Storage Drive Adapter for Multi-Drive Bay Density
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Solution Overview
Problem
Server systems are limited in storage density and RAID levels due to the fixed number of storage drive bays, making it costly and space-constrained to increase the number of storage drives, and current solutions do not allow for efficient hot plugging of multiple drives without interrupting system functionality.
Innovation Solution
A carrier module adapter that mechanically and electrically engages multiple storage drives with a single storage drive bay, using a dual ported storage drive connector and adapter board with multiple carrier module interfaces, enabling hot plugging and increasing storage density without adding bays, and allowing broader RAID level utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the number of storage drive bays is increased to improve storage density, then storage capacity increases, but system cost and physical space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple storage drive carrier modules (specifically two LSSH carrier modules) into a single storage drive bay through an adapter. This merging approach allows multiple drives to share one bay interface, thereby increasing storage density without proportionally increasing the number of bays or system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter enables a single storage drive bay to serve multiple functions by accommodating multiple different carrier modules simultaneously. The bay interface can now handle both traditional LSSH drives and the new multi-drive configuration, providing universal compatibility and increased versatility.
2Quantity of substance
If multiple storage drives are installed in a single bay to increase storage density, then storage capacity improves, but hot plugging capability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter divides the multi-drive system into independent, modular carrier modules. Each carrier module can be independently removed and inserted, allowing hot plugging of individual drives without affecting other drives in the same bay. This segmentation maintains ease of operation while achieving high storage density.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter acts as an intermediary between the storage drive bay interface and multiple carrier modules. It provides the necessary electrical and mechanical connections that enable independent hot plugging of each module while maintaining system integrity. The adapter mediates the interaction between the bay and multiple drives, preserving hot plugging capability.
3Device complexity
If the number of storage drive bays is limited to reduce system complexity, then device simplicity improves, but RAID level flexibility is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple carrier modules into a single bay, the system achieves equivalent RAID configuration capabilities to having multiple separate bays. The adapter allows up to eight drives to be connected through one bay interface, providing sufficient drives for various RAID levels (0, 1, 5, 6, 10, etc.) without increasing physical bay count or system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage drive adapter may comprise an adapter board, which may include a first and second carrier module interface to removably engage with a first and a second storage drive carrier module, respectively. The adapter board may further include a dual ported storage drive connector to engage with a complementary storage drive bay interface. The dual ported storage drive connector may include a first port to provide a first signal path from the complementary storage drive bay interface to the first carrier module interface. Similarly, the dual ported storage drive connector may also include a second port to provide a second signal path from the complementary storage drive bay interface to the second carrier module interface.