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US 6,456,491 B1Granted
Modular floppy disk drive for internal and external use
AssigneeGateway, Inc.
InventorsMichael R. Flannery, Stephen Vossler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A modular floppy disk drive is designed to stand alone as an external drive or to be combined with a carrier to fit into a computer peripheral option bay configured for removable CD ROM drives. When used as an external floppy disk drive, the modular unit is connected to the personal computer through a connector and cable assembly. The carrier adapts the modular drive to the size and mechanical requirements of the peripheral option bay so that the modular unit can be inserted into the computer and used as an internal floppy disk drive.
Claims28
A modular floppy drive for internal and external use with a personal computer having a peripheral option bay with an internal drive connector and having an external drive connector for accessing data, the modular floppy drive comprising:
- a shell having a shell adaptor connector;
- a floppy drive unit disposed within the shell comprising a plurality of data/control lines on the floppy drive unit coupled to the shell adaptor connector;
- and
- a removable carrier formed to fit into the peripheral option bay in the computer, the carrier comprising:
- an open-mouthed slot sized to hold the shell;
- an inside electrical connector on the carrier to couple with the shell adaptor connector on the shell;
- and
- an outside electrical connector on the carrier coupled to the inside electrical connector, and to further couple with the internal drive connector in the peripheral option bay,
- wherein the internal drive connector comprises a blind-mate connector so that the outside electrical connector on the carrier is guided into proper aligment with the internal drive connector when the carrier is inserted into peripheral option bay.
6 more elements
A modular floppy drive for internal and external use with a personal computer having a peripheral option bay with an internal drive connector and having an external drive connector for accessing data, the modular floppy drive comprising:
- a shell comprising a shell adaptor connector;
- a floppy drive unit disposed within the shell to protect it from damage and contaminants when the modular drive is being used externally, the floppy drive unit comprising:
- a plurality of data/control lines coupled to the shell adaptor connector such that the computer accesses data on a disk inserted in the floppy drive unit through the shell adaptor connector when the modular drive is being used externally or internally in the computer peripheral option bay;
- and
- a removable carrier formed to fit into the peripheral option bay in the computer, the carrier comprising:
- an open-mouthed slot sized to hold the shell;
- an inside electrical connector on the inside of the carrier to couple with the shell adaptor connector on the shell;
- and
- an outside electrical connector on the outside of the carrier coupled to the inside electrical connector, wherein the outside electrical connector further couples with the internal drive connector in the peripheral option bay when the carrier is inserted into the peripheral option bays
- wherein the internal drive connector comprises a blind-mate connector so that the outside electrical connector on the carrier is guided into proper alignment with the internal drive connector when the carrier is inserted into the peripheral option bay.
7 more elements
A modular floppy drive for internal and external use with a personal computer having a peripheral option bay manufactured to connect removable CD ROM drives to the computer through an internal drive connector and having an external drive connector for accessing data, the modular floppy drive comprising:
- a shell comprising a shell adaptor connector;
- a floppy drive unit disposed within the shell to protect it from damage and contaminants when the modular drive is being used externally, the floppy drive unit comprising:
- a plurality of data/control lines coupled to the shell adaptor connector such that the computer accesses data on a disk inserted in the floppy drive unit through the shell adaptor connector when the modular drive is being used externally or internally in the computer peripheral option bay;
- and
- a removable, substantially U-shaped carrier conforming to size and mechanical form factor requirements for the removable CD ROM drive such that the carrier interfaces with the peripheral option bay, the carrier comprising:
- two opposing legs and a base cross piece attached at one end of the
- two legs forming an open-mouthed slot sized to hold the shell;
- an inside electrical connector on the inside of the carrier to couple with the shell adaptor connector on the shell;
- and
- an outside electrical connector on the outside of the carrier coupled to the inside electrical connector, wherein the outside electrical connector further couples with the internal drive connector in the computer peripheral option bay when the carrier is inserted into the peripheral option bay,
- wherein the internal drive connector comprises a blind-mate connector so that the outside electrical connector on the carrier is guided into proper alignment with the internal drive connector when the carrier is inserted into the peripheral option bay.
8 more elements
A modular floppy drive for internal and external use with a personal computer having a peripheral option bay with an internal drive connector and having an external drive connector for accessing data, the modular floppy drive comprising:
- a shell comprising a shell adaptor connector;
- and
- a floppy drive unit disposed within the shell to protect it from damage and contaminants when the modular drive is being used externally, the floppy drive unit comprising:
- a plurality of data/control lines coupled to the shell adaptor connector such that the computer accesses data on a disk inserted in the floppy drive unit through the shell adaptor connector when the modular drive is being used externally or internally in the computer peripheral option bay;
- and
- a removable, substantially L-shaped carrier formed to fit into the peripheral option bay in the computer, the carrier comprising:
- a leg and a base cross piece attached at one end of the leg forming a slot having an open mouth, an open side, and sized to hold the shell;
- an inside electrical connector on the inside of the carrier to couple with the shell adaptor connector on the shell;
- and
- an outside electrical connector on the outside of the carrier coupled to the inside electrical connector, wherein the outside electrical connector further couples with the internal drive connector in the computer peripheral option bay when the carrier is inserted into the peripheral option bay,
- wherein the internal drive connector comprises a blind-mate connector so that the outside electrical connector on the carrier is guided into proper alignment with the internal drive connector when the carrier is inserted into the peripheral option bay.
8 more elements
A modular floppy drive for internal and external use with a personal computer having a peripheral option bay with an internal drive connector comprising a blind-mate connector, and having an external drive connector for accessing data, the modular floppy drive comprising:
- a shell having a shell adaptor connector;
- a floppy drive unit disposed within the shell comprising a plurality of data/control lines on the floppy drive unit coupled to the shell adaptor connector;
- and
- a removable carrier formed to fit into the peripheral option bay in the computer, the carrier comprising:
- an open-mouthed slot sized to hold the shell;
- an inside electrical connector on the carrier to couple with the shell adaptor connector on the shell;
- and
- an outside electrical connector on the carrier coupled to the inside electrical connector, and to further couple with blind-mate connector when the carrier is inserted in the peripheral option bay, wherein the outside electrical connector is different from the shell adaptor connector and is shaped such that the blind-mate connector guides the outside electrical connector into proper alignment for coupling.
5 more elements
A modular floppy drive for internal and external use with a personal computer having a peripheral option bay with an internal drive connector comprising a blind-mate connector, and having an external drive connector for accessing data, the modular floppy drive comprising:
- a shell comprising a shell adaptor connector;
- a floppy drive unit disposed within the shell to protect it from damage and contaminants when the modular drive is being used externally, the floppy drive unit comprising:
- a plurality of data/control lines coupled to the shell adaptor connector such that the computer accesses data on a disk inserted in the floppy drive unit through the shell adaptor connector when the modular drive is being used externally or internally in the computer peripheral option bay;
- and
- a removable carrier formed to fit into the peripheral option bay in the computer, the carrier comprising:
- an open-mouthed slot sized to hold the shell;
- an inside electrical connector on the inside of the carrier to couple with the shell adaptor connector on the shell;
- and
- an outside electrical connector on the carrier coupled to the inside electrical connector, and to further couple with blind-mate connector when the carrier is inserted in the peripheral option bay, wherein the outside electrical connector is different from the shell adaptor connector and is shaped such that the blind-mate connector guides the outside electrical connector into proper alignment for coupling.
6 more elements
A modular floppy drive for internal and external use with a personal computer having a peripheral option bay manufactured to connect removable CD ROM drives to the computer through an internal drive connector comprising a blind-mate connector, and having an external drive connector for accessing data, the modular floppy drive comprising:
- a shell comprising a shell adaptor connector;
- a floppy drive unit disposed within the shell to protect it from damage and contaminants when the modular drive is being used externally, the floppy drive unit comprising:
- a plurality of data/control lines coupled to the shell adaptor connector such that the computer accesses data on a disk inserted in the floppy drive unit through the shell adaptor connector when the modular drive is being used externally or internally in the computer peripheral option bay;
- and
- a removable, substantially U-shaped carrier conforming to size and mechanical form factor requirements for the removable CD ROM drive such that the carrier interfaces with the peripheral option bay, the carrier comprising:
- two opposing legs and a base cross piece attached at one end of the two legs forming an open-mouthed slot sized to hold the shell;
- an inside electrical connector on the inside of the carrier to couple with the shell adaptor connector on the shell;
- and
- an outside electrical connector on the carrier coupled to the inside electrical connector, and to further couple with blind-mate connector when the carrier is inserted in the peripheral option bay, wherein the outside electrical connector is different from the shell adaptor connector and is shaped such that the blind-mate connector guides the outside electrical connector into proper alignment for coupling.
6 more elements
A modular floppy drive for internal and external use with a personal computer having a peripheral option bay with an internal drive connector and having an external drive connector for accessing data, the modular floppy drive comprising:
- a shell comprising a shell adaptor connector;
- and
- a floppy drive unit disposed within the shell to protect it from damage and contaminants when the modular drive is being used externally, the floppy drive unit comprising:
- a plurality of data/control lines coupled to the shell adaptor connector such that the computer accesses data on a disk inserted in the floppy drive unit through the shell adaptor connector when the modular drive is being used externally or internally in the computer peripheral option bay;
- and
- a removable, substantially L-shaped carrier formed to fit into the peripheral option bay in the computer, the carrier comprising:
- a leg and a base cross piece attached at one end of the leg forming a slot having an open mouth, an open side, and sized to hold the shell;
- an inside electrical connector on the inside of the carrier to couple with the shell adaptor connector on the shell;
- and
- an outside electrical connector on the carrier coupled to the inside electrical connector, and to further couple with blind-mate connector when the carrier is inserted in the peripheral option bay, wherein the outside electrical connector is different from the shell adaptor connector and is shaped such that the blind-mate connector guides the outside electrical connector into proper alignment for coupling.
7 more elements
A computer system comprising:
- a computer having an external drive connector for accessing data and a peripheral option bay with an internal blind-mate connector;
- and
- a modular floppy drive for coupling to the computer externally through the external drive connector, and further for coupling to the computer internally through the internal blind-mate connector, the modular floppy drive comprising:
- a shell having a shell adaptor connector;
- a floppy drive unit disposed within the shell to protect it from damage and contaminants when the modular floppy drive is being used externally, the floppy drive unit comprising:
- a plurality of data/control lines coupled to the shell adaptor connector such that the computer accesses data on a disk inserted in the floppy drive unit through the shell adaptor connector when the modular drive is being used externally or internally in the computer peripheral option bay;
- and
- a removable carrier formed to fit into the peripheral option bay in the computer, the carrier comprising:
- an open-mouthed slot sized to hold the shell;
- an inside electrical connector on the inside of the carrier to couple with the shell adaptor connector on the shell;
- and
- an outside electrical connector on the outside of the carrier coupled to the inside electrical connector on the inside of the carrier, the outside electrical connector further coupled to the internal blind-mate connector when the carrier is inserted into the peripheral drive bay, wherein the outside electrical connector is different from the shell adaptor connector and is shaped such that the internal blind-mate connector guides the outside electrical connector into proper alignment for coupling.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.