BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a relay connector, more particularly to a SATA interface
relay connector that provides a relay connection between an external device and a
computer.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0002] The development of computer definitely brings us lots of convenience. Since computer
software and hardware developers have been developing new products unceasingly, various
computer peripherals have been introduced up to now.
[0003] As the computer application becomes more popular, the communications and multimedia
applications of desktop computers and compact notebook computers utilize peripheral
devices such as the 5.25-inch CD ROM, DVD ROM, CD-R, and CD-RW drives as well as mobile
racks and interfaces such as the USB and IEEE 1394 (Fire Wire) interfaces for fast
transmissions. Therefore, it is no longer a dream to use external enclosures for the
connection of computers and peripheral devices.
[0004] In view of the requirements for a high-speed transmission, the Serial ATA (SATA)
interface was developed with a fast signal transmission speed of up to 1.5Gb/s, which
is much faster than the IDE, USB, or 1394 interface transmission speed. For example,
the prior-art IDE interface mobile rack has an external frame for receiving or detaching
an enclosure, so that a data storage device of the enclosure such as a hard disk drive
constitutes a connection or disconnection of the signal and power supply with the
main computer system. Therefore, the external frame usually comes with a circuit board
at its backside, a power input socket and a standard IDE interface connector respectively
disposed at its outer sides, and a 50-pin external connector integrated with the foregoing
signal and power supply on the inner sides by a circuit layout. The enclosure at the
outer side of its back has an external connector connectible with the enclosure, and
the inner side will separate the signal and power supply into a standard IDE interface
connector and a power output socket. As we know, if the number of connecting points
or relays is too large during the signal transmission process, it will deteriorate
or delay the signals or even cause a transmission failure (i.e. system crash). In
particular, most of the prior-art relay connectors have a circuit board with the signal
conversion, integration, and input/output functions. Due to the factor of the circuit
layout on the circuit board, it is difficult to cope with the stability required for
the high-speed transmission, and thus the prior-art technology needs to be improved.
[0005] In view of the above description, the present inventor herein with many years of
practical experience in the design, development, manufacturing and marketing of computer
movable rack and external connecting device enhanced the design of the traditional
relay connector that cannot stably perform high-speed transmissions due to the circuit
board by performing a series of researches and developments and finally succeeded
to invent the "SATA interface relay connector and its application" of the present
invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a SATA interface relay
connector, comprising a signal section and a power supply section that comply with
the SATA interface pin assignments on one side; one side of the signal section is
coupled to a signal cable and a signal connector is disposed at one end; and the other
side of the power supply section is coupled to at least one power input connector.
[0007] The secondary objective of the present invention is to provide a SATA interface relay
connector, wherein a power cable is connected between the power connector and the
power supply section.
[0008] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a SATA interface relay connector,
wherein the power connector a power input connector is a socket with the 12V, 5V,
and ground lines respectively coupled to Pins 13th∼15th, Pins 7th∼9th, and Pins 4th∼6th
and Pins 10th∼12th of said power supply section; and the other power input connector
is a 3.3V socket coupling to Pins 1 st∼3rd of the power supply section.
[0009] A further objective of the present invention is to provide a SATA interface relay
connector further comprising an external frame, and the relay connector is disposed
at the rear panel of an external frame such that an enclosure can be moved into or
out of the external frame to connect or disconnect the signal and/or power supply
of a data storage device.
[0010] Another further objective of the present invention is to provide a SATA interface
relay, wherein the enclosure has a through hole corresponding to the relay connector
for passing the relay connector through the hole to connect the signal and power supply
connectors of the data storage device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the
following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG.1 is a perspective diagram of the relay connector of the present invention;
FIG.2 is an illustrative diagram of the relay connector of the present invention being
connected to an external connecting device;
FIG.3 is a perspective diagram of the relay connector of the present invention being
applied on a movable rack;
FIG.4 is a perspective diagram of the assembled structure of FIG.3; and
FIG.5 is a sectional diagram of the assembled structure of FIG. 3
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0012] Refer to FIG. 1 for the present invention. A relay connector 1 is an object of a
fixed shape, comprising a repeater connector 11 with a signal section 11a and a power
supply section 12a that comply with the SATA interface pin assignments, and the signal
section 11a and the power supply section 12a have a 7-pin terminal and a 15-pin terminal
respectively. The signal section 11a and the power supply section 12b directly coupled
to a signal cable 11b and at least one power input connector 12b, 12c at another side,
such as two sockets: one with 12V and 5V and the other with 3.3V. The signal cable
11b has a signal connector 11c for connecting to the signals of the motherboard of
the computer and the interface card. The 12V, 5V, and ground lines of the power input
connector 12b are coupled respectively to Pins 13th∼15th, Pins 7th∼9th, and Pins 4th∼6th
and Pins 10th-12th; the 3.3V of another power input connector 12c is coupled to Pins
1st-3rd of the power supply section 12a for supplying the direct current power to
the external connecting device 2. Further, the power connector 12b and the power supply
section 12a is connected by a power cable 12d to attain the same effect of obtaining
electric power.
