Abstract: A board has connectors for interfacing to external devices mounted at a rearward edge of the board, minimizing the need to make connections and route connecting cables in the space between the board and adjacent boards installed in a computer system. In one embodiment the board is a RAID controller board and comprises a first edge portion configured to mate with a housing of a computing device, a second edge portion adjacent to the first edge portion and having an edge connector to interface the board with a corresponding slot in a computing device, at least one connector mounted proximate to a third edge portion located opposite the first edge and adapted to provide a data transfer connection with at least one compatible storage device, and a control circuit connected to the edge connector and at least one connector on the board to control the operation of the storage device.

Abstract: A dual bus interface PCB includes a main chipset component, a first type bus interface connector, and a second type bus interface connector. The PCB can be configured at fabrication time to enable a variety of configurations for operation. Optionally, the PCB can also be provided at least one memory chip and a NIC (Network Interface Card) chip. By virtue of having a dual interface, the PCB can be used with either the first type or the second type bus. Furthermore, the dual interface PCB eliminates the need by chipset manufacturers to carry multiple PCB variations of the same product in order to support various bus interfaces. In one embodiment, the PCB is a dual PCI-X/PCI-E interface PCB.

Abstract: An LED interface circuit provides connection options for one or more types of LEDs. In an embodiment, the circuit includes an input node that receives an LED control signal, and an output that has a first output node, and a second output node. A driving circuit is disposed between the input header and the output. The driving circuit has a non-inverted input node and an inverted output node. In an embodiment, the inverted output node is capable of sinking current. The non-inverted input node is coupled to the input header and to the first output node, while the inverted output node is coupled to the second output node. The output of the LED interface circuit is capable of driving a plurality of different types of LED displays.

Abstract: A system provides dual use of a general purpose input/output (I/O) line. In an embodiment, the system comprises a controlling circuit having a dual purpose I/O line that is selectively operable in a serial transmit mode or an I/O mode. A first circuit that receives a serial data stream when the controlling circuit operates in the serial transmit mode is coupled to the I/O line. A second circuit that generates and transmits a signal when the controlling circuit operates in the I/O mode is also coupled to the I/O line. Finally, a third circuit is disposed between the second circuit and the I/O line. In an embodiment, when the controlling circuit operates in the serial transmit mode, the third circuit maintains the second circuit in an idle state, and when the controlling circuit operates in the I/O mode, the third circuit permits the second circuit to transmit the signal to the controlling circuit.

Abstract: A board has connectors for interfacing to external devices mounted at a rearward edge of the board, minimizing the need to make connections and route connecting cables in the space between the board and adjacent boards installed in a computer system. In one embodiment the board is a RAID controller board and comprises a first edge portion configured to mate with a housing of a computing device, a second edge portion adjacent to the first edge portion and having an edge connector to interface the board with a corresponding slot in a computing device, at least one connector mounted proximate to a third edge portion located opposite the first edge and adapted to provide a data transfer connection with at least one compatible storage device, and a control circuit connected to the edge connector and at least one connector on the board to control the operation of the storage device.