INCORPORATION OF MULTIPLE, 2.5-INCH OR SMALLER HARD DISK DRIVES INTO A SINGLE DRIVE CARRIER WITH A SINGLE MIDPLANE OR BASEBOARD CONNECTOR

• US 20110069441A1
• Filed: 09/24/2009
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2009
• 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 8,508,928 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.33
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/124 of the single recording/reproducing device, e.g. disk drive, onto a chassis
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/128 of the plurality of recording/reproducing devices, e.g. disk drives, onto a chassis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

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 first support member sized and shaped to receive vertically and retain a data storage device;

a second support member sized and shaped to receive and retain a plurality of first support members, the second support member fittable in a chassis; and

an electrical communication interface from the chassis to the data storage devices within the plurality of first support members, the electrical communication interface comprising a single connector that mates with a matching connector on the chassis.

2. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein:

a shape of the first support member is bounded by a cuboid bounding shape, the cuboid bounding shape comprising a first major surface, a second major surface opposite the first major surface, and four edge surfaces substantially perpendicular to the first and second major surfaces, the four edge surfaces connecting the first and second major surfaces, the four edge surfaces together forming a substantially rectangular shape; and

the second support member receives and retains the plurality of first support members such that a major surface of at least one cuboid bounding shape is adjacent to a major surface of another cuboid bounding shape.

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

4. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein the electrical communication interface comprises a SCA2-80 connector.

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

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

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

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

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

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein the electrical communication interface provides a hot-swap capability.

15. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein the data storage devices within the carrier are individually hot-swappable.

16. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein the carrier is hot-swappable with another carrier.

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

18. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein the first support member is removable from the second support member without use of tools.

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

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

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

removably securing the data storage device within the support member;

inserting a plurality of first support members into an insert space of a second support member defined by a second plurality of sidewalls;

removably securing the plurality of first support members within the second support member, such that each data storage device within the plurality of first support members is in electrical communication contact with a one connector on the second support member; and

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

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein a first support member is configured to be hot-swappable without hot-swapping another first support member.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein a second support member is configured to be hot-swappable with another second support member.