Patent Publication Number: US-2005136742-A1

Title: Removable computer peripheral cartridge and related system and method

Description:
BACKGROUND  
      Some computers have removable cartridges that can be used with other computers. Typically, a first computer has a bay for receiving a removable cartridge. Consequently, one can use the cartridge with a second computer by either inserting the cartridge into a similar bay of the second computer, or by using a cable to connect the cartridge to the second computer. For example, one may use a desktop computer to record documents onto a removable hard-disk cartridge that is inserted into a bay of the desktop computer. To view the documents with a laptop computer while on vacation, one merely connects the hard-disk cartridge (which has previously been removed from the desktop computer) to the laptop using a cable.  
      Typically, a removable cartridge has a high-cycle-count (HCC) connector, such as an IDE/ATA connector, that is of higher quality, and is thus more reliable, than a standard external connector such as a USB or 1394 (Firewire) connector. Consequently, a HCC connector allows one to remove and insert a cartridge into the bays of one or more computers many times without wearing out the connector.  
      Unfortunately, to connect a removable cartridge to a computer having no compatible bay, one typically needs a special adapter to connect the cartridge to the computer via a standard cable. For example, suppose one wants to connect the cartridge to a USB port of a computer. He first inserts one end of a USB cable into the computer&#39;s USB port, and then connects the other end of the cable to one end of the adapter. Then he connects the other end of the adapter to the HCC connector of the cartridge. Fortunately, the manufacturer of the cartridge typically sells such an adapter. But unfortunately, this requires one to purchase and store the adapter for the situations where he may need to connect the cartridge to a standard computer port. Also, because each type of removable cartridge typically has a type-specific HCC connector, one is required to purchase and store a different adapter for each type of removable cartridge to be ported.  
     SUMMARY  
      In one embodiment of the invention, a cartridge includes a first connector such as an HCC connector, for mating with a connector disposed within a bay of a computer, and a second connector, such as a USB connector, for connecting to an external connector of the computer or of another computer. This scheme allows one to externally connect the cartridge to a computer with a cable without the need for a special adapter. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing the back of a cartridge having dual connectors according to an embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a modular electrical block diagram of the cartridge interface according to an embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 3  is an exploded view of a computer system that includes a computer having cartridge bays and of the cartridge of  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram of the computer system of  FIG. 3  showing the back panels of the computer and the cartridge and showing a cable connection between the computer and the cartridge according to an embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 5   a  is a front view of a computer system with an external bay housing a series of the cartridges of  FIG. 1  and shows a cable-connection scheme according to an embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 5   b  is a rear view of the computer system of  FIG. 5   a  according to an embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 6   a  is a block diagram of the cartridge of  FIG. 1  with a carrying handle according to an embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 6   b  is a block diagram of the cartridge of  FIG. 1  with an actuating cam attached to the carrying handle for insertion into a computer bay according to an embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 6   c  is a block diagram of the cartridge of  FIG. 1  with an interlock mechanism to prevent accidental removal of the cartridge from a bay during operation according to an embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , in one embodiment of the invention, a cartridge  13  includes a component  1 , such as a three and one-half-inch IDE/ATA hard disc, which is connected to interface electronics on a printed circuit board  6  with a standard internal HCC connector  2 , such as an IDE cable, and with a standard power connector  3 . The printed circuit board  6  interfaces the component  1  to external connectors  4 , 5 , and  15  via standard data cables  14  and standard power cables  12 . External to the cartridge  13 , one or more—here two standard external data connectors  4 , such as USB or 1394 connectors, are available for data connectivity, and the standard external power connector  5  is available for power connectivity. In addition, an external HCC connector  15  is available which provides both data and power connectivity. Because the cartridge has both standard external data connectors  4  and a HCC connector  15 , when one uses the cartridge externally he can connect a cable (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) directly to the standard external data connectors  4  without the need of an adapter to connect the cable to the external HCC connector  15 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 2 , the printed circuit board  6  of  FIG. 1  is shown in more detail according to an embodiment of the invention. The printed circuit board  6  is an interface between the component  1  and the external connectors  4 ,  5  and  15 . On the component side, the circuit board  6  connects to the component  1  with the standard internal HCC connector  2  and a standard internal power connector  3 . On the panel side, the circuit board  6  connects to one or more standard external data connectors  4 , such as USB or 1394 connectors, and also to an external HCC connector  15  via standard data cables  14 . The printed circuit board  6  also connects to a standard external power connector  5 , as well as to the external HCC connector  15  via standard power cables  12 .  
