Patent attributes
An extendable enclosure for circuit cards provides the capability for a customer to purchase a low cost system up-front, but still allow for growth. The extendable enclosure for circuit cards comprises a first enclosure comprising a backplane, a plurality of circuit card connectors, the backplane providing electrical connectivity among the plurality of circuit card connectors, a midplane connector mounted to the backplane, the midplane connector providing electrical connectivity to the backplane, and a backplane connector mounted to an edge of the backplane and providing electrical connectivity to the backplane and a second enclosure comprising a backplane, a plurality of circuit card connectors mounted to a face of the backplane, the backplane providing electrical connectivity among the plurality of circuit card connectors, and a backplane extension connector mounted to an edge of the backplane and providing electrical connectivity to the backplane, wherein the backplane extension connector is operable to plug into the backplane connector of the first component enclosure.