Abstract:
An IDE interface communicates with peripheral devices not conforming to ST506 specification by providing firmware to microcontrollers mounted on the non-conforming peripheral devices to translate between the data structure of an ST506 specification device and the data structure of the non-conforming device. CD-ROM and cartridge tape drive communication is provided. An enhanced IDE interface communicates with multiple peripheral devices by adding a selective ability to the firmware of the conventional IDE interface.
Abstract:
A compressed I/O bus system for a general-purpose computer multiplexes 32 bit data and addresses on 32 of 42 dedicated parallel signal paths, and optimizes the bus structure by mapping bus requests made by peripheral devices to "high" memory portions of system RAM not dedicated to other purposes. In one aspect a bus controller is programmable to select translation routines stored in system RAM allowing various models and types of CPUs to be supported. Supported CPUs are interchangeable in the system. In another aspect a default interface attached to the compressed I/O bus of the invention, and translates bus states between the optimized compressed bus and one of an ISA bus or an EISA bus.
Abstract:
A business telephone system employs digital signal processing in a digital telephone having a serial link for connection to a general-purpose computer. The Smart Phone is the central intelligence for the system, which may utilize a PBX connected in a LAN network to multiple computers, including file servers, and each computer may have one or more Smart Phones connected. In one embodiment, docking bays in the phone provide an ability to interchange functional modules, including DSP modules. The docking bays and functional modules may be configured to PCMCIA standards. In another embodiment, a docking bay, which may also be PCMCIA, has a physical window allowing access to an input area on a docked module, wherein the docked module is an intelligent module with a CPU, a memory, and a bus structure, affording control of the smart phone and the entire system through the input interface of the docked module. In various embodiments the external form of the system may vary, and in one embodiment, the smart phone elements are integrated with a desktop or a portable computer having docking bays to receive and connect functional modules, such a DSP modules and/or an intelligent module.
Abstract:
A system for managing power levels for a general purpose computer having a standby and a full-power mode of operation provides apparatus and a method for monitoring times of user input and control routines for using the times of user input to calculate optimum times for initiating full power operation and standby mode. The control routines are configured to provide the optimum times to a real time clock that remains powered in the standby mode, which triggers switching elements to initiate full power and standby mode. In one embodiment of the system, startup and standby may be initiated either by user input or automatically by the power management system. Startup and standby initiation times may be different for different days and time periods based on both preprogrammed and calculated values.
Abstract:
A personal digital assistant module with a local CPU, memory, and I/O interface has a host interface comprising a bus connected to the local CPU and a connector at a surface of the personal digital assistant for interfacing to a bus connector of a host general-purpose computer, providing direct bus communication between the personal digital assistant and the host general-purpose computer. In an embodiment, the personal digital assistant also stores a security code. The personal digital assistant according to the invention forms a host/satellite combination with a host computer having a docking bay, wherein upon docking a docking protocol controls access by the host to memory of the personal digital assistant based on one or more passwords provided by a user to the host. In another embodiment the personal digital assistant also has an expansion port connected to the local CPU, and expansion peripheral devices may be connected and operated through the expansion port. Docking structures and cooling apparatus and methods are disclosed.
Abstract:
A business telephone system employs digital signal processing in a digital telephone having a serial link for connection to a general-purpose computer. The Smart Phone is thus the central intelligence for the system, which may utilize a PBX connected in a LAN network to multiple computers, including file servers, and each computer may have one or more Smart Phones connected. In one embodiment, docking bays in the phone provide an ability to interchange functional modules, including DSP modules. The docking bays and functional modules may be configured to PCMCIA standards. In another embodiment, a docking bay, which may also be PCMCIA, has a physical window allowing access to an input area on a docked module, wherein the docked module is an intelligent module with a CPU, memory, and a bus structure, affording control of the smart phone and the entire system through the input interface of the docked module.
Abstract:
A personal digital assistant module with a local CPU, memory, and I/O interface has a host interface comprising a bus connected to the local CPU and a connector at a surface of the personal digital assistant for interfacing to a bus connector of a host general-purpose computer, providing direct bus communication between the personal digital assistant and the host general-purpose computer. In an embodiment, the personal digital assistant also stores a security code. The personal digital assistant according to the invention forms a host/satellite combination with a host computer having a docking bay, wherein upon docking a docking protocol controls access by the host to memory of the personal digital assistant based on one or more passwords provided by a user to the host. In another embodiment the personal digital assistant also has an expansion port connected to the local CPU, and expansion peripheral devices may be connected and operated through the expansion port. In yet another embodiment a low-profile construction technique is used wherein discrete elements are assembled wholly enclosed within openings in a rigid substrate having interconnects on a surface of the substrate.
Abstract:
A bus interface system for expanding the I/O capability of a portable computer utilizes a parallel port connector with master interface circuitry connected to the internal ISA I/O bus of the portable computer and driving a 25-conductor Centronics-type cable as an intermediate bus. The master interlace circuitry is device-driver-transparent, and multiplexes address data, and control information over a byte-wide avenue of the intermediate bus according to premapped state translation tables. In a preferred embodiment a single peripheral I/O device comprising a slave circuitry may be connected to the 25-pin port, and the slave circuitry demultiplexes the intermediate bus states, providing a synthesized sub-set of ISA states to drive the peripheral device. In another embodiment a docking box comprises a bus with multiple I/O ports, such as a network port, a COM serial port, and additional floppy and hard disk drives. Power circuitry is provided for driving a single connected peripheral device, and for recharging a docked portable computer.
Abstract:
A system for adjusting signals to a CRT in a video monitor utilizes an interactive display having shapes that appear rectangular on a properly adjusted monitor and dragging handles associated with the shapes. Control routines executed on a host computer associate pointer position and movement in dragging the handles with creation of signals to be sent to the monitor to correct signals to the CRT to produce a properly sized, positioned, and shaped display. In one embodiment, digital values are placed in serial packets on a VSYNC line from the host to the video monitor, and a microcontroller in the monitor receives the digital values and drives circuitry in the monitor according to the received commands and data to adjust the signals to the CRT to correct the display.
Abstract:
A personal digital assistant module with a local CPU, memory, and I/O interface has a host interface comprising a bus connected to the local CPU and a connector at a surface of the personal digital assistant for interfacing to a bus connector of a host general-purpose computer, providing direct bus communication between the personal digital assistant and the host general-purpose computer. In an embodiment, the personal digital assistant also has a means for storing a security code.The personal digital assistant according to the invention forms a host/satellite combination with a host computer having a docking bay, wherein upon docking a docking protocol controls access by the host to memory of the personal digital assistant based on one or more passwords provided by a user to the host. In another embodiment the personal digital assistant also has an expansion port connected to the local CPU, and expansion peripheral devices may be connected and operated through the expansion port.In one embodiment, a personal digital assistant module and a computer having docking bays is provided also having movable heat sink structures for contacting and cooling docked modules.