JP2008152693A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent information leakage more easily and more surely in a shorter processing time. <P>SOLUTION: There are provided a memory 8 for recording information; and controllers 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 for applying an unspecified voltage, which is so high as to break an electric circuit 33, to the electric circuit 33 arranged in the memory 8 in response to a predetermined operation. Namely, when a specified voltage is applied, the electric circuit 33 normally controls the memory 8 with the specified voltage, and when an unspecified voltage is applied, the memory is broken. At this time, an information processor 10 breaks the memory 8 more quickly so that information leakage can be prevented more easily, even when the memory 8 is difficult to remove. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, and more particularly to an information processing apparatus used when preventing information leakage from a built-in storage device.

  When an information processing apparatus (for example, a personal computer) is discarded, there is a risk of information leakage from a hard disk drive (hereinafter abbreviated as “HDD” in this specification) built in the information processing apparatus. Are known. As a method for preventing such information leakage, it is exemplified that the HDD is physically destroyed by removing the HDD from the information processing apparatus and causing an impact (dropping) of the HDD alone. Such a method is useful when the HDD can be easily removed from the information processing apparatus.

  When the HDD cannot be easily removed from the information processing apparatus, the information processing apparatus itself is shocked (dropped) to physically destroy the HDD, and the HDD is initialized (formatted) on Windows (registered trademark). An example is to request a dismantling contractor to disassemble the HDD and dispose it. When the information processing apparatus 101 is dropped, the information processing apparatus main body may be broken. At this time, the information processing apparatus 101 cannot confirm whether or not the HDD is physically destroyed, and information leakage may occur when the impact pressure resistance of the HDD is large and the HDD is not broken. The information processing apparatus 102 may take time and effort to initialize (format) the HDD, and there is an application for restoring information from the initialized HDD, which does not prevent reliable information leakage. . The information processing apparatus 102 incurs a cost when it is disposed of after disassembling the HDD after requesting a dismantling company. An HDD built in an information processing apparatus is desired to prevent information leakage more easily, faster, cheaper and more reliably.

  Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-301548 discloses a data erasing device that can make an information processing device in an inoperable state. The data erasing device is a data erasing device for erasing data of an information processing device by a basic input / output system having a data erasing function, and the basic input / output system uses the data erasing function to The data erasing process can be executed by selecting one of the data erasing levels, and the highest erasing level among the plurality of data erasing levels is a complete discard erasing that destroys the basic input / output system itself. If the complete discard erasure level is selected, the basic input / output system uses the data erasure function to destroy the basic input / output system itself and activate the information processing apparatus. It is characterized by making it impossible.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-127585 discloses a hard disk device that prevents data leakage by disabling data recorded with a simple configuration when the hard disk device is discarded. The hard disk device includes a recording medium having a recording surface on which data is recorded, and a reading unit that reads data from the recording surface, and a damaged member that contacts the recording surface and scratches the recording surface. And a holding member that holds the damaged member in a normal position not in contact with the recording surface, and a switching member that moves in conjunction with the holding member and moves the damaged member to a damaged position in contact with the recording surface. It is characterized by.

JP 2005-301548 A JP 2006-127585 A

An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus that more easily prevents information leakage.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus with a shorter processing time for preventing information leakage.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus that more reliably prevents information leakage.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus that is less expensive to prevent information leakage.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus that can more easily prevent information leakage from a general-purpose storage device.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus that prevents other electric circuits from being damaged when executing processing for preventing information leakage.

  In the following, means for solving the problems will be described using the reference numerals used in the best modes and embodiments for carrying out the invention in parentheses. This reference numeral is added to clarify the correspondence between the description of the claims and the description of the best mode for carrying out the invention / example, and is described in the claims. It should not be used to interpret the technical scope of the invention.

  The information processing device (10) according to the present invention includes an electric circuit (33) and a storage device (8) for recording information, and an electric circuit (33) included in the storage device (8) in response to a predetermined operation. And a control device (2, 3, 5, 6, 7) that applies a voltage that is not high enough to break. That is, the electrical circuit (33) normally controls the storage device (8) using the specified voltage when the specified voltage is applied, and breaks when the non-specified voltage is applied. At this time, the information processing apparatus (10) according to the present invention can prevent information leakage more easily by destroying the storage apparatus (8) faster even when the storage apparatus (8) is difficult to remove. can do.

  The information processing apparatus (10) according to the present invention further includes a fuse (16) that prevents a current larger than a predetermined current from flowing through the electric circuit (33). At this time, the information processing apparatus (10) according to the present invention prevents other circuits included in the information processing apparatus (10) from being damaged when an unspecified voltage is applied to the electric circuit (33). Can do.

