BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
FIG. 1 is a cutaway perspective view of a conventional electronic device;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of an electronic device according to the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view to illustrate a board assembly of the preferred embodiment; and
FIG. 4 is a perspective view to illustrate installation and removal of hot-swap components to and from the preferred embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIG. 2, the preferred embodiment of an electronic device according to this invention includes a casing 2 and a board assembly 3.
The casing 2 defines an accommodating space 21, and a plurality of slots 22, each of which is in spatial communication with the accommodating space 21.
With further reference to FIG. 3, the board assembly 3 includes a circuit board 31 and a plurality of hot-swap ports 32. The circuit board 31 is mounted in the accommodating space 21 in the casing 2, and has an edge 311 disposed adjacent to the slots 22 in the casing 2. Each of the hot-swap ports 32 is coupled electrically to and is mounted directly on the circuit board 31, is disposed on the edge 311 of the circuit board 31, and extends into a respective one of the slots 22 in the casing 2. In this embodiment, each of the hot-swap ports 32 complies with an advanced technology attachment (ATA) interface standard. In an alternative embodiment, each of the hot-swap ports 32 complies with a serial ATA (SATA) interface standard, a small computer system interface (SCSI) standard, or a serial SCSI (SAS) standard.
Each of the hot-swap ports 32 is connected electrically to a respective one of hot-swap components 41, such as a hard disk drive, received in a respective one of the slots 22 in the casing 2, in a manner that will be described hereinafter.
In use, with further reference to FIG. 4, when it is desired to install the hot-swap components 41 to the electronic device of this invention, each of the hot-swap components 41 is first inserted into a respective one of the slots 22 in the casing 2 and is then plugged into a respective one of the hot-swap ports 32. Thereafter, when it is desired to remove the hot-swap components 41, each of the hot-swap components 41 is first unplugged from the respective one of the hot-swap ports 32 and is pulled out from the respective one of the slots 22.
It is noted that the installation and removal of the hot-swap components 41 may be performed while the electronic device of this invention is in operation. Moreover, since the hot-swap ports 32 are coupled electrically to and are mounted directly on the circuit board 31, the electronic device of this invention may be dispensed with the cables 15 (see FIG. 1). Further, since the hot-swap ports 32 are mounted directly on the circuit board 31, the circuit board 31 serves as a support for the hot-swap ports 32 during installation and removal of the hot-swap components 41. As such, the electronic device of this invention may be dispensed with the bracket 16 (see FIG. 1). The electronic device of this invention is therefore relatively easy to assemble and costs less to manufacture.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.
Patent Application
20080034143
