U.S. patent application number 16/672832 was filed with the patent office on 2021-04-01 for hdd detection system.
The applicant listed for this patent is HONGFUJIN PRECISION ELECTRONICS(TIANJIN)CO.,LTD.. Invention is credited to YU-JIE MA, DUO QIU.
Application Number | 20210097016 16/672832 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004483892 |
Filed Date | 2021-04-01 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20210097016 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
QIU; DUO ; et al. |
April 1, 2021 |
HDD DETECTION SYSTEM
Abstract
A system for detecting HDDs and in-position states of each of
them includes an HDD controller, an analysis module, and a BMC
chip. The HDD controller is electrically connected to the HDDs for
obtaining SGPIO information and outputting testing signals
comprising the SGPIO information. The analysis module receives the
testing signals and generates in-position state information
according to voltage levels of the testing signals. The BMC chip is
electrically connected to the analysis module. The BMC chip
receives the in-position state information from the analysis module
and generates a detection log accordingly.
Inventors: |
QIU; DUO; (Shenzhen, CN)
; MA; YU-JIE; (Shenzhen, CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HONGFUJIN PRECISION ELECTRONICS(TIANJIN)CO.,LTD. |
Tianjin |
|
CN |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000004483892 |
Appl. No.: |
16/672832 |
Filed: |
November 4, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 2213/0032 20130101;
G06F 13/4282 20130101; G06F 13/20 20130101; G06F 2213/0028
20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06F 13/42 20060101
G06F013/42; G06F 13/20 20060101 G06F013/20 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 27, 2019 |
CN |
201910921486.5 |
Claims
1. A Hard Disk Drive (HDD) detection system for detecting
in-position states of a plurality of HDDs, the HDD detection system
comprising: an HDD controller, the HDD controller electrically
connected to the plurality of HDDs, the HDD controller obtaining
Serial General-Purpose Input/Output (SGPIO) information of the
plurality of HDDs and outputting testing signals comprising the
SGPIO information; an analysis module, the analysis module
receiving the testing signals and generating in-position state
information according to level states of the testing signals; and a
Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) chip, the BMC chip
electrically connected to the analysis module; wherein the BMC chip
receives the in-position state information from the analysis module
and generates a detection log according to the in-position state
information; wherein the analysis module comprises a level
detecting unit and a timing unit, the level detecting unit is
configured to receive and detect the testing signal in real time,
when the level detecting unit detects a voltage level of the
testing signal is maintained at a first level within a
predetermined time, the level detecting unit determines that the
HDD is not present; wherein when the level detecting unit detects a
rising edge of the testing signal, the timing unit is enabled to
calculate a time of the testing signal being maintained at a second
voltage level, when the level detecting unit detects that the
period of the testing signal being maintained at the second voltage
level is greater than or equal to the predetermined time, the level
detecting unit determines that the HDD is present and the HDD
controller is uninitialized; and wherein when the level detecting
unit detects that the period of the testing signal being maintained
at the second voltage level is less than the predetermined time and
that voltage level of the testing signal alternates between high
and low within the predetermined time, the level detecting unit
determines that the HDD is present and the HDD controller is
initialized.
2. (canceled)
3. The HDD detection system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined
time is greater than 400 milliseconds.
4. The HDD detection system of claim 1, wherein the HDD controller
is one of a Platform Controller Hub (PCH) and a Host Bus Adapter
(HBA).
5. The HDD detection system of claim 1, wherein the analysis module
is one of a Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD), a Field
Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), and a single-chip
microcomputer.
6. The HDD detection system of claim 1, wherein the testing signal
is one of a clock signal, a data output signal, and a load
signal.
7. The HDD detection system of claim 1, further comprising an
indicator, wherein the indicator is electrically connected to the
BMC chip, the indicator is configured to indicate the in-position
state information of the HDD.
8. The HDD detection system of claim 1, further comprising a
plurality of first SGPIO connectors and a plurality of second SGPIO
connectors, wherein the plurality of first SGPIO connectors is
electrically connected to the HDD controller, the plurality of
second SGPIO connectors is electrically connected to the first
SGPIO connectors and the analysis module; wherein the analysis
module, through the plurality of first SGPIO connectors and the
plurality of second SGPIO connectors, receives the testing signals
from the HDD controller.
9. A Hard Disk Drive (HDD) detection system for detecting
in-position states of a plurality of HDDs, the HDD detection system
comprising: a mainboard, the mainboard comprising an HDD controller
and a Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) chip, the HDD
controller electrically connected to the plurality of HDDs, the HDD
controller obtaining Serial General-Purpose Input/Output (SGPIO)
information of the plurality of HDDs and outputting testing signals
comprising the SGPIO information; and an HDD backplane, the HDD
backplane comprising an analysis module, the analysis module
receiving the testing signals and generating in-position state
information according to level states of the testing signals;
wherein the BMC chip is electrically connected to the analysis
module, the BMC chip receives the in-position state information
from the analysis module and generates a detection log according to
the in-position state information; wherein the analysis module
comprises a level detecting unit and a timing unit, the level
detecting unit is configured to receive and detect the testing
signal in real time, when the level detecting unit detects a
voltage level of the testing signal is maintained at a first level
within a predetermined time, the level detecting unit determines
that the HDD is not present; wherein when the level detecting unit
detects a rising edge of the testing signal, the timing unit is
enabled to calculate a time of the testing signal being maintained
at a second voltage level, when the level detecting unit detects
that the period of the testing signal being maintained at the
second voltage level is greater than or equal to the predetermined
time, the level detecting unit determines that the HDD is present
and the HDD controller is uninitialized; and wherein when the level
detecting unit detects that the period of the testing signal being
maintained at the second voltage level is less than the
predetermined time and that voltage level of the testing signal
alternates between high and low within the predetermined time, the
level detecting unit determines that the HDD is present and the HDD
controller is initialized.
10. The HDD detection system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of
HDDs is inserted into the HDD backplane.
11. (canceled)
12. The HDD detection system of claim 9, wherein the predetermined
time is greater than 400 milliseconds.
13. The HDD detection system of claim 9, wherein the HDD controller
is one of a Platform Controller Hub (PCH) and a Host Bus Adapter
(HBA).
14. The HDD detection system of claim 9, wherein the analysis
module is one of a Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD), a
Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), and a single-chip
microcomputer.
15. The HDD detection system of claim 9, wherein the testing signal
is one of a clock signal, a data output signal, and a load
signal.
16. The HDD detection system of claim 9, further comprising an
indicator, wherein the indicator is positioned on the HDD backplane
and is electrically connected to the BMC chip, the indicator is
configured to indicate the in-position state information of the
HDD.
17. The HDD detection system of claim 9, further comprising a
plurality of first SGPIO connectors and a plurality of second SGPIO
connectors, wherein the plurality of first SGPIO connectors is
positioned on the mainboard and is electrically connected to the
HDD controller, the plurality of second SGPIO connectors is
positioned on the HDD backplane and is electrically connected to
the first SGPIO connectors and the analysis module; wherein the
analysis module, through the plurality of first SGPIO connectors
and the plurality of second SGPIO connectors, receives the testing
signals from the HDD controller.
Description
FIELD
[0001] The subject matter herein generally relates to hard disk
drive (HDD) detection.
BACKGROUND
[0002] In servers and memories, detecting or monitoring hard disk
drives (HDDs) becomes more and more important.
[0003] However, existing HDDs only include a pin for distinguishing
a type of the HDD, and does not include a pin for detecting an
in-position state of the HDD.
[0004] Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0005] Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with
reference to the FIGURE. The components in the FIGURE are not
necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon
clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure.
[0006] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an HDD detection system
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0007] It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of
illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been
repeated among the different FIGURES to indicate corresponding or
analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set
forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the
embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by
those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described
herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other
instances, methods, procedures and components have not been
described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant
feature being described. Also, the description is not to be
considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described
herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the
proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better
illustrate details and features of the present disclosure.
[0008] The term "coupled" is defined as connected, whether directly
or indirectly through intervening components, and is not
necessarily limited to physical connections. The connection can be
such that the objects are permanently connected or releasably
connected. The term "comprising," when utilized, means "including,
but not necessarily limited to"; it specifically indicates
open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination,
group, series and the like.
[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates an HDD detection system 100 for detecting
an in-position state of the HDD. The system 100 includes a
mainboard 10 and an HDD backplane 20.
[0010] A plurality of HDDs 200 is inserted in the HDD backplane 20.
In this embodiment, the HDDs 200 includes Serial Advanced
Technology Attachment (SATA) HDDs and Serial Advanced Small
Computer System Interface (SAS) HDDs. The system 100 is configured
to acquire real-time in-position information of the HDDs 200,
thereby determining whether the HDDs 200 are installed correctly
and generating a detection report.
[0011] The mainboard 10 includes an HDD controller 11, a baseboard
management controller (BMC) chip 12, and at least one first Serial
General-Purpose Input/Output (SGPIO) connector 13.
[0012] The HDD controller 11 is electrically connected to the HDDs
200. The HDD controller 11 is configured to read SGPIO information
of the HDDs 200. The SGPIO information includes serial number
information and working state information of the HDD 200. The
working state information includes a clock (SClock) signal, a data
output (SDataout) signal, or a load (SLoad) signal.
[0013] The BMC chip 12 is configured to obtain real-time
in-position information of the HDDs 200, thereby determining
whether the HDDs 200 are installed correctly, and generating a
detection report.
[0014] In this embodiment, the HDDs 200 are divided into several
groups. Each group of HDDs 200 corresponds to one first SGPIO
connector 13. The first SGPIO connectors 13 can be electrically
connected to the HDD controller 11 through an SGPIO data line. The
first SGPIO connectors 13 receive a testing signal sent by the HDD
controller 11 and transmit the testing signal to the HDD backplane
20. The HDD backplane 20 detects the in-position state of the HDDs
200 according to the testing signal. In one embodiment, the testing
signal may be the clock (SClock) signal, the data output (SDataout)
signal, or the load (SLoad) signal.
