WO1997023818A2

WO1997023818A2 - Modular digital computer installations

Info

Publication number: WO1997023818A2
Application number: PCT/GB1996/003110
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hany Neoman; Leonard Reginald Barber
Original assignee: Neosystems Inc.
Priority date: 1995-12-21
Filing date: 1996-12-17
Publication date: 1997-07-03
Also published as: WO1997023818A3; EP0811187A2; GB9526156D0

Abstract

A computer installation having a modular digital architecture (MDA) comprises a universal base module (UBM) (1) and one or more functional upgrade modules (FUM) (3) detachably connectable to the UBM (1) by a modular upgrade bus (MUB) (2). The MUB (2) comprises a respective bus link within each module (1, 3) such that, when the modules (1, 3) are connected together, the bus links of the modules are connected in series to form the digital MUB which includes sub-buses for supply of power to the modules and transfer of control and data signals therebetween. Such an MDA can be used to produce a wide range of systems using the same basic architecture, such as a network computer (NC), a personal computer (PC) incorporating FUM's providing various PC features, such as an enhanced processor, a CD ROM drive, a hard disk drive, etc., or an appliance computer (AC) incorporating FUM's providing a range of appliance functions for the home, office or classroom, such as an audio system, an interactive television system, an office telephone system, a home security system, etc.. Furthermore the system permits straightforward FUM replacement or upgrade by addition of further FUMs without requiring any particular technical expertise.

Description

" πdular Digital Compnfer Installations"

This invention relates to modular digital computer installations.

Personal computers (PC's) are widely used in a home environment, and such

computers commonly comprise a processing unit, a monitor and a keyboard, as well as one or more peripheral devices, such as a printer, a hard disk drive, a floppy disk drive and a CD ROM drive. However such computers are difficult to install and upgrade, rapidly become obsolete, are expensive to maintain and are difficult or

impossible to connect to other home/office appliances, such as telephones, telefax machines, answering machines, televisions, video recorders, hi-fi systems, home security systems etc. These problems limit the appeal of PC's to non-technical users. As a result, more than 60% of households in the USA and 80% of households in

Europe do not own a PC.

It is an object of the invention to provide a computer installation having a modular digital architecture which renders it straightforward to customise the

installation to user requirements and for connection to other home/office appliances whilst additionally enabling the installation to be simply expanded and upgraded.

The invention is defined by the accompanying claims.

The provision of the modular digital architecture (MDA) in the installation of the invention provides a flexible design which can be applied to any digital appliance

in the home, office or classroom. The installation is designed to comprise three main

components, namely a universal base module (UBM), one or more functional upgrade

modules (FUM) and a modular upgrade bus (MUB) for interconnecting the modules

in such a manner as to allow for supply of power thereto and transfer of control and

data signals therebetween.

The UBM may be a common digital module based on MDA for supplying any information appliance based on MDA, such as a PC, a home audio system, an

office telephone system, etc. Furthermore the UBM on its own may constitute a basic

entry level PC or network computer (NC) (incoφorating a processor and a

mode /network interface for connection to the Internet/Intranet). The UBM will typically incoφorate a power supply, a graphics interface (with TV and SVGA

capability), an audio system and basic input device functions, for a keyboard, mouse

and joystick, for example. In certain applications the UBM may also include any of a low-cost processor, a floppy disk drive, a hard disk drive, a modem and a network

interface for example. The MUB provides the backbone of the MDA and may carry

power, inter-module communication data, digital audio and video, telephony signals

and system monitoring/control functions. Whilst the MUB is preferably designed in

modular form to allow for easy expansion and upgrade by a non-technical user, it could

also take other physical forms as described hereinbelow. The MUB may provide inter¬

module communication by way of industry standard buses such as PCI, ISA, E-IDE,

IIC, EVC, USB, AGP and 1394 with spare capacity to add any new industry standard bus in the future, in order to ensure that the MDA is adaptable to future technologies.

The FUM are capable of providing a multiplicity of added features when

connected to the UBM in order to create a specific appliance, such as a standard PC, a NetPC, an audio/video system, a home security system, a games console, etc. , or in order to create a multipuφose appliance. The modules may provide any combination of a processor (possibly of higher performance than a processor provided within the UBM), a floppy disk drive, a hard disk drive, a CD ROM drive, a modem, a TV/FM tuner, a graphics interface, an audio system, a digital video system, a digital satellite

system, an office phone system (PBX), a network interface, etc.

