Patent Application
20080013273
A more complete understanding of the present embodiments and advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate like features, and wherein:
For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, or other purposes. For example, an information handling system may be a person computer, a network storage device, or any other suikeyle device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The information handling system may include random access memory (RAM), one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic, ROM, and/or other types of nonvolatile memory. Additional components of the information handling system may include one or more disk drives, one or more network ports for communication with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The information handling system may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components.
Referring to
Chassis 100 includes gaskets 101, 103, 105, 111, 113, 115 for each of bays 102a, 102b, 102c, respectively. In one embodiment, gaskets 101, 103 and 105 provide static discharge of an electronic device as it is installed in the respective bay, and gaskets 111, 113, 115 provide a grounding contact for electronic devices installed in the respective bays. Gaskets 101, 103, 105, 111, 113, 115 mate with sidewalls 120a, 120b. For example, gaskets 101, 111 protrude through apertures in sidewall 120a. Gaskets 105 and 115 may be secured to sidewalls 120a and 120b and may bear some of the weight of an electronic device and carrier when such are installed in bay 102a. When an electronic device carrier is installed in bay 102a, a metal contact initially touches gaskets 105 and 115 to provide a discharge of electrostatic buildup and/or to provide an electrical ground connection. In other words, the gaskets 105, 115 provide electromagnetic interference contact between the chassis 100 and the carrier 234. Additionally, the gaskets 105, 115 apply force on the carrier 234, which may dampens the carrier's fit into the chassis 100. Since there is a gasket on each side of the carrier 234, the carrier 234 may become suspended between the gaskets and held in place.
Referring to
The gasket has a protruding portion 305 and an anchor portion 309 separated by an arm portion 307. The gasket may be attached to the sidewall via the anchor portion 309. The protruding portion 305 extends out of a plane created by the arm portion 307, such that it may protrude through a sidewall. As shown in
As the carrier is installed into the bay, the protruding portion 305 of the gasket is pushed away from the carrier. Since the anchor portion 309 is secured to the sidewall, the gasket bends or deflects to allow this. More specifically, the protruding portion 305 moves relative to the anchor portion 309. This deflection causes the protruding portion 305 to exert a contact force 210 (shown in
The countering forces 210a and 210b hold the carrier 234 in place. The greater the force 210, the more rigid the carrier 234 (and thus the drive) becomes. Depending on the specific conditions, the magnitude of the countering force 210 may be different. For example, if the chassis 100 has fans near the carrier, a more rigid carrier may be desirable to prevent rotational vibration from impairing the operation of the hard drive. In other applications, a less rigid carrier may be preferred. The gasket can be modified or customized depending on operating frequency and natural frequency. Therefore, the characteristics of the gasket may be selected, depending upon the application for which the gasket will be used, and/or the stabilizing force required for each unique hard disk drive or other device.
Furthermore, in the above described embodiment, an electronic device or carrier may be located and constrained to the chassis of the computer system peripheral device bay without the use of fasteners or multiple parts. The ability to use the gaskets to reliably locate the sidewalls and to bear the weight of the installed electronic device and carrier eliminates the use of additional parts. Saving internal computer system space is a significant advantage because the sizes of computer systems are decreasing and the complexity of computer systems are increasing. Also, using fewer part decreases manufacturing complexity and increases speed of manufacturing. Also, because the gaskets provide a load bearing feature, the electronic device and carrier may be shipped installed in the bay of the computer system.
In one embodiment, the gasket features mate with snap or aperture features of a sidewall fastened thereto and are formed so as to provide static discharge and ground to an electronic device carrier when the electronic device carrier. That is, when the electronic device carrier is installed into the peripheral device bay of the computer system, a first gasket electrically contacts the electronic device carried by the carrier to wipe any electrostatic buildup, and a second gasket electrically contacts the electronic device to electrically connect the electronic device to the ground of the computer system. Such an embodiment improves protection from electromagnetic interference and radio frequency interference, and improves containment.
Although the present disclosure has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations may be made hereto without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
