Claims
- 1. A computer system having an interface for receiving multiple, interchangeable peripheral components, said interface comprising:backplane; a first interface connector attached to said backplane, said first interface connector for connecting to a first interchangeable peripheral component, said first interface connector including a plurality of contacts for transferring data between said first interface connector and the first interchangeable peripheral component, said plurality of contacts of said first interface connector arranged in a first configuration; and a second interface connector attached to said backplane, said second interface connector for connecting to a second interchangeable peripheral component, said second interface connector including a plurality of contacts for transferring data between said second interface connector and the second interchangeable peripheral component, said plurality of contacts of said second interface connector arranged in a second configuration, said second configuration being a cross-symmetrical configuration of said first configuration.
- 2. The interface, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a first controller card connected to said first interface and a second controller card connected to said second interface, said first controller card for controlling the transfer of data between said first interface and the first interchangeable peripheral component and said second controller card for controlling the transfer of data between said second interface and the second interchangeable peripheral.
- 3. The interface, as recited in claim 2, further comprising a first plurality of data paths, said first plurality of data paths connecting said first controller card and said first interface connector.
- 4. The interface, as recited in claim 3, further comprising a second plurality of data paths, said second plurality of data paths connecting said second controller card and said second interface connector, said second plurality of data paths positioned in a non-crossing configuration relative to the first plurality of data paths.
- 5. An interface for associating interchangeable redundant controllers to supported computer hardware, said interface comprising:a first slot for receiving a first controller card therein, said first slot including a plurality of contacts for transferring data between said first slot and the first controller card; a second slot for receiving a second controller card therein, said second slot including a plurality of contacts for transferring data between said second slot and the second controller card; a controller interface connected to said first slot, said second slot and one or more computer components, said controller interface for controlling the transfer of data between the one or more computer components, said first slot and said second slot; a first plurality of data paths connecting said controller interface with said first slot; and a second plurality of data paths connecting said controller interface with said second slot, each of said second plurality of data paths positioned in a non-crossing configuration relative to the first plurality of data connectors.
- 6. The interface, as recited in claim 5, wherein said first slot includes a first portion and a second portion, each of said first and second portions including a plurality of contacts, said plurality of contacts in said first portion being configured in a first configuration, and said plurality of contacts in said second portion being configured in a second configuration.
- 7. The interface, as recited in claim 6, wherein said first configuration is a reverse configuration of said second configuration.
- 8. The interface, as recited in claim 6, wherein said second slot includes a first portion and a second portion, each of said first and second portions of said second slot including a plurality of contacts, said plurality of contacts in said first portion being configured in a third configuration, and said plurality of contacts in said second portion of said second slot being configured in a fourth configuration.
- 9. The interface, as recited in claim 8, wherein said third configuration is a reverse configuration of said fourth configuration.
- 10. The interface, as recited in claim 8, wherein said second configuration is a reverse configuration of said configuration, and further wherein said first configuration is a reverse configuration of said fourth configuration.
- 11. A small computer systems interface (SCSI) backplane for interfacing interchangeable redundant controllers to supported computer hardware, said interface comprising:a first slot for receiving a first controller card therein, said first slot including a plurality of contacts for transferring data between said first slot and the first controller card; a second slot for receiving a second controller card therein, said second slot including a plurality of contacts for transferring data between said second slot and the second controller card; a controller interface connected to said first slot, said second slot and one or more computer components, said controller interface for controlling the transfer of data between the one or more computer components, said first slot and said second slot; a first plurality of data paths connecting said controller interface with said first slot; and a second plurality of data paths connecting said controller interface with said second slot, each of said second plurality of data paths positioned in a non-crossing configuration relative to the first plurality of data paths.
Parent Case Info
This application is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 08/867,102 filed Jun. 2, 1997.
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Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
08/867102 |
Jun 1997 |
US |
Child |
09/676958 |
|
US |