METHODS OF CHARGING AUXILIARY POWER SUPPLIES IN DATA STORAGE DEVICES AND RELATED DEVICES

• US 20120117409A1
• Filed: 09/13/2011
• Published: 05/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Song, Sang Hoon, LEE, Sang-Geol
• Granted Patent: US 9,208,894 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/340
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/30 Means for acting in the event of power-supply failure or interruption, e.g. power-supply fluctuations for resetting only G06F1/24
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 16/30 Power supply circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 5/141 Battery and back-up supplies
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 5/147 Voltage reference generators, voltage or current regulators; Internally lowered supply levels; Compensation for voltage drops G11C5/141 takes precedence

Abstract

A method of operating a data storage device can be provided by receiving first power and second power at a data storage device, that includes a semiconductor memory, upon powering on of the data storage device or hot-plugging of the data storage device. The first power can be applied to the data storage device and the second power can be applied after a delay to an auxiliary power supply included in the data storage device based on when an inrush current, generated from applying the first power, occurred. Related devices are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of operating a data storage device comprising:

powering on or hot plugging a data storage device including a semiconductor memory as a main storage unit;

supplying a first power and a second power to the data storage device;

supplying the first power to internal elements of the data storage device;

charging an auxiliary power supply with the second power after the second power is applied to the data storage device and a predetermined time elapses; and

supplying power from the auxiliary power supply to the internal elements of the data storage device upon a sudden loss of power to the data storage device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein charging an auxiliary power supply is performed after an inrush current is generated.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein charging an auxiliary power supply is performed after supplying power to the internal elements of the data storage device ends.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first power and the second power comprise different voltage levels.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first power and the second power comprise equal voltage levels.

6. A data storage device comprising:

at least one non-volatile memory included in a main storage unit;

a storage device controller controlling operations of the at least one non-volatile memory; and

an auxiliary power supply configured to provide auxiliary power to the at least one non-volatile memory and the storage device controller at a sudden power off,

wherein the auxiliary power supply is configured to begin charging operations after an inrush current is generated at a power-on or hot plug operation.

7. The data storage device of claim 6, wherein a charge operation of the auxiliary power starts after supplying power to the at least one non-volatile memory and to the storage device controller ends.

8. The data storage device of claim 7, wherein power provided to the at least one non-volatile memory and the storage device controller and power to charge the auxiliary power supply are supplied from an external device.

9. The data storage device of claim 6, further comprising:

a power supply configured to supply the power provided to the at least one non-volatile memory and the storage device controller and the power to charge the auxiliary power supply.

10. The data storage device of claim 9, wherein the power supply comprises a battery.

11. The data storage device of claim 6, wherein the auxiliary power supply comprises:

a delay unit configured to delay power for charging the auxiliary power supply by a predetermined time;

a charge cell array including at least one charge cell; and

a power charger configured to charge the at least one charge cell with the power delayed by the delay unit,

wherein the charge cell array provides power from the at least one charge cell to the at least one non-volatile memory and to internal elements of the storage device controller as the auxiliary power.

12. The data storage device of claim 11, wherein the at least one or more charge cell includes a super capacitor.

13. The data storage device of claim 11, wherein the delay unit comprises a 555 timer circuit configured to set a delay time based on resistors and capacitors coupled to the 555 timer circuit.

14. The data storage device of claim 13, wherein the delay time is set to allow charging after the inrush current has already occurred.

15. A user device comprising:

a host; and

a data storage device reading or writing data in response to a command received from the host,

wherein the data storage device

at least one or more non-volatile memories used as a main storage unit;

a storage device controller controlling write, erase, and read operations of the at least one or more non-volatile memories; and

an auxiliary power supply providing an auxiliary power to the at least one or more non-volatile memories and the storage device controller at a sudden power off,

wherein the auxiliary power supply starts to perform a charge operation after an inrush current is generated at a power-on or hot plug operation.

16. A data processing system comprising:

a plurality of users connected with a local network;

a mass storage device having a plurality of data storage devices;

an Ethernet switch connected with the mass storage device; and

a plurality of servers providing the users with data storage spaces of the mass storage device which are assigned via the Ethernet switch,

wherein each of the plurality of data storage devices comprises;

at least one or more non-volatile memories used as a main storage unit;

a storage device controller controlling write, erase, and read operations of the at least one or more non-volatile memories; and

an auxiliary power supply providing an auxiliary power to the at least one or more non-volatile memories and the storage device controller at a sudden power off, the auxiliary power supply starting to perform a charge operation after an inrush current is generated at a power-on or hot plug operation.

17. The data processing system of claim 16, wherein the mass storage device includes at least one or more engines, each having a plurality of disk array enclosures and each of the plurality of disk array enclosures having the data storage device by plurality.

18. The data processing system of claim 16, wherein a charge operation of the auxiliary power is started after supplying of a power to the at least one or more non-volatile memories and internal elements of the storage device controller is ended.

19. The data processing system of claim 16, wherein the auxiliary power supply comprises:

a delay unit delaying a power for charging the auxiliary power supply by a predetermined time;

a charge cell array having at least one or more charge cells; and

a power charger charging the at least one or more charge cells with the power delayed by the delay unit,

wherein the charge cell array provides a power charged by the at least one or more charge cells to the at least one or more non-volatile memories and internal elements of the storage device controller as the auxiliary power.

20. The data processing system of claim 19, wherein the at least one or more charge cells include a super capacitor of charging a much amount of current.