[0013] The advantages of the relay connector 1 reside on that there is only a signal cable
11b between the signal section 11a and the signal connector 11c for the connection,
and there is no circuit board or contact point between the signal sections and the
signal connector 11c. Therefore, it will not cause any slow-moving or delay situations
during the high-speed transmission of signals.
[0014] Further, the relay connector 1 has a protruded ear 13 each on both sides, and a traditional
connecting member such as a screw or a rivet is used to pass through the ear hole
131 to fix an external connecting device 2. However, the connecting method is not
limited to the one disclosed above, but also includes a hook-up method or snap-in
method for connecting the external connecting device 2.
[0015] In FIG. 2, the external connecting device 2 has a data storage device such as a SATA
interface hard disk drive, optical disk drive, CD-ROM drive or even an enclosure of
a movable rack installed in a housing 21, and a through hole 221 disposed at a position
on the rear panel 22 corresponding to the signal and power connector of the data storage
device for allowing the repeater connector 11 to pass through and connected to the
signal and power connector to constitute the signal and/or power connection.
[0016] Please refer to FIGS. 3 to 5. In the figures, the relay connector 1 may be applied
to a movable rack 3, which comprises an external frame 31 and an enclosure 32.
[0017] The external frame is a hollow frame installed in the installing space of the computer
system, and the size of the hollow chamber 311 corresponds to the enclosure 32 for
their attachment and detachment. The characteristics of the present invention reside
on that a slot 313 is disposed at an appropriate position on the rear panel 312 of
the external frame 31 for accommodating and positioning a relay connector 1. The signal
cable 11b has a length of about 50cm to 100cm, and the power cable 12c has a length
of about 20cm to facilitate the connection. In addition, the power connector 12b is
a socket with a 12V, a 5V, and two ground (GND) lines totally compatible with the
power output connector extended from the power supply, which saves the trouble of
installing the adaptor. Therefore, a circuit can be connected through the 12V and
5V terminals of the power supply section 12a.
[0018] The enclosure is a box body that accommodates a data storage device such as a SATA
interface hard disk, and has a through hole 322 corresponding to the relay repeater
11 and allows the relay repeater 11 to pass through for connecting the signal and
power connector of the data storage device for the electric connection.
[0019] Therefore, through the implementation of this invention, it can greatly reduce production
and research and development cost because no circuit board is installed in the relay
connector. In addition, a signal cable is directly coupled between the signal section
of the relay connector and the signal connector to avoid any signal slow-down or delay
situation caused by the circuit layout or circuit connection, and has the expected
function of stable high-speed signal transmission. Further, at least one power input
connector of this invention can be selectively chosen according to the voltage requirement
of the external connecting device to provide the working voltage for the external
connecting device. Furthermore, the relay connector fixed in the external frame has
the functions of accessing the enclosure, providing portability for the data storage
device and the plug-and-play function, which is regarded as a good novel idea for
the product of this type.
[0020] While the present invention has been described by the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed
embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit
and scope of the broadest interpretations and equivalent arrangements.
1. A SATA interface relay connector, comprising a signal section and a power supply section
complying with the SATA interface pin assignment, and said signal section being coupled
to a signal cable on one side and having a signal connector on one end, and said power
supply section being coupled to at least one power input connector on the other side.
2. The SATA interface relay connector of claim 1, wherein said power input connector
is coupled with said supply section by a power cable.
3. The SATA interface relay connector of claim 2, wherein said power connector is a socket
having 12V, 5V, and ground lines respectively coupled to Pins 13th∼15th, Pins 7th∼9th,
and Pins 4th∼6th and Pins 10th∼12th of said power supply section.
4. The SATA interface relay connector of claim 1, wherein said power connector is a 3.3V
socket coupled to Pins 1st∼3rd of said power supply section.
5. The SATA interface relay connector of claim 1, wherein said relay repeater has a protruded
ear on both sides for connecting an external connecting device by a connecting member.
6. The SATA interface relay connector of claim 5, wherein said protruded ear has an ear
hole for passing said connecting member through.
7. The SATA interface relay connector of claim 1, further comprising a rear panel coupled
to an external frame, and said relay connector having a signal section and a power
supply section disposed on the inner sides; said signal section at its outer side
coupling to a signal cable and at one end having a signal connector; said power supply
section at its outer side having a power cable and at one end having a power connector;
by means of moving an enclosure in and out of an external frame to connect and disconnect
the signal and/or power supply of said relay connector and said enclosure respectively.
8. The SATA interface relay connector of claim 7, wherein said enclosure has a through
hole corresponding to said relay connector for passing the relay connector through
and receiving the signal of said data storage device and said power connector.
9. The SATA interface relay connector of claim 7, wherein said power connector is a socket
with 12V, 5V, and two ground lines.