The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 10, 2001
Filed:
Jun. 18, 1999
Sean P. O'Neal, Round Rock, TX (US);
Reynold L. Liao, Austin, TX (US);
Mark A. White, Austin, TX (US);
Dell USA, L.P., Round Rock, TX (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method is provided for installing and connecting one or more expansion boards in a computer system while the computer system is being manufactured as well as when a user upgrades or reconfigures the computer system. An expansion board bay for receiving the expansion board is located within the computer system, typically on a circuit board such as the motherboard. A connector module that is separate from the expansion board and the expansion board bay is positioned within the computer system. The connector module is positioned to provide easy external access to a contact portion of the connector module, thereby allowing a user to connect an external data signal line to the connector module. A connector cable operably connects the expansion board with the connector module to establish communication between the data processor and the external data line through the expansion board.