Patent EP0398188A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0398188A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Modular computer memory circuit board
Assignee: Compaq Computer Corp
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Filing: 1990-05-11
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-05-11
Abstract
Abstract A memory expansion board capable of holding up to 16 Mbytes of memory devices , using primarily 1 Mbit chips, in 2 Mbyte module increments, on a single IBM PC/AT compatible size board. The circuit board is so designed that when the memory expansion board is populated by modules and placed in a computer system it does not interfere with any of the other expansion slots within the computer system, all of the expansion slots being normally spaced apart. The memory expansion board also includes a means of protecting the memory expansion board and modules from damage due to misalignment when inserting the board and/or modules. When certain of the modules are inserted rotated 180 degrees the circuit board cannot be properly installed in the system board because of physical interference. Lastly, the memory expansion board includes a means for providing reduced length addressing memory lines to memory devices appearing on opposite sides of a circuit board.
Inventors
- 👤 James A. Windsor
- 👤 Mustafa Ali Hamid
- 👤 Roy E. Thoma Iii
- 👤 James P. Paschal
- 👤 Francis A. Felcman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 17:55
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F12/00; G06F12/02; G06F12/06; H; H05; H05K; H05K7/00; H05K7/02; H05K7/023; G11; G11C; G11C5/00; G11C5/02; G11C5/025; G11C5/14; G11C5/143; G11C8/00; H05K7/14; H05K7/1438; H05K7/1459; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/14; H05K1/141
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
380 words
A circuit board for use in a computer system having a generally planar system board including a plurality of slots for the inclusion of additional circuit boards in the system, the slots being located a minimum distance apart to allow the inclusion of circuit boards conforming to an industry standard, said circuit board being used for the addition of semiconductor memory and comprising: a first circuit board including connector means for connecting said first circuit board in a perpendicular fashion to the system board and for passing electrical signals between said first circuit board and the system board, said first circuit board being of a length and a width to conform to the industry standard; a second circuit board including 2 Mbytes of parity checked memory utilizing 1 Mbit memory devices for storing data or 8 Mbytes of parity checked memory utilizing 4 Mbit memory devices for storing data and having a length less than the width of said first circuit board, said first circuit board further including means for connecting a plurality of said second circuit boards to said first circuit board so that said second circuit boards are arranged in a plane parallel to said first circuit board when connected and for passing electrical signals between said first circuit board and said second circuit board and including circuitry associated with each of said second circuit boards for providing address and control signals to said connector for transmission to said second circuit board, and said second circuit board further including connector means for mating with said connector means of said first circuit board, both said connector means cooperating so that said thickness of said connected first and second circuit boards is less than the clearance distance between the slots on the system board, the width of said second circuit board being slightly less than the length of said first circuit board divided by the number of said second circuit boards which can be connected to said first circuit board, the circuit board containing 16 Mbytes of parity checked memory when the full number of second circuit boards having 2 Mbytes of memory or 64 Mbytes of parity checked memory when the full number of second circuit boards having 8 Mbytes of memory are connected to said first circuit board.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
380 words
A circuit board for use in a computer system having a generally planar system board including a plurality of slots for the inclusion of additional circuit boards in the system, the slots being located a minimum distance apart to allow the inclusion of circuit boards conforming to an industry standard, said circuit board being used for the addition of semiconductor memory and comprising: a first circuit board including connector means for connecting said first circuit board in a perpendicular fashion to the system board and for passing electrical signals between said first circuit board and the system board, said first circuit board being of a length and a width to conform to the industry standard; a second circuit board including 2 Mbytes of parity checked memory utilizing 1 Mbit memory devices for storing data or 8 Mbytes of parity checked memory utilizing 4 Mbit memory devices for storing data and having a length less than the width of said first circuit board, said first circuit board further including means for connecting a plurality of said second circuit boards to said first circuit board so that said second circuit boards are arranged in a plane parallel to said first circuit board when connected and for passing electrical signals between said first circuit board and said second circuit board and including circuitry associated with each of said second circuit boards for providing address and control signals to said connector for transmission to said second circuit board, and said second circuit board further including connector means for mating with said connector means of said first circuit board, both said connector means cooperating so that said thickness of said connected first and second circuit boards is less than the clearance distance between the slots on the system board, the width of said second circuit board being slightly less than the length of said first circuit board divided by the number of said second circuit boards which can be connected to said first circuit board, the circuit board containing 16 Mbytes of parity checked memory when the full number of second circuit boards having 2 Mbytes of memory or 64 Mbytes of parity checked memory when the full number of second circuit boards having 8 Mbytes of memory are connected to said first circuit board.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The circuit board of claim 1, wherein 2 Mbytes or 8 Mbytes of said parity checked memory is located on said first circuit board.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The circuit board of claim 1 wherein said connection means for connecting said first circuit board to the system board comprises a card edge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The circuit board of claim 1 wherein said means for connecting said first and said second circuit boards comprise, respectively, pins and a mating socket.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
276 words
A computer system having means for protecting electronic circuit boards in a computer system during the addition of circuit boards comprising: a computer power supply having at least two output terminals; a means for limiting current flow in said power supply; a first circuit board having means for locating and connecting additional circuit boards, said first circuit board connecting means having a connection for said power supply first output terminal and at least two adjacent connections, both of said adjacent connections being tied said power supply second output terminal; a second circuit board having means for locating and connecting said second circuit board to said first circuit board, said second circuit board locating and connecting means having at least connection to receive said power supply first terminal output, said first power supply output terminal connection corresponding to said power supply first terminal connection on said first circuit board, said second circuit board power connection having at least two connections to connect to said power supply second terminal output, said connections being located on either side of said first power supply output terminal connection, and two adjacent connections to connect to said second output terminal, said adjacent power supply second output terminal connections corresponding to said adjacent power supply second output terminal connections on said first circuit board; said connections of said first and second circuit boards being arranged so that the mislocation of said second circuit board in said first circuit board resulting in the connection of system power to system ground, thereby causing the current flow from said power supply to exceed acceptable limits, initiating said limiting means to shut down the supply of power.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
276 words
A computer system having means for protecting electronic circuit boards in a computer system during the addition of circuit boards comprising: a computer power supply having at least two output terminals; a means for limiting current flow in said power supply; a first circuit board having means for locating and connecting additional circuit boards, said first circuit board connecting means having a connection for said power supply first output terminal and at least two adjacent connections, both of said adjacent connections being tied said power supply second output terminal; a second circuit board having means for locating and connecting said second circuit board to said first circuit board, said second circuit board locating and connecting means having at least connection to receive said power supply first terminal output, said first power supply output terminal connection corresponding to said power supply first terminal connection on said first circuit board, said second circuit board power connection having at least two connections to connect to said power supply second terminal output, said connections being located on either side of said first power supply output terminal connection, and two adjacent connections to connect to said second output terminal, said adjacent power supply second output terminal connections corresponding to said adjacent power supply second output terminal connections on said first circuit board; said connections of said first and second circuit boards being arranged so that the mislocation of said second circuit board in said first circuit board resulting in the connection of system power to system ground, thereby causing the current flow from said power supply to exceed acceptable limits, initiating said limiting means to shut down the supply of power.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The means of claim 5, wherein said current limiting means comprises an electrical fuse.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The means of claim 5, wherein said current limiting means comprises an electrical circuit breaker.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The means of claim 5 wherein said current limiting means includes current limiting circuitry which, upon sensing an excessive current flow, turns off said power supply.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The means of claim 5, wherein said current sensing circuitry includes means for resetting said power supply.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The means of claim 5 wherein said locating and connecting means comprise a pin and a mating socket;
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
120 words
A memory circuit board comprising: a circuit board having two surfaces; first and second memory devices having address lines referenced as A₀ through A n , said first memory device being mounted on the first side of said circuit board and said second memory device being mounted on the second side of said circuit board and generally opposed to said first device, said second device having been rotated 180 degrees about its longitudinal axis with respect to said first device; and means for directly connecting the address lines of said first memory device in an ascending order to said address lines of said second device in a descending order where said respective ascending and descending address lines are generally adjacent.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
120 words
A memory circuit board comprising: a circuit board having two surfaces; first and second memory devices having address lines referenced as A₀ through A n , said first memory device being mounted on the first side of said circuit board and said second memory device being mounted on the second side of said circuit board and generally opposed to said first device, said second device having been rotated 180 degrees about its longitudinal axis with respect to said first device; and means for directly connecting the address lines of said first memory device in an ascending order to said address lines of said second device in a descending order where said respective ascending and descending address lines are generally adjacent.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The memory circuit board of claim 11, wherein said memory devices have control lines, and further comprising: means for connecting said control lines of said first memory device to like said control lines of said second memory device.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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