Abstract:
A system and method for repairing a PC where an extender card with both ISA and PCI buss connections is used to elevate the motherboard during troubleshooting operations, the extender card includes imbedded thereon, current-measurement stations to aid in efficient assessment of current flow through portions of the motherboard.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to computers, and more particularly relates to personal computers, and even more particularly relates to methods and systems for troubleshooting personal computers. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In recent years, industrial personal computers have become increasingly prevalent in many industries. It is not uncommon today to see rows of industrial PCs arranged in racks. While many of these industrial PCs are often designed and manufactured to higher standards than consumer PCs, they still are occasionally in need of repair. Typically, when a repair is needed, the PC is removed from the rack, taken to a computer repair facility, and partially dismantled. Depending upon the layout of the PC, the motherboard may be removed or otherwise made available for inspection and remedial action. However, in many PCs, the motherboard is difficult to access, and it may require the removal of other circuit cards around it to permit access to the motherboard. In the past, PC engineers have devised extender cards which couple with an ISA or PCI bus in the PC, and physically elevate the card under test above the other cards within the PC so they can be accessed while still electrically coupled to the remainder of the PC. 
     While these extender cards have been used extensively in the past, they do have some drawbacks. First of all, some modern motherboards include PICMG cards, which have both ISA and PCI bus connections thereon. The individual prior art ISA extender cards and the prior art PCI extender cards could be cobbled together to provide a makeshift extender card. However, the use of two cards is unwieldy and time consuming. 
     Consequently, there exists a need for improved methods and systems for repairing personal computers in an efficient manner. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for repairing a personal computer in an efficient manner. 
     It is a feature of the present invention to utilize a single extender card having both ISA and PCI bus connections thereon. 
     It is another feature of the present invention to include current measuring devices on the extender card. 
     It is an advantage of the present invention to achieve improved efficiency in repairing personal computers. 
     The present invention is an apparatus and method for repairing personal computers designed to satisfy the aforementioned needs, provide the previously stated objects, include the above-listed features, and achieve the already articulated advantages. The present invention is carried out in a “wasted time-less” manner in a sense that the time consumed with troubleshooting a PC has been greatly reduced. 
     Accordingly, the present invention is a system and method including a single extender card having both ISA and PCI bus connections and current measuring devices. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention may be more fully understood by reading the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a system of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a partially dismantled PC, including the extender card of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a combination of the extender card of the present invention and a prior art motherboard circuit card. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Now referring to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like matter throughout, and more specifically referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a system of the present invention generally designated  100 , including an industrial PC  102 , for insertion into a rack  104 , having an empty slot  106  therein. PC  102  is coupled to rack  104  via cabling  108 , which preferably is a special cabling used during times of repair to permit access to the PC  102  while remaining electrically connected to the rack  104  as during normal, non-repair time periods. PC  102  is shown having a circuit card  120 , which may or may not be a motherboard circuit card, which is coupled to an extender card  122 . Extender card  122  may be made of any suitable material used for circuit cards in PCs. PC  102  has a faceplate  130 , which is viewable from the front of a repair car  110 . 
     A more detailed understanding of the present invention can be achieved by now referring to FIG. 2, which shows the PC  102  with the circuit card  120  coupled through ISA and PCI connectors  210  and  212  respectively to extender card  122 , having upper ISA and upper PCI connectors  220  and  222  respectively. 
     An even more detailed understanding of the present invention may be achieved by now referring to FIG. 3, which shows circuit card  120  having ISA and PCI bus connections  210  and  212  respectively, coupled to upper ISA and upper PCI connectors  220  and  222  respectively, located on extender card  122 , which itself is coupled to the ISA and PCI buses of the PC  102  via lower ISA and lower PCI bus connectors  330  and  332  respectively. Card  120  is a preferred PICMG CPU card, which is well known in the industrial computer industry and is defined by the PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group. Extender card  122  is shown having vertical current measuring device  302  and horizontal current measuring device  304 . These measuring devices may be oriented in any direction and on either side of the card. These measuring devices may be as simple as conductors having a known resistance or impedance characteristic, which are then measured with an external voltmeter etc., or these measuring devices may be other known devices for measuring voltage drops or other known current measuring devices. The connectors used in the present invention are commercially available and are well known in the industry. 
     In operation, the apparatus and method of the present invention as described in FIGS. 1-3, could function as follows: 
     removing the PC  102  from slot  106  in rack  104 ; 
     coupling cabling  108  to the rack  104  and to the PC  102  to permit continued connections with the rack  104  and its associated connections; 
     a protective cover is removed from the PC  102  to allow access to the expansion cards therein; 
     a circuit card  120  having ISA and PCI bus connectors  210  and  212  respectively, is removed from the PC  102 ; 
     an extender card  122  having both lower ISA and lower PCI bus connectors  330  and  332  respectively, is placed in the slot made available by removal of circuit card  120 ; 
     circuit card  120  is coupled, via ISA and PCI bus connectors  210  and  212  respectively, to upper ISA and upper PCI connectors  220  and  222  respectively, located on extender card  122 ; and, 
     current measurements are taken in current flowing through lines on extender card  122 , using horizontal current measuring device  304  and vertical current measuring device  302 . 
     Throughout this description, reference is made to an industrial PC and to a motherboard to be elevated, because it is believed that the beneficial aspects of the present invention would be most readily apparent when used in connection with industrial PCs and motherboards; however, it should be understood that the present invention is not intended to be limited to industrial PCs and motherboards and should be hereby construed to include other non-industrial PCs and non-motherboards as well. 
     It is thought that the method and apparatus of the present invention will be understood from the foregoing description and that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construct steps, and arrangement of the parts and steps thereof, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of their material advantages. The form herein described is merely a preferred exemplary embodiment thereof.