Shared disk drive component system

{
  "publication_number": "US10943617B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Shared disk drive component system",
  "abstract": "A server box embodiment is disclosed that generally comprises an array of dummy HDDs that share a common set of universal disk drive components in a master components module, or power module. Each dummy HDDs is constructed without expensive onboard chipsets that control the normal functionality of a standard HDD. By sharing expensive chipsets in a master components module (power module) money can be saved in building and selling the dummy HDD server. Embodiments envision a power module possessing the needed chipset functionality that is missing in a dummy HDD. The power module can be made to move from dummy HDD to dummy HDD supplying the necessary chipset in a shared manner when data is being stored or retrieved for client or end-user.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A power module comprising: a hard disk drive (HDD) microcontroller; a bus connector configured to connect with a power bus that provides power and communication to the power module; and a two position connector pin array that comprises a plurality of connector pins that correspond to an array of electrical pads from a dummy HDD, the dummy HDD devoid of at least an onboard HDD microcontroller, the two position connector pin array configured to connect with the dummy HDD when in a first position but not configured to connect with the dummy HDD when in a second position.",
    "2. The power module of claim 1 further comprising a hard disk drive solid state buffer memory chip.",
    "3. The power module of claim 1 wherein the hard disk drive microcontroller includes a hard disk drive motor controller.",
    "4. The power module of claim 1 further comprising a hard disk drive motor controller integrated circuit chip.",
    "5. The power module of claim 1 wherein the power bus possesses an individual electrical line corresponding to each of the electrical pins.",
    "6. The power module of claim 1 wherein the connector pins are spring-loaded.",
    "7. The power module of claim 1 wherein the power module comprises all functionality not onboard the dummy HDD that would otherwise complete a standalone HDD.",
    "8. The power module of claim 1 wherein the two position connector pin array is tilted downward in the first position and tilted upward in the second position.",
    "9. The power module of claim 1 wherein the power module attached to a carriage, the carriage is configured to traverse an array of dummy HDDs.",
    "10. The power module of claim 1 wherein the electrical pads extend from a periphery of the dummy HDD.",
    "11. A power module operation method comprising: supplying power and the communication link to the power module via a power and communication bus that is connected to the power module; receiving instructions to engage a dummy HDD; moving a two position connector pin array from a first position to a second position the pin array comprises a plurality of connector pins; after the moving step, electrically engaging the plurality of connector pins with a pad array disposed on the dummy HDD, the pad array that corresponds with the pin array; and providing controller functionality to the dummy HDD, the controller functionality required to bring the dummy HDD to a ready state, the dummy HDD devoid of at least an onboard HDD controller functionality.",
    "12. The power module operation method of claim 11 wherein the controller functionality is built-in to a hard disk drive microcontroller.",
    "13. The power module operation method of claim 11 further comprising disengaging the power module from the dummy HDD and moving the two position connector pin array from the second position to the first position.",
    "14. The power module operation method of claim 11 further comprising a hard disk drive motor controller integrated circuit chip on the power module, the dummy HDD devoid of motor controller capability.",
    "15. The power module operation method of claim 11 wherein the two position connector pin array rotates from the first position to the second position by way of a pivoting motion.",
    "16. The power module operation method of claim 11 wherein the power module further possesses a primary hard disk drive solid state buffer memory chip, the dummy HDD devoid of buffer memory functionality other than hard disks in the dummy HDD.",
    "17. The power module operating method of claim 11 wherein the pin array is tilted downward when in the first position and the connector pins are orthogonal to the pad array when in the second position.",
    "18. The power module operating method of claim 11 further comprising prior to the moving step, traversing an array of dummy HDDs with the pin array in the first position.",
    "19. A dummy HDD power module comprising: a hard disk drive (HDD) microcontroller with HDD microcontroller functionality; an HDD spindle motor controller with HDD spindle motor controller functionality configured to maintain HDD spindle motor speed within a tolerance of +/−0.2%; a bus connector configured to connect with a power bus that provides power and communication to the power module; and a two position connector pin array that comprises a plurality of connector pins that correspond to an array of electrical pads from a dummy HDD, the dummy HDD devoid of the HDD motor controller functionality and the spindle motor controller functionality, the two position connector pin array configured to connect with the dummy HDD when in a first position but not configured to connect with the dummy HDD when in a second position.",
    "20. The dummy HDD power module of claim 19 wherein the two position connector pin array is tilted downward in the first position and tilted upward in the second position."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to shared drive components used with multiple disk drives in an array of disk drives. 2. Description of Related Art The disk drive industry is becoming commoditized with the leveling off of data storage capacity and the rate at which data is extracted or sent for storage. Furthermore, the disk drive industry is getting ever increasing pressure from solid state drives (SSDs). Accordingly, manufacturers that use hard disk drives (HDDs) in their servers are running out of room on lower price or extracting profit from server system. In other words, there is not much financial margin today in manufacturing and selling servers constructed from HDDs. FIG. 1A illustratively depicts a prior art top view drawing of an HDD without a cover. In general, a magnetic HDD 99 fundamentally retains or otherwise stores digital data to a magnetic disk 10 via a magnetic recording head 8 that writes data tracks 14 while the disk is spinning under the magnetic recording head 8. An HDD 99 essentially comprises a head stack assembly, HSA, 17 that cooperates with a disk assembly 19 and the necessary electronics. With regards to the disk assembly 19, one or more magnetic disks 10 are stacked over a spindle motor 12 attached to the base-plate 18 and clamped in place via a clamping ring 9 screwed into the spindle motor 12 via bolts 11.",
  "cpc": [
    "G11B 19/28",
    "B65G 47/90",
    "G06F 3/0625",
    "G06F 3/0658",
    "G06F 3/0676",
    "G06F 3/0679",
    "G06F 9/44505",
    "G11B 19/08",
    "G11B 19/209",
    "G11B 23/0318",
    "G11B 33/0466",
    "G11B 33/126",
    "G11B 5/012",
    "G11B 5/2655",
    "H01R 12/714",
    "H01R 13/24",
    "H01R 13/642",
    "H01R 2201/06",
    "H05K 1/111",
    "H05K 1/117",
    "H05K 1/181",
    "H05K 2201/1009",
    "H05K 2201/10159",
    "H05K 2201/10189",
    "H05K 2201/10204",
    "H05K 7/1489"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B65G 47/90",
    "G06F 3/06",
    "G06F 9/445",
    "G11B 19/08",
    "G11B 19/20",
    "G11B 19/28",
    "G11B 33/04",
    "G11B 33/12",
    "G11B 5/265",
    "H01R 13/24",
    "H01R 13/642",
    "H05K 1/11",
    "H05K 1/18",
    "H05K 7/14"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "NESPECA NICHOLAS ALDO",
    "BENSON JON",
    "NEISEN STEPHEN P",
    "NINESLING MATT JOHN",
    "SPECTRA LOGIC CORP"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "NESPECA NICHOLAS ALDO",
    "BENSON JON",
    "NEISEN STEPHEN P",
    "NINESLING MATT JOHN"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2020-03-16",
  "publication_date": "2021-03-09",
  "grant_date": "2021-03-09",
  "priority_date": "2019-03-14",
  "application_number": "US-202016820646-A",
  "family_id": "72422621",
  "citations": [
    "US2006039108A1",
    "US2008140921A1",
    "US2014174972A1",
    "US2018097301A1",
    "US7822917B2"
  ]
}