Power fail protection and recovery using low power states in a data storage device/system
AssigneeWestern Digital Technologies, Inc.
InventorsMICHAEL S. ALLISON, STEPHEN J. SILVA, JOHNNY A. LAM, MATTHEW CALL
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Abstract
Systems and methods for early warnings of power loss in solid state storage drives are disclosed. Early warnings of power loss can be used to power the drive to force the drive into a low power states before the energy in backup power sources, such as backup capacitors, is used. The low power states can allow for the reduction of power use by the drive which can provide cost savings and reduction in the risk that the drive will be rendered reconfigurable by a power failure event.
Claims17
A data storage device comprising:
- a non-volatile solid-state memory array comprising a plurality of non-volatile memory devices configured to store data;
- a volatile memory array configured to store data;
- a reserve power circuit comprising at least one energy storage device;
- and
- a controller having a power input configured to receive power from a primary power source for powering the data storage device during normal operation;
- wherein the controller is configured to:
- in response to detect that a loss of power from the primary power source is impending while receiving power from the primary power source;
- and
- in response to said detecting, cause the storage device to enter a first reduced power state, wherein power consumption of the device is reduced and a first portion of data stored in the volatile memory array is stored in the non-volatile solid-state memory array using power from the primary power source;
- wherein the storage device does not use power from the reserve power circuit while in the reduced power state.
A data storage device comprising:
- a non-volatile solid-state memory array comprising a plurality of non-volatile memory devices configured to store data;
- a volatile memory array configured to store data;
- a reserve power circuit comprising at least one energy storage device;
- and
- a controller having a power input configured to receive primary power from an external source for powering the data storage device during normal operation;
- wherein the controller is configured to:
- detect a decrease in the primary power received on the power input;
- and
- prior to the data storage device entering a reserve power state, cause the data storage device to enter a reduced power state in response to detecting the decrease in power, wherein the data storage device saves at least a portion of data stored in the volatile memory array in the non-volatile solid-state memory array using the primary power from the external source and reduces power consumption when in the reduced power state.
In a data storage system comprising a non-volatile solid-state memory array and a controller, a method of managing power, the method comprising:
- detecting that a loss of power from a primary power source is impending;
- and
- in response to said detecting, causing the data storage system to enter a first reduced power state by:
- reducing an amount of power from the primary power source consumed by the data storage system;
- and
- storing a first portion of data stored in a volatile memory array in a non-volatile solid state memory array using power from the primary power source;
- wherein power from a reserve power circuit is not used while the data storage system is in the first reduced power state.
In a data storage system comprising a non-volatile solid-state memory array and a controller, a method of managing power, the method comprising:
- receiving power from a primary power source on a power input port;
- detecting a decrease in power from the primary power source received on the power input port;
- and
- prior to the data storage system entering a reserve power state, causing the data storage system to enter a reduced power state in response to detecting the decrease in power from the primary power source by:
- saving at least a portion of data stored in a volatile memory array of the data storage system in a non-volatile solid-state memory array of the data storage system using power from the primary power source;
- and
- reducing power consumption of the data storage system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.