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US 2002/0166040 A1Published application
Modular architecture for high bandwidth computers
AssigneeSilicon Bandwidth, Inc.
InventorsStanford W. Crane JR., Maria M. Portuondo, Willard Erickson, Maurice Bizzarri
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A computer system architecture in which functionally compatible electronic components are located on modular printed circuit boards. Thus, a type of processor used by the system can be changed by replacing the printed circuit board incorporating the processor. Similarly a type of peripheral bus used can be changed simply by replacing the printed circuit board containing the peripheral controller. High-density connectors connect the circuit boards. Some embodiments of the invention use a single backplane. Other embodiments place peripheral slots on a second, passive backplane.
Claims57
A computer system, comprising:
- a local bus;
- a memory bus;
- a first backplane including:
- a first printed circuit board containing a microprocessor thereon and connected to the local bus and to the memory bus,
- a second printed circuit board containing a memory thereon and connected to the memory bus, and
- a third printed circuit board having a peripheral controller thereon and connected to the local bus;
- and
- a second backplane having a peripheral connector and connected to the first backplane.
5 more elements
A computer system, comprising:
- a local bus for transmitting and receiving first predetermined signals;
- a memory bus for transmitting and receiving second predetermined signals;
- a peripheral bus for transmitting and receiving third predetermined signals;
- a first printed circuit board containing a microprocessor and associated circuitry thereon and connected to the local bus and the memory bus, the first printed circuit board transmitting and receiving the first and second predetermined signals;
- a second printed circuit board containing a memory thereon and connected to the memory bus, the second printed circuit board transmitting and receiving the second predetermined signals;
- and
- a third printed circuit board having a peripheral controller thereon and connected to the local bus and the peripheral bus, the third printed circuit board transmitting and receiving the first and third predetermined signals.
4 more elements
A computer system, comprising:
- a local bus;
- a memory bus;
- a first printed circuit board containing a microprocessor thereon and connected to the local bus and the memory bus through a first high-density connector system;
- a second printed circuit board containing a memory thereon and connected to the memory bus through a second high-density connector system;
- and
- a third printed circuit board having a peripheral controller thereon and connected to the local bus through a third high-density connector system,
- at least one of the first, second, and third high-density connector systems having a density of at least 100 contacts per linear inch.
4 more elements
A method of configuring a computer system having a local bus and a memory bus, comprising the steps of:
- connecting a first printed circuit board containing a first type of microprocessor thereon to the local bus and to the memory bus through a first high-density connector system;
- connecting a second printed circuit board containing a memory thereon to the memory bus through a second high-density connector system;
- and
- connecting a third printed circuit board having a peripheral controller thereon to the local bus through a third high-density connector system;
- and
- at least one of the first, second, and third high-density connector systems having a density of at least 100 contacts per linear inch.
3 more elements
A computer system, comprising:
- a first plurality of slots for printed circuit boards using high-density connector systems, each connector system having a density of at least 100 contacts per linear inch;
- and
- a peripheral slot using through-hole connectors,
- wherein the first plurality of slots and the peripheral slot are located on a first backplane.
1 more element
A computer system, comprising:
- a first plurality of slots for printed circuit boards using high-density connector systems, each connector system having a density of at least 100 contacts per linear inch, and located on a first backplane;
- a peripheral slot mounted on a second backplane;
- and
- a high-density connector system having a density of at least 100 contacts per linear inch connecting the first and second backplanes.
1 more element
A computer system, comprising:
- a local bus on a circular backplane;
- a memory bus on the circular backplane;
- a first printed circuit board containing a microprocessor and associated circuitry thereon and connected to the local bus and the memory bus, the first printed circuit board transmitting and receiving first predetermined signals from the local bus and second predetermined signals from the memory bus;
- a second printed circuit board containing a memory thereon and connected to the memory bus, the second printed circuit board transmitting and receiving the second predetermined signals;
- and
- a third printed circuit board having a peripheral controller thereon and connected to the local bus, the third printed circuit board transmitting and receiving the first predetermined signals.
3 more elements
A CPU printed circuit board, comprising:
- a first high-density connector system for transmitting first predetermined interface signals for a local bus, the first high-density connector system having at least 100 contacts per linear inch;
- a second high-density connector system for transmitting second predetermined interface signals for a memory bus, the second high-density connector system having at least 100 contacts per linear inch;
- a microprocessor capable of outputting data, address, and control signals;
- means for translating ones of the data, address, and control signals from the microprocessor to the first predetermined interface signals for the local bus;
- and
- means for translating ones of the data, address, and control signals from the microprocessor to the second predetermined interface signals for the memory bus.
3 more elements
A controller printed circuit board, comprising:
- a first high-density connector system for transmitting first predetermined interface signals for a local bus, the first high-density connector system having at least 100 contacts per linear inch;
- a second high-density connector system for transmitting second predetermined interface signals for a peripheral bus;
- a controller for a type of peripheral device, and for outputting a plurality of signals;
- means for translating ones of the plurality of signals from the controller to the first predetermined interface signals for the local bus;
- and
- means for translating ones of the plurality of signals from the controller to the second predetermined interface signals for the peripheral bus.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.