Computer system modular add-in daughter card for an adapter card which also functions as an independent add-in card
First Claim
1. A daughter card for use in a computer system, the daughter card comprising:
- one or more controllers providing signals for performing functions in the computer system;
one or more adapter card connectors for coupling to an adapter card when the daughter card is mounted to an adapter card, wherein the daughter card provides additional functionality to the adapter card when the daughter card is mounted to the adapter card; and
an edge connector for insertion in a connector slot of a computer system when the daughter card is used as a stand-alone card, wherein said edge connector complies with a bus specification;
wherein the daughter card is mountable to an adapter card and wherein the daughter card can also function as a stand-alone card to provide modular and upgradable expansion options.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A daughter card for mounting to an adapter card, wherein the daughter card includes adapter card connectors for mounting to the adapter card and also an edge connector for insertion directly into a computer slot so that the daughter card may also function as a stand-alone card. The daughter card is both mechanically and electrically compliant as an independent PCI add-in card and includes a PCI edge connector for insertion directly into a PCI slot. This provides additional modularity since the daughter card can be purchased and configured as a separate and independent PCI adapter card as well as for mating to a host adapter card to provide extra functionality to the host adapter card. In addition, since the daughter card can be directly inserted into the PCI bus, the daughter card provides greater component access and probing for testing. Further, the daughter card can be tested independently of the host adapter card during manufacturing functional test, thus providing more reliable testing.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A daughter card for use in a computer system, the daughter card comprising:
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one or more controllers providing signals for performing functions in the computer system; one or more adapter card connectors for coupling to an adapter card when the daughter card is mounted to an adapter card, wherein the daughter card provides additional functionality to the adapter card when the daughter card is mounted to the adapter card; and an edge connector for insertion in a connector slot of a computer system when the daughter card is used as a stand-alone card, wherein said edge connector complies with a bus specification; wherein the daughter card is mountable to an adapter card and wherein the daughter card can also function as a stand-alone card to provide modular and upgradable expansion options. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A daughter card for use in a computer system comprising:
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one or more SCSI controllers providing signals for one or more SCSI channels; one or more SCSI connectors coupled to said one or more SCSI controllers, wherein said one or more SCSI connectors are each adapted for coupling to one or more SCSI devices in the computer system; one or more adapter card connectors for coupling to a SCSI adapter card, wherein when said daughter card is mounted to said SCSI adapter card said daughter card provides additional functionality to said SCSI adapter card; an edge connector for insertion in a bus connector slot of a computer system when the daughter card is used as a stand-alone card; and wherein said daughter card is mountable to a SCSI adapter card and wherein said daughter card can also function as a stand-alone card to provide modular and upgradable expansion options. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer system comprising:
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a system unit; a bus comprised within said system unit including one or more expansion slots for receiving adapter cards; a daughter card comprised within said system unit and including an edge connector adapted for coupling to an expansion slot on said bus, wherein said daughter card includes one or more adapter card connectors for connecting to an adapter card, wherein said daughter card is mountable to an adapter card, and wherein said daughter card can also function as a stand-alone card in the computer system. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification