Data storage cartridge with non-tape storage medium and electrical targets

• US 7,548,418 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2006
• Issued: 06/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Imation Corporation (Glassbridge Enterprises, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Imation Corporation (Glassbridge Enterprises, Inc.)
• Inventors: Martin, Robert C., Rambosek, G. Phillip, Johnson, Gregory H., Spychalla, Leo W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi; Jayprakash N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wilson; Adrian S
• Application Number:
  US11/502,254
• Publication Number:
  US 20080037211A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 361/685, 361/679.33, 361/679.37, 361/679.39
• US Class Current: 361/679.37
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 25/043 using rotating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/122 Arrangements for providing electrical connections, e.g. connectors, cables, switches

Abstract

A data storage cartridge includes housing, a hard drive, and a connection assembly. The hard drive is stored within the housing and includes a non-tape storage medium and an electrical data connector configured to provide access to the non-tape storage medium. The electrical data connector includes a first number of connection terminals. The connection assembly is positioned within the housing and is coupled with each of the connection terminals of the electrical data connector. The connection assembly includes a second number of electrical targets spaced from and in electrical communication with the electrical data connector wherein the first number is greater than the second number. The electrical targets provide an interface for externally accessing the storage medium via the connection assembly and the electrical data connector.

Claims

1. A data storage cartridge comprising:

a housing;

a non-tape storage medium stored within the housing;

an electrical data connector stored within the housing and configured to provide electrical access to the non-tape storage medium, wherein the electrical data connector includes a first number of connection terminals; and

a connection assembly positioned within a window formed in a leading wall of the housing, coupled with the electrical data connector, and including a second number of electrical targets spaced from and in electrical communication with the electrical data connector, wherein the first number is greater than the second number, and the electrical targets comprise a substantially flat connection surface comprising metallized pads attached to a film that is retained in the window of the housing, and further wherein external access to the storage medium is provided via electrical contact with the substantially flat surface.

2. The data storage cartridge of claim 1, wherein the electrical data connector is a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) connector.

3. The data storage cartridge of claim 1, wherein the connection assembly includes a receptacle coupled to the electrical data connector.

4. The data storage cartridge of claim 3, wherein the connection assembly includes a flexible circuit having a first end electrically coupled with the receptacle and a second end opposite the first end, the second end including the electrical targets.

5. The data storage cartridge of claim 1, wherein each of the electrical targets is substantially planar and extends substantially perpendicular to an extension of the connection terminals.

6. The data storage cartridge of claim 1, wherein the first number of connection terminals is more than twenty and the second number of electrical targets is less than fifteen.

7. The data storage cartridge of claim 1, wherein the connection assembly further includes a ground target in addition to the second number of electrical targets.

8. The data storage cartridge of claim 7, wherein the electrical targets include at least one target for each of power, ground, and signal communication with the electrical data connector.

9. The data storage cartridge of claim 1, wherein the housing defines a leading wall having an access window and a trailing wall opposite the leading wall, the electrical data connector being positioned within the housing relatively near the leading wall as compared to the trailing wall, and further wherein the electrical targets are externally accessible through the access window.

10. The data storage cartridge of claim 1, wherein each electrical target is in electrical communication with a single one of the connection terminals of the electrical data connector.

11. The data storage cartridge of claim 1, further comprising at least one shock insulator configured to flexibly mount the non-tape storage medium within the housing and wherein the electrical targets are rigidly positioned relative to the housing.

12. The data storage cartridge of claim 11, wherein the connection assembly includes at least one alignment hole configured to grossly align the data storage cartridge with a cartridge dock.

13. The data storage cartridge of claim 1, further comprising a hard drive including the non-tape storage medium and the electrical data connector.

14. The data storage cartridge of claim 1, wherein the non-tape storage medium includes a solid-state storage medium.

15. A cartridge dock for interfacing with a data storage cartridge including a non-tape storage medium in communication with a plurality of connection terminals, and electrical connection targets in electrical communication with at least a portion of the plurality of connection terminals, the cartridge dock comprising:

a socket configured to at least partially receive the data storage cartridge; and

a dock connector positioned within the socket and including a number of conductive and compliant pins each configured to contact a corresponding one of the electrical connection targets, wherein the number of conductive and compliant pins is less than a number of connection terminals included in the electrical connector and each electrical connection target comprises a flat metallized target that is wider than a width of any one of the complaint pins and so configured to provide electrical connection between the electrical connection targets and the compliant pins.

16. The cartridge dock of claim 15, wherein the electrical connector is a SATA connector, and the number of conductive and compliant pins is less than twenty-two.

17. The cartridge dock of claim 16, wherein the number of conductive and compliant pins is fifteen or less.

18. The cartridge dock of claim 15, wherein at least one of the number of conductive and compliant pins is assigned to power, at least one of the number of conductive and compliant pins is assigned to ground, and at least one of the number of conductive and compliant pins is assigned to electrical signal.

19. The cartridge dock of claim 18, wherein the dock connector is coupled with a printed circuit board assembly sequenced to electrically communicate with the at least one conductive and compliant pin relating to ground prior to the at least one conductive and compliant pin relating to power or the at least one conductive and compliant pin relating to electrical signal.

20. The cartridge dock of claim 19, wherein each of the conductive and compliant pins is configured to transversely contact one of the flat metallized targets at any location across a width of the flat metallized target.

21. The cartridge dock of claim 15, wherein the dock connector includes at least one guide pin configured to interface with the data storage cartridge to facilitate alignment of the electrical connector of the data storage cartridge with the conductive and compliant pins.

23. The cartridge dock of claim 15, wherein each compliant pin is configured to transversely contact a corresponding one of the electrical connection targets along a non-sliding interface.

24. The cartridge dock of claim 15, wherein the electrical connection targets comprise a substantially planar interface disposed parallel with a leading wall of the data storage cartridge.

22. A data storage system comprising:

a data storage cartridge including;

a housing enclosing a non-tape storage medium and a data connector configured to provide electrical access to the non-tape storage medium, wherein the data connector includes a first number of connection terminals, and

a connection assembly positioned within the housing, coupled with the electrical data connector, and including a second number of flat electrical targets spaced from and in electrical communication with the electrical data connector, each flat electrical target comprising a metallized pad disposed on a film; and

a cartridge dock including;

a socket configured to at least partially receive the data storage cartridge,

a dock connector positioned within the socket and including a third number of conductive and compliant pins each configured to contact a corresponding one of the flat electrical targets at a location within an area of the metallized pad to externally access the storage medium via the connection assembly and the data connector;

wherein the third number is equal to the second number and is less than the first number.

25. The data storage system of claim 22, wherein the connection assembly is disposed within a window formed in a leading wall of the housing, the electrical targets positioned in the window substantially parallel with the leading wall such that the conductive and compliant pins butt into contact with a corresponding one of the electrical targets.