Electrical keying for replaceable modules

Claim 2

An electromechanical interconnect system for interconnecting a module pair of a set of pin-com­patible module pairs, with each module including a mod­ule connector array, said interconnect system compris­ing: a plurality of keying connectors in each mod­ule connector array; a controllable switch, having first and second control terminals and coupled to the interconnect system, for supplying power to the interconnected module pair only if the first and second control terminals are con­ductively connected; and means for forming a conductive circuit via said keying connectors to conductively connect said first and second control terminals when the first and second modules are interconnected by the interconnect system only if the first and second modules are elec­trically compatible to prevent damage to incompatible modules.

Claim 3

An electromechanical interface system for interfacing first and second modules (FM) and (SM) of a module pair, where the first and second modules may or may not be electrically compatible, with the first modules including a switch, which has first and second control terminals, for supplying power to the module pair when the first and second terminals are electrically connected, said mechanical interface sys­tem comprising: a substantially planar backpanel having first and second substantially rectangular major faces with each major face having first and a second orthogonal axes; first and second backpanel connectors, dis­posed on said first and second major faces respectively, with said first and second connectors including first and second arrays, respectively, each in the form of a substantially geometrical identical rectangular array of contacts with the rows in each array oriented along the first axis and the columns of said array oriented along the second axis, with corresponding contacts in said first and second arrays conductively connected through said backpanel; first and second module connectors coupled to said first and second modules respectively, with the first and second module connectors including FM and SM rectangular arrays, respectively, of FM and SM contacts, with the FM and SM rectangular arrays substantially geometrically identical to the first and second rectan­gular arrays of contacts so that each FM contact in said FM array can mechanically mate with a respective contact in said first array and each SM contact in said SM array can mechanically mate with a respective contact in said second array; with contacts in selected keying rows in said first and second arrays functioning as keying contacts and with the contacts in nonselected rows functioning as power and signal contacts and the keying rows of conductive contacts in said FM and SM arrays geomet­rically corresponding to said keying rows of contacts in said first and second arrays; means, on said first module, for electrically connecting a first keying FM contact to the first switch control terminal and a second keying FM contact to the second switch control terminal; and means, on said second module, for electrical­ly connecting a selected pair of SM keying contacts, where said selected pair of SM keying contact are elec­trically connected to said first and second keying FM contacts, when said FM and SM contacts are mechanically mated to the contacts in the first and second arrays, only if the second module is electrically compatible to the first module.

Claim 4

An electromechanical interface system for interfacing first and second modules (FM) and (SM) of a module pair, where the first and second modules may or may not be electrically compatible, with the first modules including a switch, which has first and second control terminals, for supplying power to the module pair when the first and second terminals are electrically connected, said mechanical interface sys­tem comprising: a substantially planar backpanel having first and second substantially rectangular major faces with each major face having first and a second orthogonal axes; first and second backpanel connectors, dis­posed on said first and second major faces respectively, with said first and second connectors including first and second arrays, respectively, each in the form of a substantially geometrical identical rectangular array of contacts with the rows in each array oriented along the first axis and the columns of said array oriented along the second axis, with corresponding contacts in said first and second arrays conductively connected through said backpanel; first and second module connectors coupled to said first and second modules respectively, with the first and second module connectors including FM and SM rectangular arrays, respectively, of FM and SM contacts, with the FM and SM rectangular arrays substantially geometrically identical to the first and second rectan­gular arrays of contacts so that each FM contact in said FM array can mechanically mate with a respective contact in said first array and each SM contact in said SM array can mechanically mate with a respective contact in said second array; with contacts in selected keying rows in said first and second arrays functioning as keying contacts and with the contacts in nonselected rows functioning as power and signal contacts and the keying rows of conductive contacts in said FM and SM arrays geomet­rically corresponding to said keying rows of contacts in said first and second arrays; means, on said first module, for electrically connecting a first keying FM contact to the first switch control terminal and a second keying FM contact to the second switch control terminal; and means, on said second module, for electrical­ly connecting a selected pair of SM keying contacts, where said selected pair of SM keying contact are elec­trically connected to said first and second keying FM contacts, when said FM and SM contacts are mechanically mated to the contacts in the first and second arrays, only if the second module is electrically compatible to the first module.

Claim 5

An electromechanical interface system for interfacing first and second modules (FM) and (SM) of a module pair, where the first and second modules may or may not be electrically compatible, with the first module including a switch, which has first and second control terminals, for supplying power to the module pair when the first and second terminals are electrically connected, said mechanical interface system comprising: a substantially planar backpanel having first and second substantially rectangular major faces with each major face having first and a second orthogonal axes; first and second backpanel connectors, dis­posed on said first and second major faces respectively, with said first and second connectors including first and second arrays, respectively, each in the form of a substantially geometrical identical rectangular array of contacts with the rows in each array oriented along the first and the column of said array oriented along the second axis, with corresponding contacts in said first and second arrays conductively connected through said backpanel; first and second module connectors coupled to said first and second modules respectively, with the first and second module connectors including FM and SM rectangular arrays, respectively, of FM and SM contacts, with the FM and SM rectangular arrays substantially geometrically identical to the first and second rectan­gular arrays of contacts so that each FM contact in said FM array can mechanically mate with a respective contact in said first array and each SM contact in said SM array can mechanically mate with a respective contact in said second array; with contacts in selected keying rows in said first and second arrays functioning as keying contacts and with the contacts in nonselected rows functioning as power and signal contacts and with keying rows of conductive contacts in said FM and SM arrays geomet­rically corresponding to said keying rows of contacts in said first and second arrays; means, on said first module, for electrically coupling a first particular FM contact in said first module array to the first switch terminal and a second particular FM contact in said first module array to said second switch, and for electrically connecting the FM keying contacts in a first selected FM pair together and the FM keying contacts in a second selected FM pair together; means, on said second module, for electrical­ly connecting the SM keying contacts in a first select­ed SM pair together, in a second selected SM pair to­gether, and in a third selected SM pair together; wherein a complete circuit is formed between the first and second switch control terminals, when the FM and SM contacts are mechanically mated to the contacts of said first and second arrays, only if the second module is electrically compatible to the first module.

Claim 6

An electromechanical interface system for interfacing first and second modules (FM) and (SM) of a module pair, where the first and second modules may or may not be electrically compatible, with the first module including a switch, which has first and second control terminals, for supplying power to the module pair when the first and second terminals are electrically connected, said mechanical interface system comprising: a substantially planar backpanel having first and second substantially rectangular major faces with each major face having first and a second orthogonal axes; first and second backpanel connectors, dis­posed on said first and second major faces respectively, with said first and second connectors including first and second arrays, respectively, each in the form of a substantially geometrical identical rectangular array of contacts with the rows in each array oriented along the first and the column of said array oriented along the second axis, with corresponding contacts in said first and second arrays conductively connected through said backpanel; first and second module connectors coupled to said first and second modules respectively, with the first and second module connectors including FM and SM rectangular arrays, respectively, of FM and SM contacts, with the FM and SM rectangular arrays substantially geometrically identical to the first and second rectan­gular arrays of contacts so that each FM contact in said FM array can mechanically mate with a respective contact in said first array and each SM contact in said SM array can mechanically mate with a respective contact in said second array; with contacts in selected keying rows in said first and second arrays functioning as keying contacts and with the contacts in nonselected rows functioning as power and signal contacts and with keying rows of conductive contacts in said FM and SM arrays geomet­rically corresponding to said keying rows of contacts in said first and second arrays; means, on said first module, for electrically coupling a first particular FM contact in said first module array to the first switch terminal and a second particular FM contact in said first module array to said second switch, and for electrically connecting the FM keying contacts in a first selected FM pair together and the FM keying contacts in a second selected FM pair together; means, on said second module, for electrical­ly connecting the SM keying contacts in a first select­ed SM pair together, in a second selected SM pair to­gether, and in a third selected SM pair together; wherein a complete circuit is formed between the first and second switch control terminals, when the FM and SM contacts are mechanically mated to the contacts of said first and second arrays, only if the second module is electrically compatible to the first module.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 3 wherein the selected keying rows of said FM and SM array comprise: an upper keying row disposed substantially adjacent to the top of said FM and SM arrays; a center keying row disposed substantially along the center of said FM and SM arrays; and a lower keying row disposed substantially adjacent to the bottom of said FM and SM arrays; wherein at least one of said first and second FM keying and the FM keying contacts in the selected FM pairs are disposed in each of said upper, and lower, and middle keying rows of the FM array and at least one of the SM contacts in said first, second, and third se­lected SM pairs are disposed in each of said upper, middle, and lower rows of the SM array; wherein said at least one of said FM or SM keying contacts is shorter than said signal and power contacts so that said power and signal contact are en­gaged prior to said shorter keying contact to avoid arcing and possible data destruction, in spite of geo­metrical misalignment of backpanel bowing.

Claim 8

An electromechanical interface system for interfacing first and second modules (FM) and (SM) of a module pair, where the first and second modules may or may not be electrically compatible, and includ­ing a switch, which has first and second control termi­nals, for supplying power to the module pair when the first and second control terminals are electrically connected, said mechanical interface system comprising: a substantial planar backpanel having first and second substantially rectangular major faces with each major face having first and a second orthogonal axes; first and second backpanel connectors, dis­posed on said first and second major faces respectively, with said first and second connectors including first and second array, respectively, each in the form of a substantially geometrical identical rectangular array of contacts with the rows in each array oriented along the first axis and the columns of said array oriented along the second axis, with corresponding contacts in said first and second arrays conductively connected through said backpanel; first and second module connectors coupled to said first and second modules respectively, with the first and second module connectors including FM and SM rectangular arrays, respectively, of FM and SM contacts, with the FM and SM rectangular arrays substantially geometrically identical to the first and second rectan­gular arrays of contacts so that each FM contact in said FM array can mechanically mate with a respective contact in said first array and each SM contact in said SM array can mechanically mate with a respective contact in said second array; with contact in selected keying rows in said first and second arrays functioning as keying contacts and with the contacts in nonselected rows functioning as power and signal contacts and with keying rows of conductive contacts in said FM and SM arrays geomet­rically corresponding to said keying rows of contacts in said first and second arrays; means for coupling the first control terminal to a first selected power and signal contact in said first array and the second control terminal to a second selected power and signal contact in said first array; means, on said first module, for electrically connecting a first keying FM contact to the said first selected power and signal contact and a second keying FM contact to said second selected power and signal contact; and means, on said second module, for electrical­ly connecting a selected pair of SM keying contacts, where said selected pair of SM keying contact are elec­trically connected to said first and second keying FM contacts when said FM and SM contacts are mechanically mated to the contacts in the first and second arrays only if the second module is electrically compatible to the first module.

Claim 9

An electromechanical interface system for interfacing first and second modules (FM) and (SM) of a module pair, where the first and second modules may or may not be electrically compatible, and includ­ing a switch, which has first and second control termi­nals, for supplying power to the module pair when the first and second control terminals are electrically connected, said mechanical interface system comprising: a substantial planar backpanel having first and second substantially rectangular major faces with each major face having first and a second orthogonal axes; first and second backpanel connectors, dis­posed on said first and second major faces respectively, with said first and second connectors including first and second array, respectively, each in the form of a substantially geometrical identical rectangular array of contacts with the rows in each array oriented along the first axis and the columns of said array oriented along the second axis, with corresponding contacts in said first and second arrays conductively connected through said backpanel; first and second module connectors coupled to said first and second modules respectively, with the first and second module connectors including FM and SM rectangular arrays, respectively, of FM and SM contacts, with the FM and SM rectangular arrays substantially geometrically identical to the first and second rectan­gular arrays of contacts so that each FM contact in said FM array can mechanically mate with a respective contact in said first array and each SM contact in said SM array can mechanically mate with a respective contact in said second array; with contact in selected keying rows in said first and second arrays functioning as keying contacts and with the contacts in nonselected rows functioning as power and signal contacts and with keying rows of conductive contacts in said FM and SM arrays geomet­rically corresponding to said keying rows of contacts in said first and second arrays; means for coupling the first control terminal to a first selected power and signal contact in said first array and the second control terminal to a second selected power and signal contact in said first array; means, on said first module, for electrically connecting a first keying FM contact to the said first selected power and signal contact and a second keying FM contact to said second selected power and signal contact; and means, on said second module, for electrical­ly connecting a selected pair of SM keying contacts, where said selected pair of SM keying contact are elec­trically connected to said first and second keying FM contacts when said FM and SM contacts are mechanically mated to the contacts in the first and second arrays only if the second module is electrically compatible to the first module.

Claim 10

An electromechanical interface system for interfacing first and second modules (FM) and (SM) of a module pair, where the first and second modules may or may not be electrically compatible, and includ­ing a switch, which has first and second control termi­nals, for supplying power to the module pair when the first and second terminals are electrically connected, said mechanical interface system comprising: a substantially planar backpanel having first and second substantially rectangular major faces with each major face having first and second orthogonal axes; first and second backpanel connectors, dis­posed on said first and second major faces respectively, with said first and second connectors including first and second arrays, respectively, each in the form of a substantially geometrical identical rectangular array of contacts with the rows in each array oriented along the first axis and the columns of said array oriented along the second axis, with corresponding contacts in said first and second arrays conductively connected through said backpanel; first and second module connectors coupled to said first and second modules respectively, with the first and second module connectors including FM and SM rectangular arrays, respectively, of FM and SM contacts, with the FM and SM rectangular arrays substantially geometrically identical to the first and second rectan­gular arrays of contacts so that each FM contact in said FM array can mechanically mate with the respective contact in said first array and each SM contact in said SM array can mechanically mate with a respective contact in said second array; with contacts in selected keying rows in said first and second arrays functioning as keying contacts and with the contacts in nonselected rows functioning as power and signal contacts and with keying rows of conductive contacts in said FM and SM arrays geomet­rically corresponding to said keying rows of contacts in said first and second arrays; means for coupling the first control terminal to a first selected power and second contact in said first array and the second control terminal to a second selected power and signal pin in said first array; means, on said first module, for electrically coupling a first particular FM contact in said first module array to said first selected power and signal contact and a second particular FM contact in said first module array to said second selected power and signal contact, and for electrically connecting the FM keying contacts in a first selected FM pair together and the FM keying contacts in a second selected FM pair togeth­er; means, on said second module, for electrical­ly connecting the SM keying contacts in a first select­ed SM pair together, in a second selected SM pair to­gether, and in a third selected SM pair together; wherein a complete circuit is formed between the first and second switch terminals when the FM and SM contacts are mechanically mated to the contacts of said first and second arrays, only if the second module is electrically compatible to the first module.

Claim 11

An electromechanical interface system for interfacing first and second modules (FM) and (SM) of a module pair, where the first and second modules may or may not be electrically compatible, and includ­ing a switch, which has first and second control termi­nals, for supplying power to the module pair when the first and second terminals are electrically connected, said mechanical interface system comprising: a substantially planar backpanel having first and second substantially rectangular major faces with each major face having first and second orthogonal axes; first and second backpanel connectors, dis­posed on said first and second major faces respectively, with said first and second connectors including first and second arrays, respectively, each in the form of a substantially geometrical identical rectangular array of contacts with the rows in each array oriented along the first axis and the columns of said array oriented along the second axis, with corresponding contacts in said first and second arrays conductively connected through said backpanel; first and second module connectors coupled to said first and second modules respectively, with the first and second module connectors including FM and SM rectangular arrays, respectively, of FM and SM contacts, with the FM and SM rectangular arrays substantially geometrically identical to the first and second rectan­gular arrays of contacts so that each FM contact in said FM array can mechanically mate with the respective contact in said first array and each SM contact in said SM array can mechanically mate with a respective contact in said second array; with contacts in selected keying rows in said first and second arrays functioning as keying contacts and with the contacts in nonselected rows functioning as power and signal contacts and with keying rows of conductive contacts in said FM and SM arrays geomet­rically corresponding to said keying rows of contacts in said first and second arrays; means for coupling the first control terminal to a first selected power and second contact in said first array and the second control terminal to a second selected power and signal pin in said first array; means, on said first module, for electrically coupling a first particular FM contact in said first module array to said first selected power and signal contact and a second particular FM contact in said first module array to said second selected power and signal contact, and for electrically connecting the FM keying contacts in a first selected FM pair together and the FM keying contacts in a second selected FM pair togeth­er; means, on said second module, for electrical­ly connecting the SM keying contacts in a first select­ed SM pair together, in a second selected SM pair to­gether, and in a third selected SM pair together; wherein a complete circuit is formed between the first and second switch terminals when the FM and SM contacts are mechanically mated to the contacts of said first and second arrays, only if the second module is electrically compatible to the first module.

Claim 12

The invention of claim 6 wherein the selected keying rows of said array of FM and SM con­tacts comprise: an upper keying row disposed substantially adjacent to the top of said FM and SM arrays; a center keying row disposed substantially along the center of said FM and SM arrays; and a lower keying row disposed substantially adjacent to the bottom of said FM and SM arrays; wherein at least one of said first and second FM keying and the FM keying contacts in the selected FM pairs are disposed in each of said upper, lower, and middle keying rows of the FM array and at least one of the SM contacts in said first, second, and third selected SM pairs are disposed in each of second upper, middle, and lower rows of the SM array; wherein said at least one of said FM and SM keying contacts is shorter than said signal and power contacts so that said power and signal contact are en­gaged prior to said shorter keying contact to avoid arcing and possible data destruction, in spite of geo­metrical misalignment or backpanel bowing.