Arbitrating battery power calibration in an intelligent storage element

• US 20080007219A1
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Published: 01/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Williams, Jeffrey A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,519,673 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/116
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus is provided with a system load and a plurality of batteries that are individually selectable to provide power to the load, and arbitration circuitry configured to selectively calibrate each of the batteries in relation to respective calibration status data stored in memory for each of the batteries. The arbitration circuitry executes a method for comparing charging records of each of the plurality of batteries, and then instigating a battery power calibration procedure to a selected battery of the plurality of batteries in relation to results of the comparing step.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

comparing charging records of each of a plurality of batteries that are alternatively selectable to provide power in a system; and

instigating a battery power calibration procedure to a selected battery of the plurality of batteries in relation to results of the comparing step.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the comparing step is characterized by storing data associated with charging the batteries to memory and subsequently retrieving the data from the memory.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the comparing step is characterized by data that indicate a power calibration status for each battery.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the comparing step is characterized by data that indicate a time stamp associated with each calibration status.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the comparing step is characterized by data that indicate a power calibration status of done.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the comparing step is characterized by data that indicate a power calibration status of active.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the comparing step is characterized by data that indicate a power calibration status of pending.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the comparing step is characterized by data that indicate a power calibration status of failed.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the comparing step is characterized by data that indicate an unknown calibration status.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the comparing step is characterized by determining when a battery needs to be calibrated.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the comparing step is characterized by determining which battery is calibrated first when two or more batteries need to be calibrated.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the comparing step is characterized by identifying at least one battery exists with a power calibration status of done before calibrating another battery.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the comparing step is characterized by signaling a system alarm when no battery exists with a battery power calibration status of done.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the comparing step is characterized by signaling a system alarm when a battery power calibration status is failed.

15. An intelligent storage element apparatus in a distributed storage system configured to carry out the method of claim 1.

16. An apparatus comprising a system load and a plurality of batteries that are individually selectable to provide power to the load, and arbitration circuitry configured to selectively calibrate each of the batteries in relation to respective calibration status data stored in memory for each of the batteries.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the arbitration circuitry is configured to selectively calibrate the batteries in relation to a hierarchy of calibration statuses from a set consisting of calibration done status, calibration active status, calibration pending status, and calibration failed status.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the arbitration circuitry is configured to calibrate a battery only if another battery exists with a calibration done status.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 in an intelligent storage element of a distributed storage system.

20. A data storage system comprising:

an array of data storage devices operable via a selectable battery from a plurality of redundant batteries; and

means for arbitrating power calibration of the batteries to maintain at least one battery in service to power the array.