Retaining Clip for SATA Interposer Strain Relief

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current interposers used in enterprise environments with consumer-grade SATA drives face issues of secure connection and strain relief, leading to potential physical damage when disconnected from HDDs due to low insertion force connectors.

Innovation Solution

A retaining clip is designed to securely attach an interposer to a mass storage device, featuring a planar body with pegs and tabs that align with mounting holes, providing mechanical engagement and strain relief, and fins that press against the host system to prevent disengagement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a locking mechanism is used to mechanically engage with the SATA connector on the HDD, then secure connection is improved, but physical damage to the drive occurs upon unplugging due to stress transfer to the soldered connector

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection securityVSAvoidphysical damage to connector

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The retaining clip serves as an intermediary component between the interposer and the HDD connector. It provides mechanical engagement and strain relief by attaching to the interposer carrier board and securing it to the HDD, thereby preventing direct stress transfer to the vulnerable soldered connector while maintaining secure connection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The retaining clip is installed beforehand to provide cushioning protection to the connector. By securing the interposer to the HDD before any unplugging operation, it absorbs and distributes mechanical stress away from the connector, preventing physical damage during disconnection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Ease of operation

If low insertion force connectors are used for easy plug and unplug, then ease of operation is improved, but secure connection deteriorates leading to unwanted disengagement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplug and unplug easeVSAvoidconnection security

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The solution merges two opposing requirements by combining the low insertion force connector (for ease of operation) with the retaining clip mechanism (for secure connection). The retaining clip adds mechanical retention without interfering with the connector's inherent easy plug/unplug capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The connection system is segmented into two independent functions: the SATA connector handles electrical connection with low insertion force for ease of operation, while the retaining clip provides separate mechanical retention for secure connection. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its specific function without compromise

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9361945B2Retaining clip for use with a mass storage device

Publication Date: 2016.06.07 SANMINA CORP

AI summary

A retaining clip to be used with a storage device in a host computer system, wherein the retaining clip is configured to secure an interposer serving as electrical and logic state interface between the device and the structure of the host system. The retaining clip engages with the device through a peg inserted into a mounting hole for the device and secures the interposer by holding it against the device's data or power connector by a tab extending over the interposer and exerting pressure against it towards the device. Additional fins extending from the body of the clip in substantially opposite direction from the tab secure the tab against the enclosure of the host computer system.