Patent ID: 6105090
Filing Date: 2000-08-15
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
An apparatus comprising:a computer with a frame;a power supply in the computer frame;at least one PCI slot in the computer frame;at least one access port in the computer frame, each access port corresponding to one of the PCI slots; anda PCI detection circuit coupled to the computer frame, the PCI detection circuit comprising a flat flex cable with a plurality of conductors, the PCI detection circuit further comprising a ground-check circuit and at least one contact pad, the ground check circuit for detecting the presence of a grounded circuit, the at least one contact pad proximate to each of the at least one access ports such that the at least one contact pad will be grounded by a mounting face covering the at least one access port, the at least one contact pad being electrically connected to the ground-check circuit, the PCI detection circuit disabling the power supply if the PCI detection circuit detects that the at least one PCI slot is empty and that there is no access cover in place over the access port that corresponds to the at least one PCI slot.