MOTHERBOARD WITH CONNECTOR FOR EXTENDER

Abstract

A motherboard has a cut-away so that it deviates from its rectangular outline. The motherboard has a connector disposed along one side for physically and electrically connecting the motherboard to a motherboard extender.

Description

BACKGROUND

When it comes to motherboard form factors, one size does not suit all. For example, there is an ATX form factor (with motherboard dimensions of 12″×9.6″, 30.5 cm×24.4 cm) and a micro-ATX form factor (with motherboard dimensions of 9.6″×9.6″, 24.4 cm×24.4 cm). The full ATX form factor provides for greater component count and thus expandability, while the micro-ATX form factor provides for a more compact assembled system. One advantage of this particular pair of form factors is that they share port placements so that a micro-ATX motherboard can be used in a case designed for a full ATX motherboard.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a motherboard assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a motherboard and an extender that, when engaged, form the motherboard assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a method in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While it is possible to use an extender that adds PCIe expansion card slots to a micro-ATX motherboard, it can be difficult to achieve the number of slots that a full ATX motherboard can provide. One embodiment addresses this by including a tab on an extender that accommodates an extra expansion card connector. The tab conforms to a complementary cut-away on the motherboard, to provide an extended motherboard with an increased expansion board connector count. This cut-away is entirely within the outline of the micro-ATX board, so that the board can be used in standard micro-ATX chassis. Herein, a “cut-away” is a deviation by a perimeter to the interior of a rectangle that best fits the perimeter, in this case of the motherboard.

From the manufacturer's point of view, one motherboard form factor, e.g., micro-ATX needs to be supplied, rather than two motherboard form factors, e.g., micro-ATX and full ATX, thus consolidating manufacturing and reducing manufacturing costs. In addition design and qualifying times are reduced, further reducing costs and time-to-market. The micro-ATX motherboard can be extended to meet the full ATX expansion card connector count. Other embodiments permit extensions for other form factors.

A motherboard assembly AP1 is shown in FIG. 1 including a micro-ATX motherboard 11 and a motherboard extender 13. The assembly conforms to the full ATX form factor. Motherboard 11 bears various computer components including a combination processor and processor socket 15, and memory 17. In addition, motherboard 11 has mounted thereon a series 19 of PCIe expansion card connectors; series 19 includes full-length PCIe connector CO and three shorter PCIe connectors C1-C3. Motherboard 11 also includes an extender connector 21 to be used when extender 13 is to be connected.

Motherboard extender 13 includes a printed-circuit board 22 and a motherboard connector 23, designed to engage extender connector 21 so that motherboard 11 and extender 13 can be physically and electrically connected. Extender 13 also bears a series 25 of three PCIe slots C4-C6 and other components 27 designed to extend the capabilities of motherboard 11 when extender 13 is attached. The dimensions of motherboard extender 13 correspond to the difference between an ATX form factor and a micro-ATX form factor.

Motherboard 11 and extender 13 are shown separated in FIG. 2. Motherboard 11 defines a “best-fit” rectangular motherboard outline 31, which substantially conforms to the perimeter of motherboard 11, but deviates along a first side 33 of motherboard 11, as indicated by a dot-dash line. Motherboard 11 has a “cut-away” (“recess” or “notch”) 35 in the region of this deviation to the interior 37 of outline 31.

Motherboard extender 13 defines a “best-fit” rectangular extender outline 41, which is represented by a dot-dash line where it deviates from the perimeter of extender 13. The deviation occurs along a first side 43 of extender 13. In this case, the deviation is to the exterior 45 of extender outline 41. The deviation to the exterior defines a tab 47. The shape of tab 47 is complementary to the shape of cut-away 35 so that they conform to each other when extender 13 engages motherboard 11.

PCIe connector C4 is mounted on extender 13 so that it overlaps tab 47. Herein, “overlap” means that the orthogonal projection of an object (in this case PCIe connector C4) intersects a target (in this case, tab 47). Having PCIe connector C4 on tab 47 permits it to be disposed over the boundary of motherboard outline 31 and extender outline 41 when extender 13 is connected to motherboard 11. Without this complementary arrangement between cut-away 35 and tab 47, the boundary between outlines 31 and 41 could be a dead zone for expansion-card connectors. In other words, the illustrated arrangement allows seven rather than six PCIe connectors. The extra PCIe connector can be a competitive factor in the market place and a substantial asset to a well-provisioned computer.

A method ME1 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is flow charted in FIG. 3. At method segment M1A, a motherboard such as motherboard 11 of FIGS. 1 and 2 is obtained. At method segment M1B, a motherboard extender such as extender 13 of FIGS. 1 and 2 is obtained. At method segment M2, the extender is physically and electrically connected to motherboard 11 to form motherboard assembly AP1 (FIG. 1).

Method segment M2 involves mechanically and electrically engaging motherboard connector 21 and extender connector 23. This connection extends the PCIe bus (not shown) on motherboard 11 to service PCIe connectors C4-C6 on extender 13. Also, components 27 on extender 13 are communicatively coupled to motherboard 11. These components can include a USB hub, mini-card slot, an eSata port, etc. These and other variations upon and modifications to the illustrated embodiment are provided for by the following claims.

Claims

1. A motherboard structure comprising: a motherboard having a first side with a cut-away;a processor or a processor socket attached to said motherboard;a first series of elongated expansion-card connectors, said series extending orthogonal to said first side, said expansion-card connectors extending parallel to said first side; andan extender connector disposed along said first side for physically and electrical for connecting said motherboard to a motherboard extender.

2. A motherboard structure as recited in claim 1 further comprising said motherboard extender, said motherboard extender having a motherboard connector (23) for engaging said extender connector so as to physically and electrically connect said motherboard extender to said motherboard, said motherboard extender having a tab that conforms to said cut-away when said motherboard connector and said extender connector are engaged.

3. A motherboard structure as recited in claim 2 further comprising a second series of expansion-card connectors mounted on said motherboard extender, at least one of said second series of connectors being mounted on or overlapping said tab.

4. A motherboard structure as recited in claim 3 wherein said motherboard conforms to a micro-ATX form factor and said motherboard and said motherboard extender, when connected, collectively conform to an ATX form factor.

5. A motherboard structure as recited in claim 3 wherein said second series of expansion-card connectors includes three PCIe connectors.

6. A method comprising physically and electrically connecting a motherboard extender to a motherboard so that a tab of said motherboard extender and an overlapping expansion-card connector (C4) extend into a cut-away of said motherboard.

7. A method as recited in claim 6 wherein said expansion-card connector is a PCIe connector, said motherboard conforming to an micro-ATX form factor, and said motherboard and said motherboard extender, when connected, collectively conforming to an ATX form factor.

8. A method as recited in claim 7 wherein said motherboard extender includes three PCIe connectors.

9. A motherboard extender comprising: a circuit board having a best-fit rectangular extender outline, said circuit board having a first side with a tab extending into the exterior of said extender outline, a series of elongated expansion-card connectors extending parallel to said first side, at least one of said expansion-card connectors overlapping said tab.

10. A motherboard extender as recited in claim 9 further comprising a motherboard connector mounted to said circuit board for connecting with a mating connector on a motherboard so that said motherboard and said extender are physically and electrically connected.

11. A motherboard extender as recited in claim 10 wherein said circuit board has a form factor corresponding to the difference in dimensions between an ATX form factor and a micro-ATX form factor.

12. A motherboard extender as recited in claim 11 wherein said series of expansion-card connectors includes three PCIe connectors.