MECHANICAL CONVERSION SLEEVE

• US 20120300384A1
• Filed: 05/24/2011
• Published: 11/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Alo, Roland Kamakau, Meserth, Timothy Andreas, Goodman, Walter Adrian, Beauchamp, William
• Granted Patent: US 8,743,536 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.31
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/187 Mounting of fixed and removable disk drives
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0282 Adapters for connecting cards having a first standard in receptacles having a second standard

Abstract

Embodiments disclose a conversion sleeve for connecting smaller form factor drives to a receptacle of a larger form factor drive. The conversion sleeve has an outer frame shaped to fit within the receptacle of the larger form factor drive. Within the conversion sleeve is at least one channel for receiving a smaller form factor drive. The smaller form factor drive is hot swappable. On a side of the conversion sleeve, a spring-locking mechanism is design to lock into an existing aperture of the receptacle. The conversion sleeve also includes an interposer to bring the smaller form factor drive to the receiving end of the conversion sleeve for easy access.

Claims

1. An apparatus for receiving a storage device of a first size for use in a computer comprising a bay to receive a storage device of a second size, the apparatus comprising:

a first side having first and second ends and a grooved channel extending from the first end of the first side to the second end of the first side;

a second side having first and second ends and a grooved channel extending from the first end of the second side to the second end of the second side;

an interposer coupled to the second end of the first side and to the second end of the second side, the interposer having a first communications port and a second communications port, the first communications port, when connected to a storage device of a first size engaged with the grooved channel of the first side and the grooved channel of the second side, being operative to communicate with the storage device of the first size, and the second communications port, when connected to a computer comprising a bay for receiving a storage device of a second size, being operative to communicate with the computer;

an outer casing disposed over and at least partially covering the first and second sides; and

a connector plate coupled to the first side of the apparatus to connect the apparatus to a side of the bay of the computer.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the arm pivotally connected to the first end of the first side, and the second end of the arm detatchably attachable to the first end of the second side.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connector plate comprises:

a plate pivotally connected to the first side; and

a raised protrusion on the plate corresponding to an aperture in the bay of the computer.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the connector plate further comprises a lever extending from the plate along an outer side of the first side and underneath the outer casing, to provide a spring force biasing the plate to rest flat with a side of the outer casing when the plate is pivotally rotated toward the second side.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the raised protrusion tapers toward the second end of the first side to compel the plate to pivot when inserted into the bay.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the interposer is of a length such that an end of the storage device of the first size is at the respective first ends of the first and second sides.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the interposer is a circuit card.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the interposer further comprises a third communications port connected to the same side as the first communications port, the third communications port, when connected to another storage device of the first size, being operative to communicate with the other storage device of the first size.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second port of the interposer is adapted to connect to a backplane of the computer, where the backplane has a port for receiving the storage device of the second size.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a spring-retention housing for securing the interposer, the spring-retention housing comprising:

a first side plate with a front and back end, the front end of the first side plate connected to the second end of the first side, and a second side plate with a front and back end, the front end of the second side plate connected to the second end of the second side, wherein the first and second side plates are spaced to allow the interposer to fit between them and wherein the respective back ends of each of the first and second side plate, are accessible through the outer casing;

a clip at each respective back end of the first and second side plate that flexes outward under an outward pressure to allow the interposer to be inserted or removed and returns to an original position after the outward pressure is removed, wherein the original position provides a back stop to secure the interposer when inserted; and

a front stop at the respective front ends of the first and second side plates, preventing the interposer from being inserted past the front end, wherein the front stop provides a spring force towards the respective back ends to hold the interposer flush against the back stop after being inserted into the spring retention housing.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a storage device of the first size is a 1.8 inch form factor storage drive and a storage device of the second size is a 2.5 inch form factor storage drive.

12. An apparatus for receiving a storage device of a first size for use in a computer comprising a bay to receive a storage device of a second size, the apparatus comprising:

a first side having first and second ends and a grooved channel extending from the first end of the first side to the second end of the first side;

a second side having first and second ends and a grooved channel extending from the first end of the second side to the second end of the second side;

a spring-retention housing securing an interposer, the spring-retention housing having a first side plate with a front and back end, the front end of the first side plate connected to the second end of the first side, and a second side plate with a front and back end, the front end of the second side plate connected to the second end of the second side, wherein the first and second side plates are spaced to allow the interposer to fit between them;

the interposer having a first communications port and a second communications port, the first communications port, when connected to a storage device of a first size engaged with the grooved channel of the first side and the grooved channel of the second side, being operative to communicate with the storage device of the first size, and the second communications port, when connected to a computer comprising a bay for receiving a storage device of a second size, being operative to communicate with the computer; and

an outer casing disposed over and at least partially covering the first and second sides.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the spring-retention housing further comprises:

a clip at each respective back end of the first and second side plate that flexes outward under an outward pressure to allow the interposer to be inserted or removed and returns to an original position after the outward pressure is removed, wherein the original position provides a back stop to secure the interposer when inserted; and

a front stop at the respective front ends of the first and second side plates, preventing the interposer from being inserted past the front end, wherein the front stop provides a spring force towards the respective back ends to hold the interposer flush against the back stop after being inserted into the spring retention housing.

14. A computer system comprising:

one or more bays for housing one or more storage devices of a first form factor;

an apparatus having dimensions of the first form factor and fitting within a first bay of the one or more bays, wherein the apparatus comprises;

a receiving channel having a front end and a back end for housing a storage device of a second form factor;

an interposer coupled to the back end of the receiving channel, the interposer having a first communications port operative to communicate with a first storage device having dimensions of the second form factor and a second communications port operative to communicate with the computer system; and

an outer casing disposed over and at least partially covering the receiving channel and the interposer, the outer casing allowing access to the front end of the receiving channel and access to the interposer.

15. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the apparatus is connected to the first bay via a connector plate coupled to a side of the receiving channel, the connector plate having a raised protrusion fitting into an aperture in a side of the first bay.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the connector plate further comprising a lever extending from the connector plate along an outer side of the receiving channel and underneath the outer casing to produce a spring force biasing the connector plate away from an opposite side of the receiving channel when the connector plate is pivotally rotated toward the opposite side of the receiving channel.

17. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the interposer of the apparatus is of a length such that the first storage device having dimensions of the second form factor extends to the front of the receiving channel.

18. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the interposer of the apparatus is of a length such that the first storage device having dimensions of the second form factor extends to an outside surface of the first bay.

19. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the first storage device having dimensions of the second form factor is detachably attachable within the receiving channel of the apparatus while the apparatus is connected to the first bay via the connector plate.

20. The computer system of claim 19, wherein the first storage device having dimensions of the second form factor is detachably attachable within the receiving channel of the apparatus while the conversion apparatus is connected to the first bay and the computer system is powered on.