Apparatus for storing data

1. An apparatus for supporting data storage elements and supplying data stored thereon, said apparatus comprising:

a support unit having a plurality of connectors for connecting to a plurality of data storage elements;

a cable having a first end connected to said support unit and a second end connected to a main part of the apparatus;

the main part of the apparatus forming an enclosure for the support unit, the enclosure defining a first space configured for containing a portion of said cable and a separate second space configured for containing said support unit, such that said support unit is movable between a first position providing access to said data storage elements and a second position in which said data storage elements are located within said second space,

wherein said cable is a substantially flat ribbon cable having a width at least five times greater than its thickness, the ribbon cable comprising:

a first plurality of power wires at a first edge of the ribbon cable and a second plurality of power wires at a second edge of the ribbon cable, the power wires having a relatively large gauge; and

a plurality of signal wires extending along a central portion of the ribbon cable when kept substantially flat, between the first plurality of power wires at the first edge and the second plurality of power wires at the second opposite edge, the signal wires having a relatively small gauge;

wherein the relatively large gauge of the power wires is larger than the relatively small gauge of the signal wires such that the ribbon cable is substantially stiffer than a ribbon cable containing only the signal wires; and

a guide module configured to cause said substantially flat ribbon cable to develop at least two separate loops within said first space while said support unit is moved to said second position contained within said separate second space, the loops separated by a point of inflection and not formed around a shared spindle or former.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the power wires comprise a first plurality of power wires and a second plurality of power wires, and wherein the signal wires extend along a central portion of the ribbon cable between the first plurality of power wires and the second plurality of power wires.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the power wires are arranged into four pairs and the signal wires are arranged into three groups such that each group of signal wires extends between one of the four pairs of the power wires and another of the four pairs of the power wires.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the power wires and the signal wires are encased within an outer polymer sheath.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the power wires are arranged in four pairs comprising a first outer pair at a first edge of the ribbon cable, a first inner pair, a second inner pair and a second outer pair at a second edge of the ribbon cable, opposite the first edge,

a first set of five of the signal wires separates said first outer pair of the power wires from said first inner pair of the power wires, a second set of five of the signal wires separates said second outer pair of the power wires from said second inner pair of the power wires, and

eight shielded parallel pairs of the signal wires separate said first inner pair of the power wires from said second inner pair of the power wires.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein each of said first set and said second set of said signal wires is arranged in a form having a substantially round cross section, and surrounded by a polymer sheath.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the eight shielded parallel pairs of the signal wires are grouped into four groups such that each of the four groups comprises two shielded parallel pairs of the signal wires and each of the four groups is surrounded by a polymer sheath.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein each polymer sheath is welded to at least one adjacent polymer sheath.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the guide module is configured to cause said ribbon cable to develop the at least two separate loops as separately identifiable portions of the ribbon cable, each separately identifiable portion including a bend in which the ribbon cable turns through an angle of more than 90° within said first space while said support unit is moved to said second position.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said guide module comprises a retractable guide member configured to extend along a portion of said ribbon cable as said support unit is moved between said second position and said first position.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein said guide member comprises a spring configured to roll up while said support unit is moved between said first position and said second position.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the guide member is configured to retract into a volume that is separate from the first space occupied by the loops of the ribbon cable.

13. A substantially flat ribbon cable having a width at least five times greater than its thickness and configured for providing electrical power and electrical signals to a data storage element, said substantially flat ribbon cable comprising:

a plurality of power wires having a relatively large gauge; and

a plurality of signal wires having a relatively small gauge;

wherein the relatively large gauge of the power wires is larger than the relatively small gauge of the signal wires such that the ribbon cable is substantially stiffer than a ribbon cable containing only the signal wires;

wherein the power wires comprise a first plurality of power wires at a first edge of the ribbon cable and a second plurality of power wires at a second opposite edge of the ribbon cable; and

wherein the signal wires extend along a central portion of the ribbon cable when kept substantially flat, between the first plurality of power wires at the first edge and the second plurality of power wires at the second opposite edge; and

wherein the substantially flat ribbon cable is folded into separate loops, the loops separated by a point of inflection and not formed around a shared spindle or former.

14. The ribbon cable of claim 13 wherein the power wires are arranged into four pairs and the signal wires are arranged into three groups such that each group of signal wires extends between one of the four pairs of the power wires and another of the four pairs of the power wires.

15. The ribbon cable of claim 13 wherein the power wires and the signal wires are encased within an outer polymer sheath.

16. The ribbon cable of claim 13 wherein:

the power wires are arranged in four pairs comprising a first outer pair at the first edge of the ribbon cable, a first inner pair, a second inner pair and a second outer pair at the second edge of the ribbon cable; and

a first set of five of the signal wires separates said first outer pair of the power wires from said first inner pair of the power wires, a second set of five of the signal wires separates said second outer pair of the power wires from said second inner pair of the power wires, and

eight shielded parallel pairs of the signal wires separate said first inner pair of the power wires from said second inner pair of the power wires.

17. The ribbon cable of claim 16 wherein each of said first set and said second set of said signal wires is arranged in a form having a substantially round cross section, and surrounded by a polymer sheath.

18. The ribbon cable of claim 16 wherein the eight shielded parallel pairs of the signal wires are grouped into four groups such that each of the four groups comprises two shielded parallel pairs of the signal wires and each of the four groups is surrounded by a polymer sheath.

19. The ribbon cable of claim 18 wherein each polymer sheath is welded to at least one adjacent polymer sheath.