EP0372021A1 - Universal connector device - Google Patents
Universal connector deviceInfo
- Publication number
- EP0372021A1 EP0372021A1 EP89903008A EP89903008A EP0372021A1 EP 0372021 A1 EP0372021 A1 EP 0372021A1 EP 89903008 A EP89903008 A EP 89903008A EP 89903008 A EP89903008 A EP 89903008A EP 0372021 A1 EP0372021 A1 EP 0372021A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- computer system
- host computer
- expansion
- cpu bus
- processor
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F13/00—Interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units
- G06F13/38—Information transfer, e.g. on bus
- G06F13/40—Bus structure
- G06F13/4063—Device-to-bus coupling
- G06F13/409—Mechanical coupling
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F13/00—Interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units
- G06F13/38—Information transfer, e.g. on bus
- G06F13/40—Bus structure
- G06F13/4004—Coupling between buses
- G06F13/4027—Coupling between buses using bus bridges
- G06F13/4045—Coupling between buses using bus bridges where the bus bridge performs an extender function
Definitions
- the present invention relates, in general, to microprocessor controlled video games and personal computers and to the communication between the central processing unit ("CPU") of a host computer system and that of a co-processor computer system to provide application software capability. More particularly, the present invention relates to a connector device used in such a host/co-processor computer system. Description of Related Art
- apparatus and methods are provided to accomplish high speed communication of data between the CPU of a host computer system and the CPU of a co-processor computer system which processes application software which is not compatible with the host computer system.
- a specific example is illustrated in the co-pending application by the Amiga computer system designed, manufactured, and marketed by Commodore Business Machines, Inc. of West Chester, Pennsylvania.
- the Amiga system is a low-cost, high performance computer with advanced graphics features, sound features, and high speed performance.
- the Amiga system is not IBM-PC/XT or IBM-PC/AT ("PC") compatible and, thus, cannot use the library of PC application software which is readily available on the market.
- PC IBM-PC/AT
- means are disclosed for making the Amiga system, as the host computer system, PC compatible.
- the invention disclosed and claimed in that application, as well as the invention disclosed and claimed herein, are not limited to an Amiga/PC environment, however. That environment is merely presented as a specific, preferred environment for purposes of explanation.
- a PC compatibility system 78 is ' added to host computer system 66 (that is, the Amiga system) for enhancing the host computer system to allow the host system to be compatible with PC application software.
- PC compatibility system 78 includes a dual port random access memory (“DPRAM") 76 and a co-processor system 70 which includes hardware (such as an 8088 CPU 54) and software necessary to create a PC environment and also includes PC application software to run in that environment.
- DPRAM 76 is connected on one port to the A iga bus via one of the 100 pin expansion Amiga bus slots 20 and is connected on another port to the CPU bus of co-processor system 70.
- Bridge card 200 includes a 100 pin host computer system CPU bus connector 202 connected to DPRAM 76 and a 62 pin co ⁇ processor system CPU bus connector 204 connected to the CPU bus of co-processor system 70 for an IBM PC/XT compatibility system.
- host computer system CPU bus connector 202 of bridge card 200 can be plugged into the Amiga bus at one of the 100 pin expansion Amiga bus slots 20(1), 20(2), 20(3), 20(4), and 20(5) shown in Fig. 1.
- co-processor computer system CPU bus connector 204 can be used to allow expansion cards to be utilized in the PC environment created by co-processor computer system 70.
- a connector device that provides easy connection of the PC compatibility system to the CPU of the host computer system and to expansion slots on that bus and provides easy connection of the CPU bus of the co ⁇ processor computer system to expansion slots for the use of expansion cards in the PC environment created by the co-processor system.
- a connector device that provides flexibility in the number of expansion slots available on the host computer system side of the PC compatibility system and those on the PC side of the system and provides easy access to those expansion slots.
- an object of the invention to provide a connector device that allows easy connection of the PC compatibility system to the CPU of the host computer system and to expansion slots on that bus and to provide easy connection of the CPU bus of the co ⁇ processor computer system to expansion slots for use of expansion cards in the PC environment.
- Yet another object of the invention is to provide a connector device which readily accepts a bridge card in more than one slot while also accepting expansion cards.
- a further object of the invention is to provide a connector device that is simple in construction and easy to manufacture.
- a connector device for use in communication of data between the CPU bus of a host computer system and the CPU bus of a co-processor computer system, between the CPU bus of the host computer system and an expansion card used with the host computer system, and between the CPU bus of the co-processor computer system and an expansion card used with the co-processor computer system using a bridge card having a host computer system CPU bus connector and a co-processor computer system CPU bus connector.
- the connector device comprises a plurality of host computer system expansion slots for coupling to the CPU bus of the host computer system; and a plurality of co-processor computer system expansion slots for coupling to the CPU bus of the co-processor computer system, wherein the plurality of host computer system expansion slots and the plurality of co-processor computer system expansion slots are physically configured so that a host computer system expansion slot and a co-processor computer system expansion slot form an in-line pair to accept the host computer system CPU bus connector of the bridge card in the host computer system expansion slot and the co-processor computer system CPU bus connector of the bridge card in the co- processor computer system expansion slot.
- the plurality of host computer expansion slots can include a first host computer expansion slot and a second host computer expansion slot and the plurality of co-processor computer expansion slots can include a first co ⁇ processor computer system expansion slot and a second co-processor computer system expansion slot.
- the first host computer system expansion slot and the first co ⁇ processor computer expansion slot form a first in-line pair to accept the host computer system CPU bus connector and the co-processor computer system CPU bus connector of the bridge card
- the second host computer system expansion slot and the second co ⁇ processor computer expansion slot form a second in-line pair to accept the host computer system CPU bus connector and the co-processor computer system CPU bus connector of the bridge card.
- Fig. 1 is a block diagram of the Amiga system with the PC compatibility system in place
- Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a PC compatibility system in the form of a plug-in card called a "bridge card";
- Fig. 3 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the connector device invention.
- Fig. 4 is a block diagram of the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 3 as used in the Amiga system of Fig. 1.
- a connector device 206 for use in communication of data between the CPU bus of host computer 66 and the CPU bus of co-processor computer system 70, between the host CPU bus and an expansion card used with host computer system 66, and between the CPU bus of co ⁇ processor computer system 70 and an expansion card used with system 70 using bridge card 200.
- Connector 206 includes a plurality of host computer system expansion slots or connectors, for example, slots 20(1), 20(2), 20(3), 20(4), and 20(5) which are coupled to the Amiga CPU bus when connector 206 is installed in a cabinet containing the Amiga system.
- Expansion slots 20(1-5) are each configured to accept a standard plug-in expansion card (not illustrated) for the Amiga computer system, such as an Amiga modem board, A2090 HD/SCSI controller, or A2052 RAM board, and to accept connector 202 from bridge card 200. Expansion slots 20(1-5) electrically connect expansion cards and DPRAM 76 to the Amiga CPU bus.
- Connector 206 also includes a plurality of co-processor computer system expansion slots, for example, IBM-PC/XT I/O expansion slots 210, 212, 214, and 216.
- the individual expansion slots are electrically connected by bus 218 which can serve as an extension of the CPU bus of co-processor computer system 70.
- PC expansion slots 210-216 are each configured to accept a standard plug-in PC card, such as network interfaces, SDLC/BSC communication cards, modem cards, clock/calendar cards, and others, which can be used by co-processor computer system 70.
- Each of PC expansion ⁇ lots 210-216 also accepts connector 204 from bridge card 200 to electrically connect bus 218 to the CPU bus of co-processor computer system 70.
- the plurality of host computer system expansion slots and the plurality of co-processor computer system expansion slots are physically configured on connector 206 so that at least one host computer system expansion slot and at least one co ⁇ processor computer system expansion slot form an in-line pair to accept the host computer system CPU bus connector of the bridge card in the host computer system expansion slot and the co-processor computer system CPU bus connector of the bridge card in the co-processor computer system expansion slot.
- host computer system expansion slot 20(4) is separated from and aligned with co-processor computer system expansion slot 210 so that slots 20(4) and 210 form an in-line pair which allows bridge card 200 to be plugged into connector 206 by the insertion of connector 202 into slot 20(4) and connector 204 into slot 210 at board position D.
- expansion slot 20(5) and expansion slot 212 are situated to form another in-line pair to accept bridge card 200 in board position E.
- each of expansion slots 20(1) through 20(5) are parallel to each other as are expansion slots 210, 212, 214, and 216.
- Connector 206 can also include another plurality of co-processor computer system expansion slots or connectors, such as expansion slots 220 and 222 coupled by bus 224. Only two such slots are shown in Fig. 3; however, additional slots can be included in connector 206 and connected by bus 224.
- slot 220 when used with slot 210 creates an IBM PC/AT I/O slot.
- slots 222 and 212 form another IBM PC/AT I/O slot.
- the bridge card used with expansion slots 210 and 212 extended by slots 220 and 222 would, of course, have to be modified to create an IBM-PC/AT environment and would have a 98 pin co-processor computer system CPU bus connector instead of the 62 pin bus connector 204 used in an IBM-PC/XT co-processor computer system of bridge card 200.
- the IBM-PC/AT bus connector on the bridge card would be spaced from host computer system CPU bus connector 202 to allow connector 202 to be inserted in slot 20(4) or 20(5) while the IBM-PC/AT connector is in slots 220 and 210 or 222 and 212, respectively.
- the preferred embodiment of connector 206 illustrated in Fig. 3 provides seven board positions A, B, C, D, E, F, and G to allow connection of expansion cards for the host computer system, expansion cards for the co-processor computer system, and a bridge card.
- Bridge card 200 can be placed in either board position D or board position E as discussed above depending upon the needs of the computer's user. Placement of bridge card 200 in board position E, as diagramatically illustrated in Fig. 4, provides access to four out of the five host computer system expansion slots. Specifically, that positioning of bridge card 200 allows the plug-in of expansion cards for the Amiga system at expansion slots 20(1), 20(2), 20(3), and 20(4) at board positions A, B, C, and D, respectively.
- bridge card 200 can be inserted at board position D. This plug-in position allows use of board positions E, F, and G for expansion slots 212, 214, and 216, respectively. This positioning of bridge card 200 allows expansion card placement in board positions A, B, and C for the host computer system expansion slots 20(1), 20(2), and 20(3).
- expansion slots 220 and 222 and bus 224 are not shown in Fig. 4.
- Connector 206 provides the computer user with great flexibility.
- the computer user can use board positions A-E for expansion cards in the host computer system or can make the host computer system PC compatible by plugging in bridge card 200 in either board position D or E.
- Connector 206 allows the computer user to choose a number of options with respect to the number of expansion cards for use on the host computer system and for use in the co-processor computer system. In the preferred embodiment of Fig.
- the computer user when using bridge card 200 and connector 206, the computer user has available either three board positions for expansion cards on the host computer system side and three on the co-processor computer system side, that is, board positions A, B, and C and E, F, and G, respectively, or four positions on the host computer system side and two on the co-processor computer system side, that is, board positions A, B, C, and D and board positions F and G, respectively.
- the computer user utilizes connector 206 by inserting expansion cards for the host computer system, a bridge card, and/or expansion cards for the co-processor computer system by plugging the appropriate bus connectors on the cards into the appropriate slots on connector 206 in a conventional manner.
- the number of host computer system expansion slots can be increased or decreased as well as those of the co-processor computer system expansion slots.
- Additional co-processor computer system slots can be added in line with one or more of the host computer system expansion slots to provide the plugging in of additional types of bridge cards.
Abstract
Le connecteur décrit (206) est destiné à être utilisé dans la transmission de données au moyen d'une carte pont enfichable (200) entre le bus (208) de l'unité centrale (CPU) d'un ordinateur central et le bus CPU (218) d'un ordinateur coprocesseur, entre le bus CPU (208) de l'ordinateur central et une carte d'extension utilisée avec l'ordinateur central et entre le bus CPU (218) de l'ordinateur coprocesseur et une carte d'extension utilisée avec l'ordinateur coprocesseur. Ledit connecteur comprend plusieurs logements libres pour extension (20(1), 20(2), 20(3), 20(4), 20(5)) dans l'ordinateur central et plusieurs logements libres pour extension (210, 212, 214, 216) dans l'ordinateur coprocesseur. La configuration de ces logements est telle qu'au moins un des logements libres pour extension (20(4), 20(5)) de l'ordinateur central et au moins un des logements libres pour extension (210, 212) de l'ordinteur coprocesseur forment une paire en ligne acceptant la carte pont enfichable (200).The connector described (206) is intended to be used in the transmission of data by means of a plug-in bridge card (200) between the bus (208) of the central processing unit (CPU) of a central computer and the CPU bus (218) of a coprocessor computer, between the CPU bus (208) of the central computer and an expansion card used with the central computer and between the CPU bus (218) of the coprocessor computer and a d card extension used with the coprocessor computer. Said connector comprises several free slots for extension (20 (1), 20 (2), 20 (3), 20 (4), 20 (5)) in the central computer and several free slots for extension (210, 212, 214, 216) in the coprocessor computer. The configuration of these housings is such that at least one of the free slots for extension (20 (4), 20 (5)) of the central computer and at least one of the free slots for extension (210, 212) of the computer and coprocessor form an online pair accepting the plug-in bridge card (200).
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US15295488A | 1988-02-05 | 1988-02-05 | |
US152954 | 1988-02-05 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0372021A1 true EP0372021A1 (en) | 1990-06-13 |
EP0372021A4 EP0372021A4 (en) | 1993-07-28 |
Family
ID=22545158
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19890903008 Withdrawn EP0372021A4 (en) | 1988-02-05 | 1988-12-27 | Universal connector device |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0372021A4 (en) |
AU (1) | AU3348489A (en) |
CA (1) | CA1317380C (en) |
ES (1) | ES2015623A6 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1989007349A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CA2097564C (en) * | 1992-06-16 | 2004-05-25 | David L. Phillips | Method of coupling open systems to a proprietary network |
US5446848A (en) * | 1993-06-25 | 1995-08-29 | Unisys Corp | Entry level data processing system which is expandable by a factor of two to a partitionable upgraded system with low overhead |
RU2157000C2 (en) * | 1995-06-15 | 2000-09-27 | Интел Корпорейшн | Architecture of input-output processor, which connects inter-bridge of primary components |
US6338107B1 (en) | 1998-12-16 | 2002-01-08 | International Business Machines Corporation | Method and system for providing hot plug of adapter cards in an expanded slot environment |
DE19938429B4 (en) | 1999-08-13 | 2007-03-15 | Force Computers Gmbh | computer |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3993935A (en) * | 1974-12-16 | 1976-11-23 | Xerox Corporation | Printed circuit board connection |
US4490775A (en) * | 1982-05-24 | 1984-12-25 | Westinghouse Electric Corp. | Universal programmable interface |
DE3236603C1 (en) * | 1982-10-02 | 1983-09-29 | Scheidt & Bachmann GmbH, 4050 Mönchengladbach | Device for issuing different tokens |
US4647123A (en) * | 1983-02-07 | 1987-03-03 | Gulf & Western Manufacturing Company | Bus networks for digital data processing systems and modules usable therewith |
DE3502295A1 (en) * | 1985-01-24 | 1986-07-24 | ANT Nachrichtentechnik GmbH, 7150 Backnang | CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM FOR ELECTRICAL COMMUNICATION DEVICES |
-
1988
- 1988-12-27 EP EP19890903008 patent/EP0372021A4/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1988-12-27 WO PCT/US1988/004688 patent/WO1989007349A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1988-12-27 AU AU33484/89A patent/AU3348489A/en not_active Abandoned
-
1989
- 1989-01-26 CA CA000589221A patent/CA1317380C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1989-02-03 ES ES8900372A patent/ES2015623A6/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See references of WO8907349A1 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO1989007349A1 (en) | 1989-08-10 |
CA1317380C (en) | 1993-05-04 |
ES2015623A6 (en) | 1990-09-01 |
AU3348489A (en) | 1989-08-25 |
EP0372021A4 (en) | 1993-07-28 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
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PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
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17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 19900209 |
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RHK1 | Main classification (correction) |
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A4 | Supplementary search report drawn up and despatched |
Effective date: 19930608 |
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STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN |
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18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
Effective date: 19940701 |