Storage device with automatic interface-switching function

• US 7,761,647 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2007
• Issued: 07/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Prolific Technology Inc.
• Original Assignee: Prolific Technology Inc.
• Inventors: Yang, Chih-Chin
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsai; Henry W. H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mamo; Elias
• Application Number:
  US11/763,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20080189465A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 710/316
• US Class Current: 710/316
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0605 by facilitating the interaction with a user or administrator
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0661 Format or protocol conversion arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0676 Magnetic disk device

Abstract

A storage device with automatic-switching function is disclosed. When the storage device is coupled to a USB interface, the power provided by the USB interface turns the USB/SATA converter on to convert data from the USB interface into SATA format and transmit to a hard disk. When the storage device is coupled to a SATA interface instead of the USB interface, the power provided by the USB interface does not turn the USB/SATA converter on to convert data. In this way, the data from the SATA interface directly transmit to the hard disk.

Claims

1. A storage device with automatic interface-switching function comprising:

a first interface connector comprising a first pin for transmitting a first voltage;

a hard disk for storing data;

a second interface connector coupled to the hard disk wherein the second interface is different from the first interface;

a first regulator comprising;

a first end coupled to the first pin of the first interface connector;

a second end coupled to a first power; and

a third end for outputting a second power when the first end of the first regulator receives the first voltage wherein the first regulator converts the first power into the second power; and

a first interface/second interface converting controller comprising;

a power end coupled to the third end of the first regulator for receiving the second power;

a first end coupled to the first interface connector; and

a second end coupled to the second interface connector;

wherein the second end of the first interface/second interface converting controller is high impedance when the power end of the first interface/second interface converting controller does not receive the second power;

wherein the first interface/second interface converting controller converts first interface data into second interface data.

2. The storage device of claim 1 wherein the first interface connector is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector, and the first interface is a USB interface.

3. The storage device of claim 2 wherein the first interface connector further comprises:

a first data pin coupled to the first interface/second interface converting controller for transmitting data;

a second data pin coupled to the first interface/second interface converting controller for transmitting data; and

a ground pin coupled to the first interface/second interface converting controller.

4. The storage device of claim 2 further comprising:

a third interface connector comprising a first pin for transmitting a second voltage;

a second regulator comprising;

a first end coupled to the first pin of the third interface connector;

a second end coupled to the first power; and

a third end for outputting a third power when the first end of the second regulator receives the second voltage;

wherein the second regulator converts the first power into the third power; and

a third interface/second interface converting controller comprising;

a power end coupled to the third end of the second regulator for receiving the third power;

a first end coupled to the third interface connector; and

a second end coupled to the second interface connector;

wherein the second end of the third interface/second interface converting controller is high impedance when the power end of the third interface/second interface converting controller does not receive the third power;

wherein the third interface/second interface converting controller converts third interface data to second interface data.

5. The storage device of claim 4 wherein the third interface connector is a 1394 connector and the third interface is a 1394 interface.

6. The storage device of claim 5 wherein the third interface connector further comprises:

a first pair of data pins coupled to the third interface/second interface converting controller for transmitting data;

a second pair of data pins coupled to the third interface/second interface converting controller for transmitting data; and

a ground pin coupled to the third interface/second interface converting controller.

7. The storage device of claim 1 wherein the second interface connector is a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) connector, and the second interface is a SATA interface.

8. The storage device of claim 1 wherein the first interface connector is an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394 connector, and the first interface is an IEEE 1394 interface.

9. The storage device of claim 8 wherein the first interface connector further comprises:

a first pair of data pins coupled to the first interface/second interface converting controller for transmitting data;

a second pair of data pins coupled to the first interface/second interface converting controller for transmitting data; and

a ground pin coupled to the first interface/second interface converting controller.

17. The storage device of claim 2, wherein the second interface connector is a SATA connector, and the second interface is a SATA interface.

18. The storage device of claim 8, wherein the second interface connector is a SATA connector, and the second interface is a SATA interface.

10. A storage device with automatic interface-switching function comprising:

a first interface connector comprising a first pin for transmitting a first voltage;

a second interface connector comprising a first pin for transmitting a second voltage;

a first regulator comprising;

a first end coupled to the first pin of the first interface connector;

a second end coupled to a first power; and

a third end for outputting a second power when the first end of the first regulator receives the first voltage;

wherein the first regulator converts the first power into the second power;

a second regulator comprising;

a first end coupled to the first pin of the second interface connector;

a second end coupled to the first power; and

a third end for outputting a third power when the first end of the second regulator receives the second voltage;

wherein the second regulator converts the first power into the third power;

a first interface/third interface converting controller comprising;

a power end coupled to the third end of the first regulator for receiving the second power;

a first end coupled to the first interface connector; and

a second end coupled to a hard disk;

wherein the second end of the first interface/third interface converting controller is high impedance when the power end of the first interface/third interface converting controller does not receives the second power;

wherein the first interface/third interface converting controller converts first interface data into third interface data; and

a second interface/third interface converting controller comprising;

a power end coupled to the third end of the second regulator for receiving the third power;

a first end coupled to the second interface connector; and

a second end coupled to the hard disk;

wherein the second end of the second interface/third interface converting controller is high impedance when the power end of the second interface/third interface converting controller does not receive the third power;

wherein the second interface/third interface converting controller converts second interface data into third interface data.

11. The storage device of claim 10 wherein the first interface connector is a USB connector, and the first interface is a USB interface.

12. The storage device of claim 10 wherein the second interface connector is an IEEE 1394 connector, and the second interface is an IEEE 1394 interface.

13. The storage device of claim 10 wherein the third interface is a SATA interface.

14. The storage device of claim 11 wherein the first interface connector further comprises:

a first data pin coupled to the first interface/second interface converting controller for transmitting data;

a second data pin coupled to the first interface/second interface converting controller for transmitting data; and

a ground pin coupled to the first interface/second interface converting controller.

15. The storage device of claim 12 wherein the second interface connector further comprises:

a first pair of data pins coupled to the second interface/third interface converting controller for transmitting data;

a second pair of data pins coupled to the second interface/third interface converting controller for transmitting data; and

a ground pin coupled to the second interface/third interface converting controller.

16. The storage device of claim 10 further comprising a third interface connector coupled to the hard disk.