Using request and grant signals to read revision information from an adapter board that interfaces a disk drive
First Claim
1. A storage system having a disk drive, the storage system comprising:
- a control board asserting a power down signal capable of causing power to the disk drive to be turned off; and
an adapter board in an electrical communication path between the disk drive and the control board to receive the power down signal, the adapter board including a controller, the controller having memory for storing data and a power down input terminal that receives the power down signal, the asserted power down signal causing the controller to enter a read mode of operation so that data stored in the memory of the controller can be read, instead of causing power to the disk drive to be turned off.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Described are a system and method for reading revision information from an adapter board that interfaces a disk drive using request and grant signals. An adapter board is in electrical communication with a disk drive and with a control board. The adapter board has a controller with memory for storing data, with a request input terminal for receiving a request signal from the control board requesting access to a disk drive, with a grant output terminal for transmitting a grant signal to the control board granting access to the disk drive, and with a power down input terminal for receiving a power down signal to turn off power to the disk drive. The controller enters a read mode of operation in response to receiving a power down signal on the power down input terminal to enable the data stored in the memory to be read.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A storage system having a disk drive, the storage system comprising:
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a control board asserting a power down signal capable of causing power to the disk drive to be turned off; and an adapter board in an electrical communication path between the disk drive and the control board to receive the power down signal, the adapter board including a controller, the controller having memory for storing data and a power down input terminal that receives the power down signal, the asserted power down signal causing the controller to enter a read mode of operation so that data stored in the memory of the controller can be read, instead of causing power to the disk drive to be turned off. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. In a storage system having a control board, a disk drive, and a controller in an electrical communication path between the disk drive and the control board, a method of reading information from the controller, the method comprising:
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receiving, at the controller, an asserted power down signal from the control board; and entering a read mode of operation for reading data stored in the controller in response to the asserted power down signal, instead of turning off power to the disk drive. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. In a storage system having a control board, a disk drive, and a controller in electrical communication with the disk drive and the control board, a method of reading information from the controller, the method comprising:
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sending an asserted power down signal from the control board to the controller; sending a de-asserted request signal from the control board to the controller; and entering a read mode of operation for reading data stored in the controller in response to the asserted power down signal and to the de-asserted request signal. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A storage system, comprising:
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a disk drive; a control board asserting a power down signal capable of causing power to the disk drive to be turned off; an electrical interface between a disk drive and the control board, the electrical interface having means for storing data and means for receiving the asserted power down signal from the control board; and means for enabling the control board to read data stored by the means for storing in response to the asserted power down signal received by the means for receiving, instead of turning off power to the disk drive.
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Specification