Abstract: A computer system is adapted for dynamic replacement of a hot swap controller card. The computer system includes a circuit board, with the computer system comprising a first slot and a second slot coupled to the circuit board. The first slot includes a first connector and the second slot includes a second connector. The first and second connectors each have a column and row arrangement of connector-pins, with the first connector including first, second and third connector-pins and the second connector including fourth, fifth and sixth connector-pins. First, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth signal lines are connected to the first through sixth connector-pins, respectively. A primary hot swap controller has a first means for simultaneously turning on/off a first plurality of switches, a second means for driving signal lines connected to the first, second, fourth, and fifth connector-pins, and a third means for storing a status information of the signal lines.

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 method and system is adapted to provide for a low-cost and highly flexible system that can control and change configurations on one or more segments of a Compact Peripheral Component Interconnect Packet Switching Backplane (CPCI/PSB or CPCI and CPSB) during the backplane's lifetime that overcomes the limitations of the prior art. In one embodiment of the present invention, the segments are configurable to either a CPCI and CPSB configuration or a CPSB only configuration by controlling a CPCI indication signal, such as a PCI_PRESENT# signal. The PCI_PRESENT# signal of the present invention is to be controlled by a Chassis Management Controller (CMC) and the CMC software is used to configure each of the segments by driving zero or one on the segments (instead of hardwiring these segments to ground or open during the manufacturing of the backplane).

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: A system for distributing power in a compact peripheral component interconnect (CPCI) computer architecture is provided. A CPCI computer architecture comprises a plurality of CPCI systems each having respective backplanes. The backplanes further having respective local power rails providing power for a corresponding one of the plurality of CPCI systems. The power distribution system provides power to the backplanes, and comprises a common power rail connected to each one of the local power rails of the backplanes. A plurality of power supplies is connected to the common power rail of the power distribution system. Power taken from any one of the plurality of power supplies is available to any one of the backplanes.

Abstract: A computer bus rack includes at least one circuit board. The circuit board has an increased density of add-on card slots, with the at least one circuit board having a front side and a back side, and the rack comprising a first plurality of slots coupled to the front side, and a second plurality of slots coupled to the back side. The first and second plurality of slots are arranged such that corresponding ones of the first and second slots are in substantial alignment, respectively. Also provided are a plurality of connectors having respective connector-pins extended in a direction substantially perpendicular to and away from the circuit board and having a column and row arrangement within the connectors. The connectors are affixed to the circuit board in alignment with the first and second plurality of slots, and each one of the plurality of connectors has connector-pins that are physically distinct from connector-pins of connectors of the other slots.

Abstract: A system for distributing power in a compact peripheral component interconnect (CPCI) computer architecture is provided. A CPCI computer architecture comprises a plurality of CPCI systems each having respective backplanes. The backplanes further having respective local power rails providing power for a corresponding one of the plurality of CPCI systems. The power distribution system provides power to the backplanes, and comprises a common power rail connected to each one of the local power rails of the backplanes. A plurality of power supplies is connected to the common power rail of the power distribution system. Power taken from any one of the plurality of power supplies is available to any one of the backplanes.

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 computer system is adapted for dynamic replacement of a hot swap controller card. The computer system includes a circuit board, with the computer system comprising a first slot and a second slot coupled to the circuit board. The first slot includes a first connector and the second slot includes a second connector. The first and second connectors each have a column and row arrangement of connector-pins, with the first connector including first, second and third connector-pins and the second connector including fourth, fifth and sixth connector-pins. First, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth signal lines are connected to the first through sixth connector-pins, respectively. A primary hot swap controller has a first means for simultaneously turning on/off a first plurality of switches, a second means for driving signal lines connected to the first, second, fourth, and fifth connector-pins, and a third means for storing a status information of the signal lines.

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: A CPCI system is adapted to reliably detect the presence of all front cards, whether hot swappable or not. The system includes a line that is used to detect the presence of a front card. The line is connected to a connector-pin of a slot. The line is also connected to a pull-up resistor so that when a front card is not inserted in the slot, the line has a high value. When a front card is inserted in the slot, the connector-pin mates with a corresponding connector-pin in the front card. The corresponding connector-pin is connected to a ground layer of the front card so that the line becomes grounded. The voltage level on the line is input to a register that outputs a high or low to a circuit for detecting the presence of a front card. The circuit may be a hot swap controller, a CPU or a status indicator. Accordingly, depending on the output of the register, the circuit reliably determines whether a front card is present in the particular slot.

Abstract: A CPCI system is adapted to reliably detect the presence of all front cards, whether hot swappable or not. The system includes a line that is used to detect the presence of a front card. The line is connected to a connector-pin of a slot. The line is also connected to a pull-up resistor so that when a front card is not inserted in the slot, the line has a high value. When a front card is inserted in the slot, the connector-pin mates with a corresponding connector-pin in the front card. The corresponding connector-pin is connected to a ground layer of the front card so that the line becomes grounded. The voltage level on the line is input to a register that outputs a high or low to a circuit for detecting the presence of a front card. The circuit may be a hot swap controller, a CPU or a status indicator. Accordingly, depending on the output of the register, the circuit reliably determines whether a front card is present in the particular slot.

Abstract: A computer bus rack includes at least one circuit board. The circuit board has an increased density of add-on card slots, with the at least one circuit board having a front side and a back side, and the rack comprising a first plurality of slots coupled to the front side, and a second plurality of slots coupled to the back side. The first and second plurality of slots are arranged such that corresponding ones of the first and second slots are in substantial alignment, respectively. Also provided are a plurality of connectors having respective connector-pins extended in a direction substantially perpendicular to and away from the circuit board and having a column and row arrangement within the connectors. The connectors are affixed to the circuit board in alignment with the first and second plurality of slots, and each one of the plurality of connectors has connector-pins that are physically distinct from connector-pins of connectors of the other slots.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for communicating configuration information are disclosed. A live insertion device has a status, or configuration, such as a state of readiness to be removed from a powered up computer and a state of readiness to operate. The removal readiness may include factors such as whether the live insertion device is related to ongoing processes, such that immediate removal would cause errors. The operational readiness may includes factors such as whether the relevant software is ready and whether the live insertion device can function. The live insertion device also has a seating state, such as whether the live insertion device is properly physically positioned in or coupled to the computer. Prior to an attempt at removing and/or operating the live insertion device, the configuration state of the live insertion device can be verified via an indicator that receives the configuration information about the live insertion device.

Abstract: The present invention includes a computer bus rack having a circuit board for accommodating a plurality of stand-alone computers. The circuit board has a front side and a back side, and the rack comprises a first plurality of slots coupled to the front side, and a second plurality of slots coupled to the back side. The first and second plurality of slots are arranged such that corresponding ones of the first and second plurality of slots are in alignment together.