JPH09306158A - Vertical extension type memory module - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vertical extension type memory module easy to change a specific signal terminal and easy to carry out its assembling work. SOLUTION: This memory module is provided with a socket connector of a female/male integrated type penetrating a board and a module recognition signal pin group receiving selection signals on a printed circuit board. Further, the module recognition signal pin group 19 is constituted of module selection signal pins 26 of the number of pieces more than the number of the memory modules to be laminated and six pairs of specific signal pins 27, and a pair of module selection signal pin 26c and specific signal pin 27c are connected through a pin short connector 29.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vertical extension type memory module built in information equipment such as a personal computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, information devices such as personal computers require different memory capacities depending on their applications. Therefore, after purchase, it is possible to increase the memory capacities as needed to improve their functions. It is being appreciated.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a main board of a personal computer. MPU2 on the main board 1,
The external bus socket 3, the memory module connector 4, etc. are fixed. In addition, the SIMM module 5 has 2
A plurality of (about 3 to 16) memory ICs 7 are mounted on the printed circuit board 6 of 6 layers, and a plurality of flat terminal groups 8 are connected to the memory module connector 4 at the end of the board 6 to receive signals. Is provided, and these are one unit. Then, the SIM is connected to the memory module connector 4 provided on the main board 1.
The M module 5 is attached. The maximum memory capacity is limited by the number of memory module connectors 4 on the main board 1. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, there are four memory module connectors 4 and the capacity of one SIMM module 5 is 4 Mbytes. If there is
4 × 4 = 16 Mbytes. Therefore, to add memory, the SIMM module 5 must be installed in the empty memory module connector 4 that is previously installed on the main board 1.
Is carried out according to the required capacity.

The above-mentioned form of memory expansion is to arrange a plurality of memory modules in the horizontal direction. However, as a means for mounting the memory modules in a device at a higher density, the plurality of memory modules are mounted on the main board. There is a method of stacking in the vertical direction. For example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-211853, as shown in FIG. 6, a memory module in which a male signal connector 11 and a female signal connector 12 which can be fitted to each other on the upper and lower surfaces of a module substrate 10 are arranged, respectively. With the adoption of No. 13, a technique is disclosed in which a plurality of memory modules are vertically stacked to add more memories.

[0005]

By the way, when a plurality of memory modules are mounted on the main board,
A signal line common to each memory module and a signal line specific to each memory module are required. In the case of the memory module described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-211853, these signal lines are configured to connect the main board and the memory module via the signal line connected to the signal connector. It is provided consistently in all memory modules.

On the other hand, regarding the unique signal line of each memory module, for example, if the rightmost terminal of the plurality of unique signal lines is the Nth terminal, the signal line of the adjacent (N + 1) th terminal is raised one step. In this memory module, the rightmost terminal is shifted and connected to form the Nth unique signal line in the module. In this way, the terminal row is connected to the upper stage module while sequentially shifting its number, and the remaining terminals other than the Nth terminal are not taken into the signal processing of the board and are bypassed to the upper stage module as they are. There is. With this configuration, in any memory module, the Nth terminal is always a unique signal line, and the effect that standardization can be achieved can be obtained.

However, in the above-mentioned conventional vertical extension type memory module, a unique signal used only by the module is assigned to the unique Nth signal terminal on the module board, but the unique signal from the main board to each memory module is assigned. Since all signal transmission depends on the signal line, for example, from the Nth position (N +
1) If there is a design change request that is desired to be changed, it has been extremely difficult to handle it.

Further, when manufacturing the memory module, it is necessary to fix the male signal connector and the female signal connector to the upper and lower surfaces of the module substrate with high positional accuracy, which makes the assembly work troublesome. Met.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides a vertical expansion type memory module in which the unique signal terminals can be easily changed and the assembling work thereof is easy. To aim.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the vertical extension type memory module of the present invention is provided with a memory IC and a module recognition signal pin group on a module substrate, and the module recognition signal pin group is , At least one of the memory modules to be stacked is connected to a module selection signal pin for transmitting a selection signal from the main board to at least one of the memory modules and an arbitrary signal line on the memory module. It is characterized in that the module selection signal pin which is composed of the unique signal pin and which transmits the selection signal is connected to the unique signal pin through a detachable connecting member.

Further, the unique signal pins are composed of a plurality of pins that are paired with each module select signal pin in the same number as the module select signal pins, and all of these unique signal pins are connected to each other and the select signal is transmitted. The module selection signal pin and the unique signal pin forming a pair with the module selection signal pin may be connected by a pin short connector. Furthermore, a male and female integrated socket connector for performing signal connection between modules and fixing of modules may be fixed to the module board so as to penetrate the module board.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a vertical extension type memory module 15 (hereinafter, simply referred to as a memory module) of the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, the memory module 15 of the present embodiment
Is a printed circuit board 16 (module board), a memory I
C17, a male and female integrated socket connector 18, a module recognition signal pin group 19, and other circuit components.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the printed circuit board 1
A plurality of memory ICs 17 are fixed in the central portion of 6
Two male and female integrated socket connectors 18 (hereinafter simply referred to as socket connectors) and a set of module recognition signal pin groups 19 are fixed to the peripheral portion. Memory IC1
7 has an arbitrary configuration that varies depending on the number of memory inputs / outputs and the capacity required for the application.
The socket connector 18 is for connecting signals common to a plurality of memory modules and for physically fixing the memory modules themselves. The module recognition signal pin group 19 is for connecting signals for selecting each memory module. It is for making connections.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the printed circuit board 1
A through hole 20 is formed in 6 and a socket connector 18 is arranged so as to penetrate the through hole 20, and is fixed to the printed board 16 by soldering. 2 is an enlarged view of the socket connector 18,
As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the socket connector 1
8 is a pin-shaped male terminal 22 on the upper surface of the pin support portion 21.
Is provided, and the lower surface of the pin support portion 21 is provided with a female terminal 23 having a hole shape that is fitted with each male terminal of another socket connector.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing how a plurality of memory modules 15, 15, ... Are mounted on the main board 24. In this way, the same socket connector 18a is provided at a position on the main board 24 corresponding to the position of the socket connector 18 of the memory module 15, and a plurality of memory modules 1 are provided on the main board 24.
When mounting 5, male terminal 22 of socket connector 18
By mating the female terminal 23 with the female terminal 23, each memory module 15 is physically fixed, and at the same time, a common signal is transmitted from the main board 24 to the memory module 15 and between the memory modules 15. ing.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the module recognition signal pin group 19. This module recognition signal pin group 19
The configuration of the memory module 1 on the main board 24
Although it is necessary to change the number depending on the maximum number of mounted modules 5, this embodiment is an example in which the maximum number of mounted memory modules 15 is 6. As shown in FIG. 4A, the pin support portion 25 is fixed on the printed circuit board 16,
As shown in FIG. 4B, from the upper surface of the pin support portion 25, 2
Six pairs of pins 26, 27, ... Are projected in one pair. The six pins in one row are the module selection signal pins 26, and these have individual module selection signal terminals (not shown).
Is connected. Then, a selection signal for selecting and recognizing the memory module 15 is transmitted through the individual module selection signal terminal. The six pins on the other row are the unique signal pins 27, and short-circuit wiring 28 is formed on all the six pins, and then to the selection signal terminals (not shown) of the memory IC mounted on the memory module 15. It is connected. Then, one of the module selection signal pins 26, the module selection signal pin 26c, and the unique signal pin 27c paired with the module selection signal pin 26c are connected by a removable pin short connector 29 (connection member).

FIG. 4C is a diagram showing a part of the module recognition signal pin group 19 of the plurality of memory modules 15 to be mounted. As shown in this figure, for example, in the memory module 15A, the rightmost pair 26 of the 6 pairs of pins is
The pin short connectors 29 are fixed to the a and 27a, and the second pair 26 from the right side in the memory module 15B.
.., the leftmost pair 26f, 27f in the memory module 15F, the pin short connector 29 is fixed to a different pair of pins in each of the memory modules 15A to 15F. Therefore, when the main board 24 selects, for example, the memory module 15A, the selection signal indicates that each of the memory modules 15A to 15A.
It is transmitted to the rightmost module selection signal pin 26a of F, but the memory modules 15B to 15F do not respond because the rightmost module selection signal pin 26a is isolated.
However, in the memory module 15A, the rightmost module selection signal pin 26a is the pin short connector 2
Unique signal pin 27 shorted to each other by 9
, The selection signal is transmitted to the selection signal terminal of the memory IC on the memory module 15A.

The memory module 15 of the present embodiment is provided with a module recognition signal pin group 19 composed of 6 pairs of pins consisting of a module selection signal pin 26 and a unique signal pin 27, and one of them is a pair. Since the module selection signal pin 26 and the unique signal pin 27 are connected to each other by the pin short connector 29, the position of the pin functioning as the selection signal terminal can be easily changed by changing the installation position of the pin short connector 29. can do.

Further, since the socket connector 18 is attached by penetrating the printed circuit board 16, it is necessary to fix a male signal connector and a female signal connector on both sides of the substrate as in the conventional memory module. Therefore, the workability of assembling the memory module can be improved. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the same socket connector 18a is attached to the main board 24 so that the memory module 15 can be mounted on the lower surface of the main board 24. Can be used effectively.

The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the module recognition signal pin group has a 6-pin configuration in which one module selection signal pin and one unique signal pin are paired, but two module selection signal pins are provided for one memory module. Since the above pins may be assigned, the number of pins is not limited to six, and may be at least the maximum number of memory modules to be mounted.
Further, the number of unique signal pins is not limited to six, and at least one unique signal pin connected to an arbitrary signal line on the memory module may be used although the shape of the pin short connector changes.

[0021]

As described above in detail, according to the vertical extension type memory module of the present invention, a module recognition signal pin group including a plurality of module selection signal pins and unique signal pins is provided, and among them, Since the module selection signal pin that transmits the selection signal and the unique signal pin are connected by a removable connecting member, the position of the pin that functions as the selection signal terminal can be easily changed by changing the installation position of the connecting member. Can be changed to Also, when a male and female integrated connector is attached by penetrating the module board, like the conventional memory module,
It is not necessary to fix the male signal connector and the female signal connector on both sides of the board, and the workability of assembling the memory module can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view (a) and a side view (b) showing a memory module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 (a) is a side view and FIG. 2 (b) is a rear view showing a socket connector portion of the memory module.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a state in which a plurality of memory modules are mounted on the main board.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a module recognition signal pin group portion of the memory module, FIG.
(C) It is a side view of a state in which a plurality of memory modules are stacked.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional main board and a memory module.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a conventional memory module,
It is a top view and (b) side view.

[Explanation of symbols]

15, 15A, 15B, 15F Memory board 16 Printed circuit board (module board) 17 Memory IC 18, 18a Male and female integrated socket connector 19 Module recognition signal pin group 20 Through hole 21 Pin support 22 Male terminal 23 Female terminal 24 Main board 25 pin Support part 26, 26a, 26b, 26c, 26f Module selection signal pin 27, 27a, 27b, 27c, 27f Unique signal pin 28 Short wiring 29 pin short connector (connecting member)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A vertical extension type memory module for performing memory extension by vertically stacking on a main board, wherein a memory IC and a module identification signal pin group are provided on the module substrate. The pin group has at least the number of memory modules to be stacked, at least one of which is a module selection signal pin to which a selection signal is transmitted from the main board, and an arbitrary signal line on the memory module. A vertically-expandable memory that is composed of connected unique signal pins, and that the module selection signal pin for transmitting the selection signal and the unique signal pin are connected via a removable connecting member. module. 2. The vertical extension type memory module according to claim 1, wherein the unique signal pins are composed of a plurality of pins which are paired with the module select signal pins in the same number as the module select signal pins, and all of the unique signal pins are unique. As the signal pins are connected together,
A vertically-expandable memory module, wherein a module selection signal pin for transmitting the selection signal and a unique signal pin paired with the module selection signal pin are connected by a pin short connector. 3. The vertical extension type memory module according to claim 1, wherein the male and female integrated socket connector for connecting signals between modules and fixing the modules together penetrates the module board. Vertical expansion type memory module characterized by being fixed to.