Abstract:
An electrical adapter ( 10 ) includes a serial Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA) plug connector ( 12 ) for connecting with a serial ATA receptacle connector ( 40 ) which connects with a serial ATA system backplane, and an Intelligent Drive Electronics (IDE) receptacle connector ( 14 ) for connecting with an IDE three-in-one header connector ( 50 ) which connects with an IDE HDD (hard disk drive).

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an electrical adapter, and particularly to an electrical adapter for interconnecting two connectors of different interface. 
     DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART 
     In the recent years, a three-in-one header connector of Intelligent Drive Electronics (IDE) interface becomes a popular connection interface. Generally, an IDE receptacle connector is mounted on a fiber channel backplane in the computer and an IDE plug connector is connected to a hard drive which is adapted to be attached to the fiber channel backplane for establishing signal transmission between the hard drive and the fiber channel backplane through the interconnection of such IDE receptacle and plug connectors. 
     Now, the serial Advanced Technology Attachment (serial ATA) interface is developing to connect storage devices such as hard disks to a computer motherboard. The storage devices will be collectively referred to hereinafter as “hard drive”. The serial ATA interface offers more advantages compared to prior specialized interfaces. For example, the serial ATA system supports a low voltage requirement, low pin count, improves data robustness and high-speed transmission. Correspondingly, the serial ATA connectors are defined and are provided to respectively connect hard drive and backplane. Therefore, different interface standard connection may be applied in a computer interior structure. 
     As stated above, the present problem people in the art confronts, is that a hard drive using a serial ATA plug connector may be required to connect with an existing fiber channel backplane which originally uses an IDE receptacle connector to connect with the hard drive, for the speed or other considerations. Under this situation, it is not convenient to wholly replace the system, which adds cost. Accordingly, an electrical adapter interconnecting the serial ATA plug connector and the IDE receptacle connector is desired. Hence, an electrical adapter is desired to meet the above-mentioned requirements. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A first object of the present invention is to provide an electrical adapter which can connect one connector for an IDE HDD (hard disk drive) to another connector for a serial ATA system backplane; 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an electrical adapter assembly for electrically connecting an IDE HDD to a serial ATA system backplane; 
     To fulfill the above-mentioned objects, an electrical adapter in accordance with the present invention is adapted for electrically connecting a serial ATA system backplane on which a serial ATA receptacle connector is mounted to an HDD on which an Intelligent Drive Electronics (IDE) three-in-one header connector is mounted. The adapter has a serial ATA plug connector for engaging with the serial ATA receptacle connector of the backplane, and an IDE receptacle connector opposite to the serial ATA plug connector for electrically connecting with a corresponding plug connector of the IDE three-in-one header connector. 
    
    
     Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electrical adapter assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1, but viewed from an opposite aspect; 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded view of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is an upside-down, perspective view of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the electrical adapter assembly taken along line  6 — 6  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the electrical adapter assembly taken along line  7 — 7  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an electrical adapter in accordance with the present invention; and 
     FIG. 9 is an upside-down, perspective view of FIG.  8 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made to drawings, and particularly to FIG.  1 . An electrical adapter assembly  1  in accordance with the present invention comprises an electrical adapter  10 , a serial ATA receptacle connector  40  for connecting with a serial ATA system backplane (not shown), and an IDE three-in-one header connector  50  for connecting with an IDE HDD (not shown). 
     Also referring to FIGS. 2 to  5 , the electrical adapter  10  comprises a serial ATA plug connector  12  for connecting with the serial ATA receptacle connector  40  and an IDE receptacle connector  14  for connecting with the IDE three-in-one header connector  50 . The serial ATA receptacle connector  40  includes a plurality of first contacts  42 . The IDE three-in-one header connector  50  includes a plurality of second contacts  52  arranged in two rows, a plurality of third jumper contacts  54  also arranged in two rows, and a plurality of power contacts  56  arranged in one row for transmitting power. The receptacle connector  14  of the adapter  10  has a pair of bars  146  formed on one side face thereof to mate with an opening  58  defined in one side face of the three-in-one header connector  50 , thereby providing a blind-mating function. 
     Also referring to FIGS. 6 and 9, the serial ATA plug connector  12  of the electrical adapter  10  comprises a pair of tongue portions  124  for mating with corresponding mating portions (not labelled) of the serial ATA receptacle connector  40 , a plurality of first terminals  122  for connecting with the first contacts  42  of the serial ATA receptacle connector  40 , a pair of guiding portions  126  at outside of the two tongue portions  124  for respectively receiving a pair of latches  44  of the serial ATA receptacle connector  40 , and a pair of first retainers  128  connecting with the guiding portions  126  and extending in a direction opposite to the guiding portions  126 . The IDE receptacle connector  14  comprises a plurality of second terminals  142  received in a plurality of receiving passageways  144  thereof for connecting with the second contacts  52  of the IDE three-in-one header connector  50 , and a pair of second retainers  148  formed at opposite ends thereof and extending toward the first retainers  128 . The electrical adapter  10  further comprises a printed circuit board (PCB)  16  interconnecting the first terminals  122  and the second terminals  142 , and a top cover  102  and a bottom cover  104  formed as an integral part. The first retainers  128  are respectively assembled on the PCB  16  via a screw (not shown). The second retainers  148  sandwich one side edge of the PCB  16 . The first terminals  122  of the serial ATA plug connector  12  are mounted on the PCB  16  through surface mounting technology (SMT), and the second terminals  142  of the IDE receptacle connector  14  are surface mounted on opposite side surfaces of the PCB  16 . The PCB  16  is available from the Highpoint Company. The only difference between the PCB  16  of this invention and the PCB of the Highpoint is the use or application. Referring to FIG. 7, the first contacts  42  of the serial ATA receptacle connector  40  for connecting with the serial ATA system backplane are connected with the first terminals  122  of the adapter  10 , the first terminals  122  of the adapter  10  are electrically connected with the second terminals  142  of the adapter  10  via the PCB  16 , and the second terminals  142  of the adapter  10  are connected with the second contacts  52  of the three-in-one header connector  50  for connecting with the IDE HDD. Thus, an electrical path between the IDE HDD and the serial ATA system backplane is established. 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.