International Business Machines Corporation

Peter Matthew Thomsen

Mark Wayne Mueller

Lucinda Mae Walter

Robert J Reese

Sudhir Dhawan

Girish Chandra Johari

Kevin Charles Gower

Frank David Ferraiolo

Martin L Schmatz

Eric Eugene Retter

Richard Bealkowski

John Saunders Corbin, Jr

Michael Raymond Trombley

Peter L Buchmann

Michael B Spear

Kenneth Carl Larsen

Hector Saenz

Wallace G Tuten

Kenneth Claude Hinz

David Allen Hall

A memory buffer, memory system and method for power-on initialization and test for a cascade interconnect memory system. The memory buffer includes a bus interface to links in a high-speed channel for communicating with a memory controller via a direct connection or via a cascade interconnection through an other memory buffer. The interface is operable in a SBC mode and a high-speed mode. The memory buffer also includes a field service interface (FSI) slave for receiving FSI signals from a FSI master. In addition, the memory buffer includes logic for executing a power-on and initialization training sequence initiated by the memory controller.

Power-on initialization and test for a cascade interconnect memory system

Delay circuits have programmable delay elements to delay data signals so a clock samples the data signals in the middle of the eye window pattern. The clock is frequency divided by two, generating a divided clock coupled to a clock delay circuit and a data delay circuit generating a toggle clock and a delayed toggle clock that are sampled with the clock signal. A state machine varies the number N of delay elements selected in the data delay circuit until successive samples of the toggle clock and the delay toggle clock have opposite logic stages. The resulting number N is the number of delay elements required to generate a delay equal to one period of the clock. The delay of each delay element is adjusted using adjustment control signals until an N is generated that is within a predetermined range. The adjustment control signals are distributed to the data delay circuits.

Circuit for optimizing a delay line used to de-skew received data signals relative to a received clock signal

A method of servicing a computer system without interrupting operation of the computer system, by connecting a computer component to a board of the computer system, detecting connection of the computer component to the system board using a control circuit, supplying power to the voltage input of the computer component in response to detecting the connection, and thereafter monitoring the power supplied to the voltage input of the computer component. The method may be used for core computer components such as CPU modules and voltage regulator modules. Power to the voltage input of the computer component is turned off in response to a determination that a current level of the power supplied to the voltage input exceeds a specified level. A fault signal is latched in an active state in response to the determination; the fault signal is reset when the component is removed from the system. The method also applies to a plurality of hot-pluggable components, wherein the power supplied to each component is individually monitored.

Hot plug control of MP based computer system

A method and system for monitoring and adapting to configuration changes in a data processing system having a known configuration, while power is applied thereto. In response to a configuration change in the data processing system, values are calculated for multiple system operating factors. An alert is provided to a user if at least one of said calculated values, among the multiple system operating factors, is not within a predetermined range of values for the multiple system operating factors. In addition, the operation of the data processing system is restricted to accommodate for any system operating factors which are not within the predetermined range of values, such that the data processing system is guarded from damage due to an unstable configuration.

Method and system for monitoring configuration changes in a data processing system

A power subsystem for a computer system allows a voltage regulator module (VRM) to be removably connected to a system board, while limiting disturbances on the voltage rails of the system board. The electrical disturbances are prevented by charging voltage outputs of the DC/DC circuit of the VRM prior to directly connecting the voltage outputs to the voltage rails. To ensure that the voltage outputs are properly charged, a VRM connector may be used in which the voltage output pins are shorter than charge pins which are coupled to respective capacitors and to the voltage outputs of the DC/DC circuit. In this manner, as the connector is mated with a corresponding connector on the system board, the capacitors are first charged via resistive paths connected to the voltage rails, prior to directly connecting the voltage outputs to the voltage rails. The VRMs are thus &ldquo;hot-pluggable,&rdquo; enabling a user to upgrade or service the system with no interruption.

Hot-pluggable voltage regulator module

A circuit card capable of live insertion into an activated electronic system includes a terminal edge from which an edge connector extends a first length. An input decoupling capacitance resides across the edge connector. A backplane within the activated electronic system receives the circuit card, wherein the backplane includes at least one voltage plane, a backplane receptor, and card guide receptor means. The backplane receptor electrically couples the edge connector to the voltage plane when the edge connector engages the backplane receptor. Card guide means are provided for guiding and connecting the circuit card into the backplane, and include at least one conductive member for engaging the card guide receptor means. The conductive member extends a second length from the terminal edge, wherein the second length is greater than the first length. At least one conductive path electrically couples the conductive member across the input capacitance. A voltage supply applied to the card guide receptor means ensures that during insertion of the circuit card into the backplane, but prior to the backplane receptor engaging the edge connector, the input capacitance will pre-charge through the conductive member, thereby preventing arcing and voltage dropout.