[0015] The HDD backplane 20 is electrically connected to the
mainboard 10. The HDD backplane 20 includes at least one second
SGPIO connector 21 and an analysis module 22.
[0016] In one embodiment, the number of the second SGPIO connectors
21 corresponds to the number of the first SGPIO connectors 13. Each
of the second SGPIO connectors 21 may be electrically connected to
one first SGPIO connector 13 through a SGPIO data line. As such,
the second SGPIO connectors 21 can be electrically connected to the
HDD controller 11 through the first SGPIO connectors 13, thereby
receiving the testing signal.
[0017] In this embodiment, one group of the first SGPIO connectors
13 and the second SGPIO connectors 21 correspond to one or one
group of HDDs 200. That is, the HDD backplane 20 can obtain the
testing signals of one or more HDDs 200 through one first SGPIO
connector 13 and one second SGPIO connector 21 connected to each
other.
[0018] The analysis module 22 is electrically connected to the
second SGPIO connectors 21 through SGPIO data lines. The analysis
module 22 receives the testing signals from the HDD controller 11.
In this embodiment, the analysis module 22 includes a level
detecting unit 221 and a timing unit 222. The level detecting unit
221 is electrically connected to the second SGPIO connectors 21 and
the timing unit 222. The level detecting unit 221 is configured to
receive and detect the testing signal in real time.
[0019] For example, when the level detecting unit 221 detects that
a voltage level of the testing signal is maintained at a first
level (for example, logic 0) within a predetermined time, the level
detecting unit 221 determines that an HDD 200 is not present.
[0020] When the level detecting unit 221 detects a rising edge of
the testing signal, the timing unit 222 is enabled to calculate a
time of the testing signal being maintained at a second voltage
level (for example, logic 1). When the level detecting unit 221
detects that the period of the testing signal being maintained at
the second voltage level (for example, logic 1) is greater than or
equal to the predetermined time, the level detecting unit 221
determines that the HDD 200 is present and the HDD controller 11 is
uninitialized.
[0021] When the level detecting unit 221 detects that the period of
the testing signal being maintained at the second voltage level
(for example, logic 1) is less than the predetermined time and that
voltage level of the testing signal alternates between high and low
within the predetermined time, the level detecting unit 221
determines that the HDD 200 is present and the HDD controller 11 is
initialized.
[0022] After the analysis module 22 completes the determination of
an in-position state of the HDD 200, the in-position state
information of the HDD 200 is generated.
[0023] It can be understood that, in this embodiment, the analysis
module 22 can be electrically connected to the BMC chip 12 through
an Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C) bus. The analyzing module 22 is
configured to send the in-position state information of the HDD 200
to the BMC chip 12. The BMC chip 12 receives the in-position state
information of the HDDs 200. The BMC chip 12 further compares the
actual in-position state of the HDDs 200 with configuration
information of HDD burned into the BMC chip 12, thereby determining
whether the in-position state of the HDDs 200 is correct and
generating a detection log.
[0024] In other embodiments, the HDD in-position detection system
100 further includes an indicator 23. The indicator 23 is
positioned on the HDD backplane 20 and is electrically connected to
the BMC chip 12. The indicator 23 indicates the actual in-position
state of all HDDs 200 and/or issues reminding information
accordingly under a control of the BMC chip 12. The indicator 23
can be one of an LED light module, a voice prompt module, a graphic
display module, or any combination thereof.
[0025] In this embodiment, the first SGPIO connectors 13 and the
second SGPIO connectors 21 function as data interfaces. In other
embodiments, if the HDD controller 11 and the analysis module 22
have interfaces compatible with the SGPIO data lines, the HDD
controller 11 can be directly connected to the analysis module 22
through the SGPIO data lines.
[0026] In this embodiment, the HDD controller 11 can be, but is not
limited to, a Platform Controller Hub (PCH), a Host Bus Adapter
(HBA), or other unit or module having a function of reading SGPIO
information of HDD.
[0027] The analysis module 22 can be, but is not limited to, a
Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD), a Field Programmable Gate
Array (FPGA), a single-chip microcomputer, or other programmable
controller.
[0028] In this embodiment, since different PCH chips or different
HBA boards have different clock cycles, and there may be voltage
glitches during an installation or disassembly of the HDD, the
predetermined time is greater than 400 milliseconds.
[0029] The HDD detection system 100 includes the analysis module
22. The analysis module 22 can perform voltage level analysis of
the SGPIO signals of the plurality of HDDs 200, thereby determining
the in-position state of the HDDs 200. The HDD detection system 100
does not need a redesign of the HDD hardware or interface, and has
advantages of high scalability, low cost, and convenient
operation.
[0030] It is believed that the embodiments and their advantages
will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be
apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing
from the scope of the disclosure or sacrificing all of its
advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being
illustrative embodiments of the disclosure.
* * * * *