Systems and methods for providing co-processors to computing systems

• US 20060149883A1
• Filed: 01/04/2006
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: XtremeData, Inc.
• Original Assignee: XtremeData, Inc.
• Inventors: Chandran, Ravi V.C., Finley, Gary A., Kononov, Roman, Benbow, James B., Woods, Nathan A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,454,550 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/305
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/184 Mounting of motherboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/185 Mounting of expansion boards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/186 Securing of expansion boards in correspondence to slots provided at the computer enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/7864 on more than one IC chip
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/141 One or more single auxiliary printed circuits mounted on a main printed circuit, e.g. modules, adapters H05K1/142 and H05K1/147 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/049 PCB for one component, e.g. for mounting onto mother PCB
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10212 Programmable component
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10704 Pin grid array [PGA]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10734 Ball grid array [BGA]; Bump grid array

Abstract

Computing systems with conventional CPUs coupled to co-processors or accelerators implemented in FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays). One embodiment of the systems and methods according to the invention includes a FPGA accelerator implemented in a computer system by providing an adapter board configured to be used in a standard CPU socket.

Claims

1. An adapter board for use in a computer having one or more CPU sockets, comprising:

a printed circuit board including a first side and a second side opposite the first side;

the first side including a plurality of first connectors configured to be connected to and in communication with the CPU socket;

the second side including a plurality of second connectors configured to be connected to an I/O translator device, and one or more of a processor and a co-processor;

an I/O translator device connected to the second connectors; and

circuitry associated with the printed circuit board connecting the plurality of first and second connectors to enable communication therebetween.

2. The adaptor board of claim 1, wherein the I/O translator device is all or a portion of a FPGA or ASIC.

3. The adapter board of claim 1, further including a pin base disposed adjacent an underside of the printed circuit board.

4. The adapter board of claim 1, wherein the second connectors include solder balls

5. The adapter board of claim 4, wherein a portion of the solder balls are positioned to operatively connect the printed circuit board to a co-processor.

6. The adapter board of claim 4, wherein a portion of the solder balls are positioned to operatively connect the printed circuit board to a processor.

7. The adapter board of claim 4, wherein a portion of the solder balls are positioned to operatively connect the printed circuit board to a CPU and a co-processor.

8. The adapter board of claim 1, wherein the circuitry includes a plurality of traces.

9. The adapter board of claim 8, wherein the circuitry includes support devices for supporting the function of a co-processor.

10. The adapter board of claim 9, wherein the support devices include one or more of RAM, ROM, a PLD device, a power conditioner, and an oscillator or other frequency reference.

11. The adapter board of claim 1, wherein the adapter board is sized and shaped to accommodate a heat sink.

12. The adapter board of claim 1, wherein the adapter board is sized and shaped to be received in a CPU socket.

13. The adapter board of claim 3, wherein the first connectors include a plurality of pins extending through the pin base.

14. The adapter board of claim 13 wherein each of the pins terminate in a solder pad adjacent the underside of the printed circuit board and operably connect to the circuitry.

15. The adapter board of claim 1, wherein the I/O translator device and the co-processor is combined into a single device.

16. An adapter board for providing a co-processor to a computer, the computer having one or more CPU socket, comprising:

a printed circuit board including a first side and a second side opposite the first side;

a plurality of first connectors disposed on the first side configured to be connected to and in communication with the CPU socket;

a co-processor operably connected to the printed circuit board and provided in communication with the plurality of first connectors.

17. The adapter board of claim 16, further including a pin base including the first connectors, the pin base disposed adjacent an underside of the printed circuit board.

18. The adapter board of claim 16, further including the second connectors, the second connectors including solder balls positioned to operatively connect the printed circuit board to the co-processor.

19. The adapter board of claim 16, wherein the co-processor is a FPGA.

20. The adapter board of claim 16, wherein the co-processor is a DSP.

21. The adapter board of claim 16, wherein the co-processor is an ASIC.

22. The adapter board of claim 16, including circuitry operatively connecting the first and second connectors.

23. The adapter board of claim 22, wherein the circuitry includes support devices for supporting the function of a co-processor.

24. The adapter board of claim 23, wherein the support devices include one or more of RAM, ROM, a PLD device, a power conditioner, and an oscillator or other frequency reference.

25. The adapter board of claim 16, wherein the adapter board is sized and shaped to accommodate a heat sink.

26. The adapter board of claim 16, wherein the adapter board is sized and shaped to be received in a CPU socket.

27. The adapter board of claim 17, wherein the first connectors include a plurality of pins extending through the pin base.

28. The adapter board of claim 27, wherein each of the pins terminates in a solder pad adjacent the underside of the printed circuit board and operably connect to the co-processor through circuitry on the printed circuit board.

29. A computer system including a motherboard with a CPU socket, comprising:

an adapter board disposed in and in operable communication with the CPU socket;

a processor and a co-processor disposed on the adapter board and in communication with the socket through an I/O translator.

30. The computer system of claim 29, wherein the co-processor and the I/O translator is an FPGA.

31. The computer system of claim 29, wherein the adapter board further includes support devices for supporting the function of the co-processor.

32. A computer system having two or more CPU sockets, comprising:

an adapter board disposed in at least one of the two or more CPU sockets, each adapter board including one or both of a processor and a co-processor, and an I/O translator to adaptively permit communication between a socket having an adapter connected directly thereto.

33. The computer system of claim 32, wherein the co-processor and the I/O translator is combined in a FPGA.

34. The computer system of claim 32, wherein the adapter board further includes support devices for supporting the function of the co-processor.

35. A computer system including a motherboard with a CPU socket, comprising:

an adapter board disposed in and in operable communication with the CPU socket;

a processor disposed on the adapter board and in communication with the socket through an I/O translator to adapt the function of the processor to the socket.