Bus networks for digital data processing systems and modules usable therewith

• US 4,647,123 A
• Filed: 02/07/1983
• Issued: 03/03/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eagle Signal Controls Corp.
• Original Assignee: Gulf & Western Manufacturing Company
• Inventors: Miller, David D., May, William L., Chin, Daniel Y. S., Baker, Dennis G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Application Number:
  US06/464,342
• Time in Patent Office: 1,485 Days
• Field of Search: 339/17 LC, 339/17 L, 339/17 LM, 339/17 M, 361/407, 361/412, 361/413, 361/415
• US Class Current: 439/61
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0676 the address being position dependent
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/409 Mechanical coupling back panels H05K7/1438
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/14 Structural association of two or more printed circuits providing electric connection to or between printed circuits H05K1/11, H01R12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1422 Printed circuit boards receptacles, e.g. stacked structures, electronic circuit modules or box like frames
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1429 for circuits carrying a CPU and adapted to receive expansion cards
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1455 Coding for prevention of wrong insertion

Abstract

A structure for interconnecting a plurality of modules into a data processing system, which structure includes a plurality of module receiving receptacles, several process active, individual first electrical conductors intersecting the receptacles wherein the conductors are positionally located in sequence, i.e. 1, 2, 3 . . . n, and including means on a selected type of module for interconnecting these several conductors in comformity with the position sequence, whereby the conductors may be interconnected in the data processing system through the receptacle in the positional sequence. Consequently, insertion of a preselected module into a given module receptacle controls the continuity of the bus network to an adjacent receptacle.

Claims

1. A structure for supporting generally flat modules of the type containing electrical circuits for digital processing of data and having an elongated bus network connecting edge extending in a predetermined path, said structure including:

a number of separate module receiving means each for receiving and retaining one of said modules with said path of said module edge intersecting first and second spaced, generally parallel areas of said module supporting structure;

said first and second generally parallel areas extending in a preselected direction;

a first bus network at said first area of said module supporting structure and containing several process active, individual first electrical conductors extending generally parallel to said preselected direction whereby said first electrical conductors are electrically connectable to the portion of said module edge which intersects said first area of said structure;

means on said structure for interrupting said first electrical conductors at said module receiving means;

means for allowing selected ones of said first conductors at a given module receiving means, as a controlled group, to be electrically interconnected by insertion of a special module having a preselected interconnection feature according to said selected ones of said first conductors into said given receiving means; and

, including means for mounting a second bus network at said second area of said module supporting structure and containing several individual second electrical conductors extending generally parallel to said preselected direction and continuous through each of said receiving means at said second area whereby said second electrical conductors are electrically connectable to the portion of said module edge which intersects said second area of said structure.

2. A system for constructing a digital control system of the type formed from a plurality of separate, generally flat, modules insertable into a supportable structure in generally parallel relationship at spaced receptacles, said system comprising:

(a) means for supporting a first bus network of a number of process active, first electrical conductors extending in a first direction generally orthogonal to said modules, said first conductors being electrically interrupted at said receptacles with each of said first conductors connected to aligned terminals on opposite sides of said receptacles;

(b) means for supporting a second bus network of a number of second electrical conductors extending in said first direction and generally parallel with said first conductors, said second conductors being electrically continuous through said receptacles with each of said second conductors connected to a selected terminal on one side of said receptacle;

(c) a set of said modules at least one of which has first and second edge connectors, with said first edge connector having terminals aligned with and interconnecting said aligned terminals of said first conductors and said second edge connector having terminals connectable to a selected terminal of one of said second conductors; and

,

(d) each module having a shape indicative of a predetermined connection scheme for said module, with either a first edge connector extension connectable with said first bus network, a second edge connector extension connectable with said second bus network or both of said edge connector extensions, where said first edge connector extension interconnects selected ones of said first electrical connectors.

3. A module as defined in claim 2, said module having a third edge connector extension for connection of said module with electrical I/O conductors independent of said supporting means.