A modem having an improved line interface circuit, in particular for a computer

Abstract: A modem for connecting a computer (100) or the like to a line (LT) of a telephone network (PTN), the modem being of the type that includes a control logic circuit (210) and a modulator/demodulator circuit (220), a computer interface circuit (240), and a telephone line interface circuit (230). The modem has a telephone line interface circuit which comprises: a plurality of terminals (S1, S2, S7, S4, S5) for control signals; switching means (MUX, OC7, OC4, OC5) controlled by the control signals; and a plurality of components (R9-R12, C3; R1-R3, PTC1) connected to the switching means so as to cause the AC impedance and DC voltage/current characteristics of the circuit to vary as a function of the received control signals. An identification circuit (250) is also provided including means for reading information representative of the country in which the modem is being used, which information is contained in means (300) for connecting the modem to the telephone line. The control logic circuit (210) is suitable for applying control signals (S1, S2, S7, S4, S5) that are determined as a function of the information read to the telephone line interface circuit (230). The invention is particularly applicable to portable computers.

Description: The present invention relates in general to a modulator/demodulator (modem) for a computer or the like. Personal computers are being equipped more and more frequently with modems, enabling them to communicate with remote computers via the telephone network. Simultaneously, portable computers are being used more and more, and they have the specific purpose of travelling with their users and thus of being used in different countries. However, in most countries, any device, such as a modem, for connection to the public telephone network of the country, must be specifically approved ("PTT approved"), which approval is obtained by a special approval procedure, and has the purpose of ensuring that certain electrical characteristics of the device are suitable for operating on the network. These electrical characteristics vary from one country to another. Thus, to be able to use a portable computer with its modem in different countries, it is necessary at present to possess a plurality of interchangeable modem cards, each approved for a specific country. This procedure is naturally expensive and bulky, thereby causing a portable computer to lose much of its theoretical advantage, in practice. To mitigate this drawback, proposals have already been made in the prior art to provide a modem fitted with a modulator/demodulator circuit associated with a computer interface circuit, which circuits are common for all countries, and a telephone line interface circuit which varies depending on the country of use. Thus, a portable computer user who desires to be able to connect the computer to the public telephone networks of different countries merely needs to possess a single main modem card which is permanently installed in the computer, together with a plurality of telephone line interfaces. Such modems are described in FR-A-2 652 173 and EP-A-0 309 627. However, the above-mentioned drawbacks are not eliminated, they are merely reduced. The user still needs to possess a plurality of different telephone line interface boxes, and must swap them over as necessary each time the computer is to be connected to the public telephone network of a new country. U.S. Patent n° 4,841,561 corresponds to the preamble of claim 1 and describes a universal modem that includes operating parameters of a plurality of countries and that is compatible with the telephone systems of the plurality of countries. The universal modem includes a ROM for storing the plurality of operating parameters for the plurality of countries, a nonvolatile RAM for receiving and storing country-specific operating parameters for the country in which the modem is used from the ROM. A microprocessor obtains the operating parameters in the RAM, thereby permitting the modem to function in accordance with the operating requirements of the country in which the modem is used. However, such known modem fails to provide an automatic and user-independent i.e. failsafe, adaptation of the modem to the requirements of a specific country. The present invention seeks to eliminate the said drawbacks and to provide a modem for which the circuitry is identical for all countries, with hardware matching being performed for use in different countries without physically removing or adding components, and in a manner that is transparent to the user. To this end, the present invention provides a circuitry as defined in appended claim 1. Preferred, but non-limiting aspects of the present invention are recited in sub-claims 2-4. Other aspects, objects, and advantages of the present invention appear more clearly on reading the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, given by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which : Figure 1 is an electrical circuit diagram of a line interface circuit for a modem of the present invention; Figure 2 is an overall diagrammatic view of a modem incorporating the above interface circuit; Figures 3a to 3h show different embodiments of a detail of the invention; and Figures 4a and 4b show two embodiments of a variant of the detail. As an initial point, it should be observed that elements or portions that are identical from one figure to another are designated in all of them by the same reference symbols. Conventionally, there are two parameters of public telephone lines that vary from one country to another. Firstly there is the DC characteristic, also referred to as the "voltage/current limit" which applies when using DC currents for signalling purposes (on-hook, off-hook, pulse dialing, ...). The other parameter is the matching impedance of the speech circuit, i.e. for AC signals. Table I below summarizes the values required for these two parameters in various countries: Country V/I limit (resistance) Impedance Belgium < 250 Ω 600 Ω Canada < 200 Ω 600 Ω Denmark ≈ 400 Ω 600 Ω Ireland < 200 Ω 600 Ω France PTC//900 Ω 600 Ω Italy PTC//900 Ω 600 Ω Japan < 200 Ω 600 Ω Norway ≈ 400 Ω 120 Ω + (820 Ω//110nF) Luxembourg ≈ 400 Ω 600 Ω Netherlands ≈ 400 Ω 600 Ω United Kingdom < 200 Ω 600 Ω Switzerland ≈ 400 Ω 200 Ω + (820 Ω//115nF) Sweden ≈ 400 Ω 600 Ω United States < 200 Ω 600 Ω (The symbol "+" designates a series connection, whereas the symbol "//" designates a parallel connection. PTC designates a positive temperature coefficient thermistor.) An electronic circuit constituting a programmable line interface, i.e. an interface enabling the values of the above parameters as required by different countries to be provided merely by applying appropriate commands, is described below with reference to Figure 1. The reference PTN designates the public telephone network, with the two wire line to which the modem is connected being referenced LT. The line LT is connected to the two terminals of a first winding of an impedance-matching transformer T via two line switches implemented in the form of two optocouplers OC1 and OC2. The photosensitive components of the optocouplers are provided on respective ones of the two line wires, while their light-emitting components are connected in series between a positive power supply terminal Vcc (e.g. at +5 volts) and a control input terminal S6 of the interface circuit. A resistor R0 serves to feed the light-emitters (conventionally light-emitting diodes) with an appropriate value of current. A capacitor C1 is provided in series with said first transformer winding to prevent any direct current flowing therethrough. The line downstream from the switches OC1 and OC2 is connected to the input of a full-wave rectifier bridge comprising four diodes D1-D4. The negative output of the rectifier bridge is connected to respective first terminals of three resistors R1-R3 having well-determined resistances, and of a positive temperature coefficient thermistor PTC1 connected in parallel with R3. The second terminals of PTC1 and of R3 are connected together to a second terminal of the photosensitive component of an optocoupler OC5 whose first terminal is connected to the respective first terminals of the photosensitive components of two other optocouplers OC4 and OC7. The second terminal of the photosensitive component of OC4 is connected to the second terminal of R2. The second terminal of the photosensitive component of OC7 is connected to the second terminal of R1. The first terminals of the light-emitting components of OC7, OC4, and OC5 are connected in common to the voltage Vcc via a resistor R7. The second terminals of said light-emitting components are connected to three respective control inputs S7, S4, and S5 of the modem. The second terminal of R1 is also connected to the negative line of a circuit including a metal oxide silicon field effect transistor Q1 (MOS-FET). It is preferable to use an N-channel transistor that is enriched. A positive line of this circuit is connected to the positive output terminal of the rectifier bridge D1-D4. Resistors R5 and R6 connected in series between the negative and positive lines constitute a divider bridge for biasing the grid of the transistor which is referenced Q1. Series resistor R4 is connected between said bridge and the grid. A capacitor C2 and a zener diode DZ are connected in parallel with R5. The two terminals of the photosensitive component of another optocoupler OC3 are connected resistively to the midpoint of the bridge R5, R6 and to the negative line of the transistor circuit. The light-emitting component of OC3 is connected firstly to the source Vcc via a resistor R8, and secondly to a control input terminal S3. The second winding of the transformer T has a first terminal connected to ground and a second terminal connected to one input of an analog multiplexer or selector MUX. This multiplexer has two select logic inputs controlling the states of two respective switches, as shown. These two logic inputs are connected to two control input terminals S1 and S2 of the line interface circuit. The second terminal of the second winding of T is connected to the moving contact of a first switch whose first stationary contact is connected to a first terminal of a resistor R9. The second terminal of R9 is connected to ground. The second stationary contact of the first switch is connected to the moving contact of the second switch. The first stationary contact of the second switch is connected to the first terminals of two resistors R11 and R12 that are connected in series. The second stationary contact of the second switch is connected to the second terminal of R12, while the second terminal of R11 is connected to a parallel connection of a resistor R10 and a capacitor C3. The other end of said parallel connection is connected to ground. The second terminal of the second winding of T is also connected to the main circuit of the modem, and in particular to its modulator/demodulator circuit. The above-described circuit separates an AC loop using T and C1 from a DC loop using the rectifier bridge D1-D4, and one or more of the resistors R1-R3 and PTC1 and the transistor circuit Q1. The functions of the various control input terminals S1 to S7 of the Figure 1 circuit are described below. As a preliminary point, it is mentioned that by using optocouplers, absolute electrical isolation is ensured between the digital circuits that control the modem and the telephone line interface. In this respect it may be observed that the transformer T which provides electrical isolation for the analog portion of the circuit may advantageously be replaced by an additional optocoupler. Such an optocoupler would provide the further advantage of a significant reduction in cost and bulk. By acting on the positions of the switches in the circuit MUX, the terminals S1 and S2 serve to apply the appropriate impedance to the second winding of T as a function of the country in which the modem is being used. As explained below, the terminal S3 is intended to receive dial pulses from the main modem circuit. The terminals S7, S4, and S5 serve to change the DC loop resistance of the line interface to satisfy the voltage/current limit required by the country under consideration. Finally, the purpose of input terminal S6 is to open and close the circuit connected to the line via optocouplers OC1 and OC2 to perform the on/off