US6697892B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Port expansion system
Assignee: Intel Corp
•
Filing: 2000-05-12
•
Granted: 2004-02-24
•
Expires: 2020-05-12
Abstract
Abstract A user configurable, modular port expansion system allows the user of a host system such as a USB-enabled personal computer to customize a desired configuration of one or more peripheral device modules without the use of cables between modules. The peripheral device modules are physically and electrically connectable to each other side-by-side between a hub end module and a power end module in any sequence so that there can be provided, within the limits of the host port specification, virtually any number of selected, expanded functions in any combination. The peripheral device modules may include, by way of example, a standard parallel DB-25 port module, a two-port serial PS/2 module, a two-port serial DB-9 module, a four- or seven-port USB hub, an RJ-11 Ethernet LAN module, and an RJ-11 modem module. Where the host port is USB compliant, power to the peripheral device modules may be supplied by the host system via a USB standard cable connected to the USB port of the hub end module, or, if more power is required, by an external a.c. power adapter connectable to the power end module. The power end module may also include an USB expansion port.
Inventors
- 👤 Ian A. Laity
- 👤 Timothy J. Thornton
- 👤 George Q. Gu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 08:40
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F13/00; G06F13/38; G06F13/382; G06F13/385; G06F13/40; G06F13/4063; G06F13/409; G06F13/4095; G06F2213/00; G06F2213/40; G06F2213/4002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
264 words
A modular port expansion system for connecting a peripheral device to a host system, the host system including a host port providing a communication link for signals compliant with an industry standard protocol, the port expansion system comprising: a hub module including: a host port connectable to the host port on the host system; a downstream connector defining a plurality of slave ports, each slave port providing a communication link for signals compliant with the industry standard protocol of the host port on the host system; and a hub module interface circuit interconnecting the host port and the plurality of slave ports; and a peripheral device module for coupling a peripheral device to the hub module, the peripheral device module being directly connectable to the downstream connector on the hub module and including: a peripheral device port providing a communication link for signals compliant with an industry standard protocol, the peripheral device port being connectable to the peripheral device; an upstream connector releasably mateable with the downstream connector on the hub module, the upstream connector defining a plurality of ports corresponding to the slave ports defined by the downstream connector on the hub module, the upstream connector on the peripheral device module and the downstream connector on the hub module providing a mechanical and electrical interconnection between the hub and peripheral device modules; a peripheral device interface circuit connected between one of the ports on the upstream connector and the peripheral device port; and a downstream connector for mechanically and electrically connecting the peripheral device module to a releasably mateable connector on another module.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
264 words
A modular port expansion system for connecting a peripheral device to a host system, the host system including a host port providing a communication link for signals compliant with an industry standard protocol, the port expansion system comprising: a hub module including: a host port connectable to the host port on the host system; a downstream connector defining a plurality of slave ports, each slave port providing a communication link for signals compliant with the industry standard protocol of the host port on the host system; and a hub module interface circuit interconnecting the host port and the plurality of slave ports; and a peripheral device module for coupling a peripheral device to the hub module, the peripheral device module being directly connectable to the downstream connector on the hub module and including: a peripheral device port providing a communication link for signals compliant with an industry standard protocol, the peripheral device port being connectable to the peripheral device; an upstream connector releasably mateable with the downstream connector on the hub module, the upstream connector defining a plurality of ports corresponding to the slave ports defined by the downstream connector on the hub module, the upstream connector on the peripheral device module and the downstream connector on the hub module providing a mechanical and electrical interconnection between the hub and peripheral device modules; a peripheral device interface circuit connected between one of the ports on the upstream connector and the peripheral device port; and a downstream connector for mechanically and electrically connecting the peripheral device module to a releasably mateable connector on another module.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
105 words
A system, as defined in claim 1 , in which: the plurality of ports defined by the upstream connector on the peripheral device module includes a first port, a second port and successive ports, the first port of the upstream connector being connected to the peripheral device interface circuit; and the downstream connector on the peripheral device module defines a plurality of ports including a first port and successive ports and wherein the second and successive ports defined by the upstream connector on the peripheral device module are sequentially connected to the first and successive ports on the downstream connector of the peripheral device module.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system, as defined in claim 2 , in which: the downstream connector on the hub module defines seven slave ports supporting up to six peripheral device modules.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system, as defined in claim 1 , in which: the industry standard protocol of the host system port is the same as the industry standard protocol of the peripheral device port.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system, as,defined in claim 4 , in which: the industry standard protocol is compliant with the Universal Serial Bus specification.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system, as defined in claim 1 , in which: the industry standard protocol of the host system port is different form the industry standard protocol of the peripheral device port.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system, as defined in claim 6 , in which: the industry standard protocol of the peripheral device port is selected from the group consisting of the following protocols: standard serial; standard parallel, Ethernet LAN, modem, ISDN, DSL, and PNA.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system, as defined in claim 1 , in which: the downstream connector on the hub module and the upstream connector on the peripheral device module are DB-25 connectors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system, as defined in claim 8 , in which: the downstream connectors on the hub and the peripheral device modules are of one gender and the upstream connector on the peripheral device module is of the opposite gender.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
111 words
A system, as defined in claim 1 , in which: the hub module has a front and a side, the host port of the hub module being disposed along said front of the hub module, and the downstream connector of the hub module being disposed along the side thereof; and the peripheral device module has a front and opposite, parallel, upstream and downstream sides, and wherein the peripheral device port is disposed along the front of the peripheral device module and the upstream and downstream connectors of the peripheral device module are disposed along the upstream and downstream sides, respectively, whereby the modules are directly connectable together in a side-by-side relationship.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system, as defined in claim 10 , in which: the side of the hub module and the upstream side of the peripheral device module include mateable, latchable tabs and apertures providing releasable, mechanical joinder of the modules.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
97 words
A system, as defined in claim 1 , which further includes: a power module having a side including an upstream connector mateable with the downstream connector on the hub module or on the peripheral device module; and in which: the hub module, peripheral device module and power module include electrical power buses, said power buses being connectable through the upstream and downstream connectors on the modules; and the power module including an external power supply connector, and electrical circuitry including a switch for coupling the external power supply connector to the power bus of the power module.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system, as defined in claim 12 , in which: the power module includes an expansion port connected to a set of contacts on the upstream connector of the power module.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system, as defined in claim 1 , in which: the peripheral device module includes an indicator visible to a user responsive to status and/or activity signals generated by the interface circuitry of the peripheral device module.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system, as defined in claim 14 , in which: the status and/or activity indicator includes a light source energizable in response to said status and/or activity signals, and a light conducting element optically coupled to the light source and visible to the user.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system, as defined in claim 12 , in which: the hub and power modules each includes an indicator visible to a user responsive to status and/or activity signals generated by the circuitry of the module.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
52 words
A system, as defined in claim 16 , in which: the status and/or activity indicator of each of the hub and power modules includes a light source energizable in response to said status and/or activity signals, and a light conducting element optically coupled to the light source and visible to the user.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
181 words
A module for connecting a computer peripheral device to a port on a host computer system, the port providing a communication link for signals compliant with an industry standard protocol, the module comprising: a housing having a front wall and opposite, parallel side walls; a peripheral device port, connectable to the computer peripheral device, disposed along the front wall of the housing, the peripheral device port providing a communication link for signals compliant with an industry standard protocol; a first connector disposed along one of the side walls of the housing, the first connector having contacts defining a plurality of ports including a first port, a second port and successive ports; a second connector disposed along the other side wall of the housing, the second connector having contacts defining a plurality of ports including a first port and successive ports; an interface circuit, connected between the first port on the first connector and the peripheral device port; and wherein the second and successive ports on the first connector are sequentially connected to the first and successive ports on the second connector.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
181 words
A module for connecting a computer peripheral device to a port on a host computer system, the port providing a communication link for signals compliant with an industry standard protocol, the module comprising: a housing having a front wall and opposite, parallel side walls; a peripheral device port, connectable to the computer peripheral device, disposed along the front wall of the housing, the peripheral device port providing a communication link for signals compliant with an industry standard protocol; a first connector disposed along one of the side walls of the housing, the first connector having contacts defining a plurality of ports including a first port, a second port and successive ports; a second connector disposed along the other side wall of the housing, the second connector having contacts defining a plurality of ports including a first port and successive ports; an interface circuit, connected between the first port on the first connector and the peripheral device port; and wherein the second and successive ports on the first connector are sequentially connected to the first and successive ports on the second connector.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
A module, as defined in claim 18 , in which: the first and second connectors comprise DB-25 connectors of opposite gender.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
60 words
A module, as defined in claim 19 , in which: the first and second connectors each define seven ports, the second through sixth ports of the first connector being connected, respectively, to the first through the fifth ports of the second connector, and the seventh port on the first connector being connected to the seventh port on the second connector.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
A module, as defined in claim 18 , in which: the peripheral device port is selected from the group consisting of the following industry standard ports: USB, serial, parallel, Ethernet LAN, modem, ISDN, DSL, and PNA.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
A module, as defined in claim 18 , in which: each of the side walls of the housing includes latch means for mechanically joining the module to an adjacent module.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
A module, as defined in claim 18 , which includes: an indicator visible to a user, the indicator being responsive to status and/or activity signals generated by the interface circuit of the module.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
44 words
A module, as defined in claim 23 , in which: the status and/or activity indicator includes a light source energizable in response to said status and/or activity signals, and a light conducting element optically coupled to the light source and visible to the user.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4862353A
Cited
DE3612034A1
Cited
US5220522A
Cited
US5666495A
Cited
US5460547A
Cited
US5737189A
Cited
US6295519B1
Cited
US5568356A
Cited
JPH0959839A
Cited
US5805833A
Cited
US5699226A
Cited
US5826042A
Cited
WO1998025352A2
Cited
US6243780B1
Cited
US6049896A
Cited
US5974492A
Cited
US5841424A
Cited
US6105143A
Cited
US6321340B1
Cited
US6058441A
Cited
US6286060B1
Cited
US6424524B2
Cited
US6128743A
Cited
US6141719A
Cited
US6493783B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-02-23 | 2007-08-25 | 2008-02-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-02-23 | 2011-08-25 | 2012-02-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-02-23 | 2015-08-25 | 2016-02-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |