Hard disk drive integrated circuit with integrated gigabit ethernet interface module

Abstract

An integrated circuit (IC) for a hard disk drive (HDD) includes a first processor that is incorporated in the IC and that performs processing related to the HDD. A hard disk control (HDC) module is incorporated in the IC and communicates with the first processor. A wireline network interface module is incorporated in the IC and includes a medium access control (MAC) module and a physical layer module (PHY). The MAC module communicates with at least one of the first processor and the HDC module. The PHY communicates with the MAC module and an output. The PHY includes first, second, third, and fourth transceivers that communicate with the output.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a hard disk drive (HDD) according to the prior art;

FIG. 2A is a functional block diagram of an exemplary HDD according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 2B is a functional block diagram of an exemplary wired Ethernet network interface module for the HDD of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3A is a functional block diagram of an exemplary wired Ethernet network interface module according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 3B is a functional block diagram of an exemplary HDD comprising the wired Ethernet network interface module of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of another exemplary HDD according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of an exemplary wired Ethernet network interface module for the HDD of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6A is a functional block diagram of a high definition television;

FIG. 6B is a functional block diagram of a vehicle control system;

FIG. 6C is a functional block diagram of a set top box; and

FIG. 6D is a functional block diagram of a media player.

Claims

1. An integrated circuit (IC) for a hard disk drive (HDD), comprising: a first processor incorporated in said IC that performs processing related to said HDD;.a hard disk control (HDC) module incorporated in said IC that communicates with said first processor; anda wireline network interface module incorporated in said IC, comprising: a medium access control (MAC) module that communicates with at least one of said first processor and said HDC module; anda physical layer module (PHY) that communicates with said MAC module and an output and that includes first, second, third, and fourth transceivers that communicate with said output.

2. The IC of claim 1 further comprising first, second, third, and fourth hybrids that communicate with said first, second, third, and fourth transceivers, respectively, and said output.

3. The IC of claim 1 wherein said wireline network interface module is capable of transmitting and receiving data at a speed of at least one Gigabit per second.

4. The IC of claim 1 wherein said wireline network interface module is capable of transmitting and receiving data at a speed of at least ten Gigabits per second.

5. The IC of claim 1 wherein said wireline network interface module is compliant with I.E.E.E. section 802.3ab.

6. The IC of claim 1 wherein at least one of said processor and said HDC module processes packets using at least one of a hyper text transfer protocol (HTTP), a peer-to-peer sharing protocol, and an Internet protocol-based small computer system interface module standard (iSCSI).

7. The IC of claim 1 further comprising a spindle/voice coil motor module that is incorporated in said IC and that communicates with said HDC module.

8. The IC of claim 1 further comprising a second processor that is incorporated in said IC, that communicates with said wireline network interface module, and that processes packets received by said wireline network interface module.

9. The IC of claim 8 wherein said second processor processes packets using at least one of a hyper text transfer protocol (HTTP), a peer-to-peer sharing protocol, and an Internet protocol-based small computer system interface module standard (iSCSI).

10. The IC of claim 1 further comprising a read/write channel module that is incorporated in said IC and that communicates with said HDC module.

11. A printed circuit board (PCB) having said IC of claim 1 arranged thereon.

12. The PCB of claim 11 further comprising an RJ-45 connector that is arranged on said PCB and that communicates with said IC.

13. A system comprising the PCB of claim 12 and further comprising a hard disk drive assembly (HDA), wherein the HDA comprises: a preamp module that communicates with a read/write channel module of said IC;a spindle motor that communicates with a spindle/voice coil motor module of said IC;a read/write arm that communicates with said spindle/voice coil motor module of said IC; anda read/write element arranged on said read/write arm that communicates with said preamp module.

14. An integrated circuit (IC) for a hard disk drive (HDD), comprising: a first processor incorporated in said IC that performs processing related to said HDD;a hard disk control (HDC) module incorporated in said IC that communicates with said first processor; anda wireless network interface module incorporated in said IC, comprising: a medium access control (MAC) module that communicates with at least one of said first processor and said HDC module; anda physical layer module (PHY) that communicates with said MAC module and that includes a radio frequency (RF) transceiver that is capable of operating at speeds of at least one Gigabit per second.

