Computer bay modular adapter

• US 6,078,112 A
• Filed: 12/12/1997
• Issued: 06/20/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Krancher, Robert E., Saunders, Scott P.
• Primary Examiner(s): FLEMING, FRITZ M
• Application Number:
  US08/989,702
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: 307/112, 307/113, 307/116, 307/125, 307/126, 307/130, 307/131, 307/43, 307/80, 307/85, 361/18, 361/79, 361/86, 361/87, 361/91, 395/280, 395/282-284
• US Class Current: 307/125
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/184 Mounting of motherboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/187 Mounting of fixed and removable disk drives
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/126 Arrangements for providing electrical connections, e.g. connectors, cables, switches

Abstract

Apparatus is provided for adapting a computer system having a standard half-height bay to operatively receive multi-purpose bay devices therein. In one described embodiment, an adapter is provided which may be conveniently mounted in a standard half-height bay, but which is configured to accept multi-purpose bay devices. The adapter includes standard drive connectors, and connectors which permit the adapter to be effectively used in systems having features such as circuitry permitting hot-swapping of drives and circuitry for controlling battery charging and/or discharging. The adapter also includes circuitry for automatic selection of a power source to supply power to devices installed therein.

Claims

1. An adapter for operatively receiving a multi-purpose device therein, the adapter being operatively mountable within a standard half-height bay of a computer system and comprising:

a multi-purpose bay formed in the adapter;

a first connector disposed relative to the multi-purpose bay, so that when the multi-purpose device in installed in the multi-purpose bay the multi-purpose device is connected to the first connector;

a second connector configured for connecting the adapter to a computer system standard half-height drive power supply;

a third connector configured for connecting the adapter to a computer system multi-purpose device power supply; and

a circuit interconnecting the first, second and third connectors,

the circuit comprising first and second gates, the base of the first gate being connected to a first terminal of the second connector, and the base of the second gate being connected to a first terminal of the third connector.

2. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the first gate connects the first terminal of the third connector to ground when power is supplied to the second connector from the standard half-height drive power supply.

3. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the second gate is further connected to a second terminal of the third connector, and to a first terminal of the first connector, such that the second terminal of the third connector is connected to the first terminal of the first connector when power is supplied to the third connector from the multi-purpose device power supply and the second connector is disconnected from the standard half-height drive power supply.

4. The adapter according to claim 3, wherein a second terminal of the second connector is connected to the first connector first terminal, the first connector first terminal supplying power to the multi-purpose device when the multi-purpose device is operatively installed within the multi-purpose bay.

5. An adapter for operatively receiving a multi-purpose device therein, the adapter being operatively mountable within a standard half-height bay of a computer system and comprising:

a multi-purpose bay former in the adapter;

a first connector disposed relative to the multi-purpose bay, so that when the multi-purpose device is installed in the multi-purpose bay the multi-purpose device is connected to the first connector;

a second connector configured for connecting the adapter to a computer system standard half-height drive power supply;

a third connector configured for connecting the adapter to a computer system multi-purpose device power supply; and

a circuit interconnecting the first, second and third connectors,

the multi-purpose device being a battery, and the circuit including a first gate, a base of the first gate being connected to a first terminal of the third connector.

6. The adapter according to claim 5, wherein the first gate connects a second terminal of the third connector to a first terminal of a fourth connector when the third connector is connected to the multi-purpose device power supply, the fourth connector being disposed relative to the multi-purpose bay, so that when the battery is installed in the multi-purpose bay the battery is connected to the fourth connector.

7. The adapter according to claim 6, wherein a first terminal of the second connector is connected to the fourth connector first terminal.

8. A computer system comprising:

a CPU including a microprocessor;

a data storage device operative to store data that may be retrieved by the microprocessor;

a standard half-height bay; and

an adapter configured to operatively receive a multi-purpose device therein, the adapter being mounted in the half-height bay, and the adapter including;

a multi-purposes bay formed therein;

a first connector disposed relative to the multi-purpose bay, so that when the multi-purpose device is installed in the multi-purpose bay the multi-purpose device is connected to the first connector;

a second connector configured for connecting the adapter to a computer system standard half-height drive power supply;

a third connector configured for connecting the adapter to a computer system multi-purpose device supply; and

a circuit interconnecting the first, second and third connectors,

the circuit comprising first and second gates, the base of the first gate being connected to a first terminal of the second connector, and the base of the second gate being connected to a first terminal of the third connector.

9. The computer according to claim 8, wherein the first gate connects the first terminal of the third connector to ground when the second connector is connected to the standard half-height drive power supply.

10. The computer system according to claim 8, wherein the second gate connects a second terminal of the third connector to a first terminal of the first connector when the third connector is connected to the multi-purpose device power supply and the second connector is disconnected from the standard half-height drive power supply.

11. The computer system according to claim 10, wherein a second terminal of the second connector is connected to the first connector first terminal, the first connector first terminal supplying power to the multi-purpose device when the multi-purpose device is operatively installed within the multi-purpose bay.

12. A computer system comprising:

a CPU including a microprocessor;

a data storage device operative to store data that may be retrieved by the microprocessor;

a standard half-height bay; and

an adapter configured to operatively receive a multi-purpose device therein, the adapter being mounted in the half-height bay, and the adapter including;

a multi-purposes bay formed therein;

a first connector disposed relative to the multi-purpose bay, so that when the multi-purpose device is installed in the multi-purpose bay the multi-purpose device is connected to the first connector;

a second connector configured for connecting the adapter to a computer system standard half-height drive power supply;

a third connector configured for connecting the adapter to a computer system multi-purpose device supply; and

a circuit interconnecting the first, second and third connectors,

the multi-purpose device being a battery, and the circuit including a first gate, a base of the first gate being connected to a first terminal of the third connector.

13. The computer system according to claim 12, wherein the first gate connects a second terminal of the third connector to a first terminal of a fourth connector when the third connector is connected to the multi-purpose device power supply, the fourth connector being disposed relative to the multi-purpose bay, so that when the battery is installed in the multi-purpose bay the battery is connected to the fourth connector.

14. The computer system according to claim 13, wherein a first terminal of the second connector is connected to the fourth connector first terminal.

15. An adapter for operatively receiving a multi-purpose device therein, the adapter being operatively mountable within a standard half-height bay of a computer system and comprising:

a multi-purpose bay formed in the adapter;

a first connector disposed relative to the multi-purpose bay so that when the multi-purpose device is installed in the multi-purpose bay the multi-purpose device is connected to the first connector;

a second connector configured for connecting the adapter to a computer system standard half-height drive power supply;

a third connector configured for connecting the adapter to a computer system multi-purpose device power supply; and

a circuit interconnecting the first, second and third connectors, the circuit being operative to sense the computer system power supply environment in which it is installed and to;

(1) route electrical power to the first connector from the second connector when the second connector receives electrical power but the third connector does not,

(2) route electrical power to the first connector from the third connector when the third connector receives electrical power but the second connector does not, and

(3) route electrical power to the first connector from only a selected one of the second and third connectors when both of the second and third connectors receive electrical power.

16. A computer system comprising:

a CPU including a microprocessor;

a data storage device operative to store data that may be retrieved by the microprocessor;

a standard half-height bay; and

an adapter configured to operatively receive a multi-purpose device therein, the adapter being mounted in the half-height bay, and the adapter including;

a multi-purpose bay formed therein;

a first connector disposed relative to the multi-purpose bay, so that when the multi-purpose device is installed in the multi-purpose bay the multi-purpose device is connected to the first connector;

a second connector configured for connecting the adapter to a computer system standard half-height drive power supply;

a third connector configured for connecting the adapter to a computer system multi-purpose device supply; and

a circuit interconnecting the first, second and third connectors, the circuit being operative to sense the computer system power supply environment in which it is installed and to;

(1) route electrical power to the first connector from the second connector when the second connector receives electrical power but the third connector does not,

(2) route electrical power to the first connector from the third connector when the third connector receives electrical power but the second connector does not, and

(3) route electrical power to the first connector from only a selected one of the second and third connectors when both of the second and third connectors receive electrical power.