CN107450849B - Expandable Interface Panel - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides an expandable interface board, which is an interface board that complies with the M.2 interface protocol specification, and includes a plurality of data storage components, a data transmission interface, a controller, and at least one base; the data transmission interface includes a plurality of first interface pins and a plurality of second interface pins; the interface board is connected to an external electronic device via the base; wherein the first interface pin is defined to transmit a data signal of the data storage component, and the second interface pin is defined to transmit a data signal of the external electronic device, so that an electronic product used by the interface board can expand its functions through the external electronic device connected to the base.

Description

Expandable Interface Panel

technical field

The present invention relates to an interface board, especially an expandable interface board.

Background technique

M.2 is a new transmission interface standard specification formulated by the PCI-SIG and SATA-IO standard organizations. It was originally called NGFF (Next Genereation Form), and was later renamed as M.2. M.2 supports transmission specifications such as SATA, USB and PCIe, has the advantage of fast transmission speed, and can be applied in various functional fields, such as: solid-state drive (SSD), WIFI, Bluetooth (BT), near field communication ( NFC) and so on.

Generally speaking, electronic products are often only provided with a single M.2 interface base. If the single M.2 interface base is already occupied by a traditional M.2 interface board, the electronic product will not be able to insert other M.2 interface boards. Furthermore, nowadays electronic products are designed to be light, thin and short. Therefore, small-volume electronic products are only provided with a small number of bases for functional devices (such as specific function adapter cards or data storage devices) to be inserted. . Therefore, small-sized electronic products often have insufficient bases and cannot further expand their functions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One of the objectives of the present invention is to provide an expandable interface board, which is an interface board conforming to the M.2 interface standard specification. The M.2 interface board is provided with at least one base. When the M.2 interface board is When applied to an electronic product, the electronic product can be connected to at least one functional electronic device through the base of the M.2 interface board, so as to further expand the function of the electronic product.

The second purpose of the present invention is to provide an expandable interface board, the interface board is an interface board for data storage, a plurality of data storage components and a disk array module are arranged on the interface board, and the disk array module can store data The data stored in the storage component is backed up to an external data storage device.

The third object of the present invention is to provide an expandable interface board. The interface board is provided with a base that conforms to the M.2 interface protocol specification. The interface panel of the interface protocol specification.

To achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

An expandable interface board is an interface board conforming to the M.2 interface protocol specification, comprising: a plurality of data storage components; a data transmission interface, including a plurality of first interface pins and a plurality of second interface pins a controller, connected to the data storage element and the data transmission interface; and at least one base, connected to the controller, the base provides an external electronic device for connection, wherein the first interface pin is defined to transmit the data signal of the data storage element , the second interface pin is defined to transmit the data signal of the external electronic device.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the data storage component is a flash memory component.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the base includes a plurality of base pins, the base pins are electrically connected to the second interface pins, and the base pins and the second interface pins are used for transmitting data signals of external electronic devices.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the base is a base conforming to SATA, USB, NanoPitch, mSATA, PCIe, SlimlineSAS or other interface protocol specifications.

In an embodiment of the present invention, one side of the interface board is still provided with a board body expansion area and the other side is still provided with a hole, the base is set on the board body expansion area and is a base that conforms to the M.2 interface protocol specification, The external electronic device is an expansion board that complies with the M.2 interface protocol specification. One end of the external electronic device is provided with a connector and the other end is provided with a gap. When the connector of the external electronic device is inserted into the base of the interface panel, the external The notch of the electronic device is aligned with the hole of the interface board, and a fixing member passes through the notch of the external electronic device and the hole of the interface board to fix the external electronic device on the interface board.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the interface panel includes a disk array module, the disk array module is connected to the controller and the base, the external electronic device is a data storage device, and the controller uses the disk array module to back up the data signals stored in the data storage component to external electronics.

The present invention further provides an expandable interface board, which is an interface board conforming to the M.2 interface protocol specification, including: a communication module; a data transmission interface, including a plurality of first interface pins and a plurality of second interface pins an interface pin; a controller, connected to the communication module and the data transmission interface; and at least one base, connected to the controller, the base provides an external electronic device for connection, wherein the first interface pin is defined to transmit the data signal of the communication module , the second interface pin is defined to transmit the data signal of the external electronic device.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the communication module is a WiFi module, a Bluetooth module, a satellite navigation module, a near field communication module or a wireless wide area network module.

