Storage system adapted for receiving a plurality of hard disk drives of different dimensions

• US 7,864,519 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2008
• Issued: 01/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Infortrend Technology Incorporated (Infortrend Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Infortrend Technology Incorporated (Infortrend Corporation)
• Inventors: Wang, Huan-Chin, Yen, Heng-Chih, Chen, Shiuan-Jang, Wang, Yu-Jiun, Lin, Kuo-Chih
• Primary Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US12/068,251
• Publication Number:
  US 20080191590A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.33
• US Class Current: 361/679.33
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/128 of the plurality of recording/reproducing devices, e.g. disk drives, onto a chassis

Abstract

A storage system adapted for receiving HDDs of different dimensions, including a casing, a backplane, at least one power supply module, and at least one storage controller is disclosed. The internal space of the casing forms at least one HDD receiving chamber. The HDD receiving chamber can be used for selectively receiving first type HDD devices or second type HDD devices. The two types of HDD devices are of different dimensions, for example, 2.5″ and 3.5″ HDDs. The backplane, the power supply module, and the storage controller are provided in the internal space of the casing. The backplane has a plurality of first connectors for electrically connecting to the HDD devices. The storage controller is electrically connected to the backplane and power supply module. A storage system capable of receiving mixed HDD devices of different dimensions is formed thereby.

Claims

1. A storage system adapted for receiving HDDs of different dimensions comprising:

a casing having at least one HDD receiving chamber formed therein, wherein the HDD receiving chamber is used for selectively receiving first type HDD devices and/or second type HDD devices, the two types of HDD devices have HDDs of different dimensions therein, respectively;

a backplane provided inside the casing and having a plurality of first connectors provided thereon for electrically connecting to the HDD devices;

at least one power supply module provided inside the casing; and

at least one storage controller provided inside the casing and being electrically connected to the backplane and the power supply module;

wherein partitioning panels are provided inside the casing, and the partitioning panels divide an internal space of the casing into a plurality of HDD receiving chambers to respectively receive a plurality of HDD devices.

2. The storage system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a fan module, wherein the fan module is provided inside the casing or in the power supply module.

3. The storage system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of HDD receiving chambers is formed inside the casing, and the first connectors are arranged in a plurality of rows respectively corresponding to the HDD receiving chambers.

4. The storage system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first type HDD devices and the second type HDD devices has a carrier, and the HDDs are respectively received in the carriers.

5. The storage system as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of the carriers bears only one HDD.

6. The storage system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the HDD in the carrier is electrically separated from the backplane when the carrier is pulled out from the casing.

7. The storage system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first type HDD devices are 2.5″

HDDs, and the second type HDD devices are 3.5″

HDDs.

8. The storage system as claimed in claim 7, wherein in one of the HDD receiving chambers, a 3.5″

HDD device can be received in any two consecutive rooms for 2.5″

HDD devices.

9. The storage system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the casing is a 3 U casing, and, in one of the HDD receiving chambers, eight 2.5″

HDD devices can be consecutively received therein.

10. The storage system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the casing is a 3 U casing, and, in one of the HDD receiving chambers, four 3.5″

HDD devices can be consecutively received therein.

11. The storage system as claimed in claim 1, wherein in one of the HDD receiving chambers, both the first type HDD device and the second type HDD device of different dimensions are received therein.

12. The storage system as claimed in claim 1, wherein in one of the HDD receiving chambers, all the HDD devices received therein are either the first type HDD devices of the same dimension or the second type HDD devices of the same dimension.

13. The storage system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a connector is disposed on a rear end of the first type HDD device and mated with one of the first connectors of the backplane.

14. The storage system as claimed in claim 1, wherein slide grooves and slide tracks are disposed on two side surfaces of the partitioning panels and internal surfaces of two sides of the casing, and the HDD devices are slidably connected to the slide grooves and the slide tracks.

15. The storage system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the HDD devices are placed horizontally in the HDD receiving chambers.

16. The storage system as claimed in claim 1, wherein part or all of the HDD devices are placed vertically in the HDD receiving chambers.

17. The storage system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the backplane is provided at a middle position inside the casing, the HDD devices are located in front of the backplane, and the power supply module and the storage controller are located behind the backplane.

18. The storage system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the casing is a 2 U casing.

19. The storage system as claimed in claim 18, wherein in one of the HDD receiving chambers, five 2.5″

HDD devices, or three 2.5″

HDD devices and one 3.5″

HDD device, or one 2.5″

HDD device and two 3.5″

HDD devices can be simultaneously received.

20. The storage system as claimed in claim 18, wherein in one of the HDD receiving chambers, five 2.5″

HDD devices, or three 2.5″

HDD devices and one 3.5″

HDD device, or one 2.5″

HDD device and two 3.5″

HDD devices, or three 3.5″

HDD devices can be simultaneously received.

21. The storage system as claimed in claim 18, wherein in one of the HDD receiving chambers, six 2.5″

HDD devices or three 3.5″

HDD devices can be simultaneously received.

22. The storage system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first type HDD device and the second type HDD device have different lengths, widths and heights.

23. The storage system as claimed in claim 1, wherein in one of the HDD receiving chambers, a plurality of the first connectors on the backplane are of a same orientation and aligned with each other in a row.

24. The storage system as claimed in claim 23, wherein the casing is a 2 U casing, and in one of the HDD receiving chambers, the backplane has seven identical first connectors.

25. The storage system as claimed in claim 24, wherein in one of the HDD receiving chambers, the first, third, fourth and sixth ones of the first connectors in the row are provided for connecting to 2.5″

HDD devices, the second and fifth ones of the first connectors in the row are provided for connecting to 3.5″

HDD devices, and the seventh one of the first connectors in the row is provided for connecting to a 2.5″

or 3.5″

HDD device.

26. The storage system as claimed in claim 24, wherein in one of the HDD receiving chambers, when the first connectors are used to connect 2.5″

HDD devices, in any two consecutive rooms for the 3.5″

HDD devices, three 2.5″

HDD devices can be consecutively received therein.

27. The storage system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first type HDD is a 2.5″

SAS HDD, and the second type HDD is a 3.5″

SATA HDD or a 3.5″

SAS HDD.

28. A storage system adapted for receiving HDDs of different dimensions comprising:

a casing having at least one HDD receiving chamber formed therein, wherein the HDD receiving chamber is used for selectively receiving first type HDD devices and/or second type HDD devices, the two types of HDD devices have HDDs of different dimensions therein, respectively;

a backplane provided inside the casing and having a plurality of first connectors provided thereon for electrically connecting to the HDD devices;

at least one power supply module provided inside the casing; and

at least one storage controller provided inside the casing and being electrically connected to the backplane and the power supply module;

wherein the second type HDD device includes a second type HDD adapter board, and, a second connector is disposed on a front end of the second type HDD adapter board to mate with a connector at a rear end of the second type HDD device and a third connector is disposed on a rear end of the second type HDD adapter board to mate with one of the first connectors of the backplane.

29. The storage system as claimed in claim 28, wherein the first type HDD device includes a first type HDD adapter board, and a seventh type connector is disposed on a front end of the first type HDD adapter board to mate with a connector at a rear end of the first type HDD device, and a third connector is disposed on a rear end of the first type HDD adapter board to mate with one of the first connectors of the backplane.

30. A storage system adapted for receiving HDDs of different dimensions comprising:

a casing having at least one HDD receiving chamber formed therein, wherein the HDD receiving chamber is used for selectively receiving first type HDD devices and/or second type HDD devices, the two types of HDD devices have HDDs of different dimensions therein, respectively;

a backplane provided inside the casing and having a plurality of first connectors provided thereon for electrically connecting to the HDD devices;

at least one power supply module provided inside the casing; and

at least one storage controller provided inside the casing and being electrically connected to the backplane and the power supply module;

a fan module, wherein the fan module is provided in the casing or in the power supply module;

a plurality of HDD receiving chambers are formed inside the casing, the first connectors are arranged in a plurality of lines respectively corresponding to the plurality of HDD receiving chambers;

wherein each of the first type HDD devices and the second type HDD devices has a carrier, and the HDDs are respectively received in the carriers;

wherein the first type HDD device is a 2.5″

HDD, the second type HDD device is a 3.5″

HDD;

the 2.5″

HDD is an SAS HDD, the 3.5″

HDD is an SAS or an SATA HDD;

in one of the HDD receiving chambers, both the first type HDD device and the second type HDD device of different dimensions are received;

wherein the second type HDD device includes a second type HDD adapter board, and a second connector is disposed on a front end of the second type HDD adapter board to mate with a connector at a rear end of the second type HDD device, and a third connector is disposed on a rear end of the second type HDD adapter board to mate with one of the first connectors of the backplane; and

a connector is disposed on a rear end of the first type HDD device and is also mated with one of the plurality of first connectors of the backplane;

wherein the backplane is provided at a middle position inside the casing, the HDD devices are located in front of the backplane, and the power supply module and the storage controller are located behind the backplane;

wherein the first type HDD device and the second type HDD device have different lengths, widths and heights; and

wherein each of the carriers bear only an HDD, and the HDD in the carrier is electrically separated from the backplane when the carrier is pulled out from the casing.

31. A storage system adapted for receiving HDDs of different dimensions comprising:

a casing having at least one HDD receiving chamber formed therein, wherein the HDD receiving chamber is used for selectively receiving first type HDD devices and/or second type HDD devices, the two types of HDD devices have HDDs of different dimensions therein, respectively;

a backplane provided inside the casing and having a plurality of first connectors provided thereon for electrically connecting to the HDD devices;

at least one power supply module provided inside the casing; and

at least one storage controller provided inside the casing and being electrically connected to the backplane and the power supply module;

wherein a part of the HDD receiving chamber is exclusively used to receive the second type HDD device, and other part of the HDD receiving chamber is used to receive either the first type or the second type HDD device.

32. A storage system adapted for receiving HDDs of different dimensions comprising:

a casing having at least one HDD receiving chamber formed therein, wherein the HDD receiving chamber is used for selectively receiving first type HDD devices and/or second type HDD devices, the two types of HDD devices have HDDs of different dimensions therein, respectively;

a backplane provided inside the casing and having a plurality of first connectors provided thereon for electrically connecting to the HDD devices;

at least one power supply module provided inside the casing; and

at least one storage controller provided inside the casing and being electrically connected to the backplane and the power supply module;

wherein a part of the HDD receiving chamber is exclusively used to receive the first type HDD device, and other part of the HDD receiving chamber is used to receive either the first type or the second type HDD device.

33. A storage system adapted for receiving HDDs of different dimensions comprising:

a casing having at least one HDD receiving chamber formed therein, wherein the HDD receiving chamber is used for selectively receiving first type HDD devices and/or second type HDD devices, the two types of HDD devices have HDDs of different dimensions therein, respectively;

a backplane provided inside the casing and having a plurality of first connectors provided thereon for electrically connecting to the HDD devices;

at least one power supply module provided inside the casing; and

at least one storage controller provided inside the casing and being electrically connected to the backplane and the power supply module;

wherein a first part of the HDD receiving chamber is exclusively used to receive the first type HDD device, a second part of the HDD receiving chamber is exclusively used to receive the second type HDD device, and other part of the HDD receiving chamber is used to receive either the first type or the second type HDD device.