Modular enclosure apparatus

Claim 2

A modular enclosure for connection to a computer bus for a small computer system, namely a personal computer or a computer work station, the enclosure comprising: a housing having a base, upstanding side walls, a back and a top; a cooling module removably connected to the enclosure for cooling the enclosure; a frame removably connected to the housing, the frame including: means for mounting a plurality of electrical devices within the frame, the means for mounting electrical devices includes a tab; a memory storage device module removably connected to the frame, the memory storage device module including means for removably connecting at least one memory storage device, the means for removeably connecting at least one memory storage device includes a locking recess, the locking recess connects with the tab; a power supply module removably connected to the frame, the power supply module including power supply means for supplying power to the enclosure; first interconnect means for connecting the enclosure to the computer bus; second interconnect means for connecting the memory storage device module to the first interconnect means; and third interconnect means for connecting the power supply module to the cooling module and the memory storage device module, whereby, each of the modules is removably connected, allowing any of the modules to be removed and replaced.

Claim 3

A modular enclosure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the frame is slidably connected to the housing.

Claim 4

A modular enclosure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the cooling module includes cooling means for cooling the enclosure and cooling circuit means connected to the third interconnect means for supplying power to the cooling module, the cooling circuit means including temperature sensing means for sensing the temperature of the enclosure and circuit interrupt means for interrupting the circuit, whereby the cooling means may be shut off before it is removed from the enclosure.

Claim 5

A modular enclosure as set forth in claim 3, wherein the cooling module is removably connected to the back of housing and wherein the back of the housing comprises a removable back assembly enabling the cooling module to be accessed without having to remove any other element of the modular enclosure.

Claim 6

A modular enclosure as set forth in claim 4, wherein the cooling means includes at least two fans and wherein each of the fans is capable of cooling the entire enclosure by itself and wherein each of the fans can be removed while one or more of the other fans are operating.

Claim 7

A modular enclosure as set forth in claim 5, wherein each of the fans are variable speed fans and wherein, as appropriate, the temperature sensing means directs the speed of the fans in response to the temperature of the enclosure, whereby if one of the fans fails and the temperature in the enclosure rises, the other of the fans are directed to speed up to properly cool the enclosure.

Claim 8

A modular enclosure as set forth in claim 5, wherein each of the fans has a diameter of no more than 120 mm.

Claim 9

A modular enclosure as set forth in claim 5, wherein each of the fans has a diameter of approximately 92 mm.

Claim 10

A modular enclosure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the frame comprises part of the cooling module, the frame being vented to allow air to flow therethrough.

Claim 11

A modular enclosure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the memory storage device module includes at least one memory storage device slide semi-permanently mounted in the frame mounting means and at least one carrier adapted for removable connection with the slide, the carrier adapted for connection with a memory storage device.

Claim 12

Modular enclosure as set forth in claim 10, wherein the slide includes electrical interrupt means for allowing each of the carriers to be removed from the housing while other memory storage devices present in the enclosure continue operation, defining a hot swappable memory storage device means.

Claim 13

A modular enclosure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the memory storage device module includes at least two memory storage device slides semi-permanently mounted in the frame mounting means and at least two carriers adapted for removable connection with the respective slides, the carrier adapted for connection with a memory storage device.

Claim 14

A modular enclosure as set forth in claim 10, wherein the carrier including configuration identification means for establishing a compatible connection between the memory storage device and the computer bus.

Claim 15

A enclosure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the power supply means includes two or more power supplies.

Claim 16

A enclosure as set forth in claim 14, wherein the power supply means load sharing circuit means for sharing the power load among the power supplies.

Claim 17

A modular enclosure as set forth in claim 15, wherein each of the power supplies includes circuit interrupt means for allowing each of the power supplies to be removed from the housing while other power supplies present in the enclosure continue operation, defining a hot swappable power supply means.

Claim 18

A modular enclosure as set forth in claim 16, wherein there are at least two power supplies of 12 volts, each.

Claim 19

A modular enclosure as set forth in claim 17, wherein there are at least additional two power supplies of 5 volts, each.

Claim 20

A modular enclosure as set forth in claim 14, wherein the power supplies are less than 150 watts.

Claim 21

A modular enclosure as set forth in claim 14, wherein the power supplies are less than 125 watts.

Claim 22

A modular enclosure as set forth in claim 14, wherein the power supplies are less than 110 watts.

Claim 23

A modular enclosure as set forth in claim 14, wherein the power supplies are approximately 100 watts.

Claim 24

A modular enclosure as set forth in claim 14, wherein there are two 5 v power supplies and two 12 v power supplies.

Claim 25

A modular enclosure as set forth in claim 23, wherein the modular enclosure apparatus includes a rear plane having 4 power supply connectors, one for each of the power supplies and wherein the 5 v power supplies can not fit into the 12v connectors and the 12 v power supplies can not fit into the 5 v connectors.

Claim 26

A modular enclosure for connection to a RAID computer bus for a small computer system, namely a personal computer or a computer work station, the enclosure comprising: a housing having a base, upstanding side walls, a back and a top; a cooling module removably connected to the enclosure for cooling the enclosure; a frame removably connected to the housing, the frame including: means for mounting a plurality of electrical devices within the frame, said means for mounting a plurality of electrical devices includes a tab; a memory storage device module removably connected to the frame, the memory storage device module including means for removably connecting at least one memory storage device, the means for removably connecting at least one memory storage device includes a locking recess connected with the tab; a power supply module removably connected to the frame, the power supply module including power supply means for supplying power to the enclosure; a RAID controller module removably connected to the frame, the RAID controller module includes controller module for enabling the computer means to control each of the electrical devices; first interconnect means for connecting the enclosure to the computer bus; second interconnect means for connecting the memory storage device module to the first interconnect means; and third interconnect means for connecting the power supply module to the cooling module and the memory storage device module, whereby, each of the modules is removably connected, allowing any of the modules to be removed and replaced.

Claim 27

A modular enclosure for connection to a RAID computer bus for a small computer system, namely a personal computer or a computer work station, the enclosure comprising: a housing having a base, upstanding side walls, a back and a top; a cooling module removably connected to the enclosure for cooling the enclosure; a frame removably connected to the housing, the frame including: means for mounting a plurality of electrical devices within the frame, said means for mounting a plurality of electrical devices includes a tab; a memory storage device module removably connected to the frame, the memory storage device module including means for removably connecting at least one memory storage device, the means for removably connecting at least one memory storage device includes a locking recess connected with the tab; a power supply module removably connected to the frame, the power supply module including power supply means for supplying power to the enclosure; a RAID controller module removably connected to the frame, the RAID controller module includes controller module for enabling the computer means to control each of the electrical devices; first interconnect means for connecting the enclosure to the computer bus; second interconnect means for connecting the memory storage device module to the first interconnect means; and third interconnect means for connecting the power supply module to the cooling module and the memory storage device module, whereby, each of the modules is removably connected, allowing any of the modules to be removed and replaced.

Claim 28

A modular enclosure as set forth in claim 25, wherein the controller means comprises a pc board which is removable and replaceable without the necessity of removing any of the electrical devices connected to the enclosure.

Claim 29

A modular enclosure as set forth in claim 25, wherein the enclosure includes a rear plane having connectors adapted for fast SCSI.

Claim 30

A modular enclosure as set forth in claim 25, wherein the enclosure includes a rear plane having connectors adapted for fast and wide SCSI.

Claim 31

A modular enclosure as set forth in claim 25, wherein the enclosure includes a rear plane having connectors adapted for fast SCSI or fast and wide SCSI.