US007149093B2
`
`(12)
`
`United States Patent
`Conway
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,149,093 B2
`Dec. 12, 2006
`
`(54) PXI CHASSIS WITH BACKWARDS
`COMPATIBILITY FOR EXISTING PXI
`DEVICES
`
`75
`(
`)
`
`_
`.
`Inventor. Craig M. Conway, Leander, TX (US)
`
`.
`.
`.
`(73) Asslgnee: Nat‘fmal Instruments corporatlon’
`Ausnn, TX (Us)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 193 days.
`
`(21) Appl. NO.Z 10/410,092
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Apr- 9, 2003
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`Us 2004/0201956 A1
`
`Oct. 14, 2004
`
`(51) glg'lgl'lz/hi
`52 U 5 Cl
`(
`)
`'
`'
`' """""""""" "
`
`(2006 01)
`36'1/788_ 361/760 361/686_
`’
`’ 361/792’
`
`(58) Field of Classi?cation Search .............. .. 361/686,
`361/760, 810, 807, 788, 792, 802, 784
`See application ?le for complete search history.
`_
`References Clted
`
`(56)
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,784,609 A * 11/1988 Lau ........................... .. 439/56
`5,162,675 A * 11/1992 Olsen et al. ................ .. 326/37
`5,273,463 A * 12/1993 Kaetsu et a1. ............. .. 439/681
`D354,940 S *
`1/1995 Speiser et al. ........... .. D13/133
`5,448,699 A
`9/1995 Goss et al.
`5,576,935 A * 11/1996 Freer et al. ............... .. 361/785
`5,628,637 A *
`5/1997 Pecone et al. ..
`439/74
`5,648,891 A
`7/1997 Gierut
`
`5,995,376 A 11/1999 Schultz et al.
`6,008,995 A * 12/1999 Pusateri et al. ........... .. 361/796
`6,038,138 A
`3/2000 Dayton et a1.
`6,075,704 A
`6/2000 Amberg et a1.
`6,166,917 A * 12/2000 Anderson ................. .. 361/756
`6,195,262 B1
`2/2001 Bodette et a1‘
`
`3/2001 L h
`t
`l.
`6,198,633 B1
`7/2001 slipiiigiiiitaal. .......... .. 361/784
`6,256,208 B1 *
`6,328,598 B1* 12/2001 Harris, Jr. ................. .. 439/516
`6,422,876 B1
`7/2002 F't
`ld t
`l.
`6,608,755 B1
`80003 1321125331 eteale
`6,625,033 B1 *
`9/2003 Steinman .................. .. 361/753
`6,662,255 B1 * 12/2003 Klein ....................... .. 710/301
`6,850,409 B1* 2/2005 Triebes et a1. ............ .. 361/684
`2002/0135987 A1* 9/2002 Baldwin et al. .......... .. 361/730
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Rittal Product Sheet for Ripac “Perfect Handling” pp. 17-26.
`Undatei
`
`* Cited by examiner
`Primary ExamineriElVin Enad
`Assistant ExamineriHung S. Bui
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or FirmiMeyertons Hood Kivlin
`KoWert & GoetZel, P.C.; Jeffrey C. Hood; Russell E.
`Henrichs
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`The coupling apparatus couples tWo circuit cards to ?t into
`a larger chassis. A coupling element can connect tWo similar
`sized circuit cards or two different sized circuit cards
`together by coupling the ?rst circuit card and the second
`circuit card to effectively form a combined circuit card of a
`larger siZe. The larger siZe may alloW for more features, may
`make it easier to dissipate heat, may make the circuit cards
`easier to shield, and/or may alloW for the use of larger and
`less expensive components on the circuit cards.
`
`42 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
`Apple 1070
`U.S. Pat. 8,504,746
`
`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 12, 2006
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`Sheet 1 of3
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`US 7,149,093 B2
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`102A
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`Figure. 1
`(Prior Art)
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`Figure. 2
`(Prior Art)
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 12, 2006
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`Sheet 2 of3
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`US 7,149,093 B2
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`m 959m
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 12, 2006
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`Sheet 3 of3
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`US 7,149,093 B2
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`61 X 450
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`435
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`Figure 4
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`475
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`422
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`US 7,149,093 B2
`
`1
`PXI CHASSIS WITH BACKWARDS
`COMPATIBILITY FOR EXISTING PXI
`DEVICES
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to an adapter for coupling
`tWo cards of one siZe to create a combined card of a second
`siZe, and more speci?cally to create a combined card in a
`CompactPCI/PXI form factor.
`
`2
`3687471 from Rittal may alloW users to connect tWo 3U
`cards into a single 6U slot in a 6U chassis. HoWever, Rittal
`and related solutions may require a pre-de?ned set of
`mounting holes on the cards 102A, 102B, and 102C in order
`to use the adapter. The pre-de?ned holes may not be
`universal to all CompactPCI cards 102A, 102B, and 102C,
`thus making the adapter dif?cult to utiliZe properly. Other
`related art includes solutions for a 6U chassis With a pre
`de?ned number of 3U slots, such as products from Adlink,
`Ziatech, and Diversi?ed Technologies.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`An instrument is a device Which collects data or infor
`mation from an environment or unit under test and displays
`this information to a user. An instrument may also perform
`various data analysis and data processing on acquired data
`prior to displaying the data to the user. Examples of various
`types of instruments include oscilloscopes, digital multim
`eters, pressure sensors, etc., and the types of information
`Which might be collected by respective instruments include
`voltage, resistance, distance, velocity, pressure, frequency of
`oscillation, humidity or temperature, among others.
`The various hardWare interface options currently avail
`able for instrumentation systems can be categoriZed into
`various types, including IEEE 488-controlled instruments
`(GPIB instruments), Virtual Machine Environment (VME)
`Extensions for Instrumentation (VXI) bus instruments,
`Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) Extensions for
`Instrumentation (PXI) bus instruments, plug-in data acqui
`sition (DAQ) boards, and RS-232-controlled (serial) instru
`ments, among others.
`The PXI bus is a platform for instrumentation systems
`that Was introduced in 1997. PXI combines the high-speed
`PCI bus With integrated timing and triggering designed
`speci?cally for measurement and automation applications to
`deliver signi?cant performance improvements over older
`architectures. PXI is built on the modular and scalable
`CompactPCI speci?cation and the high-speed PCI bus archi
`tecture. As a result, PXI products maintain complete interop
`erability With CompactPCI, offering superior mechanical
`integrity, easy systems integration, and more expansion slots
`than desktop computers.
`FIG. 1 (Related Art) Exemplary Chassis
`FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary chassis of either VXI,
`VME, CompactPCI, or PXI type. Cards 102A, 102B, and
`102C are designed to physically connect With the chassis
`backplane (not shoWn). The chassis 100 comprises a housing
`Which is con?gured to de?ne a plurality of slots. The
`backplane is comprised in the housing and is adapted for
`transmitting electrical signals. Cards 102A, 102B, and 102C
`can be of either 3U or 6U siZe, such as described beloW With
`reference to FIG. 2.
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`In one embodiment, a ?rst module and a second module
`may be combined using a coupling element to provide a
`larger circuit area. For example, the ?rst module and the
`second module may have similar circuit areas and coupling
`the ?rst module to the second module may provide double
`the circuit area as provided by either the ?rst module or the
`second module. In another embodiment, the ?rst module
`may be larger than the second module. Other module siZes
`are also contemplated.
`In one embodiment, the ?rst module may be an adapter
`card such as, but not limited to a Riser Card With a PCI
`Express to PCI Bridge. In one embodiment, the PCI Express
`to PCI Bridge may convert a PCI Express signal to a PCI
`signal. The ?rst module may also pass along PXI-speci?c
`trigger and clocking signals and provide additional depth to
`interface a Legacy PXI card to a PCI Express backplane.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`A better understanding of the present invention can be
`obtained When the folloWing detailed description of the
`preferred embodiment is considered in conjunction With the
`folloWing draWings, in Which:
`FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art chassis of VXI/VME/Com
`pactPCI/PXI type;
`FIG. 2 illustrates prior art various card formats;
`FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the appa
`ratus, according to one embodiment; and
`FIG. 4 illustrates another exemplary embodiment of the
`apparatus, according to one embodiment.
`Although the system and method of the present invention
`has been described in connection With the preferred embodi
`ment, it is not intended to be limited to the speci?c form set
`forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such
`alternatives, modi?cations, and equivalents, as can be rea
`sonably included Within the spirit and scope of the invention
`as de?ned by the appended claims.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`
`FIG. 2 (Related Art) Various Card Formats
`FIG. 2 illustrates different card formats as de?ned by the
`IEEE 1101.10, CompactPCI, and PXI speci?cations. The
`IEEE 1101.10, CompactPCI, and PXI speci?cations de?ne
`tWo card siZes, referred to as 3U and 6U, and tWo chassis
`siZes, referred to as 3U and 6U, designed to accept 3U and
`6U cards, respectively. The IEEE 1101.10, CompactPCI,
`and PXI speci?cation de?ne 6U card siZe to be more than
`tWice as tall as the 3U card siZe.
`Since there are different chassis siZes and different card
`siZes, it Would be advantageous to alloW different siZed cards
`to ?t into different siZed chassis. For example, related art
`such as Front Panel Adapter, PN# 3687098 and PN#
`
`55
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`60
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`65
`
`Incorporation by Reference
`US. Pat. No. 5,995,376 titled “Chassis Which includes
`con?gurable slot 0 locations” ?led May 20, 1997, is hereby
`incorporated by reference as though fully and completely set
`forth herein.
`US. Pat. No. 6,198,633 B1 titled “Computer system and
`enclosure thereof ’ ?led Jul. 17, 1998, is hereby incorporated
`by reference as though fully and completely set forth herein.
`
`FIG. 3iExemplary embodiment of the apparatus
`FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an appa
`ratus for coupling a ?rst module 300A to a second module
`300B to form a combined module 360. For example, the ?rst
`
`

`
`US 7,149,093 B2
`
`3
`module 300A may be an adapter card such as, but not limited
`to a PXI Riser Card With an incorporated PCI Express to PCI
`Bridge. For example, the PXI Riser Card may Work With the
`interface described in Us. patent application Ser. No.
`10/014,638 titled “Instrumentation System Including a
`Backplane Having a SWitched Fabric Bus and Instrumenta
`tion Lines”, Which Was ?led Oct. 26, 2001, Whose inventors
`are Mark WetZel, Michel Haddad, Joseph E. Peck, and
`Christopher A. Clark, and Which issued on Dec. 27, 2005 as
`U.S. Pat. No. 6,981,086, Which is hereby incorporated by
`reference in its entirety as though fully and completely set
`forth herein. U.S. Pat. No. 6,981,086 discloses a backplane
`having a sWitched fabric bus (such as PCI Express) and
`instrumentation lines. In one embodiment, the adaptor card
`may have an incorporated PCI to PCI Express Bridge. In yet
`another embodiment, the adaptor card may have an incor
`porated PCI Express to PCI-X Bridge. In one embodiment,
`the PCI Express to PCI Bridge may convert a PCI Express
`signal to a PCI signal. The ?rst module 300A may also pass
`along PXI-speci?c trigger signals and clocking signals and
`provide additional depth to interface a Legacy PXI card to
`a PCI Express backplane. In one embodiment, the PCI
`Express backplane may use a PCI Express communication
`protocol. In one embodiment, the backplane may use a PCI
`communication protocol. A PCI Express interface used With
`the backplane may have a reduced pin count compared to a
`PCI interface used Wit the backplane.
`In one embodiment, the second module 300B may be a
`Legacy PXI Card. In one embodiment, the second module
`300B may have a front face 310, While the ?rst module 300A
`may have a back face 350. In one embodiment, the front face
`310 may provide an interface between the second module
`and an external component such as, but not limited to, a
`peripheral device. The back face 350 may have one or more
`connectors for coupling to a chassis 100. The ?rst module
`300A and the second module 300B each may have a ?rst
`lateral edge 320A and 320B respectively. The ?rst lateral
`edge 320A and 320B may each have a ?rst keep-out region
`330A and 330B respectively Which together may extend at
`least a portion of the distance from the front face 310 to the
`back face 350.
`The ?rst module 300A and the second module 300B may
`each have a second lateral edge 322A and 322B respectively.
`The second lateral edge 322A and 322B may be located
`opposite to the ?rst lateral edge 320A and 320B respectively.
`The second lateral edge 322A and 322B may each have a
`second keep-out region 332A and 332B respectively, Which
`together may extend at least a portion of the distance from
`the front face 310 to the back face 350. Also, in one
`embodiment, the second module 300B may have at least one
`injector/ejector lever 315. The injector/ejector lever 315
`may be operable to inject/eject a module 300A, 300B, and/or
`360 into/out of a chassis 100.
`In one embodiment, the apparatus may have one or more
`coupling elements 375 operable to couple the ?rst module
`300A and the second module 300B. In one embodiment, the
`coupling element 375 may be a PXI Connector. A combined
`module 360 may be formed by coupling the ?rst module
`300A to the second module 300B. In one embodiment, each
`of the ?rst module 300A and the second module 300B may
`have a similar siZe or a different siZe. The combined siZe of
`both the ?rst module 300A and the second module 300B
`may provide a larger circuit area. In one embodiment, the
`larger circuit area may be provided While maintaining a
`PCI-Express standard communication protocol.
`In one embodiment, the combined module 360 may be
`operable to be inserted into a slot in the chassis 100. In one
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`embodiment, the chassis 100 may have one or more slots
`each operable to receive a module 360 With a larger circuit
`area than a traditional 3U card.
`
`FIG. 4iExemplary Embodiment of the Apparatus
`FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an appa
`ratus for coupling a ?rst extended module 405 to a second
`module 400 to form a combined module 460. In one
`embodiment, the ?rst extended module 405 may be a carrier
`module With an incorporated PCI Express to PCI Bridge. In
`one embodiment, the second module 400 may be a Legacy
`PXI Card. In one embodiment, the second module 400 may
`have a front face 410, While the ?rst extended module 405
`may have a back face 450. In one embodiment, the front face
`410 may be coupled to both the ?rst extended module 405
`and the second module 400. The back face 450 may have
`one or more connectors for coupling to a chassis 100. The
`?rst extended module 405 and the second module 400 may
`each have a ?rst lateral edge 440 and 442 respectively. The
`?rst lateral edge 440 may have a ?rst keep-out region 445,
`and the second lateral edge 442 may have a ?rst keep-out
`region (not shoWn), Which together may extend at least a
`portion of the distance from the front face 410 to the back
`face 450. In one embodiment, the ?rst keep-out region 445
`may extend betWeen the front face 410 and the back face
`450.
`The ?rst extended module 405 and the second module 400
`may each have a second lateral edge 425 and 422 respec
`tively. The second lateral edges 425 and 422 may each be
`located opposite to the ?rst lateral edges 440 and 442
`respectively. The second lateral edge 425 and 422 may each
`have a second keep-out region 435 and 432 respectively,
`Which together may extend at least a portion of the distance
`from the front face 410 to the back face 450. Also, in one
`embodiment, the ?rst extended module 405 may comprise at
`least one injector/ejector lever 415. The injector/ejector
`lever 415 may be operable to inject/eject a module 405, 400,
`and/or 460 into/out of a chassis 100.
`In one embodiment, the apparatus may have one or more
`coupling elements 475 operable to couple the ?rst extended
`module 405 and the second module 400. In one embodi
`ment, the coupling element 475 may be a PXI Connector. A
`combined module 460 may be formed by coupling the ?rst
`extended module 405 to the second module 400 to provide
`a greater circuit area. In one embodiment, the combined
`module 460 may be operable to be inserted into a slot in the
`chassis 100. In one embodiment, the chassis 100 may have
`one or more slots each operable to receive a module 460. In
`one embodiment, the ?rst extended module 405 may have a
`greater height and Width than the second module 400. The
`?rst extended module 405 may be used to alloW the second
`module 400 to ?t in a larger chassis. The second module 400
`may have a height approximately equal to 3U. Other module
`siZes are also contemplated.
`Numerous variations and modi?cations Will become
`apparent to those skilled in art once the above disclosure is
`fully appreciated. It is intended that the folloWing claims be
`interpreted to embrace all such variations and modi?cations.
