Solid state drive, structure for supporting solid state drives and scalable information processing system including a plurality of solid state drives

A solid state drive includes a printed circuit board, at least one memory and a controller. The at least one memory stores data. The at least one memory is embedded in the substrate of the printed circuit board. The controller controls the at least one memory to perform a write operation or a read operation. The controller is also embedded in the substrate of the printed circuit board.

PRIORITY STATEMENT

This application claims priority under 35 USC §119 to Korean Patent Application No. 2009-0031198, filed on Apr. 10, 2009, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO).

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present inventive concept relates to solid state drives, support structures for supporting solid state drives and information processing systems including solid state drives.

2. Description of the Related Art

A hard disk drive (HDD) is typically used as a data storage mechanism of an electronic device. Recently, however, solid state drives (SSD) having flash memories (e.g., NAND-type flash memories or NOR-type flash memories) are being used instead of hard disk drives as the data storage mechanisms of electronic devices.

A solid state drive is advantageous over a hard disk drive because a solid state drive does not include a mechanical device, such as a motor, and almost no heat and no noise are produced in a solid state drive. In addition, a solid state drive has advantages of fast access rate, high density, and high stability. Furthermore, data is transferred much faster in a solid state drive than in a hard disk drive.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided a solid state drive that includes a printed circuit board having a substrate and circuitry printed on at least one surface of the substrate, at least one memory embedded in the substrate of the printed circuit board, and a controller also embedded in the substrate of the printed circuit board. The controller is operative to control the at least one memory to perform a write operation or a read operation.

According to another aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided in combination at least one solid state drive, a main circuit board, and support structure, wherein the support structure comprises a solid state drive casing disposed on the main circuit board and defining a plurality of slots, and a cover that covers the solid state drive casing. The slots are each sized and shaped to receive a respective solid state drive in an orientation in which the drive is parallel to the main circuit board. The solid state drive(s) is/are respectively received in the slots of the casing and thereby extend(s) parallel to the main circuit board. The cover extends over each solid state drive received in a respective one of the slots defined by the casing.

According to another aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided an information processing system that includes a main circuit board, a host processor disposed on and electrically coupled to the main circuit board, a plurality of solid state drives, and support structure supporting the drives on the main circuit board. Each of the solid state drives comprises a printed circuit board, at least one memory embedded in the substrate of the printed circuit board, and a controller also embedded in the substrate of the printed circuit board. The controller is operative to control the at least one memory to perform a write operation or a read operation. The support structure comprises a solid state drive casing disposed on the main circuit board and defining a plurality of slots, and a cover that covers the solid state drive casing. The slots are each sized and shaped to receive a respective solid state drive in an orientation in which the drive is parallel to the main circuit board, and the solid state drives are respectively received in the slots. Thus, the solid state drives extend parallel to the main circuit board and are covered by the cover of the casing. Also, each of the solid state drives is electrically coupled to the host processor via the main circuit board.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1-3illustrate a solid state drive according to the inventive concept.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, the solid state drive100includes a printed circuit board110including a substrate, a controller120, and at least one memory130configured to store data.

The controller120is embedded in the substrate of the printed circuit board110. The controller120is configured to control the memory130to perform a write operation or a read operation in response to a request from an external device, such as a host device. The controller120may include a processor121, a host interface122and a memory interface123. The processor121may communicate with the host device through the host interface122, and may communicate with the memory130through the memory interface123. The processor121may receive a command, an address and/or data through the host interface122from the host device, and may control the memory130to perform the write operation or the read operation through the memory interface123based on the command, the address and/or the data.

The host interface122may be controlled by the processor121to transfer the command, the address and/or the data between the processor121and the host device. Also, the host interface122may be a serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) interface, a parallel advanced technology attachment (PATA) interface, or the like.

The memory interface123may be controlled by the processor121to transfer the command, the address and/or the data between the processor121and the memory130. The memory interface123may transmit control signals to the memory130and based on which the memory130performs the write operation or the read operation.

