Coupling device for an electronic device

Abstract

A coupling device for a SATA drive having a SATA connector is disclosed. The coupling device comprises a second connector having a plurality of connector pins, wherein the SATA connector has a number of connector pins which are less than the number of pins of the second connector and wherein the second connector provides a first and second SATA channel, and a coupling unit for coupling the first and the second connector, wherein the coupling unit comprises a multiplexer unit for establishing a coupling of one of the SATA channels with the SATA drive or for establishing a loop back function by coupling the first and second SATA channel.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . Coupling device for a SATA drive having a SATA connector, comprising: 
 a second connector having a plurality of connector pins, wherein the SATA connector has a number of connector pins which are less than the number of pins of the second connector and wherein the second connector provides a first and second SATA channel;    a coupling unit for coupling the first and the second connector, wherein the coupling unit comprises a multiplexer unit for establishing a coupling of one of the SATA channels with the SATA drive or for establishing a loop back function by coupling the first and second SATA channel.    
     
     
         2 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the coupling unit comprises a comparator for comparing a drive identification number provided by the second connector with a predetermined drive number.  
     
     
         3 . Device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the second connector is a fibre channel connector.  
     
     
         4 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the coupling unit receives control signals from the second connector to either couple a first or a second SATA channel with the SATA drive.  
     
     
         5 . Device as in  claim 4 , wherein the multiplexer configuration comprises a first multiplexer for either coupling the transmit lines of first or second SATA channel with the SATA drive and a second and third multiplexer for either establishing a loop back function or coupling the receiving lines of the first or second SATA channel with the SATA drive.  
     
     
         6 . Device as in  claim 1 , further comprising a voltage regulator for supplying a supply voltage to the components, wherein the supply voltage is received from one of the excess pins of the second connector.  
     
     
         7 . Storage system comprising: 
 a plurality of SATA drives, wherein each SATA drive comprises a coupling device for the SATA drive having a SATA connector, a second connector having a plurality of connector pins, wherein the SATA connector has a number of connector pins which are less than the number of pins of the second connector and wherein the second connector provides a first and second SATA channel, and a coupling unit for coupling the first and the second connector, wherein the coupling unit comprises a multiplexer unit for establishing a coupling of one of the SATA channels with the SATA drive or for establishing a loop back function by coupling the first and second SATA channel.    
     
     
         8 . System as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the second connector is a fibre channel connector.  
     
     
         9 . System as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising a backplane having a plurality of connectors for coupling for establishing connections with the respective second connectors.  
     
     
         10 . System as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the backplane comprises a mode select switch for determining a mode of operation coupled with each of the plurality of connectors.  
     
     
         11 . System as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising at least one controller for controlling the operation of the plurality of SATA drives, wherein the controller comprises a SATA bridge for coupling a server with the system.  
     
     
         12 . System as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein two controllers are provided and wherein each controller may control the first or the second SATA channel of each coupling device.  
     
     
         13 . System as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of connectors provides information about the drive identification number.  
     
     
         14 . System as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising a supply voltage unit providing a supply voltage through one of the excess pins of the second connector.