Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/ – Intrasystem connection – Bus access regulation
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-15
2001-08-28
Auve, Glenn A. (Department: 2181)
Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/
Intrasystem connection
Bus access regulation
C361S689000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06282594
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
This invention relates to a pallet, system and method for use in testing and/or installing software onto a personal computer (PC) system unit.
This application relates to U.S. application Ser. No. 08/919,959, filed on Aug. 29, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,995,757, entitled Software Installation and Testing For A Build-To-Order Computer System, naming Richard D. Amberg, Roger W. Wong and Michael A. Brundridge, as inventors. The application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and is assigned to the assignee of this invention.
This application relates to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/921,438, filed on Aug. 29, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,963,743, entitled Database For Facilitating Software Installation And Testing For A Build-To-Order Computer System, naming Richard D. Amberg, Roger W. Wong and Michael A. Brundridge as inventors. The co-pending application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and is assigned to the assignee of this invention.
This application relates to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/150,800, filed on Sep. 10, 1998, entitled Automatic Location Determination of Devices Under Test, naming Subhashini Rajan and Robert W. Wong as inventors. The co-pending application is incorporated by reference in its entirety, and is assigned to the assignee of this invention.
This application relates to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/177,420, filed on Oct. 22, 1998, entitled Troubleshooting Computer Systems During Manufacturing Using State and Attribute Information, naming Subhashini Rajan, Robert W. Wong and Richard D. Amberg as inventors. The co-pending application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and is assigned to the assignee of this invention.
The final stages of the manufacture of a PC with preloaded software require the software to be downloaded onto the PC system unit and for the PC system unit to be extensively tested. At present, the requirement for operator access to connect power and data (parallel port) connectors to the PC system unit imposes a height limit on the rack used to accommodate the PC system unit during these operations. As, typically, many PC system units are tested and have their software installed at the same time, a large amount of floor space is taken up by these units.
Therefore, what is needed is to provide a pallet, system and method for use in testing and/or installing software onto a PC system unit which will allow the units to be placed on a rack at a height out of the normal reach of the operator so that a more effective use of floor space can be achieved.
SUMMARY
One embodiment, accordingly, provides a system for use in testing and/or installing software onto a personal computer system unit. To this end, a pallet is provided for a personal computer system unit which is to be tested and/or onto which software is to be installed. The pallet has data and power connectors for the system unit and a set of data and power contacts each connected to a respective contact in one of the data and power connectors. The set of data and power contacts are adapted for one-to-one engagement with a complementary set of data and power contacts on a rack upon which the pallet may be located.
A principal advantage of this embodiment is that it allows the operator to connect both power and data connections from the computer directly to connections on the pallet. An elevator is then used to locate the pallet into a docking station elevated above the floor. When the pallet is located in the docking station, power and data connection are automatically made with main power and server, respectively.
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patent: 5818691 (1998-10-01), McMahan et al.
patent: 5963743 (1999-10-01), Amberg et al.
patent: 5991543 (1999-11-01), Amberg et al.
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patent: 5995757 (1999-11-01), Amberg et al.
patent: 0 398 030 (1990-11-01), None
McTague Michael
O'Shea Edward
Auve Glenn A.
Dell USA L.P.
Haynes and Boone L.L.P.
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