IP Library Granted Patent US 10,198,320
Granted Patent B2
US 10,198,320 · App. 15/520,248 · Granted Feb 5, 2019

Power-loss protection

Inventors: Byron A. Alcorn (Fort Collins, CO); Scott W. Briggs (Cypress, TX); Joel Pierre Lefebvre (Windsor, CO)
Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
G06F11/1441G06F13/1694G11C5/141G11C5/143
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,198,320
App. No.
15/520,248
Granted
Feb 5, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

Power loss in a client device is detected. In response to the detecting of the power loss, an electronic card is alerted that the power loss is about to occur, where the electronic card includes a volatile storage and a non-volatile storage. A transfer of data from the volatile storage to the non-volatile storage is triggered in response to the alert.

Claims (35)

1. A power-loss protection apparatus comprising:

a power source; and

a power-loss detection circuit to detect an indication of power loss in a client device, and to alert an M.2 electronic card for indicating the power loss is about to occur,

the power-loss protection apparatus being separate from the M.2 electronic card that includes a volatile storage and a non-volatile storage, and wherein the alert is to trigger a transfer of data from the volatile storage to the non-volatile storage using power from the power source; and

wherein the power-loss detection circuit is to alert the M.2 electronic card by outputting a signal to a link interface reset input of the M.2 electronic card.

2. The power-loss protection apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the client device includes an electronic device available for single-user use at a given time.

3. The power-loss protection apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the link interface reset input of the M.2 electronic card includes a PERST# input according to a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) standard.

4. The power-loss protection apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the power-loss detection circuit is to alert the M.2 electronic card by outputting a signal to an input of the M.2 electronic card, the input when activated indicating that a power supply voltage is at an operational level.

5. The power-loss protection apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a support substrate on which the power source and the power-loss detection circuit are mounted.

6. The power-loss protection apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising circuitry to couple the power source to the M.2 electronic card in response to the power loss, wherein the circuitry is without a switching matrix.

7. The power-loss protection apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the power source includes a capacitor.

8. The power-loss protection apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the power source includes a battery.

9. A power-loss protection apparatus comprising:

a temporary power source; and

a power-loss detection circuit to detect an indication of power loss in a client device, and to output, in response to the indication, a signal to an input of an electronic card for indicating to the electronic card that the power loss is about to occur,

the power-loss protection apparatus being separate from the electronic card that includes a volatile storage and a non-volatile storage, and wherein the signal is to trigger a transfer of data from the volatile storage to the non-volatile storage, and

wherein the input of the electronic card is a link interface reset input to the electronic card or an input to place the electronic card into a lower power state.

10. The power-loss protection apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the input of the electronic card is a Peripheral Component interconnect Express (PCIe) reset input of the electronic card.

11. The power-loss protection apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the input of the electronic card is a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) input for placing the electronic card into the lower power state.

12. The power-loss protection apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the indication of power loss in the client device includes deactivation of a power-good signal.

13. A method of power-loss protection, comprising:

detecting, by a power-loss detection circuit, power loss in a client device;

in response to the detecting of the power loss, outputting, by the power-loss detection circuit, a signal to a control input of an electronic card for indicating to the electronic card that the power loss is about to occur, the power-loss protection circuit being separate from the electronic card that includes a volatile storage and a non-volatile storage, wherein the control input of the electronic card is a link interface reset input to the electronic card or an input to place the electronic card into a lower power state; and

triggering a transfer of data from the volatile storage to the non-volatile storage in response to the signal, using power of a power source.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the electronic card is an M.2 electronic card.

15. The power-loss protection apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the power-loss detection circuit alerts the M.2 electronic card that power loss is about to occur upon detecting a power voltage in the client device dropping below a threshold voltage.

16. The power-loss protection apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a connection circuit to connect the power source to the M.2 electronic card in response to the power loss, the connection circuit comprising a diode between the power source and the M.2 electronic card.

17. The power-loss protection apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the power-loss detection circuit comprises an AND gate to receive link interface reset signal and a power-good signal from the client device.

18. The power-loss protection apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the power-loss detection circuit comprises a comparator to receive sense voltage signal from the client device and a reference voltage signal.

19. The power-loss protection apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a voltage regulator between the power source and the M.2 electronic card.

20. A power-loss protection apparatus comprising:

a power source; and

a power-loss detection circuit to detect an indication of power loss in a client device, and to alert an M.2 electronic card for indicating the power loss is about to occur,

the power-loss protection apparatus being separate from the M.2 electronic card that includes a volatile storage and a non-volatile storage, and wherein the alert is to trigger a transfer of data from the volatile storage to the non-volatile storage using power from the power source; and

wherein the power-loss detection circuit is to alert the M.2 electronic card by outputting a signal to a control input of the M.2 electronic card.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 2, 2017
From: ALCORN, BYRON A.; BRIGGS, SCOTT W.; LEFEBVRE, JOEL PIERRE
To: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
Reel/Frame 042576/0926 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170315873A1 · Nov 2, 2017