Information processing apparatus with swappable parallel modules

1 . An information processing apparatus comprising:

two or more first modules comprising an arithmetic circuit configured to perform a predetermined calculation; and

a plurality of second modules each of which capable of having at least two of the first modules connected thereto in parallel and capable of being connected in series with each other by a serial bus,

wherein the plurality of second modules each have connectors disposed on side surfaces for engagement with and lateral connection to another second module, and

wherein the plurality of second modules each have two or more connectors disposed on a front surface for engagement with and connection to at least two of the first modules from the front thereof.

2 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a third module configured to control operation of the first modules connected to the plurality of second modules and capable of being connected in series by a serial bus to a second module, in the plurality of second modules, that is connected to another second module.

3 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

each second module in the plurality of second modules comprises a slave communication circuit for communicating with other second modules and with the third module,

the third module comprises a master communication circuit for communicating with the plurality of second modules, and

the master communication circuit is configured to control communication with the slave communication circuit included in the plurality of second modules connected in series by the serial bus.

4 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of second modules comprises a structure such that a plurality of the first modules can be inserted and removed without interfering with each other.

5 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first modules and the second modules are hot swappable.

6 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein each second module in the plurality of second modules further comprises an IO communication circuit for communication between the first module and the slave communication circuit in a case in which the first module is connected to the second module.

7 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the connector disposed on the side surface of one of the plurality of second modules is directly engaged with the connector disposed on the side surface of adjacent one of the plurality of second modules.

8 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the connector disposed on the front surface of one of the plurality of second modules is directly engaged with a connector disposed on a surface of one of the at least two of the first modules.