Abstract:
The present invention discloses an apparatus for operatively connecting a PCI-X or AGP device card (having a PCI-X or AGP bus) to a PCI-E bus connection on a mother board by mounting the PCI-X or AGP device card to a right edge connector mounted on a surface of an adapter card, the adapter card having a PCI-X (or AGP) to PCI-E bridge circuit for interconnecting a PCI-X (or AGP) bus to a PCI-E bus.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to a computer system, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for operatively connecting components to a computer system. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The general structures of computer systems include one or more processing units connected to memory devices and input/output devices, wherein the memory device stores program instructions that are executed by the processing unit to perform the desired functions and the processing unit can transfer data to and from devices through buses. 
   The evolution history of computer buses includes ISA structures of &#39;80s; and PCI structure, AGP structure, and PCI-X (PCI-extended) structures of &#39;90s, and these structures cannot meet requirements of mass data transfer of peripheral cards nowadays. To solve the problem of insufficient bandwidth, PCI-SIG (PCI Special Interest Group) introduced the new standard for PC I/O: PCI EXPRESS® a trademark of PCI-SIG Corporation ((PCI-E), formerly 3GIO or 3rd Generation I/O) in 2002, and it will gradually replace the present structures. 
   In the transition from the old structure to the new structure, the originally used PCI-X buses will sooner or later be upgraded to PCI-E buses. In the beginning of the transition period, some PCI-X slots may remain in the boards. However, it is likely that there will be no PCI-X slots after the PCI-E structure totally replaces the PCI-X structure. For low-end computers with low costs (e.g., personal computers), it would be convenient and better to replace the old computers with new computers. For non low-end computers, the connected peripheral devices are relatively expensive (for example, a special storage system including 40 hard disk drives), and it will be problematic to directly replace the old computers with the new computers. For example, in a situation wherein the new computers have only PCI-E slots and the expensive peripheral devices only use PCI-X buses, the PCI-E slots of the new computers and the PCI-X buses of the peripheral devices cannot be connected if the old computers of the PCI-X structure are to be replaced by the new computers of the PCI-E structure. Alternatively, if some specific expensive peripheral devices with PCI-X buses are to be replaced by the peripheral device with PCI-E buses, the cost thereof will be largely increased. 
   Therefore, there is an urgent need for a mixed use of different bus structures of computers systems and peripheral devices during the transition period from the PCI-X structure to the PCI-E structure. The computer systems can be directly upgraded from the PCI-X structure to PCI-E structure, and the originally used expensive peripheral devices of the PCI-X structure can still be used. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with the objectives listed above, the present invention provides an apparatus for operatively connecting a first bus device to a second bus device, the method thereof, and the computer system thereof. During the transition period of buses of two different bus structures, when the computer systems of the old bus structure are upgraded to those of the new bus structure, the peripheral devices of the old bus structure can still be used thereon. Further, the purpose of a mixed use of different bus structures of computers systems and peripheral devices, and a reduction of the total cost are achieved. 
   A first general aspect of the present invention provides an apparatus for operatively connecting a PCI-E bus device to a second bus device, comprising: a body; a first connector disposed on the body for operatively connecting the PCI-E bus device; a second connector disposed on the body for operatively connecting the second bus device; and a bridge circuit disposed in the body for operatively connecting the first connector to the second connector. 
   Preferably, the first connector can be a golden finger. The PCI-E bus device can comprise a PCI-E slot connector disposed on a motherboard. The second connector can be a PCI-X slot connector. The second bus device can be selected from a group comprising a PCI-X bus device, a PCI bus device and an AGP bus device. The PCI-X bus device can be a PCI-X adapter, and the PCI-X adapter can comprise a male connector for operatively connecting the PCI-X slot connector. The first connector can be disposed on a first edge of the adapter body and the second connector can be disposed on a second surface of the adapter body. The first and second surfaces can be adjacent to each other and the angle between the first and second surfaces can be about 90 degrees. A connection direction of the PCI-X slot connector and the male connector of the PCI-X adapter can be substantially vertical to the first plane. The connection direction of the PCI-X slot connector and the male connector of the PCI-X adapter can be substantially parallel to the second plane. The bridge circuit can be integrated in a bridge chip. The bridge chip can be a PCI-E/PCI-X bridge chip. 
   A second general aspect of the present invention provides an apparatus for operatively connecting a first bus device to a second bus device, comprising: a body; a first connector disposed on a first edge of the body for operatively connecting the first bus device; a second connector disposed on a second surface of the body for operatively connecting the second bus device, wherein a connection direction of the second connector and the second bus device is substantially parallel to the second surface; a bridge circuit disposed in the body for operatively connecting the first connector to the second connector. 
   Preferably, the first and second surfaces can be adjacent to each other and the angle between the first and second surfaces can be about 90 degrees. The connection direction of the second connector and the second bus device can further be substantially vertical to the first edge. 
   A third general aspect of the present invention provides a computer system, comprising: a motherboard comprising an upper surface, wherein at least one connector is mounted on the upper surface; a non PCI-E bus device; and an adapter for operatively connecting the non PCI-E bus device to the at least one connector, wherein the adapter comprises an adapter body; a first connector for operatively connecting the at least one connector; a second connector operatively connecting the non PCI-E bus device; and a bridge circuit for operatively connecting the first connector to the second connector. 
   Preferably, the at least one connector can be a PCI-E slot connector. The second connector can be a PCI-X slot connector. 
   The non PCI-E bus device can be a PCI-X adapter, and the PCI-X adapter can comprise a male connector for operatively connecting the PCI-X slot connector. 
   A fourth general aspect of the present invention provides a method for operatively connecting a PCI-E bus device connector of a PCI-E bus device to a non PCI-E bus device connector of a non PCI-E bus device, the method comprising: providing the PCI-E bus device connector of the PCI-E bus device; providing the non PCI-E bus device connector of the non PCI-E bus device; providing an adapter device, the adapter device comprising an adapter body, a first adapter connector, a second adapter connector, and a bridge device; and using the adapter device to operatively connect the PCI-E bus device connector of the PCI-E bus device to the non PCI-E bus connector of the non PCI-E bus device. 
   The foregoing and other features of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of the embodiment of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The embodiments of this invention will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  schematically shows an adapter of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  schematically shows a prior art PCI-X adapter; 
       FIG. 3  schematically shows an allocation on a prior art motherboard of a computer system; 
       FIG. 4  schematically shows an adapter of a preferred embodiment of the present invention in connection with a PCI-X adapter; 
       FIG. 5  schematically shows an adapter of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which are arranged on a motherboard of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 6  schematically shows a method for operatively connecting a PCI-E bus device to a non PCI-E bus device. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , an adapter  100  of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is schematically shown. The adapter  100  includes an adapter body  102 , a male connector  104 , a slot connector  108 , and a bridge device  110 . 
   The adapter body  102  is preferably rectangular, preferably having a surface  116  which surface is defined as a first plane and a surface  118  is defined as a second plane. The surfaces (planes)  116  and  118  are adjacent to each other, and the angle between the first edge (plane)  116  and second surface (plane)  118  is about 90 degrees. The male connector  104  is disposed on the first edge  116 , and the slot connector  108  is disposed on the second surface  118 . The male connector  104  is preferably a golden finger connector, and the slot connector  108  has a slot  112 . The bridge device is a bridge chip, for example, a PCI-E/PCI-X bridge chip. 
     FIG. 2  schematically shows a prior art PCI-X adapter  200 , wherein the PCI-X adapter  200  includes a PCI-X adapter body  204  and a male connector  208 . 
     FIG. 3  shows an allocation on a prior art motherboard of a computer system. It schematically depicts a motherboard  304 , a processor slot  308  thereon, PCI-E slot connectors  312  thereon, system memory slots  316  thereon. In this embodiment, PCI-E slot connectors  312  include six slot connectors. 
   As described previously, the motherboard  308  tends to be equipped only and all with PCI-E slot connectors  312  in accordance with the evolvement of technology, and no PCI-X slot connectors or other connectors will be used. When the computer systems are upgraded to be of PCI-E structure, the peripheral devices of the PCI-X structure or other bus structures cannot be used, it results in the above-mentioned problems. Especially in the case of expensive peripheral devices, the problem will be more serious. 
   The present invention provides solutions to the above problem. Please refer to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 3 , the adapter  100  is used to operatively connect PCI-E slot connector  312  to the male connector  208  of the PCI-X adapter  200 . The adapter  100  includes an adapter body  102 ; a male connector  104  disposed on the adapter body  102  for operatively connecting the PCI-E slot connector  312 ; a slot connector  108  disposed on the adapter body  102  for operatively connecting the male connector  208  of the PCI-X adapter  200 ; and a bridge device  110  disposed in the adapter body  102  for operatively connecting the male connector  104  to the slot connector  108 . 
     FIG. 4  schematically shows an adapter  100  of a preferred embodiment of the present invention in operative connection with a PCI-X adapter  200 , wherein the adapter  100  of the present invention and the PCI-X adapter  200  are adjacent to each other, and the width of the connected adapter  100  and the PCI-X adapter  200  is about the width of two slots. 
     FIG. 5  schematically shows an adapter  100  of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is arranged on a prior art motherboard  300 . The adapter  100  of the present invention is operatively connected with the PCI-E slot connector  312 A, and the adapter  100  of the present invention has a slot connector  112  to which the PCI-X adapter  200  is connected. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , the male connector  104  is disposed on the first edge  116 , and the slot connector  108  is disposed on the second surface  118 . The connection direction of the male connector  208  of the PCI-X adapter  200  and the slot connector  112  of the adapter  100  of the present invention is substantially vertical to the first plane  116 . The connection direction of the male connector  208  of the PCI-X adapter  200  and the slot connector  112  of the adapter  100  of the present invention is further substantially parallel to the second plane  118 . 
   According to the above embodiment, the total cost of the computer systems and peripheral devices is relatively reduced during the transition period from the non PCI-E structure (for example, PCI-X structure) to the PCI-E structure. Especially for non low-end computer systems (for example, the servers or above) of or above the server level, most of more expensive peripheral devices of originally used non PCI-E structure can still be used in PCI-E structure, and the occupied width is the width of two slots. 
     FIG. 6  schematically shows a method for operatively connecting a PCI-E bus device to a non PCI-E bus device (e.g., a PCI-X device). The PCI-E bus device has a PCI-E bus device connector and the non PCI-E bus device has a non PCI-E bus device connector. The method includes step  600  of providing the PCI-E bus device connector of the PCI-E bus device; step  604  of providing the non PCI-E bus device connector of the non PCI-E bus device; step  608  of providing an adapter device, the adapter device comprising an adapter body, a first adapter connector, a second adapter connector, and a bridge device; and step  612  of using the adapter device to operatively connect the PCI-E bus device connector of the PCI-E bus device to the non PCI-E bus connector of the non PCI-E bus device. 
   In more details, the first adapter connector operatively connects to the PCI-E bus device connector of the PCI-E bus device; the second adapter connector operatively connects to the non PCI-E bus device connector of the non PCI-E bus device; and the bridge device operatively connects the first adapter connector to the second adapter connector. The adapter body is preferably substantially rectangular, the first adapter connector is disposed on a first edge of the adapter body, and the second adapter connector is disposed on a second surface of the adapter body. The first and second surfaces are adjacent to each other and the angle between the first and second surfaces can be about 90 degrees. A connection direction of the second adapter connector and the non PCI-E bus device connector of the non PCI-E bus device is substantially vertical to the first edge. The connection direction of the second adapter connector and the non PCI-E bus device connector of the non PCI-E bus device is further substantially parallel to the second surface. 
   In one embodiment, the first adapter connector is a male connector, the second adapter connector is a PCI-X slot connector, the PCI-E bus connector is a PCI-E slot connector disposed on a motherboard, the non PCI-E bus device is a PCI-X adapter, and the non PCI-E bus device connector is a male connector. 
   While this invention has been described in conjunction with the specific embodiments outlined above, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the embodiments of the invention as set forth above are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.