US5951665A — Interface optimized computer system architecture

Claim 1

Independent Claim 132 words

A computer system comprising: a bus system; a pluggable central processing unit circuit board, coupled to the bus system; a pluggable logic board coupled to the pluggable central processing unit circuit board through the bus system; a pluggable input/output board coupled to the pluggable logic board through the bus system; a first connector unit for directly connecting the pluggable central processing unit circuit board to a first predetermined location on the pluggable logic board without the use of a separate backplane between the pluggable central processing unit circuit board and the pluggable logic board; and a second connector unit for directly connecting the pluggable logic board to a predetermined location on the pluggable input/output board without the use of a separate backplane between the pluggable logic board and the pluggable input/output board.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 132 words

A computer system comprising: a bus system; a pluggable central processing unit circuit board, coupled to the bus system; a pluggable logic board coupled to the pluggable central processing unit circuit board through the bus system; a pluggable input/output board coupled to the pluggable logic board through the bus system; a first connector unit for directly connecting the pluggable central processing unit circuit board to a first predetermined location on the pluggable logic board without the use of a separate backplane between the pluggable central processing unit circuit board and the pluggable logic board; and a second connector unit for directly connecting the pluggable logic board to a predetermined location on the pluggable input/output board without the use of a separate backplane between the pluggable logic board and the pluggable input/output board.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 58 words

The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the first connector unit includes a first mating portion and a second mating portion, wherein the first mating portion is mounted to a predetermined location on the pluggable central processing unit circuit board and the second mating portion is mounted to the first predetermined location on the pluggable logic board.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 55 words

The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the second connector unit includes a first mating portion and a second mating portion, wherein the first mating portion is mounted to a second predetermined location on the pluggable logic board and the second mating portion is mounted to the predetermined location on the pluggable input/output board.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 20 words

The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the first connector unit comprises at least 100 contacts per linear inch.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 20 words

The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the second connector unit comprises at least 100 contacts per linear inch.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 18 words

The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the pluggable logic board includes both serial and parallel ports.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 28 words

The computer system according to claim 1, wherein said pluggable central processing unit circuit board includes a cache memory unit housed in at least one multi-chip module package.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 136 words

The computer system according to claim 7, wherein each multi-chip module package comprises: a housing including a plurality of insulative side walls and an end plate, said end plate joined to the side walls to define a cavity; a plurality of electrically conductive leads held in said side walls, each of said conductive leads including an internal lead section extending within the cavity and an external lead section extending outside of said housing; a plurality of integrated circuit memory dies mounted to said end plate within the cavity; a plurality of interconnect dies mounted to said end plate within the cavity, each said interconnect die positioned adjacent to at least two of said plurality of integrated circuit dies; and electrically conductive material electrically connecting said electrically conductive leads, said integrated circuit dies, and said interconnect dies.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 18 words

The computer system according to claim 1, wherein said computer system is housed within an approximately 10"×10"×10" cube.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 18 words

The computer system according to claim 1, wherein said computer system is housed within a substantially cubed shape.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 28 words

The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the pluggable central processing unit circuit board includes a central processor operating at a speed of 500 MHz or higher.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 25 words

The computer system according to claim 1, wherein said pluggable central processing unit circuit board includes a cache memory of 4 megabyte or higher capacity.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 43 words

The computer system according to claim 2, wherein the second mating portion of the first connector unit is situated on a central area of said pluggable logic board substantially parallel to a plurality of memory slots also situated on the pluggable logic board.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 42 words

The computer system according to claim 3, wherein the first mating portion of the second connector unit is situated along an edge of the pluggable logic board substantially parallel to a plurality of memory slots also situated on the pluggable logic board.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 49 words

The computer system according to claim 14, wherein the second mating portion of the second connector unit is situated along an edge of the pluggable input/output board substantially parallel to a plurality of PCI slots and to a plurality of ISA slots also situated on the pluggable input/output board.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 25 words

The computer system according to claim 9, wherein a first panel of said cube includes an air intake opening for cooling a power supply unit.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 26 words

The computer system according to claim 16, wherein a second panel of said cube includes an air intake opening for cooling a hard disk drive unit.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 26 words

The computer system according to claim 17, wherein a third panel of said cube includes an air intake opening for cooling a processor and internal memory.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 192 words

