Abstract:
According to one embodiment, a drive mounting system includes a drive chassis having a first wall and a second wall transverse to the first wall. A third wall is supported in the chassis and movable between a first position opposite the first wall and a second position opposite the second wall. A drive is mounted in the chassis in a first orientation supported by the first and third walls in response to the third wall being in the first position, and the drive is movable to a second orientation, transverse to the first orientation, supported by the second and third walls in response to the third wall being in the second position.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     The present application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/021,430, attorney docket number 16356.893, filed on Dec. 23, 2004, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     The present disclosure relates generally to information handling systems, and more particularly to mounting a drive in a chassis.  
         [0003]     As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option is an information handling system. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements may vary between different applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.  
         [0004]     Many information handling systems include a chassis which may hold many of the components of the information handling system such as, for example, optical or floppy drives. A typical chassis may be positioned in either a horizontal or vertical configuration depending on the user&#39;s space availability. Whether the chassis is positioned in the horizontal or vertical configuration, it is desirable to position the drives horizontally for ease of use.  
         [0005]     The drives may be mounted to the chassis such that they are positioned horizontally either when the chassis is in the horizontal position or when the chassis is in the vertical position. The user must then choose a system drive configuration which fits their space availability. However, the users space availability may change over the lifetime of the system, which can result in the relatively costly and time consuming process of reconfiguration of the drives.  
         [0006]     Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide for mounting a drive in a chassis absent the disadvantages found in the prior methods discussed above.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0007]     According to one embodiment, a drive mounting system includes a drive chassis having a first wall and a second wall transverse to the first wall. A third wall is supported in the chassis and movable between a first position opposite the first wall and a second position opposite the second wall. A drive is mounted in the chassis in a first orientation supported by the first and third walls in response to the third wall being in the first position, and the drive is movable to a second orientation, transverse to the first orientation, supported by the second and third walls in response to the third wall being in the second position.  
         [0008]     A principal advantage of this embodiment is that drives in the information handling system chassis may be easily repositioned in the chassis when the chassis configuration is switched between horizontal and vertical.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of an information handling system,  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a drive chassis.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3   a  is a top perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a third support wall used with the drive chassis of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 3   b  is a bottom perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the third support wall of  FIG. 3   a.    
         [0013]      FIG. 3   c  is a cross sectional view taken along line  3   c  in  FIG. 3   a  illustrating an embodiment of a securing member on the third support wall of  FIG. 3   a    
         [0014]      FIG. 4   a  is a side perspective view illustrating an embodiment of an optical drive used with the drive chassis of  FIG. 2  and the third support wall of  FIG. 3   a.    
         [0015]      FIG. 4   b  is a side perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the optical drive of  FIG. 4   a.    
         [0016]      FIG. 5   a  is a side perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a floppy drive used with the drive chassis of  FIG. 2  and the third support wall of  FIG. 3   a.    
         [0017]      FIG. 5   b  is a side perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the floppy drive of  FIG. 5   b.    
         [0018]      FIG. 6   a  is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of a method for mounting a drive in a chassis.  
         [0019]      FIG. 6   b  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the third support wall of  FIG. 3   a  positioned in the drive chassis of  FIG. 2  in the method of  FIG. 6   a.    
         [0020]      FIG. 6   c  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the third support wall of  FIG. 3   a  coupled to the drive chassis of  FIG. 2  in the method of  FIG. 6   a.    
         [0021]      FIG. 6   d  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the optical drive of  FIG. 4   a  positioned adjacent the drive chassis and third support wall of  FIG. 6   c  in the method of  FIG. 6   a.    
         [0022]      FIG. 6   e  is a cross sectional view taken along line  6   e  in  FIG. 6   d  illustrating an embodiment of the optical drive of  FIG. 4   a  being coupled to the drive chassis and third support wall of  FIG. 6   c  in the method of  FIG. 6   a.    
         [0023]      FIG. 6   f  is a cross sectional view taken along line  6   e  in  FIG. 6   d  illustrating an embodiment of the optical drive of  FIG. 4   a  being coupled to the drive chassis and third support wall of  FIG. 6   c  in the method of  FIG. 6   a.    
         [0024]      FIG. 6   g  is a cross sectional view taken along line  6   e  in  FIG. 6   d  illustrating an embodiment of the optical drive of  FIG. 4   a  coupled to the drive chassis and third support wall of  FIG. 6   c  in the method of  FIG. 6   a.    
         [0025]      FIG. 6   h  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the optical drive of  FIG. 4   a  coupled to the drive chassis and third support wall of  FIG. 6   c  in the method of  FIG. 6   a  in the method of  FIG. 6   a.    
         [0026]      FIG. 6   i  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a plurality of the optical drives of  FIG. 4   a  and the floppy drive of  FIG. 5   a  coupled to the drive chassis and third support wall of  FIG. 6   c  in the method of  FIG. 6   a.    
         [0027]      FIG. 6   j  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the third support wall of  FIG. 3   a  repositioned in the drive chassis of  FIG. 2  in the method of  FIG. 6   a.    
         [0028]      FIG. 6   k  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the third support wall of  FIG. 3   a  recoupled to the drive chassis of  FIG. 2  in the method of  FIG. 6   a.    
         [0029]      FIG. 6   l  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a plurality of the optical drives of  FIG. 4   a  and the floppy drive of  FIG. 5   a  coupled to the drive chassis and third support wall of  FIG. 6   k  in the method of  FIG. 6   a.    
         [0030]      FIG. 7   a  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the drive chassis of  FIG. 2 , the third support wall of  FIG. 3   a,  and the drives of  FIGS. 4   a  and  5   a  in a system chassis in a horizontal position.  
         [0031]      FIG. 7   b  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the drive chassis of  FIG. 2 , the third support wall of  FIG. 3   a,  and the drives of  FIGS. 4   a  and  5   a  in a system chassis in a vertical position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0032]     For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, entertainment, or other purposes. For example, an information handling system may be a personal computer, a PDA, a consumer electronic device, a network server or storage device, a switch router or other network communication device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The information handling system may include memory, one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic. Additional components of the information handling system may include one or more storage devices, one or more communications ports for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The information handling system may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components.  
         [0033]     In one embodiment, information handling system  10 ,  FIG. 1 , includes a microprocessor  12 , which is connected to a bus  14 . Bus  14  serves as a connection between microprocessor  12  and other components of computer system  10 . An input device  16  is coupled to microprocessor  12  to provide input to microprocessor  12 . Examples of input devices include keyboards, touchscreens, and pointing devices such as mouses, trackballs and trackpads. Programs and data are stored on a mass storage device  18 , which is coupled to microprocessor  12 . Mass storage devices include such devices as hard disks, optical disks, magneto-optical drives, floppy drives and the like. Computer system  10  further includes a display  20 , which is coupled to microprocessor  12  by a video controller  22 . A system memory  24  is coupled to microprocessor  12  to provide the microprocessor with fast storage to facilitate execution of computer programs by microprocessor  12 . It should be understood that other busses and intermediate circuits can be deployed between the components described above and microprocessor  12  to facilitate interconnection between the components and the microprocessor.  
         [0034]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a drive chassis  100  is illustrated. Drive chassis  100  includes a first support wall  102  having a section  102   a  and a section  102   b  which is substantially parallel to section  102   a  and spaced apart from section  102   a.  Drive chassis  100  also includes a second support wall  104  which is substantially transverse to the first support wall  102  and includes a section  104   a  and a section  104   b  which is substantially parallel to section  104   a  and spaced apart from section  104   a.  A plurality of first support structures  106   a,    106   b,    106   c  are included on the first support wall  102 . First support structure  106   a  includes a channel  106   aa  defined by the first support wall  102  and having a varying width such that a securing surface  106   ab  is located in the channel  106   aa.  First support structures  106   b  and  106   c  are substantially similar to first support structure  106   a.  A plurality of second support structures  108   a,    108   b,    108   c  are included on the second support wall  104 . Second support structure  108   a  includes a channel  108   aa  defined by the second support wall  104  and having a varying width such that a securing surface  108   ab  is located in the channel  108   aa.  Second support structures  108   b  and  108   c  are substantially similar to second support structure  108   a.  A plurality of first coupling members  110   a  and  110   b  are positioned opposite the first support wall  102 , with first coupling member  110   a  extending from second support wall  104  to define a first coupling channel  110   aa  and first coupling member  110   b  substantially co-planar with and spaced apart from first coupling member  110   a  and defining a first coupling channel  110   ba.  A plurality of second coupling members  112   a  and  112   b  are positioned opposite the second support wall  104 , with second coupling member  112   a  extending from first support wall  102  to define a second coupling channel  112   aa  and second coupling member  112   b  substantially co-planar with and spaced apart from second coupling member  112   a  and defining a second coupling channel  112   ba.    
