IP Library Granted Patent US 9,778,293
Granted Patent B1
US 9,778,293 · App. 14/497,275 · Granted Oct 3, 2017

Monitoring voltage levels for data storage devices

Inventors: Barry L. Klein (Trabuco Canyon, CA); Joseph M. Zueck (Carlsbad, CA)
Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
G01R19/1659G01R17/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,778,293
App. No.
14/497,275
Granted
Oct 3, 2017
Kind
B1
Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for monitoring a voltage received by a data storage device. A connection cable or data storage device may include a power monitoring module monitor the voltage received by the data storage device. The power monitoring module may provide an indication of whether voltage received by the data storage device is within a range of voltages.

Claims (41)

1. A storage device connection cable, the storage device connection cable comprising:

a first cable connector configured to couple the storage device connection cable to a data storage device;

one or more voltage lines configured to receive an input voltage from a voltage source, wherein the input voltage is used to power the data storage device;

one or more data lines configured to communicate data with a computing device;

a voltage comparison component configured to determine whether the input voltage is within a range of voltages suitable to power the data storage device; and

an indicator component configured to provide an indication of whether the input voltage is within the range of voltages, wherein the indicator component is located in the first cable connector.

2. The storage device connection cable of claim 1 , wherein the voltage comparison component comprises:

a first comparator configured to determine whether a reference voltage is greater than a first voltage; and

a second comparator configured to determine whether the reference voltage is less than a second voltage.

3. The storage device connection cable of claim 2 , further comprising:

a resistive divider configured to generate the first voltage and the second voltage based on the input voltage.

4. The storage device connection cable of claim 1 , wherein the storage device connection cable comprises a serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) cable.

5. The storage device connection cable of claim 1 , wherein the indicator component comprises a light-emitting diode (LED).

6. The storage device connection cable of claim 2 , further comprising:

a reference voltage source configured to generate the reference voltage.

7. The storage device connection cable of claim 1 , wherein the computing device comprises the voltage source.

8. The storage device connection cable of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second cable connector configured to couple the storage device connection cable to the computing device.

9. The storage device connection cable of claim 1 , wherein the indicator component is configured to provide the indication responsive to the input voltage being within the range of voltages.

10. The storage device connection cable of claim 1 , wherein the indicator component is configured to provide the indication responsive to the input voltage being not within the range of voltages.

11. A data storage device capable of receiving an input voltage via a connection cable, the data storage device comprising:

a voltage comparison component configured to determine whether the input voltage received by the data storage device is within a range of voltages suitable to power the data storage device, wherein the input voltage is used to power the data storage device; and

an indicator component configured to provide an indication of whether the input voltage is within the range of voltages.

12. The data storage device of claim 11 , wherein the voltage comparison component comprises:

a first comparator configured to determine whether a reference voltage is greater than a first voltage; and

a second comparator configured to determine whether the reference voltage is less than a second voltage.

13. The data storage device of claim 12 , further comprising:

a resistive divider configured to generate the first voltage and the second voltage based on the input voltage.

14. The data storage device of claim 11 , wherein the indicator component comprises a light-emitting diode (LED).

15. The data storage device of claim 12 , further comprising:

a reference voltage source configured to generate the reference voltage.

16. The data storage device of claim 11 , further comprising:

one or more voltage lines configured to receive the input voltage from a voltage source; and

one or more data lines configured to communicate data with a computing device.

17. The data storage device of claim 11 , wherein the indicator component is configured to provide the indication responsive to the input voltage being within the range of voltages.

18. The data storage device of claim 11 , wherein the indicator component is configured to provide the indication responsive to the input voltage being not within the range of voltages.

19. A method of monitoring an input voltage received via a connection cable, comprising:

receiving a reference voltage and an input voltage, wherein the input voltage powers a data storage device;

generating a first voltage and a second voltage based on the input voltage;

determining whether the input voltage is within a range of voltages suitable to power the data storage device, based on the first voltage, the second voltage, and the reference voltage; and

providing, on a first cable connector of the connection cable, an indication of whether the input voltage is within the range of voltages.

Assignments (8)
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 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 038744 FRAME 0481 Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 058982/0556 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 5, 2018
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 045501/0714 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 17, 2016
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038744/0481 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 17, 2016
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038744/0281 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 17, 2016
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038722/0229 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 15, 2015
From: KLEIN, BARRY L.; ZUECK, JOSEPH M.
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 036100/0896 →