Apparatus and method for automated interconnection and disconnection of disk drive carrier in a system
First Claim
1. A system, comprising:
- a carrier adapted to support a disk drive;
a drawer having a receptacle;
a drive mechanism mounted in the receptacle;
sensor means located in the receptacle for sensing the carrier;
control means associated with the drawer, the drive mechanism, and the sensor means;
wherein when the carrier is inserted into the receptacle, the sensor means senses the carrier and signals the control means to actuate the drive mechanism to engage and draw the carrier into the receptacle, such that the carrier is fully seated in the receptacle.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A disk drive having an optical signal connector and a magnetic power coupling is placed in a drive carrier. The bottom of the carrier has a recess with a transverse pin mounted in the recess. A pair of small magnets are mounted near the rear of the carrier. The carrier slidably mounts in the drawer of a disk drive library. The drawer has an optical signal connector and a magnetic power coupling that mate with those of the disk drive. The drawer also has a sensor for detecting the magnets on the carrier, and an eject button for manually ejecting the carrier. In addition, a drive mechanism is mounted in the bottom of the drawer for engaging the pin on the bottom of the carrier. Although the carrier may be manually inserted or removed from the drawer, the disk drive library can also perform these functions automatically. The automated sequence is accomplished by inserting the carrier into the drawer until the pin engages the drive mechanism. When the sensor senses the first magnet, the system actuates the drive mechanism to pull the carrier completely into the drawer such that the connectors and couplings interconnect. Proper registration of the carrier in the drawer is verified when the sensor senses the second magnet.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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a carrier adapted to support a disk drive;
a drawer having a receptacle;
a drive mechanism mounted in the receptacle;
sensor means located in the receptacle for sensing the carrier;
control means associated with the drawer, the drive mechanism, and the sensor means;
whereinwhen the carrier is inserted into the receptacle, the sensor means senses the carrier and signals the control means to actuate the drive mechanism to engage and draw the carrier into the receptacle, such that the carrier is fully seated in the receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A disk drive library, comprising:
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a disk drive carrier having a magnet;
a disk drive mounted in the carrier;
a drawer having a receptacle;
a drive mechanism mounted in the receptacle;
a sensor located in the receptacle for sensing the magnet on the carrier;
control means associated with the drawer, the drive mechanism, and the sensor;
whereinwhen the carrier is partially inserted into the receptacle, the sensor senses the magnet and signals the control means to actuate the drive mechanism to engage and draw the carrier into the receptacle, such the carrier is fully seated in the receptacle and the disk drive is interconnected with the drawer; and
whereinthe carrier is unseated and ejected from the drawer by reversing the drive mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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13. A method of interconnecting a disk drive system, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a carrier with a disk drive, and a drawer having a receptacle, a drive mechanism, and a sensor;
(b) inserting the carrier into the receptacle;
(c) sensing the carrier with the sensor; and
then(d) actuating the drive mechanism to engage and draw the carrier into the receptacle, such the carrier is fully seated in the receptacle.
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Specification