Expandale modular storage unit

• US 20040184230A1
• Filed: 03/21/2003
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Szolyga, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 6,970,349 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/685
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/18 Packaging or power distribution

Abstract

The present invention includes an expandable modular storage unit for a computer system. According to the present invention, the expandable modular storage unit includes a backplane capable of being coupled to a host computer system. A plurality of storage modules can be coupled to the backplane for communicating with the host computer system whereby the storage modules can communicate with each other and the host computer system. Through the use of the present invention, large amounts of data storage capability can be added to an existing system without the added expense of controller electronics and related software. An aspect of the present invention includes an expandable modular storage unit. The expandable modular storage unit includes a backplane and at least one storage module storage module coupled to the backplane wherein the at least one storage module includes communication means for communicating with at least one other storage module coupled to the backplane.

Claims

1. An expandable modular storage unit comprising:

a backplane; and

a storage module coupled to the backplane wherein the storage module includes communication means for communicating with at least one other storage module coupled to the backplane.

2. The expandable modular storage unit of claim 1 wherein the communication means further comprises means for communicating with a host computer system.

3. The expandable modular storage unit of claim 1 wherein the storage module comprises a hard disk drive coupled to the communication means.

4. The expandable modular storage unit of claim 1 wherein the communication means further comprises an interface board wherein the interface board further includes at least two data connectors.

5. The expandable modular storage unit of claim 4 wherein the interface board and the at least two data connectors comport with an IEEE 1394 standard.

6. The expandable modular storage unit of claim 1 wherein the backplane further comprises means for connecting the storage module to the at least one other storage module in a daisy chain fashion.

7. The expandable modular storage unit of claim 1 wherein the at least one other storage module includes communication means for communicating with at least two other storage modules.

8. An expandable computer system comprising:

a host computer system; and

an expandable storage unit coupled to the host computer system wherein the expandable modular storage unit comprises;

a backplane; and

a storage module coupled to the backplane wherein the storage module includes communication means for communicating with the host computer system and at least one other storage module coupled to the backplane.

9. The expandable computer system of claim 8 wherein the storage module comprises a hard disk drive coupled to the communication means.

10. The expandable computer system of claim 8 wherein the communication means further comprises an interface board wherein the interface board further includes at least two data connectors.

11. The expandable computer system of claim 10 wherein the interface board and the at least two data connectors comport with an IEEE 1394 standard.

12. The expandable computer system of claim 8 wherein the backplane further comprises means for connecting the storage module to the at least one other storage module in a daisy chain fashion.

13. The expandable computer system of claim 8 wherein the at least one other storage module includes communication means for communicating with at least two other storage modules.

14. An expandable modular storage unit comprising:

a backplane; and

a storage module coupled to the backplane wherein the storage module includes;

a hard disk drive; and

an interface board coupled to the hard disk drive wherein the interface board is capable of communicating with at least one other storage module coupled to the backplane.

15. The expandable modular storage unit of claim 14 wherein the interface board further includes means for communicating with a host computer system.

16. The expandable modular storage unit of claim 14 wherein the interface board further includes at least two data connectors.

17. The expandable modular storage unit of claim 15 wherein the interface board and the at least two data connectors comport with an IEEE 1394 standard.

18. A storage module comprising:

a hard disk drive; and

an interface board coupled to the hard disk drive wherein the interface board is capable of communicating with multiple storage modules.

19. The storage module of claim 18 wherein the interface board further includes at least two data connectors.

20. The storage module of claim 19 wherein the interface board and the at least two data connectors comport with an IEEE 1394 standard.