Patent ID: 7000037

Claim:
A peripheral data storage subsystem for use with a computer which includes a host parallel bus, a parallel to serial host bus adapter that contains a first integrated circuit whereby the first integrated circuit contains a parallel to serial device bridge that has a parallel input/output and a serial input/output and whereby the parallel input/output of the parallel to serial device bridge is electrically coupled to the host parallel bus, said peripheral data storage subsystem comprising: a. an enclosure; b. a back-plane disposed in said enclosure and mechanically coupled to said enclosure; c. a plurality of serial data storage devices disposed within said enclosure and electrically coupled to said back-plane whereby each of said serial data storage device has a serial input and a serial output; d. a second integrated circuit containing a plurality of serial controllers, each of which has a serial input and a serial output, and a serial to parallel device bridge that has a plurality of serial input/outputs and a plurality of parallel input/outputs and also containing a parallel controller converting said parallel input/outputs to an interface whereby a serial input and a serial output of each of said serial controllers is electrically coupled to a serial output and a serial input, respectively, of one of said serial data storage devices; e. a third integrated circuit containing a parallel to serial device bridge that has a parallel input/output and a serial input/output whereby said parallel input/output of said parallel to serial device bridge is electrically coupled to said interface of said parallel controller of said second integrated circuit; and f. a serial link electrically coupling said serial input/output of said parallel to serial device bridge of said third integrated circuit to the input/output of the parallel to serial device bridge of the first integrated circuit so that said peripheral data storage subsystem is electrically coupled to the computer.