Patent ID: 7145776
Filing Date: 2006-12-05
Classification: G11B,H05K

Abstract:
1. A bulkhead assembly for connecting storage disk drives to a control board module, the bulkhead assembly comprising: a bulkhead having a front wall, a base surface extending generally perpendicularly from the front wall, and a rear wall extending generally perpendicularly from the base surface and opposite the front wall; a plurality of spaced-apart disk-drive guides coupled generally perpendicular to the front wall of the bulkhead, each disk-drive guide having a surface with a groove formed therein for receiving a side edge of a storage disk drive, the grooves in opposing surfaces of an adjacent pair of spaced-apart disk-drive guides defining a slot into which the storage disk drive can be slidably inserted; a plurality of electrical connectors connected to the front wall, each electrical connector being aligned within a different disk-drive slot for connecting to a storage disk drive slidably received therein and for conveying data signals exchanged between that storage disk drive and the control board module; and an electrical connector connected to the rear wall of the bulkhead for making electrical connection to the control board module, the electrical connector connected to the rear wall being directly connected by electrical wiring to each of the electrical connectors connected to the front wall of the bulkhead, the control board module exchanging data signals with each of the storage disk drives in the disk-drive slots through the same electrical connector connected to the rear wall.