The advantages of the present invention are:

In the expandable M.2 interface board of the present invention, when the M.2 interface board is installed in an electronic product, the electronic product can be connected to at least one functional electronic device through the M.2 interface board, so as to further expand the function of the electronic product .

Description of drawings

FIG. 1( a ) is a schematic front view of an interface panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1( b ) is a schematic diagram of the reverse side structure of an embodiment of the interface panel of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a circuit block of an interface panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3( a ) is a schematic view of the front structure of another embodiment of the interface panel of the present invention.

FIG. 3( b ) is a schematic view of the structure of the reverse side of another embodiment of the interface panel of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a circuit block of another embodiment of the interface panel of the present invention.

FIG. 5( a ) is a schematic diagram of the front structure of another embodiment of the interface panel of the present invention.

FIG. 5( b ) is a schematic diagram of the reverse side structure of another embodiment of the interface panel of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a circuit block of another embodiment of the interface panel of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a front structure of another embodiment of the interface board and an expansion board separated from each other.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the front structure of another embodiment of the interface board and an expansion board combined with each other according to the present invention.

Explanation of main component symbols:

100 Interface Board 101 Interface Board

102 Interface panel 103 Interface panel

11 Controller 12 Disk Array Module

13 Data storage component 14 Communication module

15 Data transmission interface 151 The first interface pin

152 Second interface pin 17 Base

171 Base feet 18 Base

181 Base feet 19 Base

190 Board expansion area 191 Notch

192 Holes 21 Electronics

211 Connector 22 Electronics

221 Connector 23 Electronics

231 Connector 233 Notch

30 Fixtures

Detailed ways

Please refer to FIG. 1( a ), FIG. 1( b ) and FIG. 2 , which are schematic diagrams of front and rear structures of an interface board according to an embodiment of the present invention and circuit block diagrams of an embodiment of the interface board of the present invention, respectively. As shown in FIGS. 1( a ), 1 ( b ) and 2 , in this embodiment, the interface panel 100 is an interface board 100 that conforms to the M.2 interface standard specification and has a B key (B Key) and an M key (M Key) Or the interface board of the B+M key (MKey) pin specification. The interface panel 100 includes a controller 11 , a plurality of data storage components 13 , a data transmission interface 15 and at least one base 17 , 18 . The controller 11 and the data storage component 13 can also be optionally arranged on the surface (eg, the back) of the interface board 100 , and the data transmission interface 15 and the bases 17 and 18 can also be optionally arranged on the other surface (eg, the front) of the interface board 100 . . The controller 11 is electrically connected to the data storage element 13 , the data transmission interface 15 and the bases 17 and 18 . The data storage component 13 is a flash memory component. In this embodiment, the interface panel 100 is inserted into an electronic product through the data transmission interface 15 to serve as a data storage medium of the electronic product.

The bases 17/18 are bases conforming to SATA, USB, NanoPitch, mSATA, PCIe, Slimline SAS or other interface protocol specifications. For example, base 17 is a USB interface base, and base 18 is a SATA interface base. The bases 17 and 18 respectively provide the connectors 211 and 221 of the external electronic devices 21 and 22 for plugging. For example, the electronic device 21 is a display device, the connector 211 is a USB interface connector, and the electronic device 21 is plugged into the USB interface base 17 through the USB interface connector 211 . The electronic device 22 is a data storage device, the connector 221 is a SATA interface connector, and the electronic device 22 is plugged into the SATA interface base 18 through the SATA interface connector 221 .

Next, the data transmission interface 15 includes a plurality of first interface pins 151 and a second interface pin 152 , and the bases 17 and 18 respectively include a plurality of base pins 171 and 181 . The first interface pin 151 is a defined pin in the M.2 transmission protocol, and the second interface pin 152 is a reserved pin. The controller 11 and the data storage element 13 are electrically connected to the first interface pin 151 . The first interface pin 151 will be defined by the controller 11 to transmit the data signal of the data storage element 13 . The controller 11 and the base pins 171 and 181 are respectively electrically connected to the corresponding second interface pins 152 . The reserved second interface pins 152 will be defined by the controller 11 to transmit data signals of the electronic devices 21 and 22 .

When the electronic devices 21, 22 are connected to the bases 17, 18 through the connectors 211, 221, the electronic products 21, 22 and the electronic products applied to the interface board 100 will pass the connectors 211, 221, the base pins 171, 181 and the first The two interface pins 152 transmit data signals. Here, in this embodiment, the interface panel 100 for data storage can be connected to at least one functional electronic device 21 and 22 through the setting of the bases 17 and 18 to further expand the functions of the electronic product.

Please refer to FIGS. 3( a ), 3 ( b ) and 4 , which are schematic diagrams of front and back structures of another embodiment of the interface board of the present invention and schematic circuit block diagrams of another embodiment of the interface board of the present invention, respectively. As shown in FIG. 3( a ), 3 ( b ) and FIG. 4 , in this embodiment, the interface board 101 includes a Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) 12 . The disk array module 12 is connected to the controller 11 and the base 18 . In this embodiment, the controller 11 uses the data backup function provided by the disk array module 12 to back up the data signals stored in the data storage component 13 to an external electronic device 22 (eg, a data storage device).

Please refer to FIGS. 5( a ), 5 ( b ) and 6 , which are schematic diagrams of the front and rear of another embodiment of the interface board of the present invention and a schematic diagram of circuit blocks of another embodiment of the interface board of the present invention, respectively. As shown in FIGS. 5(a), 5(b) and 6, in this embodiment, the interface panel 102 conforms to the M.2 interface standard specification and has A key (AKey), E key (M Key), A key +E key (A+EKey) or B key (B Key) pin specification interface board. The interface panel 102 includes a controller 11 , a communication module 14 , a data transmission interface 15 and at least one base 17 , 18 . The controller 11 and the communication module 14 can also be optionally disposed on the surface (eg, the back) of the interface panel 102 , and the data transmission interface 15 and the bases 17 and 18 can also be optionally disposed on the other surface (eg, the front) of the interface panel 102 . The controller 11 will be electrically connected to the communication module 14 , the data transmission interface 15 and the bases 17 and 18 . The communication module 14 can also be a WiFi module, a Bluetooth (BT) module, a satellite navigation (GPS) module, a near field communication (NFC) module or a wireless wide area network (WWAN) module. In this embodiment, the interface panel 102 is inserted into an electronic product through the data transmission interface 15 to serve as a transceiver for wireless signals of the electronic product.

Similarly, in this embodiment, the bases 17/18 can also be bases conforming to SATA, USB, NanoPitch, mSATA, PCIe, Slimline SAS or other interface protocol specifications. The bases 17 and 18 respectively provide the connectors 211 and 221 of the external electronic devices 21 and 22 for plugging. The data transmission interface 15 includes a plurality of first interface pins 151 and a second interface pin 152 , and the bases 17 and 18 respectively include a plurality of base pins 171 and 181 . The first interface pin 151 is a defined pin in the M.2 transmission protocol, and the second interface pin 152 is a reserved pin. The controller 11 and the data storage element 13 are electrically connected to the first interface pin 151 . The first interface pin 151 will be defined by the controller 11 to transmit the data signal of the communication module 14 . The controller 11 and the base pins 171 and 181 are respectively electrically connected to the corresponding second interface pins 152 . The reserved second interface pins 152 will be defined by the controller 11 for transmitting data signals of the electronic devices 21 and 22 .

When the electronic devices 21, 22 are connected to the bases 17, 18 through the connectors 211, 221, the electronic products 21, 22 and the electronic products applied to the interface board 102 will pass the connectors 211, 221, the base pins 171, 181 and the first The two interface pins 152 transmit data signals. Here, in this embodiment, the interface panel 102 for communication can also be connected to at least one functional electronic device 21 and 22 through the setting of the bases 17 and 18 to further expand the functions of the electronic product.

Please refer to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 , which are schematic diagrams of the front structure of another embodiment of the interface board and the expansion board being separated from each other and combined with each other, respectively. In this embodiment, the interface panel 103 can also be an interface panel for data storage or an interface panel for communication. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 , in this embodiment, one end (eg, the front end) of the interface plate 103 is provided with the data transmission interface 15 and the other end (eg, the rear end) is provided with a notch 191 . In addition, in this embodiment, one side (eg, the left side) of the interface board 103 is provided with a board expansion area 190 and the other side (eg, the right side) is provided with a hole 192 . The base 19 conforming to the M.2 interface protocol specification will be disposed on the board expansion area 190 .

In this embodiment, the external electronic device 23 is another interface board conforming to the M.2 interface protocol specification, one end of which is provided with a connector (such as a data transmission interface conforming to the M.2 interface protocol) 231 and the other end A notch 233 is provided. When the connector 231 of the electronic device 23 is plugged into the base 19 of the interface plate 103 , the notch 233 of the electronic device 23 is aligned with the hole 192 of the interface plate 103 . The fixing member 30 passes through the notch 233 of the electronic device 23 and the hole 192 of the interface plate 103 to fix the electronic device 23 on the interface plate 103 . Then, according to the implementation of the above structure, the electronic product can also be further expanded with another interface board conforming to the M.2 interface specification through the interface board 103 of the present invention. Furthermore, another fixing member can also be passed through the notch 191 of the interface plate 103, so that the interface plate 103 can be fixed on the circuit board of the electronic product through another fixing member.

The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of implementation of the present invention, that is, all equivalent changes and modifications of the shapes, structures, features and methods described in the claims of the present invention , shall be included in the protection scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims (9)

1. An extensible interface board, wherein the extensible interface board is an interface board conforming to the m.2 interface protocol specification, comprising:

a plurality of data storage elements;

a data transmission interface including a plurality of first interface pins and a plurality of second interface pins;

a controller connected to the data storage component and the data transmission interface; and

at least one base connected to the controller, the base providing a connection to an external electronic device, wherein the first interface pin is defined for transmitting data signals of the data storage device, and the second interface pin is defined for transmitting data signals of the external electronic device;

the interface board comprises a board body expansion area, a hole, a base, a connector and a notch, wherein the board body expansion area is arranged on one side of the interface board, the hole is arranged on the other side of the interface board, the base is arranged on the board body expansion area and is a base conforming to the M.2 interface protocol specification, the external electronic device is an expansion board conforming to the M.2 interface protocol specification, one end of the external electronic device is provided with the connector, the other end of the external electronic device is provided with the notch, when the connector of the external electronic device is plugged into the base of the interface board, the notch of the external electronic device is aligned to the hole of the interface board, and a fixing piece fixes the external electronic device on the interface board through the notch of the external electronic device and the hole of the interface board.

2. The interface board of claim 1, wherein the data storage device is a flash memory device.

3. The interface board of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a plurality of base pins, the base pins are electrically connected to the second interface pins, and the base pins and the second interface pins are used for transmitting data signals of the external electronic device.

4. The interface board of claim 1, wherein the base is a base compliant with SATA, USB, NanoPitch, mSATA, PCIe, Slimline SAS, or other interface protocol specifications.

5. The interface board of claim 1, wherein the interface board includes a disk array module, the disk array module is connected to the controller and the base, the external electronic device is a data storage device, and the controller uses the disk array module to backup data signals stored in the data storage device to the external electronic device.

6. An extensible interface board, wherein the extensible interface board is an interface board conforming to the m.2 interface protocol specification, comprising:

a communication module;

a data transmission interface including a plurality of first interface pins and a plurality of second interface pins;

a controller connected to the communication module and the data transmission interface; and

at least one base connected to the controller, the base providing an external electronic device for connection, wherein the first interface pin is defined for transmitting data signals of the communication module, and the second interface pin is defined for transmitting data signals of the external electronic device;

one side of the interface board is provided with a board expansion area, the other side of the interface board is provided with a hole, the base is arranged on the board expansion area and is a base conforming to the M.2 interface protocol specification, the external electronic device is another interface board conforming to the M.2 interface protocol specification, one end of the external electronic device is provided with a connector, the other end of the external electronic device is provided with a notch, when the connector of the external electronic device is plugged into the base of the interface board, the notch of the external electronic device is aligned to the hole of the interface board, and a fixing piece fixes the external electronic device on the interface board through the notch of the external electronic device and the hole of the interface board.

7. The interface board of claim 6, wherein the communication module is a WiFi module, a Bluetooth module, a satellite navigation module, a near field communication module, or a wireless wide area network module.

8. The interface board of claim 6, wherein the base comprises a plurality of base pins, the base pins are electrically connected to the second interface pins, and the base pins and the second interface pins are used for transmitting data signals of the external electronic device.

9. The interface board of claim 6, wherein the base is a base compliant with SATA, USB, NanoPitch, mSATA, PCIe, Slimline SAS, or other interface protocol specifications.

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