Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/ – Intrasystem connection – Bus access regulation
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-25
2001-07-10
Thai, Xuan (Department: 2181)
Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/
Intrasystem connection
Bus access regulation
C361S600000, C361S679090, C361S760000, C361S788000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06260089
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the data processing field, and more particularly, relates to a method and apparatus for implementing connections with circuits, such as very large scale integrated (VLSI) semiconductor integrated circuits.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
FIG. 1
illustrates a prior art arrangement of processor cards. Today the profile of processor cards is increasing due to the increased heat sink size required to cool the faster processors.
FIGS. 2 and 3
illustrate processor cards that are inserted back-to-back. Note the wiring problem created in
FIG. 2
when the cards are inserted back-to-back without any special card design. In order to keep backplane busses as short as possible, two unique processor cards, a right and left-handed version of the processor card are required as illustrated in FIG.
3
.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,701,234 discloses a surface mount component which can be mounted on the surface of a printed circuit board (PCB) in a selected one of a plurality of different positions. The surface mount component includes a puck having first and second wiring patterns and a plurality of electrical connectors. A first set of connectors is connected to the first wiring pattern and a second set of connectors is connected to a second wiring pattern. During the manufacturing process, a worker mounts the puck to a printed circuit board in a selected one of a plurality of different positions, with selected ones of the first and second sets of connectors being connected to respective ones of a plurality of bonding pads on the printed circuit board.
A need exists for an improved mechanism for implementing connections with circuits, such as very large scale integrated (VLSI) semiconductor integrated circuits.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus for implementing connections with circuits, such as very large scale integrated (VLSI) semiconductor integrated circuits. Other important objects of the present invention are to provide such method and apparatus for implementing connections with circuits substantially without negative effects and that overcome some disadvantages of prior art arrangements.
In brief, a method and apparatus are provided for implementing connections with circuits, such as very large scale integrated (VLSI) semiconductor integrated circuits. A physical connection assignment arrangement includes a plurality of connections, each having predefined, dual functions. A control signal identifies an orientation of the physical connection assignment arrangement. A selector logic circuit contained within the circuit is coupled to the plurality of predefined, dual function connections. The selector logic circuit receives the control signal and responsive to the control signal, selects one of the predefined dual functions for each of the plurality of connections.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 5502621 (1996-03-01), Schumacher et al.
patent: 5701234 (1997-12-01), Wong
patent: 5973935 (1999-10-01), Schoenfeld et al.
patent: 6038130 (2000-03-01), Boeck et al.
patent: 6043992 (2000-03-01), Scheibler
patent: 6052289 (2000-04-01), Schoenfeld et al.
patent: 6102743 (2000-08-01), Haffenden et al.
International Business Machines - Corporation
Pennington Joan
Thai Xuan
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