The controller120may further include an internal memory that temporarily stores the data transferred between the host device and the memory130. The internal memory may store an operating system (OS) program for the processor121. In this regard, the internal memory may be a volatile memory, such as a static random access memory (SRAM) or a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) which operates at a high speed and is randomly accessed.

The memory130is embedded in the printed circuit board110. The memory130may be controlled by the controller120to store the data transferred from the host device or to output the stored data. The memory130may be a nonvolatile memory, such as a NAND flash memory, a NOR flash memory, or an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM). Furthermore, althoughFIG. 1shows the solid state drive100as having only one memory130, the solid state drive100may include a plurality of memories.

As described above, the controller120and the memory130are embedded in the printed circuit board110. In this respect, the controller120and the memory130may each be in the form of a die embedded in the printed circuit board110. Alternatively, the controller120and the memory130may each be in package form. In any case, the solid state drive100may have a small volume because the controller120and the memory130are embedded in the printed circuit board110.

Referring toFIG. 3, the printed circuit board110of the solid state drive100may further include a plurality of vias140and a plurality of pads160. The printed circuit board110may also have signals lines180therein. In this case, the substrate of the printed circuit board110may be a multi-layered structure in which the signal lines180are formed on respective surfaces of the layers.

The vias140each extend through the substrate of the printed circuit board110. Also, the vias140may be electrically coupled to the controller120and the memory130through signal lines180in the printed circuit board110.

The solid state drive100may also include balls150disposed on a lower surface of the printed circuit board110. Alternatively, however, the balls150may be disposed on an upper surface of the printed circuit board110. Each ball150may be a solder ball. The balls150may be arrayed in the pattern of a grid. In any case, the balls150are electrically coupled to the vias140. In the case in which the solid state drive100is mounted directly on a main (circuit) board of an information processing system, e.g., a mother board of a computer, signals transmitted from a host device may be received by the controller120and/or the memory130through the main board, the balls150, the vias140and the signal lines180.

The plurality of pads160constitute the circuit of the printed circuit board110and are disposed on the side of substrate of the printed circuit board110opposite that on which the balls150are disposed. Thus, the pads160are disposed at the upper surface of the printed circuit board110in the present embodiment. The pads160are electrically coupled to the balls150by the vias140. The number of pads160may correspond to the number of balls150, in which case the pads160are electrically coupled to the balls150, respectively, by the vias140. As shown inFIG. 3, the balls150in this embodiment are offset horizontally (i.e., in a direction parallel to the plane of the substrate) from the vias140. Alternatively, though, each ball150may be vertically aligned (i.e., in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the substrate) with a respective via140and a respective pad160. Furthermore, the plurality of pads160may be coupled to the balls of another solid state drive stacked thereon. Accordingly, a plurality of solid state drives embodied according to the inventive concept may be readily stacked one atop the other as electrically coupled to one another.

The printed circuit board110of the solid state drive100may further include, as part of its circuit, a plurality of pads170interposed between the balls150and the vias140, respectively. In this case, the pads170electrically couple the balls150to the vias140.

The solid state drive100may further include at least one passive component R, L and/or C embedded in the substrate of the printed circuit board110. For example, the solid state drive100may include at least one resistor R, at least one inductor L and at least one capacitor C.

As described above, a solid state drive100according to the inventive concept may have a small volume because the controller120and the memory130are embedded in (the substrate of) the printed circuit board110. Furthermore, the inventive concept also can increase the data storage capacity of an electronic device, such as a computer, because sold state drives according to the inventive concept are readily stackable.

FIGS. 4A and 4Brespectively illustrate ball grid arrays of examples of solid state drives according to the inventive concept.

Referring toFIGS. 4A and 4B, a ball grid array of a solid state drive100aor100baccording to the inventive concept consists of a plurality of balls150aor150bof solder, for example, disposed on the lower surface of the printed circuit board110aor110bof the solid state drive100aor100b. The number and pattern of the balls150aor150bmay be base on a standard or on the specifications of an interface between the solid state drive100aor100band a host device. In the examples shown inFIGS. 4A and 4B, the balls150aor150bare arrayed along a grid. More specifically, in the example ofFIG. 4A, the balls150aare regularly spaced along each of the rows and columns of a grid. On the other hand, in the example ofFIG. 4B, the balls150boccupy the rows and columns which extend at the outer periphery of a grid.

As was mentioned above, the ball grid array may be directly coupled to a main (circuit) board of an information processing system. In this case, the information processing system would not require a cable for connecting the solid state drive100aor100b, for example, with the main board. Likewise, when one or more other similar solid state drives according to the inventive concept is/are stacked on the solid state drive100aor100b, the stacked solid state drive(s) are electrically coupled to the main board through the solid state drive100aor100bwithout a cable between the stacked solid state drive(s) and the main board. Accordingly, a plurality of solid state drives may be readily stacked on the main board, thereby providing the computer with a large storage capacity.

FIG. 5illustrates support structure for supporting a stack of solid state drives according to an aspect of the inventive concept.

Referring toFIG. 5, support structure200for supporting solid states drives100includes a solid state drive casing210and a cover220. The solid state drive casing210is disposed on a main (circuit) board310. In this respect, the solid state drive casing210may be integrally formed with the main board310. The solid state drive casing210has supports that define one or more slots215each configured (i.e., is sized and shaped) to receive a solid state drive100oriented with its PCB parallel to the main board310. The support structure also allows a respective dummy solid state drive to be inserted into each slot which does not hold a solid state drive100. Such a dummy solid state drive has substantially the same size and thickness as the solid state drive100. In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 5, the solid state drive casing210has five slots215, the bottom three of which are occupied by solid state drives100, respectively, and the top two of which are occupied by dummy solid state drives (illustrated by dashed lines). Also, although the figure shows only two supports, the solid state drive casing210may have four supports each at the corner of a rectangle having approximately the same size and shape of the PCBs of the solid state drive(s) to be supported. Accordingly, the solid states drives100may be readily stacked.

Specifically, the solid states drives100can be sequentially inserted into the slots215beginning at the slot closest to the main board310. In this case, the solid state drive SSD1received in the slot closest to the main board310is directly coupled to the main board310via the balls (ball grid array) of the solid state drive SSD1, i.e., without a cable. The balls of a second solid state drive SSD2, received in the next slot up, will also be electrically coupled to the main board310without a cable. That is, the second solid state drive SSD2will be coupled to the pads of the first solid state drive SSD1. Thus, the second solid state drive SSD2can communicate with a host device through signal lines of the main board310(printed circuits on a surface of the substrate of the main board), and the balls, vias, and pads of the first solid state drive SSD1. Similarly, a third solid state drive SSD3may be stacked on the second solid state drive SSD2and thus, will be electrically coupled to the main board310without a cable.

The cover220is disposed on and may be removable from the top of the solid state drive casing210. In one embodiment, the support structure200has a coupling means for detachably coupling the cover220to the solid state drive casing210. The coupling means may be a clip, a screw, or the like. In another embodiment, an opening is formed in one of the solid state drive casing210and the cover220, and a protrusion having a cross-sectional area corresponding to that of the opening is formed in the other of the solid state drive casing210and the cover220. The protrusion is received in the opening such that the cover220is thereby coupled to the solid state drive casing210. Furthermore, the cover220may serve to fix the at least one solid state drive in the plurality of slots of the solid state drive casing210. For example, the cover220may have an extension that presses against the underlying solid state drive100thereby urging that drive into engagement with the surface of the solid state drive casing210that defines the bottom of the slot. Thus force is, in turn, transmitted through the balls of the solid state drive to the underlying solid state drive(s) and thereby also urging these drives into tighter engagement with the solid state drive casing210.

