Patents by Inventor Hiromi Matsushige

Hiromi Matsushige 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).

  • Patent number: 7401167
    Abstract: A disk array apparatus of the invention improves the quality of Fiber Channel signals corresponding to mounting positions of disk drives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd..
    Inventors: Hiromi Matsushige, Hiroshi Suzuki, Masato Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20080093926
    Abstract: A power device of the present invention makes a plurality of DC/DC converters redundant, and supplies power individually to a plurality of disk drives. Each first DC/DC converter is respectively made correspondent to a subgroup. One first DC/DC converter is connected to the disk drives respectively inside one subgroup, and the other first DC/DC converter is connected to the disk drives inside the other subgroup. A second DC/DC converter is made correspondent to all of the subgroups. Second DC/DC converters respectively supply direct-current power to any one disk drive of the disk drives in the subgroups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: Hiroshi Suzuki, Hiromi Matsushige, Tetsuya Inoue, Masato Ogawa, Tomokazu Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 7353435
    Abstract: The storage device system comprises: a plurality of signal transmission paths connected respectively to a plurality of installed storage devices; a plurality of system side communications sections for transmitting and receiving signals respectively to and from the plurality of storage devices, via the plurality of signal transmission paths; and one or a plurality of signal correcting sections for inputting a signal exchanged between the plurality of storage devices and the plurality of system side communications sections, correcting the input signal on the basis of a previously established correction parameter, and outputting the corrected signal. The correction parameter is a value set on the basis of at least one of the length of the signal transmission path between the storage device and the system side communications section, the wavelength attribute of the signal input to the signal correcting section, and the storage device attribute relating to the storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromi Matsushige, Hiroshi Suzuki, Masato Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20080005396
    Abstract: A storage system includes a plurality of disk drives, one or more controller boards for controlling data read and write from/to the plurality of the disk drives, and a Fibre Channel switching board for controlling path switching between the controller boards and the plurality of the disk drives. The Fibre Channel switching board has a control logical circuit for adjusting a control signal system between the controller boards and the disk drives according to a connection confirmation signal indicating whether or not the control signal cable is connected to the Fibre Channel switching board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Inventors: Hiroshi Suzuki, Tomokazu Yokoyama, Masato Ogawa, Tetsuya Inoue, Hiromi Matsushige, Masateru Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 7296166
    Abstract: A disk array system including at least one channel control portion, at least one disk control portion, a cache memory, a cache switch, a shared memory, a power unit, and a casing for storing the channel control portion, the disk control portion, the cache memory, the cache switch, the shared memory and the power unit, wherein: each of the channel control portion, the disk control portion, the cache memory, the cache switch and the shared memory includes a control board having a plurality of electronic circuits different in operating voltage, and a voltage converter for converting a single input voltage into voltages for operating the electronic circuits respectively; and the power unit supplies a voltage to the voltage converter provided in each of the channel control portion, the disk control portion, the cache memory, the cache switch and the shared memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Sakakibara, Hiroshi Suzuki, Hiromi Matsushige, Masato Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20070255968
    Abstract: A disk array device and a method of supplying power to a disk array device to which power is supplied by at least two AC inputs are provided. Where at least two AC/DC power-supply groups are provided in correspondence with each of the AC inputs and each AC/DC power-supply group includes at least two AC/DC power supplies that are connected to the AC input corresponding to that group, outputs from the AC/DC power supplies are summed separately for each group to obtain group total outputs for each group, and the group total outputs are input to each of a plurality of loads in the disk array device to provide power to each of the loads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Inventors: Hiroshi Suzuki, Hiromi Matsushige, Masato Ogawa, Tomokazu Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 7284073
    Abstract: A disk array apparatus of the invention improves the quality of Fibre Channel signals corresponding to mounting positions of disk drives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromi Matsushige, Hiroshi Suzuki, Masato Ogawa
  • Patent number: 7284140
    Abstract: A disk array device and a method of supplying power to a disk array device to which power is supplied by at least two AC inputs are provided. Where at least two AC/DC power-supply groups are provided in correspondence with each of the AC inputs and each AC/DC power-supply group includes at least two AC/DC power supplies that are connected to the AC input corresponding to that group, outputs from the AC/DC power supplies are summed separately for each group to obtain group total outputs for each group, and the group total outputs are input to each of a plurality of loads in the disk array device to provide power to each of the loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Suzuki, Hiromi Matsushige, Masato Ogawa, Tomokazu Yokoyama
  • Publication number: 20070174719
    Abstract: The storage control device of the present invention detects faults on the disk drives at an early stage, thus enhancing convenience of use. The disk drives are switchingly connected to a subordinate communication control unit via a switching circuit. An error information collection unit of an error monitoring unit detects errors which have occurred at each port of the switching circuit. The errors which have been detected are stored in an intermediate storage unit, and are input via an error information notification unit to a fault recovery control unit of the subordinate communication control unit. By doing this, it is possible to immediately specify whether or not a fault has occurred on any of the disk drives, and to start a fault recovery procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Inventors: Tetsuya Inoue, Hiroshi Suzuki, Hiromi Matsushige, Masato Ogawa, Tomokazu Yokoyama, Masateru Kurokawa
  • Publication number: 20070170782
    Abstract: In a RAID system, the power supplied to hard disks (HDDs) can be increased, and a plurality of types of HDDs can be installed. A plurality of HDD packs 33 are supplied with a single high voltage from a motherboard 28. The HDD packs 33 each accommodate, in a canister, an HDD 107, 181, 185 or 187 with different power supply specifications or communication interface specifications, as well as a DC/DC converter 109 to convert the power supply. Part of the HDD packs 33 have a data transfer interface conversion circuit 195 as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Inventors: Hiroshi Suzuki, Hiromi Matsushige, Masato Ogawa, Tomokazu Yokoyama, Masateru Kurokawa
  • Publication number: 20070143639
    Abstract: A disk array system including at least one channel control portion, at least one disk control portion, a cache memory, a cache switch, a shared memory, a power unit, and a casing for storing the channel control portion, the disk control portion, the cache memory, the cache switch, the shared memory and the power unit, wherein: each of the channel control portion, the disk control portion, the cache memory, the cache switch and the shared memory includes a control board having a plurality of electronic circuits different in operating voltage, and a voltage converter for converting a single input voltage into voltages for operating the electronic circuits respectively; and the power unit supplies a voltage to the voltage converter provided in each of the channel control portion, the disk control portion, the cache memory, the cache switch and the shared memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Sakakibara, Hiroshi Suzuki, Hiromi Matsushige, Masato Ogawa
  • Patent number: 7206946
    Abstract: A disk array system including at least one channel control portion, at least one disk control portion, a cache memory, a cache switch, a shared memory, a power unit, and a casing for storing the channel control portion, the disk control portion, the cache memory, the cache switch, the shared memory and the power unit, wherein: each of the channel control portion, the disk control portion, the cache memory, the cache switch and the shared memory includes a control board having a plurality of electronic circuits different in operating voltage, and a voltage converter for converting a single input voltage into voltages for operating the electronic circuits respectively; and the power unit supplies a voltage to the voltage converter provided in each of the channel control portion, the disk control portion, the cache memory, the cache switch and the shared memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Sakakibara, Hiroshi Suzuki, Hiromi Matsushige, Masato Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20070073939
    Abstract: A disk array apparatus of the invention improves the quality of Fibre Channel signals corresponding to mounting positions of disk drives.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Publication date: March 29, 2007
    Inventors: Hiromi Matsushige, Hiroshi Suzuki, Masato Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20070064132
