Apparatus used to interface a peripheral device to a computer employing a reconfigurable interface circuit

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for interfacing a peripheral device having a peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement to a computer, comprising:

an adapter card including a reconfigurable interface circuit that is in communication with a computer when the adapter card is connected to the computer, the reconfigurable interface circuit including an electronic circuit whose circuit structure is reconfigurable to the peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement according to information provided to the reconfigurable interface circuit, wherein the reconfigurable interface circuit is a reconfigurable PCMCIA interface chip;

an adapter card/computer external connector configured to connect the adapter card to the computer, a portion of the adapter card/computer external connector being in the computer and a portion of the adapter card/computer external connector being in the adapter card;

a smart cable including

a first memory containing configuration information for the reconfigurable interface circuit, the first memory being accessible by the reconfigurable interface circuit when the smart cable is connected to the adapter card,

a second memory containing adapter card information structure information for the reconfigurable interface circuit, the second memory being accessible by the reconfigurable interface circuit when the smart cable is connected to the adapter card, and

a peripheral device interface circuit communicating with the reconfigurable interface circuit and with the peripheral device when the smart cable is connected to the adapter card and the peripheral device is connected to the smart cable;

a smart cable/adapter card connector configured to connect the smart cable to the adapter card, a portion of the smart cable/adapter card connector being in the adapter card and a portion of the smart cable/adapter card connector being in the smart cable; and

a peripheral device/smart cable connector configured to connect the peripheral device to the smart cable, a portion of the peripheral device/smart cable connector being in the smart cable and a portion of the peripheral device/smart cable connector being in the peripheral device.

2. An apparatus for interfacing a peripheral device having a peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement to a computer, comprising:

an adapter card including a reconfigurable interface circuit that is in communication with a computer when the adapter card is connected to the computer, the reconfigurable interface circuit including an electronic circuit whose hardware structure is reconfigurable to the peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement according to information provided to the reconfigurable interface circuit;

an adapter card/computer external connector configured to connect the adapter card to the computer, a portion of the adapter card/computer external connector being in the computer and a portion of the adapter card/computer external connector being in the adapter card, wherein the adapter card/computer external connector is a 68-pin connector;

a smart cable including

a first memory containing configuration information for the reconfigurable interface circuit, the first memory being accessible by the reconfigurable interface circuit when the smart cable is connected to the adapter card,

a second memory containing adapter card information structure information for the reconfigurable interface circuit, the second memory being accessible by the reconfigurable interface circuit when the smart cable is connected to the adapter card, and

a peripheral device interface circuit communicating with the reconfigurable interface circuit and with the peripheral device when the smart cable is connected to the adapter card and the peripheral device is connected to the smart cable;

a smart cable/adapter card connector configured to connect the smart cable to the adapter card, a portion of the smart cable/adapter card connector being in the adapter card and a portion of the smart cable/adapter card connector being in the smart cable; and

a peripheral device/smart cable connector configured to connect the peripheral device to the smart cable, a portion of the peripheral device/smart cable connector being in the smart cable and a portion of the peripheral device/smart cable connector being in the peripheral device.

3. An apparatus for interfacing a peripheral device having a peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement to a computer, comprising:

an adapter card including a reconfigurable interface circuit that is in communication with a computer when the adapter card is connected to the computer, the reconfigurable interface circuit including an electronic circuit whose hardware structure is reconfigurable to the peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement according to information provided to the reconfigurable interface circuit;

an adapter card/computer external connector configured to connect the adapter card to the computer, a portion of the adapter card/computer external connector being in the computer and a portion of the adapter card computer external connector being in the adapter card;

a smart cable including

a first memory containing configuration information for the reconfigurable interface circuit, the first memory being accessible by the reconfigurable interface circuit when the smart cable is connected to the adapter card, wherein the first memory is a serial-configuration memory,

a second memory containing adapter card information structure information for the reconfigurable interface circuit, the second memory being accessible by the reconfigurable interface circuit when the smart cable is connected to the adapter card, and

a peripheral device interface circuit communicating with the reconfigurable interface circuit and with the peripheral device when the smart cable is connected to the adapter card and the peripheral device is connected to the smart cable;

a smart cable/adapter card connector configured to connect the smart cable to the adapter card, a portion of the smart cable/adapter card connector being in the adapter card and a portion of the smart cable/adapter card connector being in the smart cable; and

a peripheral device/smart cable connector configured to connect the peripheral device to the smart cable, a portion of the peripheral device/smart cable connector being in the smart cable and a portion of the peripheral device/smart cable connector being in the peripheral device.

