TW200534074A - Expanded SATA backplane - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides an expanded SATA backplane. A user can assemble in series a plurality of SATA backplanes according to the number of hard disk drives to be expanded in cooperation with a SATA control device of a computer server. Each SATA backplane is installed with a plurality of slots, a plurality of SATA I/O ports, a control device, a first I/O port, and a second I/O port. The SATA control device is connected to the first I/O port of a first SATA backplane. In case of expansion, the first I/O port of the first SATA backplane is connected in series with the first I/O port of another SATA backplane. Likewise, the second I/O port of another SATA backplane is connected in series with the first I/O port of a next SATA backplane. As a result, a plurality of SATA backplanes can be connected in series for expansion.

Description

200534074

V. Description of the invention (1) [Technical field to which the invention belongs] The present invention relates to an extended SATA interface backplane, which relates to a backplane used in a SATA interface control device, and particularly to a SATA interface backplane. According to the needs of users to expand the storage device's hard disk drive, the serial expansion increases the flexibility of use. [Prior art]

According to today's computers, they can be said to be very powerful. They can not only help the public to deal with a lot of affairs, but also provide the public with entertainment. Therefore, for every citizen today, the computer is indispensable in life. device of. With the rapid development of technology, the processing speed of the central processing unit of today's computers is quite fast, and the storage capacity of hard disk drives (HDD) is also quite large. However, the overall performance of the computer will be Affected by the transmission speed of hard disk drives, especially like computer servers that require multiple hard disk drives. Therefore, the interface of hard disk drive transmission has gradually changed from Parallel ATA (Paral lei Advanced

Technology Attachment), which is the IDE interface (Integrated

Device Electronic Interface), replaced by the serial AT (Serial) AT A interface, which is faster in transmission speed, to shorten the overall performance of the computer.

The computer server must be equipped with a SATA interface control device when installing multiple hard disk drives that use SATA interface transmission. At present, the SATA interface control device has various specifications such as 4/6/8/12 ports. Purchase according to the number of ^ -type disk drives to be expanded, and the plurality of hard disk drives are all installed and fixed in a fixed slot of an extraction box, and the extraction box is provided with an interface with Sata

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The control device has the same backplane (Backp 1 ane). The backplane is provided for each hard disk drive. Let it be? Slots, each slot is connected to a SATA interface input / output port, each SATA interface wheel input / output port on the backplane is connected to the SATA interface input / output port of the SATA interface control device by using a transmission line. The main function of the backplane is to have the function of R A j D (Redundant Array Of Independent Disk Drives) for the management of the disk array (D isk A rray) to improve the security of the data stored in the hard disk drive. Board lets the hard drive have heat? The hot-swap function allows users to change the hard disk drive without first turning off the computer. It can also be used to test the status of the hard disk drive. However, the specifications of the board must be matched with the SATA interface control device, that is, a 4 # slot backplane can only support a 4 I / O port SATA interface control device. Similarly, the 6 slot The back panel is equipped with a SATA interface control device with 6 input / output ports, so when the user has installed a hard disk drive in the ports provided by the currently installed SATA interface control device, I want to expand the hard disk. When the machine is used, it is necessary to replace the SATA interface control device and the backplane with a higher number of ports. This is quite inconvenient for expansion and use of the system, the expansion cost is high, and the old equipment resources are wasted. Therefore, the present invention addresses how to propose an extended SATA interface backplane, so that the backplane can be connected to an expansion combination according to the needs of the user to expand the hard disk drive, so that it is convenient for the user to expand. It is not necessary to replace the new backplane to improve the flexibility of the backplane. It can support SATA interface control devices with various specifications to solve the above problems.

