SSD Cable Interface Mounting for Small-Form-Factor Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing demand for data storage in smaller and thinner form factors, such as EDSFF E3, poses challenges in mechanical integrity and ease of installation/removal of data storage media components due to reduced connection features, leading to susceptibility to breakage and difficulty in securement.
Innovation Solution
The design of cable interface devices with mounting studs and protrusions that align and secure within complementary housing features, providing mechanical rigidity and ease of insertion/removal, while accommodating various connector types like 1C, 2C, and 4C connectors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If data storage media are made in smaller and thinner form factors, then storage density and space utilization are improved, but mechanical integrity and susceptibility to breakage worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The cable interface device is divided into separate components including a body, mounting assembly with studs, and housing with recesses. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the body can be compact for small form factor while the mounting assembly provides external structural support to prevent breakage during installation and removal
Solution Approach 2:
The cable interface device body is nested within the housing, with the mounting studs extending from the body into complementary recesses in the housing. This nested structure allows the compact body to benefit from the additional mechanical strength and alignment provided by the larger housing structure, effectively combining small size with enhanced durability
2Volume of moving object
If connection features are reduced in smaller form factors, then space efficiency is improved, but ease of installation and removal worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting mechanism extends the connection interface from the traditional planar connector area into the third dimension with studs extending perpendicular from the body into recesses in the housing. This vertical dimension provides additional mechanical engagement points that facilitate easy installation and removal without requiring larger lateral connection features
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting studs and complementary recesses act as intermediary mechanical features that mediate between the compact cable interface device body and the housing. These intermediaries provide the necessary mechanical advantage for easy installation and removal operations even when the main body remains small, effectively decoupling form factor size from installation ease
3Manufacturing precision
If locating features are added to secure the cable interface device, then alignment precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than adding complex locating features across the entire device, the patent applies simple cylindrical studs at specific localized positions on the mounting assembly that engage with complementary recesses in the housing. This localized approach provides precise alignment where needed while keeping the rest of the device simple and compact
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting studs and recesses are designed to self-align during installation, with the cylindrical geometry providing automatic orientation and positioning. This self-aligning mechanism achieves high alignment precision without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms or precision machining throughout the entire device structure
Data Source
AI summary
Cable interface devices and mounting assemblies are provided for data storage assemblies. A data storage assembly can include media, such as a solid-state drive, a cable interface housing, and a cable interface housing locating feature. A cable interface device is mounted within the cable interface housing. The cable interface device includes a body extending in a first direction that defines an opening at the front side with a protruding connector of a solid-state drive extended through the opening. The cable interface device further includes electrically conductive contacts at least partially disposed inside the body and exposed to the opening. The cable interface device also includes a cable interface device locating feature positioned on, or defined by, the body and complementary in shape to the cable interface housing locating feature, to collectively locate the cable interface device within the cable interface housing.