Patent ID: 6182173
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: G06F,H04B

Abstract:
In a computer system having an adapter card slot for receiving an adapter card and a bus for electrically coupling the adapter card to the bus wherein the bus carries power and bus signals to the adapter card, a system for removing and attaching the adapter card to the bus while power is applied to the computer, said system comprising:an optical switch:means, coupled to said optical switch, for disconnecting and connecting power and bus signals to the adapter card slot;a rotatable cover plate having open and closed positions wherein, in the closed position, the cover plate covers the adapter card slot physically preventing the adapter card from being inserted into slot, said rotatable cover plate including a tab, said tab being inserted into an opening in said optical switch such that power and bus signals are connected to the adapter card slot when the cover plate is in the closed position, said tab being removed from the opening in said optical switch when the cover plate is rotated into the open position such that power and bus signals are removed from the adapter card slot when the cover plate is in the open position; anda locking clamp having locked and unlocked positions, said clamp locking said cover plate in the closed position, while permitting said cover plate to be moved to the open position when said clamp is in the unlocked position.