Filtered air, temperature controlled removable computer cartridge devices

• US 5,831,525 A
• Filed: 09/18/1997
• Issued: 11/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CRU, Connector Resources Unlimited, Inc.
• Original Assignee: CRU, Connector Resources Unlimited, Inc.
• Inventors: Harvey, James C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pope, Daryl C.
• Application Number:
  US08/932,701
• Time in Patent Office: 411 Days
• Field of Search: 340/500, 340/501, 340/507, 364/551.01, 364/551.02, 364/552, 364/602, 364/708.1, 364/709.02, 364/710.02, 206/383.1, 174/16.1, 361/683, 361/687, 361/688, 361/690, 361/692, 361/694, 361/695, 360/131, 360/132, 360/133
• US Class Current: 340/507
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management

Abstract

058315250 The present invention provides for removable cartridge devices including removable cartridges having fan assisted cooling for housing data storage devices and brackets adapted for removably mounting the cartridges. Various features of these cartridge systems include temperature dependent fan speed control, fan failure alarms, data storage device identification number LED display and air filtration systems. Methods are provided for removably mounting these cartridges in a computer.

Claims

1. A removable cartridge device comprising:

a) a removable cartridge including;

(1) a housing having;

(i) an air flow inlet and (ii) an air flow outlet, (2) a first mounting means adapted for mounting a data storage device inside the housing, (3) a temperature sensing element positioned inside the housing and (4) a temperature dependent fan speed control system adapted for controlling a fan speed by means of the temperature sensing element;

b) a U-shaped bracket adapted for slidably receiving the cartridge including;

(1) a second mounting means for mounting the bracket in a computer, (2) a first side panel, (3) a second side panel and (4) a rear panel having (i) an inside and (ii) an outside;

c) a removable cartridge air venting system, including a fan, adapted for providing an air flow through the housing when the cartridge is fully inserted in the U-shaped bracket, wherein the fan speed is controlled by the fan speed control system; and

d) an electrical circuit means adapted for operably connecting the computer to the cartridge when the cartridge is fully inserted in the bracket and when the bracket is mounted to the computer.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the data storage device comprises a hard drive.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein the first mounting means is positioned between the air flow inlet and the air flow outlet.

4. The device according to claim 1 wherein the temperature sensing element comprises a thermistor.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein the fan is attached to a first of the cartridge and the bracket.

6. The device according to claim 1 additionally comprising a fan failure alarm system responsive to the fan speed.

7. The device according to claim 1 additionally comprising an air filtration system to provide filtered air including a filter element mounted inside the housing such that the filter element is interposed between the air inlet and the data storage device when this is mounted in the cartridge.

8. The device according to claim 7 additionally comprising an air flow sealing system.

9. The device according to claim 7 wherein the filter element comprises open cell polymeric foam adapted for removing dust particles from an air flow.

10. The device according to claim 1 additionally comprising at least one cross brace in the bracket between the first side panel and the second side panel.

11. The device according to claim 1 wherein the air venting system comprises:

a) an area defining an open portion in the rear panel of the bracket,

b) the fan attached to the rear panel such that the fan is adapted for communicating with the open portion,

c) an air duct extending from the open portion inside the rear panel, and

d) a flange extension which extends from the duct such that the flange extension is adapted for fitting inside the cartridge air flow outlet when the cartridge is fully inserted in the bracket.

12. The device according to claim 1 wherein the electrical circuit means comprises at least one computer connection to:

a) the data storage device when this is mounted in the cartridge;

b) the fan; and

c) the fan speed control system.

13. The device according to claim 1 additionally comprising a data storage device identification means for providing a data storage device identification number.

14. The device according to claim 13 wherein the identification means comprises a LED display including a manually operated selector switch.

15. The device according to claim 14 additionally comprising a fan failure alarm system responsive to the fan speed.

16. The device according to claim 15 in which the fan failure alarm system is activated when the fan speed is outside a predetermined speed range.

17. The device according to claim 16 in which the fan failure alarm system activates an alarm wherein the alarm is a flashing data storage device identification number or a combination of a flashing data storage device identification number and an audible signal.

18. The device according to claim 17 additionally comprising an air filtration system to provide filtered air including a filter element mounted inside the housing such that the filter element is interposed between the air inlet and the data storage device when this is mounted in the cartridge.