      Internally, the circuit board  6  includes a converter-connector  7  that interfaces the HCC connector  2  to the standard external data connectors  4  and external HCC connector  15 .  
      Still referring to  FIG. 2 , internally, the circuit board  6  also includes a 3.3-volt regulator  8  that receives the 12v supply signal from the standard external power connector  5  or the external HCC connector  15 , regulates the 12V to 3.3V and, provides the 3.3V to the converter-connector  7 . The circuit board  6  also includes a 5-volt regulator  9  that receives the 12V supply signal from the standard external power connector  5  or the external HCC connector  15 , regulates the 12V to 5V, and provides the 5V to the standard internal power connector  3 . The board also passes through the 12v supply signal from the standard external power connector  5  or the external HCC connector  15  to the standard internal power connector  3 . This provides the capability to power different components with different power requirements with any of the standard component power levels, 3.3V, 5V, or 12V.  
      Referring to  FIG. 3 , according to one embodiment of the invention, a computer  16  includes several cartridge bays  17  for inserting a cartridge such as the cartridge  13  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Two cartridges  13  are shown, one partially inserted and one external to the computer  16 . The external HCC connector  15  as well as the standard external data connectors  4  and the standard external power connector  5  are shown at the back of the cartridges  13 . At the back of each cartridge bay  17 , there is a cartridge bay HCC connector  18 , which mates with the external HCC connector  15  of the respective cartridge  13 . Upon the mating of the external HCC connector  15  to the cartridge bay HCC connector  18 , the cartridge effectively becomes part of the computer  16 . The standard external data connectors  4  and the standard external power connector  5  are not connected when the cartridge  13  is in the bay  17 . Although a laptop computer is shown, it is envisioned that any type of computer can have cartridge bays that are capable of receiving the cartridge  13 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 4 , in one embodiment of the invention, the cartridge  13  is external to a computer  33  with limited or no cartridge bays  17 . In this external mode, the cartridge  13  is connected to the back panel  28  of the computer  33  via one of the standard external data connectors  4  and a standard external data cable  29 , such as a USB or 1394 cable. Power is provided to the cartridge  13  via a standard power cord  30  connected to the external power connector  5 . Alternatively, the cartridge  13  may receive power from the computer  16  via the standard external data cable  29 . For example, where the component  1  within the cartridge  13  is a two-and-one-half-inch hard disk drive, then the cartridge  13  can typically draw power from the computer  16  via the standard external data cable  29 . Conversely, where the component  1  is a three-and-one-half-inch hard disk drive, then the cartridge  13  typically draws power from an external source (not shown) via the cable  30  and connector  5 . Consequently, because the cartridge  13  includes a standard connector  4 , one can connect the cartridge  13  to a standard external connector of the computer  33  without a special adapter to couple the cable  29  to the external HCC connector  15 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 3-4 , in one embodiment, the cartridge  13  includes a three-and-one-half-inch disk drive as the component  1 , which allows one to record and display video data such as movies or television programs. Suppose one wanted to store a number of television programs and then take them on a trip and view them while on the trip. One could plug the three-and-one-half-inch disk drive cartridge  13  into the cartridge bay  17  of a desktop computer (not shown) and record the television programs. Then, one could remove the cartridge  13  from the cartridge bay  17  and take the cartridge and a laptop computer  33  with him on his trip. During the trip, he connects the cartridge  13  to the laptop in an external mode with a standard external data cable  29  via one of the standard external data connectors  4 . Therefore, one can view the television programs on his laptop computer  33  without the need for a special adapter to connect the cartridge  13  to the laptop.  
