Data storage device and method for monitoring power storage capability of secondary power of data storage device
AssigneeShannon Systems Ltd.
InventorXiawei Ye
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for monitoring the power storage capability of a secondary power source of a data storage device is provided. A capacitor is used as a secondary power source. A charging path and a discharging path are selectively generated for the capacitor. After being charged through the charging path, the capacitor is then discharged through the discharging path while the charging path is disconnected from the capacitor. Then, the capacitor is checked to determine whether its voltage level has dropped below a threshold level and thereby an evaluation result obtained from evaluating the capacitor is generated.
Claims20
A data storage device, comprising:
- a capacitor, providing secondary power for the data storage device when an unexpected power-off event occurs;
- a charging path switching circuit, selectively providing a charging path for the capacitor;
- a discharging path switching circuit, selectively providing a discharging path for the capacitor;
- a voltage level detection circuit, detecting and determining whether a voltage level of the capacitor drops below a threshold level and, accordingly, an evaluation result obtained from evaluating the capacitor is generated;
- and
- a controller, controlling the charging path switching circuit and the discharging path switching circuit,
- wherein:
- after controlling the charging path switching circuit to provide the charging path to charge the capacitor and then controlling the charging path switching circuit to disconnect the charging path and controlling the discharging path switching circuit to provide the discharging path to discharge the capacitor, the controller operates the voltage level detection circuit to detect and determine the voltage level of the capacitor;
- a charging path control signal is used to control the charging path switching circuit to provide the charging path;
- and
- a discharging path control signal is used to control the discharging path switching circuit to provide the discharging path, and thereby the charging path and the discharging path are provided separately according to the charging path control signal and the discharging path control signal.
A method for monitoring power storage capability of a second power source of the data storage device, comprising:
- selectively providing a charging path for the capacitor and selectively providing a discharging path for the capacitor, wherein the capacitor is operative to provide secondary power for the data storage device when an unexpected power-off event occurs;
- and
- after using the charging path to charge the capacitor and then disconnecting the charging path and using the discharging path to discharge the capacitor, detecting and determining whether the voltage level of the capacitor drops below a threshold level and, accordingly, generating an evaluation result obtained from evaluating the capacitor,
- wherein:
- a charging path control signal controls whether or not to provide the charging path;
- and
- a discharging path control signal controls whether or not to provide the discharging path, and thereby the charging path and the discharging path are provided separately according to the charging path control signal and the discharging path control signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.