IP Library Granted Patent US 11,908,529
Granted Patent B2
US 11,908,529 · App. 17/579,246 · Granted Feb 20, 2024

Data storage device having over-voltage detection and protection

Inventors: Daniel J. Linnen (Naperville, IL); Kirubakaran Periyannan (Santa Clara, CA); Khanfer A. Kukkady (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
G11C16/30H02H3/087H02H3/202
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,908,529
App. No.
17/579,246
Granted
Feb 20, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A data storage device includes a power supply circuit configured to supply power to the data storage device. The power supply circuit includes a voltage clamp configured to operate in a conduction state in response to an over-voltage condition of the power supply circuit. The power supply circuit also includes a fuse in series with the voltage clamp. The fuse is configured to open in response to a current flow through the fuse and the voltage clamp exceeding a threshold value. The power supply circuit also includes a switching device that is configured to latch in a forward conduction mode in response to the voltage clamp operating in the conduction state. The switching device couples power from a positive voltage bus to the voltage clamp when the switching device is in the forward conduction mode.

Claims (39)

1. A data storage device, comprising:

a power supply circuit configured to supply power to the data storage device, the power supply circuit including:

a voltage clamp configured to operate in a conduction state in response to an over-voltage condition of the power supply circuit;

a fuse in series with the voltage clamp and the positive voltage bus, wherein the fuse is configured to open in response to a current flowing through the fuse and the voltage clamp exceeding a threshold value; and

a switching device configured to latch in a forward conduction mode in response to the voltage clamp operating in the conduction state, wherein the switching device couples a positive voltage bus to the voltage clamp when operating in the forward conduction mode.

2. The data storage device of claim 1 , wherein the switching device is a thyristor.

3. The data storage device of claim 1 , wherein the voltage clamp is a Zener diode.

4. The data storage device of claim 1 , further comprising an over-voltage detection circuit configured to generate an indication that an over-voltage condition has occurred.

5. The data storage device of claim 4 , wherein the over-voltage detection circuit is a current-based over-voltage detection circuit configured to determine that the over-voltage condition has occurred based on detecting a switching device current flowing through the switching device.

6. The data storage device of claim 4 , wherein the over-voltage detection circuit is a voltage-based over-voltage detection circuit configured to determine that the over-voltage condition has occurred based on a change in a voltage at an output of the switching device.

7. The data storage device of claim 4 , further comprising a controller configured to:

receive the indication from the over-voltage detection circuit that the over-voltage condition has occurred; and

store a fault indicating that the over-voltage condition has occurred in a memory.

8. The data storage device of claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to transmit the fault to an external device.

9. A method performed by a data storage device having a controller coupled to a non-volatile memory device, the method comprising:

detecting an occurrence of an over-voltage condition, wherein the over-voltage condition is detected by an over-voltage detection circuit;

operating a voltage clamp of the data storage device in a conduction state in response to the occurrence of the over-voltage condition;

latching a switching device of the data storage device in a forward conduction mode in response to the voltage clamp operating in the conduction state, wherein the switching device couples a positive voltage bus of a power supply circuit of the data storage device to the voltage clamp when operating in the forward conduction mode;

receiving an indication of the detected occurrence of the over-voltage condition at the controller;

storing the occurrence of the over-voltage condition in a memory; and

transmitting the occurrence of the over-voltage condition to an external device.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising disconnecting the data storage device from a power source in response to receiving the indication of the detected occurrence of the over-voltage condition.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the over-voltage detection circuit is a current-based over-voltage detection circuit.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the over-voltage detection circuit is a voltage-based over-voltage detection circuit.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the over-voltage detection circuit includes an opto-coupler.

14. A data storage device, comprising:

a power supply circuit, including:

a voltage clamp configured to operate in a conduction state in response to an over-voltage condition of the power supply circuit;

a fuse in series with the voltage clamp and the positive voltage bus, wherein the fuse is configured to open in response to a current flowing through the fuse and the voltage clamp exceeding a threshold value;

a switching device configured to latch in a forward conduction mode in response to the voltage clamp operating in the conduction state, wherein the switching device couples a positive voltage bus to the voltage clamp when operating in the forward conduction mode; and

an over-voltage detection circuit configured to detect an occurrence of an over-voltage event.

15. The data storage device of claim 14 , wherein the over-voltage detection circuit is a current-based over-voltage detection circuit configured to determine that an over-voltage condition has occurred based on the current flowing through the switching device.

16. The data storage device of claim 14 , wherein the over-voltage detection circuit is a voltage-based over-voltage detection circuit configured to determine that an over-voltage condition has occurred based on a change in a voltage at an output of the switching device.

17. The data storage device of claim 14 , further comprising a controller configured to:

receive an indication from the over-voltage detection circuit that an over-voltage condition has occurred; and

store the occurrence of the over-voltage condition in a memory.

18. The data storage device of claim 17 , wherein the controller is further configured to transmit the occurrence of the over-voltage condition to an external device.

19. The data storage device of claim 14 , wherein the switching device is a thyristor.

20. The data storage device of claim 14 , wherein the voltage clamp is a Zener diode.

Assignments (8)
PARTIAL RELEASE OF SECURITY INTERESTS Recorded Apr 25, 2025
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS AGENT
To: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 071382/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 25, 2025
From: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071050/0001 →
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 23, 2024
From: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS THE AGENT
Reel/Frame 068762/0494 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 27, 2024
From: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 067982/0032 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 29, 2024
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 067567/0682 →
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT - DDTL LOAN AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 21, 2023
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 067045/0156 →
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT - A&R LOAN AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 21, 2023
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 064715/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 19, 2022
From: LINNEN, DANIEL J.; PERIYANNAN, KIRUBAKARAN; KUKKADY, KHANFER A.
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 058698/0524 →
Continuity (1)
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