Patent ID: 6598109
Filing Date: 2003-07-22
Classification: H05K

Abstract:
A circuit board comprising:a signal bus having a plurality of signal lines to be operated in accordance with a bus protocol; a component having an interface including a first plurality of signal pins to be operated in accordance with an interface definition; a connector, including a second plurality of pins, to removably accept a selected one of a first device designed to operate with the signal bus in accordance with the bus protocol, and a second device designed to operate with the component through the interface in accordance with the interface definition; and a plurality of circuit elements to selectably couple the second pins of the connector to a selected one of the signal lines of the signal bus and the first pins of the interface of the component, based at least in part on the signal state of a first one of said second plurality of pins, wherein the circuit elements include a plurality of switching elements switchably coupled to a selected one of said signal lines and said first pins.