Expansion slot adapter with embedded data device interface

Claim 2

A computer expansion slot adapter that is adapted to connect a first data device to the computer and is adapted to connect a plurality of other data devices with the computer, the expansion slot adapter comprising: an adapter circuit board; a data device slot connector mounted on the adapter circuit board for directly connecting the first data device to the adapter; a plurality of expansion slot connectors mounted on the adapter circuit board and adapted to connect the adapter circuit board with the plurality of other data devices; a multiple-tab connector mounted on the adapter circuit board and adapted to connect the adapter circuit board with the computer; and controller means, mounted on the adapter circuit board and operatively connected to the computer and the data device slot connector, for providing a data transfer interface between the computer and the first data device.

Claim 3

An expansion slot adapter as recited in claim 1, wherein the adapter further includes: interface means, mounted on the adapter circuit board and operatively connected to the multiple-tab connector, for performing the functions of a local area network system board.

Claim 4

An expansion slot adapter as recited in claim 2, wherein the interface means comprises a digital logic integrated circuit mounted on the adapter circuit board.

Claim 5

An expansion slot adapter as recited in claim 1, wherein the controller means includes digital logic circuitry providing a basic input/output system (BIOS) for the first data device.

Claim 6

An expansion slot adapter as recited in claim 4, wherein the controller means includes operating system transfer means for providing a data transfer interface that allows the transfer of data between a first data format used by one of the data devices and a second, different data format used by the computer.

Claim 7

An expansion slot adapter for receiving tab contacts of printed circuit boards associated with data devices and connecting the data devices with a computer that operates in accordance with a data format standard, the expansion slot adapter comprising: a circuit board having at least three expansion slot connectors that can receive the tab contacts of the data device printed circuit boards, thereby connecting the data devices to the expansion slot adapter; an integral multiple-tab connector mounted on the circuit board for connecting the expansion slot adapter with the computer; a data device expansion slot connector mounted on the circuit board for connecting a first data device to the expansion slot adapter; controller means, mounted on the circuit board, for providing a data transfer interface between the computer data format standard and the data format standard of the first data device; and network interface means, mounted on the circuit board and operatively connected to the integral multiple-tab connector, for performing the functions necessary to support a local area network system.

Claim 8

An expansion slot adapter for receiving tab contacts of printed circuit boards associated with data devices and connecting the data devices with a computer that operates in accordance with a data format standard, the expansion slot adapter comprising: a circuit board having at least three expansion slot connectors that can receive the tab contacts of the data device printed circuit boards, thereby connecting the data devices to the expansion slot adapter; an integral multiple-tab connector mounted on the circuit board for connecting the expansion slot adapter with the computer; a data device expansion slot connector mounted on the circuit board for connecting a first data device to the expansion slot adapter; controller means, mounted on the circuit board, for providing a data transfer interface between the computer data format standard and the data format standard of the first data device; and network interface means, mounted on the circuit board and operatively connected to the integral multiple-tab connector, for performing the functions necessary to support a local area network system.

Claim 9

An expansion slot adapter as recited in claim 6, wherein the first data device comprises a hard disk drive.

Claim 10

An expansion slot adapter as recited in claim 6, wherein the controller means comprises a digital logic integrated circuit mounted on the circuit board.