Hard disk drive system and keying method

• US 7,190,575 B1
• Filed: 08/02/2005
• Issued: 03/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NetApp, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Network Appliance Incorporated (NetApp, Inc.)
• Inventors: Reger, Brad, Willheim, David, Feltovich, George, Baik, David
• Primary Examiner(s): DUONG, HUNG V
• Application Number:
  US11/195,465
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 414/280, 248/56, 248/682, 3122231-2232, 360/97.03, 361679-687, 361724-727
• US Class Current: 361/679.33
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/187 Mounting of fixed and removable disk drives
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/12 Disposition of constructional parts in the apparatus, e.g. of power supply, of modules
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1455 Coding for prevention of wrong insertion

Abstract

A hard disk drive system includes a plurality of hard disk drive carriers and a hard disk drive chassis. Each of the plurality of hard disk drive carriers has a body and an ejector rotatably connected to the body. The ejector includes a first alignment member on a first side of the ejector and a second alignment member on a second side of the ejector. The second side of the ejector is opposite the first side of the ejector. The hard disk drive chassis includes a plurality of receiving slots for receiving the plurality of hard disk drive carriers. Two of the plurality of hard disk drive carriers may be fully inserted, next to each other, into the plurality of receiving slots.

Claims

1. A hard disk drive system, comprising:

a plurality of hard disk drive carriers, each of said plurality of hard disk drive carriers including a body and an ejector rotatably connected to said body, said ejector including a first alignment member on a first side of said ejector and a second alignment member on a second side of said ejector, said second side of said ejector being opposite said first side of said ejector; and

a hard disk drive chassis including a plurality of receiving slots for receiving said plurality of hard disk drive carriers, said hard disk drive chassis including a first outer wall and a second outer wall, said second outer wall being at least substantially perpendicular to said first outer wall,

wherein two of said plurality of hard disk drive carriers may be fully inserted, next to each other, into said plurality of receiving slots.

2. The hard disk drive system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of hard disk drive carries is selected from a group consisting of dummy carriers or authentic carriers.

3. The hard disk drive system of claim 1, wherein said first side of said ejector and said second side of said ejector are at least substantially parallel to said first outer wall of said hard disk drive chassis.

4. The hard disk drive system of claim 1, wherein said first side of said ejector and said second side of said ejector are at least substantially parallel to said second outer wall of said hard disk drive chassis.

5. The hard disk drive system of claim 1, wherein said first alignment member protrudes from said first side of said ejector, and said second alignment member protrudes from said second side of said ejector.

6. The hard disk drive system of claim 2, wherein said authentic carriers are Fibre Channel carriers or SATA/SAS carriers.

7. The hard disk drive system of claim 5, wherein when said two of said plurality of hard disk drive carriers are fully inserted, next to each other, into said plurality of receiving slots, first alignment members and second alignment members of said two of said plurality of hard disk drive carriers do not interfere with each other.

8. The hard disk drive system of claim 5, wherein said plurality of hard disk drive carriers includes a first type of hard disk drive carriers and a second type of hard disk drives, and when one of said first type of hard disk drive carriers and one of said second type of hard disk drive carriers are placed next to each other, at least one of a first alignment member or a second alignment member of said one of said first type of hard disk drive carriers interferes with at least one of a first alignment member or a second alignment member of said one of said second type of hard disk drive carriers so that said one of said first type of hard disk drive carriers and said one of said second type of hard disk drive carriers cannot be fully inserted, next to each other, into said plurality of receiving slots.

9. A hard disk drive system, comprising:

a hard disk drive carrier including a body and an ejector rotatably connected to said body, said body including a first alignment member on a first side of said body and a second alignment member on a second side of said body, said first alignment member protruding from said first side of said body, said second alignment member protruding from said second side of said body, said second side of said body being opposite said first side of said body; and

a hard disk drive chassis including at least one receiving slot for receiving said hard disk drive carrier, said hard disk drive chassis including a key member coupled to at least one outside wall of said hard disk drive chassis, said key member being suitable for enabling said hard disk drive carrier to be fully inserted into said at least one receiving slot of said hard disk drive chassis.

10. The hard disk drive system of claim 9, wherein said key member includes at least one slot for receiving at least one of said first alignment member or said second alignment member so that said hard disk drive carrier may be fully inserted into said at least one receiving slot of said hard disk drive chassis.

11. The hard disk drive system of claim 9, wherein said hard disk drive carrier is an authentic carrier.

12. The hard disk drive system of claim 9, further comprises a second hard disk drive carrier, wherein said key member prevents said second hard disk drive carrier from being fully inserted into said at least one receiving slot of said hard disk drive chassis, said second hard disk drive carrier being a different type from said hard disk drive carrier.

13. The hard disk drive system of claim 9, further comprises a second hard disk drive carrier, wherein said key member enables said second hard disk drive carrier to be fully inserted into said at least one receiving slot of said hard disk drive chassis, said second hard disk drive carrier being a same type as said hard disk drive carrier.

14. The hard disk drive system of claim 11, wherein said authentic carrier is a Fibre Channel carrier or a SATA/SAS carrier.

15. The hard disk drive system of claim 12, wherein said second hard disk drive carrier is an authentic carrier.

16. The hard disk drive system of claim 15, wherein said authentic carrier is a Fibre Channel carrier or a SATA/SAS carrier.

17. A hard disk drive keying method, comprising:

providing a plurality of hard disk drive carriers, each of said plurality of hard disk drive carriers including a body and an ejector rotatably connected to said body, said each of said plurality of hard disk drive carriers including a first alignment member and a second alignment member on its body or its ejector;

providing a hard disk drive chassis including at least one receiving slot for receiving at least one of said plurality of hard disk drive carriers; and

inserting one of said plurality of hard disk drive carriers into said at least one receiving slot.

18. The hard disk drive keying method of claim 17, further comprises inserting a second of said plurality of hard disk drive carriers into said at least one receiving slot, said one of said plurality of hard disk drive carriers and said second of said plurality of hard disk drive carriers being next to each other, alignment members of said second of said plurality of hard disk drive carriers being not interfering with alignment members of said one of said plurality of hard disk drive carriers.

19. The hard disk drive keying method of claim 18, wherein said plurality of hard disk drive carries is selected from a group consisting of dummy carriers or authentic carriers.

20. The hard disk drive keying method of claim 19, wherein said authentic carriers are Fibre Channel carriers or SATA/SAS carriers.

21. A hard disk drive system, comprising:

a plurality of hard disk drive carriers, each of said plurality of hard disk drive carriers including a body and an ejector rotatably connected to said body, said ejector including a first alignment member on a first side of said ejector and a second alignment member on a second side of said ejector, said second side of said ejector being opposite said first side of said ejector; and

a hard disk drive chassis including a plurality of receiving slots for receiving said plurality of hard disk drive carriers,

wherein two of said plurality of hard disk drive carriers may be fully inserted, next to each other, into said plurality of receiving slots.