Method and apparatus for sensing positions of device enclosures within multi-shelf cabinets
First Claim
1. A position sensing apparatus for use in a data storage cabinet having multiple shelves for receiving device enclosures, comprising:
- a first junction box having an output connection at a first shelf of the cabinet for generating and providing a first shelf identifier signal to a device enclosure connected to the first shelf; and
a second junction box linked to the first junction box for receiving an output signal and having an output connection at a second shelf of the cabinet for generating and providing a second shelf identifier signal to a device enclosure connected to the second shelf, wherein the second shelf identifier signal differs from the first shelf identifier signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mass storage cabinet having passive device position sensing and including shelves for racking device enclosures. A cabinet bus is linked to the shelves and adapted to provide a unique shelf identifier signal to each of the shelves. The cabinet includes a device providing a cabinet identifier to the shelves. The cabinet bus includes junction boxes having first and second sets of sensing wires and a side connectors linked to the shelves for providing the shelf identifier signal from the first and second sets of sensing wires. To provide a different signal at each junction box, the sensing wires in the first set are moved one position and the sensing wires in the second set are moved one position prior to the connection to an adjacent junction box. An additional sensing wire is linked to the side connectors and grounded and ungrounded at each side connector to alter the signal.
46 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A position sensing apparatus for use in a data storage cabinet having multiple shelves for receiving device enclosures, comprising:
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a first junction box having an output connection at a first shelf of the cabinet for generating and providing a first shelf identifier signal to a device enclosure connected to the first shelf; and
a second junction box linked to the first junction box for receiving an output signal and having an output connection at a second shelf of the cabinet for generating and providing a second shelf identifier signal to a device enclosure connected to the second shelf, wherein the second shelf identifier signal differs from the first shelf identifier signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A cabinet for physically storing and communicatively linking computing devices, comprising:
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a plurality of shelves adapted for receiving device enclosures;
a cabinet bus linked to each of the shelves and adapted to provide a unique shelf identifier signal to each of the shelves; and
means for providing information identifying the cabinet to each of the shelves. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A data storage system with passive position determination of enclosures, comprising:
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a plurality of cabinets each having a plurality of shelves for receiving and linking computing devices, a cabinet bus linked to the shelves for generating and providing a shelf identifier to each shelf, and a device for providing a cabinet identifier to each shelf;
a device enclosure positioned on one of the shelves in one of the cabinets and linked to the cabinet bus in the one cabinet, wherein the device enclosure receives the shelf identifier for the one shelf and the cabinet identifier for the one cabinet and creates and transmits a physical location message; and
a host linked to the one cabinet receiving the physical location message and outputting a physical location of the device enclosure including the one shelf and the one cabinet. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification