Hard disk hot plug connector

Abstract

The utility model provides a hard disk hot plug connector, which is connected with or separated from external equipment and comprises a connector body, and a connecting module, a signal processing module and a function conversion module are arranged on the connector body. The connection module is used for being connected with the external equipment, and the function conversion module is connected to the connection module so as to switch the functions of the connection module; the signal processing module is connected to the function conversion module so as to receive a switching signal of the function conversion module. The hard disk connector solves the technical problem that a traditional hard disk connector cannot timely identify the plugging state.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of server technology, and more specifically to a hard disk hot-swappable connector. Background Technology

[0002] In the current field of computer storage, hard drives, as critical data storage devices, are crucial for their hot-swappable performance. Traditional hard drive connectors have certain design limitations, focusing only on basic signal transmission and power supply functions during hot-swapping. For example, during connection, the ground or pre-charge pin typically contacts first, followed by the high-speed signal pins. While this can prevent the impact of static electricity and surge current on high-speed signal and power lines to some extent, it cannot accurately indicate to the system whether the hard drive is fully inserted. This leads to situations where, in practical applications, when a hard drive is inserted, the system may not be able to promptly ascertain its accurate status, initiating operations before the power supply is stable, resulting in abnormal phenomena such as data transmission errors, system crashes, or even hard drive damage. Conversely, when a hard drive is removed, the lack of an effective early warning mechanism prevents the system from preparing for power-off in time, potentially causing data loss or cached data corruption. Utility Model Content

[0003] The purpose of this utility model is to overcome the defects of the prior art and provide a hard disk hot-swappable connector, which aims to solve the technical problem that traditional hard disk connectors cannot identify the plugging and unplugging status in a timely manner.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0005] A hard drive hot-swappable connector for connecting or disconnecting from an external device includes a connector body. The connector body is provided with a connection module, a signal processing module, and a function conversion module. The connection module is used to connect to the external device. The function conversion module is connected to the connection module to switch the function of the connection module. The signal processing module is connected to the function conversion module to receive the switching signal from the function conversion module.

[0006] In one embodiment, the connection module includes a connection component and a grounding component. The connection component and the grounding component are disposed adjacent to each other. The connection component is used to connect to the external device. One end of the grounding component is used to connect to the external device, and the other end is connected to the function conversion module to switch the function of the grounding component.

[0007] In one embodiment, the grounding component includes a plurality of grounding pins, and when the connector body is connected to the external device, the function conversion module switches one of the grounding pins to a status pin.

[0008] In one embodiment, when the connector body is separated from the external device, the function switching module switches the status pin to the ground pin.

[0009] In one embodiment, the function conversion module includes a conversion circuit and a control unit. The conversion circuit is connected to the grounding component and is used to realize the electrical function conversion between the grounding pin and the status pin. The control unit is connected to the conversion circuit and is used to control the working state of the conversion circuit.

[0010] In one embodiment, the grounding pin is elastically connected to the connector body to enable switching between the grounding pin and the status pin.

[0011] In one embodiment, the length of the ground pin is greater than that of the status pin.

[0012] In one embodiment, the grounding pin is 4.4 mm long and the status pin is 2.9 mm long.

[0013] In one embodiment, the signal processing module includes a signal filtering unit and a signal judgment unit. The signal filtering unit is used to filter out interference signals in the switching signal, and the signal judgment unit is used to judge the switching signal.

[0014] In one embodiment, the connector body is further provided with a status indication module, which is connected to the signal processing module to display the connection status between the connector body and the external device.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this utility model compared with the prior art are as follows: by specifically processing the grounding pins of different types of hard disk interfaces, adjusting their length and converting their function into status pins, and cooperating with the internal circuit of the hard disk, the accurate detection and signal transmission of the hard disk insertion and removal status are realized, which significantly improves the reliability and stability of hard disk hot-swapping and ensures the normal operation of the storage system during the hard disk hot-swapping operation.

[0016] The above description is only an overview of the technical solution of this utility model. In order to better understand the technical means of this utility model, it can be implemented according to the contents of the specification. In order to make the above and other objects, features and advantages of this utility model more obvious and easy to understand, the following are preferred embodiments, which are described in detail below. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a hard drive hot-swappable connector provided by this utility model;

[0018] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of a hard disk hot-swappable connector provided by this utility model;

[0019] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a signal processing module for a hard disk hot-swappable connector provided by this utility model;

[0020] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a function conversion module for a hard disk hot-swappable connector provided by this utility model;

[0021] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the working state of a hard disk hot-swappable connector provided by this utility model.

[0022] Figure Labels

[0023] 1. Connector body; 2. Connection module; 21. Connection component; 22. Grounding component; 221. Grounding pin; 222. Status pin; 3. Signal processing module; 31. Signal filtering unit; 32. Signal judgment unit; 4. Function conversion module; 41. Conversion circuit; 42. Control unit; 5. Status indication module. Detailed Implementation

[0024] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this utility model clearer, the present utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0025] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0026] It should be understood that, when used in this specification and the appended claims, the terms "comprising" and "including" indicate the presence of the described features, integrals, steps, operations, elements and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integrals, steps, operations, elements, components and / or collections thereof.

[0027] It should also be understood that the terminology used in this specification is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0028] It should also be further understood that the term "and / or" as used in this specification and the appended claims refers to any combination of one or more of the associated listed items and all possible combinations, and includes such combinations.

[0029] See Figures 1 to 5 As shown in the figure, this utility model discloses a hard disk hot-swappable connector for connecting or disconnecting from external devices. It includes a connector body 1, on which a connection module 2, a signal processing module 3, and a function conversion module 4 are provided. The connection module 2 is used to connect to the external device. The function conversion module 4 is connected to the connection module 2 to switch the function of the connection module 2. The signal processing module 3 is connected to the function conversion module 4 to receive the switching signal from the function conversion module 4.

[0030] Specifically, connector body 1 is the physical carrier of the entire hard drive hot-swappable connector, protecting the internal modules from external physical impacts and electromagnetic interference. Its size and shape ensure accurate adaptation and installation with the hard drive and external devices, maintaining structural integrity during repeated insertion and removal operations. Connection module 2, as a crucial part for establishing electrical connections with external devices, tightly integrates with the external device interface to ensure high-speed and accurate data transmission as well as stable power supply. It is understood that it adopts standardized interface pin designs, such as the pin layouts in common SFF-8639(U.2), E1.S, E1.L, E3.S, E3.L, and M.2 interface standards, to achieve broad compatibility with different devices. Specific models are not specifically limited in this embodiment. Function conversion module 4 is used to dynamically adjust the function of connection module 2. During hard drive insertion or removal, the functions of relevant pins in connection module 2 are switched according to specific electrical signal changes and preset logic rules. For example, during the initial insertion of the hard drive, the connection module 2 may maintain its normal functions. When the hard drive is detected to be nearly fully inserted, a function switching operation is triggered, changing the functional attributes of specific pins. This dynamic switching capability is one of the core elements for realizing intelligent control of hard drive hot-swapping, ensuring that the system can correctly identify the hard drive status and respond accordingly at different insertion and removal stages. The signal processing module 3 is responsible for receiving the switching signal from the function switching module 4, identifying the valid signal through a logic judgment circuit, and transmitting the processed accurate signal to the system's control unit 42 for analysis and processing. This enables the system to perform subsequent operations based on the actual state of the hard drive, such as starting the hard drive initialization program or executing a safe shutdown procedure.

[0031] In one embodiment, the connection module 2 includes a connection component 21 and a grounding component 22. The connection component 21 and the grounding component 22 are arranged adjacent to each other. The connection component 21 is used to connect to the external device. One end of the grounding component 22 is used to connect to the external device, and the other end is connected to the function conversion module 4 to switch the function of the grounding component 22.

[0032] Specifically, the connection component 21 is structurally designed to precisely adapt to common external device interfaces. Whether it's a server, storage array, or other compatible device, as long as it follows standard interface specifications, the connection component 21 can accurately interface with it. Understandably, the connection component 21 uses standardized pin arrangements and dimensions. During insertion and removal, the pins can be tightly and securely embedded in the corresponding slots of the external device interface, ensuring a low-resistance, high-stability electrical connection, laying the foundation for high-speed data transmission and stable power supply. Further, in this embodiment, the connection component 21 is a gold finger for connecting to external devices, specifically in the form of a row of metal sheets or pins arranged on the contact surface of the connector body 1. These metal parts are generally made of highly conductive materials such as copper or copper alloys and undergo special gold plating treatment, thereby achieving electrical connection and signal transmission when the connector body 1 interfaces with the external device. For different interface standards (such as SFF-8639(U.2), E1.S, E1.L, E3.S, E3.L, M.2, etc.), the number, arrangement, spacing and functional definition of the gold fingers are different to meet the connection requirements and electrical performance requirements of the corresponding devices.

[0033] In one embodiment, the grounding component 22 includes a plurality of grounding pins 221. When the connector body 1 is connected to the external device, the function conversion module 4 switches one of the grounding pins 221 to a status pin 222.

[0034] Specifically, the grounding component 22 includes several grounding pins 221 (i.e., GND pins). The number of grounding pins 221 is rationally configured according to different interface standards (such as SFF-8639(U.2), E1.S, E1.L, E3.S, E3.L, M.2, etc.) and the electrical grounding requirements of external devices to ensure sufficient grounding paths under various operating conditions and achieve stable grounding performance. In terms of layout, the grounding pins 221 are distributed at key points where the connector connects to external devices, cooperating with the signal pins of the connection component 21 to avoid signal interference and ensure the shortest possible grounding path, reducing grounding impedance.

[0035] When connector body 1 is connected to an external device, function conversion module 4 accurately selects one of the grounding pins 221 for function conversion based on pre-set logic rules and detected changes in electrical parameters. It can be understood that GND pins include three main categories: idle GND, signal shield GND, and power circuit GND. The priority for function conversion is as follows: idle GND > signal shield GND > power circuit GND. When the hard drive insertion process reaches a specific stage, such as when all mechanical connections are in place and initial electrical contact is stable, the control circuit within function conversion module 4 quickly disconnects the grounding pin 221 from the original grounding line. Then, through internal signal modulation circuitry, it selects a grounding pin 221 according to this priority and reconfigures it into a status pin 222 capable of transmitting specific status information.

[0036] In one embodiment, when the connector body 1 is separated from the external device, the function conversion module 4 switches the status pin 222 to the ground pin 221.

[0037] Specifically, when the connector body 1 begins to separate from the external device, the function conversion module 4 constantly monitors the connection status. By capturing signals indicating changes in status, such as decreased contact pressure or changes in the current loop, it confirms the start of the separation action. The function conversion module 4 responds quickly according to a preset reverse conversion program. At this time, the pin that originally transmitted hard drive insertion status information as status pin 222 needs to restore its original grounding function to ensure the electrical stability of the device in subsequent states. The switching circuit in the function conversion module 4 quickly operates, disconnecting the connection between status pin 222 and the relevant signal transmission line, while re-establishing its path with the ground line, making status pin 222 become ground pin 221, thus once again assuming the responsibility of providing a stable ground reference potential for the device.

[0038] In one embodiment, the function conversion module 4 includes a conversion circuit 41 and a control unit 42. The conversion circuit 41 is connected to the grounding component 22 and is used to realize the electrical function conversion between the grounding pin 221 and the status pin 222. The control unit 42 is connected to the conversion circuit 41 and is used to control the working state of the conversion circuit 41.

[0039] Specifically, the function conversion module 4, as the core hub for realizing the intelligent and dynamic functions of the hard drive hot-swappable connector, is constructed collaboratively by the conversion circuit 41 and the control unit 42. When it is necessary to convert the ground pin 221 to the status pin 222, the conversion circuit 41 quickly cuts off the connection path between the ground pin 221 and the ground, and simultaneously connects it to the signal conditioning circuit. At the same time, it optimizes the signal output by the status pin 222 so that it can be recognized by the system as valid information representing the hard drive insertion / removal status in a stable and accurate manner. In the reverse conversion, that is, when the status pin 222 is converted back to the ground pin 221, the conversion circuit 41 also operates in an orderly manner, restoring the grounding path and ensuring that the electrical performance of the device is not affected.

[0040] The control unit 42 incorporates a pre-programmed intelligent logic algorithm. Through close interaction with the connection status information fed back by the connection module 2 and the changes in electrical parameters transmitted by the signal processing module 3, it monitors the hard drive insertion and removal process in real time. Once a critical change in the status of the connection module 2 or the signal processing module 3 is detected, the control unit 42 immediately issues a precise command to the conversion circuit 41, triggering the corresponding function conversion action. It precisely controls each step of the conversion circuit 41's operation, ensuring that the entire conversion process is highly synchronized with the actual insertion and removal status of the hard drive.

[0041] In one embodiment, the grounding pin 221 is elastically connected to the connector body 1 to achieve switching between the grounding pin 221 and the status pin 222.

[0042] Specifically, the grounding pin 221 is connected to the connector body 1 using a flexible metal sheet or flexible contact, thereby achieving an elastic connection between the grounding pin 221 and the connector body 1. When the connector body 1 is connected to an external device, due to this elastic connection, the grounding pin 221 can undergo a certain degree of elastic deformation during insertion, depending on the slight positional difference of the external device interface or the different insertion forces. That is, under normal conditions, the grounding pin 221 maintains its grounding function, but when the insertion operation reaches a certain extent, the elastic connection allows the grounding pin 221 to undergo displacement or deformation under mechanical stress, creating conditions for the subsequent functional switching between the grounding pin 221 and the status pin 222.

[0043] Furthermore, during the insertion process, when the grounding pin 221 switches to the status pin 222, when a certain insertion depth or pressure is reached, the elastic deformation of the elastic connection part will push the grounding pin 221 to make closer contact with the conversion circuit 41 in the function conversion module 4 or cause the grounding pin 221 to separate from the original grounding line to a certain extent, thereby providing a physical basis for the function conversion module 4 to convert it to the status pin 222.

[0044] In one embodiment, the length of the ground pin 221 is greater than that of the status pin 222.

[0045] Specifically, during the connection process between the hard drive connector and external devices, the longer design of the grounding pin 221 ensures that it can make initial contact with the grounding portion of the external device. In the initial insertion phase, the long grounding pin 221 quickly establishes a stable grounding connection, providing a safe electrical reference for the entire system, promptly mitigating static electricity and electromagnetic interference generated by the device, and ensuring the stability of subsequent electrical signal transmission. The status pin 222, being relatively short, only becomes active after the hard drive has been inserted to a certain depth. When the grounding pin 221 has completed initial grounding and the hard drive is nearly fully inserted, the status pin 222 forms an effective connection with the relevant circuitry. At this point, the function conversion module 4 can convert it into a channel for transmitting hard drive insertion and positioning information according to system requirements.

[0046] During hot-swapping, the long ground pin 221 contacts first, effectively preventing damage to the hard drive and system from static electricity accumulation and electromagnetic interference caused by untimely grounding, thus enhancing the system's anti-interference capability. Secondly, the status pin 222 contacts later and switches functions, avoiding the transmission of incorrect status signals before the hard drive is fully seated. This improves the accuracy of hard drive insertion stability detection, reduces problems such as abnormal system startup or data transmission errors caused by misjudgments, enhances the reliability and stability of hard drive hot-swapping, and ensures the normal operation of the data storage system.

[0047] Furthermore, the grounding pin 221 has a length of 4.4 mm, and the status pin 222 has a length of 2.9 mm.

[0048] Specifically, in this embodiment, a 4.4 mm long grounding pin 221 is used to ensure sufficient contact with the corresponding grounding point when the hard drive is connected to the external device. In the initial stage of the insertion process, its sufficient length ensures the rapid establishment of the grounding path, efficiently conducting static electricity generated during device operation and potential external electromagnetic interference to the ground, creating a stable and safe electrical environment for the entire connection process. For example, in complex electronic device environments such as servers, there are numerous electromagnetic signals; the long grounding pin 221 can effectively resist these interferences, ensuring the normal operation of the hard drive and related devices. The 2.9 mm long status pin 222 is adapted to its specific functional requirements. As the hard drive insertion operation progresses, and the grounding is stably established and the hard drive is nearly fully inserted, the status pin 222 begins to function. At this point, its shorter length ensures accurate contact with the relevant circuit nodes at the appropriate time, so that it can be converted to function by the function conversion module 4, thereby reliably transmitting the hard drive insertion status signal to the system.

[0049] On the one hand, this ensures the orderly switching of grounding and status feedback functions in time and space, avoiding functional confusion or erroneous triggering caused by unreasonable pin lengths. During hard drive hot-swapping, this orderliness greatly improves the accuracy of the system's judgment of the hard drive status, effectively reducing abnormal situations such as system crashes and data read / write errors caused by misjudgments, and significantly improving the reliability of hard drive hot-swapping. On the other hand, the precise length design also helps optimize the internal space layout of the connector, achieving efficient allocation of pin functions within a limited space, improving the overall performance and stability of the connector, and providing strong support for the stable use of hard drives in different devices.

[0050] In one embodiment, the signal processing module 3 includes a signal filtering unit 31 and a signal judgment unit 32. The signal filtering unit 31 is used to filter out interference signals in the switching signal, and the signal judgment unit 32 is used to judge the switching signal.

[0051] Specifically, the signal filtering unit 31 is mainly responsible for purifying the switching signal from the function conversion module 4. In the actual operating environment of electronic equipment, there are various types of interference sources, such as electromagnetic radiation and power supply noise, which can mix into the switching signal. Understandably, by employing specific filtering techniques, such as capacitor filtering, inductor filtering, or a combination thereof, the signal filtering unit 31 can effectively remove high-frequency noise and other clutter interference, ensuring that the signal input to the signal judgment unit 32 has a high degree of purity.

[0052] The signal judgment unit 32 performs precise analysis and judgment based on the filtered signal. It has built-in preset logic rules and threshold settings, which are determined according to the electrical characteristics and state change patterns during the hard drive hot-swapping process. For example, when the received signal level remains stable within a specific time range and conforms to the preset level range for when the hard drive is properly inserted or removed, the signal judgment unit 32 can accurately determine the current state of the hard drive.

[0053] The effective filtering by the signal filtering unit 31 greatly improves signal quality and reduces the possibility of misjudgment caused by interference signals, enabling the signal judgment unit 32 to more reliably identify the true status of the hard drive. Simultaneously, the precise judgment capability of the signal judgment unit 32 provides the system with accurate hard drive status information, allowing the system to make appropriate responses based on this information. For example, it can safely initiate relevant operations after the hard drive is securely inserted, and perform timely data backup and system power-down preparation before the hard drive is removed. This improves the safety and stability of hard drive hot-swapping, effectively protecting data integrity and the normal operation of the device.

[0054] In one embodiment, the connector body 1 is further provided with a status indication module 5, which is connected to the signal processing module 3 to display the connection status between the connector body 1 and the external device.

[0055] Specifically, the main function of the status indicator module 5 is to intuitively display the connection status between the connector body 1 and the external device to the user. This function can be implemented in various ways; in this embodiment, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are used to indicate different statuses. When the connector is properly connected to the external device and the hard drive is securely inserted, the status indicator module 5 illuminates a green LED; when an abnormality occurs or the hard drive is being hot-swapped, a yellow or red LED illuminates to alert the user. Furthermore, after processing and judging the switching signal from the function conversion module 4, the signal processing module 3 transmits the final determined connection status information to the status indicator module 5. The status indicator module 5 drives the corresponding indicator element to operate based on the received information. This connection method ensures the timeliness and accuracy of the status indication, reflecting the hard drive's connection status in real time. Users do not need complex testing equipment or to check system logs; they can quickly understand the hard drive's connection status simply by observing the display of the status indicator module 5, making hot-swapping operations or system maintenance much easier. In scenarios such as server rooms, administrators can quickly scan the status indicator module 5 to promptly identify hard drive connection problems and take corresponding measures, which greatly improves work efficiency, reduces the time spent troubleshooting system failures caused by abnormal hard drive connections, and ensures the stable operation of the data storage system.

[0056] The above examples are merely illustrative of the technical content of this utility model to facilitate reader understanding, but do not imply that the implementation of this utility model is limited to these embodiments. Any technical extensions or re-creations made based on this utility model are protected by this utility model. The scope of protection of this utility model is defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A hard disk hot-swappable connector for connecting or disconnecting from external devices, characterized in that, The connector body is provided with a connection module, a signal processing module and a function conversion module; the connection module is used for connecting with the external device, the function conversion module is connected to the connection module to switch the function of the connection module; and the signal processing module is connected to the function conversion module to receive the switching signal of the function conversion module.

2. The hard disk hot plug connector of claim 1, wherein, The connection module comprises a connection component and a grounding component, the connection component is arranged adjacent to the grounding component, the connection component is used for plugging with the external device, and one end of the grounding component is used for connecting with the external device and the other end is connected to the function conversion module to switch the function of the grounding component.

3. The hard disk hot plug connector of claim 2, wherein, The grounding component comprises a plurality of grounding pins, when the connector body is connected with the external device, the function conversion module switches one grounding pin into a state pin.

4. The hard disk hot plug connector of claim 3, wherein, When the connector body is separated from the external device, the function conversion module switches the state pin into the grounding pin.

5. The hard disk hot plug connector of claim 4, wherein, The function conversion module comprises a conversion circuit and a control unit, the conversion circuit is connected with the grounding component to realize the electrical function conversion between the grounding pin and the state pin, and the control unit is connected with the conversion circuit to control the working state of the conversion circuit.

6. The hard disk hot plug connector of claim 5, wherein, The grounding pin and the connector body are elastically connected to realize the switching between the grounding pin and the state pin.

7. The hard disk hot plug connector of claim 4, wherein, The length of the grounding pin is greater than that of the state pin.

8. The hard disk hot plug connector of claim 7, wherein, The length of the grounding pin is 4.4 mm and the length of the state pin is 2.9 mm.

9. The hard disk hot plug connector of claim 1, wherein, The signal processing module comprises a signal filtering unit and a signal judging unit, the signal filtering unit is used for filtering out the interference signal in the switching signal, and the signal judging unit is used for judging the switching signal.

10. The hot-swap hard disk drive connector of claim 1, wherein: The connector body is further provided with a state indicating module, the state indicating module is connected to the signal processing module to show the connection state of the connector body and the external device.

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