Carrierless storage system enclosure with ejection mechanism
A carrierless storage system enclosure includes an ejection mechanism to permit installation and removal of data storage devices (e.g., hard disk drives) without tools, carriers, and manual cabling.
1. A data storage system comprising:
an enclosure for housing at least one or more chassis modules;
a chassis module having a slot to receive a storage device without the use of a carrier, the chassis module including clips that facilitate interconnection of the chassis module with another chassis module in a stack configuration;
a connector for direct connection with the storage device when the storage device is installed in the chassis module, the connector providing at least one of electrical connections and data connections for the storage device;
the chassis module including a latch for selectively securing the storage device within the chassis module and releasing the storage device from the chassis module, the latch including a latch release tab and a flange, the latch release tab and the flange integrated into a single resilient latch component that deflects when the storage device is being inserted such that the flange is moved to allow insertion of the storage device into the chassis module and, once inserted, the component returns to its original shape such that the flange blocks at least part of the slot and holds the storage device in the chassis module, wherein the latch release tab allows the component to be manually deflected to move the flange away from the slot to release the storage device;
a front plate having a large opening through which the storage device can be inserted into the chassis module and a latch opening through which the latch release tab protrudes through the front plate so as to allow such releasing of the storage device; and
the chassis module including an ejection mechanism for ejecting the storage device when storage device is released, whereby the storage device can be installed without use of separate connectors and cables.
2. A system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a back plate including the connector, wherein the back plate and the chassis module are positioned so as to align the connector with the storage device.
3. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the ejection mechanism includes an ejection spring positioned so as to compress when the storage device is inserted in the chassis module.
4. A system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a door movably coupled to the chassis module, the door covering the opening when no storage device is installed in the chassis module.
5. A system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a light tube extending from a back of the chassis module to a front of the chassis module.
6. A system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a storage manager in communication with the connector, the storage manager adapted to redundantly store data in the storage device via the connector.
7. A data storage system comprising:
an enclosure for housing at least one or more chassis modules;
a plurality of stacked chassis modules that are interconnected by clips, each chassis module having a slot to receive a storage device without the use of a carrier, each chassis module including a latch for selectively securing the storage device within the chassis module and releasing the storage device from the chassis module and an ejection mechanism for ejecting the storage device when the storage device is released, the latch including a latch release tab and a flange, the latch release tab and the flange integrated into a single resilient latch component that deflects when the storage device is being inserted such that the flange is moved to allow insertion of the storage device into the chassis module and, once inserted, the component returns to its original shape such that the flange blocks at least part of the slot and holds the storage device in the chassis module, wherein the latch release tab allows the component to be manually deflected to move the flange away from the slot to release the storage device;
a front plate having a large opening through which the storage device can be inserted into the chassis module and a latch opening through which the latch release tab protrudes through the front plate so as to allow such releasing of the storage device; and
a plurality of connectors for direct connection with the storage devices when the storage devices are installed in the chassis modules, the connectors providing at least one of electrical connections and data connections for the storage devices, whereby storage devices can be installed without use of separate connectors and cables.
8. A system according to claim 7 , further comprising:
a back plate including the connectors, wherein the back plate and the chassis modules are positioned so as to align the connectors with the storage devices.
9. A system according to claim 7 , wherein each ejection mechanism includes an ejection spring positioned so as to compress when a storage device is inserted in the chassis module.
10. A system according to claim 7 , wherein each chassis module includes, for each opening, a door that covers the opening when no storage device is installed in the corresponding chassis module.
11. A system according to claim 7 , wherein each chassis module further comprises:
a light tube extending from a back of the chassis module to a front of the chassis module.
12. A system according to claim 7 , further comprising:
a storage manager in communication with the plurality of connectors, the storage manager adapted to redundantly store data in the storage devices via the connectors.
13. A system according to claim 7 , further comprising:
a plurality of status indicators, each status indicator associated with a chassis module, wherein the plurality of status indicators are controlled to provide a status indication for each chassis module.
14. A system according to claim 7 , further comprising:
at least one storage device installed in the plurality of chassis modules.