User-removable central processing unit card for an electrical device
US5748912A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 13, 1995 |
| Grant date | May 5, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 13, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F13/409
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A user-removable CPU card includes a microprocessor and a bus bridge memory controller that allows the use of the microprocessor as a central processing unit of an electrical device (e.g. notebook PC or desktop PC). The user-removable CPU card includes a first connector that can be detachably coupled to a second connector in the electrical device, when the user-removable CPU card is inserted through an opening of the electrical device. When the electrical device is powered up subsequent to such insertion, the microprocessor on the user-removable CPU card functions as the central processing unit. Inclusion of a central processing unit of a computing device on a user-removable CPU card allows easy replacement of the CPU, for example, by simply opening a door and operating an eject mechanism, without disassembly of the housing. Therefore, a user can upgrade to a new central processing unit by simply ejecting a previously inserted user-removable CPU card and inserting a new user-removable CPU card, as easily as switching diskettes in the prior art (except for powering up the electrical device after such switching).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.