IDE disk drive arrangement that combines the capacity of a master drive and slave drive while hiding the presence of slave drive to a host computer
US5996045A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 8, 1997 |
| Grant date | Nov 30, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 8, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F13/385
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention comprises two IDE disk drives for connection to an IDE bus, configured as a master drive and a slave drive. In the present invention, both drives are capable of receiving commands from a host computer connected to the IDE bus. Depending on the type of conunand which is received, the drive which receives the command determines the appropriate response to the command and initiates a sequence which, in cooperation with the other drive, ensures that the command is executed properly. Thus, the host sends commands over the IDE bus thinking that only one drive is present, and the drives handle between themselves how to respond to the command in a way that mimics the response of a single drive.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.