The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 07, 2001
Filed:
May. 10, 1999
Charles W. Frank, Jr., Irvine, CA (US);
Thomas D. Hanan, Mission Viejo, CA (US);
Wally Szeremeta, Mission Viejo, CA (US);
Marc B. Goldstone, Irvine, CA (US);
Western Digital Corporation, Lake Forest, CA (US);
Abstract
The invention is an integrated computer module adapted for removable insertion into a docking bay in a host assembly wherein such module includes an enclosure, a main printed circuit board assembly, a module connector for connection to a host connector, a disk drive, and a locking mechanism for automatically engaging a projecting member in the docking bay to secure the module therein to prevent loss of data due to a surprise removal of the module. The preferred locking mechanism involves a solenoid and a latch plate with a downwardly-opening notch that engages a recess on the projecting member. The preferred locking mechanism is biased closed such that the locking mechanism locks the module in by default and must be energized for removal. The preferred circuitry for operating the locking mechanism has two parallel circuits, a software controlled circuit for programmatically energizing the solenoid and unlocking the module when power is present and it is safe to do so and a manual override circuit for energizing the solenoid and unlocking the module in the absence of power using energy stored in low-leakage capacitors.