SSD Tester Interface Sharing Link Protocol

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solid state drive testers face issues with large size, high heat, noise, and implementation costs due to independently manufactured interface units for SATA, SAS, and PCIe, which require multiple gate counts and separate protocols for each interface.

Innovation Solution

A storage interface apparatus that allows multiple interfaces (SATA, SAS, PCIe) to share a single protocol in parts, specifically sharing link and physical layer protocols, while maintaining independent transport layers, to reduce the size and gate count of the interface apparatus, thereby minimizing heat and noise, and lowering costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If independently manufactured interface units are used for SATA, SAS, and PCIe, then each interface can be optimized for its specific protocol, but the device size, heat generation, noise, and implementation costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterface protocol compatibilityVSAvoiddevice size and gate count

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the link layer and physical layer protocols across multiple interfaces (SATA, SAS, PCIe) into a shared common protocol. This allows the interface units to share common hardware resources and control logic, thereby reducing the overall device size, gate count, heat generation, and noise while maintaining protocol-specific optimization at the transport layer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal link layer and physical layer protocol that serves multiple interface types (SATA, SAS, PCIe). This multi-functional protocol design allows a single set of hardware resources to support multiple storage interface standards, reducing redundancy and simplifying the overall device architecture while maintaining compatibility with each specific protocol.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If separate protocols are implemented for each interface type, then protocol-specific functionality is maintained, but the number of gate counts and implementation costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterface type supportVSAvoidimplementation cost and gate count

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the interface protocol into distinct layers: transport layer (interface-specific) and link/physical layers (common/shared). This segmentation allows each interface type to maintain its unique transport layer characteristics while sharing the common link and physical layers, thereby reducing the number of gate counts and implementation costs through hardware resource sharing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a universal link layer and physical layer protocol that can serve multiple interface types (SATA, SAS, PCIe). This multi-functional design allows a single set of hardware resources to support multiple storage interface standards, reducing redundancy in gate counts and lowering implementation costs while maintaining adaptability to different interface types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If multiple interface units are implemented simultaneously, then testing capability for various storage protocols is improved, but heat generation and noise increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetesting capabilityVSAvoidheat and noise

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the link layer and physical layer functionality across multiple interface units into a shared common protocol implementation. This allows multiple interface units to share common hardware resources such as clocks, reset signals, and control logic, thereby reducing the cumulative heat generation and noise from multiple independent interface units while maintaining the testing capability for various storage protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS9245613B2Storage interface apparatus for solid state drive tester

Publication Date: 2016.01.26 UNITEST INC

AI summary

Disclosed is a storage interface apparatus for a solid state drive (SSD) tester which allows a plurality of interfaces to share a single protocol in parts where the protocol is commonly used in a multiple interface for interfacing a storage. The storage interface apparatus for the solid state driver tester includes: a host terminal for receiving a test condition for testing a storage from a user; and a test control unit for generating a test pattern corresponding to the test condition to test the storage. The test control unit includes a storage interface unit for interfacing the storage, and the storage interface unit includes a plurality of interfaces that share a protocol in parts where the protocol is commonly used.