Functional Module Board Segmentation for Signal Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing computer systems require customization of main boards to meet diverse input/output port requirements, leading to increased development time and cost, as they cannot simultaneously output signals to multiple terminals with different signal types.
Innovation Solution
A functional module board design featuring a main board with a processor and power slot, and a sub board with a signal converter and power switching component, allowing the sub board to be customized for various output signals and ports without redesigning the main board, by converting native signals into output signals based on application terminal requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the main board is customized to meet diverse input/output port requirements, then the adaptability to different application terminals is improved, but the development time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into a main board and a sub board, where the main board handles core processing functions and the sub board handles I/O port functions. This segmentation allows the sub board to be customized for different I/O requirements while the main board remains standardized, reducing development time and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The main board is designed with universal compatibility to work with multiple types of sub boards. The processor on the main board can output different native signals (USB, PCIe, SATA, etc.) that are converted by different sub boards to various output formats, allowing one main board design to serve multiple application scenarios.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the main board is customized to meet diverse input/output port requirements, then the adaptability to different application terminals is improved, but the development cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into a main board and a sub board, where the main board handles core processing functions and the sub board handles I/O port functions. This segmentation allows the sub board to be customized for different I/O requirements while the main board remains standardized, reducing development time and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of creating entirely new main board designs for different applications, the invention uses a standardized main board that can be paired with different sub boards. This is analogous to using a universal platform with interchangeable components, significantly reducing development costs.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the signal converter on the main board converts native signals, then the signal output is standardized, but the sub board cannot provide diverse output signals for different application terminals
Solution Approach 1:
The signal conversion function is extracted from the main board and relocated to the sub board. Each sub board contains its own signal converter that receives native signals from the main board and converts them to the required output formats. This allows each sub board to be optimized for specific signal conversion requirements without complicating the main board design.
Data Source
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AI summary
A functional module board for outputting an output signal to an application terminal includes a main board and a sub board. The main board includes a processor and a main board connector. The sub board includes a sub board connector, a signal converter, and a signal output terminal. The main board connector is detachably connected to the sub board connector, and the processor sends a native signal to the sub board. The sub board converts the native signal to the output signal via the signal converter after receiving the native signal, and the signal output terminal outputs the output signal to the application terminal. The functional module board of the present application can change the design of the sub board according to different application terminal requirements in the case of the same main board to save the development cost.