Upgradeable/downgradeable central processing unit chip computer systems

Claim 2

An upgradeable/downgradeable central processing unit (CPU) chip computer system for driving by more than one type of CPU chip, said computer system including a circuit board, the circuit board comprising: a first socket, disposed on the circuit board, for receiving different types of CPU chips, wherein at least first and second of said different types of CPU chips drive a particular output signal on different first and second respective output pins, depending on the type of CPU chip; an identifying circuit, disposed on the circuit board and coupled to said first socket, for identifying the type of CPU chip inserted in said first socket and for generating an identification signal in response to the identification; a clock signal generator coupled to said identifying circuit and to said first socket, responsive to said identification signal for generating clock signals compatible with the type of CPU chip in the first socket; and an enabling circuit, disposed on the circuit board and coupled to said identifying circuit and said first socket, responsive to said identification signal for (a) enabling signals on said first output pin to be transmitted when one of said first type of CPU chips is in said first socket and (b) enabling signals on said second output pin to be transmitted when one of said second type of CPU chips is in said first socket, thereby allowing said particular output signal to be transmitted regardless of which one of said first and second types of CPU chips are in said first socket.

Claim 3

The computer system of claim 1, wherein said identifying circuit comprises means for detecting a logic state of at least one signal output from the CPU chip in said first socket.

Claim 4

The computer system of claim 1, wherein said clock signal generator is a frequency generator.

Claim 5

An upgradeable/downgradeable central processing unit (CPU) chip computer system for driving by more than one type of CPU chip, said computer system including a circuit board, the circuit board comprising: a first socket, disposed on the circuit board, for receiving different types of CPU chips, wherein at least first and second of said different types of CPU chips drive a particular output signal on different first and second respective output pins, depending on the type of CPU chip; an identifying circuit, disposed on the circuit board and coupled to said first socket, for identifying the type of CPU chip inserted in said first socket and for generating an identification signal in response to the identification; a clock source generating first and second clock signals compatible with said first and second types of CPU chips; p1 a data selector, having inputs coupled to receive said first and second clock signals, a data selection control input coupled to receive said identification signal, and an output coupled to said first socket, whereby (a) said first clock signal. is communicated to said first socket when said identification signal indicates that a CPU chip of said first type is in said first socket, and (b) said second clock signal is communicated to said first socket when said identification signal indicates that a CPU chip of said second type is in said first socket; and selecting means, disposed on the circuit board and coupled to said first socket, for (a) enabling signals on said first output pin to be transmitted when one of said first type of CPU chips are in said first socket and (b) enabling signals on said second output pin to be transmitted when one of said second type of CPU chips are in said first socket, thereby allowing said particular output signal to be transmitted regardless of which one of said first and second types of CPU chips are in said first socket.

Claim 6

An upgradeable/downgradeable central processing unit (CPU) chip computer system for driving by more than one type of CPU chip, said computer system including a circuit board, the circuit board comprising: a first socket, disposed on the circuit board, for receiving different types of CPU chips, wherein at least first and second of said different types of CPU chips drive a particular output signal on different first and second respective output pins, depending on the type of CPU chip; an identifying circuit, disposed on the circuit board and coupled to said first socket, for identifying the type of CPU chip inserted in said first socket and for generating an identification signal in response to the identification; a clock source generating first and second clock signals compatible with said first and second types of CPU chips; p1 a data selector, having inputs coupled to receive said first and second clock signals, a data selection control input coupled to receive said identification signal, and an output coupled to said first socket, whereby (a) said first clock signal. is communicated to said first socket when said identification signal indicates that a CPU chip of said first type is in said first socket, and (b) said second clock signal is communicated to said first socket when said identification signal indicates that a CPU chip of said second type is in said first socket; and selecting means, disposed on the circuit board and coupled to said first socket, for (a) enabling signals on said first output pin to be transmitted when one of said first type of CPU chips are in said first socket and (b) enabling signals on said second output pin to be transmitted when one of said second type of CPU chips are in said first socket, thereby allowing said particular output signal to be transmitted regardless of which one of said first and second types of CPU chips are in said first socket.

Claim 7

An upgradeable/downgradeable central processing unit (CPU) chip computer system for driving by more than one type of CPU chip, said computer system including a circuit board, the circuit board comprising: a bus disposed on the circuit board for communicating address, data, and control signals, said bus including a particular output bus line for a particular output signal; a first socket, disposed on the circuit board and coupled to said bus, for receiving different types of CPU chips, wherein at least first and second of said different types of CPU chips drive said particular output signal on different first and second respective output pins, depending on the type of CPU chip; an identifying circuit, disposed on the circuit board and coupled to said first socket, for identifying the type of CPU chip inserted in said first socket and for generating an identification signal in response to the identification; a clock signal generator coupled to said identifying circuit and to said first socket, responsive to said identification signal for generating clock signals compatible with the type of CPU chip in the first socket; and an enabling circuit, disposed on the circuit board and coupled to said identifying circuit and to said bus, responsive to said identification signal for (a) enabling signals on said first output pin to be transmitted to said particular output bus line when one of said first type of CPU chips is in said first socket and (b) enabling signals on said second output pin to be transmitted to said particular output bus line when one of said second type of CPU chips is in said first socket, thereby allowing said particular output signal to be transmitted to said particular output bus line, regardless of which one of said first and second types of CPU chips is in said first socket.

Claim 8

An upgradeable/downgradeable central processing unit (CPU) chip computer system for driving by more than one type of CPU chip, said computer system including a circuit board, the circuit board comprising: a bus disposed on the circuit board for communicating address, data, and control signals, said bus including a particular output bus line for a particular output signal; a first socket, disposed on the circuit board and coupled to said bus, for receiving different types of CPU chips, wherein at least first and second of said different types of CPU chips drive said particular output signal on different first and second respective output pins, depending on the type of CPU chip; an identifying circuit, disposed on the circuit board and coupled to said first socket, for identifying the type of CPU chip inserted in said first socket and for generating an identification signal in response to the identification; a clock signal generator coupled to said identifying circuit and to said first socket, responsive to said identification signal for generating clock signals compatible with the type of CPU chip in the first socket; and an enabling circuit, disposed on the circuit board and coupled to said identifying circuit and to said bus, responsive to said identification signal for (a) enabling signals on said first output pin to be transmitted to said particular output bus line when one of said first type of CPU chips is in said first socket and (b) enabling signals on said second output pin to be transmitted to said particular output bus line when one of said second type of CPU chips is in said first socket, thereby allowing said particular output signal to be transmitted to said particular output bus line, regardless of which one of said first and second types of CPU chips is in said first socket.

Claim 9

The computer system of claim 5, wherein said identifying circuit comprises means for detecting a logic state of at least one signal output from the CPU chip in said first socket.

Claim 10

The computer system of any of claims 1, 4, and 5 wherein the first socket is adapted to receive a CPU chip selected from the group consisting of 80486DX and 80487SX microprocessor chips.

Claim 11

An upgradeable/downgradeable central processing unit chip (CPU) computer system for driving by more than one type of CPU chip, said computer system including a circuit board, the circuit board comprising: a bus for communicating address, data, and control signals, said bus including a particular output bus line for a particular output signal; at least one socket means, disposed on the circuit board and coupled to said bus, for plugging in different types of CPU chips, wherein at least first and second of said different types of CPU chips drive said particular output signal on different first and second respective output pins, depending on the type of CPU chip; said socket means having engagement portions for said first and second output pins; a clock signal generator, disposed on the circuit board and coupled to said socket means, for generating a clock signal compatible with the type of CPU chip inserted in said socket means; a first signal path coupled to said engagement portion for said first output pin, and a second signal path coupled to said engagement portion for said second output pin; and an identifying circuit, disposed on the circuit board and coupled to said socket means, for identifying the type of CPU chip inserted in said socket means and for generating an identification signal in response to the identification; a clock source generating first and second clock signals compatible with said first and second types of CPU chips and a third clock signal compatible with a CPU chip in said socket means; a data selector, having inputs coupled to receive said first and second clock signals, a data selection control input coupled to receive said identification signal, and an output coupled to said socket means, whereby (a) said first clock signal is communicated to said socket means when said identification signal indicates that a CPU chip of said first type is in said socket means, and (b) said second clock signal is communicated to said socket means when said identification signal indicates that a CPU chip of said second type is in said socket means; and selector means, disposed on the circuit board and coupled to said signal paths and to said output bus line, for selecting one of said first and second signal paths for providing said particular output signal, said selection being responsive to the type of CPU chip in said socket means, thereby allowing said particular output signal to be transmitted to said output bus line, regardless of which one of said first and second types of CPU chips is in said socket means.

Claim 12

An upgradeable/downgradeable central processing unit chip (CPU) computer system for driving by more than one type of CPU chip, said computer system including a circuit board, the circuit board comprising: a bus for communicating address, data, and control signals, said bus including a particular output bus line for a particular output signal; at least one socket means, disposed on the circuit board and coupled to said bus, for plugging in different types of CPU chips, wherein at least first and second of said different types of CPU chips drive said particular output signal on different first and second respective output pins, depending on the type of CPU chip; said socket means having engagement portions for said first and second output pins; a clock signal generator, disposed on the circuit board and coupled to said socket means, for generating a clock signal compatible with the type of CPU chip inserted in said socket means; a first signal path coupled to said engagement portion for said first output pin, and a second signal path coupled to said engagement portion for said second output pin; and an identifying circuit, disposed on the circuit board and coupled to said socket means, for identifying the type of CPU chip inserted in said socket means and for generating an identification signal in response to the identification; a clock source generating first and second clock signals compatible with said first and second types of CPU chips and a third clock signal compatible with a CPU chip in said socket means; a data selector, having inputs coupled to receive said first and second clock signals, a data selection control input coupled to receive said identification signal, and an output coupled to said socket means, whereby (a) said first clock signal is communicated to said socket means when said identification signal indicates that a CPU chip of said first type is in said socket means, and (b) said second clock signal is communicated to said socket means when said identification signal indicates that a CPU chip of said second type is in said socket means; and selector means, disposed on the circuit board and coupled to said signal paths and to said output bus line, for selecting one of said first and second signal paths for providing said particular output signal, said selection being responsive to the type of CPU chip in said socket means, thereby allowing said particular output signal to be transmitted to said output bus line, regardless of which one of said first and second types of CPU chips is in said socket means.