Universal adaptor for connecting additional modules and peripherals to an electronic host device and methods of making and using same

An adapter can be used to connect a standard connector on an electronic device, such as a Set-Top Box (“STB”), with a specific connector on an external module, peripheral, electronic device, bus, cable, wire or the like that is to be connected to the electronic device. For example, different adapters can provide means for connecting a standard connector on an STB with any of a Point-of-Deployment card or module, a smart card, a PCMCIA card or a Memory Stick®. Consequently, the STB (or other electronic device) need not be manufactured with connectors configured for connecting all possible peripheral devices. Additionally, the STB (or other electronic device) need not be manufactured in different models with various combinations of connectors for the possible peripheral devices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As will be well known to those skilled in the electrical and computer arts, it is often necessary or desirable to form an electronic connection between two or more electronic devices. These connections allow for electronic communication between the connected devices thereby enhancing the functionality of the system. These connections are typically made by placing a male connector of a first device in a receptacle of a second device. A male connector generally includes pins, plugs or electrical contacts that are received in a slot, port, socket or set of holes of a receptacle or female connector. However, it usually makes little, if any, difference which side of a connection provides the male connector and which provides the receptacle. Consequently, as used herein, the term “connector” shall be used to refer generally to any male connector that has, for example, pins, plugs, prongs, electrical contacts and the like, for connection with a receptacle. The term “connector” shall also refer to any and all equipment providing a means for receiving a male connector or the like, including slots, sockets, pin holes, plug or prong holes, electrical contacts, etc. A connector may be disposed directly on an electronic device or may be on a bus, cable, wire or other electrical line that runs between separate electronic devices. As used herein, the term “electronic device” shall be used in its broadest sense to refer to any electronic device, particularly a device that can be connected to another electronic device. For example, the term “electronic device” shall include, but not be limited to, a Set-Top Box (“STB”), interactive television set, digital video disk player, computer (desktop, laptop or palmtop), printer (or other computer peripheral) and other networked devices. In general principle, the present invention provides an adapter which can be used to connect a standard connector on an electronic device, such as a Set-Top Box (“STB”), with a specific connector on an external module, peripheral, electronic device, bus, cable, wire or the like. As will be described in detail below, the adapter of the present invention can be used with a wide variety of electronic devices for which it is necessary or desirable to provide an electronic connection to another device. Using the drawings, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be explained. FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of an adapter ( 100 ) according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1 , the adapter ( 100 ) of the present invention includes a front panel ( 101 ) on which is provided at least one electrical connector ( 102 ). This connector ( 102 ) is typically, though not necessarily, a receptacle for receiving a connection from another electronic device, directly or by bus, cable or wire. The connector ( 102 ) is electrically connected, preferably within the body of the adapter ( 100 ), with a second connector ( 106 ). The connector ( 106 ) is typically, though not necessarily, a male connector that is plugged into a standard receptacle of a host device. An electrical connection ( 107 ) carries electrical signals between the front connector ( 102 ) and the rear connector ( 106 ). The adapter ( 100 ) also preferably includes a guide rail ( 103 ) for guiding the adapter into a host electronic device. A rail ( 103 ) may be provided on both sides of the adapter ( 100 ). The adapter ( 100 ) also preferably includes a latch ( 104 ) that is biased in an extended position by a biasing device ( 105 ). The biasing device ( 105 ) may be, for example, a coil or leaf spring, or the like. As will be illustrated later, when the adapter ( 100 ) is inserted into and connected to an electronic device, the latch ( 104 ) may engage to hold the adapter ( 100 ) in the electronic device until the latch ( 104 ) is released. Preferably, a tool ( 150 ) designed specifically to release the latch ( 104 ) is required to release the latch ( 104 ) and remove the adapter ( 100 ) from the electronic device. FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of the front panel ( 101 ) of the adapter ( 100 ) of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2 , the front panel ( 101 ) includes the forward connector ( 102 ) of the adapter. The front panel ( 101 ) also includes an access ( 108 ) into which the tool ( 150 ) can be inserted to release the latch ( 104 ). The access ( 108 ) may have a particular shape and/or angle that allows only a properly designed tool to reach and disengage the latch ( 104 ). Such configurations will be apparent from this description to those skilled in the art. The adapter of the present invention is not limited to providing a single forward connector as illustrated in FIG. 1 . Rather, the adapter ( 100 ) of the present invention can be made to include any number of forward connectors. As shown in FIG. 3 , the adapter ( 100 ) has been modified to include a second forward connector ( 110 ) which is also connected to the standard rear connector ( 106 ) of the adapter ( 100 ). Again, an electrical connection ( 111 ), preferably within the body of the adapter ( 100 ), is provided between the second forward connector ( 110 ) and the rear connector ( 106 ). FIG. 4 illustrates the front panel ( 101 ) of the adapter ( 100 ) shown in FIG. 3 . As shown in FIG. 4 , the front panel ( 101 ) of the adapter ( 100 ) of FIG. 3 includes both the first forward connector ( 102 ) and the second forward connector ( 110 ). The access ( 108 ) for disengaging the latch ( 104 ) is also provided. In the context of an STB, a set of adapters ( 100 ), like those illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 , can be used to make a connection between a generic STB and any of the possible external modules or peripherals. For example, the generic STB can be made with a single standard connector for receiving the rear connector ( 106 ) of an adapter ( 100 ) according to the present invention. The forward connector ( 102 ) of the adapter ( 100 ) is then made to conform to the configuration of a particular external module, for example, a Point-of-Deployment (“POD”) card, a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association card (“PCMCIA card”), a smart card or a Sony® Memory Stick®. If the generic STB is to be connected to a POD card or module, an adapter ( 100 ) having the standard rear connector ( 106 ) and a forward connector ( 102 ) configured to connect to a POD card or module is connected to the generic STB. If, instead, the STB is to be connected to a smart card, a different adapter is used having the standard rear connector ( 106 ) and a forward connector ( 102 ) configured to connect to a smart card. In either case, the electrical connection(s) ( 107 , 111 ) within the adapter ( 100 ) can be used to map the individual data lines of the forward connector ( 102 ) to data lines of the standard rear connector ( 106 ). In this way, a generic STB can be manufactured with a standard connector for receiving the rear connector of the adapter ( 100 ). Different adapters can then be used, as needed, to connect any module, peripheral, card or other external device to the STB. Consequently, there is no need to manufacture an STB with connectors for all possible external connection configurations. There is also no need to manufacture different models of the STB with different connectors. These principles apply equally to other types of electronic devices and are not specific to STBs. FIGS. 5 to 9 illustrate specific embodiments of the present invention for adapters to be used with STBs. FIG. 5 illustrates an adapter according to the present invention that provides a forward connector ( 102 a ) configured to connect with a smart card. FIG. 6 illustrates an adapter according to the present invention that provides a forward connector ( 102 b ) configured to connect with a POD card or module. FIG. 7 illustrates an adapter according to the present invention that provides two forward connectors, a first forward connector ( 102 a ) configured to connect with a smart card and a second forward connector ( 102 b ) configured to connect with a POD card or module. FIG. 8 illustrates an adapter according to the present invention that provides two forward connectors, a first forward connector ( 102 c ) configured to connect with a PCMCIA card and a second forward connector ( 102 b ) configured to connect with a POD card or module. FIG. 9 illustrates an adapter according to the present invention that provides two forward connectors, a first forward connector ( 102 d ) configured to connect with a Memory Stick® and a second forward connector ( 102 b ) configured to connect with a POD card or module. FIG. 10 illustrates the use of the adapter ( 100 ) of the present invention with an electronic device ( 200 ). The electronic device ( 200 ) may be any electronic device for which it is necessary or desirable to make an electrical connection with another electronic device. Specifically, the electronic device ( 200 ) may be, but is not limited to, a Set-Top Box (“STB”), interactive television set, digital video disk player, computer (desktop, laptop or palmtop), printer (or other computer peripheral) and other networked devices. As shown in FIG. 10 , the electronic device ( 200 ) preferably includes a port or receptacle ( 201 ) for receiving the adapter ( 100 ). This port ( 201 ) preferably allows the adapter ( 100 ) to be completely recessed within the electronic device ( 200 ) such that when a module or card is connected to the forward connector(s) ( 102 ) of the adapter ( 100 ), that module or card may also be partially or completely recessed within the housing of the electronic device ( 200 ). The port ( 201 ) for the adapter ( 100 ) also includes a connector ( 204 ) that connects the standard rear connector ( 106 ) of the adapter ( 100 ) with the electronics of the electronic device ( 200 ). The port ( 201 ) may also include a stop ( 203 ) that extends from a sidewall of the port ( 201 ). Between this stop ( 203 ) and the bottom of the port ( 201 ) is a space ( 202 ) through which the guide rail ( 103 ) of the adapter may pass as the adapter ( 100 ) is guided into the port ( 201 ). As the latch ( 104 ) passes under the stop ( 203 ), the latch ( 104 ) will be forced into a recess in guide rail ( 103 ) against the bias of the biasing device ( 105 ). After the latch ( 104 ) has passed the stop ( 203 ), the biasing device ( 105 ) will force the latch ( 104 ) into the extended position illustrated in FIG. 10 . The latch ( 104 ) will then be caught behind the stop ( 203 ) and will prevent removal of the adapter ( 100 ) until released with the appropriate tool, as described above. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the arrangement illustrated could be equivalently implemented with a latch in the port ( 201 ) of the electronic device ( 200 ) that engages a stop on the adapter ( 100 ). Additionally, instead of requiring a special tool to release the adapter ( 100 ), a solenoid ( 205 ) may be positioned in the electronic device ( 200 ) to release the latch. ( 105 ). The electronic device ( 200 ) may have a user input device ( 206 ) such as a keypad that provides input to the device's processor ( 207 ). The processor ( 207 ) can control the solenoid ( 205 ). Thus, when a particular code or key sequence is input to the input device ( 206 ), the processor ( 207 ) will activate the solenoid ( 205 ) to release the latch ( 104 ). The solenoid ( 205 ) could alternatively be used to replace the biasing device ( 105 ). The solenoid could then be extended to engage the stop ( 203 ) and lock the adapter in the device ( 200 ). The solenoid could also be retracted to release the latch ( 104 ). Rather than controlling the solenoid ( 205 ) through a user input device ( 206 ), the code to activate the solenoid ( 205 ) and release the latch ( 104 ) may be transmitted to the electronic device ( 200 ). For example, if the electronic device is an STB, the code may be transmitted over the cable network to which the STB is connected. The electronic device ( 200 ) may also be a wireless device that includes an antenna ( 209 ) and wireless transceiver ( 208 ). This will allow the device ( 200 ) to receive wireless transmissions, including connecting the device ( 200 ) to a wireless home network. Preferably, the device ( 200 ) would employ the Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) in external electronic communications. The preceding description has been presented only to illustrate and describe the invention. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to any precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The preferred embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application. The preceding description is intended to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims.