US 8,576,570 B2Granted

Adaptive computing system with modular control, switching, and power supply architecture

AssigneeNCS Technologies, Inc.

InventorsAn Van Nguyen, M. Dewayne Adams, Nesdon Alexandre′ Harris, Dinh Van Nguyen, Binh Kien Thai

Life of this patent

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Abstract

The adaptive computing system described herein may generally include a modular control, switching, and power supply architecture. In particular, the adaptive computing system may provide a platform supporting multiple independent desktop computer modules that occupy less physical space than a standalone commercial computer, provide performance density comparable to current server solutions, and address concerns relating to stability, safety, productivity, performance, assembly, service, and other factors important to diverse desktop computer user communities. Moreover, mechanical, electrical, and functional components associated with the adaptive computing system may have various certifications or otherwise be relied upon to demonstrate compliance with criteria in regulatory, environmental, consumer safety, and other contexts.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An adaptive computing system having a modular control, switching, and power supply architecture, comprising:

a base module having a common power supply and a switch connected to a common input/output device set, wherein the common input/output device set includes a keyboard device, one or more video devices, and a mouse device;
multiple computer modules that mechanically interconnect with the base module via one or more mechanical alignment and securing mechanisms to form a vertical stack with the base module, wherein the base module and the multiple computer modules have identical widths and identical depths;
a backplane architecture that electrically interconnects the multiple computer modules and the base module in the vertical stack, wherein the backplane architecture includes:
a power supply backplane configured to share the common power supply among the base module and the multiple computer modules;
and
a switching backplane configured to transport input/output signals associated with the common input/output device set between the multiple computer modules and the switch in the base module.

3 more elements

An adaptive computing system having a modular control, switching, and power supply architecture, comprising:

a base module having a power supply;
a computer module that mechanically interconnects with the base module via one or more mechanical alignment and securing mechanisms, wherein the one or more mechanical alignment and securing mechanisms include mechanical lockouts to prevent electrically interconnecting the base module and the computer module if the computer module and the base module are not correctly mechanically interconnected;
and
a backplane architecture that mechanically and electrically interconnects the computer module and the base module, wherein the backplane architecture includes circuit boards to mate with connectors on opposite sides associated with the base module and the computer module to mechanically secure the computer module to the base module.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/052,934Filed 21 Mar 2011
Published: US 2012/0243160 A127 Sep 2012
Granted: 5 Nov 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

G06F 1/181
Packaging or power distribution: enclosures
G06F 1/1601
Constructional details or arrangements: constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays
G06F 1/188
Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for supporting printed circuit boards: mounting of power supply units
G06F 1/189
Packaging or power distribution: power distribution