Controller board having expandable memory
AssigneeWestern Digital Technologies, Inc.
InventorJohn E. Maroney
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods are disclosed for routing electrical signals in a printed circuit board (PCB), wherein the PCB includes a conductive ground layer, a conductive power layer and a conductive signal layer. A first volatile memory module and a memory receptacle are mounted to the top surface of the PCB, wherein the memory receptacle electrically connects a second volatile memory to vias connected to the memory receptacle that extend through the ground, power and signal layers. The controller board includes one or more conductive traces disposed in the signal layer between the first and second vias, wherein signals may flow through the vias to the first volatile memory.
Claims9
A controller board comprising:
- a printed circuit board (PCB) comprising:
- a top surface;
- a ground layer;
- a power layer;
- and
- a first signal layer;
- a processor mounted to the top surface of the PCB;
- a first volatile memory module directly mounted to the top surface of the PCB;
- a memory receptacle mounted to the top surface of the PCB between the processor and the first volatile memory module, the memory receptacle configured to removably receive a second volatile memory module and electrically connect the second volatile memory module to first and second staggered rows of vias connected to the memory receptacle that extend substantially perpendicularly to the top surface through the ground layer, the power layer, and the first signal layer;
- and
- one or more conductive traces communicatively coupling the processor to the first volatile memory module;
- wherein the one or more conductive traces are disposed in the first signal layer, and are routed between adjacent vias of the first row of vias and adjacent vias of the second row of vias, and traverse the memory receptacle in a dimension perpendicular to a longitudinal dimension of the memory receptacle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.