Storage Device Power-On-Reset Signal Error Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage devices cannot detect the cause of shutdown of the storage controller due to errors in the power-on-reset signal, leading to unidentified shutdowns.
Innovation Solution
A storage device with a monitoring circuit that detects voltage drops in the power-on-reset signal and provides an error detection signal to the storage controller, allowing for identification of the shutdown cause.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the storage controller is immediately shut down when an error occurs in the power supply process, then the storage device can protect itself from damage, but the shut-down cause cannot be specified
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring circuit generates the power-on-reset signal in advance based on the external power voltage before the storage controller operates. This preliminary action allows the system to have a reference signal state established before any potential errors occur, enabling subsequent comparison to detect voltage drops or anomalies that caused shutdowns.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring circuit continuously monitors the power-on-reset signal transmitted to the storage controller and provides feedback about voltage drops or errors. This feedback mechanism allows the system to detect and record the cause of shutdowns by comparing the monitored signal against the originally generated signal, thereby preserving diagnostic information even when the controller shuts down.
2Loss of information
If a monitoring circuit is added to detect voltage drops in the power-on-reset signal, then the shut-down cause can be detected, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring circuit is designed to perform multiple functions: it generates the power-on-reset signal based on external power voltage, transmits this signal to the storage controller, and simultaneously monitors the signal for voltage drops or errors. By combining these functions in a single integrated circuit, the patent reduces overall system complexity while achieving comprehensive error detection capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the signal generation function and the signal monitoring function into a single monitoring circuit. Instead of having separate circuits for generating and monitoring the power-on-reset signal, the design combines these functions, reducing the number of components and simplifying the overall device architecture while maintaining the ability to detect shutdown causes.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a storage device which includes a memory device, a power supply port that receives a first external power voltage from a host device, a power supply circuit that receives the first external power voltage from the power supply port and generates a first internal power voltage based on the first external power voltage, a monitoring circuit that receives the first external power voltage from the power supply port and generates a first power-on-reset signal based on monitoring the first external power voltage, and a storage controller configured to control the memory device. The storage controller is driven based on the first internal power voltage and the first power-on-reset signal, and the monitoring circuit detects a voltage drop in the first power-on-reset signal transmitted from the monitoring circuit to the storage controller and provides an error detection signal to the storage controller in response to detecting the voltage drop.