`What is claimed is:
`1. An apparatus, comprising:
`a legacy peripheral component interconnect extensions
`for instrumentation (PXI) card, Wherein the legacy PXI
`card is designed for insertion into a legacy PXI chassis,
`and Wherein the legacy PXI comprises:
`a legacy PXI front face, operable to provide an inter
`face betWeen the legacy PXI card and an external
`component; and
`
`

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`US 7,149,093 B2
`
`5
`a legacy PXI back face, operable to provide an interface
`between the legacy PXI and a backplane of the
`legacy PXI chassis, Wherein the legacy PXI back
`face is substantially parallel to the legacy PXI front
`face; and
`an extender card, Wherein the extender card comprises:
`an extender card front face, operable to couple to the
`legacy PXI back face to provide an interface betWeen
`the extender card and the legacy PXI card; and
`an extender card back face, operable to provide an
`interface betWeen the extender card and a PXI
`Express backplane of a ?rst chassis, Wherein the
`extender card front face and the extender card back
`face are substantially parallel, and Wherein the ?rst
`chassis is larger than the legacy PXI chassis;
`Wherein the extender card is operable to:
`extend the legacy PXI card on tWo sides or less of the
`legacy PXI card to ?t and operate in the ?rst chassis;
`and
`convert betWeen a legacy PXI communication protocol
`and a PXI Express communication protocol;
`Wherein, When coupled, the extender card and the legacy
`PXI card are substantially coplanar and form a com
`bined card Which is insertable into the ?rst chassis.
`2. The apparatus of claim 1, Wherein the combined card
`does not comprise additional perimeter elements for struc
`tural support.
`3. The apparatus of claim 1, Wherein the extender card is
`a PXI riser card.
`4. The apparatus of claim 1, Wherein the extender card is
`a PXI carrier module.
`5. The apparatus of claim 1, Wherein the extender card
`further comprises a PCI Express to PCI bridge, operable to
`convert PCI Express signals to PCI signals.
`6. The apparatus of claim 1, Wherein the extender card
`further comprises a PCI to PCI Express bridge, operable to
`convert PCI signals to PCI Express signals.
`7. The apparatus of claim 1, Wherein the extender card
`further comprises a PCI Express to PCI extended (PCT-X)
`bridge, operable to convert PCI Express signals to PCl-X
`signals.
`8. The apparatus of claim 1, Wherein at least tWo dimen
`sions of the extender card are greater than at least tWo
`corresponding dimensions of the second module.
`9. The apparatus of claim 1,
`Wherein a height of the extender card is greater than a
`height of the legacy PXI card;
`Wherein the height of the extender card and the height of
`the legacy PXI card are substantially parallel.
`10. The apparatus of claim 1,
`Wherein a length of the extender card is greater than a
`length of the legacy PXI card;
`Wherein the length of the ?rst module and the length of the
`second module are substantially parallel.
`11. The apparatus of claim 1, Wherein the extender card
`comprises an overlapping portion that is coplanar With the
`legacy PXI card and substantially extends to the legacy PXI
`front face.
`12. A PXI riser card comprising:
`a front portion, operable to couple to a legacy PXI card to
`provide an interface betWeen the legacy PXI card and
`an external component, Wherein the legacy PXI card is
`designed to be insertable and operable in a legacy PXI
`chassis; and
`a back portion, operable to couple to a PXI Express
`backplane of a ?rst chassis, Wherein the ?rst chassis is
`larger than the legacy PXI chassis.
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`Wherein the PXI riser card is operable to couple substan
`tially coplanar to the legacy PXI card via a PXI
`connector to form a combined card, Wherein the com
`bined card is insertable into the ?rst chassis, Wherein
`the PXI riser card is operable to convert betWeen a
`legacy PXI communication protocol and a PXI Express
`communication protocol, and Wherein the PXI riser
`card is operable to extend the legacy PXI card on tWo
`sides or less of the legacy PXI card to ?t and operate in
`the ?rst chassis.
`13. The PXI riser card of claim 12, Wherein at least tWo
`dimensions of the PXI riser card are greater than at least tWo
`corresponding dimensions of the legacy PXI card.
`14. The PXI riser card of claim 12, Wherein at least one
`dimension of the PXI riser card is greater than at least one
`corresponding dimension of the legacy PXI card.
`15. The PXI riser card of claim 12, Wherein the PXI riser
`card includes a PCI Express to PCI bridge.
`16. The PXI riser card of claim 12, Wherein the PXI riser
`card comprises a PCI to PCI Express bridge.
`17. An apparatus, comprising:
`a legacy PXI card, insertable and operable in a legacy PXI
`chassis;
`a PXI riser card, coupled substantially coplanar to the
`legacy PXI card via a PXI connector to form a com
`bined card, Wherein the combined card is insertable
`into a ?rst chassis Which is larger than the legacy PXI
`chassis, Wherein the ?rst chassis has a PXI Express
`backplane, Wherein the PXI carrier module is operable
`to convert betWeen a legacy PXI communication pro
`tocol and a PXI Express communication protocol, and
`Wherein the PXI carrier module is operable to extend
`the legacy PXI card on tWo sides or less of the legacy
`PXI card to ?t and operate in the ?rst chassis;
`Wherein the combined card comprises a front face oper
`able to provide an interface betWeen the legacy PXI
`card and an external component; and
`Wherein the combined card comprises a back face oper
`able to provide an interface betWeen the PXI carrier
`module and the PXI Express backplane.
`18. The apparatus of claim 17, Wherein at least tWo
`dimensions of the PXI carrier module are greater than at
`least tWo corresponding dimensions of the legacy PXI card.
`19. The apparatus of claim 17, Wherein at least one
`dimension of the PXI riser card is greater than at least one
`corresponding dimension of the legacy PXI card.
`20. The apparatus of claim 17, Wherein the PXI carrier
`module includes a PCI Express to PCI bridge.
`21. The apparatus of claim 17, Wherein the PXI carrier
`module comprises an overlapping portion that is coplanar
`With the legacy PXI card and substantially extends to the
`front face.
`22. An apparatus, comprising:
`a legacy peripheral component interconnect extensions
`for instrumentation (PXI) card, Wherein the legacy PXI
`card is designed for insertion into a legacy PXI chassis,
`and Wherein the legacy PXI comprises:
`a legacy PXI front face, operable to provide an inter
`face betWeen the legacy PXI card and an external
`component; and
`a legacy PXI back face, operable to provide an interface
`betWeen the legacy PXI and a backplane of the
`legacy PXI chassis, Wherein the legacy PXI back
`face is substantially parallel to the legacy PXI front
`face; and
`an extender card, Wherein the extender card comprises:
`
`

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`US 7,149,093 B2
`
`7
`an extender card front face, operable to couple to the
`legacy PXI back face to provide an interface between
`the extender card and the legacy PXI card; and
`an extender card back face, operable to provide an
`interface betWeen the extender card and a PCI
`Express backplane of a ?rst chassis, Wherein the
`extender card front face and the extender card back
`face are substantially parallel, and Wherein the ?rst
`chassis is larger than the legacy PXI chassis;
`Wherein the extender card is operable to:
`extend the legacy PXI card on tWo sides or less of the
`legacy PXI card to ?t and operate in the ?rst chassis;
`and
`convert betWeen a legacy PXI communication protocol
`and a PCI Express communication protocol;
`Wherein, When coupled, the extender card and the legacy
`PXI card are substantially coplanar and form a com
`bined card Which is insertable into the ?rst chassis.
`23. The apparatus of claim 22, Wherein the combined card
`does not comprise additional perimeter elements for struc
`tural support.
`24. The apparatus of claim 22, Wherein the extender card
`is a PXI riser card.
`25. The apparatus of claim 22, Wherein the extender card
`is a PXI carrier module.
`26. The apparatus of claim 22, Wherein the extender card
`further comprises a PCI Express to PCI bridge, operable to
`convert PCI Express signals to PCI signals.
`27. The apparatus of claim 22, Wherein the extender card
`further comprises a PCI to PCI Express bridge, operable to
`convert PCI signals to PCI Express signals.
`28. The apparatus of claim 22, Wherein the extender card
`further comprises a PCI Express to PCI extended (PCT-X)
`bridge, operable to convert PCI Express signals to PCl-X
`signals.
`29. The apparatus of claim 22, Wherein at least tWo
`dimensions of the extender card are greater than at least tWo
`corresponding dimensions of the second module.
