Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7269006?dq=7,444,563
Timestamp: 2015-05-07 08:19:30
Document Index: 782178303

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 150', 'arts 232', 'art 220', 'art 230', 'art 230', 'art 220', 'art 230', 'art 230', 'art 220', 'art 230']

Patent US7269006 - Storage device, and storage part and dummy unit for storage device - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsThe present invention provides a dummy canister which can cool canisters with good efficiency. Canisters 2A and dummy canisters 2B are attached in a mixed configuration to the storage part 1C of a storage device 1. Each dummy canister 2B can expand and contract in two stages in the attachment direction....http://www.google.com/patents/US7269006?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7269006 - Storage device, and storage part and dummy unit for storage deviceAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7269006 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 11/046,434Publication dateSep 11, 2007Filing dateJan 27, 2005Priority dateDec 6, 2004Fee statusPaidAlso published asUS20060120192Publication number046434, 11046434, US 7269006 B2, US 7269006B2, US-B2-7269006, US7269006 B2, US7269006B2InventorsKenich Miyamoto, Yoji OkabeOriginal AssigneeHitachi, Ltd.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (15), Referenced by (11), Classifications (13), Legal Events (3) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetStorage device, and storage part and dummy unit for storage device
The number of storage devices that are mounted is not a fixed number; since storage devices are mounted as required, empty slots may be generated inside the storage boxes. If such empty slots are left �as is�, dust adheres to the empty connectors mounted on the back boards; furthermore, the appearance is also poor. Accordingly, dummy modules are mounted in empty slots.
The dummy slots may have a plurality of shapes (configurations). Specifically, the dummy units are constructed so as to be deformable, and can be set in at least two types of shapes, i.e., a first shape and a second shape. Furthermore, in cases where dummy units are attached inside the storage part adjacent to storage units, these dummy units are set in the first shape. In cases where dummy units are attached inside the storage part so that these units are not adjacent to storage units, these dummy units are set in the second shape. Here, for example, a statement that �dummy units and storage units are adjacent� means that the respective units are adjacent in the direction of disposition.
�Addition� refers to the attachment of new storage units to attachment slots of the housing. Conversely, �removal� refers to the removal of storage units that have already been attached from attachment slots of the housing. By causing either an addition message or a removal message to be displayed on the basis of the monitoring results of the monitoring part, it is possible to reduce the extent to which shape settings of the dummy units are forgotten by users such as the system manager or the like, so that the convenience of the system is improved.
For example, the storage part 1C can accommodate a plurality of canisters 2A and a plurality of dummy canisters 2B. In each canister 2A, for example, a storage device such as a hard disk, semiconductor memory, optical disk or the like, a circuit board that is used to control this storage device, a connector that is used for the electrical connection of this circuit board to a back board inside the storage part 1C and the like are integrated; accordingly, this canister is one example of a �storage unit�. The canisters 2A are formed with a large external shape in order to accommodate circuit boards and the like; these canisters have a structure that is used to take in a larger cooling air draft. For example, a plurality of air intake holes are formed in the front surface side of each canister 2A, and a flow passage that is used to allow the cooling air draft to flow through is ensured in the interior.
The dummy canisters 2B are mounted in empty slots of the storage part 1C instead of canisters 2A, and are one example of �dummy units�. Since the dummy canisters 2B do not require any substantial cooling, the front surface sides of the dummy canisters 2B are completely closed off, and no flow passage for the cooling air draft is formed inside the dummy canisters 2B. Since the dummy canisters 2B need not have the function of providing a storage region, these dummy canisters 2B may be constructed substantially from a case alone. However, there is a possibility that electrical constituent parts or mechanical constituent parts such as (for example) flow rate sensors, temperature sensors, limit switches, signal processing circuits or the like may be installed in the dummy canisters 2B in order to realize a draft amount adjustment function or the like by means of the dummy canisters 2B. Even in the case of such dummy canisters equipped with such electrical or mechanical constituent parts, canisters that are deformable in multiple stages or the like are included in the scope of the present invention, as will be descried later.
