Industrial computer

Abstract

An industrial computer including a passive backplane generally compliant with the PCI/ISA industrial standard promulgated by the PICMG technical committee, but with certain exceptions. One exception being that the plug-in CPU card has been replaced by a plug-in "feature" card which includes features normally found on prior art CPU cards but not the microprocessor. Also the in-line ISA and PCI backplane connectors used for conventional CPU cards have been replaced by preferably two in-line SECC connectors for the feature card. In the preferred embodiment a third SECC connector is used to connect a PENTIUM II to the backplane, and a further connector is used to connect the PENTIUM II's voltage regulator module to the backplane. All communications between the processor, feature card, voltage regulator module, and backplane I/O buses are via signal lines in or on the backplane. This invention allows the entire CPU and associated features to be quickly swappable in case of malfunction.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.