Storage device carrier assembly

Abstract

A computing system for housing a number of storage devices includes a number of device cages, and a backplane coupled to each of the device cages to electrically couple a number of the storage devices to the computing system. The backplane includes a number of device combination signal and power interfaces located on a first side of the backplane to couple a number of the storage devices to the backplane. The backplane further includes a number of combination signal and power interfaces located on a second side of the backplane to couple the backplane to the computing system. The backplane further includes a number of signal connectors to couple the backplane to the computing system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A storage device carrier assembly for providing independent device access of a plurality of storage devices comprising:
 a device cage;   at least one device cage rail coupled to the outside of the device cage to couple the device cage to a chassis of a computing system;   a plurality of storage device carrier assembly rails coupled to the inside of the device cage to couple a plurality of storage device carriers to the device cage, each of the storage device carriers housing a storage device;   a backplane coupled to the device cage to electrically couple a number of the storage devices to the computing system, the backplane comprising:
 a number of combination signal and power interfaces located on a first side of the backplane to couple a number of the storage devices to the backplane; 
 a number of combination signal and power interfaces located on a second side of the backplane to couple the backplane to the computing system; and 
 a number of signal connectors to couple the backplane to the computing system. 
   
     
     
         2 . The storage device carrier assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the combination signal and power interfaces located on the first side of the backplane comprise:
 a number of combination Serial Attached Small Computer System Interface (SAS) and Serial ATA (SATA) connectors.   
     
     
         3 . The storage device carrier assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the combination signal and power interfaces located on the first side of the backplane comprise:
 a number of combination SAS, SATA, and Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) connectors.   
     
     
         4 . The storage device carrier assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the signal connectors comprise:
 a number of combination SAS and SATA connectors.   
     
     
         5 . The storage device carrier assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the combination signal and power interfaces located on the first side of the backplane are blind-mate interfaces. 
     
     
         6 . The storage device carrier assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the combination signal and power interfaces located on the second side of the backplane are blind-mate interfaces. 
     
     
         7 . The storage device carrier assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the signal connectors that electrically couple the backplane to the computing system are cable interfaces. 
     
     
         8 . The storage device carrier assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the backplane further comprises a number of signal PCIe interfaces located on the second side of the backplane to provide PCIe connectivity between the storage devices and the computing system. 
     
     
         9 . The storage device carrier assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the signal PCIe connectors that electrically couple the backplane to the computing system are cable interfaces. 
     
     
         10 . The storage device carrier assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the storage device carriers comprises a storage device carrier latch to couple the storage device carriers to the storage device carrier assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The storage device carrier assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the storage device carriers is independently accessible without removal of the device cage. 
     
     
         12 . The storage device carrier assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the storage device carriers is independently accessible without removal of another storage device carrier. 
     
     
         13 . The storage device carrier assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a device cage latch to couple the storage device carrier assembly to the chassis of the computing system. 
     
     
         14 . The storage device carrier assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the storage device carrier assembly is sold as an after-market product. 
     
     
         15 . The storage device carrier assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the storage device carrier assembly is configured by a manufacturer based on a number of customer-ordered options. 
     
     
         16 . The storage device carrier assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the storage device carriers comprises a number of carrier rail pins to couple the storage devices to the storage device carriers. 
     
     
         17 . A computing system for housing a number of storage devices comprising:
 an internal storage bay chassis;   a number of device cages coupled to the chassis;   a backplane coupled to each of the device cages to electrically couple a number of the storage devices to the computing system, the backplane comprising:   a number of combination signal and power interfaces located on a first side of the backplane to couple a number of the storage devices to the backplane;   a number of combination signal and power interfaces located on a second side of the backplane to couple the backplane to the computing system; and   a number of signal connectors to couple the backplane to the computing system.   
     
     
         18 . The computing system of  claim 17 , wherein a plurality of device cages are coupleable to the chassis. 
     
     
         19 . The computing system of  claim 17 , wherein the device cages are installable into the internal storage bay chassis without the use of tools. 
     
     
         20 . The computing system of  claim 17 , wherein the storage devices housed within the storage device carriers are installable into the device cages without the use of tools.