Storage control device having controller operated according to detection signal derived from monitoring power signal and related method thereof

Abstract

One exemplary storage control device for a storage medium includes a controller and a voltage detector, where the controller controls data access of the storage medium, and the voltage detector monitors a power signal and asserts a detection signal to notify the controller when anomaly of the power signal is detected. Another exemplary storage control device for a storage medium includes a voltage detector and a controller, where the voltage detector monitors a power signal to generate a detection signal, and the controller controls data access of the storage medium. In addition, the controller enters a first operational state when the detection signal indicates that a voltage level of the power signal falls within a first voltage range, and enters a second operational state when the detection signal indicates that the voltage level of the power signal falls within a second voltage range.

1 . A storage control device for a first storage medium, comprising:
 a controller, for controlling data access of the first storage medium; and   a voltage detector, coupled to the controller, for monitoring a power signal and for asserting a detection signal to notify the controller when anomaly of the power signal is detected.   
     
     
         2 . The storage control device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller further takes predetermined action in response to the anomaly of the power signal when notified by the detection signal. 
     
     
         3 . The storage control device of  claim 2 , wherein the storage control device further comprises:
 a second storage medium, coupled to the controller, for storing data accessible to the controller;   wherein the predetermined action includes recording a backup of the data stored in the second storage medium into the first storage medium.   
     
     
         4 . The storage control device of  claim 3 , wherein the backup of the data stored in the second storage medium includes a table utilized for translating logical addresses of a host into physical addresses of the first storage medium. 
     
     
         5 . The storage control device of  claim 3 , wherein the backup of the data stored in the second storage medium includes user data. 
     
     
         6 . The storage control device of  claim 3 , wherein the first storage medium comprises a first storage region and a second storage region, where an inherent access speed of the first storage region is faster than an inherent access speed of the second storage region; and the backup of the data stored in the second storage medium is stored into the first storage region. 
     
     
         7 . The storage control device of  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined action includes lowering a processing speed of requests for accessing the first storage medium. 
     
     
         8 . The storage control device of  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined action includes suspending a current data access of the first storage medium. 
     
     
         9 . The storage control device of  claim 2 , wherein the controller communicates with a host via a host interface, and the predetermined action includes rejecting requests issued by the host for accessing the first storage medium. 
     
     
         10 . The storage system of  claim 1 , wherein after asserting the detection signal, the voltage detector further deasserts the detection signal when the anomaly of the power signal is not detected. 
     
     
         11 . The storage control device of  claim 1 , wherein when a voltage level of the monitored power signal is lower than a predetermined threshold, the voltage detector determines that the anomaly of the power signal is detected. 
     
     
         12 . The storage control device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller and the voltage detector are integrated in a controller chip. 
     
     
         13 . The storage control device of  claim 1 , wherein the first storage medium is a non-volatile storage medium. 
     
     
         14 . The storage control device of  claim 13 , wherein the non-volatile storage medium is a non-volatile memory or an optical storage medium. 
     
     
         15 . A storage control device for a first storage medium, comprising:
 a voltage detector, for monitoring a power signal to generate a detection signal; and   a controller, coupled to the voltage detector, for controlling data access of the first storage medium, wherein the controller enters a first operational state when the detection signal indicates that a voltage level of the power signal falls within a first voltage range, and the controller enters a second operational state different from the first operational state when the detection signal indicates that the voltage level of the power signal falls within a second voltage range different from the first voltage range.   
     
     
         16 . The storage control device of  claim 15 , wherein the storage control device further comprises:
 a second storage medium, coupled to the controller, for storing data accessible to the controller;   wherein when the controller operates under the second operational state, the controller records a backup of the data stored in the second storage medium into the first storage medium.   
     
     
         17 . The storage control device of  claim 16 , wherein the backup of the data stored in the second storage medium includes a table utilized for translating logical addresses of a host to physical addresses of the first storage medium. 
     
     
         18 . The storage control device of  claim 16 , wherein the backup of the data stored in the second storage medium includes user data. 
     
     
         19 . The storage control device of  claim 16 , wherein the first storage medium comprises a first storage region and a second storage region, where an inherent access speed of the first storage region is faster than an inherent access speed of the second storage region; and the backup of the data stored in the second storage medium is stored into the first storage region. 
     
     
         20 . The storage control device of  claim 15 , wherein when the controller operates under the second operational state, the controller lowers a processing speed of requests for accessing the first storage medium. 
     
     
         21 . The storage control device of  claim 15 , wherein when the controller operates under the second operational state, the controller suspends a current data access of the first storage medium. 
     
     
         22 . The storage control device of  claim 15 , wherein the controller communicates with a host via a host interface; and when the controller operates under the second operational state, the controller rejects requests issued by the host for accessing the first storage medium. 
     
     
         23 . The storage control device of  claim 15 , wherein the controller and the voltage detector are integrated in a controller chip. 
     
     
         24 . The storage control device of  claim 15 , wherein the first storage medium is a non-volatile storage medium. 
     
     
         25 . The storage control device of  claim 24 , wherein the non-volatile storage medium is a non-volatile memory or an optical storage medium. 
     
     
         26 . A control method of a controller utilized for controlling data access of a storage medium, comprising:
 monitoring a power signal to detect anomaly therein; and   notifying the controller when the anomaly of the power signal is detected.   
     
     
         27 . A control method of a controller utilized for controlling data access of a storage medium, comprising:
 monitoring a power signal;   when a voltage level of the power signal falls within a first voltage range, operating the controller under a first operational state; and   when the voltage level of the power signal falls within a second voltage range different from the first voltage range, operating the controller under a second operational state different from the first operational state.