Wireless storage device connectivity

• US 7,260,423 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2004
• Issued: 08/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NetApp, Inc.
• Original Assignee: LSI Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: El-Batal, Mohamad H., Richardson, Thomas E., Premji, Zahirudeen
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild; Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): DOAN, KIET M
• Application Number:
  US10/838,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20050250555A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: 455/552.1, 455/41.1, 455/554, 455/572, 455/502, 455/41.2, 455/66.1, 455/63.1, 710/58, 709/249, 711/114, 235/492, 340/988, 375/295, 379/93.01, 379/58
• US Class Current: 455/572
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3816 Mechanical arrangements for accommodating identification devices, e.g. cards or chips; with connectors for programming identification devices

Abstract

A circuit providing a wireless connection for receipt and/or transmission of electronic signals between a storage device and an external device such as a host system, a storage subsystem controller, or a storage subsystem. The wireless connection circuit may include a wireless data connection to provide wireless exchange of data signals between the storage device and the external device. The wireless connection circuit may also provide an inductive coupling for power supplied to the storage device. In one aspect hereof the wireless connectivity (data, power or both) may be provided as enhanced circuits on a controller circuit integrated with the storage device. In another aspect hereof, the wireless connectivity may be provided as an adapter or interface circuit coupled to an existing storage device interface to adapt wired connections of the storage device to an external device through a wireless signal exchange protocol.

Claims

1. A storage device comprising:

a storage mechanism;

a wireless interface adapted to receive electronic data signals from an external device through a wireless medium; and

an inductive coupling to derive a power signal from the external device and to apply the derived power signal to the disk drive,

wherein the external device provides and alternating current electric field and wherein the inductive coupling includes a rectifier to convert the alternating electric current to direct current for application to the disk drive, and

wherein the inductive coupling is capable of providing sufficient wireless power to power the disk drive.

2. The storage device of claim 1 wherein the wireless interface further comprises:

a wireless data connection to an external host device.

3. The storage device of claim 2 wherein the wireless data connection further comprises:

a high bandwidth wireless data connection.

4. The storage device of claim 3 wherein the high bandwidth wireless data connection further comprises:

an Ultra-Wide Band wireless data connection.

5. A system comprising:

a storage device having a wired connection port; and

a wireless interface coupled to the wired connection port of the storage device to adapt wireless electronic signals for exchange between and external device and the storage device through the wired connection port,

wherein the wired connection port comprises a power connection for receiving power for operation of the storage device,

wherein the wireless interface is adapted to provide power to the power connection of the storage device received from a wireless connection to the external device,

wherein the wireless interface further comprises an inductive coupling to power generated by the external device, and

wherein the power generated by the external device is alternating current electrical power and wherein the wireless interface further comprises;

a rectifier to generate direct current electrical power from the alternating current electrical power received from the external device, and

wherein the generated direct current electrical power provides sufficient wireless power to power the storage device.

6. The system of claim 5

wherein the wired connection port further comprises a data connection, and

wherein the wireless interface is adapted to exchange signals between the data connection and the external device.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the wireless interface further comprises:

a wireless transceiver for exchanging data signals with the external device through a wireless transmission medium and protocol; and

a protocol conversion element coupled to the wireless transceiver for converting the wireless protocol exchanges into corresponding exchanges with the storage device through the data connection.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the wireless transceiver and the protocol conversion element are operable in accordance with Ultra-Wide Band wireless transmission protocols.

9. A wireless interface for coupling a disk drive to a host device, the wireless interface comprising:

a wireless transceiver for exchanging data signals with an external device;

a disk drive interface connector coupled to the wireless transceiver and coupled to the disk drive for exchanging the data signals with the disk drive; and

an inductive coupling to derive a power signal from the external device and to apply the derived power signal to the disk drive,

wherein the external device provides and alternating current electric field and wherein the inductive coupling includes a rectifier to convert the alternating electric current to direct current for application to the disk drive, and

wherein the inductive coupling is capable of providing sufficient wireless power to power the disk drive.

10. The wireless interface of claim 9 further comprising:

a protocol converter for converting data signals exchanged between the external device and the disk drive through the wireless transceiver.

11. The wireless interface of claim 10 wherein the wireless transceiver and the protocol converter are operable in accordance with Ultra-Wide Band standards.