US5848250A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Processor upgrade system for a personal computer
Assignee: HTC Corp
•
Filing: 1995-06-06
•
Granted: 1998-12-08
•
Expires: 2015-06-06
Abstract
Abstract A system for upgrading a personal computer includes a motherboard having upgrade sockets for upgrading the CPU and the clock oscillator without the need to remove any components. The system includes sensing circuitry for detecting the type of component plugged into the upgrade socket and circuitry for disabling the upgraded component. In addition, the system includes software for reconfiguring various signals depending on the particular upgrade plugged into the upgrade socket. By providing a system that can be upgraded by merely inserting a newer components, upgrades can be performed rather quickly. In addition, the upgrade system allows the end user a plurality of upgrade options while at the same time allows the end user to take advantage of declining CPU prices.
Inventors
- 👤 Jimmy D. Smith
- 👤 Richard A. Hamersley
- 👤 Anthony M. Olson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 08:35
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F13/00; G06F13/38; G06F13/40; G06F13/4063; G06F13/4068; G06F13/4072
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
286 words
An upgradable computer system, comprising: a motherboard having a first central processing unit (CPU) and a clock oscillator having a predetermined first frequency for providing said CPU with a timing signal; a CPU expansion socket, said CPU socket electrically connected and mounted on said motherboard, said CPU expansion socket adapted to receive an upgrade CPU on said motherboard to upgrade the computer system, said upgrade CPU selected from a predetermined group of CPUs of different predetermined types, said predetermined types including CPUs from predetermined different families, wherein one of said predetermined types and families includes one or more predetermined signals disposed at different predetermined pin locations relative to another one of said different predetermined types; means carried by said motherboard for automatically sensing the presence of a CPU in said expansion socket; means carried by said motherboard for automatically determining the type and family of said upgrade CPU installed in said expansion socket; means carried by said motherboard for automatically disabling said first CPU in the event that said sensing means detects the presence of said upgrade CPU in said expansion socket, said disabling means including means for preventing said clock oscillator timing signals from driving said first CPU and automatically enabling said upgrade CPU and storing in memory the type and family of said upgrade CPU present in the computer system; means carried by said motherboard for automatically rerouting said predetermined signals to predetermined pin locations on said CPU expansion socket depending on the type of upgrade CPU installed in said expansion socket; and means carried by said motherboard for initializing hardware in the computer system for specifically functioning in accordance with the type and family of said second CPU installed in the computer system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
286 words
An upgradable computer system, comprising: a motherboard having a first central processing unit (CPU) and a clock oscillator having a predetermined first frequency for providing said CPU with a timing signal; a CPU expansion socket, said CPU socket electrically connected and mounted on said motherboard, said CPU expansion socket adapted to receive an upgrade CPU on said motherboard to upgrade the computer system, said upgrade CPU selected from a predetermined group of CPUs of different predetermined types, said predetermined types including CPUs from predetermined different families, wherein one of said predetermined types and families includes one or more predetermined signals disposed at different predetermined pin locations relative to another one of said different predetermined types; means carried by said motherboard for automatically sensing the presence of a CPU in said expansion socket; means carried by said motherboard for automatically determining the type and family of said upgrade CPU installed in said expansion socket; means carried by said motherboard for automatically disabling said first CPU in the event that said sensing means detects the presence of said upgrade CPU in said expansion socket, said disabling means including means for preventing said clock oscillator timing signals from driving said first CPU and automatically enabling said upgrade CPU and storing in memory the type and family of said upgrade CPU present in the computer system; means carried by said motherboard for automatically rerouting said predetermined signals to predetermined pin locations on said CPU expansion socket depending on the type of upgrade CPU installed in said expansion socket; and means carried by said motherboard for initializing hardware in the computer system for specifically functioning in accordance with the type and family of said second CPU installed in the computer system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
An upgradable computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein said first CPU is wired down to said motherboard.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
An upgradable computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the characteristics of said first CPU and one predetermined type of said upgrade CPUs are the same.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
An upgradable computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the characteristics of said first CPU and one or more predetermined types of said upgrade CPUs are different.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
An upgradable computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein said first CPU is an Intel-type 486SX.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
An upgradable computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein one of said predetermined types of upgrade CPUs is an Intel-type 386SX.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
