Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-22
2001-09-04
Picard, Leo P. (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S724000, C312S223100, C360S098010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06285545
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a shock mounting system for data storage modules.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Redundant arrays of inexpensive or independent storage devices (RAID) are being employed by the mass storage industry to provide variable capacity storage. RAID systems use interconnected disk drives to achieve the desired capacity of mass storage. With this approach, a disk drive of one capacity may be manufactured and packaged with the same or different capacity drives to provide the required storage capacity. RAID systems eliminate the need to manufacture disk drives individually designed to meet specific storage requirements. Each disk drive in a RAID system is usually housed in an individual module for handling and installation. The modules slide into and out of an enclosure that houses the array of disk drives and provides the sockets, plug-ins and other connections for the electrical interconnection of the drives. Controllers orchestrate the interconnection and control access to selected disk drives for data reading and writing operations.
Disk drives are high precision electro-mechanical devices in which the read/write heads fly on an air bearing at the surface of the disks. The flight height of the head is only a few microns from the disk surface. This and other sensitive aspects of the disk drives make them vulnerable to data storage defects, operational disturbances and physical damage in all but the most gentle environments. It has been observed that even the slight clearances between modules and the enclosure housing into which they slide can be the source of operational disturbances and, perhaps, damage. These clearances allow the modules to “crash” into the enclosure's rigid support structures when the enclosure is exposed to non-operational shock and vibration. The shock mounting systems typically used for mounting the disk drives in the modules are not always effective to protect the disk drives from the high frequency inputs associated with the module crashing against the enclosure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a shock mounting system for data storage modules that house disk drives and other data storage devices such as those used in RAID systems. In one embodiment of the invention, a flexible spacer formed on or fastened to the module housing provides the desired tight but cushioned fit between the module and the enclosure. In a second embodiment, a flexible guide formed on or fastened to the enclosure that houses the modules provides the desired fit. It is expected that the invention will reduce or eliminate operating disturbances and damage that may be associated with collisions between the storage modules and the rigid enclosure structures, resulting in improved performance and reliability of disk drives and other data storage devices.
A data storage module constructed according to the first embodiment of the invention includes a housing that has bearing surfaces configured to bear against guide surfaces in the module enclosure. A flexible spacer protrudes from at least one of the bearing surfaces. The flexible spacer may be, for example, an elastomeric member or a spring.
An enclosure for data storage modules constructed according to the second embodiment includes opposing side walls, an open end and a series of slots formed along each sidewall. The slots are configured to receive data storage modules through the open end of the enclosure. Each slot is defined by one or more pairs of first guides and opposing second guides. The guides protrude from each sidewall to bear on the storage modules. The guides are spaced apart a distance slightly less than the thickness of the storage module to create an interference fit between the module and the enclosure. At least one of the guides in each pair includes a flexible member. The flexible member may be, for example, an elastomeric member or a spring.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5262923 (1993-11-01), Batta et al.
patent: 5668696 (1997-09-01), Schmitt
patent: 5828547 (1998-10-01), Francovich et al.
patent: 6134113 (2000-10-01), Mills et al.
patent: 6141222 (2000-10-01), Toor et al.
patent: 6160703 (2000-12-01), Lopez
Duong Hung Van
Hewlett--Packard Company
Picard Leo P.
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