WO2006129905A1

WO2006129905A1 - Detachable hard disk drive rack

Info

Publication number: WO2006129905A1
Application number: PCT/KR2005/003821
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hee Kyu Cha; Il June Cho; Byoung Jin Lee; Jang Hoon Kim; Hyun Woong Doo; Myo Gan Park; Jin Sik Heo; Joon Suk Jung
Original assignee: Global Technologies Inc.
Priority date: 2005-06-03
Filing date: 2005-11-11
Publication date: 2006-12-07
Also published as: KR200393993Y1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a detachable hard disc drive rack, and includes a detachable connector detachably connected to a digital recording device, and a communication port for performing data communication with some other device, such as a PC, the digital recording device connected to the hard disc drive through the detachable connector and the communication port, and a bridge for controlling communication with the some other device, so that the present invention allows the main body of the digital recording device to be attached to and detached from the hard disc drive. Furthermore, the present invention allows hard disc drive to be easily connected to other devices, such as a PC, merely by inserting the plug of a communication cable into the communication port without requiring expert knowledge, thus being capable of transferring and storing data to/in the devices.

Description

Description DETACHABLE HARD DISC DRIVE RACK

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates, in general, to a detachable hard disc drive rack that is used for digital recording devices, such as personal video recorders, and, more particularly, to a detachable hard disc drive rack, which conveniently transfers data, which is recorded on a hard disc drive by a digital recording device, to other devices, such as a personal computer, and plays back and stores the data. Background Art

[2] A Personal Video Recorder (PVR) is a personal digital recording device for digitally recording information on a hard disc drive and playing back the information, unlike an existing Video Cassette Recorder (VCR) that records analog video signals on magnetic tape. The PVR is adopted for a set-top box, Television (TV) or the like, and enables the digital recording, playback, and editing of broadcast programs. For this purpose, the PVR is provided with a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a memory chip that contains an Operating System (OS) and recording/playback/editing software, and a hard disc drive having a large capacity.

[3] The PVR employs a random-access hard disc drive and digitally processes data, so that it has several advantages in that recording, playback and editing are convenient, and deleting is easy compared with the existing VCR, video quality does not deteriorate even when used for a long time, and digital multimedia data, such as audio files or image files, such as pictures, that cannot be played back using the existing VCR can be digitally recorded, stored, played back, and edited. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[4] The data storage capability of the hard disc drive is limited, and thus, frequent recording of broadcast programs on the PVR becomes difficult when the PVR is applied to a device, such as a set-top box. Therefore, it is necessary to periodically delete existing data recorded on the hard disc drive in order to perform new recording and to transfer and store important data to a Personal Computer (PC) or the like. However, in the above-described case, the work of carrying the set-top box, for which the PVR is adopted, to the location of the PC and transferring data thereto must be performed, so that it is very inconvenient to use the PVR.

[5] This disadvantage occurs because the hard disc drive is permanently installed in the main body of the PVR. In order to overcome such a disadvantage, a device, which is a hard disc drive rack that is detachable from the main body of the PVR, has been used. [6] The above-described hard disc drive rack includes a casing configured to accommodate a hard disc drive, a detachable connector provided on one side of the casing, and a grip provided on another side of the casing.

[7] When the hard disc drive rack is inserted into a slot formed in one side of the main body of the PVR, the detachable connector is connected to a connector provided inside the main body of the PVR, so that data communication can be performed between the hard disc drive and the main body of the PVR. When the grip is pulled and, thereby, the hard disc drive rack is separated from the main body of the PVR through the slot, the hard disc drive rack is in a separated state such that it can be carried.

[8] When the casing of the hard disc drive rack, separated from the main body of the

PVR as described above, is opened, the hard disc drive is separated from the hard disc drive rack, and then the separated hard disc drive is connected to a PC, data recorded on the hard disc drive can be transferred to and stored in the PC.

[9] However, in order to connect the hard disc drive to a PC, it is necessary to open the casing of the main body, connect the hard disc drive to the main body of the PC using a data transfer cable, and adjust the setting of jumpers on the hard disc drive to that for the concerned PC so as to cause the hard disc drive to be recognized by the PC, after the power of the PC has been turned off.

[10] Accordingly, there are still problems in that there is a lot of inconvenience in using the hard disc drive and it is difficult for persons who have insufficient knowledge about computers to use the hard disc drive.

[11] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a detachable hard disc drive rack, which facilitates the attachment and detachment of a hard disc drive to and from the main body of a digital recording device, and allow the hard disc drive to be connected to another device, such as a PC, without requiring complicated work or expert knowledge. Technical Solution

[12] In order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a detachable hard disc drive rack, including a detachable connector configured to be detachably connected to the data input and output connector of the main body of a digital recording device; a communication port configured to allow the plug of a data communication cable, which is used to perform data communication with some other device, to be inserted therein; and a bridge unit for connecting the detachable connector with a hard disc drive using a pass-through method, and performing interface conversion so that data communication can be performed between the some other device, which is connected to the communication port, and the hard disc drive. Advantageous Effects

[13] The present invention includes a detachable connector detachably connected to a digital recording device, a communication port for performing data communication with some other device, such as a PC, the digital recording device connected to the hard disc drive through the detachable connector and the communication port, and a bridge for controlling communication with the some other device, so that the present invention allows the main body of the digital recording device to be attached to and detached from the hard disc drive. Furthermore, the present invention allows the hard disc drive to be easily connected to other devices, such as a PC, merely by inserting the plug of a communication cable into the communication port without requiring expert knowledge, thus being capable of transferring and storing data to the devices.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[14] FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a hard disc drive rack according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; [15] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the hard disc drive rack according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; [16] FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of insertion of the hard disc drive rack of the present invention into a digital recording device; and [17] FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of connection of the hard disc drive rack of the present invention to a PC.

[18] *Description of reference numerals of principal elements*

[19] 10: hard disc drive 20: communication port

[20] 30; bridge unit 40: grip

[21] 50: power jack 60: detachable connector

[22] 100: hard disc drive rack 110: casing

[23] 200: personal computer 300: digital recording device

[24] 310: slot 320: data input and output connector

[25] 400: data communication cable

Mode for the Invention [26] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings below. [27] FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a hard disc drive rack according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the hard disc drive rack according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [28] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the hard disc drive rack 100 of the present invention includes a hard disc drive 10, a data communication cable 400 for performing data communication with some other device, such as a PC, a communication port 20 configured such that a plug is able to be inserted into the communication port 20, and a bridge unit 30 for controlling communication with the hard disc drive 10, a digital recording device 300 and the some other device.

[29] Furthermore, the hard disc drive rack 100 of the present invention includes a detachable connector 60 configured to be detachably connected to the data input and output connector 320 in the main body of the digital recording device 300, and a casing 110, in the interior of which the hard disc drive 10 is accommodated and mounted, on the front of which the communication port 20 is installed and a grip 40 is formed, and on the rear of which a detachable connector 60 is permanently installed.

[30] It is preferred that a small-sized hard disc drive, which has a standard size and is used for a notebook computer, (for example, a drive using a platter having a standard size of 2.5 inches), be used as the hard disc drive 10. The small-sized hard disc drive for notebook computers has been generally designed so as to use current flowing through the data communication cable as driving power, so that it is advantageous in that a separate power line and a separate power jack are not necessary.

[31] However, there exists a case where a hard disc drive, which operates at high speed or has a plurality of platters, is not driven only by current flowing through the data communication cable. Accordingly, a power jack 50 for applying separate supplementary power to the hard disc drive 10 may be installed on one side of the casing 110.

[32] Meanwhile, a jack for applying separate driving power is generally provided in the case where a medium-sized hard disc drive used for a desktop computer (for example, a drive using a platter having a standard size of 3.5 inches), rather than a small-sized hard disc drive for a notebook, is used so that the power jack 50 may be provided for the purpose of applying driving power using the jack.

[33] The communication port 20, for example, may be configured to perform data communication based on the Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface protocol or the Institute of Electrical or Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394 interface protocol, which are well- known and conventional.

[34] The bridge unit 30 connects the detachable connector 60 and the hard disc drive 10 to each other using a pass-through method, and performs interface conversion so that data communication can be performed between the some other device (PC, etc.), which is connected to the communication port 20, and the hard disc drive 10. For reference, the pass-through method refers to a method of passing and transferring data and signal without change.

[35] For example, the interface used by the hard disc drive 10 may be an Integrated

Drive Electronics (IDE), an Enhanced Integrated Drive Electronics (EIDE), a Small Computer System Interface (SCSI), or Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (S-ATA) type interface, which is well known and conventional, and the interface used by the some other device (PC, etc.) connected to the communication port 20 for data communication may be a Universal Serial Bus (USB), or Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 1394 (IEEE 1394), which is well known and conventional. The Interface conversion algorithm provided in the bridge unit 30 may be a well-known and conventional conversion algorithm for performing conversion for the well-known and conventional interfaces.

[36] Furthermore, when the data communication signal from some of the other device is input through the communication port 20 while the hard disc drive 10 and the main body of the digital recording device 300 are connected to each other such that data communication can be performed, the bridge unit 30 is configured to perform a control operation of preventing the hard disc drive 10 from being doubly connected by interrupting the input signal from some of the other device mentioned above. For reference, the bridge unit 30 detects the data communication signal between the hard disc drive 10 and the digital recording device 300, or the flow of current and, thus, detects a connection status therebetween.

[37] It is preferred that the casing 110 be formed in a box shape to correspond to a slot

(refer to reference numeral 310 of FIG. 3) so that it can be easily inserted by being pushed into the slot of the digital recording device 300, which is a target to be inserted, and pulled out.

[38] The operation of the present invention constructed as described above is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings below.

[39] First, when a user desires to mount the hard disc drive rack 100 in the digital recording device 300, such as the PVR or a set-top box that adopts the PVR, the user pushes the hard disc drive rack 100 into the slot 310 of the digital recording device 300 while gripping the grip 40 of the hard disc drive rack 100, as shown in FIG. 3.

[40] When the hard disc drive rack 100 is pushed to the end of the slot 310, the detachable connector 60 installed on the rear of the casing 100 is inserted into the data input and output connector 320, which is installed on the end of the slot 310, so that the hard disc drive 10 and the digital recording device 300 are in a state in which data communication can be performed through the bridge unit 30, the detachable connector 60 and the data input and output connector 320.

[41] In the above-described state, the user can record and store broadcasting programs, digital standard audio files such as MPEG Layer 3 (MP3) files, or digital image files such as pictures on the hard disc drive 10 through the manipulation of the digital recording device 300.

[42] When the user desires to transfer and store data, such as broadcast programs, audio files or image files, that are recorded and stored on the hard disc drive 10, to the PC, the user pulls on the grip 40 of the hard disc drive rack 100 and, thereby, removes the rack from the slot 310 of the digital recording device 300.

[43] Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4, the hard disc drive rack 100 is moved over to a PC

200, and the two plugs of the data communication cable 400 are connected to the communication port of the PC 200 and the communication port 20 of the hard disc drive rack 100, respectively.

[44] When the PC 200 has been connected to the communication port 20 of the hard disc drive rack 100 through the data communication cable 400 as described above, the bridge unit 30 detects the interfacing of a data communication signal, which is input through the data communication cable 400 from the PC 200, an interface with the hard disc drive 10, and an interface with the PC 200 are bi-directionally converted. Consequently, data communication between the hard disc drive 10 and the PC 200 can be performed.

[45] Accordingly, the user may transfer data, such as broadcast programs, audio files, or image files, which are stored on the hard disc drive 10, to the PC 200, and store, play or edit the data through the manipulation of the PC 200. Furthermore, the user may transfer data, such as broadcast programs, audio files or image files, which are stored in the PC 200, to the hard disc drive 10, and then the user may play and view the transfered data through the connection of the hard disc drive 10 to the data digital recording device 300.

[46] Meanwhile, if the user inserts accidentally the data communication cable 400 of the some other device, such as the PC 200, into the communication port 20 of the front of the hard disc drive rack 100 in a condition in which the hard disc drive rack 100 is inserted into the slot 310 of the digital recording device 300 and data communication between the hard disc drive 10 and the main body of the digital recording device 300 can be performed, the bridge unit 30 detects the signal, which is input from the some other device, such as the PC 200, through the communication port 20, interrupts the signal and, therefore, the double connection of the hard disc drive 10 can be prevented. For reference, in the case where a plurality of data communication targets are connected to the hard disc drive 10 at the same time, the hard disc drive 10 may abnormally operate, and the stored data may be lost or damaged.

[47] As described above, the detachable hard disc drive rack of the present invention includes a detachable connector detachably connected to a digital recording device, a communication port for performing data communication with some other device, such as a PC, the digital recording device connected to the hard disc drive through the detachable connector and the communication port, and a bridge for controlling and intermediating communication with the some other device, so that the present invention allows the main body of the digital recording device to be attached to and detached from the hard disc drive by pushing it into the slot of the digital recording device or pulling it out. Furthermore, the present invention allows the hard disc drive to be easily connected to another device, such as a PC, thus being capable of transferring and storing data to/in the devices merely by inserting the plug of a communication cable into the communication port.

[48] That is, complicated work of separating the hard disc drive from the casing of the rack and connecting the hard disc drive to some other device after the opening of the main body thereof, such as a PC, is not necessary, and work requiring expert knowledge, such the change of the jumper setting of the hard disc drive, is not necessary, so that it is very convenient to use the hard disc drive.

Claims

[1] A detachable hard disc drive rack, comprising: a detachable connector configured to be detachably connected to a data input and output connector of a main body of a digital recording device; a communication port configured to allow a plug of a data communication cable, which is used to perform data communication with some other device, to be inserted therein; and a bridge unit for connecting the detachable connector with a hard disc drive using a pass-through method, and performing interface conversion so that data communication can be performed between the some other device, which is connected to the communication port, and the hard disc drive.

[2] The detachable hard disc drive rack according to claim 1, wherein, when a data communication signal from the some other device is input through the communication port while the hard disc drive and the main body of the digital recording device are connected to each other, the bridge unit is configured to perform a control operation of preventing the hard disc drive from being doubly connected by interrupting the input data communication signal.

[3] The detachable hard disc drive rack according to claim 2, wherein the bridge unit detects a data communication signal or a flow of current between the hard disc drive and the main body of the digital recording device and, thus, detects a connection status therebetween.

[4] The detachable hard disc drive rack according to claim 1, wherein the communication port is configured to perform data communication based on a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface protocol or an Institute of Electrical or Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394 interface protocol.

[5] The detachable hard disc drive rack according to claim 1, further comprising a power jack for applying power to the hard disc drive.