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Single disk emulation interface for an array of asynchronously operating disk drives

  • US 5,218,689 A
  • Filed: 06/10/1992
  • Issued: 06/08/1993
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/16/1988
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A high speed data storage device for a computer, comprising:

  • (a) a plurality of disk drives;

    (b) memory means, operatively connected to the computer by channel interface means for transferring data therebetween, for storing a logical track of data, said logical track comprising a plurality of sections corresponding to said plurality of disk drives for storing data of said disk drives, each section comprising a plurality of sectors, said memory means further including address control means for addressing said memory means;

    (c) a plurality of disk drive controllers, each connected to a corresponding section of the memory means and to a corresponding one of the disk drives, for instructing the disk drives to complete desired operations, said disk drive controllers and said channel interface means providing input to said address control means for allocating locations in said memory means for data storage; and

    (d) disk multiplexor means, connected to the disk drive controllers, for controlling transfers of data between the disk drives and the memory means, the disk multiplexor means comprising;

    (1) means for receiving a command from the computer to request data transfer between the high speed data storage device and the computer, the command including a read/write head selection, a track position and a logical track sector position utilized to allocate locations in said memory means for data storage;

    (2) means for transmitting the read/write head selection and the track position to the disk drive controllers to instruct the disk drives to select a read/write head and position the read/write head to the track position;

    (3) means for selecting a disk drive and a sector position of the selected disk drive based on said logical track sector position; and

    (4) means for transmitting the disk drive selection and sector position to the disk drive controllers for controlling transfer of data between the read/write head at said track position and sector position of the selected disk drive and the logical track of the memory means.

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