  The information processing apparatus (10) according to the present invention further includes a protective cover (32) that covers the electric circuit (33). The electrical circuit (33) may ignite, smoke or rupture when an unspecified voltage is applied. In the information processing apparatus (10) according to the present invention, when an unspecified voltage is applied to the electric circuit (33), the influence is reduced and other circuits included in the information processing apparatus (10) are damaged. Can be prevented.

  The storage device (8) includes a motor that rotates the disk, and an actuator that moves a head that approaches the disk and writes information to the disk or reads information from the disk when approaching the disk. The control device (2, 3, 5, 6, 7) controls the motor and the actuator, and applies an unspecified voltage to the electric circuit (33) when the disk rotates and the head approaches the disk. Apply. At this time, the disk may break when the head collides with the disk, and the information processing apparatus (10) according to the present invention can more reliably prevent information leakage.

  The storage device (8) may be a flash ROM or an MO.

  The information processing apparatus according to the present invention can more easily prevent information leakage without requiring the storage device to be taken out.

  An embodiment of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing apparatus 10 includes an information processing apparatus main body 1, an input device 2, and a display 3. The information processing apparatus main body 1 is electrically connected to the input device 2 and the display 3 so that information can be transmitted. The input device 2 generates information by being operated by the user, and outputs the information to the information processing apparatus main body 1. Examples of the input device 2 include a keyboard and a mouse. The display 3 includes a display surface, and displays a screen generated by the information processing apparatus main body 1 on the display surface.

  The information processing apparatus main body 1 includes a CPU 5, a ROM 6, a control board 7, and an HDD unit 8. The CPU 5 executes a computer program installed in the information processing apparatus main body 1 to control the input device 2, the display 3, the ROM 6, the control board 7, and the HDD unit 8. The ROM 6 records the BIOS that is the computer program. The control board 7 is controlled by the CPU 5 and supplies power to the HDD unit 8 by applying a predetermined voltage to the HDD unit 8. The HDD unit 8 operates using electric power supplied from the control board 7. The HDD unit 8 records a computer program installed in the information processing apparatus main body 1. The HDD unit 8 is further controlled by the CPU 5, records information generated by the CPU 5, and outputs information requested by the CPU 5 to the CPU 5.

  The control board 7 includes an LSI 11, an inverter 12, an FET 14, an FET 15, and a fuse 16, and includes a plurality of nodes 17, 18, 19, and 20. The node 17 is electrically connected to a power supply device (not shown), and a specified voltage of 5V is applied to the reference potential by the power supply device. The node 18 is electrically connected to the power supply device, and an unspecified voltage of 12 V is applied by the power supply device with respect to the reference potential. The node 20 is electrically connected to the cable 21. The cable 21 electrically connects the control board 7 and the HDD unit 8.

  The LSI 11 is controlled by the CPU 5 to generate the signal 22 and outputs the signal 22 to the inverter 12 and the FET 14 via GPIO. The signal 22 indicates one of “1” (High level) or “0” (Low level). The inverter 12 generates a signal 23 based on the signal 22. The signal 23 indicates “0” (Low level) when the signal 22 indicates “1” (High level), and indicates “1” (High level) when the signal 22 indicates “0” (Low level). Show. The FET 14 electrically connects the node 17 and the node 19 when the signal 22 indicates “1” (High level), and the node 17 and the node 19 when the signal 22 indicates “0” (Low level). Is electrically disconnected. The FET 15 electrically connects the node 18 and the node 19 when the signal 23 indicates “1” (High level), and the node 15 and the node 19 when the signal 23 indicates “0” (Low level). Is electrically disconnected. The fuse 16 is interposed between the node 19 and the node 20 and electrically connects the node 19 and the node 20. The fuse 16 melts and electrically disconnects the node 19 and the node 20 when a current larger than a predetermined current flows between the node 19 and the node 20. The fuse 16 prevents an overcurrent from flowing between the power supply device and the HDD unit 8 when the HDD unit 8 is short-circuited, and other circuits included in the information processing apparatus main body 1 prevent the overcurrent. Protect the circuit so that it is not affected.

  At this time, the node 19 is electrically connected to only one of the node 17 and the node 18, and the node 17 and the node 18 are always electrically disconnected. That is, when the signal 22 indicates “1” (High level), a specified voltage of 5 V is applied to the HDD unit 8, and when the signal 22 indicates “0” (Low level), an unspecified voltage of 12 V is applied. Applied.

  FIG. 2 shows the HDD unit 8. The HDD unit 8 includes an HDD unit main body 31 and a protective cover 32. The HDD unit main body 31 includes an HDD control LSI 33, a motor, a disk, an actuator, and a head (not shown). The motor rotates the disk at high speed. The disk has a magnetic surface coated with a magnetic material. The actuator brings the head closer to a predetermined portion of the magnetic surface. The head writes information by magnetizing the portion, and reads information by detecting the magnetism of the portion. The HDD control LSI 33 is formed of a plurality of LSIs and is disposed on the electrical component surface 34 of the HDD unit main body 31. The HDD control LSI 33 is electrically connected to the cable 21 and is controlled by the CPU 5 to control its motor, actuator, and head when a specified voltage (5 V) is applied. That is, the HDD control LSI 33 is controlled by the CPU 5 to rotate the disk using the motor, arrange the head at a predetermined position using the actuator, and use the head to provide information on the position of the disk. And read information from that position on the disk using the head.

