Hot swap drawer assembly
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An assembly for a computer system comprising:
- a frame that has a base, a first side and a second side;
a backplane, which is coupled to the frame; and
a first connector with a first end that is coupled to the backplane and a second end for receiving a first disk drive connector;
wherein a first disk drive carrier may be secured between the first and second sides such that it is oriented sideways with respect to a front surface of a computer system chassis.
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Abstract
An assembly for a computer system is described. That assembly comprises a frame that has a base, a first side and a second side. The assembly also includes a backplane, which is coupled to the frame, and a connector. The connector has a first end that is coupled to the backplane and a second end for receiving a disk drive connector. The assembly enables a disk drive carrier to be secured between the first and second sides such that it is oriented sideways with respect to a front surface of a computer system chassis. Also described are a disk drive storage unit and a computer system that include that assembly.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An assembly for a computer system comprising:
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a frame that has a base, a first side and a second side;
a backplane, which is coupled to the frame; and
a first connector with a first end that is coupled to the backplane and a second end for receiving a first disk drive connector;
wherein a first disk drive carrier may be secured between the first and second sides such that it is oriented sideways with respect to a front surface of a computer system chassis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A disk drive storage unit comprising:
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a frame having a base, a first side and a second side;
a backplane, which is coupled to the frame;
a first connector that has a first end, which is coupled to the backplane, and a second end; and
a first disk drive assembly that comprises;
a first disk drive carrier that has a handle, and a first disk drive, which has a first disk drive connector, the first disk drive being coupled to the first disk drive carrier;
wherein the first disk drive carrier is coupled to the first and second sides, and the second end of the first connector is coupled to the first disk drive connector such that the handle of the first disk drive carrier may be oriented sideways with respect to a front surface of a computer system chassis. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
a second connector that has a first end that is coupled to the backplane and a second end; and
a second disk drive assembly that includes a second disk drive carrier, which has a handle, that is coupled to a second disk drive, the second disk drive having a second disk drive connector;
wherein the second end of the second connector is connected to the second disk drive connector such that the first disk drive connector of the first disk drive faces the second disk drive connector of the second disk drive.
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12. The disk drive storage unit of claim 11 wherein the first and second sides each include a disk drive carrier retention member and the first and second disk drive carriers each include slide rails, and wherein the first and second disk drive assemblies are coupled to the first and second sides when the disk drive carrier retention members engage those slide rails.
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13. The disk drive storage unit of claim 12 wherein the first and second sides are each between about 1 and about 2 inches high and are separated from each other by between about 4 and about 5 inches, and wherein the first and second disk drives are standard 3½
- inch disk drives, and further comprising a cable that is connected to the backplane for connecting the backplane to a computing unit.
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14. A computer system comprising:
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a chassis that has a front compartment and a back compartment, the front compartment having a front surface, and the back compartment having a back panel;
a computing unit that is housed in the back compartment of the chassis, and a disk drive storage unit, which is coupled to the computing unit and the chassis, that may slide into and out of the front compartment of the chassis, the disk drive storage unit comprising;
a frame that has a base, a first side and a second side;
a backplane, which is coupled to the frame;
a first connector that has a first end that is coupled to the backplane; and
a first disk drive assembly that is coupled to a second end of the first connector, the first disk drive assembly comprising;
a first disk drive carrier that has a handle, and a first disk drive that is coupled to the first disk drive carrier;
wherein the first disk drive carrier is secured between the first and second sides with the handle being oriented sideways with respect to the front surface of the front compartment of the chassis. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
a second connector that has a first end that is coupled to the backplane; and
a second disk drive assembly that is coupled to a second end of the second connector, the second disk drive assembly having a second disk drive carrier that is coupled to a second disk drive;
wherein the second disk drive carrier faces the first disk drive carrier.
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16. The computer system of claim 14 wherein the first and second sides of the frame are each between about 1 and about 2 inches high and are separated from each other by between about 4 and about 5 inches, and wherein the first disk drive is a standard 3½
- inch disk drive, and further comprising a cable that connects the backplane to the computing unit.
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17. The computer system of claim 14 wherein the disk drive storage unit is coupled to the chassis by a coupling member that enables the disk drive storage unit to slide into and out of the front compartment of the chassis.
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18. The computer system of claim 14 wherein the length of the chassis, as measured from the front surface to the back panel, is less than or equal to about 20 inches, and wherein the computing unit comprises a 12 inch by 13 inch baseboard.
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19. The computer system of claim 14 wherein the first end of the first connector is oriented substantially perpendicular to the second end of the first connector.
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20. The computer system of claim 14 wherein the disk drive storage unit comprises a plurality of disk drive assemblies that are each oriented substantially perpendicular to the base of the frame.
Specification