Docking apparatus for PC card devices

• US 20060292918A1
• Filed: 08/31/2006
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Supergate Technology USA, Inc. (Supergate Technology Inc.)
• Inventors: Behl, Sunny
• Granted Patent: US 7,420,801 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/374
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/183 Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for printed circuit boards, internal connecting means for buses G06F13/409
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/184 Mounting of motherboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/185 Mounting of expansion boards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/186 Securing of expansion boards in correspondence to slots provided at the computer enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/187 Mounting of fixed and removable disk drives
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/122 Arrangements for providing electrical connections, e.g. connectors, cables, switches
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/124 of the single recording/reproducing device, e.g. disk drive, onto a chassis
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0256 of interchangeable modules or receptacles therefor, e.g. cartridge mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/945 Adapter for pcb or cartridge

Abstract

A carrier and docking assembly in combination for removeably interconnecting a PC card device with a computer. The docking assembly is configured in size to be fixed in a memory storage device bay of a computer housing, or a memory storage device housing. The docking assembly includes a plug for the carrier, a power connector and an interface connector. The interface connector is adapted for connection with an IDE ribbon cable. The carrier includes a PC card device for receiving PC cards and a plug for interconnection with the docking assembly. The carrier plug removeably couples with the plug of the docking assembly.

Claims

1-13. -13. (canceled)

14. An assembly comprising:

a docking assembly configured to be fixed in a bay of a computer, the docking assembly including a docking assembly plug, wherein the docking assembly is adapted to connect with an interface in the computer; and

a carrier including a PC card device and a carrier plug, wherein the carrier plug removeably interconnects with the docking assembly plug to enable the PC card device to communicate with the interface.

15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the docking assembly further comprises a power connector and a cable connector.

16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the cable connector enables the docking assembly to connect with the interface.

17. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the docking assembly comprises a lock for holding the carrier within the docking assembly.

18. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the PC card device comprises adapter circuitry configured to couple the PC card device with the carrier plug.

19. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the adapter circuitry comprises a pin connector that couples with the carrier plug.

20. The assembly of claim 19, wherein the PC card device comprises a ribbon cable extending from the pin connector to the carrier plug.

21. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the PC card device comprises at least one PC card slot.

22. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the PC card device is capable of receiving a Compact F, ATA Flash, or a PCMCIA card.

23. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the PC card device comprises at least two slots configured to be used simultaneously.

24. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the PC card device comprises a plurality of PC card slots having different sizes for receiving a plurality of cards having different sizes.

25. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the interface comprises an IDE or SCSI interface.

26. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the carrier comprises a folding handle mounted to a front of the carrier.

27. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the carrier has a handle for removing the carrier from the docking assembly and for carrying the carrier.

28. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the carrier and docking assembly have rails for aligning the carrier with the docking assembly.

29. A combination comprising:

a rack configured to be fixed in a bay of a memory storage device, the rack including a first connector, wherein the rack is adapted to connect with an interface in the memory storage device; and

a carrier including a PC card device and a second connector, wherein the second connector removeably interconnects with the first connector to enable the PC card device to communicate with the interface.

30. The combination of claim 29, wherein the rack further comprises a power connector and a cable connector.

31. The combination of claim 30, wherein the cable connector enables the rack to connect with the interface.

32. The combination of claim 29, wherein the rack comprises a lock for holding the carrier within the rack.

33. The combination of claim 29, wherein the PC card device comprises adapter circuitry configured to couple the PC card device with the second connector.

34. The combination of claim 33, wherein the adapter circuitry includes a pin connector that couples with the second connector.

35. The combination of claim 34, wherein the PC card device includes a ribbon cable extending from the pin connector to the second connector.