Dual-purpose backplane design for multiple types of hard disks
US6351375B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 26, 1999 |
| Grant date | Feb 26, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 26, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH05K7/1438
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.