Patent ID: 9451719
Filing Date: 2016-09-20
CPC Classification: H05K,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. A method of providing an Intelligent Electronic Device (IED) with new hardware modules, the method comprising: providing hardware modules configured for directly electrically connecting with connections of a first IED housing that has a first form factor, providing a second IED housing having a second form factor that is different from the first form factor, mounting the hardware modules in the second housing, and employing adaptor structure to electrically connect the hardware modules with connections of the second housing, wherein the step of providing hardware modules includes providing a Power Supply Module (PSM) and a Binary Input/Output (BIO) module, and the step of employing the adaptor structure includes electrically connecting a first adaptor structure between the PSM module and the BIO module, and connectors at a back panel of the second housing, wherein the method further comprises the steps of: providing a communication (COM) card having communication ports accessible at a back panel of the second housing, and employing a second adaptor structure electrically connected between the COM card and a connector of a backplane adjacent to a front panel of the second housing.