Abstract: Various embodiments include methods, apparatus, and systems to scan at least a portion of a memory device for potential errors when a condition for scanning is met. The condition may be dependent on one or more of a number of read operations, a number of write operations, time, and others. Other embodiments including additional methods, apparatus, and systems are disclosed.

Abstract: Various embodiments include one or more memory devices having at least two planes of physical blocks organized into super blocks, with each super block including a physical block from each of the at least two planes. Embodiments include determining defective blocks within the planes. If none of the blocks at a particular block position are determined to be defective, embodiments include assigning the blocks at the particular block position to a super block, and if one or more of the blocks at a particular block position are determined to be defective, embodiments include: assigning the blocks at the particular block position determined to be defective to a super block; and assigning a respective replacement block to the super block for each of the one or more blocks at the particular block position determined to be defective. The respective replacement block is selected from a number of blocks within a respective one of the planes that includes the respective block determined to be defective.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is disclosed to include a SATA Switch allowing for access by two hosts to a single port SATA device Further disclosed are embodiments for reducing the delay and complexity of the SATA Switch.

Abstract: An integrated data storage control system provides, in a single integrated circuit, RDC, servo logic, ATA interface, microprocessor, and other formerly discrete components in one highly integrated system design. The integrated circuit is rendered using a single integrated circuit technology type (e.g., digital CMOS) for all components. Analog and digital circuits are combined in such a way as to eliminate or reduce noise or interference in digital circuits from analog circuit components. Individual elements may have their outputs and inputs MUXed together such that individual elements can be selectively switched (during testing modes) such that the integrated circuit emulates or behaves in the same or similar manner as one of the prior art components. The present invention may be applied to magnetic hard disk drives (HDDs) or other types of storage devices such as floppy disk controllers, optical disk drives (e.g., CD-ROMs and the like), tape drives, and other data storage devices.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods and devices for a memory controller. In one or more embodiments, a memory controller includes a plurality of back end channels, and a command queue communicatively coupled to the plurality of back end channels. The command queue is configured to hold host commands received from a host. Circuitry is configured to generate a number of back end commands at least in response to a number of the host commands in the command queue, and distribute the number of back end commands to a number of the plurality of back end channels.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is disclosed to include a fiber channel target device for receiving information in the form of frames and including a controller device coupled to a microprocessor for processing the frames received from the host, at least one receive buffer for storing the frames and having a buffer size, the controller device issuing credit to the host for receipt of further frames in a manner wherein only one microprocessor is needed to process the frames while maintaining a buffer size that is as small as the number of first type of frames that can be received by the fiber channel target device from the host.

Abstract: Various embodiments include methods, apparatus, and systems to scan at least a portion of a memory device for potential errors when a condition for scanning is met. The condition may be dependent on one or more of a number of read operations, a number of write operations, time, and others. Other embodiments including additional methods, apparatus, and systems are disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods and devices for a memory controller. In one or more embodiments, a memory controller includes a plurality of back end channels, and a command queue communicatively coupled to the plurality of back end channels. The command queue is configured to hold host commands received from a host. Circuitry is configured to generate a number of back end commands at least in response to a number of the host commands in the command queue, and distribute the number of back end commands to a number of the plurality of back end channels.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods and devices for memory block selection. In one or more embodiments, a memory controller includes control circuitry coupled to one or more memory devices having multiple Groups of planes associated therewith, each Group including at least two planes of physical blocks organized into Super Blocks, with each Super Block including a physical block from each of the at least two planes. The control circuitry is configured to receive a first unassigned logical block address (LBA) associated with a write operation and determine a particular free Super Block within a selected one of the multiple Groups to receive data associated with the write operation.

Abstract: Various embodiments include one or more memory devices having at least two planes of physical blocks organized into super blocks, with each super block including a physical block from each of the at least two planes. Embodiments include determining defective blocks within the planes. If none of the blocks at a particular block position are determined to be defective, embodiments include assigning the blocks at the particular block position to a super block, and if one or more of the blocks at a particular block position are determined to be defective, embodiments include: assigning the blocks at the particular block position determined to be defective to a super block; and assigning a respective replacement block to the super block for each of the one or more blocks at the particular block position determined to be defective. The respective replacement block is selected from a number of blocks within a respective one of the planes that includes the respective block determined to be defective.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention includes a switch employed in a system having two hosts and a device and for coupling two or more host ports to a device. The switch includes a power signal control circuit generating a power signal for use by the device in receiving power for operability thereto, the power signal control circuit responsive to detection of inoperability of the device and in response thereto, toggling the power signal to the device while avoiding interruption to the system.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods, devices, and systems for data integrity in memory controllers. One memory controller embodiment includes a host interface and first error detection circuitry coupled to the host interface. The memory controller can include a memory interface and second error detection circuitry coupled to the memory interface. The first error detection circuitry can be configured to calculate error detection data for data received from the host interface and to check the integrity of data transmitted to the host interface. The second error detection circuitry can be configured to calculate error correction data for data and first error correction data transmitted to the memory interface and to check integrity of data and first error correction data received from the memory interface.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods, devices, modules, and systems for operating semiconductor memory. A number of method embodiments include reading data from memory cells corresponding to a sector of data, determining a number of the memory cells in a non-erased state, and, if the number of the memory cells in a non-erased state is less than or equal to a number of errors correctable by an ECC engine, determining the sector is erased.

Abstract: Various embodiments include methods, apparatus, and systems to scan at least a portion of a memory device for potential errors when a condition for scanning is met. The condition may be dependent on one or more of a number of read operations, a number of write operations, time, and others. Other embodiments including additional methods, apparatus, and systems are disclosed.

Abstract: An integrated data storage control system provides, in a single integrated circuit, RDC, servo logic, ATA interface, microprocessor, and other formerly discrete components in one highly integrated system design. The integrated circuit is rendered using a single integrated circuit technology type (e.g., digital CMOS) for all components. Analog and digital circuits are combined in such a way as to eliminate or reduce noise or interference in digital circuits from analog circuit components. Individual elements may have their outputs and inputs MUXed together such that individual elements can be selectively switched (during testing modes) such that the integrated circuit emulates or behaves in the same or similar manner as one of the prior art components. The present invention may be applied to magnetic hard disk drives (HDDs) or other types of storage devices such as floppy disk controllers, optical disk drives (e.g., CD-ROMs and the like), tape drives, and other data storage devices.

Abstract: A memory device has a plurality of dedicated data blocks for storing only user data and a plurality of dedicated overhead blocks for storing only overhead data. Current overhead segments of a dedicated overhead block can be consolidated and moved to a new dedicated overhead block.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is disclosed to include a hard disk drive allowing for access by two hosts to a device. Further disclosed are embodiments for reducing the delay and complexity of the SATA disk drive.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is disclosed to include a SATA Switch allowing for access by two hosts to a single port SATA device Further disclosed are embodiments for reducing the delay and complexity of the SATA Switch.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is disclosed to include a SATA Switch allowing for access by two hosts to a single port SATA device Further disclosed are embodiments for reducing the delay and complexity of the SATA Switch.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is disclosed to include a SATA Switch allowing for access by two hosts to a single port SATA device Further disclosed are embodiments for reducing the delay and complexity of the SATA Switch.