Abstract: In a computer system having redundant SCSI controllers cards, a SCSI controller interface for receiving multiple interchangeable SCSI controller cards is configured so that the data bus paths between each of the SCSI controller slots and the controller circuitry do not cross.

Abstract: A heat sink includes a plurality of adjoined heat-dissipating elements made of a thermally conductive material. Each of the elements has a flat lamina with a pair of first hems extending at a certain angle from two opposed sides of the flat lamina and a pair of second hems extending at a certain angle from the first hems. The second hems are substantially parallel to the flat lamina and are provided with respective first connectors. The flat lamina is provided with a plurality of second connectors mating with the first connectors. Therefore, the elements can be connected together by fastening the first connector of each element to the second connectors of the next element.

Abstract: A structure of redundant arrays of inexpensive disks (R.A.I.D.) with servers is disclosed. The structure of the invention includes a R.A.I.D., a server, and a housing. The connection between the R.A.I.D. and the server, and the connection between the server and the housing are achieved by connectors respectively formed on edges of the R.A.I.D., the server and the housing. Thereby, the device space and wiring limitation can be overcome.

Abstract: A PC99 mother board includes a substrate, an input port, a LAN port with an INTERNET socket and two USBs provided under the INTERNET socket, a first connecting port mounted on the substrate via a first bracket, a first space defined between the first connector and the third connector, a second space defined between the first connector and the second connector and a second connecting port mounted on the substrate via a second bracket which has a third space defined in the second bracket. Two additional USBs are mounted in either the first or the second bracket so as to provide convenience and compatibility to the user.

Abstract: A socket comprises a socket body having a bottom surface at which the socket can be mounted to a motherboard, a top surface, and several side surfaces. The top surface has an array of electrical contacts at which a package containing a microprocessor can be coupled to the socket. One or more of the side surfaces have a slot, which includes an electrical interface at which a circuit card containing cache memory for use by the microprocessor can be removably inserted into the socket body parallel to the motherboard.

Abstract: An electronics assembly comprises: (i) a frame (1); and (ii) a motherboard (16) that is removable from the frame. One or more motherboards (20) extend in a plane generally perpendicular to the plane of the motherboard; and a number of elongate guides (24) are provided for the daughterboards to enable each daughterboard to be moved toward the motherboard into engagement therewith and away from the motherboard out of engagement therefrom. The motherboard (16) has at least one location element (32) thereon, which can engage one of the elongate guides (24) in order to locate the guides and the motherboard with respect to one another. This assembly enables accurate positioning of the daughterboards and the motherboard for forming electrical connections between them even where large tolerances are present in other parts of the assembly.

Abstract: A scalable Internet engine is comprised of a large number of commercially available server boards each arranged as an engine blade in a power and space efficient cabinet. The engine blades are removably positioned in a front side of the cabinet in a vertical orientation. A through-plane in the middle of a chassis assembly within the cabinet provides common power and control peripheral signals to all engine blades. I/O signals for each engine blade are routed through apertures in the through-plane to interface cards positioned in the rear of the cabinet. The scalable engine can accommodate different types of server boards in the same chassis assembly because of a common blade carrier structure. Different types of commercially available motherboards are mounted in the common blade carrier structure that provides a uniform mechanical interface to the chassis assembly.

Abstract: A computer system is provided comprising a support frame, a logic board mounted to the support frame, a processor on the logic board, a cathode ray tube mounted to the support frame above a plane of the logic board, and a transparent housing located over the cathode ray tube.

Abstract: A low profile, 1U expansion PC board for mounting at least two PCI connectors, mountable by a male-to-male connector to a PCI matrix on the transverse side of a 1U PICMG computer backplane. Additional mechanical security is provided by mounting stanchions between the board and 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: An improved circuit card package wherein additional child cards are accommodated by providing an interface adaptor board having connectors for receiving the child cards. The interface adaptor board is itself received by a connector on a parent card, which plugs into a system backplane.

Abstract: A low profile actuator assembly for controlling PCI card removal from the chassis bay of a hot pluggable computer. The assembly includes a housing, a switch and a latch body. The housing is adapted for mounting to the bay and is defined by a top, bottom, and a front. The switch is coupled to the housing bottom and is operable in a first state and a second state. In this regard, the first state is indicative of a power-on condition, whereas the second state is indicative of a power-off condition. The latch body is connected to the housing and is operatively associated with the switch. More particularly, the latch body is linearly slidably between a retention position and a release position. In the retention position, the latch body is extended relative to the housing front and causes the switch to operate in the first state. Conversely, in the released position, the latch body is retracted relative to the housing front and causes the switch to operate in the second state.

Abstract: A for memory cards comprises a base part and four guide piece sections. The base part is an integrated casing made by way of injection molding and provides a longitudinal spacing wall and two transverse partitions between an upper wall and a lower wall and between two lateral walls of a rear wall thereof respectively based on the width and the height of each of different types memory cards such that the front side thereof is formed with four slot sockets. Each of the slot sockets is provided with a plurality of grooves or engaging recesses corresponding to the number of signal terminals on the respective memory card. The guide piece sections are corresponding to the slot sockets respectively and each of the guide piece sections is located in and fixed to the corresponding one of the slot sockets and is composed of metal guide pieces corresponding to the number of the grooves and the engaging recesses. The metal guide pieces are bent and inserted into the grooves and the engaging recesses.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly is provided for that includes two groups of circuit boards that mate with, or connect to, one another in an orthogonal, or non-parallel manner. The electrical connector includes a plurality of circuit boards; a first connector housing including channels adapted to retain the first group of the circuit boards; a second connector housing also including channels adapted to retain the second group of the circuit boards; and a board interface located between the first and second connector housing. The board interface is formed as part of one of the first and second connector housings. The board interface includes opposing mating faces of the first and second groups of circuit boards that join the first group of circuit boards in a non-parallel relationship to the second group of circuit boards. Preferably, the circuit boards are joined orthogonally. The first connector housing may be a header, while the second connector housing may be a plug, or vice versa.

Abstract: A traceless midplane contains substantially no traces, pins, or active components and includes a front portion and a back portion. The front portion includes first connectors. The back portion includes second connectors arranged in a grid pattern. Each of the second connectors includes electrically-conductive conduits that connect the second connector to a corresponding one of the first connectors through the midplane. The second connectors include data connection points, ground connection points, and clock connection points. At least some of the data connection points are separated from each other and from the clock connection points by the ground connection points.

Abstract: A riser card, such as a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) card, attaches to a circuit board such as a mother board in a transverse orientation and has a first connector and a second connector attached to opposing sides of the card for receiving expansion cards. In one embodiment, the first connector is offset from the second connector with respect to an axis in the plane of the riser card. In another embodiment, the first and second connectors each have a first and last pin, and the first pin of the first card is opposite the first pin of the second connector. The riser card may mount one expansion board right side up, and the second board upside down. The first and second connectors can be female connectors which are each matable with a male connector on the corresponding expansion board, or can be card edge connectors. The expansion boards, when mated with the connectors, are substantially parallel to, but offset from the circuit board.

Abstract: An interconnect structure interconnects electronic modules and includes a backplane assembly formed from a substantially rigid backplane plate that carries RF connectors and a digital motherboard having digital connectors for mating with digital connectors of electronic modules. A controlled impedance interconnect circuit is positioned on the rear surface of the backplane plate and interconnects the RF connectors carried by the backplane plate and digital connectors of the digital motherboard. A rack receives the backplane assembly and supports a plurality of electronic modules that are interconnected to each other via the backplane assembly.

Abstract: A plurality of switch connectors are arranged in each of a plurality of memory slots. Each of the plurality of switch connectors includes a first-type connector pin and a second-type connector pin. The first-type connector pin is coupled to one of a plurality of signal lines of a memory bus. The second-type connector pin is coupled to impedance matching circuits included in an load circuit. In each of the memory slots in which the memory module is not inserted, a pair of the first-type connector pin and the second-type connector pin provide flexible electric contact. In each of the memory slots in which the memory module is inserted, the first-type connector pin and the second-type connector pin are physically separated and insulated from each other. The first-type connector pin provides electric contact with module pins of the memory module.

Abstract: A computer assembly includes a motherboard having a first bus extending to a first connector and a riser card having a second bus extending to a plurality of connectors and extending to a second connector adapted to mate with the first contact set of the motherboard to couple the first bus with the second bus. The computer assembly further includes a first expansion card having a third bus extending to a third connector adapted to mate with one of the plurality of connectors of the riser card to couple the third bus with the second bus. A method includes driving a first signal onto a motherboard bus, transmitting the first signal over the motherboard bus to a riser card bus, and transmitting the first signal over the riser card bus to a plurality of expansion card buses.

Abstract: Method and system for enhancing the reliability of an available storage subsystem. Data storage units are equipped with a number of I/O controller-card adaptors that mate with complementary adaptors affixed to a number of redundant I/O controller cards. The data storage devices plug directly into I/O controller cards and receive all data, control signals, and power equally from the I/O controller cards, eliminating the need for a midplane circuit card.

Abstract: Alternative structures and backplanes are designed so as to provide for telecom/datacom equipment conforming to either the ETSI standard or NEBS standard with minimum engineering efforts and with minimum changes in the basic parts of the products. ETSI chassis has an upper enclosure region for housing interface modules of the system and a lower enclosure region for housing system modules of the system. When assembled, a backplane is disposed along a common back wall of both enclosures. A portion of the backplane extends into the upper enclosure region from the lower enclosure region and includes connectors for receiving connectors of the interface modules. The portion of the backplane located in the lower enclosure region includes connectors for receiving connectors of the system modules.

Abstract: A connection technique for switchably and mutually exclusively coupling a plurality of device sets. The connection technique utilizes a low profile connector having multiple circuit sets, each of which is configured for mutually exclusive and removable insertion into a receptacle coupled to multiple devices. Each one of the multiple circuit sets, which is inserted into the receptacle, couples a desired set of the plurality of device sets.

Abstract: A telecommunications server comprises a switch/larch mechanism for use in online removal or insertion of a peripheral card, such as a PCI card. A bulkhead is adapted for mating engagement with a bulkhead mounting bracket of the peripheral card when the peripheral card is installed in the switch/latch mechanism. A doorbell switch having a vertical range of motion is manually depressed to signal the server and commence an orderly shutdown of the peripheral card in advance of online replacement of the peripheral card. A panel switch provides a mechanical lock retaining the peripheral card in place, and also function as a backup power interrupt device to protect the peripheral card in the event that depression of the doorbell button does not result in an orderly shutdown of the peripheral card.

Abstract: A substrate for packaging a storage or server system may include one or more sections of the substrate configured to hold a two-dimensional array of disk drives. Another section of this substrate may be configured to hold circuitry for accessing the array of disk drives. This circuitry may include one or more processors. The substrate also includes a first plurality of ribs positioned in the first access of the substrate. The first plurality of ribs separate the sections from one another. The section configured to hold the control circuitry may also be configured to hold one or more power supplies for supplying power to the array of disk drives and control circuitry. This section, as well as other sections, may be divided in two by one or more additional ribs in a transverse direction. The substrate may be configured to be mounted in a cage or rack and may include an edge connector at one edge of the substrate to provide electrical connectivity to a back plane in the cage or rack.

Abstract: A conductive network includes a first conductive device having multiple first signal layers. Each first signal layer has a first substrate and a plurality of first conductive traces disposed on one side of the first substrate. The network further includes a second conductive device having multiple second signal layers. Each second signal layer has a second substrate and a plurality of second conductive traces disposed on one side of the second substrate. In addition, the network includes at least one bridge layer for electrically joining together the first and second conductive devices. The at least one bridge layer has a bridge substrate and a plurality of bridge traces supported by the bridge substrate.

Abstract: A power distribution assembly (PDA) includes AC and/or DC power modules and control modules that are installed within a chassis that is mounted to a vehicle, such as an aircraft. Each module includes a wiring harness connector and a control connector for attachment to a motherboard. A wiring harness is externally mounted to the chassis to provide a simplified connection for the wiring harness connector. The modules can be individually and selectively removed from the chassis for repair or replacement without having to remove the entire PDA from the aircraft. This is accomplished by simply removing the module from the chassis, thereby disconnecting the aircraft interface and motherboard connectors for the selected modules. Also, a common PDA can be utilized on different types of aircraft by installing desired modules within the chassis. Thus, the number and type of modules are selected to meet predetermined specifications for a specific aircraft and then installed within a PDA common to all aircraft.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compact riser card system which provides two or more PCI connectors to couple one or more peripheral boards to a PCI bus on a computer board while satisfying the height requirements for 1U systems. In one embodiment, this invention provides two 64-bit connectors on two riser cards coupled to a single connector on a 66 MHz PCI bus.

Abstract: A protective assembly for electronic components. The protective assembly has a base and a first printed circuit board secured to the base. An electronic component is disposed on the printed circuit board and protected by a rigid member that is also secured to the base. The protective assembly is designed to be mechanically and electrically coupleable to a computer-based system.

Abstract: A cable card having increased cable connector density is provided. The cable card has a non-planar surface and, therefore, more surface area than a planar cable card having the same outside dimensions. The increased surface area of the non-planar surface permits more connectors of a given size to be located on the cable card.

