International Business Machines Corporation

Lenovo (singapore) Pte. Ltd.

Kamran Amini

Robert Joseph Evans

Michael Leo Scollard

Joseph Curtis Diepenbrock

Eric Richard Kern

Henry Gaines McMillan

Ameha Aklilu

Chad Lee Gettelfinger

Robert M Piper

James Alexander Day, Jr

Paul Maylon Smith

Jordan Hsiao Ping Chin

Marcel B Tran

Mike L Scollard

A method for reducing the boot time for a computer includes: supplying power to the computer; disabling a plurality of input/output (I/O) devices coupled to the computer; performing a boot process for the computer; and placing the computer in a suspend to memory state before a user turns on the computer. The method reduces the boot time for a computer by placing the computer in a suspend to memory mode rather than completely shutting off the computer. In this manner, when a user of the computer pushes the power button, the computer wakes up from the suspend to memory mode instead of being required to perform the entire boot process. This significantly reduces the time required to make the computer available to the user, allowing the computer to function like an appliance.

Method and system for reducing boot time for a computer

A signal channel extends from motherboard to a daughter card across an edge connection. The daughter card includes a conductive plane that is held at a constant electrical potential. In order to compensate for a number of sources of inductance within the signal line at the edge connection, a circuit trace forming a portion of the signal channel includes an enlarged portion, spaced inward along the daughter card from the contact pads forming the edge connection, that adds capacitive coupling of the signal channel with the conductive plane.

Signal channel configuration providing increased capacitance at a card edge connection

A method of controlling the power-on of a computer system by providing a plurality of monitor lines interconnected with respective components of the computer system, monitoring the lines using a control circuit in response to a power-on reset signal, and executing a system power-on sequence in response to a determination by the control circuit that the components of the computer system are functioning properly. If the computer system has a plurality of CPU slots, the control circuit determines if a CPUs or terminator cartridges is plugged into the CPU slots, and determines that a properly matched CPU has been installed into the system, and that multiple CPUs contain compatible power supply requirements. Finally, the control circuit can determine that a power regulator is functioning properly.

Method and system for controlling a power on sequence in response to monitoring respective components of a computer system with multiple CPU sockets to determine proper functionality

A printed circuit board connector edge tab design has increased tab contact area with a large local capacitance at the connector interface. This serves to balance out the inductive effects of the connector and results in a lower overall channel impedance at the interface. The invention replaces the prior art plated pathway to the upper row of tabs with wider tabs on the lower row. The edges of the lower row tabs are spaced such that each of the connector pins destined for the upper row straddle two of the lower tabs as they travel upward. This design prevents the pins from contacting the fiberglass substrate of the board while it traverses the lower row of tabs. The absence of the prior art plated pathways allows each of the lower row tabs to be expanded into the space formerly occupied by the pathways. This design also allows the increased capacitive area of the edge tabs to be located in very close proximity to the connection area between the connector pins and the edge tabs.

Circuit board connector edge with straddle pattern tab design for impedance-controlled connections

Growing community of inventors

Cary, NC, United States of America

Kamran Amini