Split Sector Storage Disk Formatting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The storage capacity of storage disks is limited by formatting, as defects during manufacturing can render parts of the disk unreadable or unwriteable, leading to reduced storage efficiency and increased costs when discarding entire sectors.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of split sectors, where a sector is divided into two portions with varying lengths based on the detected location and size of defects, allowing for more efficient formatting and increased storage capacity by utilizing surrounding usable areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If traditional formatting is used where sectors are divided into fixed portions, then the formatting process is simple, but storage capacity is reduced due to defects rendering entire sectors unusable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing each sector into multiple variable-length portions based on defect location. Instead of treating sectors as fixed units, the formatting process segments sectors into first portions (before defects) and second portions (after defects), allowing flexible allocation that maximizes usable storage space while accommodating defect variability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by making the sector portion lengths adaptive to local defect conditions. Each sector's division into portions is customized based on the specific defect location and characteristics, rather than using uniform fixed divisions. This allows optimal storage capacity in areas free from defects while accommodating defects where necessary.
2Reliability
If entire sectors are discarded when defects are detected, then data integrity is maintained, but storage efficiency decreases due to loss of usable space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the extraction principle by isolating defective portions from the rest of the sector. Instead of discarding the entire sector, the formatting process extracts and separates the defective portion, creating distinct first portions (usable) and second portions (containing defects). This allows the usable portions to be allocated for storage while maintaining data integrity in the extracted defective areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements discarding and recovering by selectively discarding only the defective portions of sectors rather than entire sectors. The formatting process identifies and discards portions containing defects while recovering and retaining usable portions for data storage, thereby maximizing storage efficiency while maintaining data integrity in the recovered portions.
3Quantity of substance
If fixed-length sectors are used, then the formatting process is straightforward, but storage capacity is limited by the need to accommodate defects in entire sectors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from fixed-length sectors to variable-length portions. The formatting process dynamically adjusts sector division based on defect location, creating flexible first and second portions with varying lengths. This dynamic approach maximizes storage capacity while maintaining formatting feasibility through automated defect detection and adaptive allocation.
Data Source
AI summary
Formatting a storage disk is disclosed. A first portion of a sector of the storage disk is defined. The first portion precedes a defect and has a first length that varies based on a detected location of the defect. A second portion of the sector of the storage disk is defined. The second portion follows the defect and has a second length that varies based on the detected location of the defect.