Page 6 200534074 V. Description of the invention (3) [Summary of the invention] The main purpose of the present invention is to provide an extended SATA interface backplane, which can be combined with a SATA interface according to the needs of the user to expand the hard disk drive. The backplane is matched with various specifications of SATA interface control devices to improve the flexibility of the backplane and reduce the cost of user expansion. Another object of the present invention is to provide an extended SATA interface backplane. The control device of the SATA interface backplane can be used by the computer's substrate management control device to monitor the status of the use of the backplane to facilitate the management of the computer management system. The extended SATA interface backplane of the present invention is a serial combination of multiple SATA interface backplanes that can be inserted into multiple hard disk drives to match and use a SATA interface control device installed in a computer server. A SATA interface backboard is provided with a plurality of SATA interface input / output ports, a control device, a first input / output port and a second input / output port. The SATA interface control device is connected to a first SATA interface backplane. The first input / output port is electrically connected, and the second input / output port of the first SATA interface backplane is connected in series with the first input / output port of the other SATA interface backplane. The second I / O port of a SATA interface backplane is connected in series with the first I / O port of the next SATA interface backplane, so that the user can expand the number of hard disk drives as required and use multiple SATA interfaces. The backplane serial connection combination expands and recharges, without the need to purchase a SATA interface backplane that supports more ports to replace the original SATA interface backplane. This can increase the flexibility of the SATA interface backplane. In order to make your reviewing committee

Page 7 200534074 V. Description of the invention (4) The effect is further understood and recognized. I would like to refer to the diagram of the preferred embodiment and the detailed description with explanations as follows: [Embodiment] Please refer to the first figure, which is A block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; as shown, the present invention uses a SATA interface backplane with two 4SATA interface slots, a first SATA interface backplane 10 and a second SATA interface backplane. 30 Used in conjunction with a SATA interface control device installed on one of the computer server's 8 SATA interface input / output ports 50. The SATA interface backplanes 10 and 30 are installed on the extraction box where the hard disk drive is placed. The SATA interface back Boards 10 and 30 are each equipped with 4 SATA interface slots 12 and 32 for hard disk drive insertion. Each slot 1 and 32 are each connected to two SATA interface backplanes 1 0 and 30. One of the SATA interface input / output ports 14 and 34 is electrically connected, and each of the SATA interface input / output ports 14 and 34 is electrically connected to the SATA interface input / output port provided in the SATA interface control device 50. In this way, the SATA interface control device 50 can read and transmit data to the slot 1 2 The hard disk drive 32. The two SATA interface backplanes 10 and 30 are each provided with a control device 16 and 36, and the control devices 16 and 36 are each connected with a first input / output port 18, 38, and a second input. / Output ports 20, 40, the first input / output port 18 of the first SAT A interface backplane 10 is electrically connected to the SATA interface control device 50, and the second IO input / output port 20 is through a transmission line 21 is connected in series with the first input / output port 38 of the second SATA interface backplane 30; the two SATA interface backplanes 10 and 30 are each provided with four sets of status indicators 2 relative to the number of the slots 1 2, 2 2 2, 4 2, each group of status indicators 2 2, 4 2 series each includes a display hard disk drive

Page 8 200534074 V. Description of the invention (5) One of the status is execution action light, a fault light and reconstruction light, etc. Each group of status indicators 2 2, 4 2 are relative to a hard disk drive, so that they can be displayed. The use status of each hard disk drive, the control devices 16 and 36 are electrically connected to the slots 1 2, 3 2 to detect the status of the hard disk drive, such as detecting the hard disk drive. Whether it exists and whether it is powered on. In addition, the two SATA interface backplanes 10 and 30 are each equipped with sensors 2 4, 4 4 to detect the temperature, voltage, and temperature of the SATA interface backplanes 10 and 30. The rotation speed of the fans installed on the SATA interface backplane 10 and 30. When the SATA interface backplanes 10 and 30 are used in combination with the Φ connector, the SATA interface control device 50 reads the transmission data through the SATA interface input / output ports 14, 34. It is expected that the data will be inserted into the slots 1 2, 3 2 The hard disk drive can detect the use status of the hard disk drive and send a status indication signal to the control device 16 through the first input / output port 18 according to the detected status. The control device 16 receives When it reaches the status indication signal, it will judge whether the status indicator corresponding to the status indication signal is set on the first SATA interface backboard 10. If so, the control device 16 sends a drive signal to the status indication signal. The status indicator 2 2 makes the status indicator 2 2 of the hard disk drive detected by the SATA interface control device 50 to illuminate to show the use status of the hard disk drive inserted in slot 12 . For example, the status indication signal sent by the SATA interface control device 50 is generated by detecting the use status of the hard disk drive inserted in the slot 32, and the control device 16 will determine the corresponding status indication signal. The status indicator 4 2 is not on the first SATA interface backplane 10, and the control device 16 is the second input / output 璋 2 0. The status indicator signal is transmitted through the transmission line 21 and the first input / output.

