Digital device configuration and method

• US 20050154823A1
• Filed: 03/07/2005
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elite Gaming Tech LLC (Alpha Alpha Intellectual Partners LLC), Cornice Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Benhov GmbH, LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Bruner, Curtis H., Carlson, Lance R., Mast, Jeffrey E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,162,577 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/112
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0626 Reducing size or complexity of storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0658 Controller construction arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0676 Magnetic disk device
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2516 Hard disks
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/36 Monitoring, i.e. supervising the progress of recording or reproducing for digital recording G11B20/00 and s.gr.; for monitoring, testing or measuring of TV recorders of the type covered by H04N5/76 and subgroups, see H04N17/06

Abstract

An electromechanical data storage arrangement is interfaced with a host. The interface may include a conductor that carries read and write gate signals. Another conductor carries both a servo sync mark and an error signal. The storage arrangement includes an external serial interface connected to a host serial interface applying a device identification to a portion of serial control-related data that travels over the interface. A serial router in the storage arrangement uses the device identification to manage the control-related data between the interface and a number of serial devices and associated interfaces within the storage arrangement. The serial router is in selective data communication with each of the device serial interfaces, for using the device identification to direct a host-asserted command to a targeted device where each device is controlled by a different command set such that the system can be customized for different command sets of different devices.

Claims

1. In a digital system, an assembly comprising:

an electromechanical digital data storage arrangement including a rotatable disk and at least responsive to a read gate signal for initiating a read therefrom and responsive to a write gate signal for initiating a write thereto;

a host device that is configured for controlling the data storage arrangement and for generating said read gate signal and said write gate signal in a mutually exclusive way; and

an interface electrically interconnecting the data storage arrangement and the host device using a plurality of electrical conductors such that a selected one of the conductors carries both the read gate signal and the write gate signal.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said electromechanical storage arrangement is configured for storing servo information and user data on the rotatable disk and for generating a servo synchronization signal responsive to handling said servo information and for generating an error signal responsive to detection of an error relating at least to said user data and said host device is configured for controlling the data storage arrangement, at least in part, by using said servo synchronization signal and said error signal, and said interface includes a particular one of the conductors which carries both the servo synchronization signal and the error signal in a mutually exclusive manner.

3. In a digital system, a method comprising the steps of:

providing an electromechanical digital data storage arrangement including a rotatable disk and being at least responsive to a read gate signal for initiating a read therefrom and responsive to a write gate signal for initiating a write thereto;

configuring a host device for controlling the data storage arrangement and for generating said read gate signal and said write gate signal in a mutually exclusive way; and

arranging an interface for electrically interconnecting the data storage arrangement and the host device using a plurality of electrical conductors such that a selected one of the conductors carries both the read gate signal and the write gate signal.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said electromechanical storage arrangement is configured for storing servo information and user data on the rotatable disk and for generating a servo synchronization signal responsive to handling said servo information and for generating an error signal responsive to detection of an error relating at least to said user data and said host device is configured for controlling the data storage arrangement, at least in part, by using said servo synchronization signal and said error signal, and the step of arranging the interface includes the step of using a particular one of the conductors to carry both the servo synchronization signal and the error signal in a mutually exclusive manner.

5. In a digital system, an assembly comprising:

an electromechanical digital data storage arrangement including a rotatable disk having servo information and user data storable thereon and configured for generating a servo synchronization signal responsive to said servo information and at least for generating an error signal responsive to detection of an error relating to said user data;

a host device that is configured for controlling the data storage arrangement, at least in part, by using said servo synchronization signal and said error signal; and

an interface electrically interconnecting the data storage arrangement and the host device using a plurality of electrical conductors such that a selected one of the conductors carries both the servo synchronization signal and the error signal in a mutually exclusive manner.

6. In a digital system, a method comprising the steps of:

providing an electromechanical digital data storage arrangement including a rotatable disk having servo information and user data storable thereon and configured for generating a servo synchronization signal responsive to said servo information and at least for generating an error signal responsive to detection of an error relating to said user data;

configuring a host device for controlling the data storage arrangement, at least in part, by using said servo synchronization signal and said error signal; and

arranging an interface to electrically interconnect the data storage arrangement and the host device using a plurality of electrical conductors such that a selected one of the conductors carries both the servo synchronization signal and the error signal in a mutually exclusive manner.