Patent ID: 6990544

Claim:
A method for detecting the presence of a hot-pluggable component in a computer system comprising the steps of: generating electromagnetic energy from a first electromagnetic energy source on a first side of a system board proximate a connector, the electromagnetic energy directed at least toward a second side of the system board opposing the first electromagnetic energy source; generating electromagnetic energy from a second electromagnetic energy source located on top of the first electromagnetic energy source, the electromagnetic energy directed at least toward a second side of the system board opposing the second electromagnetic energy source; detecting a presence of the electromagnetic energy from the first electromagnetic energy source at a first electromagnetic energy detector on the second side of the system board when the hot-pluggable component is not mated to the connector and the electromagnetic energy from the first electromagnetic energy source is thereby unobstructed by the hot-pluggable component; detecting an absence of electromagnetic energy from the first electromagnetic energy source at the first electromagnetic energy detector on the second side of the system board when the hot-pluggable component is mated to the connector and the electromagnetic energy from the first electromagnetic energy source is thereby obstructed by the hot-pluggable component; detecting a presence of the electromagnetic energy from the second electromagnetic energy source at a second electromagnetic energy detector located on top of the first electromagnetic energy detector when the hot-pluggable component is not mated to the connector and the electromagnetic energy from the second electromagnetic energy source is thereby unobstructed by the hot-pluggable component; and detecting an absence of electromagnetic energy from the second electromagnetic energy source at the second electromagnetic energy detector on the second side of the system board when the hot-pluggable component is mated to the connector and the electromagnetic energy from the second electromagnetic energy source is thereby obstructed by the hot-pluggable component.