Hot-plug storage drive

US6665763B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P. · US

Inventors

• Gregory E. Burns · Diemelstraße, US
• Richard J. Palmer · Diemelstraße, US
• Cynthia D. Mills · Pinehurst, US
• John H. Marino · Cypress, US
• David J. Burque · Beaverton, US
• William K. Miller · Manheim, US
• Eric R. Edstrom · Colorado Springs, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 31, 2000
• Grant date: Dec 16, 2003
• Expiry date: Jul 30, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06F3/0689
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A drive assembly includes a carrier, a drive supported by the carrier, and an interface board. The tape drive includes a bus connector and a power connector. A plurality of cables are coupled to the bus connector and the power connector. The interface board includes an expander coupled to the cables and an external connector coupled to the expander. A storage array includes a backplane, a plurality of storage devices coupled to the backplane, a bus coupled to the storage devices, and at least one input/output connector coupled to the bus. Each storage device includes a carrier, a drive supported by the carrier, and an interface board. The drive includes a bus connector and a power connector. A plurality of cables are coupled to the bus connector and the power connector. The interface board includes an expander coupled to the cables and an external connector coupled to the expander.