Western Digital Technologies, Inc.

Hgst Netherlands, B.v.

Jabil Circuit, Inc.

Sanmina-sci Corporation

Radisys Corporation

Jeffrey David Wilke

Toshiki Hirano

Michael Stephen Bell

David William Niss

Lidu Huang

Darya Amin-Shahidi

Jin Hui Ou-Yang

Dana C Fisher

Neale Marvin Jones

Barry E Caldwell

Thomas R Albrecht

Timothy G Lieber

James M Yoder

Hussam Zebian

Glenn Douglas Albert

Israel D Dubin

Todd McNally

Robert Pebly

Lawrence Allan Freymuth

James G Bringley

Yulong Xi

Noah Kelly

A data storage system includes a chassis housing multiple data storage devices, such as hard disk drives, a compartment housing cooling fans, and an air plenum positioned between the fans and the storage devices. A multibody chambered acoustic attenuator, which may be installed in the air plenum, includes a plate part having airflow holes therethrough and may include a convex arched part having airflow holes therethrough and coupled with the plate part to form a chamber. Acoustic damping material lines an interior surface of the plate part and the interior and exterior surfaces of the arched part, and the airflow holes of the plate part and of the arched part are not aligned, such that direct acoustic emissions and reflections would contact the acoustic damping material and a circuitous airflow path is provided from the cooling fans to the storage devices, to reduce the acoustic sound pressure upon the devices.

Multibody chambered acoustic attenuator for a data storage system

Various embodiments of the present technology generally relate to systems and methods for storing datacenter equipment. More specifically, some embodiments relate to a datacenter rack ('computing rack') that can be adjusted to fit various sizes of computing equipment and can be stacked with additional computing racks. In certain embodiments, the computing rack includes an enclosure for storing a plurality of computing units as well as one or more adjustable vertical mounting rails coupled to the frame of the computing rack for accommodating different sizes and specifications of equipment. The computing rack additionally includes components for stacking the unit with additional computing racks such that a set of stacked computing racks can fit multiple different sizes and specifications of computing equipment.

Modular adjustable computing rack

Data storage device mounting systems to provide alignment and mounting of data storage devices are provided herein. A carrier is configured to couple to a data storage device and hang the data storage device in a vertical orientation in a data storage assembly from retractable mounting pins coupled to the carrier. The carrier also includes retractable alignment features to guide the data storage device and carrier into the mounting system. Finger grips are coupled to retractable alignment features and mounting pins and configured to extend retractable alignment features beyond the carrier concurrent with retracting the mounting pins when actuated by a user squeezing the finger grips. The finger grips are configured to extend the mounting pins when de-actuated by the user.

Retractable guide features for data storage device carriers

Provided herein are systems and apparatus for capturing a shock mount in a storage enclosure divider. In one implementation, a divider assembly comprises a divider guide comprising a plurality of alignment stops configured to engage an alignment feature of a device carrier, a front top divider coupled to the divider guide, a rear top divider coupled to the divider guide, and a grommet assembly coupled to the divider guide and to the front top divider and to the rear top divider. The front and rear top dividers comprise pluralities of alignment stop apertures and grommet apertures formed therein with respective alignment stops extending therethrough. Each alignment stop aperture of the rear top divider has a respective alignment stop of the plurality of alignment stops extending therethrough. The grommet assembly comprises a pair of grommets, each extending through a respective grommet aperture.

Divider with captive shock mounts for storage enclosure

A compact back-flow stopper using an elastic flexure mechanism for a cooling fan is shown and described. The backflow stopper assembly comprises a frame configured to structurally support a fin array when coupled to a fan. The fin array comprises a plurality of flexural deformation elements and associated fin elements arrayed in a radial arrangement to establish a pathway for airflow, each of the flexural deformation elements configured to move an attached fin element responsive to airflow impacting the attached fin element. Flex limiter elements are coupled to the frame and configured to limit flexure of the fin elements beyond a predetermined flexure in relation to the frame to stop backflow of air through the fin array. A fan assembly with a backflow stopper is shown and described. Also, a data storage assembly using fan assemblies with backflow stoppers is also shown and described.

Flexure back-flow stopper

Provided herein are systems and apparatus for reducing vibration interaction between hard drives. In one implementation, an apparatus is provided comprising a backplane that comprises a substrate comprising an at least partially flexible material and a connector island assembly formed in the substrate. The connector island assembly comprises a spring element and a connector island. The spring element extends from a main portion of the substrate, and the connector island extends from the spring element. The connector island assembly is surrounded by the main portion of the substrate and configured to flex independently of the main portion of the substrate.

Alternately shaped backplane for receiving electrical components

To provide enhanced operation of data storage devices and systems, various systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein. In a first example, a backflow assembly includes a backflow stopper comprising a frame configured to structurally support a fin array when coupled to a fan, the fin array comprising a plurality of flexural deformation elements and associated fin elements arrayed in a radial arrangement to establish a pathway for airflow, each of the flexural deformation elements configured to move an attached fin element responsive to airflow impacting the attached fin element. An acoustic barrier assembly is positioned adjacently to the backflow stopper and configured to attenuate acoustic waves emanating from the fan.

Backflow stopper with acoustic barrier

A data storage system assembly includes a rigid central plate with multiple data storage devices (DSDs) mounted on the central plate, where a first row of DSDs is coupled with a first side of the central plate, and a second row of DSDs is coupled with a second side of the central plate, both in a side-by-side arrangement. A plurality of flexible mounting grommets may be fastened to each DSD and coupled to the central plate, such as in an arrangement in which an even number of grommets are fastened to one side and an odd number of grommets are fastened to an opposing side of the DSD. Each respective DSD may be fastened to a corresponding adaptor plate, where each adaptor plate is coupled with the central plate. Flexible mounting grommets may be fastened to each adaptor plate and coupled to the central plate.

Data storage system enclosure with central mounting plate

In general, embodiments of a bi-directional cable interconnect system are described. A connector bezel configured to guide engagement of a male mating connector of a cable with a female mating connector comprises a front plate having a main opening formed therein configured to allow passage of the male mating connector therethrough and a rear assembly attached to the front plate. The rear assembly comprises a plurality of walls forming a cable connector opening therethrough and a rear opening formed in the rear assembly configured to allow passage of the female mating connector therethrough. The cable connector opening is fluidly coupled with the main opening and with the rear opening.

Bi-directional cable interconnect system

A decoupled partitioning divider for a data storage system enclosure includes a first leg having proximal and distal halves and a second leg having proximal and distal halves, and in which the first and second legs are coupled together at either the proximal or distal half and uncoupled from each other at the other of the proximal and distal halves, so that the divider legs are decoupled from each other at one half or one end. When installed in a data storage system enclosure between adjacent data storage devices, such as hard disk drives, vibration transfer among the devices housed therein may be inhibited.

Data storage system enclosure with decoupled divider

A backplane configured to receive electrical components is provided. The backplane in one example includes a substrate comprising an at least partially flexible material, a plurality of backplane traces formed as part of the substrate, at least one connector island formed in the substrate, with the at least one connector island located in an opening in the substrate and configured to receive at least one mating electrical component, and one or more spring elements bridging between the at least one connector island and the substrate, with traces of the plurality of backplane traces extending over the one or more spring elements to the at least one connector island and with the one or more spring elements allowing the at least one connector island to flex with respect to the substrate and absorb vibrations.

Backplane for receiving electrical components

A chassis input/output (I/O) module adapted for use in a front region of a mass storage chassis assembly is provided. The chassis I/O module in one example includes an I/O module shell, a main I/O connector externally available on the I/O module shell, a plurality of sub-assembly connectors externally available on the I/O module shell, one or more power supply modules, and an interface module electrically coupled to the main I/O connector, the plurality of sub-assembly connectors, and the one or more power supply modules, with the interface module configured to regulate operations of one or more mass storage sub-assemblies installed in the mass storage chassis assembly, regulate provision of electrical power from the one or more power supply modules to the one or more mass storage sub-assemblies, and facilitate exchange of electrical signals between the one or more mass storage sub-assemblies and the main I/O connector.

Chassis input/output (I/O) module for use in front region of mass storage chassis assembly

A backplane configured to receive electrical components is provided. The backplane in one example includes a substantially planar substrate comprising an at least partially flexible material and formed in a non-rectangular shape, a series of alternating connector islands formed along two substantially parallel axes, wherein each connector island is able to move independently of other connector islands, a plurality of backplane traces extending from the series of alternating connector islands to a backplane connector region of the substrate, with a number of backplane traces increasing closer to the backplane connector region, and one or more spring elements bridging between a particular connector island and the substrate, with the one or more spring elements allowing the particular connector island to flex with respect to the substrate and absorb vibrations.

Growing community of inventors

Palmer Lake, CO, United States of America

Jeffrey David Wilke