(19)

(11)

EP 1 198 793 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 16.08.2001 (43) Date of publication: 24.04.2002 Bulletin 2002/17 (21) Application number: 00928855.6 (22) Date of filing: 03.05.2000

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: G11B 3/00 (86) International application number: PCT/US0012/262 (87) International publication number: WO 0067/250 (09.11.2000 Gazette 2000/45)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK RO SI (30) Priority: 03.05.1999 US 132298 P 19.07.1999 US 144573 P 08.09.1999 US 391826 08.09.1999 US 392363 08.09.1999 US 392364 P 08.09.1999 US 392358 (71) Applicant: 3Ware Company Palo Alto, CA 94306 (US)	(72) Inventors: HORST, Robert, W. Saratoga, CA 95070 (US) ALESSI, William, J. San Francisco, CA 94114 (US) MCDONALD, James, A. Palo Alto, CA 94303 (US) THOMPSON, Rod, S. Sunnyvale, CA 94086 (US) (74) Representative: Musker, David Charles et al R.G.C. Jenkins & Co.26 Caxton Street London SW1H 0RJ London SW1H 0RJ (GB)