ATAPI state machine controlled by a microcontroller for interfacing a DVD controller with an ATA host bus
US6105107A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 30, 1998 |
| Grant date | Aug 15, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 30, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F11/10
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A digital-versatile disk (DVD) controller interfaces to an AT bus using ATAPI commands delivered in command packets. A microcontroller executes firmware routines to control the servo that positions the read head, and reads data sectors from the DVD disk. The microcontroller also performs error correction on the DVD data in a disk buffer. A host state machine is used to interface to the AT bus. State transitions in the host state machine are enabled or blocked by the microcontroller by setting auto-transition bits in a state-control register. The microcontroller can set auto bits to allow the host state machine to automatically receive multi-byte command packets, or to transfer data or send status to the host without microcontroller intervention. The microcontroller also has the option of performing any of these steps manually, such as for more complex ATAPI commands. Overlapping ATAPI commands are allowed when the AT bus is released. The host state machine can be programmed to wait for a service command from the host after the bus is released, and then automatically transfer data or status. Transfer errors send interrupts to the microcontroller so it can execute recovery routines.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.