Patent · US Active

Storage subsystem with embedded circuit for protecting against anomalies in power signal from host

US7733712B1 · kind B1 · utility

237Cited by
29References
28Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 20, 2008
Grant dateJun 8, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 27, 2028

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C5/141
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A storage subsystem includes a charge pump that receives a power signal from a host system, and generates a regulated power signal that is provided to the storage subsystem's controller. When the power signal from the host is interrupted, the charge pump additionally acts as a backup power supply to enable the storage subsystem to continue to operate temporarily, and power isolation circuitry in the storage subsystem prevents power from flowing back to the host system. The storage subsystem further includes a digitally programmable voltage detection circuit that accepts various supply voltages and asserts a busy signal to the controller when an anomaly in the power signal is detected. The controller includes logic circuitry that will block the host system from performing write operations to the storage subsystem either when the voltage detection circuit asserts a busy signal or when the controller is busy executing memory operation commands.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.