Abstract: A system and apparatus for a compact peripheral component interconnect (CPCI) computer system having exclusive front card access for both active and passive CPCI cards is provided. This system is further comprised of an active backplane with a front and rear side, a plurality of slots, each of these slots comprising of at least one connector and each of these connectors having a column and row arrangement of connector-pins, wherein individual ones of these connector-pins correspond to selected pairs of adjacent slots, and wherein selected adjacent slot pairs are reserved for particular pairs of CPCI cards comprising a single active card and a single passive card.

Abstract: A hot swappable electronic component or module is provided that has non-staggered connectors (i.e., of equal length or depth), but which is configured to ensure that power, signal or other connectors are electrically coupled in a desired order. The electronic component includes a switch (e.g., a field effect transistor) having a gate coupled to a ground line that is configured for coupling to a ground reference of the interface with which the component is mated. A source of the switch is coupled to a voltage input (e.g., power, Vcc) and a drain is coupled to an internal component load or circuit. Until the gate is coupled to ground, the switch remains open, thereby preventing spurious signals or feedback of damaging current to the interface. When the gate is coupled to ground, the switch is closed and the internal load or circuit is energized.

Abstract: An interconnect system connects two or more drawers (or servers) of a redundant computer system, wherein each drawer contains independent nodes of the computer system. Each of the drawer comprises a Drawer Management Card (DMC) designed for managing the nodes of that drawer. The present invention provides for methods and apparatus to redundantly manage the two or more drawers. In one embodiment, each drawer is provided with at least two DMCs by interconnecting the management channels of the two or more drawers (e.g., using a cable mechanism). Thus, by interconnecting the management channels of the two or more drawers, the drawers can be managed in a redundant manner. That is, if a failure occurs on one DMC in the interconnected drawers, another DMC in the interconnected drawers can take over and manage the drawers. In addition, the present invention provides such management redundancy without significantly increasing the cost and real estate of the drawers.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for a compact peripheral component interconnect (CPCI) computer system having exclusive front card access for both active and passive CPCI cards is provided. This system is further comprised of an active backplane with a front and rear side, a plurality of slots, each of these slots comprising of at least one connector and each of these connectors having a column and row arrangement of connector-pins, wherein individual ones of these connector-pins correspond to selected pairs of adjacent slots, and wherein selected adjacent slot pairs are reserved for particular pairs of CPCI cards comprising a single active card and a single passive card.

Abstract: A hot swappable electronic component or module is provided that has non-staggered connectors (i.e., of equal length or depth), but which is configured to ensure that power, signal or other connectors are electrically coupled in a desired order. The electronic component includes a switch (e.g., a field effect transistor) having a gate coupled to a ground line that is configured for coupling to a ground reference of the interface with which the component is mated. A source of the switch is coupled to a voltage input (e.g., power, Vcc) and a drain is coupled to an internal component load or circuit. Until the gate is coupled to ground, the switch remains open, thereby preventing spurious signals or feedback of damaging current to the interface. When the gate is coupled to ground, the switch is closed and the internal load or circuit is energized.

Abstract: An electronic device having two or more printed circuit boards with integrated heat-dissipating mechanism without a fan. A heat-generating circuit component is placed on a daughter board separated from a motherboard. An electrically insulating thermal conductor is placed between the daughter board and the motherboard for heat transfer.