FIG. 6is a diagram illustrating a coupling of solid state drives using the support structure200ofFIG. 5.

Referring toFIG. 6, each solid state drive100can be considered as being electrically coupled to a main board through a plurality of signal paths400. Each signal path400may be constituted by respective ones of the balls, vias, and pads of the solid state drives100. For example, a controller and a memory of a first solid state drive SSD1communicate with a main board through signal paths400constituted by a plurality of balls and a plurality of vias of the first solid state drive SSD1. A controller and a memory of a second solid state drive SSD2communicate with the main board through signal paths400constituted by balls, vias and pads of the first solid state drive SSD1as well as balls and vias of the second solid state drive SSD2. A controller and a memory of a third solid state drive SSD3communicates with the main board through signal paths400constituted by balls, vias and pads of the first and second solid state drives SSD1and SSD2as wells as balls and vias of the third solid state drive SSD3. The signal paths400may be compatible with a serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) interface, a parallel advanced technology attachment (PATA) interface, or the like.

FIG. 7illustrates an information processing system according to the inventive concept. The information processing system300may be that of a personal computer, a notebook computer, a mobile phone, a smart phone, a digital camera, a handheld computer, a music player, a gaming machine, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or a portable multimedia player (PMP).

Referring toFIG. 7, the information processing system300includes a main (circuit) board310, a host processor320, support structure200for supporting solid state drives, and at least one solid state drive100supported by the support structure200and electrically coupled to the main board310.

The host processor320is mounted on the main board310. The host processor320writes or reads data on or from the solid state drives100through signal lines of the main board310.

The support structure200is disposed on the main board310. The support structure200is similar to that shown in and described with reference toFIG. 5and therefore, will not be described again in further detail. Similarly, the solid state drives100are similar to those shown in and described with reference to1-3and6and therefore, will not be described again in further detail.

FIG. 8is a block diagram of the information processing system300ofFIG. 7.

Referring toFIG. 8, in addition to the host processor320and solid state drive(s)100, the information processing system300includes a main memory330, at least one input/output device340and a bus350. The host processor320may perform various computing functions, such as executing specific software for performing specific calculations or tasks. To this end, the host processor320may be a microprocessor, a central process unit (CPU), or the like. The host processor320is coupled to the main memory330via the bus350. The bus350may be an address bus, a control bus, or a data bus. The computer300may also have an expansion bus, such as a peripheral-component-interconnect (PCI) bus, to which the host processor320is coupled. The main memory330may be a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a static random access memory (SRAM), or a non-volatile memory, such as an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or the like. The input/output device340may be a keyboard, a mouse, a printer, or a display that controls or is controlled by the host processor320. The host processor320is also coupled to the solid state drive(s)100via the bus350. The host processor320is configured to write or read data on or from the solid state drive(s)100. The information processing system300may also include an auxiliary data storage device, such as a floppy disk drive, a compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM) drive, or a hard disk drive.

As described above, a solid state drive embodied according to the inventive concept may have a small volume because electronic components thereof are embedded in its printed circuit board. In addition, structure for supporting the solid state drives and information processing systems comprising at least one of the solid state drives do not require cables for connecting the solid state drive(s) to a main board or host processor because the solid state drive(s) have a ball grid array. Furthermore, an information processing system according to the inventive concept may have a relatively great or readily expandable data storage capacity because the solid state drives are readily stackable. That is, an information processing system is easily scalable by employing solid state drives according to an aspect of the inventive concept.

Finally, embodiments of the inventive concept have been described above in detail. The inventive concept may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments described above. Rather, these embodiments were described so that this disclosure is thorough and complete, and fully conveys the inventive concept to those skilled in the art. Thus, the true spirit and scope of the inventive concept is not limited by the embodiments described above but by the following claims.