      Still referring to  FIGS. 3-4 , in another embodiment, one can copy the contents of a number of DVD movies onto a disk-drive cartridge  13 . This allows one to take only one cartridge  13  on his trip instead of a number of DVDs.  
      Referring again to  FIG. 4 , in another embodiment on the invention, the cartridge  13  includes a component  1 , which is a photo-scanner that receives and scans a photograph much like a floppy-disk drive receives and reads a floppy disk.  
      Referring again to  FIG. 4 , in yet another embodiment on the invention, the scanner is a pen-type scanner system where someone could scan something by running a light pen over it. The pen (not shown) is attached to the cartridge  13 .  
      Referring again to  FIG. 4 , in yet another embodiment on the invention, the cartridge  13  includes a component  1 , which is a media device such as an MP3 player.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b , a front view and a rear view, respectively, of an external cartridge tray  31  provides a computer  33  a means to externally connect one or more additional cartridges to the computer, according to an embodiment of the invention. The external cartridge bay  31  shown has six cartridge bays  36  ( FIG. 5   a ), however, in other embodiments, external cartridge trays with any number of bays are possible. The external cartridge tray  31  is pre-wired at the back with in-bay standard data connectors  37  connected with integrated cables  34  such that upon full insertion of a cartridge  13  into a bay the two standard external data connectors  4  of each cartridge mate with their counterpart in-bay standard data connectors  37  ( FIG. 5   b ). In the external cartridge tray  31 , the top three bays  36  are vacant and the bottom three bays  38  are housing cartridges  13 . The external cartridge tray  31  is connected to one of the standard external data connectors  4  on the back panel  28  of a computer  33  via a standard external data cable  29 . This scheme allows one to plug a cartridge  13  into the next vacant slot in the external cartridge tray  31 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 6   a , in one embodiment of the invention, the cartridge  13  includes a carrying handle  19 , which allows one to carry the cartridge from one location to another.  
      Referring to  FIG. 6   b , in another embodiment, a carrying handle  20  with an actuating cam  21  for the cartridge  13  is shown. The top of the carrying handle  20  is hinged to the cartridge  13  and the carrying handle is free to rotate 90 degrees counter-clockwise from the plane of the front of the cartridge. The actuating cam  21  extends rigidly in the plane of the carrying handle  20  past the hinge  39 . During an insertion operation the actuating cam  21  engages the inside of the drive bay front panel  40  of the drive bay  22  providing an added inward moment to increase the mating force. This is desirable for any power connection to ensure an adequate connection seat and thus reduce the number of power connection failures from incomplete seating. In another embodiment, a carrying handle with an actuating cam with side-to-side operation is possible.  
      Referring to  FIG. 6   c , in another embodiment of the invention, a fail-safe interlock mechanism  23  for the cartridge  13  is shown. While the cartridge  13  is being inserted into a bay  22 , a rod  36  of the interlock mechanism  23  is in an unlocked position  24 . After the cartridge  13  is inserted into the lockable cartridge bay  22 , the mechanism is driven into a locked position  25 , in which the rod  36  extends through a hole  37  in the lockable cartridge bay  22  and through a hole  38  in the cartridge  13  to prevent cartridge removal and movement of the cartridge  13  during operation mode. The interlock mechanism  23  is shown in its locked position  25  in the lockable cartridge bay  22 . A release button  27  is provided to disengage the interlock mechanism  23  prior to removal of the cartridge  13 . Pushing the release button  27  causes the rod  36  to retract into the unlocked position  24 . When the rod  36  is retracted, the handle  19  is used to remove the cartridge  13  from the lockable cartridge bay  22 .  
      The preceding discussion is presented to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.