    Abstract: The storage device system comprises: a plurality of signal transmission paths connected respectively to a plurality of installed storage devices; a plurality of system side communications sections for transmitting and receiving signals respectively to and from the plurality of storage devices, via the plurality of signal transmission paths; and one or a plurality of signal correcting sections for inputting a signal exchanged between the plurality of storage devices and the plurality of system side communications sections, correcting the input signal on the basis of a previously established correction parameter, and outputting the corrected signal. The correction parameter is a value set on the basis of at least one of the length of the signal transmission path between the storage device and the system side communications section, the wavelength attribute of the signal input to the signal correcting section, and the storage device attribute relating to the storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Publication date: March 22, 2007
    Inventors: Hiromi Matsushige, Hiroshi Suzuki, Masato Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20070063587
    Abstract: In a RAID system, the power supplied to hard disks (HDDs) can be increased, and a plurality of types of HDDs can be installed. A plurality of HDD packs 33 are supplied with a single high voltage from a motherboard 28. The HDD packs 33 each accommodate, in a canister, an HDD 107, 181, 185 or 187 with different power supply specifications or communication interface specifications, as well as a DC/DC converter 109 to convert the power supply. Part of the HDD packs 33 have a data transfer interface conversion circuit 195 as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Publication date: March 22, 2007
    Inventors: Hiroshi Suzuki, Hiromi Matsushige, Masato Ogawa, Tomokazu Yokoyama, Masateru Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 7185124
    Abstract: A disk array apparatus of the invention improves the quality of Fiber Channel signals corresponding to mounting positions of disk drives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromi Matsushige, Hiroshi Suzuki, Masato Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20070016811
    Abstract: A disk array device and a method of supplying power to a disk array device to which power is supplied by at least two AC inputs are provided. Where at least two AC/DC power-supply groups are provided in correspondence with each of the AC inputs and each AC/DC power-supply group includes at least two AC/DC power supplies that are connected to the AC input corresponding to that group, outputs from the AC/DC power supplies are summed separately for each group to obtain group total outputs for each group, and the group total outputs are input to each of a plurality of loads in the disk array device to provide power to each of the loads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Publication date: January 18, 2007
    Inventors: Hiroshi Suzuki, Hiromi Matsushige, Masato Ogawa, Tomokazu Yokoyama
  • Publication number: 20060291085
    Abstract: A storage system capable of reducing the start-up time of disk drives is provided. If a power source monitor circuit itself is normal (S93), the power source monitor circuit reads a detection signal from a detection circuit, and checks power sources (S94). If the power sources are normal (S95), all disks are spun up (S96). When the spin-up of all disks is completed (S98), processing is completed. If either of two power sources fails (S95), the power source monitor circuit reports the fact to a host control logical part (S99). The power source monitor circuit clears its internal counter to zero (S100) and issues a drive command to HDDs (S101). When the spin-up of all disks is completed (S103), processing is completed. If there is a disk which has not yet been spun up, the power source monitor circuit sets the internal counter to n+1 (S104) and returns to Step S101.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Publication date: December 28, 2006
    Inventors: Hiroshi Suzuki, Hiromi Matsushige, Masato Ogawa
  • Patent number: 7131014
    Abstract: A disk array device and a method of supplying power to a disk array device to which power is supplied by at least two AC inputs are provided. Where at least two AC/DC power-supply groups are provided in correspondence with each of the AC inputs and each AC/DC power-supply group includes at least two AC/DC power supplies that are connected to the AC input corresponding to that group, outputs from the AC/DC power supplies are summed separately for each group to obtain group total outputs for each group, and the group total outputs are input to each of a plurality of loads in the disk array device to provide power to each of the loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Suzuki, Hiromi Matsushige, Masato Ogawa, Tomokazu Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 7120736
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a storage unit comprising: a channel control portion for receiving a data input/output request; a cache memory for storing data; a disk control portion for performing input/output processing on data in accordance with the data input/output request; and a plurality of disk drives for storing data, wherein at least two of the disk drives input data to and output it from the disk control portion at different communication speeds. Further, the storage unit has a plurality of communication paths provided to connect at least one of the disk drives in such a manner as to constitute a loop defined by the FC-AL fiber channel standards, so that the communication speeds can be set differently for these different communication paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromi Matsushige, Hiroshi Suzuki, Masato Ogawa, Tomokazu Yokoyama, Yasuhiro Sakakibara