Input/output module assembly
First Claim
1. An input/output module for a digital processing system for coupling input/output devices to a network of said system, said system having a plurality of information channels, said input/output module comprising:
- a plurality of circuit board assemblies, wherein each circuit board assembly includes a component bearing surface;
an enclosure for enclosing said circuit board assemblies;
a first one of said plurality of circuit board assemblies including circuits that are application specific to a given one of said plurality of information channels of said system, and a second one of said plurality of circuit board assemblies including circuits that are common to all of said plurality of information channels of said system;
and a connector assembly for electrically interconnecting said first and second circuit board assemblies, wherein the connector assembly includes a first connector mounted perpendicular to the component bearing surface of the first one of said plurality of circuit board assemblies, a second connector mounted perpendicular to the component bearing surface of the second one of said plurality of circuit board assemblies and connection means for electrically connecting the first and second connectors to form a composite circuit board assembly that is application specific to an information channel with which it is used.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An input/output module functioning as a peripheral channel adapter or gateway to a network in a high speed digital processing system, the input/output module including a plurality of circuit board assemblies and an enclosure for enclosing the circuit board assemblies, the enclosure including a frame having side panels which are hinged to the frame on opposite sides thereof and movable between closed and open positions for providing access to the circuit board assemblies, a plurality of the input/output modules are enclosed within a housing made of metal, that provides EMI shielding for the input/output modules, the enclosures for the plurality of input/output modules defining metal bulkheads within the housing, and a blower located within the housing forwardly of the input/output modules for circulating cooling air through the input/output modules, the input/output modules being configured so that the volume of cooling air supplied to the application specific assemblies is greater than the volume of cooling air supplied to the power supply assembly.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An input/output module for a digital processing system for coupling input/output devices to a network of said system, said system having a plurality of information channels, said input/output module comprising:
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a plurality of circuit board assemblies, wherein each circuit board assembly includes a component bearing surface; an enclosure for enclosing said circuit board assemblies; a first one of said plurality of circuit board assemblies including circuits that are application specific to a given one of said plurality of information channels of said system, and a second one of said plurality of circuit board assemblies including circuits that are common to all of said plurality of information channels of said system; and a connector assembly for electrically interconnecting said first and second circuit board assemblies, wherein the connector assembly includes a first connector mounted perpendicular to the component bearing surface of the first one of said plurality of circuit board assemblies, a second connector mounted perpendicular to the component bearing surface of the second one of said plurality of circuit board assemblies and connection means for electrically connecting the first and second connectors to form a composite circuit board assembly that is application specific to an information channel with which it is used. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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2. An input/output module for a digital processing system for coupling input/output devices to a network of said system, said system having a plurality of information channels., said input/output module comprising:
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a plurality of circuit board assemblies; an enclosure for enclosing said circuit board assemblies; a first one of said plurality of circuit board assemblies including circuits that are application specific to a given one of said plurality of information channels of said system, and a second one of said plurality of circuit board assemblies including circuits that are common to all of said plurality of information channels of said system; and a connector assembly for electrically interconnecting said first and second circuit board assemblies to provide a composite circuit board assembly that is application specific to an information channel with which it is used; wherein a third one of said plurality of circuit board assemblies includes power supplying circuits that are configurable to provide a plurality of supply voltages of different magnitudes for said first and second circuit board assemblies as a function of the configuration of the application specific circuits of said first circuit board assembly. - View Dependent Claims (3, 7, 8)
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4. An input/output module for a digital processing system for coupling input/output devices to a network of said system, said system having a plurality of information channels, said input/output module comprising:
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a plurality of circuit board assemblies; an enclosure for enclosing said circuit board assemblies; a first one of said plurality of circuit board assemblies including circuits that are application specific to a given one of said plurality of information channels of said system, and a second one of said plurality of circuit board assemblies including circuits that are common to all of said plurality of information channels of said system; and a connector assembly for electrically interconnecting said first and second circuit board assemblies to provide a composite circuit board assembly that is application specific to an information channel with which it is used; wherein said first and second circuit board assemblies have component bearing surfaces, said first circuit board assembly being adapted to be mounted on said second circuit board assembly with the component bearing surface of said first circuit board assembly opposing the component bearing surface of said second circuit board assembly and with components of said first and second circuit board assemblies being skylined with one another. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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9. An input/output module for a digital processing system for coupling input/output devices to a network of said system, said system having a plurality of information channels, said input/output module comprising:
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a plurality of circuit board assemblies; an enclosure for enclosing said circuit board assemblies; a first one of said plurality of circuit board assemblies including circuits that are application specific to a given one of said plurality of information channels of said system, and a second one of said plurality of circuit board assemblies including circuits that are common to all of said plurality of information channels of said system; and a connector assembly for electrically interconnecting said first and second circuit board assemblies to provide a composite circuit board assembly that is application specific to an information channel with which it is used; wherein said first and second circuit board assemblies include electrical signal connectors connected to circuits of said first and second circuit board assemblies, and wherein said closed end of said enclosure is defined by a removable cover panel having openings therethrough, said electrical signal connectors extending through said openings in said cover panel.
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10. An enclosure for a plurality of circuit board assemblies, comprising;
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a frame for supporting said circuit board assemblies, said frame having a top and a bottom, said frame being open at one end and at first and second sides; a cover panel mounted on said one end of said frame for closing said frame at said one end thereof; a first side panel hinged to said frame at said first side thereof; and a second side panel hinged to said frame at said second side thereof; said first and second side panels being movable individually between a closed position in which said circuit board assemblies are enclosed within said enclosure and an open position in which access is provided to at least one of said circuit board assemblies from the side of said enclosure wherein said first side panel includes means for mounting one of said plurality of circuit board assemblies to said first side panel such that the circuit board assembly will swing out with the first side panel when the first side panel is moved into an open portion. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. An assembly comprising:
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a plurality of input/output modules, each of said input/output modules including a plurality of circuit board assemblies, and each of said input/output modules including an enclosure for enclosing said circuit board assemblies, said enclosure having a top, a bottom, a closed outer end, an inner end, and first and second sides; a housing made of metal and being adapted to receive said plurality of input/output modules in side-by-side relation, said housing enclosing said plurality of input/output modules at least on the top, the bottom, the front, and first and second sides thereof, said housing having an inner chamber adjacent to said inner ends of said input/output modules; the enclosure for each of said input/output modules being made of metal, whereby the enclosures for said plurality of input/output modules define metal bulkheads within said metal housing for said circuit board assemblies of the input/output modules enclosed within said housing; and a metallic shield mounted within said housing, interposed between said input/output modules and said inner chamber, said metallic shield substantially preventing radiation of high frequency electrical signals from the interior of said housing through said inner chamber. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification