Flexible system architecture with common interface for multiple system functions
First Claim
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1. A computer system, including:
- a motherboard;
a processor module including at least one processor, a plurality of component logic modules, a component control module, and an I/O interface configured to communicate with the motherboard; and
a plurality of connector slots connected to the motherboard, each slot including at least a subset of substantially identical connector pins configured to connect with an expansion board for the system;
wherein the component control module includes logic configured to accommodate a plurality of different types of expansion boards, and the connector slots are configured to interchangeably accommodate any of the processor module and the plurality of different types of expansion boards.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method are disclosed that define a new, uniform I/O (input/output) interface architecture between the processor module and the motherboard of a computer system, and between the motherboard and expansion boards, via uniform connectors designed to work with the new architecture, such that many different pin-outs are available to the processor module, the interface being dynamically configurable by component control logic of the processor module. Positioning of supplemental connectors (e.g. for I/O or communications) on edges of the cards defines an unimpeded airflow path allowing for efficient cooling of the system.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A computer system, including:
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a motherboard;
a processor module including at least one processor, a plurality of component logic modules, a component control module, and an I/O interface configured to communicate with the motherboard; and
a plurality of connector slots connected to the motherboard, each slot including at least a subset of substantially identical connector pins configured to connect with an expansion board for the system;
wherein the component control module includes logic configured to accommodate a plurality of different types of expansion boards, and the connector slots are configured to interchangeably accommodate any of the processor module and the plurality of different types of expansion boards. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A computer system, including:
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a motherboard;
a plurality of connector slots connected to the motherboard and having respective sets of connector pins, at least a subset of the connector pins substantially identically configured to connect with a plurality of types expansion boards for the system;
a processor module including at least one processor, a plurality of component logic modules, an I/O interface configured to communicate with the motherboard, and component control module logic configured to identify the different types of expansion boards, and to dynamically configure the I/O interface in accordance with such identification; and
at least one such expansion board connected to one of the connector slots, the expansion board including at least one supplemental connector positioned along a first edge of the expansion board opposite a second edge of the expansion board which is positioned adjacent the motherboard. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A processor module configured to operating in conjunction with a processor-based system having a plurality of substantially uniform expansion board connectors configured to receive different types of expansion boards, including:
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at least one processor;
an I/O interface configured to communicate with the processor-based system; and
a component control module configured to identify a function type for an expansion board coupled to one of the expansion board connectors, and to dynamically configure the I/O interface to accommodate the identified function type. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for dynamically configuring an I/O interface between a processor module and a motherboard of a computer system, including the steps of:
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configuring the I/O interface in a standardized manner to accommodate a plurality of different types of expansion boards for the system;
identifying the type of an expansion board that is connected to the motherboard; and
configuring the I/O interface in a particularized manner to communicate with the connected expansion card. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification