Western Digital Technologies, Inc.

Barry Klein

William C Cain

Kevin W McLaughlin

Charles Royston Patton, Iii

Joseph M Zueck

A storage system including a storage device comprising a media configured to store data, wherein the storage device is configured to be in a first operating mode or a second operating mode comprising a reduced power mode relative to the first operating mode, a communications port configured to connect to an electronic device, the communications port comprising one or more data lines configured to communicate data to the electronic device and to configure power supplied to the electronic device, and one or more controllers. The one or more controllers are configured to control an operation of the storage device, communicate data to the electronic device using the one or more data lines when the storage device is in the first operating mode, and configure power supplied to the electronic device using the one or more data lines when the storage device is in the second operating mode.

Storage system comprising a communications port for charging an electronic device

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.

Monitoring voltage levels for data storage devices

According to one embodiment, a power adapter, comprises a power adapter body; a power circuit contained within the power adapter body; and a power cord terminated by a plug, the power cord being electrically connected to the power circuit and extending from the power adapter body. The power adapter body comprises a surface defining a recess that is configured to enable at least a portion of the plug to be removably received within the recess.

Power adapter with recess

A storage device including a first switch unit configured to allow power to be received by the storage device from an AC adapter, and to prevent power from being received by the storage device from the AC adapter, and a storage controller. The storage controller can be configured to place the storage device in a first operating mode or a second operating mode, wherein the second operating mode is a reduced power state relative to the first operating mode, and control the first switch unit to allow power to be received by the storage device from the AC adapter when the storage device is in the first operating mode, and to prevent power from being received by the storage device from the AC adapter when the storage device is in the second operating mode.

Storage device selectively utilizing power from a host and power from an AC adapter

A method for a power adapter to selectively provide a first and a second output voltage may comprise coupling a rectified and filtered transformer input signal to a primary winding of a transformer. The secondary winding thereof may comprise a first tap associated with the first output voltage and a second tap associated with the second output voltage, the first and second taps being configured to be selectively coupled to and uncoupled from an output of the power adapter. The output current drawn at the output of the power adapter may then be sensed. When the sensed output current is determined to have exceeded a predetermined threshold, the output of the power adapter may be switched from the first to the second tap by uncoupling the first tap from the output of the power adapter and coupling the second tap to the output of the power adapter.

Power supply with voltage output responsive to load demand

The present invention relates to an external storage device, such as a hard disk drive, having a replaceable protection device. In one embodiment, the storage device comprises an overvoltage protection device coupled in parallel with a power adapter. The protection device may be configured to fail in short circuit in the event of an overvoltage condition. In order to make the protection device readily replaceable, it may be located on the storage device such that it is accessible by a user. The storage device is configured to continue operations if the protection device is removed.

Storage device with replaceable protection device

A method for remotely power cycling a peripheral data storage system (PDSS) from a host system. The method comprises powering-up the PDSS from the host system based on a host-scheduled backup operation; transmitting pre-selected data to the PDSS from the host system based on the host-scheduled backup operation; and powering-down the PDSS from the host system based on the host-scheduled backup operation. Another method is for operating a PDSS for use with a host system configured to perform scheduled backup operations to the PDSS, the PDSS comprising a peripheral data storage device, a PDSS controller, and a peripheral data storage controller host interface adapted for communication with the host system. The method comprises powering-up the PDSS based on a host-scheduled backup operation; receiving data from the host system for storing in the peripheral data storage device; and powering-down the PDSS based on the host-scheduled backup operation.

Remote power cycling of peripheral data storage system

A method of displaying states of a peripheral data storage system (PDSS) comprising a data storage device, a data storage system controller, a user-actuated signaling subsystem, a user display subsystem adapted to display the states, and a peripheral data storage controller host interface adapted for communication with a host system. The method includes determining a state of the PDSS; displaying a first display state via the user display subsystem if the PDSS is in an idle state; displaying a second display state via the user display subsystem if the PDSS is in a state corresponding to receiving a signal from the user-actuated signaling subsystem; displaying a third display state via the user display subsystem if the PDSS is in a dynamically active state; and displaying a fourth display state via the user display subsystem if the PDSS is in an off state.

Peripheral data storage system with multi-state user display

In an external disk drive system comprising a disk drive, a bridge controller comprising a plurality of Bridge Controller Host (BCH) interfaces adapted to establish communication between the external disk drive system and an external device via a plurality of different communication mediums, a method for switching from a first BCH-interface communicating with the external device via a first communication medium to a second BCH-interface during the operation of the external disk drive system. The method comprising sensing a connecting of a second communication medium to the external disk drive system via the second BCH-interface; determining an interface priority of the second communication medium over an interface priority of the first communication medium; dismounting the disk drive from the first communication medium based on the determining; and mounting the disk drive to the second communication medium wherein the external disk drive system remains operational during the dismounting an mounting.

Switching interfaces in external disk drives

An apparatus is disclosed for securing a cable assembly having a connector within an enclosed electronic system which includes a housing with an aperture and an electronic subsystem mounted within the housing with an electrical port for receiving the connector. The apparatus includes a compressible grommet fixedly mounted within the housing. The apparatus further includes a first surface and a distal surface and a channel traversing through the grommet and having a first end at the first surface aligned with the aperture, and a distal end at the distal surface substantially aligned with the electrical port. The grommet is adapted to receive the connector at the first end and to guide the connector along the channel to the distal end and the electrical port wherein the connector may be thereafter inserted into the electrical port and is thereby restrained by the grommet.

Apparatus for securing a cable assembly within an enclosed electronic system

A disk drive includes a head disk assembly having a housing including a first surface area, and a strain transducer for producing a strain signal representing strain in the first surface area due to a mechanical shock on the disk drive. The strain transducer includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a volume of piezosensitive material defining a second surface area. The piezosensitive material is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first surface area overlaps the second surface area. The strain transducer further includes means for securing the first electrode and the piezosensitive material to the first surface area such that the strain in the first surface area is replicated in the piezosensitive material. The disk drive includes means responsive to the strain signal for controlling a write operation in the disk drive.

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Trabuco Canyon, CA, United States of America

Barry Klein