EP0860781A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multiple interface connection device and method for reconfiguring standard PC-card interface
Assignee: Koninklijke Philips NV
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Filing: 1998-02-20
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2018-02-20
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method which overcomes connectivity limitations on PCMCIA and PC-CARD95 compatible devices by reconfiguring standard PCMCIA and PC-CARD pins for additional electrical interfaces. A detection circuit in the PC-card can detect the different interfaces. Once the different interfaces are identified, the connections to the receptacles of the PC-card connector are reconfigured such that the functional assignments of the receptacles conform with the requirements of each different interface. Thus, connection between different electrical interfaces to the physical interface of a PCMCIA-compatible device, without interference between them is possible. This eliminates the need for extra connectors other than the standard PCMCIA and PC-CARD95 connector. Thus, more versatile products with enhanced connectivity may be designed which use the PCMCIA and PC-CARD95 standards.
Inventors
- 👤 Andreas Junghans
- 👤 Josef E. Pletl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 16:57
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F13/00; G06F13/38; G06F13/40; G06F13/4063; G06F13/4068
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
An electrical device that is connectable to one of a plurality of hosts having different
interfaces comprising: a connector having a plurality of receptacles to receive pins from a host interface; and a detection circuit connected to a designated receptacle for determining a state of a
corresponding pin of said host interface wherein said state indicates whether said host
interface is PCMCIA compliant or is not PCMCIA compliant.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
67 words
The device of Claim 1 further comprising a multiplexer coupled to said detection
circuit which electrically couples said receptacles to internal circuits within said electrical
device according to functional assignments complying with the PCMCIA standard if it is
determined that the host interface is PCMCIA compliant, otherwise said multiplexer couples
said receptacles to said internal circuitry according to functional assignments to properly
interface with a non-PCMCIA-compliant interface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electrical device of Claim 1 or 2 wherein said electrical device is a PC-card.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electrical device of Claim 3 wherein said detection circuit identifies hosts having
non-PCMCIA-compliant interfaces which include a detection pin connected to a voltage
source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
The electrical device of Claim 3 wherein said PC-card performs a first set of functions
which includes the function of operating as a modem when connected to a host having a
PCMCIA-compliant interface and wherein said PC-card performs a second set of functions
that includes the function of operating as a modem upon connection to a host having a
non-PCMCIA-compliant interface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electrical device of Claim 5 wherein said electrical device is battery operated and
wherein said second set of functions includes the function of charging said battery.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The electrical device of Claim 6 wherein said detection circuit determines that said
electrical device is not connected to any interface, and wherein, upon the determination that
said electrical device is not connected to any interface, said electrical device performs a third
set of functions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
The electrical device of Claim 7 wherein said internal circuits include a microprocessor
and wherein said detection circuit includes a first buffer and a second buffer and a resistor ,
said first buffer connected to said resistor and said detection receptacle connected to said
resistor and said second buffer such that electrical current may flow from said first buffer,
through said resistor and to said second buffer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
127 words
The device of Claim 1 further comprising: a housing; a power source disposed within said housing; a microcontroller disposed within said housing including a first buffer and a second
buffer, said microcontroller coupled to said power source, said plurality of receptacles
including a detection receptacle, said receptacles disposed within said housing and electrically
coupled to said microcontroller; a resistor disposed within said housing and coupled to said first buffer and to said
detection receptacle, the detection circuit being a detection algorithm within said
microcontroller for determining whether: 1) said electrical device is connected to a host which
has a PCMCIA compliant interface; 2) said electrical device is connected to any host; and 3)
said electrical device is connected to a host which has a non-PCMCIA compliant interface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of Claim 9 wherein said detection algorithm detects hosts having
non-PCMCIA-compliant interfaces which include a detection pin coupled to a resistor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of Claim 3 or 10 wherein said detection algorithm detects hosts having
non-PCMCIA-compliant interfaces which include a detection pin coupled to a capacitor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of Claim 3 or 10 wherein said detection algorithm detects hosts having
non-PCMCIA-compliant interfaces which include a detection pin that is connected to ground.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device of Claim 12 further comprising a multiplexer disposed between said
receptacles and said microcontroller such that said multiplexer changes the connections
between said receptacles and said microcontroller so as to allow for connection to hosts
having different non-PCMCIA-compliant interfaces.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The device of Claim 13 wherein said detection algorithm detects when said PC-card is
connected to any host and wherein, upon the determination that said PC-card is not
connected to any host a set of stand- alone functions are performed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
179 words
In an electrical device having a receptacle coupled to a detection circuit including a first
buffer, a second buffer and a resistor, wherein said first buffer is coupled to said resistor and
said resistor is coupled to said receptacle and said resistor is coupled to said second buffer, a
method for determining whether said electrical device is coupled to a PCMCIA-compliant
interface comprising: applying an electrical current to said first buffer; determining a voltage at said second buffer wherein zero volts indicates that said
electrical device is coupled to a host having a PCMCIA-compliant interface; setting the output of the first buffer to zero volts if the voltage at said second buffer is
equal to the voltage applied to said first buffer; and determining the voltage at said second buffer when the output of the first buffer is
zero volts wherein zero volts indicates that said electrical device is not connected to any host
and a voltage greater than zero volts indicates that said electrical device is connected to a host
which does not have a PCMCIA compliant adapter.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of Claim 15 wherein said electrical device comprises a PC-card having an
interface which complies with the standards of the PCMCIA standards body.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of Claim 16 further comprising the step of detecting by means of said
PC-card a host having a non-PCMCIA compliant interface which includes a detection pin and
a capacitor coupled to said detection pin, and a host having a non-PCMCIA compliant
interface which includes a detection pin and a resistor coupled to said detection pin.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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