Patents by Inventor Richard M. Ehrlich

Richard M. Ehrlich 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).

  • Publication number: 20210096769
    Abstract: Systems and methods for scheduling the execution of disk access commands in a split-actuator hard disk drive are provided. In some embodiments, while a first actuator of the split actuator is in the process of performing a first disk access command (a victim operation), a second disk access command (an aggressor operation) is selected for and executed by a second actuator of the split actuator. The aggressor operation is selected from a queue of disk access commands for the second actuator, and is selected based on being the disk access command in the queue that can be initiated sooner than any other disk access command in the queue without disturbing the victim operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Gary W. Calfee, Richard M. Ehrlich, Thorsten Schmidt, Eric R. Dunn
  • Publication number: 20210098019
    Abstract: In a disk drive, when an off-track error occurs during a sequential disk access operation that spans multiple contiguous data tracks, efficient recovery is performed. In an embodiment, the disk access operation (e.g., reading from or writing to a disk) is attempted for all sectors of the sequential disk access operation. The disk access operation is then attempted again for sectors associated with any off-track errors that occurred during the disk access operation. In another embodiment, when an off-track error occurs during a sequential write operation in a shingled magnetic recording drive, the data originally targeted to be written to a first portion is written to a second portion of the data track that follows the first portion. Since no additional revolutions of the disk are needed for data associated with the sequential write operation to be written to the disk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventor: Richard M. EHRLICH
  • Publication number: 20210096764
    Abstract: Systems and methods for scheduling the execution of disk access commands in a split-actuator hard disk drive are provided. In some embodiments, while a first actuator of the split actuator is in the process of performing a first disk access command (a victim operation), a second disk access command (an aggressor operation) is selected for and executed by a second actuator of the split actuator. The aggressor operation is selected from a queue of disk access commands for the second actuator, and is selected based on being the disk access command in the queue that can be initiated sooner than any other disk access command in the queue without disturbing the victim operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Gary W. CALFEE, Richard M. EHRLICH, Thorsten SCHMIDT, Eric R. DUNN
  • Patent number: 10936498
    Abstract: When a shingled magnetic recording (SMR) hard disk drive (HDD) receives a write command that references one or more target logical block addresses (LBAs) and determines that one or more target LBAs are included in a range of LBAs for which data are stored in a memory of the drive, additional data are written to the media cache of the SMR HDD along with the write data during the same disk access. The additional data include data that are stored in the volatile memory and are associated with one or more LBAs that are adjacent in LBA space to the target LBAs. The one or more LBAs that are adjacent in LBA space to the target LBAs may include a first group of LBAs that is adjacent to and follows the target LBAs and a second group of LBA that is adjacent to and precedes the target LBAs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard M. Ehrlich, Andre C. Hall
  • Patent number: 10777218
    Abstract: A storage device includes a disk, a head configured to write data to and read data from the disk, and a controller. The controller is configured to, for each of a plurality of unexecuted commands, carry out a calculation of an amount of time that is required for the head to start accessing the disk to begin execution of the non-executed command upon completion of a currently-executed command, until the earlier of i) a number of unexecuted commands for which the calculation has been carried out reaches a threshold value or ii) the completion of the currently-executed command, select a next command to be executed from one or more unexecuted commands for which the calculation has been carried out, based on the calculated amount of time for each of the one or more unexecuted commands, and execute the selected next command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Richard M. Ehrlich
  • Patent number: 10770110
    Abstract: In a disk drive, when an off-track error occurs during a sequential disk access operation that spans multiple contiguous data tracks, efficient recovery is performed. In an embodiment, the disk access operation (e.g., reading from or writing to a disk) is attempted for all sectors of the sequential disk access operation. The disk access operation is then attempted again for sectors associated with any off-track errors that occurred during the disk access operation. In another embodiment, when an off-track error occurs during a sequential write operation in a shingled magnetic recording drive, the data originally targeted to be written to a first portion is written to a second portion of the data track that follows the first portion. Since no additional revolutions of the disk are needed for data associated with the sequential write operation to be written to the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Richard M. Ehrlich
  • Patent number: 10685678
    Abstract: A dual-stage servo system of a disk drive includes a first fine positioning servo system with a first microactuator that independently controls the position of a first read/write head over a first recording surface and a second fine positioning servo system with a second microactuator that independently controls the position of a second read/write head over a second recording surface. The first microactuator accesses a first data stripe while the second fine positioning servo system simultaneously accesses a second data stripe. Data can be transferred to or from the first and second data stripes simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Richard M. Ehrlich
  • Patent number: 10678442
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to storage devices and methods of operating the same. In one aspect, a storage device includes a disk, and a head configured to write data to and read data from the disk. The storage device also includes a controller configured to receive a read command in a host command queue, store the read command in a disk queue, and determine whether the host command queue is full of pending read commands, including the received read command. If the host command queue is full of pending read commands, the controller forces execution of one of the pending read commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Takeyori Hara, Richard M. Ehrlich, Siri S. Weerasooriya
  • Publication number: 20200126592
    Abstract: A dual-stage servo system of a disk drive includes a first fine positioning servo system with a first microactuator that independently controls the position of a first read/write head over a first recording surface and a second fine positioning servo system with a second microactuator that independently controls the position of a second read/write head over a second recording surface. The first microactuator accesses a first data stripe while the second fine positioning servo system simultaneously accesses a second data stripe. Data can be transferred to or from the first and second data stripes simultaneously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventor: Richard M. EHRLICH
  • Publication number: 20200082844
    Abstract: A storage device includes a disk, a head configured to write data to and read data from the disk, and a controller. The controller is configured to, for each of a plurality of unexecuted commands, carry out a calculation of an amount of time that is required for the head to start accessing the disk to begin execution of the non-executed command upon completion of a currently-executed command, until the earlier of i) a number of unexecuted commands for which the calculation has been carried out reaches a threshold value or ii) the completion of the currently-executed command, select a next command to be executed from one or more unexecuted commands for which the calculation has been carried out, based on the calculated amount of time for each of the one or more unexecuted commands, and execute the selected next command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventor: Richard M. EHRLICH
  • Patent number: 10565119
    Abstract: When a shingled magnetic recording (SMR) hard disk drive (HDD) performs additional SMR band copy and/or flush operations to ensure that data associated with logical bands that are adjacent or proximate in logical space are stored in physical locations in the SMR HDD that are proximate in physical space. As a result, efficient execution is ensured of read commands that span multiple logical bands of the SMR HDD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thorsten Schmidt, Richard M. Ehrlich, Fernando Anibal Zayas
  • Patent number: 10431257
    Abstract: A dual-stage servo system of a disk drive includes a first fine positioning servo system with a first microactuator that independently controls the position of a first read/write head over a first recording surface and a second fine positioning servo system with a second microactuator that independently controls the position of a second read/write head over a second recording surface. The first microactuator accesses a first data stripe while the second fine positioning servo system simultaneously accesses a second data stripe. Data can be transferred to or from the first and second data stripes simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Richard M. Ehrlich
  • Patent number: 10418053
    Abstract: A storage device includes a disk, a head configured to write data to and read data from the disk, and a controller. The controller is configured to, for each of a plurality of unexecuted commands, carry out a calculation of an amount of time that is required for the head to start accessing the disk to begin execution of the non-executed command upon completion of a currently-executed command, until the earlier of i) a number of unexecuted commands for which the calculation has been carried out reaches a threshold value or ii) the completion of the currently-executed command, select a next command to be executed from one or more unexecuted commands for which the calculation has been carried out, based on the calculated amount of time for each of the one or more unexecuted commands, and execute the selected next command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Richard M. Ehrlich
  • Publication number: 20190278710
