Serial ATA control circuit for automatically switching connection path

• US 20040088441A1
• Filed: 08/12/2003
• Published: 05/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VIA Technologies Incorporated (VIA Technologies)
• Original Assignee: VIA Technologies Incorporated (VIA Technologies)
• Inventors: Wang, Tse-Hsien, Chiang, Chinyi
• Granted Patent: US 7,085,861 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4022 using switching circuits, e.g. switching matrix, connection or expansion network G06F13/4009 takes precedence

Abstract

A serial ATA control circuit is provided. The control circuit includes a plurality of serial ATA controllers, a plurality of port controlling circuits, a plurality of switch devices, and a switch controller. Each of the serial ATA controllers has a memory accessing controller and two transceivers. The serial ATA control circuit is connected to at least one serial ATA device through the port controlling circuits. The a plurality of port controlling circuits are connected to corresponding serial ATA controllers through the plurality of switch devices controlled by the switch controller. The connection path between each port controlling circuit and corresponding serial ATA controller is selected by the switch controller to achieve optimal data transfer rate.

Claims

1. A serial ATA control circuit for automatically switching a connection path, comprising

a plurality of serial ATA controllers, each having at least one of memory accessing controller and two of transceivers;

a plurality of switch devices;

a plurality of port controlling circuits connected to said plurality of serial ATA controllers through said switch devices;

wherein each of said switch device has a plurality of input ends connected to said port controlling circuits and an output end connected to corresponding one of said transceivers, one of said port controlling circuits is selectively connected corresponding one of said transceivers by said switch devices.

2. The serial ATA control circuit as in claim 1, wherein said switch device has a plurality of switches, each having an input end connected to corresponding one of said port controlling circuits and an output end connected to one of said transceivers.

3. The serial ATA control circuit as in claim 2, further comprising a switch controller having a plurality of detecting ends connected to said port controlling circuits and a plurality of output ends connected to said switch devices, each of said detecting ends detecting a connection status of each of said port controlling circuits with respect to a serial ATA device, each of said output ends sending a control signal to each of said switch devices for selecting a connection path between each of said port controlling circuits and corresponding transceiver.

4. The serial ATA control circuit as in claim 3, wherein said switch controller sends said control signal to turn on or off each of said switches.

5. The serial ATA control circuit as in claim 1, wherein said switch device is a multiplexer.

6. The serial ATA control circuit as in claim 1, wherein said switch controller is programmable.

7. A serial ATA control circuit for automatically switching a connection path, comprising:

a plurality of serial ATA controllers, each having at least one of memory accessing controller and two of transceivers;

a path selection device;

a plurality of port controlling circuits connected to said plurality of serial ATA controllers through said path selection device;

wherein one of said port controlling circuits is selectively connected corresponding one transceiver by said path selection device.

8. The serial ATA control circuit as in claim 7, wherein said path selection device comprises:

a plurality of switch devices, each having a plurality of input ends connected to corresponding said port controlling circuits and an output end connected to corresponding one of said transceivers; and

a switch controller for controlling a connection path between one of said port controlling circuits and corresponding one of said transceivers.

9. The serial ATA control circuit as in claim 8, wherein said switch device has a plurality of switches, each having an input end connected to corresponding one of said port controlling circuits and an output end connected to one of said transceivers.

10. The serial ATA control circuit as in claim 9, wherein said switch controller sends a control signal to turn on or off each of said switches.

11. The serial ATA control circuit as in claim 8, wherein said switch device is a multiplexer.

12. The serial ATA control circuit as in claim 7, wherein said path selection device is programmable.

13. The serial ATA control circuit as in claim 8, wherein said switch controller is programmable.