Flexible PCIe Riser Card Routing Multiple Connectors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Motherboards have limited space and varying PCIe connector sizes, restricting the number and type of peripheral components that can be connected to the CPU, making it difficult to install accessories that require specific connector sizes.

Innovation Solution

A riser card is configured to connect to multiple PCIe connectors on a motherboard, combining communication links to provide additional channels and allowing accessories to be installed even when the right size connector is not available, by using cabling to connect to different PCIe slots.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If multiple PCIe connectors are provided on the motherboard, then the number of peripheral components that can be connected increases, but the motherboard area required increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of PCIe connectorsVSAvoidmotherboard area

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple PCIe connectors (e.g., two x4 connectors or one x8 and one x4 connector) into a single functional unit that provides the bandwidth of a larger connector (x8 or x16). This merging approach allows the system to provide equivalent connectivity to fewer physical connectors, reducing motherboard space requirements while maintaining the ability to connect peripheral components with high bandwidth requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If PCIe connectors of different sizes are provided, then compatibility with different peripheral components improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnector size compatibilityVSAvoidconnector configuration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal connector solution where smaller PCIe connectors can be combined to serve the function of larger connectors. The riser card architecture enables a single physical connector configuration to support multiple peripheral component sizes and types by dynamically allocating and combining lanes from multiple smaller connectors, eliminating the need to provide all connector sizes physically

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs dynamic lane allocation and combination capabilities through the riser card, which can flexibly aggregate lanes from multiple smaller PCIe connectors to provide the appropriate bandwidth for different peripheral components. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the same physical connector setup to adapt to different peripheral requirements without requiring multiple fixed connector types

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9529743B2Flexible PCIe routing

Publication Date: 2016.12.27 QUANTA COMPUTER INC

AI summary

In some implementations, a riser card can be configured to connect to multiple PCIe connectors on a motherboard of a computing device. The riser card can be configured to route signals from an accessory installed in the riser to the CPU of the computing device through multiple PCIe connectors. The riser card can be configured to connect to a PCIe connector on the motherboard using cabling.