Patent · US Expired

Modular computer system

US7657678B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
158References
38Claims
0Family size

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 13, 2005
Grant dateFeb 2, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 13, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F13/4282
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A modular computer system (20) including a universal connectivity station (UCS) (22) interconnected to a plurality of remote modules (30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 42) via a plurality of respective high speed serial links (26, 40) such as based on proprietary Split-Bridge™ technology. The plurality modules, including a processor module (42) which may include core parts including a CPU, memory, AGP Graphics, and system bus interface may be remotely located from each of the other modules, including the UCS (22). The present invention achieves technical advantages wherein each module of the modular computer system (20) appear to each device to be interconnected to the other on a parallel bus since the high speed serial links appear transparent. Preferably, although not necessary, each of the modules including the UCS 22 are based on the PCI bus architecture, or the PCMCIA bus architecture, although other bus architectures are well suited to be incorporated using the present invention. The processor module can be upgraded to change or improve the performance of the modular computer system 20 without requiring any changes to the remaining system, thus drastically improving the price to performanc…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.