Hard Drive Bay Connector Multi-Bus Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Expanding the functionality of hard drive bays in computing systems is often labor-intensive and costly, requiring modifications to the blade server chassis or the addition of sidecars, which can be disadvantageous.

Innovation Solution

Providing a connector in the hard drive bay that offers access to multiple data communication buses of different types, allowing devices to be communicatively coupled to the appropriate bus, enabling the integration of various devices without the need for extensive modifications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a sidecar is added to the computing system or the blade server chassis is modified to expand functionality, then system functionality is expanded, but labor intensity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem functionalityVSAvoidlabor intensity and cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The hard drive bay connector is designed to provide universal access to multiple data communication buses (SAS, SATA, Fibre Channel, PCI Express) through a single interface. This multi-functionality allows the same physical bay to support various device types without requiring additional sidecars or chassis modifications, thereby expanding system functionality while reducing labor intensity and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If devices are added to expand system functionality, then adaptability improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice compatibilityVSAvoidconnector configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hard drive bay connector acts as an intermediary that bridges multiple data communication buses to various device types. By providing a unified interface that mediates between different bus protocols and device interfaces, the system achieves high device compatibility without increasing overall system complexity. The connector handles protocol translation and routing internally.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If hot swapping capability is enabled, then ease of operation improves, but reliability requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice replacement convenienceVSAvoiddata communication stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring the connector to provide access to multiple data communication buses and pre-establishing the necessary communication pathways. This allows devices to be hot-swapped without system reboots because the infrastructure for handling device transitions is already in place, maintaining both ease of operation and data communication stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8554974B2Expanding functionality of one or more hard drive bays in a computing system

Publication Date: 2013.10.08 LENOVO GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES SWITZERLAND INTERNATIONAL GMBH

AI summary

Methods, apparatus, and product are disclosed for expanding functionality of hard drive bays in a computing system that include: providing, by a connector in a hard drive bay, access to two or more data communication busses of different type; receiving, by the connector of the hard drive bay, a device mounted within the hard drive bay; and communicately coupling, by the connector of the hard drive bay, the device to one of the data communication busses.