US20080268331A1 - Battery-backed computer system with externally replaceable battery module - Google Patents

Abstract

A battery-backed cache system with a pluggable battery module. The system includes a RAID controller and a cache. A back up power board is provided upon which a second power connector is provided and the two power connectors are connected. A socket assembly is mounted on the board and is connected to the second power connector. The socket assembly is a standard socket for use with PC Cards and includes a bulkhead adapter for mounting to a case wall with a slot of the socket assembly accessible through the case wall. A battery module is included having a body with dimensions corresponding to the slot. A battery is positioned within the body and a connection interface is provided in the battery module for mating with the socket assembly. The body and connection interface of the battery module comply with PCMCIA specifications for card bodies and interfaces.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION
• The present application claims priority from, and is a divisional of, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/965,132 filed on Oct. 14, 2004, the disclosure of which is herein specifically incorporated in its entirety by this reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention relates, in general, to batteries and providing power to computer components with batteries, and, more particularly, to a cache power assembly for providing power to a data cache having back up power provided with a battery. The cache power assembly is adapted to be pluggable and also, typically, to be hot swappable.
BACKGROUND
• The protection and availability of data is an ongoing and growing concern in the computer industry. An increasingly common method of protecting data, such as configuration data or received instructions, is to provide a data cache for processors and controllers. To protect the data, the cache is provided power not only from system power sources but also a battery dedicated to the cache. This arrangement is typically referred to as “battery-backed cache” and is used to protect cached data in the event of a power outage or equipment failure, such as failure of a server, a processor, or a controller. For example, RAID (Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disks) controllers are typically designed to use a cache to store data in read-ahead, write-back, and other operations, and the RAID controller cache is battery-backed to retain the data during a system or power failure to allow later completion of these operations when the system restarts. In RAID and other similar systems, data availability is the overriding design concern with cost being a secondary issue, and nearly any system improvement that enhances uptime and data availability is not only useful but compelling.
• While protecting data, existing battery-backed cache systems are difficult to maintain. In RAID controller systems, the battery used to provide back up power for the RAID controller cache generally has to be replaced periodically, e.g., every 1 to 3 years. In standard arrangements, the cache battery is provided on the same card or board as the RAID controller within the case or housing that structurally holds or encloses the RAID controller system. To replace the cache battery, the RAID controller system must be powered down, which requires scheduling of the maintenance as the RAID controller is unavailable during battery replacement. Then, the computer or device housing is disassembled to allow removal of the RAID/cache battery board, such as by unplugging the board from the system backplane. The battery is unscrewed or otherwise removed from the board or card, replaced with a new battery, the board or card is reinserted into the case or the backplane, and the case or housing is reassembled. The complexity of the battery replacement generally requires a technician to properly service the battery-backed cache system.
• Hence, there remains a need for an improved cache battery module or system that facilitates replacement of a cache battery or other battery used to provide back up power for a computer component. Preferably, such a module or system would be adapted to reduce or eliminate the need for powering down the host or processor system. Further, it is preferable that the module or system be configured to allow customer replacement of the cache or back up battery.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention addresses the problems associated with computer devices, such as RAID controllers, that use batteries as a source of back up power but that require a power shut down to replace the batteries and often also require partial disassembly of a case or housing. The present invention provides a battery-backed system that enables non-disruptive battery replacement. The battery-backed system generally includes a back up power board or card that includes a socket assembly mated with an external wall of a case or housing and the board or card is adapted for insertion within a system board, such as a PCI board or a backplane. For example, the board or card may be a CPU motherboard, a PCI card, a PCI-x card, other removable circuit card or board, or the like. The socket assembly is configured for receiving a battery module that has a standardized form factor and configuration, and in one embodiment, the battery module includes one or more batteries connected to selected pin leads of a card interface and is adapted to comply with PC or Express Card standards, such as the PCMCIA PC Card specifications. In this embodiment, the socket assembly can be a standard card socket with the battery module being received in and ejected from a standard socket, such as a PCMCIA-defined socket.
• More particularly, a computer system is provided that is configured for hot swapping a battery module used to provide back up power to a system component, such as a data cache device. The system includes a housing or case for structurally supporting and enclosing system components. A back up power board is positioned within the housing, and a battery power connector is printed or otherwise provided on this board. A processor board is also positioned within the housing proximal to the back up power board, and the processor board includes a back up power connector linked to the battery power connector, such as with a wire supported with a power harness. A processor, such as a RAID controller, and a system component, such as a cache, are mounted on the processor board. The system component is typically controlled by the processor.
• A socket assembly is included in the system and is mounted on the back up power board. The socket assembly includes a slot for receiving the battery module, a connection interface adjacent the slot, and an adapter for mating with a wall of the housing such that the slot is accessible from outside the housing (e.g., through the wall). The connection interface comprises pins for mating with a pin receptacle end of a battery module and leads connected to the battery power connector and to a set of the pins. The socket assembly includes a mechanism for ejecting a received battery module including a release button protruding outward from the housing wall. In one embodiment, the battery module is manufactured to comply with PCMCIA PC Card, Express Card, or other “card” specifications for external form factor (e.g., dimensions, configuration, and the like) and for interconnection. The battery module includes a battery or battery assembly connected to the pin receptacle end of the module. In this embodiment, the slot is configured for receiving PCMCIA PC Cards or Express Cards.
• According to another aspect of the invention, a battery module is provided for use with a computer system housed within a case having an externally accessible battery socket. The battery module includes a body having sides and walls with interior surfaces defining an enclosed space. The body has an external form factor selected to allow the body to mate with the battery socket. The battery module further includes a battery or batteries positioned within the enclosed space of the body. A connection interface is provided adjacent the enclosed battery space. The connection interface includes leads connected to a plurality of pin receptacles that face outward from the body (e.g., are positioned on an external surface of the body). The battery is connected to a set of the leads. The body and the connection interface are configured to meet or exceed specifications set forth by the PCMCIA for a card, such as a Type I, II, III, or IV PC Card or an Express Card. The body has an external form factor which allows it to be received in a standard card slot, such as a slot of a PCMCIA socket, and in one embodiment, the external form factor includes a thickness of less than about 18 mm and a width of less than about 54 mm.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 illustrates in simplified block diagram form a battery-backed cache system according to the present invention including a hot swap, plug-in cache battery module;
• FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate side and end views of an exemplary battery module that may be used to provide externally insertable and replaceable back up power for a cache and may be used in the system ofFIG. 1;
• FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate side and end views of a cache back up power card or board configured for mounting on a system board, such as a PCI board, to allow access via a bulk head adapter to a standard card slot that is used to receive a plug-in battery module, such as a PC or Express card especially adapted with one or more batteries connected to selected pins of the card; and
• FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary battery-backed cache system according to the present invention implemented to provide a cache battery in a RAID controller implementation in which the battery can be hot swapped and externally ejected and plugged in without disassembling a case containing the RAID controller.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
• The present invention is directed to a hot swap, plug-in battery module for use with battery-backed systems, such as systems with, but not limited to, RAID controllers or other processors that utilize data caches with batteries as back up power sources. The battery modules include one or more batteries provided in a sealed package with a standard form factor that is configured for insertion and removal from the battery-backed system without powering down the system and without disassembly of a case or housing enclosing the system components.
• In one embodiment, this is achieved by utilizing industry standards for a “card” and a card socket. The battery module is fabricated by modifying a standard card to include a battery assembly and by wiring the card socket assembly to connect to a power connector on a back up power card or board. The back up power connector is in turn wired or connected to the cache or other device requiring battery power as a back up power source. In this manner, and as described in detail below, replacement of a battery used to back up a cache, such as for a RAID controller, or other system component can be accomplished by nearly anyone without the assistance of a trained technician. The old battery can be ejected from the system case or housing by pushing a release button of the card socket assembly, and the new battery can be provided by inserting or plugging in a new battery module into the card socket assembly mounted on the back up power board.
