Patents by Inventor Darin E. Gerhart

Darin E. Gerhart has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Managing wear of system areas of storage devices
    Patent number: 10289408
    Abstract: Techniques are described for managing firmware versions for a storage device. In one example, a storage device includes a memory and a controller. The controller is configured to execute a first version of a firmware, receive information for a second version of a firmware that is different from the first version, determine, based on the information for the second version of the firmware, whether the version of the second version of the firmware is stored in a system area of the memory, responsive to determining that the second version of the firmware is stored in the system area, load the second version of the firmware, responsive to determining that the second version of the firmware is not stored in the system area, store the second version of the firmware in the system area, update an active firmware index, and execute the second version of the firmware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Darin E. Gerhart, Cory Lappi, Phillip Peterson, William J. Walker
  • Performance tuning for storage devices
    Patent number: 10228866
    Abstract: In general, techniques are described for enabling performance tuning of a storage device. A storage device comprising one or more processors and a memory may perform the tuning techniques. The one or more processors may be configured to receive a command stream including one or more commands to access the storage device. The memory may be configured to store the command stream. The one or more processors may be further configured to insert a delay into the command stream to generate a performance tuned command stream, and access the storage device in accordance with the performance tuned command stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Darin E. Gerhart
  • MANAGING WEAR OF SYSTEM AREAS OF STORAGE DEVICES
    Publication number: 20160342412
    Abstract: Techniques are described for managing firmware versions for a storage device. In one example, a storage device includes a memory and a controller. The controller is configured to execute a first version of a firmware, receive information for a second version of a firmware that is different from the first version, determine, based on the information for the second version of the firmware, whether the version of the second version of the firmware is stored in a system area of the memory, responsive to determining that the second version of the firmware is stored in the system area, load the second version of the firmware, responsive to determining that the second version of the firmware is not stored in the system area, store the second version of the firmware in the system area, update an active firmware index, and execute the second version of the firmware.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Darin E. Gerhart, Cory Lappi, Phillip Peterson, William J. Walker
  • Managing wear of system areas of storage devices
    Patent number: 9459857
    Abstract: Techniques are described for managing firmware versions for a storage device. In one example, a storage device includes a memory and a controller. The controller is configured to execute a first version of a firmware, receive information for a second version of a firmware that is different from the first version, determine, based on the information for the second version of the firmware, whether the version of the second version of the firmware is stored in a system area of the memory, responsive to determining that the second version of the firmware is stored in the system area, load the second version of the firmware, responsive to determining that the second version of the firmware is not stored in the system area, store the second version of the firmware in the system area, update an active firmware index, and execute the second version of the firmware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Darin E. Gerhart, Cory Lappi, Phillip Peterson, William J. Walker
  • PERFORMANCE TUNING FOR STORAGE DEVICES
    Publication number: 20160210074
    Abstract: In general, techniques are described for enabling performance tuning of a storage device. A storage device comprising one or more processors and a memory may perform the tuning techniques. The one or more processors may be configured to receive a command stream including one or more commands to access the storage device. The memory may be configured to store the command stream. The one or more processors may be further configured to insert a delay into the command stream to generate a performance tuned command stream, and access the storage device in accordance with the performance tuned command stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2015
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventor: Darin E. Gerhart
  • MANAGING WEAR OF SYSTEM AREAS OF STORAGE DEVICES
    Publication number: 20160210132
    Abstract: Techniques are described for managing firmware versions for a storage device. In one example, a storage device includes a memory and a controller. The controller is configured to execute a first version of a firmware, receive information for a second version of a firmware that is different from the first version, determine, based on the information for the second version of the firmware, whether the version of the second version of the firmware is stored in a system area of the memory, responsive to determining that the second version of the firmware is stored in the system area, load the second version of the firmware, responsive to determining that the second version of the firmware is not stored in the system area, store the second version of the firmware in the system area, update an active firmware index, and execute the second version of the firmware.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Darin E. Gerhart, Cory Lappi, Phillip Peterson, William J. Walker