Hand held storage device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10068619-B1
Application number	US-201414341653-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jul 25, 2014
Priority date	Jul 25, 2014
Publication date	Sep 4, 2018
Grant date	Sep 4, 2018

Abstract

A hand held data storage apparatus includes a disk-based storage device, an interface configured for data transfer with the storage device, and an enclosure that encapsulates the storage device and the interface, wherein the enclosure is configured with a rectangular mobile phone form factor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hand held data storage apparatus, comprising:
a disk-based storage drive comprising one or more of a hard disk drive or a solid state hybrid drive, wherein the one or more of the hard disk drive or the solid state hybrid drive comprises one or more magnetic disks;
an interface configured for data transfer with the disk-based storage drive, wherein:
power for the disk-based storage drive is provided exclusively by an external source via the interface and not by an internal battery;
the interface is coupled to the disk-based storage drive via a storage drive connector; and
the disk-based storage drive receives power from the external source and communicates data with an external device, via the storage drive connector and the interface; and

an enclosure that encapsulates the disk-based storage drive and the interface, wherein:
the disk-based storage drive and the coupled interface substantially extends along a longest axis of the enclosure;
the enclosure is configured with a rectangular mobile phone form factor of a mobile phone; and
the rectangular mobile phone form factor provides compatibility with mobile phone accessories for the mobile phone;

wherein the hand held data storage apparatus is not a mobile phone.

2. The hand held data storage apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the interface is configured as a circuit board arranged adjacent to the disk-based storage drive in a common two-dimensional plane.

3. The hand held data storage apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the disk-based storage drive has a 2.5-inch media drive form factor.

4. The hand held data storage apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the disk-based storage drive has a 1.8-inch media drive form factor.

5. The hand held data storage apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the interface comprises:
at least one port for supplying power from the external source to the disk-based storage drive and for wired data transfer from and to the disk-based storage drive;
a wireless transceiver configured to perform wireless data transfer from and to the disk-based storage drive; and
a processor for controlling whether transfer of data from and to the external device is wired or wireless.

6. The hand held data storage apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the at least one port provides USB connectivity.

7. The hand held data storage apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the at least one port provides Thunderbolt connectivity.

8. The hand held data storage apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the wireless transceiver is WiFi compatible.

9. The hand held data storage apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the wireless transceiver is Bluetooth compatible.

10. The hand held data storage apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure comprises:
a first section of a metal material configured to protect the disk-based storage drive; and
a second section of a plastic material configured to protect the interface while permitting electromagnetic energy penetration.

11. A portable data storage apparatus, comprising:
a disk-based storage drive comprising one or more of a hard disk drive or a solid state hybrid drive, wherein the one or more of the hard disk drive or the solid state hybrid drive comprises one or more magnetic disks;
an interface configured for data transfer with the disk-based storage drive and to provide power to the disk-based storage drive, wherein:
power for the disk-based storage drive is exclusively provided by an external source via the interface and not by an internal battery;
the interface is coupled to the disk-based storage drive via a storage drive connector; and
the disk-based storage drive receives power from the external source and communicates data with an external device, via the storage drive connector and the interface; and

an enclosure that encapsulates the disk-based storage drive and the interface, wherein:
the disk-based storage drive and the coupled interface substantially extends along a longest axis of the enclosure;
the enclosure is configured with a slim thickness and a rectangular aspect ratio suitable for a hand held apparatus; and
the slim thickness and the rectangular aspect ratio provide compatibility with mobile phone accessories for a mobile phone;

wherein the portable data storage apparatus is not a mobile phone.

12. The portable data storage apparatus of claim 11 , wherein a range of the rectangular aspect ratio is about 1.8:1 to 2:1.

13. The portable data storage apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the enclosure is configured with a surface area in a range of about 9800 mm 2 to 13,600 mm 2 .

14. The portable data storage apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the enclosure is configured with a length within a range of about 140 mm to 160 mm.

15. The portable data storage apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the enclosure is configured with a width within a range of about 70 mm to 85 mm.

16. The portable data storage apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the enclosure is configured with a thickness of about 6 mm to 15 mm.

17. The portable data storage apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the enclosure is configured with a thickness of about 7 mm to 11 mm.

18. A portable data storage apparatus, comprising:
a disk-based storage drive comprising one or more of a hard disk drive or a solid state hybrid drive, wherein the one or more of the hard disk drive or the solid state hybrid drive comprises one or more magnetic disks;
an interface configured for data transfer with the storage drive and to provide power to the storage drive, wherein:
power for the storage drive is provided exclusively by an external source via the interface and not by an internal battery;
the interface is coupled to the storage drive via a storage drive connector; and
the storage drive receives power from the external source and communicates data with an external device, via the storage drive connector and the interface; and

an enclosure that encapsulates the storage drive and the interface, wherein:
the disk-based storage drive and the coupled interface substantially extends along a longest axis of the enclosure;
the enclosure is configured having an area to thickness ratio of about 1200:1 to 2500:1; and
the area to thickness ratio provides compatibility with mobile phone accessories for a mobile phone;

wherein the portable data storage apparatus is not a mobile phone.

19. The portable data storage apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the enclosure is configured with a length within a range of about 140 mm to 160 mm.

20. The portable data storage apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the enclosure is configured with a width within a range of about 70 mm to 85 mm.

21. The portable data storage apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the enclosure is configured with a thickness of about 6 mm to 15 mm.

22. The portable data storage apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the enclosure is configured with a thickness of about 7 mm to 11 mm.

23. The portable data storage apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the enclosure is configured with a surface area in a range of about 9800 mm 2 to 13,600 mm 2 .

Assignees

• Western Digital Tech Inc

Inventors

• Chew David W
• Hitchner Thomas J

Classifications

• H04M1/724092

  Interfacing with an external cover providing additional functionalities · CPC title

• H04M1/72409

  by interfacing with external accessories (hands-free H04M1/60) · CPC title

• H04M1/0256 Primary

  wherein the modules are operable in the detached state, e.g. one module for the user interface and one module for the transceiver · CPC title

• H04M1/185

  Improving the shock resistance of the housing, e.g. by increasing the rigidity · CPC title

• H04M1/04

  Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers · CPC title