Abstract: A topology and devices and protocols comprising a switched fabric which allow attaching multiple mass storage devices through said switched fabric over any serial point to point mass storage interface. This switched fabric interface uses one or more point to point serial interfaces, such as Serial ATA to provide the connectivity of multiple drives to one or more ports on a server or PC class computer and includes routers which use router headers in FIS to establish routes and guide data. Disclosed are the switch concept, switch ASIC devices, and switch firmware in a switch supporting any number of host connections and number of drive connections. The protocols disclosed also provide the ability to connect multiple hosts to a bank of switch mass storage devices. The processes disclosed includes protocol conversions from Serial ATA 2.xx to Serial ATA 1.xx devices.

Abstract: A transmitter for transmitting an OOB signal in a serial ATA bus comprising a conventional Fiber Channel transmitter modified to have output coupling capacitors with values selected to cause transition to a common mode voltage condition on the serial ATA bus within the time specified in the serial ATA bus specification when an illegal pattern of all logic 1 or all logic 0s is loaded into the input shift register of said transmitter. Also disclosed is a OOB signal pattern receiver comprising a conventional Fiber Channel receiver which cannot go into a powered down mode and having OOB signal pattern recognition circuitry coupled to the output shift register of the receiver. Also disclosed is a OOB signal pattern receiver comprising a conventional Fiber Channel receiver which can go into a powered down mode and having OOB signal pattern recognition circuitry coupled to the inputs of said receiver.

Abstract: A method for transmitting a unique signal pattern on a serial bus to indicate the need for processing to re-establish synchronous communications on said bus, especially at power up, awaken from sleep or upon a fault such as loss of synchronization. The method comprises sending one or more silent intervals on a bus which normally requires transmission of data or fill characters at all times to maintain synchronization. The silent interval(s) have a predetermined duration and a predetermined sequence of durations if the durations of each interval are different and more than one interval is used. The predetermined pattern is known to all transceivers coupled to the bus. A long silent interval of a predetermined duration which is also known to all transceivers is sent at the end of the unique pattern to indicate the end of transmission thereof. A low power receiver monitors the bus at all times and listens for silent intervals and measures the durations thereof.

Abstract: A hard disk drive for a computer system including a head disk assembly with a disk platter of approximately one-and-eight-tenths-inch in diameter capable of storing more than forty megabytes. In an embodiment, data tracks on each data surface of the platter are spaced at approximately 2,558 tracks per inch and each data track has approximately 36,000 flux changes per inch. An actuator positions a pair of read/write heads on each platter surface using a voice coil motor to position the heads over a cylinder. A magnetic actuator latch attaches to another magnet on the actuator and locks the heads in a parked position at the innermost diameter of the platter. A spindle motor rotates the platter at approximately 5,400 revolutions per minute. A base plate, with a gasketed surface and a raised lip, hermetically seals with a cover to the base plate such that the platter, the actuator, the actuator latch, and the spindle motor are all contained within. The cover carries a breather filter and recirculating air filter.

Abstract: An improved method of managing media defects in disk drives keeps an operating list of the tracks in the disk drive, and for each track enters on the list the number of good sectors (i.e., those free of defects) in that track. Thus the information on the operating list is sufficient for the disk drive microprocessor to avoid use of the defective sectors, each of which is labelled in its header as being defective. This method is compatible with SCSI and other common disk drive interfaces.