`30. The apparatus of claim 22,
`Wherein a height of the extender card is greater than a
`height of the legacy PXI card;
`Wherein the height of the extender card and the height of
`the legacy PXI card are substantially parallel.
`31. The apparatus of claim 22,
`Wherein a length of the extender card is greater than a
`length of the legacy PXI card;
`Wherein the length of the ?rst module and the length of the
`second module are substantially parallel.
`32. The apparatus of claim 22, Wherein the extender card
`comprises an overlapping portion that is coplanar With the
`legacy PXI card and substantially extends to the legacy PXI
`front face.
`33. A PXI riser card comprising:
`a front portion, operable to couple to a legacy PXI card to
`provide an interface betWeen the legacy PXI card and
`an external component, Wherein the legacy PXI card is
`designed to be insertable and operable in a legacy PXI
`chassis; and
`
`20
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`8
`a back portion, operable to couple to a PCI Express
`backplane of a ?rst chassis, Wherein the ?rst chassis is
`larger than the legacy PXI chassis,
`Wherein the PXI riser card is operable to couple substan
`tially coplanar to the legacy PXI card via a PXI
`connector to form a combined card, Wherein the com
`bined card is inset-table into the ?rst chassis, Wherein
`the PXI riser card is operable to convert betWeen a
`legacy PXI communication protocol and a PCI Express
`communication protocol, and Wherein the PXI riser
`card is operable to extend the legacy PXI card on tWo
`sides or less of the legacy PXI card to ?t and operate in
`the ?rst chassis.
`34. The PXI riser card of claim 33, Wherein at least tWo
`dimensions of the PXI riser card are greater than at least tWo
`corresponding dimensions of the legacy PXI card.
`35. The PXI riser card of claim 33, Wherein at least one
`dimension of the PXI riser card is greater than at least one
`corresponding dimension of the legacy PXI card.
`36. The PXI riser card of claim 33, Wherein the PXI riser
`card includes a PCI Express to PCI bridge.
`37. The PXI riser card of claim 33, Wherein the PXI riser
`card comprises a PCI to PCI Express bridge.
`38. An apparatus, comprising:
`a legacy PXI card, insertable and operable in a legacy PXI
`chassis;
`a PXI riser card, coupled substantially coplanar to the
`legacy PXI card via a PXI connector to form a com
`bined card, Wherein the combined card is insertable
`into a ?rst chassis Which is larger than the legacy PXI
`chassis, Wherein the ?rst chassis has a PCI Express
`backplane, Wherein the PXI carrier module is operable
`to convert betWeen a legacy PXI communication pro
`tocol and a PCI Express communication protocol, and
`Wherein the PXI carder module is operable to extend
`the legacy PXI card on tWo sides or less of the legacy
`PXI card to ?t and operate in the ?rst chassis;
`Wherein the combined card comprises a front face oper
`able to provide an interface betWeen the legacy PXI
`card and an external component; and
`Wherein the combined card comprises a back face oper
`able to provide an interface betWeen the PXI carrier
`module and the PCI Express backplane.
`39. The apparatus of claim 38, Wherein at least tWo
`dimensions of the PXI carrier module are greater than at
`least tWo corresponding dimensions of the legacy PXI card.
`40. The apparatus of claim 38, Wherein at least one
`dimension of the PXI riser card is greater than at least one
`corresponding dimension of the legacy PXI card.
`41. The apparatus of claim 38, Wherein the PXI carrier
`module includes a PCI Express to PCI bridge.
`42. The apparatus of claim 38, Wherein the PXI carrier
`module comprises an overlapping portion that is coplanar
`With the legacy PXI card and substantially extends to the
`front face.
`
`

`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION
`
`: 7,149,093 B2
`PATENT NO.
`APPLICATION NO. : 10/410092
`DATED
`: December 12, 2006
`INVENTOR(S)
`: Conway
`
`Page 1 of 1
`
`It is certified that error appears in the above-identi?ed patent and that said Letters Patent is
`hereby corrected as shown below:
`
`Column 8 Line 7, please delete “card is inset-table into the ?rst” and substitute
`-- card is insertable into the first --.
`
`Signed and Sealed this
`
`Sixth Day of March, 2007
`
`m Watt”
`
`JON W. DUDAS
`Director afthe United States Patent and Trademark O?ice