Abstract: Methods, systems and devices are described relating to a chassis for front and back inserted modules. An apparatus includes a chassis including a first module bay and a second module bay, the first module bay and the second module bay together composing both a forward section and rearward section.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for expanding the circuitry of a circuit board, such as a computer motherboard. The apparatus can include a riser card: removably coupled to the circuit board and having a plurality of expansion slots for receiving expansion devices. The riser card can include a connector for receiving a second riser card having further expansion slots for removably receiving additional expansion devices. Accordingly, a single riser card can be connected to a circuit board that is installed in a chassis that can accept no more than one riser card, and a pair of such riser cards can be stacked, one upon the other, on a circuit board that is installed in a chassis that can accommodate stacked riser cards.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for interconnection system. A first connector located on a first card provides first contacts for first signal traces on the first card. The first connector has a first housing enclosing the first contacts and a first extension portion. A second connector located on a second card provides second contacts for second signal traces on the second card. The second connector has a second housing enclosing the second contacts. The second connector is coupled to the first connector when the first and second housings are mated such that the first and second cards are substantially perpendicular to each other, the second card is aligned on the first extension portion.

Abstract: There is provided a composite wiring board that occupies a small space and is low in price and a manufacturing method thereof; the composite wiring board comprises at least two rigid wiring boards on end faces of which connection portions are formed, in which each of the rigid wiring boards is arranged so that each of the connection portions is situated on a plane and each of corresponding connection portions is connected with each other in the plane.

Abstract: A mounting structure of a connector 6 for use with a circuit board 7 includes fixing parts 8 provided on one side of the connector 6 and fixed to the circuit board 7, terminals 25 contained in the connector and connected to the circuit board by soldering, a plurality of wiring boards 41 to 42 arranged adjacent to the circuit board,. and a pair of support walls 9 provided on the other side of the connector 6 and projected from the connector. The support walls 9 are abutted at their lower ends against the uppermost wiring board 41, enabling the connector to be supported by both the support walls 9 and the fixing parts 8. The fixing parts 8 and the support walls 9 are projected in directions intersecting at a right angle so that the support walls 9 may be abutted against the wiring board 41 in an engaging direction of a mating connector 37. The support walls 9 are projected longer than the terminals 25 toward the wiring board 41.

Abstract: In a computer system having redundant SCSI controllers cards, a SCSI controller interface for receiving multiple interchangeable SCSI controller cards is configured so that the data bus paths between each of the SCSI controller slots and the controller circuitry do not cross.

Abstract: A cable modern termination system (CMTS) having front and rear sides is disclosed. A rear panel receives a plurality of connector cards. At least one first connector card wherein each first connector card has a row of connectors. At least one second connector cards, wherein each second connector card has a row of connectors, wherein connectors on the first connector cards are staggered from connectors on the second connector cards when the connector cards are inserted into the rear panel.

Abstract: A scalable Internet engine is comprised of a large number of commercially available server boards each arranged as an engine blade in a power and space efficient cabinet. The engine blades are removably positioned in a front side of the cabinet in a vertical orientation. A through plane in the middle of a chassis assembly within the cabinet provides common power and control peripheral signals to all engine blades. I/O signals for each engine blade are routed through apertures in the through plane to interface cards positioned in the rear of the cabinet. The scalable engine can accommodate different types of server boards in the same chassis assembly because of a common blade carrier structure. Different types of commercially available motherboards are mounted in the common blade carrier structure that provides a uniform mechanical interface to the chassis assembly.

Abstract: An electronic connection system including a chassis defining at least one tray having a mechanical coupling. A high speed backplane is positioned on the chassis. A tray supports an electrical device such that the tray is engageable with the mechanical coupling to align a tray electrical connector to engage the backplane when the tray is fully engaged with the at least one tray receiving port to establish electrical communication between the electrical device and the high speed backplane. The mechanical coupling provides a structural connection to the chassis for the tray.

Abstract: A system and method for connecting a plurality of terminal blocks. An expansion plug includes a first connector and a second connector which are electrically connected to each other. Each terminal block includes at least one plug connector to couple to one of the two connectors of the expansion plug, and may include both a top plug connector and a bottom plug connector to couple to a neighboring terminal block via the expansion plug using either top plug connectors or bottom plug connectors. Each of the plurality of terminal blocks couples to a corresponding switching module to form a plurality of switch matrices. Successive terminal block pairs are coupled via top and bottom plug connectors in an alternating manner, thus coupling any number of terminal block/module pairs together via expansion plugs in an interleaved manner, such that the plurality of switch matrices are integrated into a single integrated switch matrix.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for interconnection system. A first front connector is located at a side of a first front card to provide first contacts for first signal traces on the first front card. A second front connector located at a side of a second front card to provide second contacts for second signal traces on the second front card. A mating connector has first and second receptacles and is located alongside of a rear card. The mating connector electrically connects the first contacts of the first signal traces to the second contacts of the second signal traces via contacts in the first and second receptacles. The first and second receptacles couple to the first and second front connectors, respectively. The rear card is positioned in a substantially orthogonal direction to the first and second front cards.

