Redundant power backplane for NAS storage device
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to methods and systems for providing reliable power to a storage device, such as a network attached storage. In one embodiment, the storage device employs a redundant power backplane design using a DC-to-DC converter per drive in the backplane. Each drive is thus provided its own independent power interface to the power backplane. One embodiment may employ DC-to-DC converters having integrated N-channel MOSFETs to provide overcurrent and thermal protection. In addition, an embodiment may employ a staggered startup procedure to manage peak power draw.
1. A storage device configured with a decentralized power backplane, said storage device comprising:
at least one disk drive;
a controller configured to provide at least one power signal from a power supply, and to manage access to the at least one disk drive; and
a backplane, interconnecting the controller and the at least one disk drive, the backplane comprising:
a plurality of converters configured to convert the at least one power signal into a set of second power signals for the at least one disk drive; and
a plurality of connectors coupled to the plurality of converters, wherein the backplane is separate from the controller, wherein the plurality of connectors are configured to receive the set of second power signals from the plurality of converters, provide the set of second power signals to the at least one disk drive, and communicate data with the at least one disk drive.
2. The storage device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of converters in the backplane comprise a respective DC-to-DC converter for each disk drive.
3. The storage device of claim 1 , wherein each of the converters comprises at least one N-channel MOSFET.
4. The storage device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is coupled to the backplane via a peripheral component interconnect express (PCI-e) connection.
5. The storage device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one disk drive is coupled to the backplane via a serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) connection.
6. The storage device of claim 2 , wherein the DC-to-DC converters are rated at 25 Watts or less.
7. The storage device of claim 1 , wherein the backplane further comprises a system management bus for carrying signals from the controller.
8. The storage device of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of converters are further configured to respond to an enable signal from the system management bus for selectively enabling power from the converters.
9. A method of starting up a storage device, wherein the storage device comprises a plurality of drives, and is powered by a power backplane having respective DC-to-DC converters for each of the plurality of drives, said method comprising:
starting, by a controller of the storage device, a first drive of the plurality of drives by enabling a first converter for the first drive, wherein the power backplane comprises the first converter, and a first connector coupled to the first converter and the first drive, wherein the first connector is configured to receive a first set of power signals from the first converter, and to communicate data with the first drive, and wherein the controller is separate from the power backplane;
starting, by the controller after starting the first drive, a second drive by enabling a second converter for the second drive, wherein the power backplane comprises the second converter, and a second connector coupled to the second converter and the second drive, wherein the second connector is configured to receive a second set of power signals from the second converter, and to communicate data with the second drive; and
managing, by the controller, access to the first drive and the second drive.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first drive comprises a hard disk drive.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein starting the second drive comprises starting the second drive when a power draw after starting the first drive is below a threshold level.
12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising waiting, by the controller, a predetermined time period after starting the first drive before starting the second drive.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the predetermined time period is approximately 2 seconds.
14. A network attached storage configured with a decentralized power backplane, said network attached storage comprising:
a plurality of storage devices;
a controller configured to provide at least one power signal from a power supply, and to manage access to the plurality of storage devices; and
a backplane, interconnecting the controller and the plurality of storage devices, the backplane comprising:
a set of respective power interface components for each storage device; and
a set of connectors coupled to the set of respective power interface components, and the plurality of storage devices, wherein the set of connectors are configured to receive power from the set of respective power interface components, and to communicate data with the plurality of storage devices, wherein the backplane is separate from the controller.
15. The network attached storage of claim 14 , wherein the power interface components comprise a DC-to-DC converter.
16. The network attached storage of claim 15 , wherein the DC-to-DC converter comprises at least one N-channel MOSFET.
17. The network attached storage of claim 15 , wherein the DC-to-DC converter is configured to convert the at least one power signal from the controller into a 12 volt DC output and a 5 volt DC output.
18. The network attached storage of claim 14 , wherein the backplane is configured to provide a system management bus for carrying signals from the controller.
19. The network attached storage of claim 18 , wherein each of the power interface components is selectively enabled responsive to an enable signal from the system management bus.
20. The network attached storage of claim 14 , wherein the power supply is an external power supply.