Systems and methods for packaging high density SSDS
View Patent ↗In various embodiments, a high-density solid-state storage unit includes a base section and a cassette section having plurality of flash cards. The cassette section can be removably attached to the base section to provide security of data stored on the plurality of flash cards. The cassette section provides for physical security of the flash cards in part through packaging of the enclosure and energy transfer to the base station. The cassette section further provides for security of the data stored on the flash cards in part through a trusted platform module (TPM) embodied as a removable module connected to a universal serial bus (USB) style connector.
1. A data storage unit comprising:
a base section;
a cassette section configured to be removably attached to the base section and having an interface through which solid-state storage modules located within the cassette section are accessible to the base section; and
a removable trusted platform module configured to provide security to the solid-state storage modules by authorizing operation of the cassette section and the base section when the cassette section is connected to the base section;
wherein a plurality of solid-state storage modules are arranged in a vertical fashion from the front of the cassette section to the back of the cassette section together with a bridge board that electronically connects the interface at the back of the cassette section to one or more components at the front of the cassette section;
wherein the cassette section further includes a gap filling material positioned between one or more internal components of the cassette section and an enclosing plate of the cassette section; and
wherein the gap filling material is futher configured to reduce vibration within the cassette section.
2. The data storage unit of claim 1 wherein the interface is configured to provide both an electrical connection between the cassette section and the base section as well as a mechanical connection between the cassette section and the base section.
3. The data storage unit of claim 1 wherein the cassette section further includes one or more guides placed on each of one or more surfaces, each guide having a taper from one end of the cassette section toward another end of the cassette section.
4. The data storage unit of claim 3 wherein the one or more guides are configured with a plurality of rounded channels diametrically opposed.
5. The data storage unit of claim 3 wherein the one or more guides include a first wedge receptor opposite a second wedge receptor.
6. The data storage unit of claim 1 wherein the base section includes one or more structures forming a plurality of environmental zones configured to separate airflow exiting the cassette section and airflow exiting the base section, at least one of the plurality of environmental zones designated for the cassette section.
7. The data storage unit of claim 1 wherein the trusted platform module is a chip included in a universal serial bus (USB) style connector.
8. The data storage unit of claim 1 wherein the trusted platform module utilizes a universal serial bus (USB) style connector configured to be inserted into the cassette section.
9. The data cassette of claim 1 wherein the trusted platform module is a chip included in a universal serial bus (USB) style connector configured to be inserted into the data section.
10. The data storage unit of claim 1 wherein the cassette section is configured to be insertable only into a pre-designated base section.
11. A data cassette comprising:
an interface through which solid-state storage modules are accessible to a base section;
a removable trusted platform module configured to provide security to the solid-state storage modules by authorizing operation of the cassette section and the base section when the cassette section is connected to the base section; and
a plurality of solid-state storage modules arranged in a vertical fashion from the front of the cassette section to the back of the cassette section together with a bridge board that electronically connects the interface at the back of the cassette section to one or more components at the front of the cassette section;
wherein the cassette section section further includes a gap filling material positioned between one or more internal components of the data cassette and a top plate of the data cassette or a bottom plate of the data cassette; and
wherein the gap filling material is further configured to reduce vibration within the cassette section.
12. The data cassette of claim 11 wherein the interface is configured to provide both an electrical connection between the data cassette and the base section as well as an energy transfer to the base section.
13. The data cassette of claim 1 further including one or more guides having a taper direct from the back of the data cassette to the front of the data cassette that provides self-guiding upon insertion of the data cassette into the base section.
14. The data cassette of claim 13 wherein the one or more guides are configured to provide energy transfer to the base section.
15. The data cassette of claim 13 wherein the one or more guides include a first wedge receptor opposite a second wedge receptor.
16. The data cassette of claim 11 is further configured to be insertable only into a pre-designated base section.