Interchangeable adapter module for electronic devices

Claim 2

In an electronic device having general application in association with a number of different computer systems, an adapter module to provide a specific interface between said electronic device and one of said computer systems having an opening adapted to receive said electronic device by insertion along an axis and further having a number of connectors embodying a predetermined mechanical and electrical protocol for connection with said electronic device; said electronic device having an end located adjacent to said computer system connector after installation of said electronic device, and at least one circuit board with an edge adjacent to said end, said adapter module comprising: (a) a plurality of electrical conductors attached to said circuit board adjacent to said edge, extending perpendicular to said circuit board; each of said conductors in electrical contact with one of a predetermined set of electrical signals of said device; (b) an adapter circuit board; (c) a first electrical connector attached to said adapter circuit board suitable for removable engagement with said electrical conductors, such that said adapter circuit board can be removably secured to said device circuit board in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the device circuit board adjacent to said edge; (d) a number of external electrical connectors attached to said adapter circuit board, said external electrical connectors having a plurality of electrical contacts adapted to mate with said electrical connectors of said computer system, at least one of said external electrical connectors being an edge connector formed as an integral part of said adapter circuit board extending for a predetermined distance beyond said edge of said device circuit board; (e) electrical interface circuitry on said adapter circuit board, providing electrical interconnection between a predetermined set of said electrical conductors of said device and said electrical contacts of said external electrical connectors in accordance with said protocol of said computer system.

Claim 3

The adapter module of claim 1, wherein said electrical conductors attached to said device circuit board comprise a number of metallic pins.

Claim 4

The adapter module of claim 2, wherein said first electrical connector comprises a back entry pin connector.

Claim 5

The adapter module of claim 2, further comprising a number of spacer elements adjacent to said pins to determine the minimum spacing between said adapter circuit board and said device circuit board.

Claim 6

The adapter module of claim 1, wherein said interface circuitry also provides signal processing for a number of the electrical signals interconnected through said interface circuitry between said first electrical connector and said external connectors.

Claim 7

The adapter module of claim 1, wherein said interface circuitry also provides a predetermined termination resistance to a number of said electrical conductor of said first electrical connector that are not interconnected through said interface circuitry to said external connectors.

Claim 8

In an electronic device having general application in association with a number of different computer systems, an adapter module to provide a specific interface between said electronic device and one of said computer systems having an opening adapted to receive said electronic device by insertion along an axis and further having a number of connectors embodying a predetermined mechanical and electrical protocol for connection with said electronic device; said electronic device having an end located adjacent to said computer system connector after installation of said electronic device, and at least one circuit board with an edge adjacent to said end, said adapter module comprising: (a) a plurality of pins attached to said circuit board of said electronic device, extending perpendicularly outward from said circuit board in a number of rows adjacent to said edge of said circuit board; each of said pins in electrical contact with one of a predetermined set of electrical signals of said device; (b) an adapter circuit board having a number of holes adapted to permit said pins to pass through said adapter circuit board; (c) a pin connector attached to said adapter circuit board, having spring-loaded electrical contacts that removably engage with said pins, such that said adapter circuit board can be removably secured to said device circuit board in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the device circuit board, with a predetermined spacing separating said adapter circuit board and said device circuit board; (d) an edge connector extending outward from said edge of said adapter circuit board for a predetermined distance beyond said end of said electronic device, said edge connector having a plurality of electrical contacts suitable for electrical connection with at least one of the connectors of said computer system; (e) electrical interface circuitry on said adapter circuit board, providing electrical interconnection between a predetermined set of the electrical contacts of said pin connector and a predetermined set of the electrical contacts of said edge connector.

Claim 9

In an electronic device having general application in association with a number of different computer systems, an adapter module to provide a specific interface between said electronic device and one of said computer systems having an opening adapted to receive said electronic device by insertion along an axis and further having a number of connectors embodying a predetermined mechanical and electrical protocol for connection with said electronic device; said electronic device having an end located adjacent to said computer system connector after installation of said electronic device, and at least one circuit board with an edge adjacent to said end, said adapter module comprising: (a) a plurality of pins attached to said circuit board of said electronic device, extending perpendicularly outward from said circuit board in a number of rows adjacent to said edge of said circuit board; each of said pins in electrical contact with one of a predetermined set of electrical signals of said device; (b) an adapter circuit board having a number of holes adapted to permit said pins to pass through said adapter circuit board; (c) a pin connector attached to said adapter circuit board, having spring-loaded electrical contacts that removably engage with said pins, such that said adapter circuit board can be removably secured to said device circuit board in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the device circuit board, with a predetermined spacing separating said adapter circuit board and said device circuit board; (d) an edge connector extending outward from said edge of said adapter circuit board for a predetermined distance beyond said end of said electronic device, said edge connector having a plurality of electrical contacts suitable for electrical connection with at least one of the connectors of said computer system; (e) electrical interface circuitry on said adapter circuit board, providing electrical interconnection between a predetermined set of the electrical contacts of said pin connector and a predetermined set of the electrical contacts of said edge connector.

Claim 10

The adapter module of claim 7, wherein said pin connector is a back entry pin connector.

Claim 11

The adapter module of claim 7, further comprising a number of spacer elements adjacent to said pins to determine the minimum spacing between said adapter circuit board and said device circuit board.

Claim 12

The adapter module of claim 7, wherein said interface circuitry also provides signal processing for a number of the electrical signals interconnected through said interface circuitry between said pins and said edge connector.

Claim 13

The adapter module of claim 7, wherein said interface circuitry also provides a predetermined termination resistance to a number of said pins that are not interconnected through said interface circuitry to said edge connector.

Claim 14

In an electronic device having general application in association with a number of different computer systems, an adapter module to provide a specific interface between said electronic device and one of said computer systems having an opening adapted to receive said electronic device by insertion along a predetermined axis and further having a number of connectors, including at least one edge connector, within said opening embodying a predetermined mechanical and electrical protocol for connection with said electronic device; said electronic device having at least one circuit board with an edge adjacent to said computer system edge connector after insertion of said electronic device into said opening, and further having a plurality of electrical conductors adjacent to said edge, extending substantially perpendicular to said circuit board, with each of said conductors in electrical contact with one of a predetermined set of electrical signals of said electronic device; said adapter module comprising: (a) an adapter circuit board; (b) a number of external electrical connectors attached to said adapter circuit board, said external electrical connectors having a plurality of electrical contacts adapted to mate with said electrical connectors of said computer system; at least one of said external electrical connectors being an edge connector extending for a predetermined distance beyond said edge of said device circuit board parallel to said axis of insertion and being adapted to mate with said computer system edge connector during insertion of said electronic device into said opening; (c) an adapter electrical connector attached to said adapter circuit board suitable for removable engagement with said electrical conductors of said electronic device, adapted to removably secured said adapter circuit board to said electronic device circuit board in a predetermined position adjacent to said edge such that said adapter edge connector is aligned to mate with said computer system edge connector during insertion of said electronic device into said opening; and (d) electrical interface circuitry on said adapter circuit board providing electrical interconnection between a predetermined set of said electrical conductors of said electronic device and said electrical contacts of said external electrical connectors in accordance with said protocol of said computer system.

Claim 15

In an electronic device having general application in association with a number of different computer systems, an adapter module to provide a specific interface between said electronic device and one of said computer systems having an opening adapted to receive said electronic device by insertion along a predetermined axis and further having a number of connectors, including at least one edge connector, within said opening embodying a predetermined mechanical and electrical protocol for connection with said electronic device; said electronic device having at least one circuit board with an edge adjacent to said computer system edge connector after insertion of said electronic device into said opening, and further having a plurality of electrical conductors adjacent to said edge, extending substantially perpendicular to said circuit board, with each of said conductors in electrical contact with one of a predetermined set of electrical signals of said electronic device; said adapter module comprising: (a) an adapter circuit board; (b) a number of external electrical connectors attached to said adapter circuit board, said external electrical connectors having a plurality of electrical contacts adapted to mate with said electrical connectors of said computer system; at least one of said external electrical connectors being an edge connector extending for a predetermined distance beyond said edge of said device circuit board parallel to said axis of insertion and being adapted to mate with said computer system edge connector during insertion of said electronic device into said opening; (c) an adapter electrical connector attached to said adapter circuit board suitable for removable engagement with said electrical conductors of said electronic device, adapted to removably secured said adapter circuit board to said electronic device circuit board in a predetermined position adjacent to said edge such that said adapter edge connector is aligned to mate with said computer system edge connector during insertion of said electronic device into said opening; and (d) electrical interface circuitry on said adapter circuit board providing electrical interconnection between a predetermined set of said electrical conductors of said electronic device and said electrical contacts of said external electrical connectors in accordance with said protocol of said computer system.

Claim 16

The adapter module of claim 12, wherein said electrical conductors attached to said electronic device circuit board comprise a number of metallic pins.

Claim 17

The adapter module of claim 13, wherein said adapter electrical connector comprises a back entry pin connector adapted to receive said pins.

Claim 18

The adapter module of claim 13, further comprising a number of spacer elements adjacent to said pins to provide a predetermined spacing between said adapter circuit board and said device circuit board.

Claim 19

The adapter module of claim 12, wherein said interface circuitry also provides signal processing for a number of the electrical signals interconnected through said interface circuitry between said first electrical connector and said external connectors.

Claim 20

The adapter module of claim 12, wherein said interface circuitry also provides a predetermined termination resistance to a number of said electrical conductor of said first electrical connector that are not interconnected through said interface circuitry to said external connectors.