Shared card slots for PCI and ISA adapter cards
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsIan McFarlane Denny, Peter Andrew Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Personal computer motherboards commonly have connectors located on them for the insertion of plug-in adapter cards. Disclosed is a connector having a first opening in which a PCI adapter card may be inserted and a second opening in which an adapter card of a second type, such as an ISA or EISA card may be inserted. The connector has an insulating moulding common to the first and second openings. By using such a connector, the spacing between slots may be reduced from that required when separate PCI and ISA or EISA connectors are used. This allows either a lower profile for a personal computer or for more connection slots to be incorporated.
Claims20
A monolith electrical circuit connector for use in a personal computer, the connector arranged so as to accept adapter cards of differing widths adapted for use according to a first standard of architecture and a second standard of PCI architecture, comprising:
- a first opening of a first width in which an adapter card with components having the first width of a first architecture type may be inserted and a second opening of a second width different to and shorter in width than the first width juxtaposed and disposed parallel to and offset from the first opening, in which an adapter card with components having the second width of a PCI architecture type different than the first standard of architecture may be inserted, the connector formed of an insulating plastic material having an insulating moulding common to moulding structure defining the first opening having the first width and moulding structure defining the second opening having the second width shorter in width than the first width.
A motherboard for use in a personal computer, the motherboard having a processor, memory, data processing controlling elements and a plurality of connectors, each individual connector arranged so as to accept one of a plurality of adapter cards having components for differing protocol standards, the connector having a first opening of a first width in which an adapter card having the first width of a first protocol standard may be inserted and a second opening of a second width different than and shorter in width than the first width juxtaposed and disposed parallel to and offset from the first opening, in which an adapter card having the second width of a PCI protocol standard different than the first protocol standard may be inserted, the connector formed of an insulating plastic material having an insulating moulding common moulding structure defining the first opening having the first width and moulding structure defining the second opening having the second width shorter than the first width.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.