Such a system enables a computer installation to be assembled or upgraded directly by the user in a particularly straightforward manner without requiring the

services of an expert and without the user having to open any module casings or make any complex cable connections requiring special expertise. All that the user needs to

do is to connect the modules together by means of the bus system in the required order and to then apply power to the system so as to cause the system to be automatically configured. Such automatic configuration is preferably arranged to take place regardless of the order in which the modules are connected together.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, reference will now

be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1 to 4 are explanatory diagrams showing an installation of the invention;

Figures 5 and 6 diagrammatically show the UBM of the installation;

Figures 7 to 10 diagrammatically show the MUB of the installation;

Figure 11 diagrammatically shows the FUM of the installation;

Figures 12, 13 and 14 show possible combinations of modules in such an installation;

Figure 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating the layout of the software

driving the installation;

Figures 16 to 19 show typical pin layouts in a detailed implementation in

accordance with the invention; and

Figure 20 is a block diagram of a computer installation in accordance with

the invention.

The computer installations based on a modular digital architecture (MDA)

in accordance with the invention which will now be described with reference to the

drawings may serve a number of functions, including the function of a so-called

home/office bus system for linking together a number of appliances in a home/office

environment which do not conform to the same standards, such as a television receiver,

a hi-fi system, a video recorder, a personal computer, a telephone, a heating control,

etc. Such appliances would not normally be able to communicate with one another or

be controlled by a common interface because each communication device has its own

power supply, control system and communication standard. However, as will be

described in more detail below, a home/office bus system may be provided to connect together a plurality of device modules performing these functions and a common control and/or a power supply module, all of which are individually cased and are

designed to be connectable together so that the user can assemble the modules as required and can interchange and upgrade modules where necessary, including the

control and/or power supply module if required, without any need for specialist technical knowledge. The modules may be connectable together in the manner of a hi-

fi stack by means of the bus system so as to be powered by a single power supply unit and controlled by a single control unit which may for example be a computer keyboard and/or a remote control unit.

Figure 1 diagrammatically illustrates the interconnection of a universal base module (UBM) 1 and a plurality of functional upgrade modules (FUM) 3 by means of a modular upgrade bus (MUB) 2 incoφorating six sub-buses which together transmit

all the data formats required by the modules. More particularly a first sub-bus transmits power signals from the UBM 1 to each of the FUM 3. Second and third sub-

buses are provided for standard ISA communication and fast PCI communication, and a fourth sub-bus is provided for enhanced IDE data communication between the

modules. A fifth sub-bus serves for bidirectional transfer of control signals between the modules utilising IIC protocol. A sixth sub-bus serves to transmit audio signals between the modules where required. Additional sub-buses may be provided where required to control secondary functions, for example for transfer of radio

communication control signals or infra-red control signals for controlling radio communication or infra-red modules. As will be more particularly appreciated from Figure 2 the universal base module (UBM) 1 preferably constitutes the bottom module of the stack to which any combination of functional upgrade modules (FUM) 3 may be added one on top of the

other where required to upgrade or add additional features to the installation. Furthermore, as shown more particularly in Figure 3, the modular upgrade bus (MUB) 2 comprises a series of bus links 10, each bus link 10 constituting a respective part of

one of the modules 1, 3 and the bus links 10 being connectable together in series when

one or more functional upgrade modules (FUM) 3, as shown in Figure 4, are stacked on top of the UBM 1.

Figure 5 diagrammatically shows the internal components of the UBM I comprising a power supply unit 4, an optional faxmodem/network interface 5, an optional floppy disk drive 6, an optional hard disk drive 7 and an optional processor board 8, in addition to the bus link 10. As shown diagrammatically in Figure 6, these

components are accommodated within a casing 20 provided with a lockable cover 9. The cover 9 is designed to be lockable in position after assembly, for example by special screws or rivets, in order to prevent access to the inside of the casing by the user.

It should be appreciated that it is not necessary for all the modules to be connected to all the sub-buses. Thus for example, one of the FUM 3 may be connected

to the fast communication sub-bus, whereas another of the FUM 3 may be connected

to the standard communication sub-bus. Furthermore only one of the FUM 3 may be connected to the data communication sub-bus, whereas the MUB 1 may be connected

to all of the sub-buses. Also the bus system may be split into two channels, namely a standard channel and a fast channel, which are provided respectively on the left hand side and the right hand side of the assembly for communicating signals to modules below and above a processor FUM, as will be described in more detail below.

Figure 7 diagrammatically illustrates the connecting together of the UBM 1 and the FUM 3 by means of the bus links 10 which are connectable to the main board 18 of a processor FUM 3 by means of plug and socket connectors and which form

integral parts of the modules. In the particular implementation illustrated the main board 18 is provided with right hand and left hand bus sockets 13A, 13, the right hand socket 13A receiving an enhanced bus board 14 and the complete assembly being

surrounded by a casing 16. Furthermore a lower FUM 3 incoφorates an integral standard bus link 10 comprising a socket 13, a standard bus board 12 connected to the socket 13 and a socket 15 (see Figure 11) by means of which the associated device unit

17, e.g. a hard disk unit, is connectible to the standard bus board 12. This assembly, within its casing 16, is connectible to the processor FUM 3 by engagement of the upper part of the standard bus board 12 within the left hand socket 13 on the main board 18.

Similarly an upper FUM 3 is provided with an integral enhanced bus link 10 comprising an enhanced bus board to which the associated device unit, e.g. a television

receiver, is connected by a socket (not shown) and to the lower part of which a socket 13 is connected for detachable connection of the upper FUM 3 to the processor FUM

3 by means of the engagement of the enhanced bus board 14 on the right hand side of the processor FUM 3 within the socket 13 of the upper FUM 3.

It will be appreciated that, in this implementation all modules which require

an enhanced bus connection will need to be positioned above the processor FUM 3 and

to be interconnected by way of serial connection of the enhanced bus links 10 on the

right hand side of the stack, whereas all the modules requiring a standard bus

connection will need to be positioned below the processor FUM 3 and to be

interconnected by serial connection of the standard bus links 10 on the left hand side

of the stack, as shown in Figure 7. In each case the socket 13 projecting from the

bottom of each module is engageable within a socket enclosure 19 in the top of the immediately preceding module within the stack. The bus system may comprise tracks

for 480 signals divided into two main streams, namely a PCI-based stream going up

and an ISA-based stream going down, adjacent bus links being connected to one

another by two 32-bit PCI connectors and a PCB edge connector to provide mechanical

stability, reliable insertion/removal, high bandwidth and low cost connectivity.

Further the UBM 1 may incoφorate a power supply, a graphics interface, an audio

interface and basic input device functions, and also, if required, additional device units,

e.g. the hard disk drive and/or floppy disk drive. When the individual modules have

been plugged together and the installation has been switched on, the installation is

automatically configured, the particular order in which the modules are stacked being

immaterial provided that connections are made to the required buses.

As regards the physical implementation of the MUB, various possible altemative implementations will now be described with reference to Figures 8, 9 and

10. In the implementation of Figure 8 the MUB comprises a series of bus links 10

each of which is constituted by a number of track parts arranged in parallel, that is one track part for each appropriate sub-bus. Furthermore each bus link 10 is a part of one

of the modules, and each link 10 has a plug connector at one end and a socket

connector at the other end. A similar implementation is shown in Figure 7 except that,

in that case, which is the preferred implementation, the processor FUM has separate

links 10 provided on the left hand and right hand sides of the module for the two channels communicating with modules below and above the processor FUM. In both

cases the complete bus system is formed by serial connection of the links 10 within the

various modules by stacking of the modules one above the other so that the plug on

each module engages within the socket of the unit immediately below it to provide serial connection of the links.

In the implementation of Figure 9 the MUB is a single continuous PC board

10A which is separate from each of the modules and which may also be separately

cased. Furthermore the board 10A is provided with a number of electrical socket

connectors spaced along its length into which complementary connectors on the

modules may be plugged. If required the board may be replaced by a flexible ribbon.

In the implementation of Figure 10 the MUB consists of a number of U-

shaped connector or ribbon links 10B having two ends provided with connectors which

are separately attachable to and detachable from two of the modules so that a plurality of such links may be utilised for linking all the modules together in series. As before

all the links 10B interconnecting the modules, considered together act in a similar

manner to the continuous board to provide the required intercommunication between

the modules.

Figure 11 diagrammatically shows the internal components of a number of

FUM 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d, each of which has a casing 16 and an internal bus link 10 in

the form of a MUB board, as well as one or more further internal components. The

module 3a houses an industry standard PCI upgrade card 17A whereas the module 3b

houses a custom designed board such as an upgrade processor board 18. The module

3c houses a 5.25" drive unit such as a CD ROM player 17A, and module 3d houses

a number of I/O cards 19.

Several examples of computer installation which may be produced using the

modular digital architecture (MDA) will now be described with reference to Figures

12, 13 and 14. Figure 12 shows a network computer 20 (NC or NetPC) consisting of

a UBM 1 fitted with a lockable cover 9. This may be termed a NeoNC and provides

a basic installation with a built in processor and faxmodem/network interface for

connection to the Internet/Intranet. Furthermore the NeoNC is upgradable to a

modular PC utilising one or more FUM (after removal of the lockable cover). Figure

13 shows a modular personal computer 21 , which may be termed a NeoPC, comprising

a UBM 1 and a number of FUM 3 forming an interconnected stack with a lockable

cover 9 being fitted to the uppermost FUM 3 in the stack. The lockable cover 9 provides mechanical and electrical safety and security. The NeoPC comprises any

combination of PC devices, such as a processor, a hard disk drive, a CD ROM drive,

a faxmodem, a graphics interface, an audio interface, etc. Additionally or alternatively

the MUB 1 and FUM 3 may be interconnected to form an appliance computer 22 (AC)

as shown in Figure 4, which may be termed a NeoAC, for providing a range of

features for the home, office or classroom, such as an audio system, an interactive

television system, an office telephone (PBX) system, a home security system, etc. It

is particularly advantageous if the modules of such an installation are mechanically

locked together such that the installation can only be disassembled in a particular

sequence of steps, the first step of which involves the removal of the lockable cover

9. It is also advantageous if the installation incoφorates a safety system to electrically

disable the installation if the UBM 1 or an FUM 3 is opened by removal of the cover

9. Furthermore a safety system may be incoφorated to prevent damage to the

installation which might otherwise be caused by plugging of a non-compliant FUM into an existing installation.

Further features which are preferably provided in a computer installation in

accordance with the invention are as follows. Each FUM may be adapted to supply

data on the viability of the upgrade status of the MDA to the processor within the UBM

or upgrade processor FUM. Furthermore a feature may be included to warn the user

if any system parameters have been exceeded, such as the power supply capacity, the

number of hard drives, the number of FUM added, etc. The power control features

may include features to minimise the power consumed by the installation at all times, particularly during periods of inactivity, and may provide visual indications of the

various power saving modes. A thermal management feature may also be included to

minimise the risk of damage in the event that any module within the installation

overheats, the damage limitation being achieved by warning the user, cutting off the

power or both of these. The flexibility of the MDA may enable up to eight ISA and

seven PCI upgrade modules to be connected simultaneously, which compares

favourably to the maximum number of ISA/PCI upgrades permitted in any

conventional PC which is typically seven or less.

Figure 15 is a schematic layout of a typical software interface for driving

such a system in which appropriate buttons and icons are provided representing four

families of modules, namely personal computer devices, which covers hard disk drive,

floppy disk drive, printer, tape drive, CD ROM drive, scanner and various I/O adapter

cards; communication devices, which covers telephone, telefax, modem, answering

machine, ISDN and conferencing; entertainment devices, which covers television,

cable, radio, hi-fi, video, video on demand and games; and house automation devices,

which covers light, heating, security, kitchen, air conditioning and other devices. By

clicking on a button, using a mouse or keyboard, a menu of options will appear on a

monitor permitting the user to interact with the device unit. For example, by clicking

on the CD ROM button, the user will be presented with options such as open, save,

play, format and configure.

The control unit serves to implement control of the individual modules and the power supply unit by means of appropriate instructions transmitted from the control

unit to the modules and power supply unit. The control unit has three main functions,

namely (i) the controlling of the various units, (ii) the management of communications

to and from each unit, and (iii) the determination of the overall system performance

and speed. Furthermore the control unit incoφorates the central processing unit (CPU)

which may process signals received from the modules and send back signals to the

modules as a result of such processing.

Figures 16 and 17 show a typical pin layout of the standard channel as

provided on the left hand side in the arrangement of Figure 7 in which the units are

plugged together by plug and socket connector arrangements, e.g. a PCB edge-mount

connector and two 32 bit PCI connectors. Figures 18 and 19 show a typical pin layout

of the enhanced channel as provided on the right hand side in the arrangement of

Figure 7. The pin layout is split into two main channels, namely a standard channel

(power, standard ISA communication, enhanced IDE data, IIC control and audio), and

a fast channel (power, fast PCI communication, enhanced IDE data, IIC control and

audio) so that the lengths of the signal transmission paths can be kept to a minimum,

and so that the number of signals in each channel can be kept to a reasonable level.

The pin layout and associated wire interconnections provide for communication of

typically more than 280 signals in the various data formats, such as power, audio,

video, data, control etc.

Figure 20 shows a block diagram of a modular computer system in accordance with the invention consisting of seven modules, namely a base module 30, a multi-media module 31, a communications module 32, a storage module 33, a control

module 34, an advanced graphics module 35 and a video module 36 (the last two may be combined if required). The base module 30 incoφorates the power supply unit, the hard disk drive, the floppy disk drive, the floppy disk controller, serial and parallel ports and SVGA graphics. The system will support both the ISA and the PCI expansion bus architectures.

Claims

1. A device module for detachable connection within a computer installation

having a modular digital architecture, the device module incorporating a bus link and

connection means for detachably connecting a plurality of such device modules together

within the installation such that the bus links ofthe device modules are connected in series to form a digital bus system including sub-buses for supply of power to the device modules and transfer of control and data signals therebetween

2. A device module according to claim 1 , which is a universal module incorporating a power supply and any combination of a graphics interface, an audio system, an input device interface, a floppy disk drive, a hard disk drive, a CD ROM drive, a modem and a network interface

3 A device module according to claim 1 or 2, which is a universal module

incorporating a processor so as to form a basic personal computer (PC) or network computer (NC) when used on its own

4. A device module according to claim 1, 2 or 3, which has a casing incorporating a lockable cover to prevent user access to the inside ofthe casing.

5, A device module according to any preceding claim, wherein the connection

means is positioned such that, when a plurality of such device modules are stacked one

on top ofthe other, the connection means of adjacent device modules are in register such that the bus links ofthe device modules are connected in series by the connection means.

6. A device module according to any preceding claim, wherein the connection means comprises connectors on opposite sides of the device module so that a plurality of such device modules may be connected together to form a stack.

7. A computer installation having a modular digital architecture and comprising a universal module and one or more upgrade modules detachably connectable to the universal module by connection means, wherein each module includes a bus link such that, when the modules are connected together by the connection means, the bus links ofthe modules are connected in series to form a digital bus system including sub-buses for supply of power to the modules and transfer of control and data signals therebetween.

8. An installation according to claim 7, wherein the universal module and the one or more upgrade modules are connectable in series by the connection means such that the

modules may be connected together in any order and in any combination of such modules.

9. An installation according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the universal module

constitutes a basic personal computer (PC) or network computer (NC) when used on its own which is upgradable by the connection of one or more upgrade modules providing

any combination of a processor, a floppy disk drive, a hard disk drive, a CD ROM drive,

a modem, a graphics interface, an audio system and a network interface.

10. A digital bus system for interconnecting a plurality of device modules within a digital computer installation, comprising a plurality of sub-buses adapted to be

connected to the device modules and including a power sub-bus for supply of power to each of the device modules from a power supply unit, a control sub-bus for transfer of control signals between a common control unit and each of the device modules, a data

sub-bus for transfer of data between at least some of the device modules, a standard communication sub-bus for transfer of standard communication signals between at least some of the device modules, and a fast communication sub-bus for transfer of fast communication signals between at least some of the device modules.

11. A system according to claim 10, which is divided into a standard channel and a fast channel provided at physically separate locations.

12. A system according to claim 10 or 1 1, wherein the sub-buses further include one or more of (a) an audio sub-bus for transfer of audio signals between at least some

of the device modules, (b) a radio communication sub-bus for transfer of radio communication control signals between at least some of the device modules, and (c) an infra-red communication sub-bus for transfer of infra-red control signals between at least some of the device modules.

13. A system according to claims 10, 1 1 orl2, which comprises a series of bus links

each of which is constituted by a plurality of track parts arranged in parallel including a respective track part for each sub-bus, wherein each sub-bus comprises track parts of successive links connected in series.

14. A system according to claim 10, 1 1, 12 or 13, which supports any combination of communication between device modules by way of industry standard buses such as

PCI, ISA, E-LDE, IIC, EVC, USB, AGP and 1394.

15. A digital bus system for interconnecting a plurality of device modules within a digital computer installation, comprising a plurality of conductive tracks arranged in parallel and connection means for detachable connection of the device modules, wherein the tracks comprise at least one track for each of (a) power supply signals to the device modules from a common power supply unit, (b) control signals to the device modules

from a common control unit, and (c) communication signals to the device modules from communication means.

16. A modular digital computer installation comprising a series of individually cased

device modules, each of whch includes an integral bus link and integral connection means by which the device modules are detachably connectable in series without requiring use of any intermediate connecting link between adjacent device modules.