15. The IC of claim 14 wherein at least one of said processor and said HDC module processes packets using at least one of a hyper text transfer protocol (HTTP), a peer-to-peer sharing protocol, and an Internet protocol-based small computer system interface module standard (iSCSI).

16. The IC of claim 14 further comprising a spindle/voice coil motor module that is incorporated in said IC and that communicates with said HDC module.

17. The IC of claim 14 further comprising a second processor that is incorporated in said IC, that communicates with said wireless network interface module, and that processes packets received by said wireless network interface module.

18. The IC of claim 17 wherein said second processor processes packets using at least one of a hyper text transfer protocol (HTTP), a peer-to-peer sharing protocol, and an Internet protocol-based small computer system interface module standard (iSCSI).

19. The IC of claim 14 further comprising a read/write channel module that is incorporated in said IC and that communicates with said HDC module.

20. A printed circuit board (PCB) having said IC of claim 14 arranged thereon.

21. A system comprising the PCB of claim 20 and further comprising a hard disk drive assembly (HDA), wherein the HDA comprises: a preamp module that communicates with a read/write channel module of said IC;a spindle motor that communicates with a spindle/voice coil motor module of said IC;a read/write arm that communicates with said spindle/voice coil motor module of said IC; anda read/write element arranged on said read/write arm that communicates with said preamp module.

22. A method, comprising: incorporating a first processor in an integrated circuit (IC) that performs processing related to a hard disk drive (HDD);incorporating a hard disk control (HDC) module in said IC that communicates with said first processor;incorporating a wireline network interface module that includes a medium access control (MAC) module, a physical layer module (PHY), and first, second, third, and fourth transceivers in said IC; andcommunicating with an output and at least one of said first processor and said HDC module using said wireline network interface module.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising communicating with said output and said first, second, third, and fourth transceivers using first, second, third, and fourth hybrids, respectively.

24. The method of claim 22 further comprising transmitting and receiving data at a speed of at least one Gigabit per second.

25. The method of claim 22 further comprising transmitting and receiving data at a speed of at least ten Gigabits per second.

26. The method of claim 22 further comprising processing packets using at least one of a hyper text transfer protocol (HTTP), a peer-to-peer sharing protocol, and an Internet protocol-based small computer system interface module standard (iSCSI).

27. The method of claim 22 further comprising incorporating a spindle/voice coil motor module in said IC and communicating with said HDC module.

28. The method of claim 22 further comprising incorporating a second processor in said IC, communicating with said wireline network interface module, and processing packets received by said wireline network interface module.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising processing packets using at least one of a hyper text transfer protocol (HTTP), a peer-to-peer sharing protocol, and an Internet protocol-based small computer system interface module standard (iSCSI).

30. The method of claim 22 further comprising incorporating a read/write channel module and communicating with said HDC module.

31. The method of claim 22 further comprising arranging said IC on a printed circuit board (PCB).

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising arranging an RJ-45 connector and communicating with said IC.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising communicating with a hard disk drive assembly (HDA).

34. A method, comprising: incorporating a first processor in an integrated circuit (IC) that performs processing related to a hard disk drive (HDD);incorporating a hard disk control (HDC) module in said IC that communicates with said first processor;incorporating a wireless network interface module that includes a medium access control (MAC) module, a physical layer module (PHY), and a radio frequency (RF) transceiver in said IC; andcommunicating with an output and at least one of said first processor and said HDC module at speeds of at least one Gigabit per second.

35. The method of claim 34 further comprising processing packets using at least one of a hyper text transfer protocol (HTTP), a peer-to-peer sharing protocol, and an Internet protocol-based small computer system interface module standard (iSCSI).

36. The method of claim 34 further comprising incorporating a spindle/voice coil motor module in said IC and communicating with said HDC module.

37. The method of claim 34 further comprising incorporating a second processor in said IC, communicating with said wireless network interface module, and processing packets received by said wireless network interface module.

38. The method of claim 37 further comprising processing packets using at least one of a hyper text transfer protocol (HTTP), a peer-to-peer sharing protocol, and an Internet protocol-based small computer system interface module standard (iSCSI).

39. The method of claim 34 further comprising incorporating a read/write channel module in said IC and communicating with said HDC module.

40. The method of claim 34 further comprising arranging said IC on a printed circuit board (PCB).

41. The method of claim 40 further comprising communicating with a hard disk drive assembly (HDA).