US 5,953,215 AGranted

Apparatus and method for improving computer memory speed and capacity

OwnerChris Karabatsosinventor

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Abstract

A method and apparatus for enhancing memory speed and capacity utilizes a set of electronic switches to isolate the computer data bus from the memory chips. The apparatus includes one or more multi-sided memory boards with etched leads, lands and feed-through. The memory chips may be mounted on either one side, or both sides of each board. Connection between the memory board and the mother board are made by means of a comb of contact fingers, or edge-connector which mates with a connector on the mother board. The data lines and address lines of the computer bus are distinct from each other, and routed to the memory board via the edge connector. A set of CMOS TTL or FET switches are located adjacent to the comb, and are switched on and off by a decoded combination of address, control, or data lines or by a distinct enable line provided by the CPU, controller or other decoding means located on the motherboard. As a result, only the memory chips actually required for the memory access are switched on, so that the other memory chips are isolated from the data bus. Because of this isolation, the capacitance of the non-switched components is not seen by the data bus, resulting in a lower overall capacitance, and a higher inherent memory access.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A method for enhancing the performance of an electronic system which comprises a multiplicity of printed circuit boards, a motherboard containing a bus electrically connected to a plurality of connectors, each board further comprising a multiplicity of electronic components and a comb of connecting terminals mating with one of the connectors, the terminals presenting a capacitance to the bus which includes the capacitance of the electronic component connected to the terminals, the method comprising:

a) configuring the system so that only a single board need be accessed at any one time;
b) mounting onto each such board a switch having an on state and an off state, and having an input and output, in which the input is connected to the output via a low resistance in the on state and a high resistance in the off state, and mounted to the board in proximity to the comb;
c) conductively connecting a plurality of leads between the combs and the switch for each such board;
d) conductively connecting a plurality of leads between the switch and the electronic components for each such board;
e) providing selection means to turn the switches for each board on or off;
and
f) simultaneously switching on the single board requiring access, while maintaining the other boards off,
so that only the single board is connected to the bus at any time, the capacitance presented to the bus by each of the non-connected boards is substantially less than the capacitance presented to the bus by the connected board, and the resulting capacitance presented to the bus by the boards is substantially reduced thereby.

5 more elements

An electronic device which comprises:

a) a multiplicity of printed circuit boards, each board further comprising a multiplicity of electronic components having a capacitance, and a comb of connecting terminals;
b) a motherboard;
c) a bus contained on the motherboard;
d) a multiplicity of connectors electrically connected to the bus, into each of which the comb of a corresponding board is matingly inserted and electrically connected, the terminals presenting a capacitance to the bus including the capacitance of the components;
e) a switch mounted onto each such board in proximity to the comb, having an on state and an off state, and having an input and output, in which the input is connected to the output via a low resistance in the on state and a high resistance in the off state;
f) a plurality of leads conductively connecting the combs and the input of the switch for each such board;
g) a plurality of leads conductively connecting the output of the switch and the electronic components;
and
h) selection means to simultaneously turn the switch of a single selected board on, while maintaining the non-selected boards off,
so that only a single board is connected to the bus at any time, the capacitance presented to the bus by each of the non-connected boards is substantially less than the capacitance presented to the bus by the connected board, and the resulting capacitance presented to the bus by the boards is substantially reduced as a result.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.