Removable data cartridge
View Patent ↗A removable data cartridge for storing information is disclosed. The removable data cartridge includes an outer casing and an electrical connector. The outer casing has a front side having an opening therein, a back side located opposite the front side, a left side, a left edge between the left side and the front side, a top side, a top edge between the top side and the front side wherein the top edge is longer than the left edge, and a bottom side. A keying feature of the outer casing extends from the front side toward the back side to prevent improper insertion of the removable data cartridge through a fixed aperture in a drive. The electrical connector accessible from outside the outer casing at the opening in the front side.
1. A removable data cartridge for storing information, the removable data cartridge comprising:
an outer casing, including:
a front-most front side surface having first and second openings therein, the second opening above the first, and the second opening having at least one straight edge and forming a catch for a latching mechanism,
a back-most back side surface located opposite the front side surface,
a left side surface,
a left edge between the left side surface and the front side surface,
a top side surface,
a top edge between the top side surface and the front side surface wherein the top edge is longer than the left edge,
a bottom side surface, and
a keying feature extending a full length of the cartridge casing from the front-most front side surface to the back-most back side surface, wherein:
the keying feature prevents improper insertion of the front side surface of the removable data cartridge through a fixed aperture in a drive,
a cross-section of the front side surface comprises:
at least two outer edges, and
a keying feature edge connected between the two outer edges further wherein the cross-section of the front side surface is oriented parallel to the front side surface;
an electrical connector accessible from outside the outer casing at the first opening in the front side surface; and
a memory device restrained on all sides within the outer casing.
2. The removable data cartridge for storing information as recited in claim 1 , wherein the cross-section oriented parallel to the front side surface has at least five edges.
3. The removable data cartridge for storing information as recited in claim 1 , wherein the keying feature comprises a beveled surface.
4. The removable data cartridge for storing information as recited in claim 1 , wherein the electrical connector provides an interface for use with a hard drive protocol.
5. The removable data cartridge for storing information as recited in claim 4 , wherein the hard drive protocol is compliant with SAS, PATA, SATA, or SCSI.
6. The removable data cartridge for storing information as recited in claim 5 , wherein the memory device comprises a hard drive.
7. The removable data cartridge for storing information as recited in claim 1 , wherein the memory device comprises a solid state memory device.
8. The removable data cartridge for storing information as recited in claim 1 , wherein the top side surface has a length that is at least 70 mm and a width that is at least 60 mm and the bottom side surface has a length that is at least 70 mm and a width that is at least 60 mm.
9. The removable data cartridge for storing information as recited in claim 1 , wherein the top side surface has a length that is at least 100 mm and a width that is at least 70 mm and the bottom side surface has a length that is at least 100 mm and a width that is at least 70 mm.
10. The removable data cartridge for storing information as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least two outer edges comprise the top edge and the left edge.
11. The removable data cartridge for storing information as recited in claim 1 , wherein the keying feature edge is straight.
12. The removable data cartridge for storing information as recited in claim 1 , wherein one of the two outer edges is parallel to the left edge.
13. The removable data cartridge for storing information as recited in claim 1 , wherein one of the two outer edges is parallel to the top edge.
14. The removable data cartridge for storing information as recited in claim 1 , wherein the two outer edges are perpendicular with respect to each other.
15. A removable data cartridge for storing information, the removable data cartridge comprising:
an outer casing, including:
a front-most front side surface having first and second openings therein, the second opening above the first, and the second opening having at least one straight edge and forming a catch for a latching mechanism,
a back side surface located opposite the front side surface,
a left side surface,
a left edge between the left side surface and the front side surface,
a top side surface,
a top edge between the top side surface and the front side surface wherein the top edge is longer than the left edge,
a bottom side surface, and
a keying feature extending from the front side surface to the back side surface, wherein:
the keying feature prevents improper insertion of the front side surface of the removable data cartridge through an aperture in a drive, and
a cross-section of the outer casing at the front-most front side surface is not symmetric about any line extending from the left side surface to the right side surface, further wherein the cross-section of the front side surface is parallel to the front side surface;
an electrical connector accessible from outside the outer casing at the first opening in the front side surface; and
a memory device restrained on all sides within the outer casing.
16. The removable data cartridge for storing information as recited in claim 15 , wherein the cross-section oriented parallel to the front side surface has at least five edges.
17. The removable data cartridge for storing information as recited in claim 15 , wherein the keying feature comprises a beveled surface.
18. The removable data cartridge for storing information as recited in claim 15 , wherein the electrical connector provides an interface for use with a hard drive protocol.
19. The removable data cartridge for storing information as recited in claim 18 , wherein the hard drive protocol is SAS, PATA, SATA, or SCSI.
20. The removable data cartridge for storing information as recited in claim 19 , wherein the memory device comprises a hard drive.
21. The removable data cartridge for storing information as recited in claim 15 , wherein the memory device comprises a solid state memory device.
22. The removable data cartridge for storing information as recited in claim 15 , wherein the top side surface has a length that is at least 70 mm and a width that is at least 60 mm and the bottom side surface has a length that is at least 70 mm and a width that is at least 60 mm.
23. The removable data cartridge for storing information as recited in claim 15 , wherein the top side surface has a length that is at least 100 mm and a width that is at least 70 mm and the bottom side surface has a length that is at least 100 mm and a width that is at least 70 mm.
24. A removable data cartridge for storing information, the removable data cartridge comprising:
an outer casing, including:
a front-most front side surface having first and second openings therein, the second opening above the first, and the second opening having at least one straight edge and forming a catch for a latching mechanism,
a back side surface located opposite the front side surface,
a left side surface,
a left edge between the left side surface and the front side surface,
a top side surface,
a top edge between the top side surface and the front side surface wherein the top edge is longer than the left edge,
a bottom side surface, and
a keying feature extending from the front side surface to the back side surface, wherein:
the keying feature prevents improper insertion of the front side surface of the removable data cartridge through an aperture in a drive, and
a cross-section of the outer casing at the front-most front side surface is not a mirror image about any line extending from the left side surface to the right side surface, further wherein the cross-section of the front side surface is oriented parallel to the front side surface;
an electrical connector accessible from outside the outer casing at the first opening in the front side surface; and
a memory device restrained on all sides within the outer casing.
25. The removable data cartridge for storing information as recited in claim 24 , wherein the cross-section oriented parallel to the front side surface has at least five edges.
26. The removable data cartridge for storing information as recited in claim 24 , wherein the keying feature comprises a beveled surface.
27. The removable data cartridge for storing information as recited in claim 24 , wherein the electrical connector provides an interface for use with a hard drive protocol.
28. The removable data cartridge for storing information as recited in claim 27 , wherein the hard drive protocol is SAS, PATA, SATA, or SCSI.
29. The removable data cartridge for storing information as recited in claim 28 , wherein the memory device comprises a hard drive.
30. The removable data cartridge for storing information as recited in claim 24 , wherein the memory device comprises a solid state memory device.
31. The removable data cartridge for storing information as recited in claim 24 , wherein the top side surface has a length that is at least 70 mm and a width that is at least 60 mm and the bottom side surface has a length that is at least 70 mm and a width that is at least 60 mm.
32. The removable data cartridge for storing information as recited in claim 24 , wherein the top side surface has a length that is at least 100 mm and a width that is at least 70 mm and the bottom side surface has a length that is at least 100 mm and a width that is at least 70 mm.