    Abstract: When a shingled magnetic recording (SMR) hard disk drive (HDD) receives a write command that references one or more target logical block addresses (LBAs) and determines that one or more target LBAs are included in a range of LBAs for which data are stored in a memory of the drive, additional data are written to the media cache of the SMR HDD along with the write data during the same disk access. The additional data include data that are stored in the volatile memory and are associated with one or more LBAs that are adjacent in LBA space to the target LBAs. The one or more LBAs that are adjacent in LBA space to the target LBAs may include a first group of LBAs that is adjacent to and follows the target LBAs and a second group of LBA that is adjacent to and precedes the target LBAs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Richard M. EHRLICH, Andre C. HALL
  • Publication number: 20190279660
    Abstract: A storage device includes a disk, a head configured to write data to and read data from the disk, and a controller. The controller is configured to, for each of a plurality of unexecuted commands, carry out a calculation of an amount of time that is required for the head to start accessing the disk to begin execution of the non-executed command upon completion of a currently-executed command, until the earlier of i) a number of unexecuted commands for which the calculation has been carried out reaches a threshold value or ii) the completion of the currently-executed command, select a next command to be executed from one or more unexecuted commands for which the calculation has been carried out, based on the calculated amount of time for each of the one or more unexecuted commands, and execute the selected next command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventor: Richard M. EHRLICH
  • Publication number: 20190278711
    Abstract: When a shingled magnetic recording (SMR) hard disk drive (HDD) performs additional SMR band copy and/or flush operations to ensure that data associated with logical bands that are adjacent or proximate in logical space are stored in physical locations in the SMR HDD that are proximate in physical space. As a result, efficient execution is ensured of read commands that span multiple logical bands of the SMR HDD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Thorsten SCHMIDT, Richard M. EHRLICH, Fernando Anibal ZAYAS
  • Publication number: 20190163368
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to storage devices and methods of operating the same. In one aspect, a storage device includes a disk, and a head configured to write data to and read data from the disk. The storage device also includes a controller configured to receive a read command in a host command queue, store the read command in a disk queue, and determine whether the host command queue is full of pending read commands, including the received read command. If the host command queue is full of pending read commands, the controller forces execution of one of the pending read commands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Takeyori HARA, Richard M. EHRLICH, Siri S. WEERASOORIYA
  • Publication number: 20190087437
    Abstract: A data storage device that may be employed in a distributed data storage system is configured to track the generation of obsolete data in the storage device and perform a compaction process based on the tracking. The storage device may be configured to track the total number of IOs that result in obsolete data, and, when the total number of such IOs exceeds a predetermined threshold, to perform a compaction process on some or all of the nonvolatile storage media of the storage device. The storage device may be configured to track the total quantity of obsolete data stored by the storage device as the obsolete data are generated, and, when the total quantity of obsolete data exceeds a predetermined threshold, to perform a compaction process on some or all of the nonvolatile storage media of the storage device. The compaction process may occur during a predicted low-utilization period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Fernando A. ZAYAS, Richard M. EHRLICH
  • Patent number: 10198188
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to storage devices and methods of operating the same. In one aspect, a storage device includes a disk, and a head configured to write data to and read data from the disk. The storage device also includes a controller configured to receive a read command in a host command queue, store the read command in a disk queue, and determine whether the host command queue is full of pending read commands, including the received read command. If the host command queue is full of pending read commands, the controller forces execution of one of the pending read commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takeyori Hara, Richard M. Ehrlich, Siri S. Weerasooriya
  • Publication number: 20180260115
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to storage devices and methods of operating the same. In one aspect, a storage device includes a disk, and a head configured to write data to and read data from the disk. The storage device also includes a controller configured to receive a read command in a host command queue, store the read command in a disk queue, and determine whether the host command queue is full of pending read commands, including the received read command. If the host command queue is full of pending read commands, the controller forces execution of one of the pending read commands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Takeyori HARA, Richard M. EHRLICH, Siri S. WEERASOORIYA