Method for inserting and extracting a data storage device in a computer system

Claim 1

A method for inserting and extracting a data storage device in a computer system comprising: providing a self-contained portable disk drive module, the self-contained portable disk drive module comprising (i) a complete hard disk drive unit having (a) rotary disk information storage media for storing information, (b) a disk rotary drive mechanism for effecting disk rotation, and (c) information transducer members for effecting disk scanning of information stored on the rotary disk information storage media, (ii) a first plurality of conductors extending from the complete hard disk drive unit for carrying all power, control, and data signals necessary for operation of the complete hard disk drive unit, (iii) a carrier receiving and secured with the complete hard disk drive unit to form a self-contained portable disk drive module, (iv) a plurality of carrier connection contacts electrically connected to the first plurality of conductors, the plurality of carrier connection contacts being disposed in fixed alignment with the carrier, the plurality of carrier connection contacts numbering at least equal to the number of power, control, and data signals necessary for operation of the complete hard disk drive unit; providing a receiving unit comprising (i) guide members, (ii) a plurality of receiving unit connection contacts disposed in a fixed position corresponding to the position of the plurality of carrier connection contacts when the self-contained portable disk drive module engages the receiving unit in a final assembled position, the plurality of receiving unit connection contacts numbering at least equal to the number of power, control, and data signals necessary for operation of the complete hard disk drive unit, (iii) the guide members of the receiving unit facilitating alignment between the plurality of carrier connection contacts and the plurality of receiving unit connection contacts as the self-contained portable disk drive module engages the receiving unit, (iv) a second plurality of conductors carrying all of the power, control, and data signals necessary for operation of the complete hard disk drive unit from the computer system to the plurality of receiving unit connection contacts; urging the self-contained portable disk drive module into engagement with the receiving unit and into a final assembled position in which all power, data and control signal connections necessary for operation of the complete hard disk drive unit are established without the need for manual manipulation of any connecting cables; removing power to the self-contained portable disk drive module; allowing the complete hard disk drive unit to spin down after removing the power; extracting the self-contained portable disk drive module from the final assembled position after spin down, the self-contained portable disk drive module being extracted without the need for manual manipulation of any connecting cables.

Claim 2

A method for inserting and extracting a data storage device in a computer system comprising: providing a self-contained portable disk drive module, the self-contained portable disk drive module comprising (i) a complete hard disk drive unit having (a) rotary disk information storage media for storing information, (b) a disk rotary drive mechanism for effecting disk rotation, and (c) information transducer members for effecting disk scanning of information stored on the rotary disk information storage media, (ii) a first plurality of conductors extending from the complete hard disk drive unit for carrying all power, control, and data signals necessary for operation of the complete hard disk drive unit, (iii) a carrier receiving and secured with the complete hard disk drive unit to form a self-contained portable disk drive module, (iv) a plurality of carrier connection contacts electrically connected to the first plurality of conductors, the plurality of carrier connection contacts being disposed in fixed alignment with the carrier, the plurality of carrier connection contacts numbering at least equal to the number of power, control, and data signals necessary for operation of the complete hard disk drive unit; providing a receiving unit comprising (i) guide members, (ii) a plurality of receiving unit connection contacts disposed in a fixed position corresponding to the position of the plurality of carrier connection contacts when the self-contained portable disk drive module engages the receiving unit in a final assembled position, the plurality of receiving unit connection contacts numbering at least equal to the number of power, control, and data signals necessary for operation of the complete hard disk drive unit, (iii) the guide members of the receiving unit facilitating alignment between the plurality of carrier connection contacts and the plurality of receiving unit connection contacts as the self-contained portable disk drive module engages the receiving unit, (iv) a second plurality of conductors carrying all of the power, control, and data signals necessary for operation of the complete hard disk drive unit from the computer system to the plurality of receiving unit connection contacts; urging the self-contained portable disk drive module into engagement with the receiving unit and into a final assembled position in which all power, data and control signal connections necessary for operation of the complete hard disk drive unit are established without the need for manual manipulation of any connecting cables; removing power to the self-contained portable disk drive module; allowing the complete hard disk drive unit to spin down after removing the power; extracting the self-contained portable disk drive module from the final assembled position after spin down, the self-contained portable disk drive module being extracted without the need for manual manipulation of any connecting cables.