EP0402055A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method and apparatus for a rapid interconnection to a computer bus
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1990-05-31
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-05-31
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for rapid interconnection (hot plugging) peripheral device interface circuits to a computer bus is disclosed. The interconnections are completed using three sets of conductors in the sequence: common grounds, power from the bus and data lines. The time period between the interconnections is determined by the relative set back lengths of the conductors from the card edge and allows for stabilization of voltage and establishment of a stable high impedance state for the peripheral device controller circuits before the data lines are interconnected.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas Matthew Bartol
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 19:28
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F13/00; G06F13/38; G06F13/40; G06F13/4063; G06F13/4068; G06F13/4081; H; H05; H05K; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/11; H05K1/117; H05K2201/00; H05K2201/07; H05K2201/073; H05K2201/0746; H05K2201/09; H05K2201/09209; H05K2201/09372; H05K2201/094
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
A computer system comprising a computer bus (12) for permitting power and data input/output transfer between a host system (10,11) and a pluggable peripheral device controller circuit (14) and apparatus for the rapid interconnection of a multi-conductor connector (30) of the controller circuit (14) to the computer bus (12) without disrupting any data transfers occurring on the computer bus (12); the apparatus comprising: means (60) for connecting ground terminals of the controller circuit (14) to the corresponding conductors of the computer bus (12) for permitting the power and input/output transfer; means (62,L1) for connecting power terminals of the controller circuit (14) to corresponding conductors of the computer bus (12) for supplying a voltage to the controller circuit (14) subsequent to the connection of the ground terminals; characterised in that the apparatus further comprises: means (L2) for delaying for a first predetermined period further connection until the voltage within the controller circuit (14) reaches a stable state and for the controller circuit (14) to establish a stable high impedance state; and means (64) for connecting data input/output terminals of the controller circuit to the computer bus (12) after the first predetermined period.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
A computer system comprising a computer bus (12) for permitting power and data input/output transfer between a host system (10,11) and a pluggable peripheral device controller circuit (14) and apparatus for the rapid interconnection of a multi-conductor connector (30) of the controller circuit (14) to the computer bus (12) without disrupting any data transfers occurring on the computer bus (12); the apparatus comprising: means (60) for connecting ground terminals of the controller circuit (14) to the corresponding conductors of the computer bus (12) for permitting the power and input/output transfer; means (62,L1) for connecting power terminals of the controller circuit (14) to corresponding conductors of the computer bus (12) for supplying a voltage to the controller circuit (14) subsequent to the connection of the ground terminals; characterised in that the apparatus further comprises: means (L2) for delaying for a first predetermined period further connection until the voltage within the controller circuit (14) reaches a stable state and for the controller circuit (14) to establish a stable high impedance state; and means (64) for connecting data input/output terminals of the controller circuit to the computer bus (12) after the first predetermined period.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A computer system as claimed in claim 1 including means for delaying the connection of power to the controller circuit for a second predetermined time until any voltage transients introduced in the computer bus by the connection thereto of the controller circuit ground terminals have substantially decayed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A computer system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the first predetermined time is determined by the time required for the voltage within the controller circuit to stabilise to within ten per cent of its nominal value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A computer system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the first predetermined time is determined by the time required for the voltage within the controller circuit to stabilise to within one per cent of its original value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A computer system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the computer bus is a Small Computer System Interface bus.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
157 words
In or for a computer system as claimed in any preceding claim, a peripheral device controller circuit supported by a pluggable printed circuit board comprising apparatus for the rapid interconnection of a multi-conductor connector of the controller circuit to the computer bus without disrupting any data transfers occurring on the computer bus; the multi-conductor connector comprising: an edge connector having a parallel arrangement of plural conductors of a plurality of different lengths for establishing sequential electrical interconnections with corresponding receptacles of the computer bus; the conductors of the longest length being coupled to the controller circuit ground terminals for providing a first electrical interconnection; the conductors of an intermediate length being coupled to the controller circuit power teminals for providing an intermediate interconnection which occurs subsequent to the first interconnection; and the conductors of the shortest length being coupled to the controller circuit data input/output terminals for providing a final interconnection which occurs after the second interconnection.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the edge connector comprises a parallel arrangement of conductors of three different lengths chosen for providing the predetermined time delays between the interconnection of the various terminals of the controller circuit to the various receptacles of the computer bus during the rapid interconnection of the multi-conductor connector of the controller circuit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
A peripheral device controller printed circuit card comprising apparatus as claimed in claim 7.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A peripheral direct access storage device controller printed circuit card comprising apparatus as claimed in claim 7.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A peripheral device controller printed circuit card as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the apparatus is operable for coupling with a Small Computer System Interface bus.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
103 words
In a computer system, a method of rapid interconnection by means of a multi-conductor connector for connecting peripheral device controller circuits to a computer bus which provides, without disrupting data transfers on an actual bus, both power and data input/output transfer, comprising in sequence the steps of: interconnecting the ground terminals for power and data input/output transfer; interconnecting power to the controller circuit; waiting a period of time for the voltage on the controller circuit to stabilise and for the controller circuit to establish a stable high impedance state; and interconnecting the data input/output terminals of the controller circuit to the data bus.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
103 words
In a computer system, a method of rapid interconnection by means of a multi-conductor connector for connecting peripheral device controller circuits to a computer bus which provides, without disrupting data transfers on an actual bus, both power and data input/output transfer, comprising in sequence the steps of: interconnecting the ground terminals for power and data input/output transfer; interconnecting power to the controller circuit; waiting a period of time for the voltage on the controller circuit to stabilise and for the controller circuit to establish a stable high impedance state; and interconnecting the data input/output terminals of the controller circuit to the data bus.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as claimed in claim 10 including after the step of interconnecting the grounds, the further step of waiting a period of time to allow for stabilisation of any voltage transients induced into the power line and computer bus by the interconnection of the controller circuit grounds.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12 wherein the computer bus is a Small Computer System Interface Bus.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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