  The HDD unit 8 is controlled by the CPU 5 and the mode is switched. The modes include a write (read) mode and a retract mode. When the HDD unit 8 is in the write (read) mode, the disk rotates at high speed and the head approaches the magnetic surface of the disk. When the HDD unit 8 is in the write (read) mode, the information generated by the CPU 5 is written to the disk, and the information requested by the CPU 5 is read from the disk. The HDD unit 8 is a case where the head approaches the magnetic surface of the disk. When the rotation of the disk stops, the head collides with the magnetic surface, and the disk and the head are physically separated. It will break and become unrepairable. When the HDD unit 8 is in the retract mode, even if the disk stops rotating, the head is arranged in a safe place so that the head does not contact the magnetic surface of the disk.

  The HDD control LSI 33 is electrically destroyed by the control board 7 when a voltage (12 V) higher than the specified voltage is applied. The HDD control LSI 33 may short-circuit, ignite, smoke, or burst (burst) when an unspecified voltage of 12 V is applied. When the HDD control LSI 33 is destroyed, the HDD unit 8 cannot control the motor, actuator, and head using the HDD control LSI 33, and cannot write information to the disk. Information cannot be read.

  The protective cover 32 covers the electrical component surface 34. The protective cover 32 protects the circuit so that other circuits included in the information processing apparatus main body 1 are not affected when the HDD control LSI 33 ignites, smokes, or bursts (bursts).

  FIG. 3 shows a BIOS setup menu screen 41 generated when the BIOS recorded in the ROM 6 is executed. The BIOS is activated when the “F2” key on the keyboard of the input device 2 is pressed immediately after the information processing apparatus body 1 is turned on. The BIOS setup menu screen 41 includes a hard disk name display field 42 and a crash display field 43. In the hard disk name display field 42, the name of the HDD unit 8 is displayed when the HDD unit 8 operates normally, and nothing is displayed when the HDD unit 8 does not operate normally. In the crash display field 43, the character string “Crush” is displayed.

  The operation of the information processing apparatus 10 includes a normal operation and an operation for preventing information leakage.

  In the normal operation, the information processing apparatus 10 outputs a signal 22 indicating “1” (High level) to the LSI 11, applies a specified voltage of 5 V to the HDD unit 8 using the control board 7, and applies the HDD unit 8. To supply power. At this time, in the HDD unit 8, the HDD control LSI 33 controls the motor, the actuator, and the head using the electric power, records the information generated by the CPU 5, and outputs the information requested by the CPU 5 to the CPU 5.

  The operation for preventing the information leakage is a process indicated by the BIOS recorded in the ROM 6, and is executed when a predetermined operation is performed on the information processing apparatus 10. That is, the information processing apparatus 10 activates the BIOS when the “F2” key on the keyboard of the input apparatus 2 is pressed immediately after the information processing apparatus body 1 is turned on. When the BIOS is activated, the information processing apparatus 10 displays a BIOS setup menu screen 41 on the display 3. The information processing apparatus 10 further switches the HDD unit 8 to the write (read) mode when the crash display field 43 of the BIOS setup menu screen 41 is selected by the user's operation of the input device 2, and uses the control board 7. Then, an unspecified voltage of 12V is applied to the HDD unit 8.

  In the HDD unit 8, when an unspecified voltage of 12 V is applied in the write (read) mode, the HDD control LSI 33 is electrically destroyed, and the motor, actuator, and head cannot be controlled. When an unspecified voltage of 12 V is applied in the writing (reading) mode, the HDD unit 8 burns out the conductive wire of the coil included in the HDD unit 8 and the conductive wire comes into contact with the disk and damages the disk. It becomes impossible to read the information recorded in. When the HDD unit 8 cannot control the motor, the actuator, and the head, the rotation of the disk further stops, the head collides with the magnetic surface of the disk, and the disk and the head are physically separated. The information recorded on the disc cannot be read out.

  That is, the information processing apparatus 10 can prevent information leakage by the HDD unit 8 more easily and cheaply without removing the HDD unit 8 from the information processing apparatus main body 1, and can perform processing for preventing information leakage. Time can be shortened. Furthermore, the information processing apparatus 10 can more easily prevent information leakage by the HDD unit 8 even if the HDD unit 8 is a general-purpose product that does not include special parts for preventing information leakage. Can be manufactured at a lower cost.

