Abstract: A serial ATA disk drive having a parallel ATA test interface is disclosed. A bridge circuit has a serial ATA port that is coupled to a serial ATA interface for receiving and transmitting serial ATA data signals, a parallel ATA port for receiving and transmitting parallel ATA signals, and a disable input for selectably disabling the parallel ATA port. The bridge circuit performs signal conversions between the ports. The test interface is for coupling the disk drive to a disk-drive test system. The test interface includes a connector having contacts for parallel ATA signals, and having a contact for a disable signal coupled to the disable input. The connector may be a pad pattern on a printed circuit of the disk drive. The disk drive may have an industry standard form factor, and the connector may be configured such that it lies within the disk drive's form factor.

Abstract: A storage peripheral, such as disk drive, having a robust PCB connector configured in accordance with a SATA standard. The disk drive has a disk, a disk controller system, and a PCB for mounting the disk controller system, and a housing attached to the PCB. A first electrical contact arrangement in accordance with a SATA standard is connected to the PCB and is supported by a first blade connector. Both the first blade connector and the first electrical contact arrangement are enclosed by the housing. The housing further defines a cable connector receiving area around the first blade connector for the receipt of a cable connector. A pair of laterally-opposed guide arm receiving cavities are integrally formed with the housing and are disposed outside of the cable connector receiving area. The guide arm receiving cavities are adapted for the receipt of guide arms from a mating cable connector.

Abstract: Disclosed is a raised SATA PCB connector for high-density mounting on a PCB. The raised SATA PCB connector is configured for connection with a SATA cable connector and is further configured for mounting onto a first side of a PCB. The raised SATA PCB connector includes a raised mounting portion for mounting to the first side of the PCB. A blade connector may project from the raised mounting portion at a sufficient height from the PCB to allow the blade connector to suitably connect with a SATA cable connector and to allow another SATA cable connector to be suitably connected to another raised SATA PCB connector mounted in opposing relation to the second side of the PCB.

Abstract: A printed circuit board (PCB) connector configured in accordance with a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) standard. The PCB connector is for connection to a PCB. The PCB connector includes a first blade connector for supporting a first electrical contact arrangement in accordance with a SATA standard, a housing for supporting the first blade connector and the first electrical contact arrangement, and a pair of laterally-opposed guide arm receiving cavities being integrally formed with the housing. The housing defines a cable connector receiving area around the first blade connector for receipt of a cable connector. Further, the guide arm receiving cavities are disposed outside of the cable connector receiving area and are adapted for the receipt of guide arms from a mating cable connector.

Abstract: A cable connector configured in accordance with a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) standard. The cable connector includes a first electrical contact arrangement in accordance with a SATA standard and is configured to mate with a first blade connector having a second electrical contact arrangement also in accordance with the SATA standard. The cable connector includes a first blade-receiving portion for enclosing the first electrical contact arrangement, a housing for supporting the first blade-receiving portion and the first electrical contact arrangement, and a pair of laterally-opposed guide arms being integrally formed with the housing. The housing has a cable entrance end and a mating end. The guide arms project from the mating end of the housing and are disposed outside of the first blade-receiving portion.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for managing information storage among plural disk drives. In accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the system includes plural host interfaces and first and second elements. The first and second elements each comprise a set of disk drives for storing information. Each of the first and second elements is associated with an element frame. Each disk drive included in the first element is connected to a different one of the plural host interfaces during the element frame of the first element. The system includes a switch controller, configurable by at least one of the plural host interfaces, for selecting among the first and second elements, and for directing information from a first one of the plural host interfaces to a selected disk drive within the first element. The system also includes a frame controller for controlling a duration of each element frame.

Abstract: A disk drive having a connection-blocking device for use with a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) power receptacle. The disk drive has a moveable head for writing and reading to and from a disk, a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) for controlling operations in the disk drive, a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) section attached to the PCBA having a SATA power receptacle and a SATA data receptacle, a legacy Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) power receptacle attached to the PCBA, and a connection-blocking device. The legacy IDE power receptacle is electrically common with the SATA power receptacle. The connection-blocking device is attachable to either one of the SATA power receptacle or the legacy IDE power receptacle, respectively, to prevent redundant power connections within the disk drive.

Abstract: Disclosed is an external disk drive compatible with a SATA standard for attachment to a host having a conductive enclosure. The external SATA compatible disk drive includes a SATA device connector and an enclosure surrounding the external SATA compatible disk drive. The external SATA compatible disk drive further includes a SATA compatible cable having a disk drive end that is coupled to the SATA device connector of the disk drive and a host end for coupling to the host, wherein the SATA compatible cable is capable of delivering power signals to the external SATA compatible disk drive from the host. Also, the external SATA compatible disk drive includes a shield surrounding the SATA compatible cable that is coupled to the enclosure of the disk drive.

Abstract: A robust cable connector configured in accordance with a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) standard. The cable connector includes a first electrical contact arrangement in accordance with a SATA standard and is configured to mate with a first blade connector having a second electrical contact arrangement also in accordance with the SATA standard. The cable connector includes a first blade-receiving portion for enclosing the first electrical contact arrangement, a housing for supporting the first blade-receiving portion and the first electrical contact arrangement, and a pair of laterally-opposed guide arms being integrally formed with the housing. The housing has a cable entrance end and a mating end. The guide arms project from the mating end of the housing and are disposed outside of the first blade-receiving portion.

Abstract: A robust printed circuit board (PCB) connector configured in accordance with a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) standard. The PCB connector is for connection to a PCB. The PCB connector includes a first blade connector for supporting a first electrical contact arrangement in accordance with a SATA standard, a housing for supporting the first blade connector and the first electrical contact arrangement, and a pair of laterally-opposed guide arm receiving cavities being integrally formed with the housing. The housing defines a cable connector receiving area around the first blade connector for receipt of a cable connector. Further, the guide arm receiving cavities are disposed outside of the cable connector receiving area and are adapted for the receipt of guide arms from a mating cable connector.

Abstract: A storage peripheral, such as disk drive, having a robust PCB connector configured in accordance with a SATA standard. The disk drive has a disk, a disk controller system, and a PCB for mounting the disk controller system, and a housing attached to the PCB. A first electrical contact arrangement in accordance with a SATA standard is connected to the PCB and is supported by a first blade connector. Both the first blade connector and the first electrical contact arrangement are enclosed by the housing. The housing further defines a cable connector receiving area around the first blade connector for the receipt of a cable connector. A pair of laterally-opposed guide arm receiving cavities are integrally formed with the housing and are disposed outside of the cable connector receiving area. The guide arm receiving cavities are adapted for the receipt of guide arms from a mating cable connector.

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.

Abstract: A disk drive circuit that includes a configuration resistor, a reference resistor, a capacitor and a processor. The processor is mounted on a first circuit assembly in the disk drive, such as the controller circuit board, and the configuration resistor is mounted on a second circuit assembly, such as the head-disk assembly (I-IDA). The resistance of the configuration resistor corresponds to the configuration of the second circuit assembly. The configuration may represent the number of heads or the type of preamplifier in the IDA. The processor calculates the resistance of the configuration resistor to determine the configuration of the second circuit assembly in the following manner. The processor charges the capacitor. The processor then allows the capacitor to discharge through a first circuit that includes both the configuration resistor and the reference resistor and measures the discharge time or time constant. The processor again charges the capacitor.

Abstract: A method for controlling a rotating disk magnetic data storage device employing several reduced power modes which are automatically entered and exited under the control of the rotating disk device microcontroller. Two modes are provided which are fully responsive to host computer commands, and are thereby transparent to the host computer user, all providing significant power savings. An additional full power down mode is provided which can be initiated by a command from the host computer user, wherein the operational state parameters of the rotating disk device are stored in the host computer until the host computer powers on the device. At this time the stored state parameter are restored into the rotating disk device allowing it to resume its operational state immediately prior to the power suspension.