19. A removable cartridge device comprising:

a) a removable cartridge including;

(1) a housing having;

(i) a front panel including an air flow inlet, (ii) a first side panel, (iii) a second side panel, (iv) a first rear panel including a first area defining a first open portion and a second area defining a second open portion comprising an air flow outlet, wherein the first rear panel has an inside and an outside, (v) a top panel and (vi) a bottom panel, (2) a first mounting means adapted for mounting a hard drive inside the housing, (3) a temperature sensing means comprising a thermistor, wherein the temperature sensing means is positioned inside the housing, (4) a temperature dependent fan speed control system adapted for controlling a fan speed by means of the temperature sensing element, (5) a hard drive identification means comprising;

(i) a LED display and (ii) a selector switch mounted on the housing, (6) a fan failure alarm system responsive to the fan speed wherein;

(i) the fan failure alarm system is activated when the fan speed is outside a predetermined speed range and (ii) the alarm is a flashing hard drive identification number or a combination of a flashing hard drive identification number and an audible signal, (7) a first circuit board mounted on the inside of the first rear panel, (8) a first connector which is connected to the first circuit board and which is adapted for connecting to the hard drive when this is mounted inside the cartridge and (9) a second connector which is mounted to the first circuit board such that the second connector protrudes through the first open portion;

b) a U-shaped bracket adapted for slidably receiving the cartridge including;

(1) a second mounting means for mounting the bracket in a computer, (2) a third side panel, (3) a fourth side panel and (4) a second rear panel having (i) an inside, (ii) an outside, (iii) a third area defining a third open portion, (iv) a fourth area defining a fourth open portion, (v) an air duct extending from the inside of the second rear panel such that the air duct is substantially contiguous with the third open portion wherein the air duct has a contact surface for contacting the outside of the first rear panel such that the duct is substantially contiguous with the outlet when the cartridge is fully inserted in the bracket, (vi) a second circuit board mounted to the inside of the second rear panel, (vii) a third connector which is connected to the second circuit board such that the third connector makes an electrically mating contact with the second connector when the cartridge is fully inserted in the bracket, (viii) a fourth connector which is connected to the second circuit board such that the fourth connector protrudes through the fourth open portion, wherein the fourth connector is adapted for connecting to the computer and wherein the fourth connector is adapted for connecting to the hard drive, when this is mounted in the cartridge, through the second circuit board, the third connector, the second connector, the first circuit board and the first connector; and

c) a fan mounted on the outside of the second rear panel such that the fan communicates with the fourth open portion, wherein the speed of the fan is controlled by the fan speed control system.

20. The device according to claim 19 additionally comprising a filter element which is positioned inside the cartridge such that the filter element is interposed between the air flow inlet and the hard drive when this is mounted in the cartridge.

21. The device according to claim 20 additionally comprising:

a) a lock mechanism; and

b) a means for substantially preventing unfiltered air from entering the cartridge through the lock mechanism.

22. The device according to claim 19 additionally comprising a lock for locking the cartridge onto the bracket.

23. A method for removably mounting a data storage device comprising the steps of:

a) providing a data storage device;

b) providing a removable cartridge including;

(1) a housing having;

(i) an air flow inlet and (ii) an air flow outlet, (2) a first mounting means adapted for mounting a data storage device inside the housing, (3) a temperature sensing element positioned inside the housing and (4) a temperature dependent fan speed control system adapted for controlling a fan speed by means of the temperature sensing element;

c) providing a U-shaped bracket adapted for receiving the cartridge including;

(1) a second mounting means for mounting the bracket in a computer, (2) a first side panel, (3) a second side panel and (4) a rear panel having (i) an inside and (ii) an outside;

d) providing a removable cartridge air venting system, including a fan, adapted for providing an air flow through the housing when the cartridge is fully inserted in the U-shaped bracket, wherein the fan speed is controlled by the fan speed control system;

e) providing a first electrical circuit means adapted for operably connecting the computer to the bracket when the bracket is mounted to the computer;

f) providing a second electrical circuit means adapted for operably connecting the cartridge to the bracket when the cartridge is fully inserted in the bracket;

g) providing a third electrical circuit means for operably connecting the data storage device to the cartridge;

h) mounting the bracket to the computer;

i) using the first electrical circuit means to connect the computer to the bracket;

j) mounting the data storage device in the cartridge;

k) using the third electrical circuit means to connect the data storage device to the cartridge; and

l) fully inserting the cartridge into the bracket whereby the data storage device is electrically connected to the computer through the first, second and third electrical circuit means.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of providing a data storage device comprises providing a hard drive.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of providing a removable cartridge additionally comprises the step of providing an air filtration system for use in the cartridge.