Storage Ready/Busy Pin State Detection via Interface Expander
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional storage apparatuses face inefficiencies in determining the operational states of storage devices, particularly in distinguishing between busy and ready states, often relying on bus bars which occupy bandwidth and require additional pins, leading to reduced accuracy and stability.
Innovation Solution
A storage apparatus and method utilizing a main controller, interface expander, and ready/busy pins to generate and transmit operational state signals, allowing the main controller to determine device states without occupying bus bandwidth or increasing pin count, using GPIO and I2C/SPI interfaces for high accuracy and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If bus bars are used to determine operational states of storage devices, then the main controller can receive state information, but bus bandwidth is occupied and additional pins are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the state detection function from the main controller and implements it directly in the storage device's control circuit. The control circuit generates operational state signals locally and outputs them through ready/busy pins, eliminating the need for the main controller to use bus bars for state detection. This extraction resolves the contradiction by maintaining accurate state detection while freeing up bus bandwidth.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces ready/busy pins as intermediary elements between the storage device and the main controller. These pins serve as dedicated communication channels for state information, allowing the main controller to detect operational states without occupying bus bar bandwidth. The intermediary pins resolve the contradiction by providing a separate pathway for state detection that does not interfere with data transmission.
2Measurement precision
If bus bars are used to determine operational states of storage devices, then the main controller can receive state information, but additional pins are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the ready/busy pins multi-functional by using them for both state indication and as part of the interface structure. These pins serve dual purposes: indicating operational states and providing a standardized interface connection. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by enabling accurate state detection without requiring additional dedicated pins beyond the standard interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage device's control circuit autonomously generates and outputs operational state signals through the ready/busy pins without requiring additional control logic or pins in the main controller. The storage device serves itself by providing complete state information through existing interface pins, resolving the contradiction by achieving accurate state detection without increasing the overall pin count of the system.
3Productivity
If conventional methods are used to determine operational states, then state information can be obtained, but accuracy and stability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit in the storage device preliminarily determines the operational state and generates the corresponding state signal before the main controller needs to query it. By preparing the state information in advance and making it available through the ready/busy pins, the system achieves both high productivity (immediate state availability) and high reliability (stable, pre-validated state signals).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the storage device continuously monitors its own operational state and provides real-time feedback to the main controller through the ready/busy pins. This self-feedback loop ensures accurate and stable state detection, as the storage device is the authoritative source of its own state information, resolving the contradiction between operational efficiency and detection reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage apparatus and a storing method are provided. The storage apparatus includes one or more storage devices, an interface expander and a master controller. The storage device includes a storage module, a storage control circuit and a ready/busy pin. The storage control circuit outputs an operational state signal according to an operational state of the storage module through the ready/busy pin. The master controller outputs an interface signal to indicate the interface expander to provide the operational state signal. The interface expander detects the ready/busy pin of the storage device to receive and transmit the operational state signal from the storage device to the master controller according to the interface signal. The master controller determines whether the storage device is in a busy state or a ready state according to the operational state signal, and accordingly outputs a control signal to control operations of the storage devices.