US5611057A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Computer system modular add-in daughter card for an adapter card which also functions as an independent add-in card
Assignee: Dell USA LP
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Filing: 1995-01-20
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Granted: 1997-03-11
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Expires: 2015-01-20
Abstract
Abstract A daughter card for mounting to an adapter card, wherein the daughter card includes adapter card connectors for mounting to the adapter card and also an edge connector for insertion directly into a computer slot so that the daughter card may also function as a stand-alone card. The daughter card is both mechanically and electrically compliant as an independent PCI add-in card and includes a PCI edge connector for insertion directly into a PCI slot. This provides additional modularity since the daughter card can be purchased and configured as a separate and independent PCI adapter card as well as for mating to a host adapter card to provide extra functionality to the host adapter card. In addition, since the daughter card can be directly inserted into the PCI bus, the daughter card provides greater component access and probing for testing. Further, the daughter card can be tested independently of the host adapter card during manufacturing functional test, thus providing more reliable testing.
Inventors
- 👤 Victor K. Pecone
- 👤 Russell C. Smith
- 👤 Jay R. Lory
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 10:15
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/18; G06F1/183; G06F1/185; G06F1/184; G06F1/186; H; H05; H05K; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/0286; H05K1/14; H05K1/141
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A daughter card for use in a computer system, the daughter card comprising: one or more controllers providing signals for performing functions in the computer system; one or more adapter card connectors for coupling to an adapter card when the daughter card is mounted to an adapter card, wherein the daughter card provides additional functionality to the adapter card when the daughter card is mounted to the adapter card; and an edge connector for insertion in a connector slot of a computer system when the daughter card is used as a stand-alone card, wherein said edge connector complies with a bus specification; wherein the daughter card is mountable to an adapter card and wherein the daughter card can also function as a stand-alone card to provide modular and upgradable expansion options.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
A daughter card for use in a computer system, the daughter card comprising: one or more controllers providing signals for performing functions in the computer system; one or more adapter card connectors for coupling to an adapter card when the daughter card is mounted to an adapter card, wherein the daughter card provides additional functionality to the adapter card when the daughter card is mounted to the adapter card; and an edge connector for insertion in a connector slot of a computer system when the daughter card is used as a stand-alone card, wherein said edge connector complies with a bus specification; wherein the daughter card is mountable to an adapter card and wherein the daughter card can also function as a stand-alone card to provide modular and upgradable expansion options.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The daughter card of claim 1, wherein said edge connector is a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) edge connector adapted for insertion in a PCI slot of a computer system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The daughter card of claim 2, wherein said daughter card complies with Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) mechanical specifications.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The daughter card of claim 1, wherein said daughter card is inserted directly into an expansion slot of a computer system during testing of said daughter card.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The daughter card of claim 1, wherein said daughter card is adapted for connecting to said adapter card in a parallel mezzanine fashion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The daughter card of claim 1, further comprising: one or more connectors coupled to said one or more controllers, wherein said one or more connectors are each adapted for coupling to one or more devices in the computer system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
The daughter card of claim 6, wherein said one or more controllers comprised on said daughter card are small computer systems interface (SCSI) controllers for providing one or more SCSI channels; wherein said one or more connectors coupled to said one or more controllers comprise SCSI connectors for coupling to one or more SCSI devices in the computer system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The daughter card of claim 6, wherein said one or more controllers comprised on said daughter card are network interface controllers; wherein said one or more connectors coupled to said one or more controllers comprise network interface ports.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
149 words
A daughter card for use in a computer system comprising: one or more SCSI controllers providing signals for one or more SCSI channels; one or more SCSI connectors coupled to said one or more SCSI controllers, wherein said one or more SCSI connectors are each adapted for coupling to one or more SCSI devices in the computer system; one or more adapter card connectors for coupling to a SCSI adapter card, wherein when said daughter card is mounted to said SCSI adapter card said daughter card provides additional functionality to said SCSI adapter card; an edge connector for insertion in a bus connector slot of a computer system when the daughter card is used as a stand-alone card; and wherein said daughter card is mountable to a SCSI adapter card and wherein said daughter card can also function as a stand-alone card to provide modular and upgradable expansion options.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
149 words
A daughter card for use in a computer system comprising: one or more SCSI controllers providing signals for one or more SCSI channels; one or more SCSI connectors coupled to said one or more SCSI controllers, wherein said one or more SCSI connectors are each adapted for coupling to one or more SCSI devices in the computer system; one or more adapter card connectors for coupling to a SCSI adapter card, wherein when said daughter card is mounted to said SCSI adapter card said daughter card provides additional functionality to said SCSI adapter card; an edge connector for insertion in a bus connector slot of a computer system when the daughter card is used as a stand-alone card; and wherein said daughter card is mountable to a SCSI adapter card and wherein said daughter card can also function as a stand-alone card to provide modular and upgradable expansion options.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
102 words
The daughter card of claim 9, wherein said daughter card includes an external SCSI connector which is adapted to be externally accessible from the computer system when said daughter card is connected to said SCSI adapter card and said SCSI adapter card is inserted into an expansion slot of the computer system; wherein said external SCSI connector is also adapted to be externally accessible from the computer system when said daughter card edge connector is inserted directly into a bus connector slot of a computer system; wherein said external SCSI connector is adapted for coupling to one or more external SCSI devices.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The daughter card of claim 9, wherein said edge connector is a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) edge connector adapted for insertion in a PCI slot of a computer system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The daughter card of claim 11, wherein said daughter card complies with Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) mechanical specifications.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The daughter card of claim 9, wherein said daughter card is inserted directly into an expansion slot of a computer system during testing of said daughter card.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The daughter card of claim 9, wherein said daughter card is adapted for connecting to said SCSI adapter card in a parallel mezzanine fashion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
90 words
A computer system comprising: a system unit; a bus comprised within said system unit including one or more expansion slots for receiving adapter cards; a daughter card comprised within said system unit and including an edge connector adapted for coupling to an expansion slot on said bus, wherein said daughter card includes one or more adapter card connectors for connecting to an adapter card, wherein said daughter card is mountable to an adapter card, and wherein said daughter card can also function as a stand-alone card in the computer system.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
90 words
A computer system comprising: a system unit; a bus comprised within said system unit including one or more expansion slots for receiving adapter cards; a daughter card comprised within said system unit and including an edge connector adapted for coupling to an expansion slot on said bus, wherein said daughter card includes one or more adapter card connectors for connecting to an adapter card, wherein said daughter card is mountable to an adapter card, and wherein said daughter card can also function as a stand-alone card in the computer system.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
50 words
The computer system of claim 15, wherein said daughter card edge connector is inserted into one of said one or more expansion slots of said bus whereby said daughter card is directly coupled to said bus; wherein said daughter card functions as a stand-alone adapter card in said computer system.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
85 words
The computer system of claim 15, further comprising: an adapter card comprised within said system unit and coupled to an expansion slot on said bus, wherein said adapter card includes one or more controllers providing signals for one or more bus channels, wherein said adapter card also includes one or more daughter card connectors for receiving a daughter card; wherein said daughter card is coupled to said one or more daughter card connectors on said adapter card and provides additional functionality to said adapter card.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The computer system of claim 17, wherein said daughter card is removably coupled to said one or more daughter card connectors on said adapter card.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
55 words
The computer system of claim 15, wherein said bus is a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus and said one or more expansion slots comprise PCI bus expansion slots; wherein said edge connector is a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) edge connector adapted for insertion in one of said PCI bus expansion slots in said computer system.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer system of claim 19, wherein said daughter card complies with Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) mechanical specifications.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computer system of claim 15, wherein said daughter card is inserted directly into one of said one or more expansion slots of said computer system during testing of said daughter card.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-03-10 | 2000-09-09 | 2001-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-03-10 | 2004-09-09 | 2005-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-03-10 | 2008-09-09 | 2009-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |