Patent Document

BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Many computer systems, such as notebook computers, have multiple, externally accessible connectors and/or slots into which peripheral devices can be connected. Each such slot is configured for a specific type of device (e.g., PCMCIA, USB, etc.). While such an arrangement of connection types provides options to a user, some users might prefer a different set of connection choices. For example, while a notebook computer might provide one slot for a Secure Digital (SD) card, a user might prefer to have more than one SD card slot. The manufacturer/system designer has to decide which set of connection/slots to include based on a perception of what a majority of potential customers would want. While having multiple types of slots and connectors for peripheral devices provides choices to a user, the various slots and connectors are fixed at the factory thereby limiting flexibility of the system to be connected to peripherals other than what the computer&#39;s slots/connectors permit. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0002]    For a detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0003]      FIG. 1  shows a system in accordance with various embodiments; 
           [0004]      FIG. 2  shows a side view of the system of  FIG. 1  in accordance with various embodiments; 
           [0005]      FIG. 3  illustrates an adapter in accordance with various embodiments and usable in conjunction with the system of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0006]      FIG. 4  illustrates a block diagram of the system of  FIG. 1  in accordance with various embodiments. 
       
    
    
     NOTATION AND NOMENCLATURE 
       [0007]    Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular system components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, computer companies may refer to a component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function. In the following discussion and in the claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “including, but not limited to . . . . ” Also, the term “couple” or “couples” is intended to mean either an indirect, direct, optical or wireless electrical connection. Thus, if a first device couples to a second device, that connection may be through a direct electrical connection, through an indirect electrical connection via other devices and connections, through an optical electrical connection, or through a wireless electrical connection. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates a computer  102  which, in the example of  FIG. 1 , comprises a notebook computer. The subject matter described herein, however, is usable in conjunction with other types of computer and other types of systems besides computers. The illustrative computer  102  comprises a chassis  104  with a hinged cover  106  having a flat-panel display  108 . The cover  106  closes against chassis  104  to protect display  108  and keyboard  110 , which is contained in chassis  104 . 
         [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of computer  102  with the hinged cover  106  (and thus display  108 ) in the closed position. As shown, a slot  120  is provided on a side surface of chassis  104 . The slot  120  is configured for a predetermined type of electrical interface. Examples of the slot&#39;s electrical interface type comprise the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) and Universal Serial Bus (USB), but other electrical interface types are possible as well. A peripheral device can be installed in slot  120  as long as the peripheral device has an electrical interface that is compatible (e.g., the same as) the electrical interface of the computer&#39;s slot  120 .  FIG. 2  also illustrates a compatible peripheral device  130  that can be installed in slot  120 . If the slot  120  is, for example, a PCMCIA slot, device  130  is a PCMCIA card (e.g., a wireless card). Absent the adapter described below, peripheral devices having a different electrical interface type (i.e., different than the electrical interface type of the slot) will not properly communicate and thus not be usable by the computer  102 . An eject button  124  is also provided adjacent the slot  120  to eject whatever peripheral device is installed in the slot  120 . 
         [0010]      FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment of an adapter  150  that can be installed in slot  120  in place of peripheral device  130 . The adapter  150  is adapted to receive one or more electronic devices that each have an electrical interface that differs from the electrical interface of the slot  120 . Thus, the slot  120  is configured to receive either the adapter  150  having electronic devices that are incompatible with the electrical interface of the slot  120  or a peripheral device  130  that is compatible with the electrical interface of the slot  120 . The adapter  150  containing otherwise incompatible electronic devices and the compatible peripheral devices can both be received into the slot, albeit not simultaneously, and communicatively coupled to the computer  102 . 
         [0011]    The embodiment of  FIG. 3  illustrates that the adapter  150  comprises a generally rectangular outer frame  152  that is of a size and shape generally compatible with the size and shape of the slot  120 . As such, the adapter  150  fits in slot  120  as would peripheral device  130 . Further, the adapter  150  slides into and blind-mates into the slot  120  in much the same way as a peripheral device  130 . In at least some embodiments, the adapter  150  is a tray on which electronic devices are mountable, the tray slidingly engaging into the slot  120 . 
         [0012]    The adapter  150  of  FIG. 3  also comprises cross members  154  that define four receiving cavities  160 ,  162 ,  164 , and  166 . Each receiving cavity is adapted to receive an electronic device that has an electrical interface different from the electrical interface of the slot  120  into which the adapter is received. With four receiving cavities  160 ,  162 ,  164 , and  166 , four electronic devices are possible. Although four receiving cavities  160 ,  162 ,  164 , and  166  are shown in the illustrative embodiment of  FIG. 3 , any other number of receiving cavities (i.e., one or more) can be provided. The number of receiving cavities is influenced by the size of the electronic devices that are to be received into the adapter and the anticipated number of electronic devices that a user would desire to use with the adapter. 
         [0013]    In some embodiments, the electronic devices are pre-installed on the adapter  150  at the factory. In other embodiments, the user of the computer  102  can choose the electronic devices to be installed on the adapter and change that selection at any time. 
         [0014]    In at least some embodiments, each electronic device received on to adapter  150  comprises a non-volatile memory device such as a Secure Digital (SD) card, a Smart Media card, etc. The adapter  150  also comprises a printed circuit board (PCB)  170  which comprises bridge logic  172 . Bridge logic  172  converts the slot&#39;s electrical interface type to the electrical interface type associated with each electronic device installed on the adapter  150 . In some embodiments, the slot&#39;s electrical interface type is in accordance with the PCMCIA standard and the electronic device is an SD card. In such case, the bridge logic  170  converts between PCMCIA and SD. 
         [0015]    In some embodiments, all of the electronic devices installed on the adapter  150  have the same electrical interface type (e.g., all are SD cards). In other embodiments, at least one of the electronic devices has an electrical interface types that is different from at least one other electronic device. In still other embodiments, all of the electronic devices installed on the adapter  150  have electrical interface types that are different. Further still, while at least one electronic device has an electrical interface type that differs from the slot&#39;s electrical interface type, at least one other electronic device has an electrical interface type that is the same as the slot&#39;s electrical interface type. 
         [0016]    The ability of the adapter  150  to accommodate multiple electronic devices that may or may not have the same electrical interface type as the slot into which the adapter is received provides the user with considerable flexibility. For example, the user can install multiple (e.g., four) SD cards on the adapter  150 , install the adapter in a non-SD slot  120  (e.g., a PCMCIA slot), and then selectively access each SD card for storing and/or reading information. 
         [0017]    Referring still to  FIG. 3 , each receiving cavity  160 ,  162 ,  164 , and  166  of the adapter  150  comprises an electrical connector suitable for mating to a corresponding connector on the electronic device installed in that cavity. Thus, receiving cavity  160  comprises an electrical connector  161 , while receiving cavities  162 ,  164 , and  166  comprise electrical connectors  163 ,  165 , and  167 , respectively. Each electrical connector  161 ,  163 ,  165 , and  167  is electrically coupled to the bridge logic  172  on the PCB and, through the bridge logic  172  to edge connector  175  on the adapter  150  via conductor  154 . The edge connector  175  mates with a corresponding connector provided internal to the computer&#39;s slot  120 . As noted above, connector  175  may blind-mate to the slot connector. As such, connector  175  is generally compatible with the electrical interface of the slot  120 , while connectors  161 ,  163 ,  165 , and  167  may not be compatible with the slot&#39;s electrical interface. 
         [0018]      FIG. 4  illustrates a block diagram of computer  102  into which the peripheral device  130  and/or adapter  150  can be received. As shown, computer  102  comprises a processor  202  coupled to a north bridge  204 . The north bridge  204  couples to a south bridge  205  and, via a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus  207  to, for example, a PCMCIA controller (also referred to as cardbus controller)  208 . The slot  120  is electrically coupled to the PCMCIA controller  208 . The architecture of  FIG. 4  can be varied depending on the type of electrical interface associated with slot  120 . 
         [0019]    The above discussion is meant to be illustrative of the principles and various embodiments of the present invention. Numerous variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art once the above disclosure is fully appreciated. It is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace all such variations and modifications.

Technology Category: 5