DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0006] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates computer system 10 which generally includes chassis 12 , main printed circuit assembly 14 , peripherals 16 , 18 , 20 , 22 , 24 , 26 , daughter cards 32 and connection interface 34 . Chassis 12 generally constitutes one or more structures configured to serve as a framework, housing or support for the remainder of computer system 10 . The exact configuration of chassis 12 may vary depending upon the particular function of computer system 10 , the size requirements imposed upon by the rack or vertical support structure which supports computer system 10 , and the number, size and relative location of devices within chassis 12 .

[0007] Main printed circuit board assembly 14 is positioned within chassis 12 and generally includes printed circuit board 36 , at least one active component, such as at least one processor 38 , and a controller 40 . As known to those of ordinary skill in the art, “active components” are those components generally configured to perform at least some steps of logic (sometimes utilizing transistors and the like) in creating, storing, manipulating or transmitting data signals. In contrast, “passive components” are components that do not utilize logic such as capacitors, resistors and the like. In the embodiment illustrated, printed circuit assembly 14 additional includes at least one board or card connector 42 and a set of external input/output connectors 44 . In the embodiment illustrated, printed circuit assembly 14 does not include any cable connectors.

[0008] Printed circuit board generally comprises a conventionally known or future developed printed circuit board configured to support the remaining structures of printed circuit assembly 14 . Processor 38 is coupled to printed circuit board 36 and generally comprises an integrated circuit. Controller 40 generally routes or directs data signals to, from and along printed circuit board 36 . In the embodiment illustrated, controller 40 includes a data bus controller configured to direct data signals to and from peripherals 16 , 18 , 20 , 22 , 24 and 26 .

[0009] Connectors 42 generally comprise connectors configured to connect cards or boards to printed circuit board 36 . Examples of such cards or boards for which connector 42 may be configured to work with include input/output cards, memory cards such as DIMMS and various other conventionally known or future developed daughter cards. Connectors 42 may comprise any one of a variety of conventionally known or future developed connector mechanisms such as keyed or unkeyed PCI connectors, pin connectors and the like.

[0010] External input/output connectors 44 generally comprise conventionally known or future developed connectors directly coupled to circuit board 36 and exposed to an exterior of chassis 12 . For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” means the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate member being attached to one another. Such joining may be permanent in nature or alternatively may be removable or releasable in nature. Connectors 44 facilitate connection of external devices to computer system 12 . In alternative embodiments, input/output connectors 44 may be provided as part of input/output boards connected to printed circuit board 36 via connectors 42 .

[0011] Peripherals 16 , 18 , 20 , 22 and 24 generally comprise devices which are supported within chassis 12 and which are distinct from circuit board assembly 14 but which are in communication with printed circuit board assembly 14 . FIG. 1 illustrates but a few examples of such peripherals. Peripheral 16 comprises a power source. Peripheral 18 comprises fans or other cooling mechanisms. Peripheral 20 comprises a hard disk drive. Peripheral 22 comprises a display possibly including external controls for computer system 10 . Peripheral 24 is illustrated as a removable or portable disk drive such as a CD or DV drive. Peripheral 26 is illustrated as a second or auxiliary printed circuit assembly. Auxiliary printed circuit assembly includes one or more active components and may include one or more board connectors (not shown). In alternative embodiments, computer system 10 may include fewer than all of the peripherals illustrated or alternative or additional peripherals. For example, in one embodiment, computer system 10 includes only a single printed circuit assembly which supports all of the processors and controllers of computer system 10 .

[0012] Connection interface 34 generally comprises a mechanism which interfaces between two or more of peripherals 16 , 18 , 20 , 22 , 24 or 26 and, printed circuit board 36 of printed circuit assembly 14 . Connection interface 34 is releasably connected to printed circuit board 36 while also being connected to peripherals 16 , 18 , 20 , 22 , 24 and 26 . Connection interface 34 generally includes a body 45 supporting a board connection portion 46 and a plurality of peripheral connection portions 48 . Body 45 supports data signal transmission lines, such as electrically conductive traces, internal wires, or optical signal transmission lines, extending between portion 48 and portion 46 . Although body 45 is illustrated as a card, body 45 may have a variety of different shapes and configurations such as a cylindrical hub.

[0013] Board connection portion 46 generally comprises a portion of interface 34 configured to facilitate releasable connection of interface 34 to printed circuit board 36 . Portion 46 is schematically illustrated with respect to both its configuration and location. Portion 46 may extend along a lower surface of interface 34 or along lower sides of interface 34 . In one embodiment, portion 46 comprises an edge connector. In another embodiment, portion 46 includes either pins or female receptacles to facilitate such connections.

[0014] Peripheral connection portions 48 generally comprise conventionally known or future developed connectors that are connected to one or more of peripherals 16 , 18 , 20 , 22 , 24 , 26 to facilitate communication of data signals between such peripherals and connector portion 46 which ultimately results in transmission of such data signals to or from printed circuit assembly 14 . In the embodiment illustrated, such communication is provided by a plurality of cables 50 extending between peripherals 16 , 18 , 20 , 22 , 24 , 26 and portions 48 . Cables 50 have one end that is releasably connected to either one of peripherals 16 , 18 , 20 , 22 , 24 or 26 or one of connector portions 48 . In one embodiment, one end of cable 50 is releasably connected to a peripheral, while the other end of cable 50 is releasably connected to one of connector portions 48 .

[0015] Overall, connection interface 34 facilitates simultaneous connection and disconnection of a plurality of peripherals to and from printed circuit board 36 . As a result, to replace or repair or otherwise modify printed circuit assembly 14 , an individual can simply disconnect interface 34 rather than having to individually disconnect each individual peripheral (or its cable) from printed circuit board 36 or having to remember where to specifically connect each peripheral (or its cable) to circuit board 36 . Consequently, repair or replacement of printed circuit assembly 14 is easier and requires less time.

[0016] In addition, interface 34 connects peripherals (or their cables) to printed circuit board 36 so that data signals are transmitted from one of peripherals 16 , 18 , 20 , 22 , 24 , 26 and circuit board 36 to the other of peripherals 16 , 18 , 20 , 22 , 24 and 26 and circuit board 36 across interface 34 without being received by an active component. Because interface 34 does not include any active component in the embodiment shown, interface 34 has an inherent minimal chance of failure. As a result, the frequency of interface 34 needing repair or replacement, which would require disconnection of each of the peripherals from interface 34 and reconnection to the same connector portions 48 , is minimized.

[0017] Moreover, because interface 34 connects a plurality of peripherals to printed circuit board 36 at a single condensed or impact area on printed circuit 36 using a single connector portion, interface 34 reserves valuable space on printed circuit board 36 for the coupling or mounting of other components or connectors to printed circuit board 36 . In sum, interface 34 provides a low cost, robust and space-saving means for simultaneously connecting and disconnecting a plurality of peripherals to printed circuit board 36 .

[0018] FIGS. 2-4 illustrate portions of a computer system 110 , an alternative embodiment of system 10 . System 110 generally includes chassis 112 , printed circuit board assembly 114 , peripherals 15 , 20 , 22 , 24 and 26 (shown in FIG. 1 ), cards 32 (shown in FIG. 1 ) and connection interface 134 . As shown in FIG. 2 , chassis 112 is generally a housing framework or other enclosure structure which supports and receives the remaining internal devices of computer system 110 . For ease of illustration, a substantial portion of chassis 112 is omitted.

[0019] Printed circuit board assembly 114 (best shown in FIG. 3 ) includes printed circuit board 136 , a plurality of active components including at least one processor 138 , a controller 140 , and card connectors 142 , 143 and 144 . Printed circuit assembly 114 further includes a diagnostic board connector 145 facilitating connection of a diagnostic device to printed circuit assembly 114 . Processor 138 and controller 140 are substantially identical to processor 38 and controller 40 shown and described with respect to FIG. 1 . Processor 138 comprises an integrated circuit chip affixed to printed circuit board 136 and configured to process or manipulate data signals using predefined logic (typically employing a multitude of transistors). Controller 140 comprises an integrated circuit chip affixed to circuit board 136 and configured to route or direct data signals along printed circuit board 136 as well as to and from components or devices connected to printed circuit board 136 . In alternative embodiments, one or more of processor 138 , controller 140 or card connectors 142 , 143 and 44 may be omitted from assembly 114 .

[0020] Card connectors 142 , 143 and 144 generally comprise connectors for connecting cards or boards to printed circuit board 136 . Card connectors 142 comprise conventionally known PCI connectors. In the embodiment illustrated, connectors 142 are configured to receive memory cards or DIMMS. Card connector 143 comprises voltage regulation module connectors. Card connector 144 , like card connector 142 , generally comprises a keyed PCI connector. Card connector 144 is configured to connect connection interface 134 to printed circuit board 136 .

[0021] Connection interface 134 simultaneously connects four peripherals such as power source 16 , hard disk drive 20 , display 22 and removable disk drive 24 to printed circuit board 136 . In the embodiment illustrated, connection interface 134 comprises an extender board which includes a printed circuit board 152 , a board connector portion 146 and peripheral connector portions 148 . Board connector portion 146 generally comprises a connector affixed to printed circuit board 152 and configured to connect printed circuit board 152 to printed circuit board 136 . In the embodiment illustrated, connector portion 146 comprises an edge connector configured to be received within the keyed opening of board connector 144 . In alternative embodiments, connector portion 146 may have other configurations depending upon the configuration of board connector 144 .

[0022] Peripheral connector portions 148 generally comprise cable connectors configured to releasably connect the respective cable extending from a respective peripheral. For ease of illustration, FIG. 3 illustrates only a single cable 150 releasably connected to one of connector portions 148 .

[0023] As further shown by FIG. 3 , peripheral connector portions 148 generally extend along an edge portion 154 opposite to edge portion 156 along a portion of which connector portion 146 extends. Connector portions 148 generally face away from printed circuit board 136 in a vertical direction. Although connector portions are illustrated as comprising different configured connectors, connector portions 148 may alternatively comprise similarly configured connectors. Furthermore, although printed circuit assembly 114 is illustrated as including peripheral connectors such as power connectors 160 connected or coupled to printed circuit board 136 , such power connectors 160 may alternatively be coupled to printed circuit board 152 .

[0024] When system 110 is fully assembled and operating, data signals are transmitted from the peripherals, through cables extending between the peripherals and connector portions 148 , through printed circuit board 152 and to printed circuit board 136 via connector portions 146 and 144 . The transmission of data signals through printed circuit board 152 or, more particularly in selected electrically conductive traces of board 152 , occurs without the data signals being manipulated, stored or otherwise processed by an active component. In the particular embodiment illustrated, printed circuit board 152 does not include any active components. As noted above, this renders interface 134 less susceptible to failure which would require disconnection of each of the cables 150 connected to connector portions 148 .

[0025] In addition to achieving the aforementioned benefits as discussed above with respect to connection interface 34 , connection interface 134 provides even greater cost savings and convenience. In particular, because connection interface 134 utilizes a printed circuit board 152 for providing data transmission lines between connection portions 146 and 148 , connection interface 134 may be manufactured utilizing conventionally known printed circuit board technology. Moreover, connector portion 146 as well as connector 144 on printed circuit board 136 may be provided by conventional or standard board or card connection components. Because connector portions 148 generally extend along edge portion 154 opposite printed circuit board 136 , connector portions 148 are elevated with respect to printed circuit board 136 and other components or devices connected to printed circuit board 136 , providing improved access to connector portions 148 . Moreover, because connector portions 148 generally face in a vertical direction or away from printed circuit board 136 , easier connection of cables 150 to connector portions 148 is facilitated. In addition, because printed circuit board 152 of connection interface 134 has a small footprint on the surface of printed circuit board 136 , connection interface 134 conserves precious space on printed circuit board 136 .

[0026] Printed circuit board 152 is dimensioned so as to be self-supporting without additional fasteners when connected to printed circuit board 136 by connector 144 . In the particular embodiment illustrated, printed circuit board 152 has a length L less than a length of printed circuit board 136 and preferably no greater than 5.0 inches. To facilitate connection of cables 150 to connector portions 148 within chassis 112 , printed circuit board 152 has a height H of no greater than 5.0 inches. In alternative embodiments, chassis 112 or the position of printed circuit board 136 may be modified to accommodate connection interfaces 134 having longer or taller printed circuit boards 152 . Although less desirable, additional fasteners may be employed to assist in supporting interfaces 134 such as when interface 134 includes a larger printed circuit board 152 .

[0027] Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, although different preferred embodiments may have been described as including one or more features providing one or more benefits, it is contemplated that the described features may be interchanged with one another or alternatively be combined with one another in the described preferred embodiments or in other alternative embodiments. Because the technology of the present invention is relatively complex, not all changes in the technology are foreseeable. The present invention described with reference to the preferred embodiments and set forth in the following claims is manifestly intended to be as broad as possible. For example, unless specifically otherwise noted, the claims reciting a single particular element also encompass a plurality of such particular elements.