Abstract: An electrical connector element, for use on a printed circuit board assembly, includes a soldering pad having a longitudinal length and a cross-sectional width. The soldering pad is configured to be electrically-coupleable to a PCB device conductor. At least one impedance inducing feature is positioned along the longitudinal length of the soldering pad.

Abstract: An electrical connector element, for use on a printed circuit board assembly, includes a soldering pad having a longitudinal length and a cross-sectional width. The soldering pad is configured to be electrically-coupleable to a PCB device conductor. At least one impedance inducing feature is positioned along the longitudinal length of the soldering pad.

Abstract: An IT device includes a system board and a riser card socket electrically coupled to the system board and configured to receive a riser card. At least one expansion card slot is electrically coupled to the system board and configured to receive at least one expansion card. A controller assembly is electrically coupled to the system board and configured to energize the at least one expansion card slot while the riser card socket is empty.

Abstract: An IT device includes a system board, a drive controller system, a mid-plane assembly, a bridge connector assembly configured to releasably couple the system board and the drive controller system, and a second connector assembly configured to releasably couple the drive controller system and the mid-plane assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus and system for processing I/O from a data storage chassis, the apparatus and system comprising a first I/O printed circuit board (PCB) including I/O wafers; wherein the I/O wafers of the first I/O PCB are enabled to receive I/O from the data storage chassis; a second I/O PCB including I/O wafers; wherein the I/O wafers of the second I/O PCB are enabled to receive I/O from the data storage chassis; wherein the I/O wafers of the first I/O PCB is constructed and configured to receive the I/O wafers of the second I/O PCB.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for testing a cable call for extending the cable along a route having at least one curved portion, applying tension in an axial direction to the sheath of the extended cable so as to elongate the sheath, perturbing the tensioned cable in an axial direction and determining whether the perturbations to the tensioned cable have caused any structural distortions in the cable.

Abstract: A mid-plane assembly for use in an IT device includes a circuit board having a first surface and a second surface. At least one drive connector is positioned on the first surface of the circuit board. At least one board connector is positioned on the second surface of the circuit board and at least partially behind the at least one drive connector positioned on the first surface.

Abstract: A type one protocol device transmitter performs a detection function to detect attached type one protocol receivers. The detection function operates such that receivers having type two termination are not detected as type one protocol receivers. A type two protocol device receiver has type two termination. Logic is coupled between the type two protocol device receiver and the type one protocol device transmitter so that the type one protocol device transmitter detection function detects the type two protocol device receiver as a type one protocol receiver. The type one protocol device can be a PCI-E device, and the type two protocol device can be a SAS/SATA device.

Abstract: A type one protocol device transmitter performs a detection function to detect attached type one protocol receivers. The detection function operates such that receivers having type two termination are not detected as type one protocol receivers. A type two protocol device receiver has type two termination. Logic is coupled between the type two protocol device receiver and the type one protocol device transmitter so that the type one protocol device transmitter detection function detects the type two protocol device receiver as a type one protocol receiver. The type one protocol device can be a PCI-E device, and the type two protocol device can be a SAS/SATA device.

Abstract: Diplexing is employed in systems having multiple differential conductor pairs. A first differential coupling differentially couples a first signal onto a first pair of conductors; a second differential coupling which differentially couples a second signal onto a second pair of conductors; a first common mode coupling selectably common mode couples a third signal onto the first pair of conductors; a second common mode coupling selectably common mode couples a fourth signal onto the second pair of conductors; and a switch is operational to select the first common mode coupling or the second common mode coupling based upon a triggering event.

Abstract: A relatively low frequency signal—e.g. RS-232—is coupled to and extracted from a communication link that carries both a high frequency continuous signal and burst mode signal having bursts occurring at one or more frequencies—e.g. SAS with OOB signaling. The communication link has a differential coupling which differentially couples onto a first pair of conductors a continuous signal at a continuous rate and a burst mode signal having bursts occurring at one or more frequencies. The communication link also has a common mode coupling which common mode couples a second signal onto the first pair of conductors. A high pass filter coupled to the first pair of conductors extracts the continuous signal and the burst mode signal from the first pair of conductors. A low pass filter coupled to the first pair of conductors extracts the second signal from the first pair of conductors.

Abstract: Described is a midplane-less storage system comprising an enclosure including a control board having an electrical connector attached thereto and a processing unit. The enclosure also includes a disk drive module with a disk drive for storing data and an adapter board electrically connected to the disk drive. The adapter board has a controller and an electrical connector that is mated to the electrical connector of the control board. A communication bus extends from the control board to the disk drive module through the mated electrical connectors. The processing unit of the control board communicates with the controller of the adapter board over the communication bus in accordance with a communication protocol in order to control operation of the disk drive.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting the operating voltage of a disk array chassis or disk array enclosure (“DAE”) attached to a fibre channel loop and adjusting the operating voltage of the entire loop based on the operating voltage detected for each disk array chassis attached to the loop is disclosed. In one embodiment, an input voltage to a DAE is detected and a control signal corresponding to the input voltage is generated. The control signal is input to a voltage selection device that inputs an operating voltage corresponding to the control signal to the operating voltage supply of the DAE.

