Storage Device Integrated Display Unit Status Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current storage devices lack integrated display capabilities to provide real-time status information to users, necessitating separate display units and occupying additional space, which is inefficient, especially in compact server systems.
Innovation Solution
An integrated storage device with a non-volatile memory unit, a connector for external host devices, and a controller that includes a display unit with light-emitting devices to show status information, allowing for both controller-controlled and host-device-controlled status displays without additional external displays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a storage device includes an integrated display unit, then real-time status information can be displayed without external display devices, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the display unit with the storage device by integrating the light-emitting device and controller directly into the storage device structure. The display unit is electrically connected to the controller through a separate interface, allowing the storage device to autonomously display status information without requiring external display devices. This merging resolves the contradiction by providing convenient status monitoring while accepting the necessary increase in device complexity as a trade-off for self-contained functionality.
2Ease of operation
If separate display units are used externally, then display functionality is achieved, but spatial utilization is reduced and server system size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display unit is integrated directly into the storage device, eliminating the need for separate external display units. The light-emitting device is positioned within the storage device housing and can be controlled by the controller to display status information directly at the storage device location. This integration significantly reduces the overall spatial footprint of the server system while maintaining full display functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage device is transformed into a multi-functional unit that simultaneously performs data storage and status display functions. The controller not only manages the non-volatile memory unit but also controls the light-emitting device to display status information. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated separate display hardware, thereby reducing the total area required in the server system.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the display unit is connected to the controller through a separate interface from the host device connector, then display control flexibility is improved, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the interface structure into two independent parts: a connector for host device communication and a separate interface for display control. The display unit is connected to the controller through this separate interface, which is electrically independent from the host device connector. This segmentation provides flexible display control capabilities, allowing the display to respond to controller commands without interfering with host device data transmission, while the modular design contains the added complexity within a localized interface structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables real-time external display of storage and host device status within the storage device itself, improving spatial utilization and reducing the size of server systems by integrating display functions, thus enhancing operational monitoring without additional hardware.
Implementation Method 1
a display unit including at least one light-emitting device
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a storage device and a server device including the same. The storage device includes a non-volatile memory unit, a connector including a plurality of pins connected to an external host device, a display unit including at least one light-emitting device, and a controller configured to communicate with the host device through the connector and control the non-volatile memory unit. The display unit is separately connected to an interface of the controller that is separate from the connector that connects the storage device to the host device and may display first status information according to control of the controller and/or display second status information according to control of the host device.