Data storage apparatus

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In view of these problems, the present invention has been undertaken to realize a recording/reproducing apparatus for use in a system employing a recording medium for electronic data storage, which is particularly suitable for the preservation of a large quantity of data, and to achieve the optimal convenience of use by employing, for example, a small capacity portable recording medium.
According to the invention, there is provided a data storage apparatus comprising: a built-in recording medium having a first recording capacity, housed undetachably in a recording apparatus having a relatively small capacity, as recording medium for a still camera or the like; a head always kept in contact with said built-in recording medium to execute a recording/reproducing operation on said built-in recording medium; a signal processing unit for encoding data for said built-in recording medium with said head and decoding data reproduced from said built-in recording medium with said head; an insertion receptacle capable of letting a portable external recording medium, having a smaller recording capacity than said first recording capacity, be inserted thereinto; a data bus for allowing data to be transferred between the external recording medium inserted into said insertion receptacle and said built-in recording medium; and a transfer control unit for allowing, in a state of standing by for recording, the magnetic head in contact with said built-in recording medium to take refuge in a refuge area where it does not record onto said built-in recording medium, and transferring, in a recording state, the magnetic head in contact with said built-in recording medium to an area where it records onto said built-in recording medium.