Abstract: A data storage system includes a host, diplex logic receiving a first, low frequency signal and a second, high frequency signal from the host and injecting the first signal onto a cable and injecting the second signal onto the cable and a first disk array enclosure coupled to the cable to receive the first signal and the second signal. The first disk array enclosure includes a diplexer which receives the first and second signals from the cable and transmits the second signal to a drive array, a microcontroller that receives the first signal from the diplexer, detects a voltage level of the first signal and generates a voltage control signal indicative of the voltage level of the first signal and a switch device that receives the voltage control signal from the microcontroller and sets an operating voltage of the diplexer based on the voltage control signal.

Abstract: Described is a storage system comprising a communication bus, a disk drive, a control board having a processing unit connected to the communication bus, and an adapter board in electrical communication with the disk drive. The adapter board has a controller connected to the communication bus. The controller receives instructions over the communication bus from the processing unit and communicates with the disk drive in response to the instructions. Optionally, the storage system has a midplane having a first connector connected to an electrical connector of the control board and a second connector connected to an electrical connector of the adapter board. Attached to opposite sides of the midplane, the first and second connectors are aligned with and electrically connected to each other through the midplane. An electrical signal transmitted between the control board and the adapter board passes directly through the midplane through the first and second midplane connectors.

Abstract: Described is an electrical connector assembly with an electrical connector having a connector body that includes a receptacle connector portion at a first end and a plug connector portion at a second end opposite the first end. The receptacle connector portion has electrical contacts within an opening for mating with a plug electrical connector at the first end of the connector body. The plug connector portion has electrical contacts within an opening for mating with a receptacle electrical connector at the second end. The connector body has an electrical conductor that is in electrical communication with at least one of the electrical contacts and extends from one side of the connector body. A circuit card is disposed adjacent to that one side of the connector body and is in electrical communication with the at least one electrical contact through the electrical conductor extending from the side of the connector body.

Abstract: An apparatus for setting an enclosure address in a computer system having a plurality of enclosures includes at least one enclosure address control device including input means for changing the enclosure address of an associated enclosure of the plurality of enclosures, a display device for indicating the enclosure address assigned to the associated enclosure, a controller for receiving an enclosure address change input from the input means and a logic device for resetting devices within the associated enclosure. The apparatus further includes a register device for receiving the enclosure address from the controller a predetermined period of time after the controller receives the enclosure address change input from the input means. After the predetermined period of time expires, the controller issues a command to the logic device for resetting the devices within the associated enclosure, to assign the changed enclosure address to the devices.

Abstract: An electromagnetic interference and radio frequency interference (EMI/RFI) shield adapted to reduce unwanted EMI/RFI from a shielded cable assembly—equipment enclosure interface. The EMI/RFI shield includes one or more conductive walls extending substantially perpendicular from an outer surface of the shielded enclosure. The one or more walls are positioned adjacent to sides of a panel-mounted connector. Each of the walls includes an EMI/RFI gasket segment coupled thereto, each gasket segment positioned to engage compressibly a respective side of a shielded cable assembly when it is coupled to the panel-mounted connector. Each engaged side of the shielded cable assembly is in electrically conductive contact with the shielded equipment enclosure through the respective EMI/RFI gasket segment and adjoining wall. Additionally, the EMI/RFI shield provides mechanical support to the interconnected cable assembly further reducing EMI/RFI by improving alignment of the coupled connector.

Abstract: Described is a storage system comprising a communication bus, a disk drive, a control board having a processing unit connected to the communication bus, and an adapter board in electrical communication with the disk drive. The adapter board has a controller connected to the communication bus. The controller receives instructions over the communication bus from the processing unit and communicates with the disk drive in response to the instructions. Optionally, the storage system has a midplane having a first connector connected to an electrical connector of the control board and a second connector connected to an electrical connector of the adapter board. Attached to opposite sides of the midplane, the first and second connectors are aligned with and electrically connected to each other through the midplane. An electrical signal transmitted between the control board and the adapter board passes directly through the midplane through the first and second midplane connectors.

Abstract: Described is an electrical connector assembly with an electrical connector having a connector body that includes a receptacle connector portion at a first end and a plug connector portion at a second end opposite the first end. The receptacle connector portion has electrical contacts within an opening for mating with a plug electrical connector at the first end of the connector body. The plug connector portion has electrical contacts within an opening for mating with a receptacle electrical connector at the second end. The connector body has an electrical conductor that is in electrical communication with at least one of the electrical contacts and extends from one side of the connector body. A circuit card is disposed adjacent to that one side of the connector body and is in electrical communication with the at least one electrical contact through the electrical conductor extending from the side of the connector body.