Adjustable data storage drive module carrier assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9501110-B2
Application number	US-201514732448-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 5, 2015
Priority date	Jun 5, 2014
Publication date	Nov 22, 2016
Grant date	Nov 22, 2016

Abstract

A data storage sled is provided. The data storage sled includes a circuit card assembly comprising connectors that couple to drive modules and a host connector for coupling the data storage sled to an external connector, an enclosure comprising hinged covers each configured to cover apertures in the enclosure thorough which individual ones of the drive modules can be inserted into an associated connector on the circuit card assembly. The data storage sled also includes drive module mounting assembles configured to hold the individual ones of the drive modules into the associated connector by at least including movable mounting features to accommodate varying lengths among the individual ones of the drive modules.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A data storage sled, comprising:
a circuit card assembly comprising a plurality of connectors that couple to drive modules and a host connector for coupling the data storage sled to an external connector;
an enclosure comprising hinged covers each configured to cover a plurality of apertures in the enclosure through which individual ones of the drive modules can be inserted into an associated connector on the circuit card assembly;
drive module mounting assembles configured to hold the individual ones of the drive modules into the associated connector by at least including movable mounting features to accommodate varying lengths among the individual ones of the drive modules.

2. The data storage sled of claim 1 , wherein the drive modules each comprise M.2 solid state drive (SSD) modules, and wherein the mounting assemblies are configured to hold M.2 SSD modules of the varying lengths at least comprising 60 millimeters, 80 millimeters, and 110 millimeters.

3. The data storage sled of claim 1 , comprising:
the drive module mounting assembles comprising a coarse adjustment features and fine adjustment features, the coarse adjustment features configured to select among standardized lengths of the drive modules and the fine adjustment features configured to hold an associated drive module in the associated connector and compensate for variability in the standardized lengths of the drive modules.

4. The data storage sled of claim 3 , wherein the fine adjustment features are configured to hold the associated drive module in the associated connector using a spring-loaded end mount which engages an end of the associated drive module opposite of the connector and holds the associated drive module into the connector.

5. The data storage sled of claim 3 , wherein the coarse adjustment features comprise arms on the drive module mounting assembles which locate into side channels of the enclosure to select among the standardized lengths of the drive modules.

6. The data storage sled of claim 5 , wherein the side channels of the enclosure comprise a plurality of widened slot features to accommodate the arms at predetermined locations corresponding to the standardized lengths of the drive modules.

7. The data storage sled of claim 1 , further comprising:
an ejection spring within the enclosure configured to engage a pin of a storage assembly upon insertion of the data storage sled into the storage assembly, wherein the ejection spring is compressed due to the insertion of the data storage sled into the storage assembly;
a channel in the enclosure that allows the pin of the storage assembly clearance to engage the ejection spring and prevent insertion of the data storage sled in an incorrect orientation into the storage assembly.

8. The data storage sled of claim 7 , further comprising:
an ejection button configured to eject the data storage sled from the storage assembly using compression of the ejection spring to disengage the data storage sled from the storage assembly, the ejection button coupled to a latch feature of the data storage sled that engages a slot in the storage assembly to hold the data storage sled in the storage assembly while the ejection spring remains compressed.

9. The data storage sled of claim 8 , further comprising:
an indicator light coupled to the ejection button and configured to indicate at least an ejection status of the data storage sled.

10. The data storage sled of claim 1 , wherein the drive modules each comprise a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) interface which couples to the associated connector of the circuit card assembly; and further comprising:
a PCIe switch coupled to the circuit card assembly and configured to communicatively couple associated PCIe interfaces of the drive modules over the host connector comprising at least one PCIe interface.

11. A data storage assembly comprising a plurality of removable data storage sleds, comprising:
guide fins configured to partition the data storage assembly into a plurality of bays each configured to hold an associated data storage sled;
compression pins included in each of the plurality of bays to engage ejection springs of the data storage sleds;
each of the plurality of data storage sleds comprising:
a circuit card assembly comprising a plurality of connectors that couple to drive modules and a host connector for coupling the data storage sled to an external connector;
an enclosure comprising hinged covers each configured to cover a plurality of apertures in the enclosure through which individual ones of the drive modules can be inserted into an associated connector on the circuit card assembly;
drive module mounting assembles configured to hold the individual ones of the drive modules into the associated connector by at least including movable mounting features to accommodate varying lengths among the individual ones of the drive modules.

12. The data storage assembly of claim 11 , wherein the drive modules each comprise M.2 solid state drive (SSD) modules, and wherein the mounting assemblies are configured to hold M.2 SSD modules of the varying lengths at least comprising 60 millimeters, 80 millimeters, and 110 millimeters.

13. The data storage assembly of claim 11 , each of the plurality of data storage sleds comprising:
the drive module mounting assembles comprising a coarse adjustment features and fine adjustment features, the coarse adjustment features configured to select among standardized lengths of the drive modules and the fine adjustment features configured to hold an associated drive module in the associated connector and compensate for variability in the standardized lengths of the drive modules.

14. The data storage assembly of claim 13 , wherein the fine adjustment features are configured to hold the associated drive module in the associated connector using a spring-loaded end mount which engages an end of the associated drive module opposite of the connector and holds the associated drive module into the connector.

15. The data storage assembly of claim 13 , wherein the coarse adjustment features comprise arms on the drive module mounting assembles which locate into side channels of the enclosure to select among the standardized lengths of the drive modules.

16. The data storage assembly of claim 15 , wherein the side channels of the enclosure comprise a plurality of widened slot features to accommodate the arms at predetermined locations corresponding to the standardized lengths of the drive modules.

17. The data storage assembly of claim 11 , each of the plurality of data storage sleds further comprising:
an ejection spring within the enclosure configured to engage an associated one of the compression pins of the storage assembly upon insertion of the data storage sled into the data storage assembly, wherein the ejection spring is compressed due to the insertion of the data storage sled into the data storage assembly;
a channel in the enclosure that allows the associated one of the compression pins of the data storage assembly clearance to engage the ejection spring and prevent insertion of the data storage sled in an incorrect orientation into the data storage assembly.

18. The data storage assembly of claim 17 , each of the plurality of data storage sleds further comprising:
an ejection button configured to eject the data storage sled from the data storage assembly using compression of the ejection spring to disengage the data storage sled from the data storage assembly, the ejection button coupled to a latch fe

Assignees

• Liqid Inc

Inventors

• Heyd Andrew Rudolph
• Rust Brenden Michael
• Walsh Seth
• Breakstone Jason
• Long Christopher R

Classifications

• G06F1/187 Primary

  Mounting of fixed or removable disk drives · CPC title

• H05K7/1487

  Blade assemblies, e.g. blade cases or inner arrangements within a blade · CPC title

• G11B33/128

  of the plurality of recording/reproducing devices, e.g. disk drives, onto a chassis · CPC title