INCORPORATION OF TWO OR MORE HARD DISK DRIVES INTO A SINGLE DRIVE CARRIER WITH A SINGLE MIDPLANE CONNECTOR

• US 20090273896A1
• Filed: 06/18/2009
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jabil Circuit Incorporated (Jabil Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Jabil Circuit Incorporated (Jabil Inc.)
• Inventors: Walker, Robert I., Foisy, Paul K., Killen, Odie B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,983,032 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.330
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/187 Mounting of fixed and removable disk drives

Abstract

Carrier for the rack mounting of two or more data storage devices into a chassis. The carrier includes support members along the length of the carrier, to receive and retain the two or more data storage devices. The carrier further includes a single electrical communication connector to provide an electrical communication interface for all of the data storage devices in the carrier, to and from a mating connector on a board of the chassis. The carrier further includes an interposer to adapt electrical signals from the single electrical communication connector into a form that is usable by the data storage devices.

Claims

1. A carrier for a plurality of data storage devices, comprising:

a support member sized and shaped to receive and retain the plurality of data storage devices, the support member fittable in a chassis; and

a single connector providing an electrical communication interface from the plurality of data storage devices to the chassis.

2. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein the electrical communication interface comprises a SCA2-40 connector.

3. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein the electrical communication interface comprises a paddle card connector.

4. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of data storage devices are arranged lengthwise along the length of the carrier.

5. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of data storage devices are arranged crosswise along the length of the carrier.

6. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of data storage devices comprise a stack of devices, the stack oriented along one of the length and width of the carrier.

7. The carrier according to claim 1, further comprising an interposer connecting the connector to the plurality of data storage devices.

8. The carrier according to claim 6, wherein the interposer is implemented on a substantially rigid PCBA.

9. The carrier according to claim 6, wherein the interposer is implemented on a substantially flexible printed circuit.

10. The carrier according to claim 6, wherein the interposer is implemented by use of cables.

11. The carrier according to claim 6, wherein the interposer provides an interface between SAS signals at the connector to SAS signals at the plurality of data storage devices.

12. The carrier according to claim 6, wherein the interposer provides an interface between SAS signals at the connector to SATA signals at the plurality of data storage devices.

13. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein the electrical communication interface further comprises a PCBA to provide a communication connection from the plurality of data storage devices to the connector.

14. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein the electrical communication interface further comprises a flexible cable to provide a communication connection from at least one of the data storage devices to the connector.

15. The carrier according to claim 2, wherein the SCA2-40 connector provides a hot-swap capability.

16. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein the data storage devices are removable from the carrier without the use of tools.

17. The carrier according to claim 15, further comprising a plurality of sidewalls formed of a flexible material.

18. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein the carrier is fittable within a predetermined multiple of rack unit space.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the one connector on the support member is an SCA2-40 connector.

21. The method according to claim 18, wherein the connector is configured to be hot-swappable.

22. The carrier according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one projecting member configured to retain each of the data storage devices in the support member, the at least one projecting member extending from a portion of the carrier towards the data storage device;

wherein each of the at least one projecting member is retained in position by a structure selected from the group consisting of a rail and a sidewall of the support member.

23. The carrier according to claim 21, wherein the rail comprises a capturing structure for capturing a peripheral edge portion of a paddle card termination.

24. The carrier according to claim 21, wherein at least one of the plurality of sidewalls is formed of a flexible material.

25. The carrier according to claim 21, wherein a first sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls is removably coupled to a second sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls.

26. The carrier according to claim 21, wherein the first sidewall comprises a coupling structure selected from the group consisting of a hook and a hinge.

19. A method for providing high capacity data storage in an assembly, comprising:

inserting a plurality of data storage devices into an insert space of a support member defined by a plurality of sidewalls;

removably securing the plurality of data storage devices within the support member, such that the plurality of data storage devices are in electrical communication contact with a single connector on the support member; and

removably securing the support member within the assembly, such that the one connector on the support member is in electrical communication contact with the chassis.