Disaster-Proof Storage Unit Having Transmission Capabilities

• US 20100172084A1
• Filed: 12/28/2009
• Published: 07/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Axxana (Israel) Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Axxana (Israel) Ltd.
• Inventors: Winokur, Alex
• Granted Patent: US 8,289,694 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.310
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2074 Asynchronous techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/022 Cases
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/14 Reducing influence of physical parameters, e.g. temperature change, moisture, dust
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/1406 Reducing the influence of the temperature

Abstract

A storage device includes a memory and a wireless transmitter, both contained in a disaster-proof enclosure. The memory is configured to receive and store data, and the wireless transmitter is coupled to read and transmit the data from the memory. The disaster-proof enclosure is surrounded by a thermally-insulating layer, and is configured to protect the memory and the transmitter from environmental conditions caused by a disaster event, such that the memory and the wireless transmitter remain functional during and after the disaster event and the transmitter is able to transmit at least a portion of the data to a receiver from within the disaster-proof enclosure after the disaster event.

Claims

1. A storage device, comprising:

a memory, which is configured to receive and store data;

a wireless transmitter, which is coupled to read and transmit the data from the memory; and

a disaster-proof enclosure, which is surrounded by a thermally-insulating layer, contains the memory and the transmitter and is configured to protect the memory and the transmitter from environmental conditions caused by a disaster event such that the memory and the wireless transmitter remain functional during and after the disaster event and the transmitter is able to transmit at least a portion of the data to a receiver from within the disaster-proof enclosure after the disaster event.

2. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the enclosure is metallic, wherein the thermally-insulating layer is electrically non-conducting, and comprising one or more antennas, which are mounted on an exterior of the enclosure and surrounded by the thermally-insulating layer, and are coupled to transmit signals produced by the wireless transmitter.

3. The storage device according to claim 2, wherein the thermally-insulating, non-electrically-conductive layer comprises at least one material type selected from a group of types consisting of fiberglass, basalt, silica and steel-reinforced fiberglass strips.

4. The storage device according to claim 1, and comprising one or more thermally-protective layers disposed on an interior of the enclosure.

5. The storage device according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the thermally-protective layers comprises a Phase Change Material (PCM).

6. The storage device according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the thermally-protective layers comprises a porous material.

7. The storage device according to claim 1, and comprising a tubular pipe, which surrounds an exterior of the enclosure and contains cooling fluid for cooling the exterior.

8. The storage device according to claim 1, and comprising an electronics unit mounted in the enclosure, and an external connector for providing to the electronics unit at least one interface selected from a group of types consisting of electrical power and data.

9. The storage device according to claim 8, and comprising a siphon-shaped connection that connects the external connector to the electronics unit.

10. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the memory and the transmitter is configured to consume a first electrical power during the disaster event, and to consume a second electrical power, higher than the first electrical power, during times other than during the disaster event.

11. A storage device, comprising:

a metallic disaster-proof enclosure;

one or more antennas, which are mounted on an exterior of the enclosure;

a thermally-insulating, non-electrically-conductive layer, which surrounds the disaster-proof enclosure and the antennas so as to insulate the enclosure from a high temperature caused by a disaster event; and

an electronics unit, which is mounted in the enclosure and is configured to receive and store data and is coupled to the antennas so as to transmit a Radio Frequency (RF) signal carrying at least some of the data to a receiver following the disaster event.

12. The storage device according to claim 11, wherein the thermally-insulating, non-electrically-conductive layer comprises at least one material type selected from a group of types consisting of fiberglass, basalt, silica and steel-reinforced fiberglass strips.

13. The storage device according to claim 11, and comprising one or more thermally-protective layers disposed on an interior of the enclosure.

14. The storage device according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the thermally-protective layers comprises a Phase Change Material (PCM).

15. The storage device according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the thermally-protective layers comprises a porous material.

16. The storage device according to claim 11, and comprising a tubular pipe, which surrounds the exterior of the enclosure and contains cooling fluid for cooling the exterior.

17. The storage device according to claim 11, and comprising an external connector for providing to the electronics unit at least one interface selected from a group of types consisting of electrical power and data.

18. The storage device according to claim 17, and comprising a siphon-shaped connection that connects the external connector to the electronics unit.

19. The storage device according to claim 11, wherein the electronics unit is configured to consume a first electrical power during the disaster event, and to consume a second electrical power, higher than the first electrical power, during times other than during the disaster event.

20. A method for data storage, comprising:

receiving and storing data in a storage device, which includes a memory and a wireless transmitter contained in a disaster-proof enclosure that is surrounded by a thermally-insulating layer;

operating the memory and the wireless transmitter during and after a disaster event; and

after the disaster event, reading at least a portion of the data from the memory and transmitting the portion from within the storage device using the wireless transmitter to a receiver.

21. A method for producing a storage device, comprising:

mounting one or more antennas on an exterior of a metallic, disaster-proof enclosure;

surrounding the disaster-proof enclosure and the antennas with a thermally-insulating, non-electrically-conductive layer that insulates the enclosure from a high temperature caused by a disaster event; and

mounting in the disaster-proof enclosure an electronics unit, which receives and stores data and is coupled to the antennas so as to transmit a Radio Frequency (RF) signal carrying at least some of the data to a receiver following the disaster event.