An upgradable computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein one of said predetermined types of upgrade CPUs is an Intel-type 486SX.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
An upgradable computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein one of said predetermined types of upgrade CPUs is an Intel-type 486DX.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
An upgradable computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein one of said predetermined types of upgrade CPUs is an Intel-type 487SX.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
An upgradable computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein said predetermined types of upgrade CPUs are selected from the group consisting of: Intel-type 386SX, Intel-type 486SX, Intel-type 486DX and Intel-type 487SX microprocessors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
An upgradable computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein said sensing means includes means for sensing predetermined characteristics of predetermined types of CPUs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
An upgradable computer system as recited in claim 11, wherein said predetermined types of CPUs are selected from the group consisting of: an Intel-type 486SX; an Intel-type 486DX; and an Intel-type 487SX.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
An upgradable computer system as recited in claim 12, wherein said predetermined characteristic is a parity check signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
An upgradable computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein said sensing means includes means for automatically distinguishing between a first predetermined class of upgrade CPUs and a second predetermined class of upgrade CPUs.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
An upgradable computer system as recited in claim 14, wherein said first predetermined class of CPU's includes an Intel-type 386SX.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
An upgradable computer system as recited in claim 14, wherein said second predetermined class of upgrade CPUs includes Intel-type 486SX, 486DX and 487SX CPUs.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
An upgradable computer system as recited in claim 16, further including means for distinguishing between a first predetermined subclass and a second predetermined subclass in said second predetermined class.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
An upgradable computer system as recited in claim 17, wherein said first predetermined subclass includes an Intel-type 486SX CPU.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
An upgradable computer system as recited in claim 18, wherein said second predetermined subclass includes Intel-type 486DX and Intel-type 487SX CPUs.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
An upgradable computer system as recited in claim 11, wherein said predetermined characteristics include a parity check signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
An upgradable computer system as recited in claim 20, wherein said predetermined characteristics also include a co-processor error signal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
An upgradable computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein said motherboard further includes an expansion socket for an upgrade oscillator.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
An upgradable computer system as recited in claim 22, wherein said sensing means further includes means for sensing the presence of an upgrade oscillator in said oscillator expansion socket.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
An upgradable computer system as recited in claim 23, further including means for automatically disabling said first predetermined clock oscillator when said sensing means detects the presence of an upgrade oscillator in said oscillator expansion socket.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
256 words
An upgradable computer system, comprising: a motherboard having a first central processing unit (CPU), an oscillator for providing clock pulses to said central processing unit and a predetermined expansion socket electrically connected and mounted on said motherboard for receiving a second CPU, said second CPU selected from a predetermined group of CPUs of different predetermined types, said predetermined types including CPU from predetermined different families, wherein one of said predetermined types and families includes one or more predetermined signals disposed at different predetermined pin locations relative to another one of said different predetermined types; means carried by said motherboard for automatically sensing the presence of an upgrade CPU in said expansion socket; means carried by said motherboard for automatically determining the type of said first CPU under predetermined conditions and for automatically determining the type and family of said second CPU installed in said expansion socket; means carried by said motherboard for enabling said second CPU installed in said expansion socket and disabling said first CPU when said second CPU is sensed in said expansion socket, said disabling means including means for preventing said oscillator clock pulses from driving said first CPU; means carried by said motherboard for automatically rerouting said predetermined signals to predetermined pin locations on said CPU expansion socket depending on the type of upgrade CPU installed in said expansion socket: and means carried by said motherboard for initializing hardware in the computer system for specifically functioning in accordance with the type and family of said second CPU installed in the computer system.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
256 words
