Computer system provided with infrared communication cable

A computer system includes an input adapter and an external optical communication transceiver. The adapter has a plug which can be mated with the keyboard socket and a duplicated keyboard socket for allowing an input device such as a keyboard to be electrically connected with the system unit. The external optical communication transceiver is electrically connected with an optical point-to-point communication controller through the adapter. The optical communication transceiver and the adapter can be electrically connected with each other by either an extension cable or a flexible tube, thereby the computer system and other infrared-equipped devices can be aligned for user convenience's sake regardless of allowable link angle and distance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Technical Field 
The present invention relates to computer systems having optical 
communication interface ports and, more particularly, to personal computer 
systems with serial infrared ports which can communicate with other serial 
IR port-equipped devices. 
2. Related Art 
Recently, there has been a tremendous increase in the number of 
infrared-equipped devices, such as desktop computers, portable computers, 
personal digital assistants (PDAs), digital cameras, personal 
communications services (PCS) handsets, and the like. Much of the credit 
for the dramatic rise in the use of infrared technology is due to the 
Infrared Data Association (IrDA), a non-profit international standards 
organization that was founded in 1993. The IrDA is responsible for 
developing and promoting hardware and software protocol standards to the 
infrared communications links in computing communications, and electronics 
consumer devices. 
IrDA's infrared standards are now accepted by computer and 
telecommunications hardware and software manufacturers worldwide. The IrDA 
serial infrared (SIR) physical layer link specification Versions 1.0, 1.1 
and 1.2 are provided to facilitate the point-to-point communication 
between infrared interface port-equipped electronic devices (e.g., 
computers and peripheral devices) using directed half duplex serial 
infrared communications links through free space. The documents specify 
the optical media interface, and 0.576 Mbps, 1.152 Mbps and 4.0 Mbps 
modulation and demodulation. They contain specifications for the Active 
Output Interface and the Active Input Interface, and for the overall link. 
Many of recent computers and peripheral devices are equipped with an 
infrared communication feature that allows point-to-point communication, 
and almost all of them may include IrDA devices. Infrared is a form of 
invisible electromagnetic radiation that travels in wavelengths greater 
than those of visible light and shorter than those of microwaves. Just as 
television remote control which uses infrared waves to transmit user's 
control information to televisions, computers and peripheral devices use 
infrared waves to transmit user's control information. Examples of 
contemporary communication devices using infrared technology are disclosed 
in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,099,346 and 5,247,380 for Infrared Communication 
Network issued to Lee et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,416,627 for Method And 
Apparatus For Two Way Infrared Communications issued to Wilmoth, U.S. Pat. 
No. 5,564,020 for Apparatus For Reducing Interference Between A Computer 
Device And A Radio Transceiver Utilizing Separated Units With An Infrared 
Link issued to Rossi, U.S. Pat. No. 5,600,471 for Optical Wireless Data 
Transmission System And Optical Wireless Data Transmitting/Receiving 
Apparatus issued to Hirohashi et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,264 for Radio 
Telephone System Which Utilizes An Infrared Signal Communication Link 
issued to Sulavuori, U.S. Pat. No. 5,668,977 for Dockable Computer System 
Capable Of Electric And Electromagnetic Communication issued to Swanstrom 
et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,682,379 for Wireless Personal Local Area 
Network issued to Mahany et al. 
For computers and peripheral devices, infrared interface ports (i.e., 
infrared transceivers) are installed at respective devices, and infrared 
communications work best when an infrared interface port of the 
transmitting device is aligned within 15 degrees (up, down, left, or 
right) of an infrared interface port of the receiving device. As long as 
the transceiver is properly aligned within this 30 degrees cone, 
connectivity will occur at reasonable distances (e.g., about 3 meters). In 
practice, as I have observed however, it is extremely difficult to align 
the computers and peripheral devices within allowable link angle and 
distance. The problem is magnified for relatively heavy 
infrared-compatible desktop computers or printers with less mobility than 
portable computers since the infrared interface ports of the respective 
computers and peripheral devices are fixed to the housings, and the 
optical axes of the infrared interface ports are normal to the surface of 
the housings. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide 
infrared compatible computer systems and peripheral devices for efficient 
wireless infrared data communication over an infrared (IR) communication 
link. 
It is also an object to provide a desktop computer using an adapter to 
support a flexible IR transceiver for easily alignment with a remote 
controller or peripheral devices within an allowable IR communication link 
angle. 
It is further an object to provide a portable computer using an adapter to 
support a flexible IR transceiver for easily alignment with peripheral 
devices within an allowable IR communication link angle. 
These and other objects of the present invention can be achieved by a 
computer system comprising a system unit having an infrared communication 
controller for controlling point-to-point communication with other 
infrared equipped devices; a keyboard socket built into a housing of the 
system unit and having at least two reserved pins; and an infrared 
transceiver electrically connected to said keyboard socket for 
communication with the infrared communication controller via the reserved 
pins. A detachable adapter with a plug at one distal end for mating with 
the keyboard socket is provided to support the infrared communication 
transceiver at an opposite distal end for infrared communications with 
other infrared equipped devices over an infrared communication link. The 
adapter can also be configured to include an extended socket at an 
opposite distal end for mating with an input cable for input devices, and 
the infrared communication transceiver extended from a central body by 
either a flexible tube or an extension cable for infrared communications 
with other infrared equipped devices over a communication link. 
The present invention is more specifically described in the following 
paragraphs by reference to the drawings attached only by way of example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, which illustrates 
computer systems such as a desktop computer 10 and a portable computer 16 
with a remote controller 14, and peripheral devices such as a printer 18 
equipped with IrDA devices such as infrared interface ports 12 and 20 
which use infrared technology for communication. For desktop computer 10 
and printer 18, which uses a remote controller 14, infrared interface 
ports 12 and 20 (i.e., infrared transceivers) are generally installed at 
the front of its housing. 
In typical situations, as I have described, infrared communications work 
best when an infrared interface port of the transmitting device is aligned 
within 15 degrees (up, down, left, or right) of an infrared interface port 
of the receiving device. As long as the transceiver is properly aligned 
within the 30 degrees cone, connectivity will occur at reasonable 
distances (e.g., about 3 meters). In practice, as I have observed however, 
it is extremely difficult to align the computers and peripheral devices 
within allowable link angle and distance. The problem is compounded for 
relatively heavy infrared-compatible desktop computers or printers with 
less mobility than portable computers since the infrared interface ports 
of the respective computers and peripheral devices are fixed to the 
housings, and the optical axes of the infrared interface ports are normal 
to the surface of the housings. 
FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a system unit of an exemplary 
infrared-equipped desktop computer. The system unit 10' of the desktop 
computer includes a main controller 30 such as a central processing unit 
(CPU), a keyboard controller 32, an infrared ("IR") controller 34, a 
keyboard port or socket 36, and IR port or transceiver 50. The IR 
controller 34 and IR transceiver 50 are connected by two data signal lines 
54 and 56. The IR transceiver 50 is supplied with a power supply voltage 
Vcc and ground voltage GND via power and ground lines 52 and 60 
respectively. 
Recent IBM PS/2 compatible computer has a 6-pin miniature DIN modular 
keyboard connector for connection with a keyboard. According to PS/2 
keyboard wiring scheme, only four pins are significant to keyboard use: 
pin one (42) is assigned keyboard data DATA; pin three (48) is connected 
to ground; pin four (38) is connected to a power terminal Vcc of five 
volts; and pin five (40) is connected to a keyboard clock CLK. Pins two 
and six (44 and 46) are reserved, and the shield is attached as a chassis 
ground. Input cable 62 of a PS/2 compatible input device such as keyboard, 
mouse, keypad, or the like is plugged into the PS/2 type socket 36. In 
this computer system, the infrared interface port 50 (i.e., IR 
transceiver) is installed at the front of the main unit housing for 
infrared communications with peripheral devices, and the PS/2 type socket 
36 is installed at the rear of the main unit housing for cable connection 
with the keyboard. 
FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a system unit of an exemplary 
infrared-equipped portable computer. The system unit 16' of the portable 
computer has the same configuration as that of the desktop computer 10' of 
FIG. 2 except that a keyboard 64 is integrated with the system and is 
directly connected with the keyboard controller 32. The portable computer 
16' also includes a PS/2 type socket 36 for connecting external PS/2 
compatible devices. The infrared interface port 50 (i.e., IR transceiver) 
and the PS/2 type socket 36 are installed at the front of the main unit 
housing for infrared communications with peripheral devices. 
Turning now FIGS. 4 to 9 which are schematic block diagrams of alternative 
embodiments of a computer system according to the present invention. 
First, referring to FIG. 4 which illustrates an exemplary computer system 
using a detachable adapter 100 to support a flexible IR transceiver 110 
for easily alignment with a remote controller or other infrared-equipped 
devices (e.g., computers, peripheral devices, digital cameras, etc.) 
within an allowable IR communication link angle. As shown in FIG. 4, the 
system unit 70 of the computer system includes a main controller 72 in 
communication with a keyboard controller 74 and an infrared IR controller 
76. The keyboard controller 74 and the IR controller 76 are electrically 
connected to a 6-pin keyboard socket 78 for accommodating insertion of a 
plug 101 of an externally equipped IR transceiver 110 for infrared 
communications with other infrared-equipped devices (e.g., computers, 
peripheral devices, digital cameras, etc.) over an infrared (IR) 
communication link. 
The detachable adapter 100 has a plug 101 at one distal end that can be 
fitted into the 6-pin keyboard socket 78 of the system unit 70, and an 
external IR transceiver 110 at an opposite distal end for transmitting 
and/or receiving infrared communications with the keyboard and/or 
peripheral devices. The plug 101 and the transceiver 110 are electrically 
connected with each other by a connection member 120 (i.e., flexible 
cable). Plug pins 86' and 88' serve to electrically connect the data lines 
86" and 88" of the IR transceiver 110 with the lines 86 and 88 of the IR 
transceiver controller 76, respectively. Pins 80' and 90' serve to 
electrically connect the IR transceiver 110 to power and ground terminals 
with voltages Vcc and GND via the adapter 100. The IR transceiver 110 is 
not connected with the keyboard controller 74. 
FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a desktop computer using an adapter 
to support a flexible IR transceiver according to a preferred embodiment 
of the present invention. A system unit 130 of the desktop computer 
includes a main controller 72, a keyboard controller 74 and an IR 
controller 76. The IR controller 76 is electrically connected to a 
built-in IR transceiver 140 installed at the front portion and a 
detachable adapter 100 which supports an external IR transceiver 110 via 
6-pin socket 78 for infrared communications with other infrared-equipped 
devices (e.g., computers, peripheral devices, digital cameras, etc.) over 
an infrared (IR) communication link. 
The detachable adapter 100 also has a plug 101 at one distal end that can 
be fitted into the 6-pin socket 78 of the system unit 70, and an external 
IR transceiver 110 at an opposite distal end for transmitting and/or 
receiving infrared communications with other infrared-equipped devices 
(e.g., computers, peripherals, digital cameras, etc.) over an infrared 
(IR) communication. The plug 101 and the transceiver 110 are electrically 
connected with each other by a connection member 120 (i.e., flexible 
cable). Plug pins 86' and 88' serve to electrically connect the data lines 
86" and 88" of the IR transceiver 110 with the lines 86 and 88 of the IR 
transceiver controller 76, respectively. Pins 80' and 90' serve to 
electrically connect the IR transceiver 110 to power and ground terminals 
with voltages Vcc and GND via the adapter 100. The IR transceiver 110 is 
not connected to the keyboard controller 74, but is connected to the IR 
controller 76 which supports the built-in IR transceiver 140. 
FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a portable computer such as a laptop 
or a notebook computer using an adapter to support a flexible IR 
transceiver according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
A system unit 131 of the portable computer includes a main controller 72 
electrically connected to a keyboard controller 74 and an IR controller 
76. The keyboard controller 74 is electrically connected to a keyboard 160 
integrated thereon. The IR controller 76 is electrically connected to a 
built-in IR transceiver 140 installed at the front portion of the portable 
computer and a detachable adapter 100 installed to support an external IR 
transceiver 110 via 6-pin socket 78 for infrared communications with other 
infrared-equipped devices (e.g., computers, peripheral devices, digital 
cameras, etc.) over an infrared (IR) communication link. 
Likewise, the detachable adapter 100 has a plug 101 at one distal end that 
can be fitted into the 6-pin socket 78 of the system unit 70, and an 
external IR transceiver 110 at an opposite distal end for transmitting 
and/or receiving infrared communications with other infrared-equipped 
devices (e.g., computers, peripherals, digital cameras, etc.) over an 
infrared (IR) communication link. The plug 101 and the transceiver 110 are 
electrically connected with each other by a connection member 120 (i.e., 
flexible cable). Plug pins 86' and 88' serve to electrically connect the 
data lines 86" and 88" of the IR transceiver 110 with the lines 86 and 88 
of the IR transceiver controller 76, respectively. Pins 80' and 90' serve 
to electrically connect the IR transceiver 110 to power and ground 
terminals with voltages Vcc and GND via the adapter 100. The built-in IR 
transceiver 140 is directly connect to an IR controller 76. The external 
IR transceiver 110 is connected to the IR controller 76 via the PS/2 type 
adapter 100 and socket 78. 
FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of a computer system according to a 
second embodiment of the present invention. A system unit 132 of the 
computer system includes the same main controller 72, the IR controller 74 
and the keyboard controller 76. However, a PS/2 type port or socket 78 is 
used for serial infrared (SIR) point-to-point communication. In addition, 
a detachable adapter 100 is constructed with a plug 101 at one distal end 
for mating with a PS/2 type socket 78, and a duplicated PS/2 type socket 
(i.e., receptacle) 102 at an opposite distal end for mating with an input 
cable 62 for input devices such as keyboard, mouse, or keypad. An IR 
transceiver 110 is extended from the body of the adapter by a flexible 
cable 120, and is controlled by the IR controller 76 for infrared serial 
communications with other infrared-equipped devices (e.g., computers, 
peripherals, digital cameras, etc.) over an infrared (IR) communication 
link. The external IR transceiver 110 may be built with one or more 
built-in IR transceivers if necessary. The adapter 100 provides the 
simultaneous connection of an external IR transceiver and an input PS/2 
compatible device to the system unit 132. 
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a portable computer using an adapter 100 to 
support a flexible IR transceiver 10 and a compatible cable of input 
devices according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The 
adapter 100 has a plug 101 at one distal end formating with a PS/2 type 
socket 78 of the portable computer, and a duplicated PS/2 type socket 
(i.e., receptacle) 102 at an opposite distal end for mating with an input 
cable 62 for input devices such as keyboard, mouse, or keypad. In 
addition, the adapter 110 also includes a flexible tube 122 for sustaining 
the IR transceiver 110. The transceiver 110 is electrically connected with 
the reserved pins of the adapter 100 by conductive lines inside the tube 
122. The use of such a flexible tube 122 provides the flexibility of 
inter-IR device alignment because it is then possible to easily adjust the 
optical axis direction of the IR transceiver according to circumstances. 
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a portable computer using an adapter 100 to 
support a different type of IR transceiver 110 and a compatible cable of 
input devices according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
In this configuration, the IR transceiver 110 and the adapter 100 are 
electrically connected with each other by an extension cable 124 instead 
of a flexible tube 122 as shown in FIG. 8. This configuration allows the 
computer system and other infrared-equipped devices (e.g., computers, 
peripherals, digital cameras, etc.) be aligned with less restriction of 
link angle and distance, as shown in FIG. 10. 
As described above, according to the present invention, all communication 
difficulties experienced by infrared equipped communication devices such 
as computer systems due to the restriction of allowable link angle, link 
distance, and various communication obstacles can be avoided. 
While there have been illustrated and described what are considered to be 
preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood by 
those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be 
made, and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without 
departing from the true scope of the present invention. In addition, many 
modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation to the teaching 
of the present invention without departing from the central scope thereof. 
Therefore, it is intended that the present invention not be limited to the 
particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying 
out the present invention, but that the present invention includes all 
embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.