Efficient connection between modules of removable electronic circuit cards
US7209995B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 9, 2003 |
| Grant date | Apr 24, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 4, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2213/3814
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A removable electronic circuit card has multiple modules connected to the card's bus in parallel so that each module can exchange commands and data independently with the host. According to a first aspect of the present invention, this achieved by a controller-to-controller interface whereby the modules can facilitate their interactions with the host. In a first set of embodiments, the modules are on a single card, while in a second set of embodiments the modules are distributed across multiple cards, where a first card attaches to the host and other cards attach to the first card rather than directly to the host. In all of these cases, the host sees the multiple modules as a single card having a single module. In a further aspect of the present invention, the card or cards are able to communicate with the host in more than one protocol.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.