The canister 2A (3) positioned at one end of the canister group and the dummy canister 2B (1) positioned at the other end of the dummy canister group are adjacent to each other inside the chassis 1C1. In the boundary area where this canister 2A (3) and dummy canister 2B (1) are adjacent, the length of the dummy canister 2B (1) is set at a short value. Here, the term �length� refers to the length in the direction in which the canisters 2A or dummy canisters 2B are attached inside the chassis 1C1 (i.e., the vertical direction in FIG. 1); this direction substantially coincides with the direction of flow of the cooling air draft.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram which focuses on the hardware construction of the storage device 10. The storage device 10 can be connected to a plurality of host computers (hereafter abbreviated to �hosts�) H1 via a communications network CN1 so that two-way communications are possible.
As will be respectively described later, the storage device 10 comprises a plurality of channel adapters (hereafter abbreviated to �CHAs�) 110, a plurality of disk adapters (hereafter abbreviated to �DKAs�) 120, a cache memory 130, a shared memory 140, a switching part 150, numerous canisters 21, an SVP 160 and the like.
For example, the respective CHAs 110 and respective DKAs 120 respectively comprise a printed board on which a processor, memory and the like are mounted, and a control program that is stored in the memory. Specified functions can be realized by a cooperative operation between such hardware and software. The control functions of these CHAs 110 and DKAs 120 are one example of the �control part�. In FIG. 3, the CHAs 110 and DKAs 120 are indicated as respectively separate control packages. However, the present invention is not limited to this; the CHA functions and DKA functions can be disposed in one or a plurality of controllers.
Stoppers 234 are respectively integrally formed on the upper parts and lower parts of the surfaces of both wall parts 232. These respective stoppers 234 respectively engage with the respective guide grooves 224 of the front part 220 so that sliding movement is possible. When the rear part 230 is caused to move rearward (in the opposite direction from the direction F2 in FIG. 7) in a state in which the rear part 230 is inserted into the front part 220, the respective stoppers 234 contact the rear end parts of the respective guide grooves 224, so that the movement of the rear part 230 is restricted. The length dimension of the dummy canisters 22 reaches a maximum in this state. This shape is one example of the �second shape�.
Conversely, when the rear part 230 is moved forward (in the direction F2 in FIG. 7), the stoppers 234 contact the back surface 225 of the front wall of the front part 220, so that the forward movement of the rear part 230 is restricted. In this state, the length dimension of the dummy canisters 22 shows a minimum value. This shape is one example of the �first shape�.
Next, FIG. 10 is a perspective view which shows the relationship between the dummy canisters 22 and the back board 200A. As was described with reference to FIG. 6, connectors 203 that are connected to the respective canisters 21, and exhaust ports 201A and 201B that are respectively disposed above and below these connectors 203, are disposed in the back board 200A. Below, the exhaust ports 201A and 201B will be referred to collectively as �exhaust ports 201� in some cases. These connectors 203 and exhaust ports 201 are respectively disposed for each of the respective slots. For example, in cases where a maximum of 16 canisters 21 can be attached inside the chassis 200, 16 sets of exhaust ports 201 and connectors 203 are disposed in the back board 200A.
A connector 214A and a connector 214B are respectively disposed on the rear side of the canister 21. The connector 214A is connected to the connector 203A shown in FIG. 19. The connector 214B is connected to the connector 203B shown in FIG. 19. The connectors 214A and 214B may also be referred to collectively as the �connectors 214�.
Examples of an addition message and a removal message are shown in FIG. 31. In the addition message, for example, the shape setting procedure for the dummy canisters 22 at the time of canister addition is indicated, as �1. Please remove dummy canister adjacent to canister.�, �2. Please place removed dummy canister in stored state (first shape).�, �3. Please insert dummy canister placed in stored state in original position.� or the like. Furthermore, concrete shape variations of the dummy canisters 22 are shown in the figures along with this procedure.
In the removal message, for example, a procedure such as �1. Please insert dummy canister in stored state into slot from which canister has been removed.� or the like is indicated.
Here, it will be assumed that the processing is performed with the SVP 160 as the center. The SVP 160 acquires the number of dummy canisters 22 that are mounted (S11). Furthermore, the SVP 160 acquires the type slot used (S12). The �slot type� is information indicating whether the location where the dummy canister 22 is mounted is a basic housing (DKC) or an OPTIONAL HOUSING (DKU).
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