Apparatus and method for enhancing the performance of personal computers
DC CAFC
First Claim
1. In combination, a computer system board having a socket for a first microprocessor and a clock for generating a first clock signal intended for the operation of said first microprocessor;
- an accelerator board connected to said socket to replace said first microprocessor;
said accelerator board having an upgrade microprocessor thereon for operation under the control of a second clock signal having a frequency greater than that of said first clock signal;
means responsive to said first clock signal for generating a sub-harmonic signal at a frequency that is a common denominator of the frequency of said first clock signal and said second clock signal with a known phase relationship between said sub-harmonic signal and said first clock signal; and
phase lock loop oscillator means responsive to said sub-harmonic signal for generating said second clock signal in known phase relationship to said first clock signal.
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Abstract
An accelerator board for use in replacing the microprocessor of a slow speed system board with a microprocessor operating at a higher clock speed. The clock signal of the accelerator board is derived from the clock signal of the system board by first deriving a sub-harmonic frequency which is a common denominator of both the system board and the accelerator board clock signal, and using the sub-harmonic signal to control a phase locked loop oscillator to provide the desired clock speed for the accelerator board. The arrangement provides a known phase relationship between the system clock signal and the accelerator board clock signal ( which facilitates data transfer between the system board and the accelerator board. The arrangement also provides a stable clock signal for the accelerator board in those instances where the clock speed of the system board may change for certain I/O operations of the system board.
10 Citations
8 Claims
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1. In combination, a computer system board having a socket for a first microprocessor and a clock for generating a first clock signal intended for the operation of said first microprocessor;
- an accelerator board connected to said socket to replace said first microprocessor;
said accelerator board having an upgrade microprocessor thereon for operation under the control of a second clock signal having a frequency greater than that of said first clock signal; means responsive to said first clock signal for generating a sub-harmonic signal at a frequency that is a common denominator of the frequency of said first clock signal and said second clock signal with a known phase relationship between said sub-harmonic signal and said first clock signal; and phase lock loop oscillator means responsive to said sub-harmonic signal for generating said second clock signal in known phase relationship to said first clock signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
- an accelerator board connected to said socket to replace said first microprocessor;
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5. An accelerator board for use in replacing the microprocessor of a computer system board, said computer system board including means for generating a first clock signal at a first frequency for controlling the flow of digital information on said computer system board;
- said accelerator board comprising;
an enhanced microprocessor for operation by a second clock signal having a second clock frequency higher than said first frequency; bus means for transmitting said first clock signal to said accelerator board; a sub-harmonic generator responsive to said first clock signal for generating a sub-harmonic signal in known phase relationship with said first clock signal, the frequency of said sub-harmonic signal being a common denominator of said first clock frequency and said second clock frequency; and a phase locked loop oscillator responsive to said sub-harmonic signal for generating a second clock signal at said second clock frequency in known phase relationship with said first clock signal for the operation of said upgrade microprocessor. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
- said accelerator board comprising;
Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeMers Kutt
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Original AssigneeAll Computers, Inc.
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InventorsMadter, Richard C.
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Primary Examiner(s)Heckler, Thomas M.
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Application NumberUS08/130,335Time in Patent Office921 DaysField of Search395/550US Class Current713/501CPC Class CodesG06F 1/04 Generating or distributing ...G06F 1/12 Synchronisation of differen...
