SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING A DYNAMICALLY MODULAR PROCESSING UNIT

• US 20110022770A1
• Filed: 07/26/2010
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ATD Ventures, LLC
• Original Assignee: ATD Ventures, LLC
• Inventors: Sullivan, Jason A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,606,577 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/313
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/18 Packaging or power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1631 Panel PC, e.g. single housing hosting PC and display panel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5313 Means to assemble electrical device

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing a modular processing unit. A modular processing unit is provided as a platform that is lightweight, compact, and is configured to be selectively used alone or oriented with one or more additional processing units in an enterprise. In some implementations, a modular processing unit includes a non-peripheral based encasement, a cooling process (e.g., a thermodynamic convection cooling process, a forced air cooling process, and/or a liquid cooling process), an optimized circuit board configuration, optimized processing and memory ratios, and a dynamic back plane that provides increased flexibility and support to peripherals and applications. The modular processing unit is customizable and may be employed in association with all types of computer enterprises. The platform allows for a plethora of modifications that may be made with minimal impact to the modular unit, thereby enhancing the usefulness of the platform across all type of application.

Claims

1. A data processing system comprising:

an interface that is based on serial differential signaling, wherein the interface is directly coupled to a system bus and is configured to communicatively couple to a peripheral I/O device.