Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-31
2003-03-11
Schuberg, Darren (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S689000, C361S727000, 36, C312S310000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06532150
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a hard disk assembly including a disk drive supported by a carrier and, more particularly, to a disk carrier apparatus and an associated method in which the disk drive is retained on the carrier without connecting the disk drive to the carrier with a fastener, such as a screw.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A disk storage system generally includes a number of hard disk assemblies, each of which includes a disk drive for storing data. Disk storage systems are utilized in a wide variety of computer systems that require substantial data storage capacity. For example, computer servers oftentimes include a disk storage system having a number of hard disk assemblies for storing relatively large quantities of data. Also, network attached storage is being developed to increase the storage capacity of computer systems.
Regardless of the computer system, it is generally desirable for the hard disk assemblies to be removable and replaceable. Preferably, it is desirable for the hard disk assemblies to be replaceable while the remainder of the computer system continues to operate. In other words, it is desirable for the hard disk assemblies to be hot-swappable. As such, a disk drive that fails can be replaced without interrupting the operation of the computer system.
Depending upon the configuration of the disk storage system, the hard disk assemblies can be removed and replaced in various manners. For example, a number of disk storage systems are configured such that each hard disk assembly is capable of being slid into a respective slot in order to establish electrical contract between the disk drive and a backplane, system bus or other electrical circuit that, in turn, electrically connects the hard disk with other components of the disk storage system and, more generally, the computer system. More particularly, each hard disk assembly generally includes a connector adapted to mate with a corresponding connector of the backplane, system bus or other electrical circuit in order to provide the appropriate electrical connection once the hard disk assembly has been fully inserted into the respective slot. In order to remove and replace the hard disk assembly, the hard disk assembly need merely be removed from the slot and another hard disk assembly inserted into the slot. To prevent tampering with the hard disk assemblies or otherwise inadvertent removal of the hard disk assemblies, the hard disk assemblies are typically mechanically fastened within a slot, and may be secured by means of a lock or the like.
In contrast to hard disk assemblies that are slidably inserted and removed, other disk storage systems do not provide for the direct access of each hard disk assembly. Instead, the hard disk assemblies may be disposed within a chassis that, in turn, is rack mounted. The entire chassis can then be accessed if any of the hard disk assemblies carried by the chassis are to be replaced.
Regardless of the configuration of the disk storage system, each disk drive is generally mounted upon a carrier. The carrier supports the disk drive and facilitates handling of the disk drive as well as the installation and removal of the disk drive. While a variety of different carriers have been developed, a common carrier includes a housing defining an internal cavity in which the disk drive is mounted. In this regard, the housing typically includes upper and lower panels and a pair of side walls connecting the upper and lower panels and defining the internal cavity therewithin. The disk drive is disposed within the internal cavity and is connected to the housing by means of a number of screws or other threaded fasteners. In this regard, most disk drives define a number of threaded holes for receiving corresponding screws or other threaded fasteners that extend through the housing and engage the disk drive. As such, the disk drive is mechanically connected to the housing. In this regard, the disk drive industry has developed standards that govern the location and size of the threaded holes defined by disk drives to provide for uniformity throughout the industry.
While the housing does serve to protect the disk drive, the attachment of the disk drive to the housing by means of a number of screws complicates the assembly of the disk drive and the carrier, and the removal of the disk drive from the carrier, such as during replacement of the disk drive. In this regard, the assembly of the disk drive and the carrier typically requires that the disk drive be positioned within the internal cavity defined by the housing and that a number of screws be inserted through the walls of the housing so as to threadably engage the disk drive. Conversely, in order to remove the disk drive from the housing, each of the screws must first be removed. As will be apparent, the insertion and removal of the screws increases the time required to assemble and disassemble a hard disk assembly. This increase in the time required for assembly and disassembly of a disk drive assembly is particularly evident for information services personnel that only occasionally have to assemble or disassemble a hard disk assembly and are therefore less familiar with the process than the manufacturer. It would therefore be advantageous to design a disk drive assembly that is capable of being assembled and disassembled in a more efficient and timely manner.
In operation, the disk drives generate heat. In order to prevent excessive heating of the disk drive which may impair the operation of the disk drive, the heat generated by the disk drive is preferably removed. However, the housings of conventional hard disk assemblies are oftentimes formed of plastic. As such, the plastic housings will not serve to draw heat from the disk drives. Instead, a substantial airflow must be directed over the disk drives to cool the disk drives and prevent overheating. Thus, disk storage systems generally include means, such as fans, for generating the airflow and for directing the airflow over the disk drives. Since the generation and direction of the airflow can complicate the design of a disk storage system, it would also be advantageous to design a disk drive assembly that does not require as much airflow to remove heat generated by the disk drive, thereby simplifying the design of the disk storage system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An improved apparatus for supporting a disk drive and an associated method for connecting the disk drive with an electrical circuit, such as a backplane, a system bus, or other electrical circuit are provided. The apparatus and method of the present invention permit the disk drive to be retained on a carrier without having to connect the disk drive to the carrier with a fastener, such as one or more screws. As such, the disk drive and the carrier can be assembled and disassembled in a much more efficient and timely manner than conventional hard disk assemblies.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for supporting a disk drive is provided that includes a carrier for receiving and supporting the disk drive and an alignment feature on the carrier for cooperating with a corresponding alignment feature of the disk drive to align the disk drive with the carrier. In one embodiment, the alignment feature includes at least one alignment pin for engaging at least one respective hole defined by the disk drive. In this regard, the holes defined by the disk drive can be the threaded holes that are otherwise engaged by screws or other threaded fasteners in conventional hard disk assemblies. The apparatus of this embodiment also includes an actuation member for moving the carrier between a disengaged position and an operable position. In the disengaged position, the disk drive is capable of being loaded onto and unloaded from the carrier. Conversely, in the operable position, the disk drive is connected with an electrical circuit, such as a backplane, a system bus or the like. The disk drive is therefore retained on the carrier once the actuation member has moved th
Hill, Jr. James K.
Sivertsen Clas
Alston & Bird LLP
American Megatrends Inc.
Datskovsky Michael
Schuberg Darren
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