Information processing apparatus

Abstract

An information processing apparatus includes: a plurality of interfaces each of which supports any one of a plurality of types of devices; and a controller which controls devices. The interfaces and the controller are connected so as to link together in series.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example of an information processing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of another example of the information processing apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a buffer circuit;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a driver/receiver circuit; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the information processing apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus, comprising: a plurality of interfaces each of which supports any one of a plurality of types of devices; anda controller which controls devices, whereinthe interfaces and the controller are connected so as to link together in series.

2. An information processing apparatus, comprising: a main body;a device group including a device which processes information and a device which stores information;a plurality of main-body side interfaces which are provided to the main body, and which are connected so as to like together in series; anda plurality of device side interfaces which are connected to the respective devices included in the device group, and each of which is connectable to any one of the main-body side interfaces.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each of at least two of the main-body side interfaces is connected to and paired with a device side interface of device side interfaces;each one of pairs of the main-body side interface and the device side interface transmits information between the main body and a device connected to the device side interface of the one of pairs; andpairs of the main-body side interface and the device side interface sequentially relay the transmitted information.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a controller which is connected to the main-body side interfaces so as to link together in series, and which controls devices which are connected to the respective device side interfaces.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the device group includes a central processing unit, a random access memory and a hard disk drive.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each of the main-body side interfaces includes a main-body side connector,each of the device side interfaces includes a device side connector, andeach of the device side connectors is connectable to any one of the main-body side connectors.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising bases each of which at least one device selected from the device group is mounted on, wherein the main body includes a chassis and a plurality of slots provided to the chassis, andeach of the bases can be housed in any one of the slots.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the slots have the same dimensions.