A data storage system, comprising:
a Serial ATA device; and
a control subsystem having a first host, a second host, and a communications medium which interconnects the first and second hosts to the Serial ATA device; the first and second hosts being configured to share control of the Serial ATA device through the communications medium; the first and second hosts, when transitioning control of the Serial ATA device, being configured to:
send a sleep command from the first host to the Serial ATA device, the sleep command directing the Serial ATA device to transition from a normal operating mode to a sleep mode,
provide a notification signal from the first host to the second host, the notification signal indicating that the first host has released control of the Serial ATA device to the second host, and
send a wake command from the second host to the Serial ATA device in response to the notification signal, the wake command directing the Serial ATA device to transition from the sleep mode to the normal operating mode.
2. The data storage system of claim 1 wherein the first host, when providing the notification signal to the second host, is configured to:
receive a completion signal at the first host from the Serial ATA device, the completion signal indicating that the Serial ATA device (i) has completed performance of a set of data storage operations between the first host and the Serial ATA device with no outstanding transactions at the Serial ATA device and (ii) has entered the sleep mode; and
transmit the notification signal from the first host to the second host following receipt of the completion signal at the first host.
3. The data storage system of claim 2 wherein the communications medium includes:
a multiplexer circuit configured to transition control of the Serial ATA device between the first and second hosts; the multiplexer circuit having a first selectable port connected to the first host, a second selectable port connected to the second host, common port connected to the Serial ATA device, and a control interface connected to both the first host and the second host; the multiplexer circuit, when transitioning control of the Serial ATA device from the first host to the second host, being configured to:
receive a first multiplexer control signal from the first host through the control interface;
receive a second multiplexer control signal from the second host through the control interface; and
switch connection of the common port from the first selectable port to the second selectable port in response to the first and second multiplexer control signals.
4. The data storage system of claim 1 wherein the second host, while the first host sends the sleep command to the Serial ATA device, is configured to:
exchange data storage communications with an external client.
5. The data storage system of claim 1 wherein the first host, while the second host sends the wake command to the Serial ATA device, is configured to:
exchange data storage communications with an external client.
6. The data storage system of claim 1 wherein the first and second hosts are further configured to:
after a set of data storage operations is performed between the second host and the Serial ATA device with no outstanding transactions at the Serial ATA device, send another sleep command from the second host to the Serial ATA device, the other sleep command directing the Serial ATA device to transition from the normal operating mode to the sleep mode;
provide another notification signal from the second host to the first host, the other notification signal indicating that the second host has released control of the Serial ATA device to the first host; and
send another wake command from the first host to the Serial ATA device in response to the other notification signal, the other wake command directing the Serial ATA device to transition from the sleep mode to the normal operating mode.
7. A data storage system, comprising:
a Serial ATA device; and
a control subsystem having a first host, a second host, and a communications medium which interconnects the first and second hosts to the Serial ATA device; the first and second hosts being configured to share control of the Serial ATA device through the communications medium; the first and second hosts including:
means for sending a sleep command from the first host to the Serial ATA device, the sleep command directing the Serial ATA device to transition from a normal operating mode to a sleep mode,
means for providing a notification signal from the first host to the second host, the notification signal indicating that the first host has released control of the Serial ATA device to the second host, and
means for sending a wake command from the second host to the Serial ATA device in response to the notification signal, the wake command directing the Serial ATA device to transition from the sleep mode to the normal operating mode.
8. A control subsystem for a data storage system, the control subsystem comprising:
a first host;
a second host; and
a communications medium which is configured to connect the first and second hosts to a Serial ATA device; the first and second hosts being configured to share control of the Serial ATA device through the communications medium when the communications medium connects the first and second hosts to the Serial ATA device; the first and second hosts, when transitioning control of the Serial ATA device, being configured to:
send a sleep command from the first host to the Serial ATA device, the sleep command directing the Serial ATA device to transition from a normal operating mode to a sleep mode,
provide a notification signal from the first host to the second host, the notification signal indicating that the first host has released control of the Serial ATA device to the second host, and
send a wake command from the second host to the Serial ATA device in response to the notification signal, the wake command directing the Serial ATA device to transition from the sleep mode to the normal operating mode.
9. The control subsystem of claim 8 wherein the first host, when providing the notification signal to the second host, is configured to:
receive a completion signal at the first host from the Serial ATA device, the completion signal indicating that the Serial ATA device (i) has completed performance of a set of data storage operations between the first host and the Serial ATA device with no outstanding transactions at the Serial ATA device and (ii) has entered the sleep mode; and
transmit the notification signal from the first host to the second host following receipt of the completion signal at the first host.
