US 5,793,998 AGranted

Method and apparatus for interconnection of multiple modules

AssigneeDigital Equipment Corporation

InventorsJeffrey P. Copeland, Jonathan C. Crowell

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Abstract

A computer system includes a housing, a motherboard, a first module and a second module. An electrical connector on the motherboard is joined to and in electrical communication with an electrical connector on one of two opposing surfaces of the first module, and an electrical connector on the second module is joined to and in electrical communication with another electrical connector on the other of the opposing surfaces of the first module. An electrically conductive path connects the two electrical connectors on the opposing surfaces of the first module. The motherboard transmits electrical signals corresponding to a module identifier to the first module through the motherboard's joined electrical connector. An electrical device on the first module in the electrically conductive path modifies the electrical signals so that they correspond to a second module identifier. The modified electrical signals corresponding to the second module identifier are transmitted to the second module via the electrically conductive path through the electrical connector on the first module that is joined to the electrical connector on the second module.

Claims24

Dependent claims

An apparatus, comprising:

a first circuit board having surfaces on opposite sides thereof, each of the surfaces having an electrically conductive surface region;
a first electrical connector on one of the surfaces of the first circuit board, the first electrical connector having an electrically conductive contact disposed on that one of the surfaces adjacent to the electrically conductive surface region, the contact being secured to that electrically conductive surface region without penetrating the first circuit board;
a second electrical connector on the other surface of the first circuit board, the second electrical connector having an electrically conductive contact disposed on the other surface adjacent to that electrically conductive surface region, the contact being secured to that electrically conductive surface region without penetrating the first circuit board, wherein each of the electrical connectors are for joining to and electrically communicating with an associated electrical connector on another circuit board to conduct electrical signals therebetween;
an electrically conductive path connecting the two contacts, electrical signals received by one of the contacts of one of the electrical connectors on the first circuit board from a first associated electrical connector when joined thereto being supplied along the electrically conductive path to a second associated electrical connector on yet another circuit board through the other of the contacts of the other of the electrical connectors on the first circuit board when the second associated electrical connector is joined thereto;
and
an electrical device in the electrically conductive path between the two electrical connectors on the first circuit board.

3 more elements

A method for interconnecting a plurality of modules in a module stack in a computer system, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of electrically conductive paths to each of a plurality of modules arranged in a module stack, the modules including a first module and a second module;
sending electrical signals corresponding to a first module identifier from the first module in the module stack to the second module in the module stack through an electrical connector on the first module that is joined to and in electrical communication with an electrical connector on the second module;
receiving the electrical signals by an electrical device on one of the opposing surfaces of the second module through the joined electrical connectors;
and
selecting, in response to the first module identifier, one of the electrically conductive paths to dedicate that selected path for electrical communication between the first module and the second module exclusively for as long as the computer system operates.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.