A computer system comprising: a bus system; a pluggable central processing unit circuit board, coupled to the bus system, including: a processor; a cache memory portion; a cache memory controller; and a voltage regulator module; a pluggable logic board coupled to the pluggable central processing unit circuit board through the bus system, including: a plurality of controller devices; a plurality of memory slots; a plurality of peripheral device ports for coupling peripheral devices to the pluggable logic board; ISA bridge circuitry; a pluggable input/output board coupled to the pluggable logic board through the bus system, including: a plurality of PCI slots; a plurality of ISA slots; and PCI--PCI bridge circuitry; a first connector unit for directly connecting the pluggable central processing unit circuit board to a first predetermined location on the pluggable logic board without the use of a separate backplane between the pluggable central processing unit circuit board and the pluggable logic board; and a second connector unit for directly connecting the pluggable logic board to a predetermined location on the pluggable input/output board without the use of a separate backplane between the pluggable logic board and the pluggable input/output board.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 192 words

A computer system comprising: a bus system; a pluggable central processing unit circuit board, coupled to the bus system, including: a processor; a cache memory portion; a cache memory controller; and a voltage regulator module; a pluggable logic board coupled to the pluggable central processing unit circuit board through the bus system, including: a plurality of controller devices; a plurality of memory slots; a plurality of peripheral device ports for coupling peripheral devices to the pluggable logic board; ISA bridge circuitry; a pluggable input/output board coupled to the pluggable logic board through the bus system, including: a plurality of PCI slots; a plurality of ISA slots; and PCI--PCI bridge circuitry; a first connector unit for directly connecting the pluggable central processing unit circuit board to a first predetermined location on the pluggable logic board without the use of a separate backplane between the pluggable central processing unit circuit board and the pluggable logic board; and a second connector unit for directly connecting the pluggable logic board to a predetermined location on the pluggable input/output board without the use of a separate backplane between the pluggable logic board and the pluggable input/output board.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 58 words

The computer system according to claim 19, wherein the first connector unit includes a first mating portion and a second mating portion, wherein the first mating portion is mounted to a predetermined location on the pluggable central processing unit circuit board and the second mating portion is mounted to the first predetermined location on the pluggable logic board.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 55 words

The computer system according to claim 19, wherein the second connector unit includes a first mating portion and a second mating portion, wherein the first mating portion is mounted to a second predetermined location on the pluggable logic board and the second mating portion is mounted to the predetermined location on the pluggable input/output board.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 20 words

The computer system according to claim 19, wherein the first connector unit comprises at least 100 contacts per linear inch.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 20 words

The computer system according to claim 19, wherein the second connector unit comprises at least 100 contacts per linear inch.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 18 words

The computer system according to claim 19, wherein the pluggable logic board includes both serial and parallel ports.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 29 words

The computer system according to claim 19, wherein said cache memory portion in the pluggable central processing unit circuit board is housed in at least one multi-chip module package.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 136 words

The computer system according to claim 25, wherein each multi-chip module package comprises: a housing including a plurality of insulative side walls and an end plate, said end plate joined to the side walls to define a cavity; a plurality of electrically conductive leads held in said side walls, each of said conductive leads including an internal lead section extending within the cavity and an external lead section extending outside of said housing; a plurality of integrated circuit memory dies mounted to said end plate within the cavity; a plurality of interconnect dies mounted to said end plate within the cavity, each said interconnect die positioned adjacent to at least two of said plurality of integrated circuit dies; and electrically conductive material electrically connecting said electrically conductive leads, said integrated circuit dies, and said interconnect dies.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 18 words

The computer system according to claim 19, wherein said computer system is housed within an approximately 10"×10"×10" cube.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 18 words

The computer system according to claim 19, wherein said computer system is housed within a substantially cubed shape.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 17 words

The computer system according to claim 19, wherein said processor is a 500 MHz or higher processor.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 19 words

The computer system according to claim 19, wherein said cache memory is a 4 megabyte or higher cache memory.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 16 words

The computer system according to claim 19, wherein said cache memory controller is a TAG controller.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 36 words

The computer system according to claim 20, wherein the second mating portion of the first connector unit is situated on a central area of said pluggable logic board substantially parallel to the plurality of memory slots.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 35 words

The computer system according to claim 21, wherein the first mating portion of the second connector unit is situated along an edge of the pluggable logic board substantially parallel to the plurality of memory slots.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 42 words

The computer system according to claim 33, wherein the second mating portion of the second connector unit is situated along an edge of the pluggable input/output board substantially parallel to the plurality of PCI slots and to the plurality of ISA slots.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 25 words

The computer system according to claim 27, wherein a first panel of said cube includes an air intake opening for cooling a power supply unit.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 26 words

The computer system according to claim 35, wherein a second panel of said cube includes an air intake opening for cooling a hard disk drive unit.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 26 words

The computer system according to claim 36, wherein a third panel of said cube includes an air intake opening for cooling the processor and internal memory.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-09-13	2003-03-15	2003-09-14	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-09-13	2007-03-15	2007-09-14	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-09-13	2011-03-15	2011-09-14	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Interface optimized computer system architecture

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