WO2021221670A1

WO2021221670A1 - Storage drive adapters with drive cartridges

Info

Publication number: WO2021221670A1
Application number: PCT/US2020/030774
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ming-Shan Tsai; Sheng-Tien Chang; Tracy Lamont HENDRICKS
Original assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
Priority date: 2020-04-30
Filing date: 2020-04-30
Publication date: 2021-11-04

Abstract

In an example, a storage drive adapter may include a chassis having a drive slot to receive a drive cartridge. A storage drive adapter may also include a connector module having a storage connector and an adapter interface. The storage connector may engage with a storage slot of a computing device. The storage drive adapter may further include an ejection bar and an ejection pivot engaged with the ejection bar, the ejection pivot to engage with a connector end of the drive cartridge.

Description

STORAGE DRIVE ADAPTERS WITH DRIVE CARTRIDGES

BACKGROUND

[0001] Electronic devices such as computing devices include different computing components. Such computing components may include processors, graphics cards, network cards, mass storage devices, e.g., optical disk drives, solid-state drives and the like, memory, printed circuit boards, and other suitable components to aid or participate in the functioning of the electronic device. In some examples, some computing components may be removable, such as removable storage drives.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0002] Fig. 1 A is a perspective view of an example storage drive adapter.

[0003] Fig. IB is another perspective view of the example storage drive adapter of Fig.

1A.

[0004] Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an example drive cartridge for use with an example storage drive adapter.

[0005] Fig. 3 A is a perspective view of an example computing device having an example storage drive adapter.

[0006] Fig. 3B is a detail view of an example computing device having an example storage drive adapter.

[0007] Fig. 3C is another detail view of the example computing device having an example storage drive adapter of Fig. 3B. [0008] Fig. 3D is a side view of the example computing device having an example storage drive adapter of Figs. 3B and 3C is illustrated.

[0009] Fig. 4A is a perspective view of an example storage drive adapter.

[0010] Fig. 4B is another perspective view of the example storage drive adapter of Fig.

4A.

[0011] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an example computing device having an example storage drive adapter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] As described above, electronic devices such as computing devices may include various computing components to carry out and/or aid in the functioning of the electronic devices. Such components may include storage devices, for example, mass storage devices including optical disk drives (ODD), solid-state drives (SSD) and the like. Some storage devices or storage drives may be removable and/or replaceable in order to upgrade or repair the storage capabilities of the computing device. Such removal often means an enclosure of the computing device may be opened to access the storage drive and tools may be used to unfasten the drive from a system board or other internal component. This may be a complex and/or cumbersome process. In some situations, it may be desirable to be able to remove and/or replace a storage device within a computing device quickly, conveniently, and without the use of tools.

[0013] Further, computing devices may be used to store and/or work with data which may be sensitive or confidential in nature. In such situations, it may be desirable to be able to remove a storage device of the computing device in an easy and convenient manner in order to protect sensitive data which may be stored on such storage device. Doing so may alleviate security concerns regarding leaving a computing device unattended. In other situations, it may be desirable to take a storage device out of one computing device and install it into a different computing device in order to easily move or transfer data.

[0014] Examples disclosed herein provide storage drive adapters which may allow the easy and modular removal of storage devices from computing devices. Such storage drive adapters may engage with and leverage existing components within a computing device. Further, storage drives may be engaged with or removed from storage drive adapters without the use of tools or opening of an enclosure of the computing device. Such storage drives may be moved between different computing devices to enable the transfer of data, or may be removed from a computing device when the device is unattended to alleviate security concerns regarding sensitive data.

[0015] Referring now to Fig. 1 A, a perspective view of an example storage drive adapter

100 is illustrated. In some examples, storage drive adapter 100 may include a chassis 102 having a drive slot 104 to receive a drive cartridge 106. Storage drive adapter 100 may also include a connector module 108 having a storage connector 110 and an adapter interface 112. The storage connector 110 may engage with a storage slot of a computing device (not shown). The storage drive adapter 100 may further include an ejection bar 114 and an ejection pivot 116 engaged with the ejection bar 114, the ejection pivot 116 to engage with a connector end 118 of the drive cartridge 106.

[0016] The chassis 102 of the storage drive adapter 100 may be a rigid or semi-rigid member which may include walls, panels, and/or other structure so as to define the drive slot 104. The drive slot 104 may be a cavity, channel, or other type of opening sufficiently sized and structured so as to be able to receive and mechanically support the drive cartridge 106. Further, the drive slot 106 may be sufficiently deep and or sized such that the drive cartridge 106 may be wholly or fully received within the chassis 102 of the storage drive adapter 100. [0017] The connector module 108 may be attached to the chassis 102 of the storage drive adapter 100. In some implementations, the connector module 108 may be a unitary portion of the chassis 102 and in other implementations, the connector module 108 may be a discrete or separate component from the chassis 102 and may be fastened or otherwise attached to the chassis 102 through, e.g., fasteners such as pins, screws, rivets, adhesive, or other types of suitable fasteners. The connector module 108 may be a rigid member comprising a printed circuit board (PCB). As such, the connector module 108 may rigidly engage the adapter interface 112, and thus the drive cartridge 106, with the storage slot without the need for cables, wires, and/or other flexible electrical connection components. Further, the connection module 108, and the storage connector 110 thereof may engage with or leverage an existing connection component of a computing device, e.g., the storage slot, and thus does not require an additional connection component to be installed in the computing device in order to support the storage drive adapter 100.

[0018] Further, and as described above, the connector module 108 may include a storage connector 110 and an adapter interface 112. The storage connector 110 may engage with an existing storage slot of a computing device, e.g., a solid-state storage drive connector fastened to a system board or motherboard of the computing device. The storage connector 110, e.g., may be an electrical and mechanical connector suitable to engage with an M.2 storage connector or slot on the system board of the computing device. As such, the storage connector 110 may be an edge connector and/or include pins or pads for the transmission of power, electrical signals, ground, or the like. The adapter interface 112 may also be an electrical connector to operably, i.e., through electrical communication, engage the storage connector 110 with the drive cartridge 106 and a storage drive disposed within. In some examples, the adapter interface 112 may include electrical communication pads or pins for the transmission of power, electrical signals, ground, and the like. [0019] Referring additionally to Fig. IB, another perspective view of the storage drive adapter 100 of Fig. 1 A is illustrated wherein the drive cartridge 106 has been inserted into the drive slot 104 of the chassis 102. The drive cartridge 106 has been inserted into the drive slot 104, e.g., along direction 103, of the chassis 102 to a sufficient degree so as to operably engage with the adapter interface 112 of the connector module 108. The drive cartridge 106 includes a storage drive (not shown) within the drive cartridge 106 and upon the drive cartridge 106 being inserted into the chassis 102, the engagement between the drive cartridge 106 and the adapter interface 112 is sufficient so as to operably engage such storage drive with the connector module 112, and, thus, the storage slot of the computing device. In other words, upon the drive cartridge 106 being operably engaged with the adapter interface 112, the storage drive within the drive cartridge 106 may be able to electrically communicate with the computing device via the storage connector 110 and the storage slot.

[0020] Referring now to Fig. 2, an exploded perspective view of an example drive cartridge

206 for use with an example storage drive adapter, e.g., the storage drive adapter 100 described above with reference to Figs. 1 A and IB, is illustrated. Storage drive adapter 206 may include a cartridge housing 224, and a solid-state card 226 having a storage drive 228 disposed within the cartridge housing 224. The cartridge housing 224 may be an enclosure sufficiently sized and structured to house the solid-state card 226 and the storage drive 228. The cartridge housing 224 may mechanically support and enclose the solid-state card 226 and the storage drive 228 so as to protect the storage drive 228 from environmental effects, debris, shock, etc. when the drive cartridge 206 is not inserted into the storage drive adapter. In some implementations, the cartridge housing 224 may comprise a polymer material, e.g., plastic, or a metallic material e.g., sheet metal. [0021] The solid-state card 226 may be a PCB with suitable components, circuits, etc. In some implementations, the solid-state card 226 may include a silicon substrate and metallic traces to function as electrical pathways or conduits. In some examples, the metallic traces may include copper. The drive cartridge 206, or the solid-state card 226 thereof, may include a drive interface 220 to operably engage with the storage drive 228. In some implementations, the drive interface 220 may be an M.2 connector and the storage drive 228 may be an M.2 form factor storage drive. The drive cartridge 206 may also include a complementary adapter interface 222 to mechanically and electrically engage with an adapter interface, e.g., adapter interface 112, on a connector module of a storage drive adapter, e.g., storage drive adapter 100. The complementary adapter interface 222 and the drive interface 220 may be operably engaged with one another through electrical components such as circuits on the solid-state card 226. Once engaged with the drive interface 220, the storage drive 228 may be in electrical communication with the complementary adapter interface 222. As such, upon the drive cartridge 206 being inserted and operably engaged with a storage drive adapter within a computing device, the storage drive 228 may be able to electrically communicate with the computing device through the connector module, e.g., connector module 108, and a storage slot with which the connector module is engaged. In some implementations, the storage drive 228 may be installed into the drive adapter 220 and secured in place at a distal end with a fastener 230, e.g., a screw, pin, clip, or other suitable type of fastener.

[0022] Referring now to Fig. 3A, a perspective cutaway view of an example computing device 301 having an example storage drive adapter 300 is illustrated. Example storage drive adapter 300 may be similar to other example storage drive adapters described above. Further, the similarly-named elements of example storage drive adapter 300 may be similar in function and/or structure to the respective elements of other example storage drive adapters, as they are described above.

[0023] Computing device 301 may be a desktop personal computer (PC) in some examples. In other examples, computing device 301 may be a workstation, all-in-one PC, notebook PC, server, or another type of computing device. In further examples, the computing device 301 may be an imaging device such as a printer, copier, etc., in yet further examples, the computing device 301 may be an additive manufacturing machine (3D printer). Computing device 301 may be any type of electronic device having a system board with a storage drive connector.

[0024] Computing device 301 may include an enclosure 332 to house and mechanically support components of the computing device 301. Such components may include, but are not limited to, processors, memory, thermal components, circuit boards, e.g., a system board or motherboard, power supplies, and other suitable computing components. A portion of the enclosure 332 is shown as being cut away in order to illustrate the storage drive adapter 300. In some examples, the enclosure 332 may include a drive opening 334 which may be a window or other opening extending through a wall of the enclosure 332. Drive opening 334 may be sized sufficiently so as to be able to receive a drive cartridge of the storage drive adapter 300 through the drive opening 334. In some examples, the drive opening 334 may be disposed on a front face 336 of the enclosure 332. Such a front face 336 may be a side of the enclosure 332 that is designed to be facing or disposed near a user of the computing device 301 when the computing device 301 is in use. As such, other user interface components 338 may also be present on the front face 336, e.g., connector ports, buttons, status indicators, etc. The front face 336 maybe opposite or distal from a back face of the computing device which may have power adapter connector ports, fan vents, expansion slots, etc. The storage drive adapter 300 may be located on the front face 336 of the computing device 301 such that a user is able to insert and remove a drive cartridge into and from the storage drive adapter 300 in a convenient manner.

[0025] Referring now to Fig. 3B, a detail view of computing device 301 is illustrated wherein a portion of the enclosure 332 has been omitted for clarity. The computing device 301 may include a system board 340 disposed within the enclosure 332. The system board 340 may have a storage slot 342 disposed on and operably engaged with the system board 340. In some examples, the storage slot 342 may be an M.2 storage slot to receive an M.2 form factor storage drive. The storage drive adapter 300 may be disposed within the enclosure 332 and adjacent to or near the drive opening 334. The storage drive adapter 300 may include a chassis 302 having a drive slot 304. The drive slot 304 may be aligned with and/or adjacent to the drive opening 334 such that a drive cartridge 306 may be inserted into the drive opening 334 and slid or translated into the drive slot 304. The storage drive adapter 300 may further include a connector module 308, which may be a rigid member and may include a storage connector and an adapter interface 312. The connector module 308 may be attached or fastened to the chassis 302 in some examples. The storage connector may be engaged with the storage slot 342 in an operable manner such that the adapter interface 312 is in electrical communication with the system board 340, and thus the computing device 301, through the engagement of the storage connector with the storage slot 342. In some examples, the connector module 308 may include a fastener opening which may align with a storage slot fastener opening corresponding to the storage slot 342. The storage slot fastener opening may be an existing feature that is normally used to secure a storage drive into engagement with the storage slot 342. Such storage slot fastener opening may be spaced apart or located from the storage slot 342 in a predetermined manner that is compatible with the M.2 form factor specification. In such examples, the connector module 308 may receive a fastener 344 through the fastener opening to fix the connector module 308 into engagement with the storage slot 342.

[0026] Referring additionally to Fig. 3C, another detail view of the computing device 301 is illustrated wherein the drive cartridge 306 has been inserted into and engaged with the storage drive adapter 300, and/or with the drive slot 304 of the chassis 302 thereof, e.g., along direction 303 and through the drive opening 334. The drive cartridge 306 may include a complementary drive interface to operably engage with the drive interface 312 of the connector module 308 upon the drive cartridge 306 being fully seated within the chassis 302. The connector module 308 may operably engage the storage slot 342 with a storage drive disposed within the drive cartridge 306 through the engagement between the drive interface 312 and the complementary drive interface of the drive cartridge 306. Thus, the storage drive within the drive cartridge 306 may be in electrical communication with the computing device 301 upon being fully engaged with the drive slot 304 of the chassis 302. Therefore, if a user of the computing device 301 desires to increase the storage capacity of the computing device 301, or desires to work with specific data stored on the storage drive of the drive cartridge 306, the user may retrieve the drive cartridge 306 and insert it in a modular and tool -less fashion into the storage drive adapter 300 of the computing device 301.

[0027] Referring now to Fig. 3D, a side view of the example computing device 301 having the example storage drive adapter 300 is illustrated. The storage drive adapter 300 may further include a lock 346 to secure the drive cartridge 306 within the chassis 302. Once the drive cartridge 306 is fully inserted into the storage drive adapter 300, the lock may be actuated, e.g., using a key 350 so as to engage a lock arm 348 with a lock notch 352 disposed on cartridge housing of the drive cartridge 306. Thus, until the lock 346 is again actuated with the key 350, the drive cartridge 306 will be securely retained into engagement with the storage drive adapter 300. Therefore, a user may feel comfortable leaving the drive cartridge 306 inserted into the storage drive adapter 300 and leaving the location of the computing device 301 without a worry of theft or compromising sensitive data that may be stored on the storage drive within the drive cartridge 306. In order to unlock the drive cartridge 306, the lock 346 may be actuated to remove the lock arm 348 from the lock notch 352, e.g., along direction 305. The drive cartridge 306 may now be ejected from the chassis 302 of the storage drive adapter 300, e.g., along direction 311.

[0028] In order to eject the drive cartridge 306 from the storage drive adapter 300, a user may access and push or otherwise actuate an ejection bar 314, e.g., along direction 307. Upon the ejection bar 314 being actuated, the ejection bar 314 may translate or slide to engage with or rotate an ejection pivot 316. In some examples, the storage drive adapter 300 may also include a bias member 354 to resist or urge the ejection bar 314 against the pushing or actuation of the ejection bar 314. The bias member 354 may be a compression spring in some examples, yet in other examples, may be another type of spring or bias member capable of undergoing an elastic deformation and exerting a reactive force in response to such a deformation. The ejection pivot 316 may rotate in a manner similar to direction 309 in order to push or exert a force on to a connector end 318 of the drive cartridge 306. Such pushing or exertion of force may eject the drive cartridge 306 from the storage drive adapter 300, or the chassis and/or drive slot thereof, e.g., along direction 311. The user may pull on the drive cartridge 306 to fully remove it from the computing device 301 through the drive opening 334.

[0029] Referring now to Fig. 4A, a perspective view of another example storage drive adapter 400 is illustrated. Example storage drive adapter 400 may be similar to other example storage drive adapters described above. Further, the similarly-named elements of example storage drive adapter 400 may be similar in function and/or structure to the respective elements of other example storage drive adapters, as they are described above. The storage drive adapter 400 may include a chassis 402 having a drive slot 404. Further, the storage drive adapter 400 may include a rigid connector module having a system connector 410 and an adapter interface 412. The storage drive adapter 400 may include a drive cartridge 406 having a storage drive, e.g., an M.2 form factor storage drive, disposed within the drive cartridge 406. The drive cartridge 406 may include a complementary adapter interface (not shown) to operably engage with the adapter interface 412 of the connector module

[0030] Referring additionally to Fig. 4B, another perspective view of the example storage drive adapter 400 is illustrated wherein the drive cartridge 406 has been inserted into and received by the drive slot 404 of the chassis 402. In some examples, the chassis 402 and the connector module together may define an expansion card form factor having a PCB. The PCB may include electrical pathways or circuits such that the adapter interface 412 and the PCB are to operably engage the storage drive within the drive cartridge 406 with the system connector 410.

[0031] The storage drive adapter 400 may further include an ejection bar 414 and an ejection pivot 416 to engage with a connector end of the drive cartridge 406. Additionally, in some examples, the storage drive adapter 400 may include a lock 446 having a lock arm 448 to removably engage with a lock notch 452 of the drive cartridge 406, or a cartridge housing thereof, to fix or retain the drive cartridge 406 within the storage drive adapter 400, and/or the chassis 402 and drive slot 404 thereof.

[0032] Referring now to Fig. 5, a perspective view of another example computing device

501 having an example storage drive adapter 500 is illustrated. Example storage drive adapter 500 may be similar to other example storage drive adapters described above. Further, the similarly- named elements of example storage drive adapter 500 may be similar in function and/or structure to the respective elements of other example storage drive adapters, as they are described above.

[0033] Computing device 501 may be similar to computing device 301 in some examples.

Computing device 501 may include an enclosure 532 to house and/or mechanically support components of the computing device 501. Computing device 501 may further include an expansion slot opening 560 extending through a wall of the enclosure 532. In some examples, the expansion slot opening 560 may be disposed on a back face 558 of the computing device 501. While not illustrated for clarity, other features may also be present on the back face of the enclosure, e.g., power adapter connectors, fan vents, additional expansion slot openings, etc.

[0034] Computing device 501 may further have a system board 540 and an expansion slot

556 disposed on the system board 540. The storage drive adapter 500 of the computing device 501 may be disposed within the enclosure 532 near or adjacent to the back face 558 such that a drive slot of a chassis of the storage drive adapter 500 is aligned with or disposed adjacent to the expansion slot opening 560. The storage drive adapter 500 may be able to receive a drive cartridge through the expansion slot opening 560 to operably engage a storage drive within the drive cartridge with the computing device 501 via the storage drive adapter 500. The storage drive adapter 500 may include a connector module having a system connector to operably, i.e., mechanically and electrically, engage with the expansion slot 556. The connector module may also include an adapter interface to operably engage with the storage drive within the drive cartridge when the drive cartridge is inserted into the storage drive adapter 500, or the chassis or drive slot thereof. Further, the system connector may enable electrical communication between the adapter interface and the expansion slot 556. As such, the connector module may enable electrical communication between the storage drive and the computing device 501. In some examples, the expansion slot 556 may be a peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) slot and the system connector may be a PCIe edge connector to engage with the PCIe slot. In other examples, the expansion slot and the system connector may be other types of connectors or follow other types of connector form factors to enable communication between the storage drive within the drive cartridge and the computing device 501.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A storage drive adapter, comprising: a chassis having a drive slot to receive a drive cartridge; a rigid connector module having a storage connector and an adapter interface, the storage connector to engage with a storage slot of a computing device; an ejection bar; and an ejection pivot engaged with the ejection bar and to engage with a connector end of the drive cartridge.

2. The storage drive adapter of claim 1, wherein the drive cartridge is to receive a storage drive and has a drive interface to engage with the storage drive and a complementary adapter interface to engage with the adapter interface of the connector module upon the drive cartridge being inserted into the drive slot.

3. The storage drive adapter of claim 2, wherein the storage slot of the computing device and the drive interface of the drive cartridge are M.2 storage connectors, and the storage drive of the drive cartridge is an M.2 form factor storage drive.

4. The storage drive adapter of claim 2, wherein the connector module is to operably engage the storage slot with the storage drive of the drive cartridge through engagement of the adapter interface with the complementary adapter interface.

5. The storage drive adapter of claim 3, wherein the connector module includes a fastener opening to align with a storage slot fastener opening corresponding to the storage slot.

6. A computing device, comprising: an enclosure having a drive opening; a system board having an M.2 storage slot; a storage drive adapter disposed within the enclosure, comprising: a chassis having a drive slot disposed adjacent to the drive opening; a rigid connector module attached to the chassis and having a storage connector and an adapter interface, the storage connector to engage with the M.2 storage slot; an ejection bar; and an ejection pivot engaged with the ejection bar; and a drive cartridge, comprising: a cartridge housing; and a solid-state card having an M.2 storage drive disposed within the cartridge housing, wherein the drive cartridge is to engage with the drive slot through the drive opening of the enclosure.

7. The computing device of claim 6, wherein the drive opening is on a front face of the enclosure of the computing device.

8 The computing device of claim 6, wherein the ejection bar, upon being actuated, is to rotate the ejection pivot such that the ejection pivot pushes on a connector end of the drive cartridge to eject the drive cartridge through the drive opening.

9. The computing device of claim 8, wherein the storage drive adapter further comprises a bias member to urge the ejection bar against being actuated.

10. The computing device of claim 6, wherein the storage drive adapter further comprises a lock wherein, upon being actuated, retains the drive cartridge within the drive slot of the storage drive adapter.

11. A computing device, comprising: an enclosure having an expansion slot opening; a system board having an expansion slot; a storage drive adapter disposed within the enclosure, comprising: a chassis having a drive slot disposed adjacent to the expansion slot opening to receive a drive cartridge having a storage drive through the opening; a rigid connector module having a system connector and an adapter interface, the adapter interface to operably engage with the storage drive and the system connector to operably engage with the expansion slot of the system board; an ejection bar; and an ejection pivot engaged with the ejection bar and to engage with a connector end of the drive cartridge.

12. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the chassis and the connector module define an expansion card having a printed circuit board (PCB), and wherein the adapter interface and the PCB are to operably engage the storage drive with the system connector such that the system connector operably engages the storage drive with the expansion slot.

13. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the storage drive of the drive cartridge is an M.2 form factor storage drive.

14. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the system connector is a peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) edge connector, and the expansion slot of the computing device is a PCIe slot.

15. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the storage drive adapter further comprises a lock wherein, upon being actuated, the lock retains the drive cartridge within the drive slot of the storage drive adapter.