Page 9 200534074 V. Description of the invention (6) ---- Out port 38 is transmitted to the control device 36 of the second SATA interface backplane 30, and the control device 3 6 will send the driving signal to the control unit according to the received status indication signal. ^ The corresponding status indicator 42 is used to drive the corresponding SATA interface to control the status indicator 4 2 of the hard disk drive tested by Pei Chi 50 to actuate to display the use status of the hard disk drive. In addition, the sensors 24 and 44 detect the use status of the two SATA interface backplanes 10'30, and the obtained sensing signals are respectively transmitted to the control device i 6, 3 6, and the control device 16, The 3 6 series will generate the corresponding SATA interface backplane status signal according to the received sensing signal, and the control device 1 6 and 3 6 series will detect the status of the hard disk drive to generate the corresponding hard disk drive status signal. The ^ control device 3 6 series will send the SATA interface backplane status signal and hard disk drive shape, and can Φ signal through the first input / output port 3 8 via the transmission line 2 1 and the second round in / round: port 2 0 Send to the control device 16 so that the SATA interface control device 50 will read the status of the SATA interface backplanes of the two SATA interface backplanes 10 and 30 through the first input / output port 18 to the control equipment 16 Signal and hard disk drive status signal θ. In addition, the SATA interface control device 50 can also directly pass through the first input / output port 18, the second input / output port 20, the transmission line 21, and the first input / output port. 38 to the control device 36 read the status signal of the SATA interface backplane and the status signal of the hard disk drive. In addition, a baseboard management controller 55 (Base-board Management Control) installed on a computer server can monitor the two SATA interface backplanes through the second input / output port 40 of the second SATA interface backplane 30. The usage status of 10 and 30 is convenient for the computer management system to manage. Please refer to the second figure, which is a block diagram of another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Page 10 200534074 V. Description of the invention (7) Schematic diagram; as shown in the figure, this embodiment uses a SATA interface backplane with three 2SATA interface slots, a first SATA interface backplane 70, and a second SATA interface backplane. Board and a third SATA interface backplane 80, which are used in conjunction with a SATA interface control device 90, which is one of the 8 SATA interface input / output ports installed on the computer server. The serial expansion method is the same as the previous embodiment. The first SATA interface The first input / output port 62 of the backplane 60 is connected to the SATA interface control device 90, and the second input / output port 64 is connected to the first input / output of the second SATA interface backplane 70 through a transmission line 66 Port 72 is connected in series, so that the first SATA interface backplane 60 and the second SATA interface backplane 70 are connected in series. Accordingly, the second input / output port 74 uses a transmission line 76 and a third SATA interface back. G of the board 80 丨 the first input / output port 82 is connected in series, so that the second SATA interface backboard 70 and the third SATA interface backboard 80 are connected in series, and the extended third SATA interface backboard 80 is connected in series. The second input / output 璋 8 4 is electrically connected to the substrate management control device 5 5 to monitor the SATA. Interface backplanes 60, 70, 80 in use. In summary, the extended SATA interface backplane of the present invention is a SATA interface that can be used by computer server users to directly purchase a SATA interface with more SATA interface input / output ports when installing and using a hard disk drive. Control device, and the SATA interface backplane can be purchased according to the current number of hard disk drives to be installed. If you want to expand and install the hard disk drive later, you must purchase the SATA interface backplane and the old SATA interface backplane. The board is connected in series, which can be expanded and used with the SATA interface control device, so users do not need to use the SATA interface backplane as they are used to. When expanding a hard disk drive, they must replace the old one with a new one for use. A SATA interface control device with more SATA interface input / output ports causes waste of equipment resources of the old SATA interface backplane.

Page 11 200534074 V. Description of the invention (8) Because the SATA interface backplane can be expanded and connected in series according to the needs of user expansion, it can improve the flexibility of SATA interface backplane, improve practicality and reduce user expansion rigidity. The cost of the drive. However, the above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of implementation of the present invention. Therefore, for example, changes in shape, structure, characteristics, and spirit in accordance with the scope of the patent application for the present invention are equivalent. Modifications should be included in the scope of patent application of the present invention.

Page 12 200534074 Brief description of the drawings 10 First SATA interface backplane 12 Slot 14 SATA interface input / output port 16 Control device 18 First input / output port 20 Second input / output port 21 Transmission line 2 2 Light 24 sensor 30 second SATA interface backplane 32 slot 34 SATA interface input / output port 36 control device 38 first input / output port 40 second input / output port 42 status indicator 4 4 sensor 50 SATA Interface control device 55 Substrate management control device 60 First SATA interface backplane 62 First input / output 璋 64 Second input / output port 66 Transmission line 70 Second SATA interface backplane «

Page 13 200534074 Brief description of the diagram 72 First I / O port 74 Second I / O 璋 76 Transmission line 80 Third SATA interface backplane 82 First I / O port 84 Second I / O port 90 SATA interface control device [Brief description of the drawings] The first diagram is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and the second diagram is a block diagram of another preferred embodiment of the present invention. «

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Claims (1)

