Patent · US Expired

Enclosure for removable computer peripheral equipment

US6018456A · kind A · utility

117Cited by
12References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 31, 1996
Grant dateJan 25, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 31, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F1/181
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An enclosure system for receiving a number of plug in computer peripheral devices, such as hard disk drives in a disk array, utilizes front and rear cages or enclosures that are separated by a vertical backplane having internal circuit interconnections and multi-pin docking connectors on each face. A front bezel provides access to the backplane through the front cage enclosure, so that trays containing the drives can be inserted and plugged into the connectors. The vertical spacing is arranged to be modifiable, so that different numbers of higher profile and lower profile devices can be used. Power supplies, battery back up units and a cooling fan device, all arranged in sub-modules insertable through the rear open face of the power supply enclosure, interconnect with connectors on the back face of the backplane, and cooling air is circulated throughout from front to rear, via apertures in the backplane.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.