• The following description begins with a description of battery-backedsystem100 with reference toFIG. 1 that generally describes the broader aspects of the invention. For example, thesystem100 may be a data management system utilizing a RAID controller with a battery-backed cache. The invention allows a cache battery to be hot swapped to maintain RAID controller and data availability. After the general discussion ofsystem100, the description continues with an exemplary implementation of the invention with reference toFIGS. 2A-4 in which a back up power assembly is shown that provides abattery module210 and a card slot that are adapted to comply with PCMCIA guidelines and standards. Thebattery module210 may comply with (i.e., have a defined form factor and configuration) any PC Card or other card guideline (such as an Express Card) established presently or in the future, such as by the PCMCIA or other standards organization. As will become clear, thebattery module210 is particularly well suited for providing a hot swappable, externally pluggable battery for a cache used by a RAID controller. It will be understood, however, that the invention is well suited for use with any device in which battery power is utilized in a computer system and for which the battery requires periodic replacement (particularly, with the system still operating or powered up).
• FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a battery-backedsystem100 utilizing a back up power assembly or board (or card)120 configured according to the invention. In the following discussion, computer and network devices, such as the software and hardware devices within thesystem100, are described in relation to their function rather than as being limited to particular electronic devices and computer architectures and programming languages. To practice the invention, the software and hardware devices may be any devices useful for providing the described functions. Data, including transmissions to and from the elements of thesystem100 typically is communicated in digital format following standard communication and transfer protocols, such as TCP/IP, HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, and the like, or IP or non-IP wireless communication protocols such as TCP/IP, TL/PDC-P, and the like.
• Thesystem100 may be implemented by utilizing standard PC Card or similar standards which facilitate providing a useful form factor for an externally pluggable and ejectable battery module. For example, thesystem100 may be implemented using the components shown inFIGS. 2A-4, which are configured to comply with standards and definitions established by the PCMCIA. PCMCIA stands for Personal Computer Memory Card International Association, with PCMCIA being the name of both the underlying technology and the committee that develops the specifications for that technology. PCMCIA PC Cards are typically referred to more simply as “PC Cards”, and in several embodiments of the invention, the cache battery or battery module takes the external form factor of a PC Card (or a more recently defined PCMCIA Express Card) and uses the connection interfaces (e.g., pins, leads, and the like) of a PC Card. The inventor recognizes that the PCMCIA specifications may be modified in the coming years or that new standards for “cards” may be developed, but the inventor believes that the breadth of the description will cover such changes and advances. PCMCIA technology is utilized in several implementations of the invention due to its widespread use and acceptance within the computer industry and not as a limitation to the invention.
• Referring toFIG. 1, the battery-backedsystem100 includes acontroller system110, ahost computer130, anddata storage140. Thedata storage140 includes acontroller144 and a disk array148 (such as a RAID) and thecontroller144 communicates data overcommunication link149. Thecontroller system110 transmits and receives data and instructions to and fromhost computer130 over communication link134 (e.g., a PCI bus or other link), and in turn, thecontroller system110 transmits data (such as instructions, data for storage, retrieved data, and the like). Additionally, thecontroller system110 communicates data to and from thedata storage140 via link146 (a SCSI connection, for example). Thecontroller system110,data storage140, andhost computer130 may take many forms to practice the invention and additional data storage, host computers, and/or other computer/network devices may be included in thesystem100 to practice the invention. In one embodiment, thecontroller system110 includes a RAID controller (see, controller114) anddata storage140 comprises one or more RAID systems. Thecontroller system110 is shown as a standalone device, e.g., housed in a separate case or housing, but thehost computer130 may be included in the same case or housing in some embodiments.
• As noted above, the controller system (or computer system)110 typically is enclosed within a single case or housing. Within this case (not shown in this logical diagram but well known in the art), thesystem110 includes a controller orprocessor114 that is powered in standard operations by apower supply118. Data, such as that received fromhost computer130 and/ordata storage140, is stored at least in part in acache116. Thecache116, as is the processor orcontroller114, is powered by thepower supply118 during standard operations, but thesystem110 further includes acache battery128 inserted in acard socket124 for providing back up power for thecache116 when thecontroller114 fails, thepower supply118 fails, or otherwise there is an interruption to power for thecache116. Power for thecache116 is provided from thecache battery128 overpower connection126.
• During exemplary operation, the controller, such as a RAID controller,114 monitors thecache battery128 viapower connection126 that is connected to the card socket. Whenbattery128 is below a certain power level, thecontroller114 switches from the battery128 (and/or shuts down cache operations) so that thebattery128 can be replaced. Note, thesystem110 andcontroller114 are not powered down. Thecache battery128 is replaced by ejecting thecache battery128 via operation of the card socket124 (as explained in more detail with reference toFIGS. 3A and 3B). A charged ornew cache battery128 is inserted into thecard socket124, which results in thebattery128 being connected to thesocket124 and hence,line126 andcontroller114. Thecontroller114 senses the presence of thereplacement cache battery128 and when thebattery128 is above a minimum voltage, thecontroller114 provides battery or back up power to thecache116. The replacement of thecache battery128 does not require either powering down thesystem110 or disassembly of a case or housing in which thecontroller114 andcache116 are positioned. Hence, thecache battery128 is adapted for hot swapping and is externally pluggable (as will become clearer with reference toFIGS. 2A-4).
• As shown, thecontroller114 andcache116 are mounted or provided in thesystem110 on a controller board or card112 (e.g., a printed circuit board typical of most computer systems), which typically would be mounted on a backplane or other circuit board to connect the controller board to one or more communication busses insystem110 andpower supply118. Thecontroller114 typically would be accessible via a wall or surface of the case enclosing thesystem110, such as via a bulkhead that has one or more ports or connection adaptors. Through such a bulkhead communication connections are typically made by plugging lines, such aslines134,146, into a communication receptacle or plug in (not shown).
• Similarly, according to one feature of the invention, the back up power for thecache116 is provided on a back up power board orcard120. Theboard120 in one embodiment comprises a typical card or board substrate that can be plugged into or inserted into the backplane or other surface within thesystem110 case, e.g., adjacent or near thecontroller board112. On theboard120, the card socket orsocket assembly124 is mounted. Preferably, thecard socket124 is mounted so as to abut or protrude partially through the bulkhead of the case enclosing thesystem110. In this manner, thecard socket124 is accessible from the exterior portions of thesystem110 so as to avoid the need for disassembling a case or housing enclosing theboards112,120.
• Thecard socket124 is adapted for mating with a cache battery orbattery module128 so as to allow electricity to flow from the battery128 (or from one or more batteries provided in the cache battery module or assembly) through thecard socket124 tobattery power connection126 andcache116. As shown inFIGS. 2A-3B, thecard socket124 includes mechanical components for selectively ejecting or releasing thecache battery128 from thesocket124 to allow easy replacement. Also, thecache battery128 preferably includes a body or housing that has a form factor that matches openings or slots in thecard slot124 and one or more batteries housed or sealed within such a body or housing. For example, thecache battery128 may include a body or housing configured as a Type I, II, or III PC Card or an Express Card per PCMCIA specifications and thecard socket124 may be a PCMCIA socket adapted for receiving one or more Type I, II, or III PC or Express Cards.
• One embodiment of abattery module210, such as may be used forcache battery128, is shown inFIGS. 2A-2C. Thebattery module210 is labeled “PC Card Battery Module” and in some embodiments, themodule210 is configured to meet at least the external form factor, body or housing strengths and materials, and connection specifications of a PC Card (or Express Card or other industry standard card). In this regard, thebattery module210 includes a body orhousing212 that has a thin rectangular box form with a length l, a height h, and a thickness t. On areceptacle end214, a number ofpin receptacles216 are provided to allow themodule210 to mate with and be connected with a card slot (such ascard slot assembly320 shown inFIGS. 3A and 3B).
• FIG. 2C shows themodule210 with a wall or cover removed to show the internal components of themodule210. Particularly, inside the body orhousing212, abattery assembly230 is provided that includes a number of serially connectedbatteries232. In other embodiments, a larger or smaller number of batteries are used to form thebattery assembly230, e.g., 1 to 10 or more, with the number or design of the batteries not being a significant limitation of the invention as long as thebatteries232 are selected to have a thickness of less than about the thickness, t, of the body orhousing212. Further, thebatteries232 may be rechargeable batteries, smart batteries (e.g., have integrated electronics), or take any other useful form for use with a computer or other electronic device and may include other circuitry and/or intelligence as needed for these alternative battery configurations or forms. Themodule210 includes aninner surface220 upon which thebatteries232 are mounted or attached. Awall221 is provided to define the interior space or volume in which thebattery assembly230 is positioned and thewall221, with a height of about thickness, t, extends about the periphery of thesurface220 so that when the removed cover (not shown) is attached thebatteries232 are sealed or enclosed within thebattery module210.
• Thebattery module210 further includes a connector orconnection interface222 which includes thepin receptacles216 and connectors or leads224 to which components within themodule210 can be connected to provide an interface with devices plugged into receptacles216 (i.e., the number ofleads224 typically matches the number of pin receptacles216). Thebatteries232 are connected via lines orwires236 toleads238, and as a result, power from thebatteries232 is provided toreceptacles216 connected to these same leads238.
• As discussed above, thebattery module210 is preferably manufactured to comply with an industry standard for externally pluggable cards. Particularly, in some embodiments, thebattery module210 is a PC Card or Express Card complying with PCMCIA standards so that themodule210 can be inserted into and connect with a card socket fabricated according to PCMCIA specifications for similar cards. Specifically, PCMCIA specifications define pin numbers (e.g., 68 leads and pins), pin locations, and typical pin assignments for mating with a PCMCIA socket, bus, and controller. In the present invention, standard card pins are used for connection to thebatteries232 to allow connection with a PCMCIA-compliant socket (such as that shown inFIGS. 3A and 3B) but the PCMCIA does not define providing power with a PC Card or assign any pins for such a function and the choice ofleads238 may vary to practice the invention. Thereceptacle end214, along with the card socket, are designed to ensure insertion in only one direction and one orientation such that theleads238 will always mate with the same pins of the socket, e.g., themodule210 cannot be readily inserted upside down in a socket manufactured to PCMCIA specifications.
• The PCMCIA defines four types of PC Cards and an Express Card, and thebattery module210 may be selected to comply with any of these types or the Express Card specification (or another standard other than the PCMCIA specifications). The more typical embodiments would comply with a Type I, II, or III PC Card. The specifications for these are very similar with the main difference being the thickness, t. For example, each type is 54 mm wide with a 86.6 mm length, l, (or as shown inFIG. 2B has a height, h, of 54 mm) but a Type I PC Card has a thickness (t ofFIG. 2B) of 3.3 mm, a Type II PC Card has a thickness of 5.0 mm, and a type III PC Card has a 10.5 mm thickness. With this in mind, a PCCard battery module210 may be manufactured to comply with the specifications defined by PCMCIA for a Type II PC Card with abody212 with a 54 mm height, h, or width, a 5.0 mm thickness, t, and a connection interface meeting the PCMCIA specifications (e.g., 68 pins configured as called for in the PCMCIA specifications). It should be noted that the specific configuration of themodule210 is not as important as that the form factor of themodule210 be useful for ready insertion via an external port, receptacle, or socket in a computer system case or housing and that connections to thebatteries232 be provided, and the inventor recognizes that complying with PCMCIA specifications is one effective technique for achieving these goals.
• Another feature of the invention is that thebattery module210 can be inserted into a system that is “hot” (i.e., themodule210 is hot swappable) and without disassembling the case or housing enclosing the component that is being powered by thebattery module210. To this end, themodule210 is configured to be compatible in form factor and in functional components (e.g., connection interface222) with a back uppower assembly310 shown inFIGS. 3A and 3B. Theassembly310 includes a card orboard312, which may take a number of forms to practice the invention such as a standard computer card or board configured for insertion within a typical PC or other computer system case, such as to the backplane (not shown) or other board. To the card orboard312, a bulkhead adapter ormating receptacle314 is mounted which includes a rectangular opening through which asocket assembly320 may be accessed. Thebulkhead adapter314 is typically mounted relatively flush with the bulkhead of the system case or housing (or any other surface or wall of a case or housing used provide external access to internally positioned components).
• Theassembly310 further includes asocket assembly320 which is rigidly mounted to thecard312 so as to be adjacent or at least accessible via an opening in theadapter314. Thesocket assembly320 functions to physically receive a battery module, such asmodule210, and to physically release or eject such a module. Additionally, thesocket assembly320 is adapted for providing a power connection between one or more batteries in the module to apower connector350 vialines340. While a number of arrangements may be used to provide these functions, one embodiment of the invention utilizes asocket assembly320 fabricated to PCMCIA specifications for sockets. For example, thesocket assembly320 may be include one ormore card slots324 for receiving one, two, or more Type I, Type II, Type III, or Type IV PC Cards or Express Cards. Typically, thesocket assembly320 is configured with a pair ofPCMCIA card slots324 for receiving a pair of Type III cards (although a Type I or Type II card can typically be inserted in a Type III slot), with the width of the opening in theadapter314 and the width and height of the slot(s)324 substantially matching or being larger than the thickness, t, and height h, (or width) of themodule body212.
• To provide the ejection and reception functions, thesocket assembly320 includes asocket frame322 which defines the slot(s)324 and contains aconnection interface326. Thesocket frame322 is mounted on thecard312 and abuts theadapter314. Anarm330 is supported on theframe322 by mountingdevice334, e.g., to slide along an adjacent surface of theframe322. Also, anejection member338 is attached to thearm330 and to an internal ejection member (not shown) in theconnection interface326. Release or ejection buttons (e.g., an end portion of the arm330) extend outward from theadaptor314, and during operation, amodule210 is inserted into theslot324 and received by or coupled with thesocket assembly320 in theconnection interface326 bypins362 inreceptor360. As themodule210 is received, the internal ejection member is pushed inboard and theejection arm338 rotates counterclockwise which forces the interconnected arm to slide outboard, thereby further exposing therelease button332. When it is desired to eject themodule210, therelease button332 is pressed which reverses this cycle causing the internal ejection member to push themodule210 out of theslot324 andassembly320. Hence, thesocket assembly320 is adapted for plugging in battery modules and ejecting such modules without requiring disassembly of a case or housing within which theassembly310 is mounted.
• Thesocket assembly320 includes theconnection interface326 to mate with theconnector222 of the module and to provide power connections. In this regard, theinterface326 includesreceptors360 withpins362 for mating withpin receptacles216 ofmodule210. On the opposite side (or external to frame322), a series ofleads328 are provided that are internally connected withpins362. As shown, an electrical path is provided from the slot assembly via leads328, wire or leads340, andpower connector350, which may be printed on theboard312 or otherwise provided or mounted toboard312. The specific pins (and leads328) chosen for transferring the battery power may vary to practice the invention. For example, but not as a limitation, pins34,35, and68 as identified by PCMCIA specifications for PC Cards may be utilized, and in this embodiment, thebatteries232 would be connected to pins34,35, and68 ofbattery module210 and wires orconnectors340 would be connected to external leads34,35,68 (shown aselement328 inFIG. 3) ofconnection interface326 ofsocket assembly320.
• The hot swap, plug in battery module and socket assembly features of the invention can be used with nearly any computer-based device that requires back up battery power. The features of the invention are, for example, well suited for providing a back up battery for a cache used by a RAID controller or other processor.FIG. 4 illustrates more specifically a RAID controller system with battery-backed cache configured according to the invention and which may be implemented with per the description provided with reference toFIGS. 1-3B.
• As shown, thesystem400 includes a back uppower board410, acontroller board430, and a PCCard battery module450, which is shown to be insertable and ejectable from thesystem400. On the back uppower board410, aPCMCIA battery socket412 is mounted. Thesocket412 includes aconnector interface414 that is wired vialeads422 topower connector420 provided on theboard410. Theboard410 includes aside411 that is configured for mating with a backplane or other receiving board in a case housing thecontroller board430. Further, theboard410 is fastened to the case (not shown) withbulkhead adapter418 which has an opening for providing access to a slot in thebattery socket412 and for allowing therelease button416 to extend outward from the case andadapter418.
• Thesystem400 further includes aRAID controller436 provided oncontroller board430. As with the back uppower board410, thecontroller board430 will typically be mounted to a backplane or similar component in the case housing theRAID controller436, and as such, includesside431 configured for insertion into the backplane or similar component. Also, abulkhead adapter432 is provided to mount thecontroller board430 to the case and typically, to provide communication access to the RAID controller, e.g., a communication line is plugged into RAID controller (or an interface to RAID controller)436 through theadapter432. Acache438 is provided as part of (or separately, not shown) theRAID controller436 on theboard430. Back up power is provided to thecache438 vialines442,RAID power connector440, andline424. In one embodiment, theboards410,430 are positioned near or adjacent within the case (not shown) and a wire harness or the like is used to runline424 between theboards410,430.
• Thesystem400 also includes a PC Card (or Express Card or the like)battery module450, which may be configured similarly to themodule210 ofFIGS. 2A-2C. The PCCard battery module450 is adapted to comply with the form factor specifications of PCMCIA as well as the structural and interconnection requirements set forth for PC Cards by PCMCIA, such as for a Type III card. The PCCard battery module450 includes acache battery454 linked to apin receptacle458. Themodule450 is shown ejected from thebattery socket412 but as discussed above, is inserted into or plugged into thebattery socket412 to provide back up power vialine424 toRAID controller cache438. Again, as discussed previously, themodule450 has a form factor that allows it to be received in the standard slots provided bybattery socket412, and themodule450 can be inserted from a location external to the case housing theboards410,430 and can be ejected externally by pressingrelease button416 without powering down theRAID controller436 and associated systems.
• In an exemplary maintenance action, the RAID controller'scache438 may be shut down automatically or manually, the PCCard battery module450 is ejected by pressingbutton416, anew module450 is provided and inserted (or hot swapped) into thebattery socket412, and after a successful validation that thebattery454 is ready (such as by theRAID controller436 or another device) thecache438 would be either automatically or manually enabled. As can be seen, the present invention allows the replacement of thebattery454 without requiring a shut down of thesystem400 or requiring opening the case containing the RAID controller and removal of the controller card430 (as was the case with prior devices). Hence, the invention significantly reduces down time for theRAID controller436.
• Although the invention has been described and illustrated with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example, and that numerous changes in the combination and arrangement of parts can be resorted to by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as hereinafter claimed.

Claims (4)

1. A battery module for use with computer systems housed within a case having an externally accessible socket, comprising:

a body having sides and walls with interior surfaces defining an enclosed space, the body having an external form factor for mating with the socket in the case;

a battery positioned within the enclosed space of the body; and

a connection interface adjacent the enclosed space, the connection interface comprising a plurality of leads connected to a plurality of pin receptacles positioned on an external surface of the body, wherein the battery is connected to a set of the leads;

wherein the body and the connection interface are configured based on Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) specifications for a body and a connection interface for a card, respectively.

2. The battery module ofclaim 1, wherein the card is a Type I, II, III, or IV PCMCIA PC Card or PCMCIA Express Card.

3. The battery module ofclaim 1, wherein the specifications for the body include defining the external form factor including a thickness of the body of less than about 18 mm and a width of the body of less than about 54 mm and further wherein the battery has a thickness less than the thickness of the body.

4. The battery module ofclaim 1, wherein the socket in the case is configured based on PCMCIA specifications for a socket, the socket specifications selected based on the card specifications.

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