Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-12
2002-11-12
Talbott, David L. (Department: 2827)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S724000, C361S725000, C361S753000, C361S756000, C361S788000, C361S796000, C361S829000, C312S223100, C312S223200, C312S265600, C312S257100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06480391
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a modular cage for an electronic component, and in particular, to a modular cage formed from a plurality of standardized walls that can be joined together to create a variety of configurations for accommodating a variety of different number of electronic components therein.
2. Background Information
Electronic components, such as direct access storage devices (DASDs), for example, are typically individually disposed within a so-called “sled” or tray, which in turn is mounted in a housing or cage containing many DASDs. The cage helps to position and align the individual DASDs relative to a backplane, to which the DASDs are connected in a known manner.
The known cage is typically formed from sheet metal, by bending the sheet metal to form the walls of the cage, or by fastening the sheet metal walls together using conventional means. The sheet metal of the cage is typically connected to a ground potential. Thus, during installation or removal of the DASD, the cage reduces the risk of damage to the DASD due to static electricity by electrically coupling the DASD to the cage to discharge static electricity. As is well known, static electricity may destroy sensitive circuitry of the DASD.
Moreover, while in operation, the DASDs are routinely subjected to mechanical vibration and shock. The DASDs have heads that could malfunction or be damaged by the mechanical vibration or shock while the DASDs are running. Moreover, vibrations can cause so-called soft errors in the reading of data. That is, the heads of the DASD need to be properly aligned and positioned in order to read data from a media source. Vibrations can prevent the proper tracking of the head, causing the head to “re-read” the media several times in order to acquire the data. Thus, vibrations can reduce the operational speed of the DASD. However, sheet metal has relatively poor damping qualities. Thus, the known sheet metal cages do not significantly dampen vibrations. There is thus a need for a cage that has high damping attributes, so that vibrations are reduced.
It is also known to provide a sheet metal laminate known as CLD (constrained layer dampener), to help reduce vibrations. However, the process for making such a laminate is relatively time consuming and expensive. Thus, there is a need for a panel that can reduce vibrations, but that can be easily, quickly and cheaply incorporated into a cage.
Further, it is known to provide the DASD tray with springs that engage with the sheet metal roof member and floor member of the cage. The springs are used to reduce vibrations, and to hold the DASD tray in position. However, the sheet metal of the cage has a tendency to flex. As such, the springs may push the roof member and floor member away from each other, so that the springs are not held under an optimum compression. Further, it is difficult to manufacture the known cage to dimensionally accurate measurements. Thus, even without the flexing of the sheet metal, the spacing between the roof member and the floor member may not be ideal, and the springs may not be held under their optimum compression. As such, the springs may not sufficiently reduce vibrations and/or hold the DASD tray in the preferred position.
Additionally, the sheet metal walls of the cage are typically positioned relative to each other with a high degree of tolerance. However, the cage is also typically used to guide the DASD into engagement with the backplane. Thus, the conventional cage may cause a misalignment between the DASD and the backplane, preventing a positive coupling therebetween, and possibly damaging the connectors used to couple the DASD to the backplane. Therefore, there is a need for a cage that can be manufactured to precise dimensions, and that is relatively rigid, so that the resulting cage provides for dimensionally accurate guidance and increased stability of the associated DASD.
Furthermore, a DASD is typically utilized in a computer system that includes numerous electrical components that tend to generate a substantial amount of heat. Moreover, the DASD itself generates heat while operating. Because excess temperature can impair an electrical component's reliability and functionality, computer systems are typically provided with blowers that cause a cooling flow of air to pass through the cage and over the various electrical components, thus causing a transfer of heat away from the electrical components. Thus, there is a need for a cage that allows for an increased flow of cooling air therethrough, without reducing the structural integrity of the cage.
Furthermore, the conventional cage is typically tailored to hold a specific number of DASDs, for example six. Although fewer DASDs may be positioned within the conventional cage, the size of the cage remains constant. Thus, the cage tailored for six DASDs, but which is used to accommodate only two DASDs, for example, will take up extra space, that could otherwise be used to house other components. Alternatively, specific cages can be tailored to hold a precise number of DASDs. Thus, if only two DASDs are to be used, a smaller, specifically tailored DASD cage could be utilized. However, as will be appreciated, this requires a larger number of cage components to be kept in stock, which increases inventory. Moreover, each different DASD cage will need its own specific tooling in order to make the cage, thus increasing the manufacturing costs. Thus, there is a need for a cage that can be easily modified to allow for a different number of DASDs to be received therein, while occupying a minimal amount of space.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, a principle object of this invention to provide a modular cage for an electronic component.
It is another object of the invention to provide a modular cage for an electronic component that solves the above mentioned problems.
These and other objects of the present invention are accomplished by the modular cage for an electronic component disclosed herein.
Advantageously, according to one aspect of the present invention, the cage according to the present invention is formed by a first wall, a second wall, a floor member, and a roof member. In an exemplary aspect of the present invention, the first and second walls are identical to each other. That is, the same member can be used for either the first wall or the second wall. This advantageously reduces the total number of different parts that needs to be manufactured for the cage, thus reducing tooling times and costs, and reducing inventory.
In an exemplary aspect of the present invention, the first and second walls are manufactured by casting. This technique allows the walls to be made more quickly and cheaply, and with a greater mass than the sheet metal walls of the known cages. Thus, the resulting walls will be relatively solid, with a thickness of about 2 to 3 mm., for example, and will resist vibrations and flexing due to externally applied forces. Moreover, the cast walls can be manufactured to a higher degree of dimensional accuracy than the known sheet metal walls. Thus, the resulting cage will more accurately align and guide the DASDs into engagement with an associated backplane, for example, as compared to a conventional sheet metal cage.
Moreover, casting the walls advantageously allows various features of the walls to be cast directly therein, thus increasing the production output. Moreover, casting the walls provides for a wall that is dimensionally repeatable, that is, each wall will be substantially identical to the other walls. Thus, a cage manufactured using cast walls is believed to be more dimensionally accurate than a cage manufactured using sheet metal.
In a further exemplary aspect of the present invention, the first and second walls are formed from a material that exhibits good vibrational control, for example, zinc aluminum.
Moreover, each wall preferably has a configuration that will allow a standard DASD tray to be accommodated within the cage, in a preferred orientation, i.e., wi
Clark Mark G.
Colbert John Lee
Greseth Steven Dale
Monson William Michael
Berdo, Jr. Robert H.
Rabin & Champagne PC
Talbott David L.
Vigushin John B.
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