Pre-charging logic cards for hot insertion

A method of servicing a processor array of a computer system by quiescing a processor selected for maintenance and removing the selected processor from a processor pool used by the computer's operating system. The selected processor is then powered down while maintaining power to and operation of other processors in the processor array. The selected processor may be identified as being defective, or may have been selected for upgrading. The processor array may include several processor clusters, such that the quiescing, removing and powering down steps apply to all processors in one of the processing clusters. The operating system assigns one of the processors in the processor array to be a service processor, and if the service processor is the processor selected for maintenance, the OS re-assigns the service processor functions to another processor in the processor array.

System upgrade and processor service

A device for solving the electrical, physical, architectural and thermal challenges associated with designing a computer system is disclosed. A memory controller chipset having two or more chips mounted on opposite sides of a system planar helps balance the thermal profile of the system and achieve the strict spacing requirements of advanced computer processors relative to the memory controller chipset. Although the chips are staggered on opposite sides of the system planar, the adjacent edges of the chips substantially align with one another to minimize their separation.

Computer system utilizing front and backside mounted memory controller chipsets

A method of installing computer components, such as dual in-line memory modules (DIMMs), by associating a subset of component connectors with a logical connector group that is to be concurrently populated, and color-coding the socket connectors to identify the subset of connectors. The DIMMs are attached to the socket connectors in the identified subset of socket connectors. The color-coding may be accomplished using color-coded retention tabs attached to the connectors, or by coloring the whole body of each socket connector.

Method and device for identifying card slots that are required to be populated concurrently in a computer system

A mechanism has a subassembly that contains a microprocessor. The mechanism allows the microprocessor to be easily installed through frontal or rear access into a rack drawer and subsequently docked into a receiving assembly. The docking mechanism is multi-axis in that installation of the subassembly occurs along a single axis, but docking of the microprocessor occurs along an axis that is normal to the installation axis. Actuation of the installation mechanism is accomplished with a front-to-rear motion which sequentially provides a power connection to the microprocessor and displaces it in a vertical motion. This vertical motion registers and mates the microprocessor with the assembly. The microprocessor is preloaded in its final latched position to restrain it from shock and vibration events while supporting the assembly in a fixed and stable position.

Multi-axis microprocess or docking mechanism

An apparatus having a thin metal frame has an opening and a protective rail on each end. Four guide posts extend from the lower surface of the frame to a plate which is spring-biased away from the frame. The plate has pin holes which are arrayed for a particular electrical component having contact pins. The component is loaded into the apparatus by extending the pins through the opening and into the pin holes in the plate. The rails may be flexed outward to accommodate the component before snapping onto and around the ends of the component to fix it from movement relative to the apparatus. The guide posts extend beyond the tips of the pins to provide stand-off protection. The tips of the guide posts are placed in a socket and the assembly is pressed into the socket until the pins seat in it. As the pins are inserted into the socket, the plate is pressed toward the frame to collapse the springs. The apparatus is left permanently installed with the component in the socket.

Device and method for protecting pins of an electrical component

An apparatus for handling an electrical component, such as a CPU module, having a heatsink mounted to an upper surface and a plurality of contact pins is disclosed. The apparatus has a base plate with a central opening, a pair of parallel end plates extending upward from the base plate, and a top plate with a pair of integral air baffles. A set of fasteners are used to mount and retain the component/heatsink assembly within the apparatus. The air baffles are used to deflect air flow through the heatsink. The apparatus also has a handle on the top plate and a guide post on each corner of the bottom plate for handling and pin protection. The component/heatsi&k assembly is mounted in the apparatus before the top plate is attached such that the pins of the component extend through the opening in the base plate. When the assembly is aligned within the apparatus, the fasteners secure the assembly from movement relative to the apparatus. The apparatus/component assembly is then mounted onto a mating socket by aligning the guide posts with holes in the socket. The assembly is pressed into the socket until the pins seat in the socket holes. The apparatus is left installed with the component.

Apparatus and method for enabling hot plugging of an integrated circuit

A system for dissipating electrostatic build-up from a circuit card to a chassis ground within an electronic system, prior to connection of the circuit card with the electronic system. A circuit card has a card connector for connecting the circuit card into a backplane receptor within the electronic system. The circuit card includes a surface upon which an electrostatic charge may collect and also includes at least one conductive pad. A card guide aligns the circuit card such that the circuit card connects with the backplane receptor when said circuit card is fully inserted into the card guide. A conductive element within the card guide couples the conductive pad to a chassis ground within the electronic system when the circuit card is partially inserted into said the card guide.

Discharging electrostatic charge during hot card insertion

The present invention provides a device and method for securing integrity of a blind autodock electrical connection in a computer system. A method and device according to the present invention for insuring integrity of a blind autodock electrical connection for use with a computer system includes a stationary assembly and a module. The method and device comprises a first electrical connector coupled to the stationary assembly and a second electrical connector coupled to the module. It also includes a connector sensor coupled to the first connector, and a connector sensor receiver coupled to the second connector. The connector sensor is a device including connector sensors which are coupled via a wire. Connection to at least part of the wire is provided via the second connector to create a circuit which includes a status providing device for determining whether the connector sensor and the connector sensor receiver are coupled in a predetermined manner, wherein the circuit provides an indication of the blind autodock electrical connection integrity.

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

Peter Matthew Thomsen