Controller, data storage device, and data communication system having variable communication speed

Abstract

A main controller for use within a data storage device including a first data storage device and a second data storage device is disclosed. The controller includes a memory configured to store a plurality of protocol program data, and a processor configured to receive a host control signal from a host defining a primary operation, and to execute protocol program data selected from the plurality of protocol program data to define a first data communication protocol in accordance with the received host control signal. The processor is further configured to electrically store data in the first data storage device or magnetically store the data in the second data storage device during a secondary operation associated with the first operation, wherein the data is communicated from the processor to the first data storage device or the second data storage device during the secondary operation using a second.

1 . A main controller for use within a data storage device including a first data storage device and a second data storage device, the controller comprising:
 a memory configured to store a plurality of protocol program data; and   a processor configured to receive a host control signal from a host defining a primary operation, and execute protocol program data selected from the plurality of protocol program data to define a first data communication protocol in accordance with the received host control signal,   wherein the processor is further configured to electrically store data in the first data storage device or magnetically store the data in the second data storage device during a secondary operation associated with the primary operation, wherein the data is communicated from the processor to the first data storage device or the second data storage device during the secondary operation using a second data communication protocol different from the first data communication protocol.   
   
   
       2 . The main controller of  claim 1 , wherein the host control signal comprises at least one of payload data, address data, header data, command information, control information and error correction data. 
   
   
       3 . The main controller of  claim 1 , wherein the first data communication protocol defines a first data communication speed and the second data communication protocol defines a second data communication speed different from the first data communication speed. 
   
   
       4 . The main controller of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second data communication protocols are selected from a group of serial ATA (SATA) interface specifications. 
   
   
       5 . The main controller of  claim 1 , wherein the first data storage device is implemented with non-volatile memory, and the second data storage device is implemented with a magnetic disk. 
   
   
       6 . A data storage device comprising:
 a first controller configured to electrically access data from a first data storage device;   a second controller configured to magnetically access data from a second data storage device; and   a main controller configured to receive a host control signal from a host using a first data communication protocol selected from the plurality of data communication protocols, and either (1) cause data to be electrically stored in the first data storage device or (2) cause the data to be magnetically stored in the second data storage device using a second data communication protocol different from the first data communication protocol.   
   
   
       7 . The data storage device of  claim 6 , further comprising a system bus connecting the main controller with the first and second controllers. 
   
   
       8 . The data storage device of  claim 6 , wherein the first data storage device is implemented with non-volatile memory, and the second data storage device is implemented with a magnetic disk. 
   
   
       9 . The data storage device of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of data communication protocols includes at least one serial ATA (SATA) interface specification. 
   
   
       10 . The data storage device of  claim 6 , wherein the main controller comprises:
 a memory configured to store a plurality of protocol program data respectively corresponding to the plurality of data communication protocols; and   a processor configured to receive the host control signal and execute the first and second data communication protocols to define respectively a first data communication speed and a second data communication speed.   
   
   
       11 . A data communication system comprising:
 a host and a data storage device communicating via a first data communication protocol, wherein the data storage device comprises:
 a first controller configured to electrically access data from a first data storage device; 
 a second controller configured to magnetically access data from a second data storage device; and 
 a main controller configured to receive a host control signal from the host using the first data communication protocol, and either (1) cause data to be electrically stored in the first data storage device or (2) cause the data to be magnetically stored in the second data storage device using a second data communication protocol different from the first data communication protocol. 
   
   
   
       12 . The data communication system of  claim 11 , wherein the data storage device further comprises a system bus connecting the main controller with the first and second controllers. 
   
   
       13 . The data communication system of  claim 11 , wherein the first data storage device is implemented with non-volatile memory, and the second data storage device is implemented with a magnetic disk. 
   
   
       14 . The data communication system of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second data communication protocols are each respective serial ATA (SATA) interface specifications. 
   
   
       15 . The data communication system of  claim 11 , wherein the main controller comprises:
 a memory configured to store a plurality of protocol program data respectively corresponding to a plurality of data communication protocols including the first and second data communication protocols; and   a processor configured to receive the host control signal and execute the first and second data communication protocols to define respectively a first data communication speed and a second data communication speed.   
   
   
       16 . The data communication system of  claim 11 , wherein the data communication system is consumer equipment.