200534074 VI. Scope of patent application 1 · An extended SA T A interface backplane, which can be used to expand the number of hard disk drives according to the user's requirements. A SATA interface control device of a computer server. The SATA interface control device has a plurality of sATA interface input / output ports. Each of the SATA interface backplanes includes: a plurality of slots. It is used for a plurality of hard disk drives. <History; Multiple SATA interface input / output ports, each of the δΑΤΑ interface input / output ports of the backplane are opposite to one of the slot and one of the SATA interface control devices, and the SATA interface wheel in / out port Electrically connected for the SATA interface control device to read and send data to the hard disk drive and measure the usage status of each hard disk drive; and a control device that can detect the location of the slot. The hard disk drive is inserted, and the control device is connected with a first input / output port and a second input / output port; the SATA interface control device is connected with a first- "the first Lose / Output port connection, when the user expands the use, the first SATA " 5 Hai first round in / round out port is serially connected to the first input / output port of another sata interface backplane According to this, the second input / output port of the other SATA interface backplane is connected in series with the first input / output port of the next SATa interface backplane, so as to connect a combination of a plurality of φ the SA Τ A interface backplane is expanded. 2 · The extended SATA backplane as described in item 1 of the patent application scope, wherein each of the SATA interface backplanes is further equipped with a complex array of status indicators, which are respectively relative to A hard disk drive and a SATA interface control device 200534074 6. The scope of the patent application is based on detecting the use status of each hard disk drive, and sending out a status indication signal, so that the status indicator corresponding to the hard disk drive detected by the SATA interface control device is activated. To display the usage status of each hard drive. 3. The extended SATA interface backplane as described in item 2 of the scope of patent application, wherein the status indication signal sent by the SATA interface control device is transmitted to the first SATA interface backplane through the first input / output port. The control device determines whether the status signal indicator corresponding to the status indication signal is provided on the first SATA interface backplane. If so, the control device transmits a driving signal to correspond to the SAT A _ The status indicator of the hard disk drive detected by the interface control device is activated. If not, the control device sends the status indication signal through the second input / output port through the other SATA interface backplane. The first input / output port is transmitted to the control device of the other SATA interface backplane, so that the control device of the other SATA interface backplane judges and processes the status indication signal according to the above-mentioned judgment procedure, until the status indication signal It is transmitted to the control device of the SATA interface backboard equipped with the status indicator corresponding to the status indication signal, so as to transmit the driving signal, corresponding to the SATA interface control device. The hard disk drive state of the indicator measured actuation.孀 I 4 · The extended SATA interface backplane described in item 2 of the scope of the patent application, wherein each group of the status indicators includes one of the operating light, a fault light and an operating light indicating the use status of the hard disk drive. Rebuild the lights. 5 · The extended SATA interface backplane as described in item 1 of the patent application scope, which Page 16 200534074 6. In the scope of patent application, the slot is a SATA interface slot. 6 · The extended SATA interface backplane as described in item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein the control device of each SATA interface backplane can detect the status of the hard disk drive inserted in the SATA interface backplane, To generate a corresponding hard disk drive status signal. 7 · The extended SATA interface backplane as described in item 6 of the scope of patent application, wherein the control device detects whether the state of the hard disk drive exists and whether it is powered. 8 · The extended SATA interface backplane as described in item 6 of the scope of patent application, wherein the control device of each SATA interface backplane is through the first input_input / output 璋 and through the first input The second input / output port serially connected to the I / O port transmits the obtained hard disk drive status signal upward to the serially connected SATA interface backplane, so that the control device of all the SATA interface backplanes detects It is learned that the hard disk drive status signals are all transmitted to the control device of the first SATA interface backplane for the SATA interface control device to read. 9 · The extended SATA interface backplane as described in item 6 of the patent application scope, wherein the SATA interface control device can read the control device through the first input / output port of the first SATA interface backplane to the control device. A hard disk drive status signal, and the SATA interface control device uses the second input / output port of the first SATA interface backplane via the second input / output serially connected to the first input / output port Port to the control device of the backplane of the SATA interface connected in series, read the hard disk drive status signal detected by the control device. According to the above method, the SATA interface control device can read Page 17 200534074 6. Scope of patent application All the hard disk drive status signals detected by the control device. 10 · The extended SATA interface backplane described in item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein each of the SATA interface backplanes is further provided with a sensor to sense the use status of the SATA interface backplane to transmit a The sensing signal is sent to the control device. The control device receives and processes the sensing signal to generate a corresponding SATA interface backplane status signal. 1 1 · The extended SATA interface backplane as described in item 10 of the scope of patent application, wherein the sensor is capable of sensing the temperature of the SATA interface backplane. 1 2 · The extended SATA interface backplane as described in item 10 of the patent application scope, wherein the sensor is capable of sensing the voltage of the SA T A interface backplane. 1 3 · The extended SATA interface backplane as described in item 10 of the scope of patent application, wherein the sensor is capable of sensing the rotation speed of a fan mounted on the SATA interface backplane. 1 4 · The extended SATA interface backplane as described in Item 10 of the scope of patent application, wherein the control device of each SATA interface backplane is through the first input / output port and through the first input The second input / output port serially connected to the I / O port transmits the obtained status signal of the SATA interface backplane to the serially connected SATA interface backplane, so that all the control devices of the SATA interface backplane are The SATA interface backplane status signal is transmitted to the control device of the first SATA interface backplane for the SATA interface control device to read. 15 · The extended SATA interface backplane as described in item 10 of the scope of patent application, wherein the SATA interface control device can read from the first input / output port of the first SATA interface backplane to the control device. Take the SATA interface back Page 18 200534074 VI. Patent application board status signal, and the SATA interface control device is connected in series with the first input / output port through the second input / output port of the first SATA interface backplane. The second input / output port to the control device of the SATA interface backplane connected to read the status signal of the SATA interface backplane of the control device. According to the above manner, the SATA interface control device can read all The SATA interface backplane status signal of the control device. 16 · The extended SATA interface backplane described in item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein the second input / output port of one of the SATA interface backplanes connected in series with the extension is installed on the computer server. The previous substrate management and control device is electrically connected to monitor the status of each SATA interface backplane. 17 · The extended SATA interface backplane as described in item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein the SATA interface backplane is installed in an extraction box, and the extraction box can be used to hold the hard disk drive. Page 19