  The user can confirm that information is not leaked from the HDD unit 8 by operating the information processing apparatus 10 after the operation for preventing the information leakage is executed. That is, the user presses the “F2” key on the keyboard of the input device 2 immediately after the information processing device body 1 is turned on after the operation for preventing the information leakage is executed. At this time, the information processing apparatus 10 activates the BIOS and displays the BIOS setup menu screen on the display 3. The BIOS setup menu screen 51 displays nothing in the hard disk name display field 52 as shown in FIG. 4 when the HDD unit 8 does not operate normally. That is, the user determines whether the hard disk name is described in the hard disk name display field 52 of the BIOS setup menu screen 51 or not, thereby confirming whether the HDD unit 8 operates normally or does not operate. It is possible to prevent information leakage by the HDD unit 8 more reliably.

  The HDD control LSI 33 may short-circuit, ignite, smoke, or burst (burst) when an unspecified voltage of 12 V is applied. The information processing apparatus 10 includes the information processing apparatus body 1 by using a fuse 16 to prevent an overcurrent from flowing between the power supply apparatus and the HDD unit 8 when the HDD unit 8 is short-circuited. The circuit can be protected so that the other circuit is not affected by the overcurrent. When the HDD unit 8 ignites, smokes, or ruptures (bursts), the information processing apparatus 10 uses the protective cover 32 so that other circuits included in the information processing apparatus body 1 are not affected. In addition, the circuit can be protected. The information processing apparatus 10 can more reliably confirm whether the HDD unit 8 operates normally or not by not damaging the circuit.

  In another embodiment of the information processing apparatus according to the present invention, the operation for preventing information leakage in the above-described embodiment is replaced with another operation. In the operation, the information processing apparatus 10 applies a non-regulated voltage of 12 V to the HDD unit 8 using the control board 7 without switching the HDD unit 8 to the write (read) mode. At this time, the HDD unit 8 does not collide with the magnetic surface of the disk, and the disk and the head may not be physically broken, but the HDD control LSI 33 is electrically destroyed and recorded on the disk. Information cannot be read. When an unspecified voltage of 12 V is applied, the HDD unit 8 burns out the coil conductors of the HDD unit 8 and the conductors contact the disk to damage the information recorded on the disk. It may become impossible to read. That is, according to such an operation, the leakage of information recorded in the storage device can be prevented more easily, faster, and cheaply in the same manner as the operation for preventing the leakage of information in the above-described embodiment. can do.

  In still another embodiment of the information processing apparatus according to the present invention, the HDD unit 8 of the information processing apparatus 10 in the above-described embodiment is replaced with another storage device. Examples of the storage device include flash ROM and MO. Such an information processing apparatus can prevent leakage of information recorded in the storage device more easily, faster, and at a lower cost in the same manner as the information processing apparatus 10 in the above-described embodiment. .

  In another embodiment of the information processing apparatus according to the present invention, the HDD unit 8 in the above-described embodiment is replaced with another HDD unit that does not include the protective cover 32. Such an information processing apparatus is applied when the HDD control LSI 33 is disposed at a position where the other circuit is not affected even if the HDD control LSI 33 ignites, smokes, or ruptures. Similarly to the information processing apparatus 10 in the above-described embodiment, leakage of information recorded in the storage device can be prevented more easily, faster, and cheaper.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the HDD unit. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a BIOS setup menu screen. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a BIOS setup menu screen displayed after the operation for preventing information leakage is executed. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a known operation for preventing information leakage from the information processing apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

1: Information processing device main body 2: Input device 3: Display 5: CPU
6: ROM
7: Control board 8: HDD unit 10: Information processing device 11: LSI
12: Inverter 14: FET
15: FET
16: fuse 17: node 18: node 19: node 20: node 21: cable 22: signal 23: signal 31: HDD unit main body 32: protective cover 33: HDD control LSI
34: Electrical component side 41: BIOS setup menu screen 42: Hard disk name display field 43: Crash display field

Claims (6)

A storage device for recording information;
An information processing apparatus comprising: a control device that applies an unspecified voltage high enough to break the electric circuit to an electric circuit included in the storage device in response to a predetermined operation. In claim 1,
An information processing apparatus further comprising a fuse for preventing a current larger than a predetermined current from flowing through the electric circuit. In either claim 1 or claim 2,
An information processing apparatus further comprising a protective cover that covers the electric circuit. In any one of Claims 1-3,
The storage device
A motor that rotates the disk;
An actuator that moves a head that approaches the disk and writes information to the disk, or moves a head that reads information from the disk when approaching the disk;
The control circuit controls the motor and the actuator, and applies the non-regulated voltage to the electric circuit when the disk rotates and the head approaches the disk. In any one of Claims 1-3,
The storage device is a flash ROM. In any one of Claims 1-3,
The storage device is an MO information processing device.

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