Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-14
2001-10-02
Picard, Leo P. (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C439S152000, C361S724000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06297949
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to computers, and more particularly, to an apparatus for mounting a data storage device, which is configured to receive a removable data storage medium, within a computer system unit.
BACKGROUND ART
There are a variety of data storage devices that can be used to store (and retrieve) information in the form of digital data to (and from) a removable medium. For example, tape drives are configured to receive a tape cartridge containing a magnetic recording tape on which information is stored. Similarly, an optical and/or magnetic disk drive are configured to receive a disk cartridge containing an optical and/or magnetic disk on which information is stored. Additionally, there are solid state data storage devices that are configured to receive a secondary memory cartridge or card on which information is stored, such as, for example, a removable card containing a static/flash memory circuit.
Regardless of the type of data storage device and removable data storage medium, there is a need to integrate the data storage device into a computer system. As such, the data storage device is usually configured to operate with one or more components of the computer system by way of an electrical interface, through which control and data signals are shared. The data storage device can be physically co-located with other various devices and/or circuits within a housing, such as, for example, a housing associated with a computer system unit that also contains the computer system's processing circuits, etc. In this type of configuration, the data storage device is usually referred to as being internally mounted, because the data storage device is mounted internally within the unit's housing. In other configurations, the data storage device can be physically separated from any such housing unit and coupled to the computer system as an external peripheral device. In this configuration, the data storage device is usually referred to as being externally mounted.
FIG. 1
a
depicts an exemplary computer system unit
10
having a housing
12
that includes a front side
14
. A variety of computer system devices and circuits, which are not shown in
FIG. 1
a
, such as, for example, a power supply, motherboard, processor circuitry, primary and secondary memory circuitry, control/data buses, and/or interface circuitry, etc., are operatively arranged within housing
12
as part of the computer system unit
10
.
As depicted in
FIG. 1
a
, a plurality of data storage devices
16
can also be internally mounted in housing
12
and operatively arranged to function as part of the computer system unit
10
. Access to data storage devices
16
is provided through front side
14
. By way of example, data storage devices
16
include a floppy disk drive
18
, a tape drive
20
, and an optical disk drive
22
. Data storage devices
16
, as depicted in
FIG. 1
a
, are each arranged to receive a removable data storage medium. For example, floppy disk drive
18
is configured to receive a floppy disk (e.g., 3.5 inch magnetic floppy diskette), and optical disk drive
22
is configured to receive an optical disk (e.g., Compact Disk (CD), or Digital Versatile Disk (DVD)), on which information can be stored.
A conventional disk drive
18
or optical disk drive
22
is typically configured to accept the applicable disk within the device, so that upon full insertion of the disk into the device the disk is located entirely within the applicable device. For example, a floppy disk drive typically includes a receiving mechanism that draws the entire floppy diskette into the disk drive upon full insertion. Similarly, an optical disk drive typically includes a receiving mechanism that draws the entire CD or DVD into the disk drive upon full insertion. In certain optical disk drives, the receiving mechanism includes a drawer or carriage mechanism that transports the optical disk into (and out of) the optical disk drive.
To the contrary, in a conventional tape drive
20
the insertion and removal of a tape cartridge
24
typically requires the user to manually position tape cartridge to a loaded position within the tape drive. Thus, the user is required to grip or hold a portion of tape cartridge
24
, align the tape cartridge
24
with an opening
26
in tape drive
20
, and apply an adequate insertion force (e.g., 3-5 pounds) to insert the tape cartridge
24
into tape drive
20
. Consequently, when the tape cartridge
24
is in the loaded position (e.g., see
FIG. 1
c
and
1
d
), a portion of the tape cartridge
24
remains outside of tape drive
20
. While in the loaded position, the tape cartridge
24
is held or latched by registration mechanics (not shown) within tape drive
20
which apply a holding force to the tape cartridge
24
. Once tape cartridge
24
is in the loaded position, the tape drive's servoing system or drive mechanism can engage the tape moving mechanics (e.g., a roller) of tape cartridge
24
thereby allowing the tape within the tape cartridge
24
to be streamed past one or more write and/or read heads within the tape drive.
To remove the tape cartridge
24
from tape drive
20
, the user once again grasps the portion of the tape cartridge
24
extending outwardly from tape drive
20
and applies an adequate removal force (e.g., 3-5 pounds) that causes the tape cartridge
24
to be released by the registration mechanics and completely removed from tape drive
20
. Although the preceding example was directed towards a tape drive and tape cartridge, it is recognized that similar manual insertion and removal procedures can exist for other types of data storage devices and removable data storage mediums.
Regardless of the type of internally mounted peripheral device, having a portion of the removable data storage medium extending outwardly from housing
12
provides an obstacle that can interfere with other mechanisms associated with the computer system unit and/or present hazards to the equipment/user. What is desired is a cost effective and efficient apparatus and/or arrangement that eliminates this type of protruding obstacle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a recessed bezel assembly that can be used to mount a data storage device within a housing of a computer system unit or a similar housing configuration. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, when a data storage device is mounted using a recessed bezel assembly the removable data storage medium will not extend outwardly from the housing. As such, the recessed bezel assembly substantially eliminates the chance that a loaded removable data storage device will present a protruding obstacle that could interfere with other mechanisms associated with the computer system unit and/or present hazards to the equipment/user.
In accordance with certain aspects of the present invention, an arrangement is provided for use in a computer system housing. The arrangement includes a data storage device that is configured to store data on a removable data storage medium, and an assembly for mounting the data storage device within the computer system housing. The assembly is configured with an opening that provides access to the data storage device during the insertion and removal of the data storage medium.
In accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a bezel for use with a data storage device in a computer system housing. The bezel includes a front plate that has an outside surface surrounding a first opening that extends through the front plate. The front plate is configured for flush mounting to a computer system housing. The bezel also includes a back plate that has an exposed surface that surrounds a second opening that extends through the back plate. A plurality of sidewalls are connected between the front and back plates to form a slot. Preferably, the first and second openings are separated from each other by an appropriate distance such that when a removable data storage medium is inserted into the slot through the first open
Chan Alexander
Fehlmann Walter
Nayak Ashok B.
Duong Hung Van
McDermott & Will & Emery
Picard Leo P.
Seagate Removable Storage Solutions LLC
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