hook function. Table II below gives the configuration of the impedance connected to the terminals of the secondary winding of T as a function of the logic levels applied to the control inputs S1 and S2 (where L stands for low, H for high, and X stands for don't care), with level "H" meaning that the switch occupies the position shown in Figure 1, and with level "L" moving it to the other position. S1 S2 Impedance across the terminals of the winding H X R9 L H R11 in series with parallel-connected R10 and C3 L L R12 and R11 in series with each other and with parallel-connected R10 and C3 Thus, by giving resistances of about 600 Ω, 820 Ω, 120 Ω, and 100 Ω respectively to R9, R10, R11, and R12, and by giving C3 a capacitance of about 110 nF, it is possible to select one of the various required impedances as given in Table I, depending on the country in which the modem is being used. As already mentioned, pulse dialing is performed via input terminal S3, and more particularly, by applying zero or low voltage pulses to optocoupler OC3, thereby switching on its LED and essentially short-circuiting the terminals of its photosensitive component. The grid-source voltage of transistor Q1 is thus reduced to a value that causes it to cease conducting. The DC loop is therefore opened; when the input S3 returns to a voltage equal to Vcc, the photosensitive component of OC3 is switched off and because of its bias Q1 becomes conductive again, thereby closing the DC loop. Dialing thus takes place under the control of the main modem circuit by applying desired numbers of pulses S3 at the appropriate rate and mark-space ratio. Input terminals S7, S4, and S5 serve to adjust the voltage/current characteristic of the DC loop as defined above as a function of the requirements of each country. More precisely, Table III below gives the resistance connected in series between the rectifier bridge D1-D4 and the transistor circuit Q1 (which resistance may include, where appropriate, a positive temperature coefficient thermistor) as a function of the logic states at terminals S7, S4, and S5 (where H stands for a high voltage close to Vcc (+5 volts), and L stands for a voltage that is low or zero). S7 S4 S5 Series resistance 1 H H H ∞ 2 H H L R3 and PTC1 in parallel 3 H L H R2 4 H L L R2, R3, and PTC1 in parallel 5 L H H R1 6 L H L R1, R3 and PTC1 in parallel 7 L L H R1 and R2 in parallel 8 L L L R1, R2, R3 and PTC1 in parallel It will thus be understood that by selecting appropriate resistances for R1 to R3, it is possible to obtain the various DC voltage/current characteristics required in various countries as a function of the control signals applied to S7, S4, and S5. For example, R1, R2, and R3 may have the following resistances respectively: 390 Ω, 100 Ω, and 910 Ω. In this way, the T/C limits given in Table I above can be obtained by the signal combinations given at lines 2, 3, and 5 of Table III, and other desirable limit values may also be obtained. Naturally, provision may be made, if necessary, for the DC loop to include components that exhibit inductive behavior. As mentioned, terminal S6 serves to perform on/off hook functions. When the level on S6 is low, then the photosensitive components in OC1 and OC2 are conductive (off-hook state), and vice versa. The general organization of the modem of the invention is shown in Figure 2. Reference 100 designates the host computer, which may be of any appropriate type. The modem 200 includes a control logic circuit 210, e.g. including a processor 212 with a memory 214 containing appropriate programs and input/output circuits (not shown), a main circuit 220 essentially comprising a modulator/demodulator circuit 222, the telephone line interface circuit 230, in particular the circuit shown in Figure 1, a computer interface circuit 240 providing the interface with the computer 100, and a country-identifying circuit 250 which is described below. The modem also includes a connector 260 for the link with the telephone network. This link is provided by a cord 300 comprising an appropriate multiconductor cable 310, a modem connector 320 that is complementary to the connector 260, and a telephone network connector 330. When the modem 200 is used in a given country, it is necessary for the logic signals applied to the terminals S1, S2, S7, S4, and S5 of the line interface circuit 230 to be suitable for configuring said circuit as a function of the voltage/current limit and the impedance as required by that country. It is also necessary for the modem to operate using a protocol that satisfies the requirements of that country, i.e. using a program contained in its memory 214 that complies with the protocol. The solution which consists in requiring the user to tell the computer which country's telephone network is connected to its modem is not desirable since should an error occur, there is a risk of the line interface configuration that is put into operation being unsuitable for the network in the country in question. It is known that each country requires a specific type of connector for gaining access to its telephone network. Thus, when the modem of the invention is used in different countries, the user must replace the cord 300 connecting the modem to the telephone network with a new cord that includes the appropriate network connector 330 together with a modem connector 320 which is always the same and which connects to the connector 260, located at the back of the host computer, for example. In accordance with the present invention, a country-identification process is implemented based on country-specific information contained in the connector 320 or the connector 330 of each country-specific cord, or even in the cable 310 itself. This information may be of any suitable type . Various possible specific embodiments for specifying information in a connector and for enabling it to be read by the identification circuit 250 are described below with reference to Figures 3a to 3h. In the example of Figure 3a, information is determined by the value of an electrical resistor RP and connectors adapted to the networks of different countries include different easily-distinguished resistances. The cable 310 connecting the connector 300 to the modem includes four