Multi-board system with shift board selection

• Main Authors: SAUNDERS; STEVEN E, ALKIRE; ROBERT D, ROEHRS; LOUIS F
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 09.11.1993
• Edition: 5
• Subjects: CALCULATING; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION ANDCOMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION ANDCOMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THIR OWNENERGY USE; COMPUTING; COUNTING; ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING; ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS; PHYSICS; PRINTED CIRCUITS; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINSTCLIMATE CHANGE

A multi-board computer system is described which comprises a main circuit board, a first circuit board having a third surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface, and a second circuit board having a fifth surface. The main circuit board further includes means for generating a first board select signal to select the first circuit board and a second board select signal to select the second board. The first circuit board further includes a first input pin and a second input pin on the third surface, and a first output pin on the fourth surface. The first input pin corresponds to the first output pin. The first input pin is coupled to receive the first board select signal, and the second input pin is coupled to receive the second board select signal. The first circuit board is selected when it receives the first board select signal at the first input pin. The second circuit board further includes a third input pin. The third input pin is coupled to the first output pin of the first circuit board. The second circuit board is selected when it receives the second board select signal at the third input pin. The first circuit board further includes position shifting means for coupling the second board select signal from the second input pin of the first circuit board to the first output pin of the first circuit board. When the second input pin of the first circuit board receives the second board select signal, the position shifting means couples the second board select signal to the third input pin of the second circuit board via the first output pin. A method of selecting a circuit board in the multi-board computer system is also described.