         [0035]     Referring now to  FIGS. 3   a,    3   b,  and  3   c,  a repositionable third support wall  200  includes a base  202  having an outer surface  202   a  and an inner surface  202   b  opposite the outer surface  202   a.  A plurality of third support structures  204   a,    204   b,  and  204   c  are included on the third support wall  200 . Third support structure  204   a  includes a channel  204   aa  defined by the base  202  of third support wall  200 , positioned adjacent the inner surface  202   b,  and having a varying width such that a securing surface  204   ab  is present in the channel  204   aa.  Third support structures  204   b  and  204   c  are substantially similar to third support structure  204   a.  A plurality of securing members  206   a,    206   b  and  206   c  are positioned adjacent the outer surface  202   a  and the third support structures  204   a,    204   b,  and  204   c,  respectively. Securing member  206   a  includes a beam member  206   aa  extending from and along the base  202 . Beam member  206   aa  includes an activation surface  206   ab  extending into the channel  204   aa  and a release tab  206   ac  and securing surface  206   ad  on its distal end. Securing members  206   b  and  206   c  are substantially similar to securing member  206   a.  A drive release actuator  208  is mounted on the third support wall  200  and is operable to actuate securing members  206   a,    206   b,  and  206   c  surfaces, such as activation surface  206   ab,  may be moved out of the channels, such as channel  204   aa.  A plurality of coupling devices  210   a  and  210   b  are positioned on opposite sides of the base  202  of third support wall  200 . Coupling device  210   a  includes a retractable coupler  210   aa  which is operable to retract into the base  202 . Coupling device  210   b  includes a retractable coupler  210   ba  which is operable to retract into the base  202 . A wall release actuator  212  is mounted on the third support wall  200  and is operable to actuate the retractable couplers  210   aa  and  210   ba  on coupling devices  210   a  and  210   b,  respectively, such that the retractable couplers  210   aa  and  210   ba  retract into the base  202 .  
         [0036]     Referring now to  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b,  an optical drive  300 , which may be the mass storage device  18  described above with reference to  FIG. 1 , includes a base  302 . Base  302  includes a rear surface  302   a  and a plurality of opposing side surfaces  302   b  and  302   c.  A plurality of guide tabs  304   a  and  304   b  extend from the sides surfaces  302   b  and  302   c,  respectively. Guide tab  304   a  includes a beam portion  304   aa  and a head  304   ab  on its distal end which has a width greater than the width of the beam portion  304   aa.  Guide tab  304   b  is substantially similar to guide tab  304   a.  The optical drive  300  may be a variety of conventional drives known in the art which are modified to include guide tabs  304   a  and  304   b.    
         [0037]     Referring now to  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b,  a floppy drive  400 , which may be the mass storage device  18  described above with reference to  FIG. 1 , includes a base  402 . Base  402  includes a rear surface  402   a  and a plurality of opposing side surfaces  402   b  and  402   c.  A plurality of guide tabs  404   a  and  404   b  extend from the sides surfaces  402   b  and  402   c,  respectively. Guide tab  404   a  includes a beam portion  404   aa  and a head  404   ab  on its distal end which has a width greater than the width of the beam portion  404   aa.  Guide tab  404   b  is substantially similar to guide tab  404   a.  The floppy drive  400  may be a variety of conventional drives known in the art which are modified to include guide tabs  404   a  and  404   b.    
         [0038]     Referring now to  FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b,  in operation, a method  500  for mounting a drive in a chassis begins at step  502  where the third support wall  200  is positioned in the drive chassis  100 . Third support wall  200  is placed in the drive chassis  100  such that third support wall  200  is substantially parallel to first support wall  102  and substantially transverse to second support wall  104 , with third support structures  204   a,    204   b,  and  204   c  facing first support structures  106   a,    106   b,  and  106   c,  respectively.  