An upgradable computer system, comprising: a motherboard having a first central processing unit (CPU), an oscillator for providing clock pulses to said central processing unit and a predetermined expansion socket electrically connected and mounted on said motherboard for receiving a second CPU, said second CPU selected from a predetermined group of CPUs of different predetermined types, said predetermined types including CPU from predetermined different families, wherein one of said predetermined types and families includes one or more predetermined signals disposed at different predetermined pin locations relative to another one of said different predetermined types; means carried by said motherboard for automatically sensing the presence of an upgrade CPU in said expansion socket; means carried by said motherboard for automatically determining the type of said first CPU under predetermined conditions and for automatically determining the type and family of said second CPU installed in said expansion socket; means carried by said motherboard for enabling said second CPU installed in said expansion socket and disabling said first CPU when said second CPU is sensed in said expansion socket, said disabling means including means for preventing said oscillator clock pulses from driving said first CPU; means carried by said motherboard for automatically rerouting said predetermined signals to predetermined pin locations on said CPU expansion socket depending on the type of upgrade CPU installed in said expansion socket: and means carried by said motherboard for initializing hardware in the computer system for specifically functioning in accordance with the type and family of said second CPU installed in the computer system.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
252 words
An upgradable computer system, comprising: a motherboard having a first CPU, a clock oscillator for providing timing signals to said CPU and an electrically connected and mounted predetermined expansion socket adapted to receive a second CPU to upgrade the computer systems said second CPU selected from a predetermined group of CPUs of different predetermined types, said predetermined types including CPUs from predetermined different families, wherein one of said predetermined types and families includes one or more, predetermined signals disposed at different predetermined pin locations relative to another one of said different predetermined types; means carried by said motherboard for automatically sensing the presence of a CPU in said expansion docket; means carried by said motherboard for automatically determining the type of said first CPU and for determining the type and family of any CPU installed in said expansion socket for upgrading the computer system; means carried by said motherboard for automatically disabling said first CPU when a second CPU is installed in said expansion socket and enabling said second CPU, said disabling means including means for preventing timing signals from said oscillator from driving said first CPU; means carried by said motherboard for automatically rerouting said predetermined signals to predetermined pin locations on said CPU expansion socket depending on the type of upgrade CPU installed in said expansion socket; and means carried by said motherboard for initializing hardware in the computer system for specifically functioning in accordance with the type and family of said second CPU installed in the a computer system.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
252 words
An upgradable computer system, comprising: a motherboard having a first CPU, a clock oscillator for providing timing signals to said CPU and an electrically connected and mounted predetermined expansion socket adapted to receive a second CPU to upgrade the computer systems said second CPU selected from a predetermined group of CPUs of different predetermined types, said predetermined types including CPUs from predetermined different families, wherein one of said predetermined types and families includes one or more, predetermined signals disposed at different predetermined pin locations relative to another one of said different predetermined types; means carried by said motherboard for automatically sensing the presence of a CPU in said expansion docket; means carried by said motherboard for automatically determining the type of said first CPU and for determining the type and family of any CPU installed in said expansion socket for upgrading the computer system; means carried by said motherboard for automatically disabling said first CPU when a second CPU is installed in said expansion socket and enabling said second CPU, said disabling means including means for preventing timing signals from said oscillator from driving said first CPU; means carried by said motherboard for automatically rerouting said predetermined signals to predetermined pin locations on said CPU expansion socket depending on the type of upgrade CPU installed in said expansion socket; and means carried by said motherboard for initializing hardware in the computer system for specifically functioning in accordance with the type and family of said second CPU installed in the a computer system.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
An upgradable computer system as recited in claim 26, wherein said motherboard further includes another expansion socket for a clock oscillator.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
33 words
An upgradable computer system as recited in claim 27, wherein said disabling means further includes means for disabling said first clock oscillator when an upgrade oscillator is installed in said oscillator expansion socket.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
An upgradable computer system as recited in claim 26, wherein said CPU expansion socket is adapted to receive a plurality of types of upgrade CPUs.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
33 words
An upgradable computer system as recited in claim 25, further including means for re-routing predetermined signals to said CPU expansion socket depending upon the type of CPU installed in said CPU expansion socket.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4974191A
Cited
US5426767A
Cited
US5163145A
Cited
US5144551A
Cited
US5297272A
Cited
US5109517A
Cited
US5287531A
Cited
EP0510241A2
Cited
US5313619A
Cited
EP0529142A1
Cited
US5325490A
Cited
US5408611A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-12-07 | 2002-06-08 | 2002-12-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-12-07 | 2006-06-08 | 2006-12-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-12-07 | 2010-06-08 | 2010-12-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |