# US 2008/0189465 A1 · Storage device with automatic interface-switching function > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0189465 A1 - Document ID: US20080189465A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/763,457 - Filed: 2007-06-15 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2007-02-05 - Assignees: Prolific Technology Inc. - Inventors: Chih-Chin Yang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080189465A1 ## CPC - G06F 13/385: {for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices} - G06F 3/0605: {by facilitating the interaction with a user or administrator} - G06F 3/0661: {Format or protocol conversion arrangements} - G06F 3/0676: {Magnetic disk device} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A storage device with automatic-switching function is disclosed. When the storage device is coupled to a USB interface, the power provided by the USB interface turns the USB/SATA converter on to convert data from the USB interface into SATA format and transmit to a hard disk. When the storage device is coupled to a SATA interface instead of the USB interface, the power provided by the USB interface does not turn the USB/SATA converter on to convert data. In this way, the data from the SATA interface directly transmit to the hard disk. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A storage device with automatic interface-switching function comprising: a first interface connector comprising a first pin for transmitting a first voltage; a hard disk for storing data; a second interface connector coupled to the hard disk wherein the second interface is different from the first interface; a first regulator comprising: a first end coupled to the first pin of the first interface connector; a second end coupled to a first power; and a third end for outputting a second power when the first end of the first regulator receives the first voltage wherein the first regulator converts the first power into the second power; and a first interface/second interface converting controller comprising: a power end coupled to the third end of the first regulator for receiving the second power; a first end coupled to the first interface connector; and a second end coupled to the second interface connector; wherein the second end of the first interface/second interface converting controller is high impedance when the power end of the first interface/second interface converting controller does not receives the second power; wherein the first interface/second interface converting controller converts first interface data into second interface data. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The storage device of claim 1 wherein the first interface connector is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector, and the first interface is a USB interface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The storage device of claim 2 wherein the first interface connector further comprises: a first data pin coupled to the first interface/second interface converting controller for transmitting data; a second data pin coupled to the first interface/second interface converting controller for transmitting data; and a ground pin coupled to the first interface/second interface converting controller. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The storage device of claim 2 further comprising: a third interface connector comprising a first pin for transmitting a second voltage; a second regulator comprising: a first end coupled to the first pin of the third interface connector; a second end coupled to the first power; and a third end for outputting a third power when the first end of the second regulator receives the second voltage; wherein the second regulator converts the first power into the third power; and a third interface/second interface converting controller comprising: a power end coupled to the third end of the second regulator for receiving the third power; a first end coupled to the third interface connector; and a second end coupled to the second interface connector; wherein the second end of the third interface/second interface converting controller is high impedance when the power end of the third interface/second interface converting controller does not receive the third power; wherein the third interface/second interface converting controller converts third interface data to second interface data. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The storage device of claim 4 wherein the third interface connector is a 1394 connector and the third interface is a 1394 interface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The storage device of claim 5 wherein the third interface connector further comprises: a first pair of data pins coupled to the third interface/second interface converting controller for transmitting data; a second pair of data pins coupled to the third interface/second interface converting controller for transmitting data; and a ground pin coupled to the third interface/second interface converting controller. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The storage device of claim 1 wherein the second interface connector is a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) connector, and the second interface is a SATA interface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The storage device of claim 1 wherein the first interface connector is a Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394 connector, and the first interface is a IEEE 1394 interface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The storage device of claim 8 wherein the first interface connector further comprises: a first pair of data pins coupled to the first interface/second interface converting controller for transmitting data; a second pair of data pins coupled to the first interface/second interface converting controller for transmitting data; and a ground pin coupled to the first interface/second interface converting controller. ### Claim 10 A storage device with automatic interface-switching function comprising: a first interface connector comprising a first pin for transmitting a first voltage; a second interface connector comprising a first pin for transmitting a second voltage; a first regulator comprising: a first end coupled to the first pin of the first interface connector; a second end coupled to a first power; and a third end for outputting a second power when the first end of the first regulator receives the first voltage; wherein the first regulator converts the first power into the second power; a second regulator comprising: a first end coupled to the first pin of the second interface connector; a second end coupled to the first power; and a third end for outputting a third power when the first end of the second regulator receives the second voltage; wherein the second regulator converts the first power into the third power; a first interface/third interface converting controller comprising: a power end coupled to the third end of the first regulator for receiving the second power; a first end coupled to the first interface connector; and a second end coupled to a hard disk; wherein the second end of the first interface/third interface converting controller is high impedance when the power end of the first interface/third interface converting controller does not receives the second power; wherein the first interface/third interface converting controller converts first interface data into third interface data; and a second interface/third interface converting controller comprising: a power end coupled to the third end of the second regulator for receiving the third power; a first end coupled to the second interface connector; and a second end coupled to the hard disk; wherein the second end of the second interface/third interface converting controller is high impedance when the power end of the second interface/third interface converting controller does not receive the third power; wherein the second interface/third interface converting controller converts second interface data into third interface data. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The storage device of claim 10 wherein the first interface connector is a USB connector, and the first interface is a USB interface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The storage device of claim 10 wherein the second interface connector is a IEEE 1394 connector, and the second interface is a IEEE 1394 interface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The storage device of claim 10 wherein the third interface is a SATA interface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The storage device of claim 11 wherein the first interface connector further comprises: a first data pin coupled to the first interface/second interface converting controller for transmitting data; a second data pin coupled to the first interface/second interface converting controller for transmitting data; and a ground pin coupled to the first interface/second interface converting controller. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The storage device of claim 12 wherein the second interface connector further comprises: a first pair of data pins coupled to the second interface/third interface converting controller for transmitting data; a second pair of data pins coupled to the second interface/third interface converting controller for transmitting data; and a ground pin coupled to the second interface/third interface converting controller. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The storage device of claim 10 further comprising a third interface connector coupled to the hard disk.