Two-Way RAID Controller PCI-Express Speed Adaptation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data storage solutions, particularly hard disk interfaces, struggle to match the high-speed data processing capabilities of memory disks, leading to underutilization of performance due to inefficient data processing speed and interface limitations.
Innovation Solution
A two-way RAID controller for semiconductor storage devices utilizing a PCI-Express interface, which includes disk mounts, monitoring units, plug and play controllers, and high-speed host interfaces, adjusts synchronization of data signals between the host and memory disks to support both low-speed host data processing and high-speed memory disk processing, thereby optimizing data processing speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a high-speed PCI-Express interface is used for memory disk data processing, then data processing speed is improved, but interface compatibility with low-speed host systems deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic speed adaptation in the RAID controller, allowing it to automatically adjust between high-speed PCI-Express mode and low-speed compatible mode based on the host system's capabilities. This enables the same interface to serve both high-performance and legacy systems without requiring separate hardware designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the PCI-Express interface to accommodate different speed requirements. By modifying timing parameters, data transfer rates, and synchronization settings, the interface can operate at optimal speeds for memory disks while maintaining compatibility with slower host processors through parameter adjustment rather than hardware change.
2Productivity
If synchronization is optimized for high-speed memory disk processing, then data processing performance is improved, but compatibility with low-speed host processors deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data processing path into two independent synchronization channels: one optimized for high-speed memory disk operations and another adapted for low-speed host processor communication. This segmentation allows each channel to operate at its optimal speed without interfering with the other, resolving the contradiction between performance optimization and compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The RAID controller acts as an intermediary device between the high-speed memory disks and low-speed host processors. It performs speed conversion and protocol translation, buffering data between the fast memory interface and the slower host interface, thereby enabling high-performance storage operations while maintaining compatibility with legacy host systems.
3Ease of manufacture
If a simple interface design is used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but data processing speed capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a universal RAID controller interface that performs multiple functions: it can operate in high-speed PCI-Express mode for modern systems, in low-speed mode for legacy compatibility, and automatically adapt to different configurations. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate interface designs for different speed requirements, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining high-speed capability.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a two-way RAID controlled storage device of a serial attached small computer system interface/serial advanced technology attachment (SAS/SATA) type, which provides data storage/reading services through a PCI-Express interface. The RAID controller typically includes a plurality of disk mounts coupled disk connect controller, which itself is coupled to a set (e.g., at least one) of PCI-Express SSD memory disk units. In a typical embodiment, the plurality of PCI-Express SSD memory disk units comprising a plurality of volatile semiconductor memories. The RAID controller further comprises a plurality of disk monitoring units coupled to the plurality of disk mounts for monitoring the plurality of PCI-Express memory disk units; a plurality of disk plug and play controllers coupled to the plurality of disk monitoring units. A plurality of high-speed host interfaces are coupled to: the plurality of disk mounts, the plurality of disk monitoring units, and to a plurality of disk controllers. Further coupled to the plurality of disk controllers is a two-way RAID controller, which is also coupled to the disk connect controller and to a host connect controller. The host connect controller is further coupled to a plurality of host interfaces, which themselves are coupled to the plurality of disk controllers.