Patent Publication Number: US-2003235042-A1

Title: Carrier card and method

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] Currently, in order to incorporate mini-PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) card functionality into existing computer systems, a mini-PCI connector must be incorporated onto a printed circuit board or the discrete components of the mini-PCI card must be incorporated directly onto the printed circuit board. This configuration limits flexibility in the use of min-PCI cards. Also, it is desirable to fit additional functionality into smaller spaces, while maintaining the flexibility of a modular type system. Mini-PCI cards offer modular functionality while taking up relatively little space. Prior art computer systems do not have the capability to add mini-PCI card functionality in a modular fashion.  
       [0002] Accordingly, there is a significant need for an apparatus and method that overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art outlined above. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0003] Referring to the drawing:  
     [0004]FIG. 1 depicts a computer system according to one embodiment of the invention;  
     [0005]FIG. 2 depicts a computer system according to another embodiment of the invention;  
     [0006]FIG. 3 depicts a computer system according to yet another embodiment of the invention;  
     [0007]FIG. 4 depicts a computer system according to still another embodiment of the invention;  
     [0008]FIG. 5 depicts a representation of a form factor of a mini-PCI card according to an embodiment of the invention; and  
     [0009]FIG. 6 depicts a representation of a form factor of a mini-PCI card according to another embodiment of the invention.  
    
    
     [0010] It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the drawing have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements are exaggerated relative to each other. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the Figures to indicate corresponding elements.  
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0011] In the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate specific exemplary embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, but other embodiments may be utilized and logical, mechanical, electrical and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.  
     [0012] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it is understood that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known circuits, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the invention.  
     [0013] In the following description and claims, the terms “coupled” and “connected,” along with their derivatives, may be used. It should be understood that these terms are not intended as synonyms for each other. Rather, in particular embodiments, “connected” may be used to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact. However, “coupled” may mean that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other, but yet still co-operate or interact with each other.  
     [0014] For clarity of explanation, the embodiments of the present invention are presented, in part, as comprising individual functional blocks. The functions represented by these blocks may be provided through the use of either shared or dedicated hardware, including, but not limited to, hardware capable of executing software. The present invention is not limited to implementation by any particular set of elements, and the description herein is merely representational of one embodiment.  
     [0015]FIG. 1 depicts a computer system  100  according to one embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 1, computer system  100  can include a carrier card  102  having one or more mini-PCI cards  104 . Carrier card  102  can be coupled to one or more components on host side  115  of computer system  100  including processor  110  for processing algorithms stored in memory  112 . Memory  112  comprises control algorithms, and can include, but is not limited to, random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), flash memory, electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), and the like. Memory  112  can contain stored instructions, tables, data, and the like, to be utilized by processor  110 . Computer system  100  can also include storage  114 , which can include, for example, hard drive, flash memory, floppy disks and disk drives, CD-ROM, DVD, and the like.  
     [0016] Carrier card  102  can also be coupled to one or more networks  116  and services  118 . Network  116  can include, for example and without limitation, VERSAmodule Eurocard (VMEbus), Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI and PCI-X), RapidIO™, Serial RapidIO™, 3GIO™, Infiniband™, Hypertransport™, FibreChannel™, Ethernet™ networks, and the like. Services  118  can be an encapsulation of some functionality that is of use to one or more service-using entities (current or anticipated). A service can provide access to information or perform some computation. Services  118  also provide a desired functionality to a human user.  
     [0017] Computer system can also include human interface (H/I) elements  120 , which can include, without limitation, elements such as a display, a multi-position controller, one or more control knobs, one or more indicators such as bulbs or light emitting diodes (LEDs), one or more control buttons, one or more speakers, a microphone, and any other H/I elements  120  required by computer system  100 . H/I elements  120  can request and display content and data including, application data, position data, personal data, email, audio/video, and the like. The invention is not limited by the (H/I) elements  120  described above. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the (H/I) elements  120  outlined above are meant to be representative and to not reflect all possible (H/I) elements that may be employed.  
     [0018] Carrier card  102  can include one or more mini-PCI cards  104  coupled to an adaptor connector  105 , where adaptor connector  105  is coupled to, and interfaces with, connector interface  107  of computer system  100 . Carrier card  102  interfaces with host side  115  of computer system  100  via adaptor connector  105  and connector interface  107 . In an embodiment of the invention, adaptor connector  105  can be an integral part of carrier card  102 . Mini-PCI card  104  is coupled to, and interfaces with carrier card  102  via mini-PCI card interface  109 . Mini-PCI card  104  interfaces with computer system  100  via carrier card  102 .  
     [0019] Mini-PCI card  104  can be an alternate implementation for a small form factor PCI card. Mini-PCI cards are known in the art with mechanical, electrical and configuration standards set out in the Mini PCI Specification revision 1 or later and the PCI Local Bus Specification revision 2.3 or later as promulgated by the PCI Special Interest Group, 5300 N.E. Elam Young Parkway, Hillsboro, Oreg.  
     [0020] In an embodiment of the invention, carrier card can include bridging module  108  coupled to mini-PCI card  104 . Bridging module  108  can be hardware and/or software to provide an interface between any number of mini-PCI cards  104  on carrier card  102  and other elements on host side  115  of computer system  100 , such as processor  110 , memory  112 , network  116 , and the like. Bridging module  108  is known in the art and can facilitate communication between mini-PCI card  104  and computer system  100 . Mini-PCI card  104  can communicate with bridging module  108  using a network protocol, such as a parallel multi-drop network, which can use for example, a Peripheral Interconnect-X (PCI-X™) based protocols. Examples of variants of PCI-X protocols, without limitation, include 133 MHz 64-bit PCI-X, 100 MHz 64-bit PCI-X, and the like. Mini-PCI card  104  can also communicate with bridging module  108  using any variant of older PCI based protocols (a subset of PCI-X based protocols), for example and without limitation, 66 MHz 64-bit PCI down to 33 MHz 32-bit PCI, and the like. Presently, mini-PCI card  104  can communicate with bridging module  108  using the 33 MHz 32-bit PCI protocol. However, other PCI and PCI-X protocols are within the scope of the invention.  
     [0021] Bridging module  108  allows mini-PCI card  104  to bridge across speed and load domains different from the one used by mini-PCI card  104  in addition to network protocols different from the PCI based protocol used by mini-PCI card  104 . As an example of a difference in network protocols, carrier card  102  can be coupled to host side  115  of computer system  100 , where host side  115  uses a VMEbus network architecture using any of the VMEbus protocols known in the art. For example, VMEbus based protocols can include, but are not limited to, Single Cycle Transfer protocol (SCT), Block Transfer protocol (BLT), Multiplexed Block Transfer protocol (MBLT), Two Edge VMEbus protocol (2eVME) and Two Edge Source Synchronous Transfer protocol (2eSST). While mini-PCI card  104  uses a version of a PCI based protocol, bridging module  108  allows mini-PCI card  104  to communicate with host side  115  of computer system  100 .  
     [0022] As an example of a speed domain difference, host side  115  of computer system  100  can uses a PCI based protocol, for example a PCI based protocol, that is faster than the 33 MHz 32-bit PCI protocol used by mini-PCI card  104 . Bridging module  108  can allow mini-PCI card  104  to communicate with host side  115  without slowing down the host side  115  PCI protocol based network. In effect, bridging module  108  allows one or more mini-PCI cards  104  to run at 33 MHz 32-bit without the entire host side  115  network being slowed down to this speed and data transfer rate.  
     [0023] As an example of a load domain difference, if host side  115  of computer system  100  uses a network protocol that only allows a limited number of cards on the bus, bridging module  108  allows any number of mini-PCI cards  104  to be added to the bus while the bus only sees one load. The use of bridging modules  108  to bridge speed and load domains is known in the art.  
     [0024] Carrier card  102  allows the functionality of one or more mini-PCI cards  104  to be incorporated into computer system  100  with all of the advantages of a mini-PCI card, including small form factor, limited heat generation, low power consumption, and the like. Functionality of mini-PCI card  104  can be included in one or more modules  106  coupled to mini-PCI card  104 . Modules  106  can include hardware and/or software components. Examples of mini-PCI card functionality can include, but are not limited to, processors, memory, storage, modems, wireless communication means including Bluetooth, 802.11, and the like, local area network (LAN) and wide area network (WAN) capabilities, and the like.  
     [0025] In an embodiment of the invention, carrier card  102  functions to interface one or more mini-PCI cards  104  with host side  115  of computer system  100 , where host side  115  can be designed to accept a carrier card  102  with a given form factor. The following figures illustrate several implementations of embodiments of the invention. The implementations shown are exemplary and not meant to be limiting of the invention. Other form factors, adaptor connectors, connector interfaces, and the like are within the scope of the invention.  
     [0026]FIG. 2 depicts a computer system  200  according to another embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 2, a host board  201 , which can be for example a motherboard, and the like, is designed to interface with carrier card  202 . In this embodiment, carrier card  202  has a PCI form factor. Carrier card  202  with a PCI form factor has an adaptor connector  205  configured as a PCI adaptor connector. Also, host board  201  of computer system  200  includes connector interface  207 , which is a PCI connector interface. PCI form factor, PCI adaptor connector, PCI connector interface, including mechanical dimensions, electrical specifications, and the like are known in the art and set forth in the PCI Local Bus Specification revision 2.3 or later as promulgated by the PCI Special Interest Group, 5300 N.E. Elam Young Parkway, Hillsboro, Oreg.  
     [0027] As shown in FIG. 2, carrier card  202  includes two mini-PCI cards  204 . However, any number of mini-PCI cards  204  is within the scope of the invention. Mini-PCI card  204  can have one or more modules  206  as described above to add functionality to mini-PCI cards  204  and computer system  200 . In an embodiment of the invention, a bridging module (not shown for clarity) can be included coupled to carrier card  202  as described above. Mini-PCI cards  204  are coupled to adaptor connector  205 , and adaptor connector is designed to interlock with connector interface  207 . Mini-PCI card  204  can communicate with computer system  200  via carrier card  202 .  
     [0028]FIG. 3 depicts a computer system  300  according to yet another embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 3, carrier card  302  can be a VMEbus board and have a VMEbus board form factor. Computer system  300  is a VMEbus network. Adaptor connector  305  can be VMEbus connectors and connector interface  307  can be VMEbus connectors on the backplane  301  of a VMEbus chassis designed to receive carrier card  302  having a VMEbus form factor. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, bridging module  308  is included coupled to carrier card  302 , where bridging module  308  is also coupled to mini-PCI cards  304  having modules  306 . VMEbus network, VMEbus form factor, VMEbus adaptor connector, VMEbus connector interface, including mechanical dimensions, electrical specifications, and the like, are known in the art and set forth in the ANSI/VITA 1-1994 and ANSI/VITA 1.1-1997 standards promulgated by the VMEbus International Trade Association (VITA), P.O. Box 19658, Fountain Hills, Ariz., 85269 (where ANSI stands for American National Standards Institute).  
     [0029] Although four mini-PCI cards  304  are shown, any number of mini-PCI cards  304  is within the scope of the invention. Mini-PCI cards  304  are coupled to adaptor connector  305 , and adaptor connector  305  is designed to interlock with connector interface  307 . Mini-PCI cards  304  can communicate with computer system  300  via carrier card  302 .  
     [0030] In another embodiment, FIG. 3 can represent carrier card  302  with a CompactPCI® form factor. In this embodiment, adaptor connector  305  and connector interface  307  conform to CompactPCI standards. Compact PCI form factor, CompactPCI adaptor connector, CompactPCI connector interface, including mechanical dimensions, electrical specifications, and the like, are known in the CompactPCI Specification, by PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PCIMG™), 301 Edgewater Place, Suite 220, Wakefield, Mass.  
     [0031] In yet another embodiment, FIG. 3 can represent carrier card  302  with an Advanced Telecommunications Computer Architecture (ATCA™) form factor. In this embodiment, adaptor connector  305  and connector interface  307  conform to ATCA standards. ATCA form factor, ATCA adaptor connector, ATCA connector interface, including mechanical dimensions, electrical specifications, and the like, are known in the art and set forth in the PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG) Specification 3.0.  
     [0032] In still another embodiment of the invention, FIG. 3 can represent carrier card  302  with an Advanced Packaging System (APS) form factor. In this embodiment, adaptor connector  305  and connector interface  307  conform to APS standards. APS form factor, APS adaptor connector, APS connector interface, including mechanical dimensions, electrical specifications, and the like, are known in the art and set forth in the ANSI/VITA Specification 34.  
     [0033]FIG. 4 depicts a computer system  400  according to still another embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 4, carrier card  402  can be a mezzanine board designed to be coupled to host board  401 . In this embodiment, host board can be a VMEbus board having a VMEbus form factor as described above. In general, mezzanine boards are deployed on a variety of electronics module host boards  401  to provide additional functionality, and the like.  
     [0034] Although any type of mezzanine board is within the scope of the invention, an exemplary embodiment of a carrier card  402  having a mezzanine board configuration can be a Common Mezzanine Card (CMC) as specified and set forth in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standard P1386. A particular example of an embodiment of carrier card  402  is a PCI mezzanine card (PMC). In other words, carrier card  402  can have a PMC form factor.  
     [0035] Carrier card can include one or more mini-PCI cards  404  with their associated modules  406  to add functionality to computer system  400 . Optionally, carrier card  402  can include a bridging module (not shown for clarity) coupled to mini-PCI cards  404  as described above. PMC includes adaptor connector  405 , and connector interface  407 , which can be a PMC adaptor connector and a PMC connector interface. PMC form factor, PMC adaptor connector, PMC connector interface, including mechanical dimensions, electrical specifications, and the like, are also set forth in IEEE standard P1386.  
     [0036]FIG. 5 depicts a representation  500  of a form factor of a mini-PCI card  504  according to an embodiment of the invention. The mini-PCI card  504  shown in FIG. 5 is representative of a Type I or Type II form factor mini-PCI card  504  as defined by Mini PCI Specification revision I or later as promulgated by the PCI Special Interest Group, Hillsboro, Oreg. Type I form factor includes a Type IA and Type IB form factor, which are also represented by FIG. 5. Type II form factor also includes a Type IIA and Type IIB form factor, which are represented by FIG. 5.  
     [0037] Mini-PCI card  504  can include one or more modules  506  to add functionality to mini-PCI card  504  and computer system as described above. Carrier card  502  includes mini-PCI card interface  509 , where mini-PCI card  504  is coupled, and interfaces with carrier card  502  via mini-PCI card interface  509 . Type I and Type II form factors, mechanical dimensions of mini-PCI card  504 , electrical specifications, and the like, are set forth in Mini PCI Specification revision 1 or later.  
     [0038] Carrier card  502  can also include bridging module (not shown for clarity), where bridging module is coupled to mini-PCI card interface  509 . Carrier card  502  can also include more than one mini-PCI card interface  509  and associated mini-PCI cards  504 . Mini-PCI card interface  509  can also be coupled to adapter connector (not shown for clarity) on carrier card  502  as described and shown above.  
     [0039]FIG. 6 depicts a representation  600  of a form factor of a mini-PCI card  604  according to another embodiment of the invention. The mini-PCI card  604  shown in FIG. 6 is representative of a Type III form factor mini-PCI card  604  as defined by Mini PCI Specification revision 1 or later as promulgated by the PCI Special Interest Group, Hillsboro, Oreg. Type III form factor includes a Type IIIA and Type IIIB form factor, which are represented by FIG. 6.  
     [0040] Mini-PCI card  604  can include one or more modules  606  to add functionality to mini-PCI card  604  and computer system as described above. Carrier card  602  includes mini-PCI card interface  609 , where mini-PCI card  604  is coupled, and interfaces with carrier card  602  via mini-PCI card interface  609 . Type III form factors, mechanical dimensions of mini-PCI card  604 , electrical specifications, and the like, are set forth in Mini PCI Specification revision 1 or later.  
     [0041] Carrier card  602  can also include bridging module (not shown for clarity), where bridging module is coupled to mini-PCI card interface  609 . Carrier card  602  can also include more than one mini-PCI card interface  609  and associated mini-PCI cards  604 . Mini-PCI card interface  609  can also be coupled to adapter connector (not shown for clarity) on carrier card  602  as described and shown above.  
     [0042] While we have shown and described specific embodiments of the present invention, further modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art. It is therefore, to be understood that appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.