Advanced backward compatible connector assembly for electrically connecting computer subsystems
First Claim
1. A receiver assembly for use in a connector assembly that facilitates electrical communication between a first computer subsystem and a second computer subsystem, the receiver assembly adapted to be coupled between the first computer subsystem and the second computer subsystem, the receiver assembly comprisinga first row of substantially collinear, spaced-apart, first connector receivers;
- a second row of substantially collinear, spaced-apart, first connector receivers, wherein each first connector receiver defines a first connector engaging location and each first connector receiver having a first receiver depth, andeach of the first connector engaging locations being arranged substantially collinearly; and
a plurality of spaced apart second connector receivers each having a second receiver depth that is different than the first receiver depth, wherein the second connector receivers are interspersed between and substantially collinear with the first connector receivers along at least one of the rows of first connector receivers so that each of the second connector receivers is positioned substantially between a corresponding pair of the first connector receivers,the second connector receivers each define a second connector engaging location, andthe second connector engaging locations are positioned substantially collinear with the first connector engaging locations.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A backward compatible connector assembly that facilitates electrical communication between computer subsystems includes a receptacle, a receiver assembly and a conductor array. The receptacle includes a plurality of first connectors having a first connector length, and a plurality of interspersed second connectors having a second connector length that differs from the first connector length. The first connectors include data pins and the second connectors can include ground pins for single-ended signaling. Alternatively, the second connectors can include a plurality of data pins to form differential pairs of connectors for low voltage differential signaling. The receiver assembly includes first connector receivers that receive the first connectors, and second connector receivers that receive the second connectors. The conductor array can include approximately 40 signal-bearing conductors that have interspersed ground lines or signal-bearing lines. The first connector receivers have a first receiver depth that is different than a second receiver depth of the second connector receivers. The connector assembly can include 40 first connectors and first connector receivers, and 38 second connectors and second connector receivers.
42 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A receiver assembly for use in a connector assembly that facilitates electrical communication between a first computer subsystem and a second computer subsystem, the receiver assembly adapted to be coupled between the first computer subsystem and the second computer subsystem, the receiver assembly comprising
a first row of substantially collinear, spaced-apart, first connector receivers; -
a second row of substantially collinear, spaced-apart, first connector receivers, wherein each first connector receiver defines a first connector engaging location and each first connector receiver having a first receiver depth, and each of the first connector engaging locations being arranged substantially collinearly; and a plurality of spaced apart second connector receivers each having a second receiver depth that is different than the first receiver depth, wherein the second connector receivers are interspersed between and substantially collinear with the first connector receivers along at least one of the rows of first connector receivers so that each of the second connector receivers is positioned substantially between a corresponding pair of the first connector receivers, the second connector receivers each define a second connector engaging location, and the second connector engaging locations are positioned substantially collinear with the first connector engaging locations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A receptacle for use in a connector assembly that facilitates electrical communication between a first computer subsystem and a second computer subsystem which are connected via a receiver assembly, the receiver assembly including a plurality of connector receivers, the receptacle adapted to be electrically connected to the first computer subsystem and coupled with the second computer subsystem via the receiver assembly, the receptacle comprising
a plurality of spaced-apart first connectors each having a first connector length, a plurality of spaced-apart second connectors each having a second connector length that is shorter than the first connector length; - and
a housing configured to prevent engagement between the second connectors and any of the connector receivers while allowing each of the first connectors to engage a corresponding connector receiver when the combined quantity of first and second connectors is greater than the quantity of connector receivers. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A receiver assembly for use in a connector assembly that facilitates electrical communication between a first computer subsystem and a second computer subsystem, the receiver assembly adapted to be coupled between the first computer subsystem and the second computer subsystem, the receiver assembly comprising
a first row of substantially collinear spaced-apart first connector receivers; -
a second row of substantially collinear spaced-apart first connector receivers, each first connector receiver having a first receiver depth; and a plurality of spaced apart second connector receivers each having a second receiver depth that is different than the first receiver depth, the second connector receivers being interspersed between and substantially collinear with the first connector receivers along at least one of the rows of first connector receivers so that each of the second connector receivers is positioned substantially between a corresponding pair of the first connector receivers to receive a corresponding set of second connectors that are positioned substantially between and collinear with a row of substantially collinear first connectors.
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Specification