Abstract:
A miniature high performance computer unit which can be inserted into an available drive slot in a computer enclosure and serve as a replacement for the computer&#39;s computational resource or serve as an additional computational resource. Industry standard drive slots will permit universal application thereby permitting the continued use of the purchased computer enclosure and greatly simplify future design considerations.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to computer hardware. Computer main boards, also known as motherboards, are designed and manufactured according to multiple standards and specifications that typically result in their non-uniform installation into computer cases and other target enclosures. This results in a standards deficiency since these motherboards, which are of varied configurations, are used in a manner that often times is not space efficient. This standards deficiency is evident in most desktop computer cases where a variety of adjustable attachment settings and fasteners are provided, in multiple places, to counter the wide disparity in motherboard geometric configuration existing in the marketplace.  
           [0002]    Because of the wide disparity in the physical design of motherboards, product designers and developers are often faced with a perplexing dilemma in establishing the dimensional parameters for their products. More specifically, they find themselves unable to design enclosures or computer housings with adequate space and adjustment capabilities because the standards and specifications for next generation motherboards are yet to be determined.  
           [0003]    For example, without the availability of prior standards, the designer of an automobile painting robot could inadvertently specify a computer enclosure that is noncompatible with the required motherboard. Likewise, an architect designing a regulatory or security computer into a building structure could invite major modification expense with a mismatch of motherboard and enclosure space. Multiprocessing and more specifically cluster processing is yet another example where the system or overall can be more effectively designed if the enclosure format for each processor is known rather than simply the motherboard format. For this type of situations, a more efficient use of space can be utilized if a standard housing unit is specified in advance instead of a variably sized motherboard configuration.  
           [0004]    Traditionally, high performance desktop computers have been called computer workstations or more simply workstations. These workstations rely on custom motherboard designs, custom enclosures, custom power supplies and custom operating systems. This high level of customization results in higher costs to end-users. Almost every new version of the manufacturers workstation comes in a different case design or uses a motherboard of a different geometric configuration. This constant changing of sizes with changes in workstation design requires the users of these workstations to either continue using the old workstation or to redesign their product to adapt to the geometric configuration of the new workstation.  
           [0005]    Accordingly, there is a need for a product, which provides the desired computer functions and high computational power in a uniform cabinet or housing unit.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    Our invention resolves the standards based deficiencies heretofore discussed in motherboard design and adaptation to an enclosure or housing unit.  
           [0007]    One feature of the current invention is that it is a high performance single board computer that fits into an industry standard form factor space, which in the computer industry is termed a 5¼″ half-height drive bay. This drive bay typically supports such components as magnetic or optical disk drives.  
           [0008]    The housing unit of our invention is appropriately sized to slide into the 5¼″ half-height drive bay. The housing unit has a rear panel which has sufficient external area so that various types of connectors can be attached while providing sufficient internal space for a powerful computational unit, memory system, multiple high performance input/output (I/O) controllers, and, any voltage conversion units which are required to provide the necessary voltage for operation of the invention.  
           [0009]    Another feature of our invention, is that the high performance computer system provides multiple interface and expansion buses which are in addition to the traditional processor and/or memory bus. These additional separate buses can be active at the same time the processor accesses the system memory; likewise, the processor can access an expansion bus at the same time a resource on another expansion bus is accessing the system memory.  
           [0010]    This invention supports additional input/output interfaces such as, but not limited to the following: RS-232, Universal Serial Bus (USB), RS-485, Bluetooth (a low power wireless communications standard), IEEE-1284 (Parallel Printer port), and Infrared/IrDA.  
           [0011]    The invention supports a high-speed interface, which in the preferred embodiment, is a 10/100 Megabit Ethernet port.  
           [0012]    The invention also supports additional optional ultra high-speed interfaces such as, but not limited to the following: 10/100 Megabit Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet (either fiber optic or copper wire based); Scalable Coherent Interface (SCI); Fiberchannel; Myrinet™; IEEE-1394 (Firewire™); Small Computer System Interface (SCSI); Low Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS); and multiple or bonded Ethernet ports.  
           [0013]    It is a feature of the invention that this additional optional ultra high-speed interface is located on a separate, independent bus of the computer.  
           [0014]    There can be a variety of means for connecting our unit to an existing host computer. After the unit has been inserted into an available drive bay, one example of a suitable connecting means would be using any of the optional ultra high-speed interfaces described earlier which are compatible with the existing host computer&#39;s interface and typically connected together through the use of a cable.  
           [0015]    Another example of a connecting means is the use of the unit&#39;s high-speed expansion bus connected to a compatible host computer&#39;s expansion bus.  
           [0016]    The power to operate the unit is provided in the same manner as is presently provided to peripheral hardware such as a CD drive, namely, connection to the host computers power supply.  
           [0017]    The outer dimension of the housing unit is not the result of a simple size reduction of a general personal computer or workstation; rather it is the result of a careful elimination of specific functions often expected to be present in a general use personal computer or workstation.  
           [0018]    In one embodiment of the invention, the standard PCI connectors, video circuitry, audio circuitry, and keyboard controller circuitry have been eliminated. In this application video, audio and keyboard circuitry are defined to include either cards which can be plugged into the motherboard or the function integrated onto the motherboard. Removal of the above-mentioned connectors and circuitry allows for enhanced computational power and more efficient use of electrical power and housing space.  
           [0019]    Because the invention is designed as a standardized form factor housing unit which can, for example, be dimensioned for insertion and thereafter secured into a 5¼″ half-height drive bay, the invention offers designers the ability to view an entire computer, which is located in a small housing unit, as a single design resource much like an optical drive, rather than as a disparate collection of motherboard, hard drive, video interface, etc.  
           [0020]    The combination of enclosure and computer circuitry establishes a computer standard that designers and developers can incorporate into new machines and products. This standard housing unit also facilitates easy replacement of the processing speed of older and slower motherboards found in pre-existing computers even though these motherboards are not physically replaced or removed. The invention can be slid or inserted into one of the older housing&#39;s open drive slots which is the industry standard 5¼″ half-height drive bay, much like adding a CD drive and thereafter operatively connected to a power supply and peripherals.  
           [0021]    The outer dimension of our invention allows it to be fitted into products other than computer cases and cabinets. For example, slots capable of receiving the housing unit can be designed into such end uses as building structures, vehicles and desks. This allows for easy and predictable insertion of our computer as either a new or replacement unit.  
           [0022]    Our invention can be utilized in various applications described as follows:  
           [0023]    Application # 1 . Additional Computing Resource. In this application, our computer unit would be inserted into an existing computer enclosure drive bay and connected to an available power supply. Our invention would then be operatively connected to the existing microprocessor typically through a high speed interface such as, for example, an Ethernet, SCSI, or direct bus attachment. In this configuration, the computer unit serves as an additional computing resource to augment the computing power of the existing computer. Alternatively, the microprocessor existing in the computer enclosure can be replaced in function by our computer unit. Still another alternative, multiple computer units can be used depending upon the availability of drive slots present in the existing computer enclosure.  
           [0024]    Application # 2 . Space Saving Form. Our computer unit can be utilized for a variety of applications in which a small sized computer could be used. By way of example, a computer may be required to control the environmental conditions within a building. A designer, knowing the standard size format of our computer unit can use this information in developing an efficient space for computer placement.  
           [0025]    Application # 3 . Novel Personal Computer Design. In this application, a new personal computer (PC) is possible. Since the microprocessor resides in our computer unit and which is inserted into a drive bay, it can be configured to be of a plug and play design. As it becomes desirable to replace the microprocessor of the computer unit either because of failure or obsolescence, a new microprocessor, fitted in the same-type of computer unit housing can be made available. In this way, the overall PC enclosure does not have to be replaced. The benefit is that the hard drive and other hardware contained within the PC enclosure can continue to be used.  
           [0026]    Application # 4 . Cluster Computing. It is possible to use a plurality of the computer units according to the invention in a compatible overall housing, thus yielding a parallel or cluster computer of much greater power. The invention&#39;s outer dimension which is sized to be inserted and secured within a drive bay, and, when coupled with the unit&#39;s high computational performance, makes it possible to construct physically small, yet extremely powerful cluster computers that occupy a limited space.  
           [0027]    Our computer unit also has additional application when a plurality of computer units are used as servant computers of a super scalable multiprocessor system which includes a master computer and control computers. Each servant computer acts as a cell of a singular entity which can provide enhanced system performance over conventional individually networked computers. Application information is transported between servant computers by way of a standard ultra high-speed primary network which would use the computer unit&#39;s optional ultra high-speed interface. Administration information is transported by way of a secondary network which utilizes the computer unit&#39;s high-speed interface. By connecting the high-speed interface and the optional ultra high-speed interface to respective separate busses, a super scalable multiprocessor system is possible with enhanced performance characteristics. Specifically, the high-speed interface is used to communicate administration information between the master computer, control computers and servant computers. The optional ultra high-speed interface is used for linking the servant computers collectively in order to efficiently share information resulting in a large computational capability. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0028]    [0028]FIG. 1 is an isometric drawing with cutaway showing an embodiment of the computer unit designed according to the present invention.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 2 is an illustration of the rear view of an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the computer system designed according to the present invention.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an optional ultra high-speed interface expansion card. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0032]    Our computer system is illustrated generally in FIG. 1 and is composed of a case  300 , which can be slid into and secured to a 5¼″ half height drive bay. Within case  300  is a main printed wiring board  310  which in turn connects the individual components, an optional ultra high-speed interface expansion card  200  (also shown in block diagram form as FIG. 4) and an optional front panel  130 . A multitude of components are connected to main board  310  to support the basic operation of the computer and is shown in block diagram form in FIG. 3.  
         [0033]    Main printed wiring board  310  built with the following components: a main controller chip  10 , commonly called a north bridge, which is connected to a central processor  30  via a processor bus  20 ; memory chips  70  which are interfaced to the main controller chip memory bus  60  through a memory interface  80 ; a secondary controller chip  100 , commonly called a south bridge which is connected to an expansion bus  50  of the main controller chip  10 ; and a boot ROM system  90  which is interfaced to the main controller chip  10 .  
         [0034]    The on-board input/output peripherals are either directly connected to the main controller chip  10 , or are connected through the secondary controller chip  100 . The secondary controller chip  100 , allows the use of industry standard mass storage devices such as for example, disk drives via an integrated drive electronics (IDE) interface  120 . Secondary controller chip  100  also provides a means for supporting additional input/output interfaces designated as  140 . Secondary controller chip  100  also provides a means for supporting the optional front panel, which is designated as  130 .  
         [0035]    An additional on-board peripheral is the high-speed network interface  10 , which in this embodiment is a 10/100 Megabit Ethernet port. The externally accessible connector for this port is designated as  160 .  
         [0036]    As illustrated in FIG. 2, external direct current (DC) power is supplied through a connector  370 , which is accessible through a hole, located in the back panel  330 . DC power is then converted to additional voltages by switching power supplies (not shown) and both the input and generated voltages are monitored by a combination of the switching supplies and the watch dog timer/reset controller (not shown). In this embodiment, the voltage conversion devices and watch dog timer/reset controller are mounted on main circuit board  310 .  
         [0037]    The computer operation is coordinated by a distributed clocking system (not shown), which in this embodiment is composed of a master clock generator, a local memory clock buffer and a dual frequency expansion bus clock buffer.  
         [0038]    In the embodiment shown having the back panel illustrated in FIG. 2, the following external interfaces are present: a RS-232 serial port connector  150 , which is part of input/output interface  140 ; a local area network connector  160 , which is part of  110  in FIG. 3; and an ultra high-speed interface port  230 , which is part of the ultra high-speed interface  220 . It is to be understood that, in certain applications, the ultra high-speed interface may not be used and can therefore be considered to be an optional component.  
         [0039]    Additional subsystems can be added to facilitate particular applications. These subsystems can be used in multiple combinations and are not limited to the particular versions or combinations chosen for the particular embodiment described which comprises a RS-232 serial interface  140  and a 10/100 Megabit Ethernet  110 .  
         [0040]    The optional front panel  130 , as shown in FIG. 1, is comprised of a message display  170 , switches  190  and a bi-color indicator  180 . A programmable logic device (not shown) enables access to the message display  170 , switches  190 , indicator  180 , and the serial interface  140 .  
         [0041]    Referring to FIG. 3, our invention utilizes an expansion connector  150  that is connected to a separate high bandwidth expansion bus  40  located on main controller chip  10 . There is an ultra high-speed interface  220 , which is located on expansion card  200  (shown in block diagram form in FIG. 4). Expansion card connector  210  connects expansion card  200  to main board  310  through connection with main board expansion connector  150 .  
         [0042]    As illustrated in FIG. 2, back panel  330  of case  300  incorporates a ‘knock out’ style opening  340  to support a variety of different connectors  230  for various high-speed interface expansion board sub-systems which are optional additions to this embodiment.  
         [0043]    Cooling is provided by a combination of a filtered air inlet  350  and an exhaust fan (not shown) which exits air through outlet  360 .