Abstract: There is provided an adapter for electrically interconnecting a first circuit substrate with a second circuit substrate. The adapter includes a first electrical connector which is operatively connected to the first circuit substrate. The first electrical connector mates with a corresponding second electrical connector which is operatively connected to the second circuit substrate. A longitudinal guide is provided with the adapter for receiving an edge of one of the first circuit substrate and the second circuit substrate. The longitudinal guide is positioned such that when the edge of one of the first circuit substrate and the second circuit substrate is received therein, relative translation of the first circuit substrate with respect to the second circuit substrate directs the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector together to thereby provide electrical engagement therebetween.

Abstract: A web server chassis having a plurality of web server processing cards coupled with a midplane is provided. A first network interface card may also be coupled with the midplane. The midplane may include printed circuitry operable to provide data communications between the plurality of web server processing cards and the first network interface card. A second network interface card may also be coupled with the midplane, the second network interface card operable to couple the plurality of web server processing cards with a private network. In a particular embodiment the first network interface card may be operable to couple the plurality of web server processing cards with a public network. A third network interface card may also be provided. The third network interface card may be operable to couple the plurality of web server processing cards with a management network.

Abstract: A persona computer add-on card stabilizer comprising a transverse rod in the rear portion inside a computer case and above the add-on card slot, a plurality of mounting rings on the transverse rod to prevent the corresponding add-on cards from popping up.

Abstract: An analytical method for determining a cable occupancy volume includes obtaining a cable length and identifying a number and location of a plurality of cable supports for supporting the cable along its length. The cable occupancy volume that is generated is based on the cable length, the number of supports and the location of the supports. The instructions for practicing the method are encoded on a computer-readable storage medium.

Abstract: Method and system for enhancing the reliability of an available storage subsystem. Data storage units are equipped with a number of I/O controller-card adaptors that mate with complementary adaptors affixed to a number of redundant I/O controller cards. The data storage devices plug directly into I/O controller cards and receive all data, control signals, and power equally from the I/O controller cards, eliminating the need for a midplane circuit card.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for expanding the circuitry of a circuit board, such as a computer motherboard. The apparatus can include a riser card removably coupled to the circuit board and having a plurality of expansion slots for receiving expansion devices. The riser card can include a connector for receiving a second riser card having further expansion slots for removably receiving additional expansion devices. Accordingly, a single riser card can be connected to a circuit board that is installed in a chassis that can accept no more than one riser card, and a pair of such riser cards can be stacked, one upon the other, on a circuit board that is installed in a chassis that can accommodate stacked riser cards.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved framework of disk array comprising a frame case in which a plurality of removable hard disk cartridges is neatly arrayed. Each hard disk cartridge contains a power supply and an adapter of disk array signal control device directly connected to the PC board in such a manner as to make the bottom of the removable hard disk not only closer to the PC board, but also the height of the casing lower than the prior art, conducive to receiving more hard disk array system, and achieving higher stability and less failure.

Abstract: There is provided a technology for realizing an PCI expansion adapter for a PC card which is connectable to a desktop type personal computer PCI expansion connector using a low profile PCI. The PCI expansion adapter includes an expansion unit which is provided with an electrical connector to a PCI bus, a low profile PCI expansion board provided with a PC card control element and an electrical connector to the PC card, wherein the low profile PCI expansion board and the expansion unit are connected by the electrical connectors mounted on the respective boards.

Abstract: A device for connecting an array of electronic-card-carrying modular structures to an external installation with which a flow of signals can be established, and also providing communication between the various modular structures. The device includes, near the array of modular structures, a plate provided with openings, terminal connection blocks coming from the installation, which should each be inserted into the openings and coupled directly to a connection block carried by a modular structure of the array and, fastened to the plate, a circuit for distributing signals between various modular structures, which is protected from the ambient environment. Such a device may find particular application to aircraft.

Abstract: The specification describes interconnection strategies for micro-electronic machined mechanical systems (MEMS). Typical MEMS device array comprise a large number of individual mechanical devices each electrically driven by multi-chip modules (MCMs). High density interconnection is achieved by mounting the MCMs mounted on both sides of a system interconnection substrate. Overall interconnection length is reduced by locating the MCMs in a common circuit driving a given mechanical element on opposite sides of the system interconnection substrate and interconnecting them using vias through the substrate. Rapid replacement/repair is facilitated by mounted all active elements in sockets using contact pin arrays for electrical connections. In service reliability is obtained by providing spare sockets for redundant MCMs.