Patent US6351375B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6351375B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dual-purpose backplane design for multiple types of hard disks
Assignee: Dell USA LP
•
Filing: 1999-01-26
•
Granted: 2002-02-26
•
Expires: 2019-01-26
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus is described herein for accommodating two types of hard disks, for example, SCSI disks and FC-AL disks, using a single, dual-purpose backplane. The dual-purpose backplane includes a plurality of drive bays each including a first connector for receiving a complementary connector of an SCSI disk and a second connector for receiving a complementary connector of an FC-AL disk. In a computer system, one or the other of the first and second connectors is mounted upside down to avoid overlapping and structural interference with connection of other hard disks to the backplane. In an external storage system, hard disks are inserted sideways, and thus one connector type is mounted on the backplane in an orientation rotated 180 degrees from the other connector type.
Inventors
- 👤 Jenwei Hsieh
- 👤 Truc Nguyen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 05:00
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/18; G06F1/183; G06F1/184; G06F1/187; H; H05; H05K; H05K7/00; H05K7/14; H05K7/1438
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A computer and computer external storage system comprising: a chassis; a backplane disposed in the chassis; first and second adjacent connectors disposed on a surface of the backplane, wherein the first and second backplane connectors are different from one another and the first backplane connector is aligned in a inverted orientation to the second backplane connector; a first component disposed in the chassis including a first component connector which only mates with the first backplane connector; and a second component disposed in the chassis in an inverted orientation to the first component including a second component connector, different from the first component connector, and which only mates with the second backplane connector.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
A computer and computer external storage system comprising: a chassis; a backplane disposed in the chassis; first and second adjacent connectors disposed on a surface of the backplane, wherein the first and second backplane connectors are different from one another and the first backplane connector is aligned in a inverted orientation to the second backplane connector; a first component disposed in the chassis including a first component connector which only mates with the first backplane connector; and a second component disposed in the chassis in an inverted orientation to the first component including a second component connector, different from the first component connector, and which only mates with the second backplane connector.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The computer system of claim 1 wherein the first and second backplane connectors are provided in a single bay of the backplane, the bay being configured such that only one of the first and second components may be connected to the bay at a single time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer system of claim 2 wherein the backplane contains a plurality of bays.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
126 words
A backplane for receiving different components comprising: at least one bay disposed on a surface of the backplane; the bay including first and second adjacent backplane connectors, wherein the first and second backplane connectors are different from one another and are aligned such that one of the first and second backplane connectors must be connected to the bay in an orientation rotated 180 degrees from the other connector; a first component mounted on the backplane and including a first component connector which only mates with the first backplane connector; and a second component mounted on the backplane in an inverted orientation to the first component and including a second component connector, different from the first component connector, and which only mates with the second backplane connector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
126 words
A backplane for receiving different components comprising: at least one bay disposed on a surface of the backplane; the bay including first and second adjacent backplane connectors, wherein the first and second backplane connectors are different from one another and are aligned such that one of the first and second backplane connectors must be connected to the bay in an orientation rotated 180 degrees from the other connector; a first component mounted on the backplane and including a first component connector which only mates with the first backplane connector; and a second component mounted on the backplane in an inverted orientation to the first component and including a second component connector, different from the first component connector, and which only mates with the second backplane connector.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
85 words
The backplane of claim 4 wherein the first backplane connector is adapted to mate with a first hard disk comprising a housing and a hard disk connector extending from a surface of the housing thereof, and the second backplane connector is adapted to mate with a second hard disk comprising a housing and a hard disk connector extending from a surface of the housing thereof, whereupon only one of the first and second hard disks may be connected to the bay at a single time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The backplane of claim 5 wherein the backplane has a plurality of bays, and thus the backplane can accommodate the first hard disk and the second hard disk simultaneously.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of connecting two types of hard disks within a computer chassis or external system chassis using a single backplane, the method comprising: mounting the backplane within the chassis; providing a surface of the backplane with first and second adjacent backplane connectors, wherein the first and second backplane connectors are different from one another and are oriented on the backplane such that one of the first and second backplane connectors is inverted with respect to the other one of the connectors; mounting a first hard disk component on the backplane including a first component connector which only mates with the first backplane connector; and mounting a second hard disk component on the backplane in an inverted orientation to the first hard disk component including a second component connector, different from the first component connector, and which only mates with the second backplane connector.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of connecting two types of hard disks within a computer chassis or external system chassis using a single backplane, the method comprising: mounting the backplane within the chassis; providing a surface of the backplane with first and second adjacent backplane connectors, wherein the first and second backplane connectors are different from one another and are oriented on the backplane such that one of the first and second backplane connectors is inverted with respect to the other one of the connectors; mounting a first hard disk component on the backplane including a first component connector which only mates with the first backplane connector; and mounting a second hard disk component on the backplane in an inverted orientation to the first hard disk component including a second component connector, different from the first component connector, and which only mates with the second backplane connector.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the aligning comprises: determining whether the hard disk is a first type of hard disk or a second type of hard disk, and if the hard disk is a first type of hard disk, orienting the hard disk in a first orientation, and if the hard disk is a second type of hard disk, orienting the hard disk 180 degrees relative to the first orientation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 7 further comprising providing the backplane with several bays, each of the bays including one each of the first and second backplane connectors.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 9 wherein each bay is configured such that only one of the first and second types of hard disks can be connected to the bay at a given time.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 9 further comprising connecting a first type of hard disk to the backplane using one of the bays and connecting a second type of hard disk to the backplane using another one of the bays, such that both the first and second types of hard disks are simultaneously connected to the backplane.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5517623A
Cited
US5398158A
Cited
US5492481A
Cited
US5495584A
Cited
US5404268A
Cited
US5726922A
Cited
US5623700A
Cited
US5544330A
Cited
US5640606A
Cited
US5740378A
Cited
US5652697A
Cited
US5793998A
Cited
US6018456A
Cited
US6058442A
Cited
US5911050A
Cited
US6146150A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-02-25 | 2005-08-27 | 2006-02-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-02-25 | 2009-08-27 | 2010-02-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-02-25 | 2013-08-27 | 2014-02-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |