Computer system capable of permitting replaceable connection of external storage device

Claim 2

A computer system comprising first storage means (4) having a storage device of a first storage mode and at least one connector to connect to a computer or another storage means; second storage means (3) having a storage device of a storage mode different from that of said first storage means (4) and at least two connectors to connect to a computer (1) or another storage means; and a computer (1) including at least one connector (5) to connect to said first storage means (4) or said second storage means (3), means for discriminating (40d, 42d, 11) a connecting status of said first storage means (4) or said second storage means (3), and means for accessing (11) said first storage means (4) or said second storage means (3) based on said discriminated connecting status.

Claim 3

A computer system comprising a computer (1) having a connector to which additional storage means is connectible; first additional storage means (3, 4) having a disk storage device of a first storage mode and a connector (3a, 4a) capable of being connected to another storage means or directly to the connector on the computer (1); second additional storage means (4, 3) having a disk storage mode different from that of the first storage means (3, 4), a connector (4a, 3a) capable of being connected directly to the connector on the computer and a further connector (3b) capable of being connected to another storage means; said computer having means (40d, 42d, 11) for determining whether or not the first and/or second storage means is connected thereto and means for accessing one or more storage means connected to the computer.

Claim 4

A computer system comprising a computer (1) having a connector to which additional storage means is connectible; first additional storage means (3, 4) having a disk storage device of a first storage mode and a connector (3a, 4a) capable of being connected to another storage means or directly to the connector on the computer (1); second additional storage means (4, 3) having a disk storage mode different from that of the first storage means (3, 4), a connector (4a, 3a) capable of being connected directly to the connector on the computer and a further connector (3b) capable of being connected to another storage means; said computer having means (40d, 42d, 11) for determining whether or not the first and/or second storage means is connected thereto and means for accessing one or more storage means connected to the computer.

Claim 5

A computer system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the computer has a receiving slot for receiving one of the additional storage means, and said first and second additional storage means each have an outer case of substantially the same size and being in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped.

Claim 6

A computer system as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that the further connector of the second additional storage means is protected by a cover which is operable when access to the further connector is required.

Claim 7

A computer system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said discriminating means (40d, 42d, 11) has first discriminating means for discriminating if said first storage means (40d) is connected, and second discriminating means for discriminating (42d) if said second storage means is connected.

Claim 8

A computer system according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that at least one of said connectors (3a, 3b) of said second storage means (3) has a first connecting section to connect to said storage device of said second storage means (3) and a second connecting section to connect to a separate storage device.

Claim 9

An external storage device connectible to a computer comprising a first pack unit type storage device (3) having a disk mechanism section (51) of a first storage mode, a first connector (3a) to connect to said computer (1) or another pack unit type external storage device, and a second connector (3b) to connect to another pack unit type external storage device; and a second pack unit type storage device (4) having a disk mechanism section (52) of a second storage mode, and a connector (4a) to connect to said computer (1) or another pack unit type external storage device.

Claim 10

An external storage device connectible to a computer comprising a first pack unit type storage device (3) having a disk mechanism section (51) of a first storage mode, a first connector (3a) to connect to said computer (1) or another pack unit type external storage device, and a second connector (3b) to connect to another pack unit type external storage device; and a second pack unit type storage device (4) having a disk mechanism section (52) of a second storage mode, and a connector (4a) to connect to said computer (1) or another pack unit type external storage device.

Claim 11

An external storage device according to claim 7, characterised in that said first and second connectors (3a, 3b) of said first pack unit type external storage device (3) and said connector (4a) of said second pack unit type external storage device (4) each comprise a portion to connect to said disk mechanism section (51) of said first storage mode (43) and a portion to connect to said disk mechanism section (52) of said second storage mode (45).

Claim 12

An external storage device according to claim 7, characterised in that said first pack unit type external storage device (3) and said second pack unit type storage device (4) each have means for informing (40e, 42f) self connection to said computer.

Claim 13

An external storage device according to claim 7, characterised in that said first pack unit type external storage device (3) and said second pack unit type external storage device (4) have cases of the same shape to be inserted into a receiving section of said computer.