Removable storage system and method

1. A computer system, comprising:

a computer chassis comprising at least one slot configured to house one or more removable modular computer devices during use;

a modular computer device comprising a slot configured to house a removable storage module, wherein the slot comprises an opening in a front panel of the modular computer device that enables the removable storage module to be installed into and removed from the slot while the modular computer device is installed in one or more slots of the computer chassis; and

a removable storage module, comprising:

a housing configured to facilitate sliding of the removable storage module into and out of the slot of the modular computer device;

a storage device disposed in the housing during use; and

a latching mechanism that is configured to be selectively actuated between a locked and an unlocked position to selectively couple the removable storage module within the slot of the modular computer device during use.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the storage device comprises a hard disk drive.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the hard disk drive is substantially enclosed by the housing.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer chassis comprises a PXI chassis.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the modular computer device comprises a PXI modular device.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the latching device is disposed proximate a front end of the housing and a storage device connector is disposed proximate a rear end of the housing, opposite the front end.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the latching device comprises a latching member configured to engage a complementary lip proximate the opening in a front panel of the modular computer device.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a rail/track configured to engage a complementary track/rail of the slot of the modular computer device during use.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the removable storage module is biased such that the removable storage module moves outward from the slot of the modular computer device when the latching mechanism is unlocked.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the latching mechanism is actuated between a locked and unlocked position via rotation of a cam member by less than about three-hundred sixty degrees.

11. A removable storage module, comprising:

a housing configured to facilitate sliding of the removable storage module into and out of a slot of a modular computer device, wherein the slot comprises an opening in a front panel of the modular computer device that enables the removable storage module to be installed into and removed from the slot while the modular computer device is installed in one or more slots of a computer chassis; and

a latching mechanism that is selectively actuated between a locked and an unlocked position to selectively couple the removable storage module within the slot of the modular computer device during use.

12. The removable storage device of claim 11 , wherein the modular computer device comprises a PXI modular device.

13. The removable storage device of claim 11 , wherein the latching device is disposed proximate a front end of the housing and a storage device connector is disposed proximate a rear end of the housing, opposite the front end.

14. The removable storage device of claim 11 , wherein the latching device comprises a latching member configured to engage a complementary lip proximate the opening in a front panel of the modular computer device.

15. The removable storage device of claim 11 , wherein the housing comprises a rail/track configured to engage a complementary track/rail of the slot of the modular computer device during use.

16. The removable storage device of claim 11 , wherein the removable storage module is biased such that removable storage module moves outward from the slot when the latching mechanism is unlocked.

17. The removable storage device of claim 11 , wherein the latching mechanism is actuated between a locked and unlocked position via rotation of a cam member by less than about three-hundred sixty degrees.

18. The removable storage device of claim 11 , further comprising a hard disk drive wherein the storage device comprises a hard disk drive configured to be disposed within the housing during use.

19. A removable storage device, comprising:

a housing configured facilitate sliding of the removable storage module into and out of a slot of a modular computer device, wherein the slot comprises an opening in a front panel of the modular computer device that enables the removable storage module to be installed into and removed from the slot while the modular computer device is installed in one or more slots of a computer chassis; and

a latching mechanism that is selectively actuated between a locked and an unlocked position to selectively couple the removable storage module within the slot of the modular computer device during use, wherein the latching mechanism is actuated between a locked and unlocked position via rotation of a cam member by less than about three-hundred sixty degrees.

20. The removable storage device of claim 19 , wherein the latching mechanism comprises two latching members configured to engage a complementary portion of the modular computer device to secure the removable storage device in the slot of the modular computer device, wherein the latching member is biased into a locked position, and wherein rotating the cam member causes the latching member to contract into an unlocked position.