Granted Patent B2

US 12,430,271 · App. 18/106,477 · Granted Sep 30, 2025

Inventors: Sompong Paul Olarig (Pleasanton, CA); Fred Worley (San Jose, CA); Son Pham (San Ramon, CA)

Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.

G06F13/4022G06F13/1668G06F13/4068G06F13/4282G06F2213/0026G06F2213/0028G06F2213/0036

Abstract

Claims (40)

1. A device comprising:

a multi-protocol connector configured to connect to an apparatus, wherein the multi-protocol connector comprises a pin to transport a first type of physical signal;

wherein the device is removably connected to the apparatus;

wherein the device transports a second type of physical signal to the apparatus using a first signal path;

wherein the device transports a third type of physical signal to the apparatus using a second signal path;

wherein the third type of physical signal comprises an Ethernet signal;

wherein the pin of the multi-protocol connector is connected to an Ethernet interface to transport the Ethernet signal; and

wherein the device is configured to use a first protocol with the second type of physical signal and a second protocol with the Ethernet signal.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device provides device information to the apparatus using the first signal path.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first protocol comprises a first non-volatile memory protocol and the second protocol comprises a second non-volatile memory protocol.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is operable in a first port mode or a second port mode.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the pin comprises a Serial Attached Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) (SAS) pin of the multi-protocol connector.

6. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:

an interconnect interface configured to transmit the second type of physical signal.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the third type of physical signal provides a service associated with code for the device.

8. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a switch configured to switch the third type of physical signal to the first signal path.

9. A system comprising:

a first board; and

a second board;

wherein the second board is configured to connect a storage device to the first board using a multi-protocol connector having a pin to transport a first type of physical signal;

wherein the second board is configured to transmit a second type of physical signal between the storage device and the first board using a first protocol and transmit a third type of physical signal between the storage device and the first board using a second protocol;

wherein the third type of signal comprises an Ethernet signal; and

wherein the pin of the multi-protocol connector is connected to an Ethernet interface to transport the Ethernet signal.

10. The system of claim 9 , further comprising a switch configured to transmit the Ethernet signal between the first board and the storage device.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first protocol comprises a first non-volatile memory protocol and the second protocol comprises a second non-volatile memory protocol.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the second board is configured to communicate with the storage device in a first port mode or a second port mode.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the storage device is operable in a first port mode or a second port mode.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein:

the first board comprises the Ethernet interface; and

the second board is configured to transmit the Ethernet signal between the Ethernet interface and the storage device.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein the Ethernet signal provides a service associated with code for the storage device.

16. The system of claim 9 , further comprising a switch configured to switch the third type of physical signal and the second type of physical signal.

17. A device comprising:

a multi-protocol connector configured to removably connect the device to an apparatus, wherein the multi-protocol connector comprises a pin to transport a first type of physical signal;

wherein the device transports, using a first protocol, a second type of physical signal to the apparatus using a first signal path;

wherein the device transports, using a second protocol, a third type of physical signal to the apparatus using a second signal path;

wherein the third type of physical signal comprises an Ethernet signal; and

wherein the pin of the multi-protocol connector is connected to an Ethernet interface to transport the Ethernet signal.

18. The device of claim 17 , further comprising a network interface configured to connect the device to the first signal path.

19. The device of claim 17 , wherein the device is operable in a first port mode or a second port mode.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (7)

References Cited (400)