GB2332975A

GB2332975A - Interfacing kit for hard disk drives allowing several drives to be stacked.

Info

Publication number: GB2332975A
Application number: GB9727454A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Cheng-Chun Chang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-12-30
Filing date: 1997-12-30
Publication date: 1999-07-07
Anticipated expiration: 2017-12-30
Also published as: GB2332975B; GB9727454D0

Abstract

An interfacing kit for a hard disk drive 20 (which may form part of an array) comprises an interface circuit board (18, figure 3), mounted inside front and rear covers which define a casing 30, and having an interface circuit with connectors for a hard disk drive and a computer interface cable 15. A power connector 13 mounted on the rear cover is connected to the interface circuit and has an associated switch 11 mounted on the rear cover for power on/off control. A plurality of substantially U-shaped plastic clamps 34 are provided for positioning at points around the vertical sides of the drive unit; the underside of each clamphaving a recess which corresponds with a raised portion on the upperside allowing drive units to be stacked.

Description

DOCK KIT INTERFACE PORT FOR IN-TRAY OF MOBILE RACK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a dock kit interface port for an in-tray of a mobile rack which has an in-tray connector for connection to an in-tray, at least one interface connector for connection to a computer, a power connector for connection to a power supply outlet through a transformer circuit, and a power switch for power on/off control.

Mounting a hard diskdrive in an in-tray inside a mobile rack is a well known technique. When a hard diskdrive is installed in an in-tray of a mobile rack, an interface circuit must be provided for communication between the hard diskdrive and the computer. Figures lA arid lB show an in-tray and mobile rack assembly according to the prior art, in which a power inverter circuit 12', an interface circuit 18', a power connector 13', a fan 14', an interface connector 15', a ribbon cable 17, a power control circuit 11' and an in-tray connector 16' are mounted inside the metal mobile rack 10'; an insertion chamber 19 is defined within the metal mobile rack 10' for receiving the in-tray 20'. Because the mobile rack 10' has a variety of accessories mounted on the inside, the whole assembly of the mobile rack 10' is heavy and occupies much installation space. Figures 2A and 2B show a similar structure in which the metal mobile rack 10' has plastic strips 341' mounted on two opposite lateral sides for protection.

However, this structure of in-tray and mobile rack assembly has the same drawbacks as before stated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a dock kit interface port which eliminates the aforesaid drawbacks. According to ore aspect of the present invention, the dock-kit interface port comprises an interface circuit board having an in-tray connector at one side for connection to an electric connector at the rear side of an in-tray of a mobile rack and at least one interface connector at an opposite side for connection to a computer, a power connector adapted to receive power supply from a power supply outlet through a transformer circuit, and a power switch for power on/off control.

According to another aspect of the present invention, U-shaped protective plastic clamps are provided for vertically clamping on two opposite lateral sides of the in-tray for protection. Each Ushaped plastic clamp has a recessed portion at the top side and a raised portion at the bottom side, so that the raised portions on the U-shaped plastic clamps of an in-tray at the top can be forced into engagement with the recessed portions on the U-shaped plastic clamps on an in-tray at the bottom when two in-trays are arranged in a stack.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure lA is an exploded view of an in-tray and mobile rack assembly according to the prior art.

Figure IB is a plain view of the assembly of Figure 1A, showing the in-tray installed in the mobile rack.

Figure 2A is an exploded view of another structure of intray and mobile rack assembly according to the prior art.

Figure 2B is a plain view of the assembly of Figure 2A, showing the in-tray installed in the mobile rack.

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the present invention.

Figure 4 is an applied view of the present invention, showing the dock kit interface port mounted on an in-tray.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to Figure 3, a dock-kit interface port in accordance with the present invention is generally comprised of an rectangular interface circuit board 18 which comprises the designed interface circuit, an in-tray connector 16 soldered to a first side of the interface circuit board 18, male and female interface connectors 15 soldered to a second side of the interface circuit board 18. The assembly of the interface circuit board 18, in-tray connector 16 and interface connectors 15 is mounted inside a casing, which is comprised of front cover shell 30 and a rear cover shell 31. The front cover shell 30 and the rear cover shell 31 are fastened together by screws 32. A power control switch 11 and a power socket 13 are provided at the rear cover shell 31. The power socket 13 is adapted to receive power supply from a power supply outlet through a transformer circuit. The power control switch 11 is for power on/off control.

Referring to Figure 4 and Figure 3 again, when the dock-kit interface port is installed in an in-tray 20, the in-tray connector 16 is connected to a connector (not shown) at the rear side of the intray 20, then one interface connector 15 is connected to the computer by a cable 33, and then the power socket 13 is connected to a power supply outlet through a transformer circuit. When the power control switch 11 is switched on, the hard disk drive in the in-tray 20 is started. Furthermore, substantially U-shaped protective plastic clamps 34 are vertically clapped on two opposite lateral sides of the in-tray 20 for protection. Each U-shaped plastic clamp 34 has a reinforcing rib 341 longitudinally disposed at an outer side. Further, the U-shaped plastic clamps 34 preferably have each a recessed portion at the top side and a raised portion at the bottom side, so that the raised portions on the Ushaped plastic clamps of an in-tray at the top can be forced into engagement with the recessed portions on the U-shaped plastic clamps on an in-tray at the bottom when two in-trays are arranged in a stack.

While only one embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that various modifications and changes could be made thereunto without departing from the scope of the invention disclosed.

For example, the in-tray 20 may be provided to hold a high capacity data storage device such as ZIP, MO, LS-120; the interface circuit board can be designed to support local data transmission interface standards (IDE, SCSI, EPP, PCMCIA, etc.).

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A dock-kit interface port for an in-tray of a mobile rack, comprising a front cover and a rear cover fastenable to the front cover to define a casing, an interface circuit board having an interface circuit mounted inside said casing, an in-tray connector mounted on said interface circuit board on one side thereof and electrically connected to an electric connector on said in-tray, and at least one interface connector mounted on said interface circuit board at an opposite side to that side on which the in-tray connector is mounted, and being adapted for connection to a computer by a cable, a power connector mounted on said rear cover and connected to said interface circuit and arranged to receive power supplied from a power supply outlet through a transformer circuit, a power switch mounted on said rear cover for power on/off control, and a plurality of substantially U-shaped plastic clamps arranged to be clamped on two opposite lateral sides of said in-tray for protection, said Ushaped plastic clamps each having a recessed portion at one end and a raised portion at an opposite end, the size of said raised portion fitting said recessed portion, for interconnecting a plurality of dock-kit interface ports when stacked one upon another.
2. A port as claimed in claim 1, including screws for fixing the front and rear covers together.
3. A dock-kit interface port substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.