Patent ID: 7272668
Filing Date: 2007-09-18
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A system, comprising: a backplane having a plurality of conductors; a first plurality of printed circuit boards plugged into the backplane, each one of the first printed circuit boards having a plurality of electrical contacts, each one of the electrical contacts providing an indication of an incapability of an electrical component on such one of the printed circuit boards, each one of such electrical contacts of the first plurality of printed circuit boards being electrically connected together through a corresponding one of the plurality of conductors of the backplane; circuitry connected to the plurality of conductors for converting the operating incapability indications provided by the plurality of printed circuit boards into logic signals on the plurality of conductors; a second plurality of printed circuit boards plugged into the backplane, each one of the second plurality of printed circuit boards having a decoder responsive to the logic signals on the plurality of conductors for selecting an operating characteristic for electrical components on the second plurality of printed circuit boards, such selected operating characteristic being compatible with operating characteristics of the electrical components on the first plurality of printed circuit boards.