conductors, two of the telephone line which are connected to contacts 320 of the connector, and the other two (referenced 311 and 312) being connected to the two terminals of the resistance. To identify the country corresponding to a cord currently plugged into the modem, the circuit 250 can apply a constant current to the resistance RP and can measure the voltage across its terminals. Appropriate threshold circuits to which said voltage is applied then serve to identify the country. In Figure 3b, the country information is given by the capacitance of a capacitor CP. This capacitance can be determined by the identification circuit, for example by applying voltage pulses to the terminals of the capacitor and by measuring the rate at which the voltage falls off after the pulse ceases to be applied. In Figure 3c, the country information is provided by the inductance of an inductor LP. Under such circumstances, the identification circuit can apply current pulses to the inductor and can measure the speed at which the current falls off at the end of the pulses. In Figure 3d, the country information is given by the avalanche voltage of a zener diode ZP. This voltage can be measured by applying a reverse bias voltage to said diode greater than the highest expected zener avalanche voltage in any of the connectors, said voltage being applied via a resistor so that the voltage that appears across the terminals of the diodes can be compared with a plurality of thresholds, in a manner analogous to using a resistance. In the example shown in Figure 3e, country information is given by the forwards voltage drop when an ordinary diode DP conducts. The way in which this information is read for the purpose of identifying the country is similar to that described above for a zener diode. It is also possible to provide a combination of passive components in the connector 330, thereby forming a filter. Thus, Figure 3f shows a first order lowpass RC filter constituted by a resistance RF and a capacitance CF. In this case, three conductors 311, 312, and 313 are provided in the cable. Country information is given by the cutoff frequency of the filter. A country can be identified by applying an alternating voltage at fixed frequency to the filter from an identification circuit, and by measuring its attenuation which is representative of its cutoff frequency. The embodiment shown in Figure 3g makes use of a microcontroller MC associated with a memory MP, e.g. a read only memory (ROM) containing a digital value representative of the country-identifier. The microcontroller may respond to a request from the identification circuit by reading the contents of the memory MP and by transmitting it to said circuit serially. To minimize the bulk of the microcontroller and its memory, the person skilled in the art will be able to base a design on the microcircuits used for "smart" cards or the like, for example. In the embodiment of Figure 3h, the connector includes a plurality of removable jumper straps CV which specify a digital country-identification code by being present or absent in various different positions, which code can be read by means of a circuit of the type described in French patent application No. 2 652 173 mentioned in the introduction, for example. In the embodiments of Figures 3a to 3h, the component or components providing country information are incorporated in the telephone network connector 330 of the cord. In a variant embodiment, said component or components may naturally be provided in the modem end connector of the cord. This reduces the number of wires required in the multiwire cable 310. Another variant is described below with reference to Figure 4a. In this case, the connector 320 of the cord includes a plate 324 in the vicinity of its pins 322 (male pins in the present case), which plate 324 carries information. When complementary connectors 320 and 260 are fitted together, the plate engages in a complementary housing 262 of the connector 260, which housing is provided with means for reading information and diagrammatically referenced 264. The information may be optical and it may be implemented, for example, in the form of a bar code, or else it may be magnetic, or it may be of some other kind. In a variant, the plate 324 may include a microcontroller and a memory, with connection being provided via surface contacts provided on the plate. In another variant shown in Figure 4b, the connector 320 of the cord includes a set of tabs or the like PT which, when said connector is associated with a complementary connector 260, are capable of mechanically engaging transient switches IF situated in the housing of the connector 260. Depending on the number and positions of the tabs PT, a special pattern of open/closed states is established for the switches, which states can be read by appropriate means and represent the country for which the modem should be configured. For example, with four tab locations, 2 4 = 16 different country codes can be defined. For example, country identification may be performed each time the computer is switched on, and, where appropriate, at the beginning of each procedure for making or receiving a call. In the event that the logic circuit 210 of the modem observes that the identification it is reading corresponds with the current set of parameters of the modem (software and hardware), then no further operation needs to be performed. However, when a difference is detected, then the modem program corresponding to the country whose identifier has just been read is loaded into the memory 214 of the modem, e.g. from a floppy disk or a hard disk of the computer 100, and appropriate control signals are applied to the terminals S1-S2 and S7, S4, S5 of the line interface circuit so as to obtain the required voltage/current characteristic and the required impedance. Naturally, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and shown in the drawings, and the person skilled in the art will be able to make variants and modifications that are in accordance with the invention as defined in the appended claims. In particular, the invention is applicable to a modem or the like that needs to be adaptable to all kinds of telephone networks, whether public or private.

Claims: Circuitry in a MODEM (200) for a computer (100) for providing a telephone line interface circuit (230) of the MODEM (200) with an AC impedance and DC voltage/current characteristics required by a given type external telephone network (PTN) such that the telephone line interface circuit (230) can be matchingly connected with the telephone network (PTN), wherein the telephone network (PTN) provides an identification code representative of the required AC impedance and DC voltage/current characteristics, wherein the circuitry comprises: (A) a plurality of impedance components (R 9 -R 12 , C 3 ; R 1 -R 3 , PTC1, R 8 ) that, when connected to the telephone line interface circuit (230), determine the AC impedance and DC voltage/current characteristics of the telephone line interface circuit (230); (B) a plurality of terminals (S 1 -S 7 ) coupled to receive a plurality of control signals associated with the identification code; (C) a switching logic (MUX, OC3-OC5, and OC7) coupled (1) between the plurality of impedance components (R 9 -R 12 , C 3 , R 1 -R 3 , PTC1, R 8 ) and the telephone line interfacing circuit (230) and (2) to the plurality of terminals (S 1 -S 7 ) for selectively connecting the plurality of impedance components (R 9 -R 12 , C 3 , R 1 -R 3 , PTC1, R 8 ) to the telephone line interface circuit (230) under the control of the plurality of control signals so as to cause the telephone line interface circuit (230) to have the required AC impedance and DC voltage/current characteristics, wherein the plurality of impedance components (R 9 -R 12 , C 3 , R 1 -R 3 , PTC1, R 8 ), the plurality of terminals (S 1 -S 7 ), and the switching logic (MUX, OC3-OC5, and OC7) all reside in the telephone line interface circuit (230); characterized in that the circuitry further comprises (D) an identifying circuit (250) coupled to the telephone network (PTN) and the plurality of terminals (S 1 -S 7 ) for identifying the required AC impedance and DC voltage/current characteristics by receiving the identification code and converting the identification code into the plurality of control signals applied at the plurality of terminals (S 1 -S 7 ), wherein the identifying circuit (250) accesses the telephone network (PTN) for the identification code when the MODEM (200) is connected to the telephone network (PTN), wherein the identification code is a hardware implemented value in the telephone network (PTN). The circuitry of claim 1, wherein the switching logic (MUX, OC3-OC5 and OC7) comprises semiconductor switches (MUX) and optocouplers (OC3-OC5 and OC7). The circuitry of claim 1, wherein the identifying circuit (250) receives the identification code from an electronic component (RP, CP, LP, ZP, OF, RF and CF, MC and MP or CV) in a connector (330) that is coupled to the telephone network (PTN), wherein the value of the electronic component (RF, CP, LP, ZP, DP, RF and CF, MC and MP, or CV) is associated with the identification code. The circuitry of claim 3, wherein the electronic component (RP, CP, LP, ZP, DP, RF and CF, MC and MP, or CV) is selected from a group oi elements comprising resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes, Zener diodes, filters, jumps, memories, microcontrollers, and combinations thereof.

Inventors: COX ROBERT, GRADELER ERIC, HOCHFIELD BARRY, LE BARS PHILIPPE, MOHME RODGER JOHN, YOUNG STEVEN JAY, COX, ROBERT, GRADELER, ERIC, HOCHFIELD, BARRY, LE BARS, PHILIPPE, MOHME, RODGER JOHN, YOUNG, STEVEN JAY
Applicants: APPLE COMPUTER, APPLE COMPUTER, INC.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: H04M11
IPC codes: H04M11