High density buffer architecture and method

A buffer memory layout floor plan comprising:

• a) a first memory stage area having a first MOS cell means for storing and retrieving data in a first-in first out manner;
• b) a second memory stage area, coupled to said first memory stage area, having a plurality of register rows for storing data on a row basis such that each memory store operation operates to store data in one of said register rows, and each memory read operation operates to retrieve data from one of said register rows, each register row comprising a shift register;
• c) a third memory stage area, responsive to said second memory stage area, having a second MOS cell means for storing and retrieving data in a first-in first out manner;
• and
• d) a controller area, electrically coupled to said first memory stage area, to said second memory stage area, and to said third memory stage area, having control logic means for providing control and address signals to said first memory stage area, said second memory stage area, and said third memory stage area.

A method for storing data in a disk drive, comprising the steps of:

• (1) storing data in a first FIFO (first-in first-out) buffer in a first-in first-out manner;
• (2) retrieving data from said first FIFO buffer in a first-in first-out manner;
• (3) storing data retrieved from said first FIFO buffer in a memory device comprising a plurality of register rows on a row basis such that each memory store operation operates to store data in one of said register rows of said memory device, each register row comprising a shift register;
• (4) retrieving data from said memory device on a row basis such that each memory read operation operates to retrieve data from one of said register rows of said memory device;
• (5) storing data retrieved from said memory device in a second FIFO buffer in a first-in first-out manner;
• (6) retrieving data from said second FIFO buffer in a first-in first-out manner;
• and
• (7) storing data retrieved from said second FIFO buffer in a disk drive device.

A memory buffer for use with a computer storage device, said memory buffer comprising:

• a first FIFO (first-in first-out) buffer;
• means for storing data from a data source in said first FIFO buffer at a first speed;
• means for retrieving data from said first FIFO buffer at a second speed;
• a memory device comprising a plurality of register rows each comprising a shift register;
• means for storing data retrieved from said first FIFO buffer in said memory device at said second speed on a row basis such that each memory store operation operates to store data in one of said register rows of said memory device;
• means for retrieving data from said memory device at a third speed on a row basis such that each memory read operation operates to retrieve data from one of said register rows of said memory device;
• a second FIFO buffer;
• means for storing data retrieved from said memory device in said second FIFO buffer at said third speed;
• means for retrieving data from said second FIFO buffer at a fourth speed;
• and
• means for storing data retrieved from said second FIFO buffer in a computer storage device at said fourth speed.

A method for storing data in a computer storage device, said method comprising the steps of:

• storing data from a data source in a first FIFO (first-in first-out) buffer at a first speed;
• retrieving data from said first FIFO buffer at a second speed;
• storing data retrieved from said first FIFO buffer in a memory device comprising a plurality of register rows each comprising a shift register at said second speed on a row basis such that each memory store operation operates to store data in one of said register rows of said memory device;
• retrieving data from said memory device at a third speed on a row basis such that each memory read operation operates to retrieve data from one of said register rows of said memory device;
• storing data retrieved from said memory device in a second FIFO buffer at said third speed;
• retrieving data from said second FIFO buffer at a fourth speed;
• and
• storing data retrieved from said second FIFO buffer in a computer storage device at said fourth speed.

A method for retrieving data from a computer storage device, said method comprising the steps of:

• retrieving data from said computer storage device at a first speed;
• storing data from said computer storage device in a first FIFO (first-in first-out) buffer at said first speed;
• retrieving data from said first FIFO buffer at a second speed;
• storing data retrieved from said first FIFO buffer in a memory device comprising a plurality of register rows each comprising a shift register at said second speed on a row basis such that each memory store operation operates to store data in one of said register rows of said memory device;
• retrieving data from said memory device at a third speed on a row basis such that each memory read operation operates to retrieve data from one of said register rows of said memory device;
• storing data retrieved from said memory device in a second FIFO buffer at said third speed;
• retrieving data from said second FIFO buffer at a fourth speed;
• and
• transferring data retrieved from said second FIFO buffer to a data sink at said fourth speed.