Patent ID: 6496376
Filing Date: 2002-12-17
Classification: G06F,H01R,H05K

Abstract:
For a processor card having a connector by which it couples to a backplane and through which it communicates one or more separate input/output signal buses to the backplane, and one or more add-on cards each having a connector by which said each couples to a backplane and through which said each communicates with an input/output signal bus from the backplane, a set of modules from which a novel backplane can be selectively assembled comprising:(a) a first module comprising: (1) a board, (2) a connector mounted on the board for mating with the processor card's backplane connector to communicate an input/output signal bus onto the board, (3) an intermodule connector disposed along an edge of the board, and (4) a plurality of signal lines traversing the board for carrying the input/output signal bus to the board's intermodule connector; (b) a second module comprising: (1) a board, (2) an intermodule connector, disposed along an edge of the second module's board, for engaging the first module's intermodule connector to couple the first and second modules in juxtaposed coplanar relation, the coupling communicating the input/output signal bus onto the second module's board, (3) at least one connector mounted on the second module's board for mating with an add-on card's backplane connector, and (4) a plurality of signal lines traversing the second module's board for carrying the input/output signal bus to said at least one connector; and (c) means for fixing the set of modules in coplanar relation.