Retractable Cable Management for Portable Optical Drives
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable optical disk drives often face issues with connection cables, either requiring separate storage for detachable cables, which can be lost, or having fixed cables that are difficult to manage during storage due to their external location.
Innovation Solution
A retractable fixed connection cable is integrated within the external enclosure of the portable optical disk drive, allowing it to be stored internally without increasing the device's dimensions, using a configuration that maintains the same external dimensions as conventional SFF-8552 compliant drives and providing a cable access opening for extension and retraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a detachable connection cable is provided with the portable optical drive, then the cable can be separated for storage, but the cable may be lost and requires separate storage packaging
Solution Approach 1:
The connection cable is integrated into the portable optical drive enclosure, merging the cable storage function with the drive housing. The cable is received within the enclosure and secured by a retention feature, eliminating the need for separate storage packaging while preventing loss.
2Reliability
If a fixed connection cable is externally attached to the portable optical drive, then the cable is permanently attached, but the cable is difficult to manage during storage
Solution Approach 1:
The connection cable is configured to be extendable and retractable within the enclosure. The cable can be extended when needed for connection and retracted into the enclosure for storage, providing dynamic cable management that adapts to different operational states.
3Reliability
If a retractable fixed connection cable is integrated within the external enclosure, then cable loss is prevented and storage is simplified, but the enclosure structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure is divided into functional zones: a cable access opening for cable extension, an internal cavity for cable retraction and storage, and a retention feature for securing the cable. This segmentation organizes the complex functions into distinct, manageable components.
4Volume of stationary object
If additional enclosure volume is added to accommodate the retractable cable, then cable storage space is increased, but the device dimensions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connection cable is nested within the existing enclosure volume. The cable is received within the enclosure and can be retracted into the internal cavity, utilizing existing space efficiently without requiring additional external dimensions.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and methods for managing a connection cable that is used for interconnecting a small form factor (SFF) portable optical disk drive (ODD) or other similarly configured ODD to an information handling system such as notebook or desktop computer. A retractable fixed connection cable may be provided inside an internal cavity within the external enclosure of a portable ODD apparatus that has an inner chassis with a disk receiving section that is configured to receive an optical disk media and that extends beyond the outer boundary of an electronics section of the inner chassis of an ODD that contains electronic components so as to form a cut-out section that defines the internal cavity between the inner ODD chassis and the inside of an outer ODD enclosure when these components are assembled together.