         [0039]     Referring now to  FIGS. 3   a,    6   a,    6   b,  and  6   c,  the method  500  proceeds to step  504  where the third support wall  200  is coupled to the drive chassis  100 . The third support wall  200  is moved in a direction A which is substantially perpendicular to the first support wall  102  and substantially parallel to the second support wall  104 . As third support wall  200  is moved in the direction A, retractable couplers  210   aa  and  210   ba  on coupling devices  210   a  and  210   b,  respectively, are brought into engagement with first coupling members  110   a  and  110   b  on drive chassis  100 . Further movement of third support wall  200  in direction A causes the retractable couplers  210   aa  and  210   ba  on coupling devices  210   a  and  210   b,  respectively, to first retract into base  202 , pass first coupling members  110   a  and  110   b,  and then extend out from base  202  and into first coupling channels  110   aa  and  110   ba.  With retractable couplers  210   aa  and  210   ba  extended out into first coupling channels  110   aa  and  110   ba,  third support wall  200  is coupled to the drive chassis  100  and held in place in a first position X by first coupling members  110   a  and  110   b.  With third support wall  200  coupled to drive chassis  100 , third support structure  204   a  is substantially aligned with first support structure  106   a,  third support structure  204   b  is substantially aligned with first support structure  106   b,  and third support structure  204   c  is substantially aligned with first support structure  106   c.    
         [0040]     Referring now to  FIGS. 4   b,    6   a,    6   c,  and  6   d,  the method  500  proceeds to step  506  where the drive  300  is positioned adjacent the drive chassis  100 . Drive  300  is positioned in front of the drive chassis  100  such that the rear surface  302   a  of drive  300  may enter drive chassis  100  initially, with side surface  302   c  adjacent first support wall  102  and side surface  302   b  adjacent third support wall  200 . Guide tab  304   a  is lined up to enter channel  204   aa  on third support structure  204   a  and guide tab  304   b  is lined up to enter channel  106   aa  on first support structure  106   a.    
         [0041]     Referring now to  FIGS. 4   b,    6   a,    6   d,    6   e,    6   f    6   g,  and  6   h,  the method  500  proceeds to step  508  where the drive  300  is coupled to the drive chassis  100 . Drive  300  is moved in a direction B, which is substantially parallel to both the first support wall  102  and the second support wall  104 . As drive  300  is moved in the direction B, guide tabs  304   a  and  304   b  enter channels  204   aa  and  106   aa,  respectively, with securing surface  106   ab  holding the head of guide tab  304   b  in channel  166   aa  and securing surface  204   ab  holding the head  304   ab  of guide tab  304   a  in channel  204   aa.  As guide tab  304   a  is moved in direction B through channel  204   aa  on third support structure  204   a,  head  304   ab  on guide tab  304   a  engages activation surface  206   ab  on securing member  206   a.  Activation surface  206   ab  allows guide tab  304   a  to deflect beam member  206   aa  on securing member  106   a  such that head  304   ab  on guide tab  304   a  may continue in direction B through the channel  204   aa.  Drive  300  is coupled and secured to the drive chassis  100  when head  304   ab  on guide tab  304   a  moves past securing member  206   a  such that beam member  206   aa  is allowed to deflect back to its original position and securing surface  206   ad  engages head  304   ab,  as illustrated in  FIGS. 6   g  and  6   h.  The drive  300  may be decoupled from the drive chassis  100  by activating the drive release actuator  208  or the release tab  206   ac  to deflect the beam member  206   aa  such that securing surface  206   ad  is removed from channel  204   aa,  as illustrated in  FIG. 6   f.  The drive  300  may then be moved in a direction opposite the direction B and out of the drive chassis  100 .  
         [0042]     Referring now to  FIG. 6   i,  in an embodiment, a plurality of drives such as, for example, a pair of the drives  300  and the drive  400 , may be coupled to and decoupled from the drive chassis  100  in substantially the same manner as described above with reference to  FIGS. 6   d,    6   e,    6   f,    6   g,  and  6   h.  In an embodiment, a plurality of securing members may be provide on first support wall  102  which are substantially similar in design and operation to the securing members  206   a,    206   b,  and  206   c  on third support wall  200 .  
         [0043]     Referring now to  FIGS. 6   a,    6   b,  and  6   c,  the method  500  proceeds to step  510  where the third support wall  200  is decoupled from the drive chassis  100 . Drives such as, for example, drives  300  and  400 , are removed from the drive chassis  100  as described above. The third support wall  200  may then be decoupled from the drive chassis  100  by activating the wall release actuator  212 , which causes the retractable couplers  210   aa  and  210   ba  on coupling devices  210   a  and  210   b,  respectively, to retract out of channels  110   aa  and  110   ba,  respectively, and into the base  202 . The third support wall  200  is now released from first coupling members  110   a  and  110   b  and may be moved in a direction opposite the direction A and then removed out of the drive chassis  100 .  
