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 method for remotely power cycling a peripheral subsystem. A host system to remotely control the power cycling of a peripheral subsystem, without the need to include or add any dedicated or special signals beyond those needed for the normal interface between the host system and peripheral subsystem. A peripheral subsystem according to the present invention includes circuitry that senses the presence of a downstream, running switching signal such as a clock line or any “heart beat” type signal such as a clock pulse and initiates the power up event of the peripheral system. Conversely, the same circuitry also senses the absence of a downstream signal and initiates a power down event of the peripheral subsystem.

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: An apparatus and method for selectably including a mass storage device in an expansion card space of a computer system, particularly an expansion card area lacking a space dedicated solely for the mass storage device. An apparatus according to the invention includes a mass storage frame, and an interface board to couple the mass storage device to an expansion card slot on backplane in the computer system. A computer system includes the apparatus. Another computer system includes a removable support frame for supporting a mass storage device, the removal of which allows a larger expansion card or an additional expansion card to be inserted into the backplane.

Abstract: A computer system comprising a chassis and housing removable servers supported in subchassis, each chassis having optional front or read cable access. Power and signal connectivity to the servers may be made from the front or rear of the system. The subchassis may be half the width of the chassis or a quarter of a width of the chassis. The subchassis further include an upper bay and a lower bay as well as a plurality of field replaceable units, which all may be access through the front of the chassis. One or more of the field replaceable units connect to the system through a midplane, located within the subchassis.

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 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: An apparatus and method for selectably including a mass storage device in an expansion card space of a computer system, particularly an expansion card area lacking a space dedicated solely for the mass storage device. An apparatus according to the invention includes a mass storage frame, and an interface board to couple the mass storage device to an expansion card slot on backplane in the computer system. A computer system includes the apparatus. Another computer system includes a removable support frame for supporting a mass storage device, the removal of which allows a larger expansion card or an additional expansion card to be inserted into the backplane.

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 selectably including a mass storage device in an expansion card space of a computer system, particularly an expansion card area lacking a space dedicated solely for the mass storage device. An apparatus according to the invention includes a mass storage frame, and an interface board to couple the mass storage device to an expansion card slot on backplane in the computer system. A computer system includes the apparatus. Another computer system includes a removable support frame for supporting a mass storage device, the removal of which allows a larger expansion card or an additional expansion card to be inserted into the backplane.

Abstract: A system and method for remotely power cycling a peripheral subsystem. A host system to remotely control the power cycling of a peripheral subsystem, without the need to include or add any dedicated or special signals beyond those needed for the normal interface between the host system and peripheral subsystem. A peripheral subsystem according to the present invention includes circuitry that senses the presence of a downstream, running switching signal such as a clock line or any “heart beat” type signal such as a clock pulse and initiates the power up event of the peripheral system. Conversely, the same circuitry also senses the absence of a downstream signal and initiates a power down event of the peripheral subsystem.

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.

Abstract: A computer system comprising a chassis and housing removable servers supported in subchassis, each chassis having optional front or read cable access. Power and signal connectivity to the servers may be made from the front or rear of the system. The subchassis may be half the width of the chassis or a quarter of a width of the chassis. The subchassis further include an upper bay and a lower bay as well as a plurality of field replaceable units, which all may be access through the front of the chassis. One or more of the field replaceable units connect to the system through a midplane, located within the subchassis.