10. The control subsystem of claim 9 wherein the communications medium includes:
a multiplexer circuit configured to transition control of the Serial ATA device between the first and second hosts; the multiplexer circuit having a first selectable port connected to the first host, a second selectable port connected to the second host, common port connected to the Serial ATA device, and a control interface connected to both the first host and the second host; the multiplexer circuit, when transitioning control of the Serial ATA device from the first host to the second host, being configured to:
receive a first multiplexer control signal from the first host through the control interface;
receive a second multiplexer control signal from the second host through the control interface; and
switch connection of the common port from the first selectable port to the second selectable port in response to the first and second multiplexer control signals.
11. The control subsystem of claim 8 wherein the second host, while the first host sends the sleep command to the Serial ATA device, is configured to:
exchange data storage communications with an external client.
12. The control subsystem of claim 8 wherein the first host, while the second host sends the wake command to the Serial ATA device, is configured to:
exchange data storage communications with an external client.
13. The control subsystem of claim 8 wherein the first and second hosts are further configured to:
after a set of data storage operations is performed between the second host and the Serial ATA device with no outstanding transactions at the Serial ATA device, send another sleep command from the second host to the Serial ATA device, the other sleep command directing the Serial ATA device to transition from the normal operating mode to the sleep mode;
provide another notification signal from the second host to the first host, the other notification signal indicating that the second host has released control of the Serial ATA device to the first host; and
send another wake command from the first host to the Serial ATA device in response to the other notification signal, the other wake command directing the Serial ATA device to transition from the sleep mode to the normal operating mode.
14. A control subsystem for a data storage system, the control subsystem comprising:
a first host;
a second host; and
a communications medium which is configured to connect the first and second hosts to a Serial ATA device; the first and second hosts being configured to share control of the Serial ATA device through the communications medium when the communications medium connects the first and second hosts to the Serial ATA device; the first and second hosts including:
means for sending a sleep command from the first host to the Serial ATA device, the sleep command directing the Serial ATA device to transition from a normal operating mode to a sleep mode,
means for providing a notification signal from the first host to the second host, the notification signal indicating that the first host has released control of the Serial ATA device to the second host, and
means for sending a wake command from the second host to the Serial ATA device in response to the notification signal, the wake command directing the Serial ATA device to transition from the sleep mode to the normal operating mode.
15. In a Serial ATA communications system having a first host, a second host and a Serial ATA device, a method for transitioning control of the Serial ATA device between hosts, the method comprising:
sending a sleep command from the first host to the Serial ATA device, the sleep command directing the Serial ATA device to transition from a normal operating mode to a sleep mode;
providing a notification signal from the first host to the second host, the notification signal indicating that the first host has released control of the Serial ATA device to the second host; and
sending a wake command from the second host to the Serial ATA device in response to the notification signal, the wake command directing the Serial ATA device to transition from the sleep mode to the normal operating mode.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein providing the notification signal from the first host to the second host includes:
receiving a completion signal at the first host from the Serial ATA device, the completion signal indicating that the Serial ATA device (i) has completed performance of a set of data storage operations between the first host and the Serial ATA device with no outstanding transactions at the Serial ATA device and (ii) has entered the sleep mode; and
transmitting the notification signal from the first host to the second host following receipt of the completion signal at the first host.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein a multiplexer circuit include a first selectable port connected to the first host, a second selectable port connected to the second host, common port connected to the Serial ATA device, and a control interface connected to both the first host and the second host; and wherein the method further comprises:
receiving a first multiplexer control signal from the first host through the control interface;
receiving a second multiplexer control signal from the second host through the control interface; and
switching connection of the common port from the first selectable port to the second selectable port in response to the first and second multiplexer control signals.
18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:
exchanging data storage communications between the second host and an external client while sending the sleep command from the first host to the Serial ATA device.
19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:
exchanging data storage communications between the first host and an external client while sending the wake command from the second host to the Serial ATA device.
20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:
after a set of data storage operations is performed between the second host and the Serial ATA device with no outstanding transactions at the Serial ATA device, sending another sleep command from the second host to the Serial ATA device, the other sleep command directing the Serial ATA device to transition from the normal operating mode to the sleep mode;
providing another notification signal from the second host to the first host, the other notification signal indicating that the second host has released control of the Serial ATA device to the first host; and
sending another wake command from the first host to the Serial ATA device in response to the other notification signal, the other wake command directing the Serial ATA device to transition from the sleep mode to the normal operating mode.