         [0044]     Referring now to  FIGS. 6   a  and  6   j,  the method  500  proceeds to step  512  where the third support wall  200  is repositioned in the drive chassis  100 . Third support wall  200  is placed in the drive chassis  100  such that third support wall  200  is substantially parallel to second support wall  104  and substantially transverse to first support wall  102 , with third support structures  204   a,    204   b,  and  204   c  facing second support structures  108   c,    108   b,  and  108   a,  respectively.  
         [0045]     Referring now to  FIGS. 3   a,    6   a,    6   j,  and  6   k,  the method  500  proceeds to step  514  where the third support wall  200  is coupled to the drive chassis  100 . The third support wall  200  is moved in a direction C which is substantially perpendicular to the second support wall  104  and substantially parallel to the first support wall  102 . As third support wall  200  is moved in the direction C, retractable couplers  210   aa  and  210   ba  on coupling devices  210   a  and  210   b,  respectively, are brought into engagement with second coupling members  112   a  and  112   b  on drive chassis  100 . Further movement of third support wall  200  in direction C causes the retractable couplers  210   aa  and  210   ba  on coupling devices  210   a  and  210   b,  respectively, to first retract into base  202 , pass second coupling members  112   a  and  112   b,  and then extend out from base  202  and into second coupling channels  112   aa  and  112   ba.  With retractable couplers  210   aa  and  210   ba  extended out into second coupling channels  112   aa  and  112   ba,  third support wall  200  is coupled to the drive chassis  100  and held in place in a second position Y by second coupling members  112   a  and  112   b.  With third support wall  200  coupled to drive chassis  100 , third support structure  204   a  is substantially aligned with second support structure  108   c,  third support structure  204   b  is substantially aligned with second support structure  108   b,  and third support structure  204   c  is substantially aligned with second support structure  108   a.    
         [0046]     Referring now to  FIGS. 6   a  and  6   l,  the method  500  proceeds to step  516  where the drive  300  is coupled to the drive chassis  100 . Drive  300  may be coupled and decoupled to the support structures  204   c  and  108   a  on third support wall  200  and second support wall  104 , respectively, in substantially the same manner as drive  300  was coupled to the support structures  204   a  and  106   a  on third support wall  200  and first support wall  102 , respectively, as described above with reference to  FIGS. 6   d,    6   e,    6   f,    6   g,  and  6   h.  A plurality of drives such as, for example, a pair of the drives  300  and the drive  400 , may be coupled to and decoupled from the drive chassis  100  in substantially the same manner as described above with reference to  FIGS. 6   d,    6   e,    6   f,    6   g,  and  6   h.  A plurality of securing members may be provide on second support wall  104  which are substantially similar in design and operation to the securing members  206   a,    206   b,  and  206   c  on third support wall  200 . In an embodiment, the drive chassis  100  and the third support wall  200  provide a drive mounting apparatus  600  which may also include one or both of drives  300  and/or the drive  400 .  
         [0047]     Referring now to  FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b,  an alternative embodiment of a drive mounting apparatus  700  is substantially identical in structure and operation to the drive mounting apparatus described above with reference to  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  3   a,    3   b,    3   c,    4   a,    4   b,    5   a,    5   b,    6   a,    6   b,    6   c,    6   d,    6   e,    6   f,    6   g,    6   h,    6   i,    6   j,    6   k,  and  6   l,  with the addition of a system chassis  702  which is operable to be positioned in a horizontal position D or a vertical position E. In an embodiment, the system chassis  702  may house some or all of the component of an information handling system such as, for example, the information handling system  10  described above with reference to  FIG. 1 . In operation, with the system chassis  702  in the horizontal position D, drives such as, for example, the plurality of the drives  300  and the drive  400 , may be positioned horizontally with the third support wall  200  in position X. The system chassis  702  may then be repositioned to the vertical position E, and the drives  300  and  400  may be positioned horizontally with the third support wall  200  in position Y.  
         [0048]     It is understood that variations may be made in the foregoing without departing from the scope of the disclosed embodiments. Furthermore, the elements and teachings of the various illustrative embodiments may be combined in whole or in part some or all of the illustrated embodiments.  
         [0049]     Although illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, a wide range of modification, change and substitution is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances, some features of the embodiments may be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein.