System of co-located computers in a framework including removable function modules for adding modular functionality
US7069368B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 1, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jun 27, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 13, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F1/185
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system and method for configuring a system in which one or more centrally located computers are coupled to one or more human interfaces (HIs), and in which removable function modules are used to provide additional functionality to the computers. Each computer includes all the elements that make up a standard personal computer, such as a PC motherboard with a microprocessor CPU, memory, and network and interface logic, configured on a single card, and is called a computer card. The system includes a cabinet, or cage, with slots for accepting a plurality of computer cards, and a cage connector which couples to each inserted computer card. A removable function module engages the cage connector via a module connector. The use of the cage connector as an intermediate connection between the computer cards and the function module allows removal and/or exchange of computer cards without the need to disconnect the cables from the cage, as well as removal and/or exchange of the function module without the need to disconnect the computer cards. Each removable function module includes cable connectors corresponding to each computer card slot which may couple to one or more cables for communi…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.