Light pipe guide and carrier for hard disk drive
US6231224A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 22, 1999 |
| Grant date | May 15, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 22, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B33/124
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A carrier for a hot-pluggable hard disk drive has a frame with a pair of side walls, a front bezel, and a rear connector assembly. The hard disk drive mounts to the frame within its confines. One of the side walls has a pair of channels in its outer surface. The carrier also has a visible light pipe mounted in each of its channels. The light pipes extend along the side wall from the front bezel to the rear connector assembly. The carrier is installed in the hard disk drive docking bay of a computer system. The rear end of the docking bay has a docking connector for interconnecting with the drive, and a pair of activity lights. When the carrier is seated in the docking bay, the rear ends of the light pipes are precisely aligned with the activity lights and separated from them by a small clearance. The light emitted by the activity lights is transmitted through the light pipes and displayed at the front bezel for viewing by the user.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.