4. An apparatus for interfacing a peripheral device having a peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement to a computer, comprising:

an adapter card including a reconfigurable interface circuit that is in communication with a computer when the adapter card is connected to the computer, the reconfigurable interface circuit including an electronic circuit whose hardware structure is reconfigurable to the peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement according to information provided to the reconfigurable interface circuit;

an adapter card/computer external connector configured to connect the adapter card to the computer, a portion of the adapter card/computer external connector being in the computer and a portion of the adapter card/computer external connector being in the adapter card;

a smart cable including

a first memory containing configuration information for the reconfigurable interface circuit, the first memory being accessible by the. reconfigurable Interface circuit when the smart cable is connected to the adapter card,

a second memory containing adapter card information structure information for the reconfigurable interface circuit, the second memory being accessible by the reconfigurable interface circuit when the smart cable is connected to the adapter card, wherein the second memory is a serial-configuration memory, and

a peripheral device interface circuit communicating with the reconfigurable interface circuit and with the peripheral device when the smart cable is connected to the adapter card and the peripheral device is connected to the smart cable;

a smart cable/adapter card connector configured to connect the smart cable to the adapter card, a portion of the smart cable/adapter card connector being in the adapter card and a portion of the smart cable/adapter card connector being in the smart cable; and

a peripheral device/smart cable connector configured to connect the peripheral device to the smart cable, a portion of the peripheral device/smart cable connector being in the smart cable and a portion of the peripheral device/smart cable connector being in the peripheral device.

5. An apparatus for interfacing a peripheral device having a peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement to a computer, comprising:

an adapter card including a reconfigurable interface circuit that is in communication with a computer when the adapter card is connected to the computer, the reconfigurable interface circuit including an electronic circuit whose hardware structure is reconfigurable to the peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement according to information provided to the reconfigurable interface circuit;

an adapter card/computer external connector configured to connect the adapter card to the computer, a portion of the adapter card/computer external connector being in the computer and a portion of the adapter card/computer external connector being in the adapter card;

a smart cable including

a first memory containing configuration information for the reconfigurable interface circuit, the first memory being accessible by the reconfigurable interface circuit when the smart cable is connected to the adapter card,

second memory containing adapter card information structure information for the reconfigurable interface circuit, the second memory being accessible by the reconfigurable interface circuit when the smart cable is connected to the adapter card, and

a peripheral device interface circuit communicating with the reconfigurable interface circuit and with the peripheral device when the smart cable is connected to the adapter card and the peripheral device is connected to the smart cable;

a smart cable/adapter card connector configured to connect the smart cable to the adapter card, a portion of the smart cable/adapter card connector being in the adapter card and a portion of the smart cable/adapter card connector being in the smart cable, where in the smart cable/adapter card connector is a 23-pin connector; and

a peripheral device/smart cable connector configured to connect the peripheral device to the smart cable, a portion of the peripheral device/smart cable connector being in the smart cable and a portion of the peripheral device/smart cable connector being in the peripheral device.

6. An apparatus for interfacing a peripheral device having a peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement to a computer, comprising an adapter card including

a reconfigurable interface circuit that is in communication with a computer when the adapter card is connected to the computer, the reconfigurable interface circuit including an electronic circuit that is reconfigurable to the peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement according to information provided to the reconfigurable interface circuit from a memory located external to the apparatus, wherein the reconfigurable interface circuit is a reconfigurable PCMCIA interface chip;

a portion of an adapter card/computer connector configured to connect the adapter card to the computer, the portion of the adapter card/computer connector being supported on the adapter card and being electrically connected to the reconfigurable interface circuit; and

a portion of a smart cable/adapter card connector configured to connect a smart cable to the adapter card, the portion of the smart cable/adapter card connector being supported on the adapter card and being electrically connected to the reconfigurable interface circuit.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the memory located external to the apparatus is located on the smart cable.

8. An apparatus for interfacing a peripheral device having a peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement to a computer, comprising an adapter card including

a reconfigurable interface circuit that is in communication with a computer when the adapter card is connected to the computer, the reconfigurable interface circuit including an electronic circuit that is reconfigurable to the peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement according to information provided to the reconfigurable interface circuit from a memory located external to the apparatus;

a portion of an adapter card/computer connector configured to connect the adapter card to the computer, the portion of the adapter card/computer connector being supported on the adapter card and being electrically connected to the reconfigurable interface circuit, wherein the adapter card/computer connector is a 68-pin connector; and

a portion of a smart cable/adapter card connector configured to connect a smart cable to the adapter card, the portion of the smart cable/adapter card connector being supported on the adapter card and being electrically connected to the reconfigurable interface circuit.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the memory located external to the apparatus is located on the smart cable.

10. An apparatus for interfacing a peripheral device having a peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement to a computer, comprising a smart cable including

a first memory containing configuration information for a reconfigurable interface circuit, the first memory being accessible by an external reconfigurable interface circuit when the smart cable is connected to the external reconfigurable interface circuit, the reconfigurable interface circuit including an electronic circuit that is reconfigurable to the peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement according to information provided to the reconfigurable interface circuit, wherein the first memory is a serial-configuration memory;

a second memory containing adapter card information structure information for the external reconfigurable interface circuit, the second memory being accessible by the reconfigurable interface circuit when the smart cable is connected to the external reconfigurable interface circuit;

a peripheral device interface circuit communicating with the reconfigurable interface circuit and with a peripheral device when the smart cable is connected to the reconfigurable interface circuit and the peripheral device is connected to the smart cable;

a portion of a smart cable/adapter card connector configured to connect the smart cable to an adapter card upon which the reconfigurable interface circuit resides; and

a portion of a peripheral device/smart cable connector configured to connect the peripheral device to the smart cable.

11. An apparatus for interfacing peripheral device having a peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement to a computer, comprising a smart cable including

a first memory containing configuration information for a reconfigurable interface circuit, the first memory being accessible by an external reconfigurable interface circuit when the smart cable is connected to the external reconfigurable interface circuit, the reconfigurable interface circuit including an electronic circuit that is reconfigurable to the peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement according to information provided to the reconfigurable interface circuit;

a second memory containing adapter card information structure information for the external reconfigurable interface circuit, the second memory being accessible by the reconfigurable interface circuit when the smart cable is connected to the external reconfigurable interface circuit, wherein the second memory is a serial-configuration memory;

a peripheral device interface circuit communicating with the reconfigurable interface circuit and with a peripheral device when the smart cable is connected to the reconfigurable interface circuit and the peripheral device is connected to the smart cable;

a portion of a smart cable/adapter card connector configured to connect the smart cable to an adapter card upon which the reconfigurable interface circuit resides; and

a portion of a peripheral device/smart cable connector configured to connect the peripheral device to the smart cable.

12. An apparatus for interfacing a peripheral device having a peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement to a computer, comprising a smart cable including

a first memory containing configuration information for a reconfigurable interface circuit, the first memory being accessible by an external reconfigurable interface circuit when the smart cable is connected to the external reconfigurable interface circuit, the reconfigurable interface circuit including an electronic circuit that is reconfigurable to the peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement according to information provided to the reconfigurable interface circuit;

a second memory containing adapter card information structure information for the external reconfigurable interface circuit, the second memory being accessible by the reconfigurable interface circuit when the smart cable is connected to the external reconfigurable interface circuit, wherein the first memory and the second memory are contained in a single memory device;

a peripheral device interface circuit communicating with the reconfigurable interface circuit and with a peripheral device when the smart cable is connected to the reconfigurable interface circuit and the peripheral device is connected to the smart cable;

a portion of a smart cable/adapter card connector configured to connect the smart cable to an adapter card upon which the reconfigurable interface circuit resides; and

a portion of a peripheral device/smart cable connector configured to connect the peripheral device to the smart cable.

13. An apparatus for interfacing a peripheral device having a peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement to a computer, comprising a smart cable including

a first memory containing configuration information for a reconfigurable interface circuit, the first memory being accessible by an external reconfigurable interface circuit when the smart cable is connected to the external reconfigurable interface circuit, the reconfigurable interface circuit including an electronic circuit that is reconfigurable to the peripheral device hardware interfacing requirement according to information provided to the reconfigurable interface circuit;

a second memory containing adapter card information structure information for the external reconfigurable interface circuit, the second memory being accessible by the reconfigurable interface circuit when the smart cable i s connected to the external reconfigurable interface circuit;

a peripheral device interface circuit communicating with the reconfigurable interface circuit and with a peripheral device when the smart cable is connected to the reconfigurable interface circuit and the peripheral device is connected to the smart cable;

portion of a smart cable/adapter card connector configured to connect the smart cable to an adapter card upon which the reconfigurable interface circuit resides, wherein the smart cable/adapter card connector is a 23-pin connector; and

a portion of a peripheral device/smart cable connector configured to connect the peripheral device to the smart cable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to computer systems, and, more particularly, to the connection of peripheral devices to computers.

One of the important features of computers is their ability to connect to, exchange information with, and control (and be controlled by) various accessories. In some cases, accessories are internal to the computer. In other cases, due to size or other requirements, the accessories are external to the computer.

If the computer is a large desk-top type computer, many accessories may be provided within the body of the computer. If the computer is a portable computer such as laptop or notebook computer, some accessories must be furnished external to the computer because of their size, weight, and/or power requirements. Examples of such external accessories, termed "peripheral devices" herein, include modems for communicating through telephone lines with other computers, local area networks of two or more computers, and SCSI interfaces with machinery or devices.

The various types of peripheral devices typically utilize different connector structures, according to conventions established for each such device. According to the current conventions, modems use an RJ-11 connector, local area networks use an RJ-45 connector, and SCSI interfaces use a 50-pin Centronics connector. The selection of these different connectors is not arbitrary, but is made responsive to the requirements of the various peripheral devices.

In the conventional approach for interfacing a portable computer to such a peripheral device, a special-purpose PCMCIA card plugs into the computer. Since many of the integrated circuits required for peripheral interfaces are physically too large to reside inside the PCMCIA card, the interface is typically split into two pieces, the PCMCIA card itself and an outboard assembly, commonly termed a "dongle". The PCMCIA card contains a portion of the electronics required to interface the computer to the peripheral device, as well as the logic required to create an intermediate bus-like interface to communicate between the PCMCIA card and the dongle. The remaining interface electronics, as well as the interface to the intermediate bus, are placed in the dongle. The outboard assembly is usually in the form of a cable that plugs into the PCMCIA card at one end and the peripheral device at the other end. The PCMCIA card and the outboard assembly cable thus cooperate to interface the computer to the peripheral device, both electronically and physically by providing the required pin connector configurations. The PCMCIA card and the outboard assembly cable are special-purpose devices useful only with the peripheral device for which they are designed.

When the computer user wishes to add a peripheral device to the capability of the computer, the PCMCIA card and the outboard assembly cable are purchased along with the other structure and software of the peripheral device. In some instances, such as the modem, the cost of the dedicated PCMCIA card and the outboard assembly cable can constitute a significant portion of the total cost of the peripheral device. When the computer user adds another peripheral device to the computer capability, a separate dedicated PCMCIA card and outboard assembly cable specific to that device are purchased.

The present inventor has recognized a need for an improved approach to interfacing peripheral devices to computers, particularly portable computers. Such an interfacing approach would desirably reduce the cost of interfacing various types of peripheral devices to the computer, while managing the power requirements for the peripheral devices and the computer. The present invention fulfills this need, and further provides related advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an interfacing architecture and associated apparatus for interfacing a computer to a peripheral device. The interface approach of the invention reduces the cost of obtaining interfaces between the computer and various peripheral devices. The approach also benefits manufacturers of peripheral devices, because the interface structures can be developed more rapidly and less expensively than in the prior approach. Power isolation between the computer and the peripheral device is improved, reducing the likelihood that power from the peripheral device can find its way into the computer.

In accordance with the invention, apparatus used to interface a peripheral device to a computer includes first means connectable to a computer for providing a reconfigurable interface circuit operable to reconfigure an interface bus according to flexibly defined signals between the computer and a peripheral device interface circuit. The apparatus further includes second means connectable to the first means and to the peripheral device for providing device-specific information to reconfigure the reconfigurable interface circuit of the first means and to provide the peripheral device interface circuit.

More specifically, apparatus used to interface a peripheral device to a computer comprises an adapter card including a reconfigurable interface circuit that is in communication with a computer when the adapter card is connected to the computer. There is an adapter card/computer connector configured to connect the adapter card to the computer. A portion of the adapter card/computer connector is in the computer and a portion of the adapter card/computer connector is in the adapter card. The apparatus further includes a smart cable having a first memory containing configuration information for the reconfigurable interface circuit. The first memory is accessible by the reconfigurable interface circuit when the smart cable is connected to the adapter card. There is a second memory containing adapter card information structure information for the reconfigurable interface circuit. The second memory is accessible by the reconfigurable interface circuit when the smart cable is connected to the adapter card. The apparatus further includes a peripheral device interface circuit communicating with the reconfigurable interface circuit and with the peripheral device when the smart cable is connected to the adapter card and the peripheral device is connected to the smart cable. The apparatus includes a smart cable/adapter card connector configured to connect the smart cable to the adapter card. A portion of the smart cable/adapter card connector is in the adapter card and a portion of the smart cable/adapter card connector is in the smart cable. A peripheral device/smart cable connector is configured to connect the peripheral device to the smart cable, with a portion of the peripheral device/smart cable connector being in the smart cable and a portion of the peripheral device/smart cable connector being in the peripheral device.

The adapter card and the smart cable are each aspects of the invention in their own right. Thus, apparatus used to interface a peripheral device to a computer comprises an adapter card including a reconfigurable interface circuit that is in communication with a computer when the adapter card is connected to the computer. There is an adapter card/computer connector configured to connect the adapter card to the computer, with a portion of the adapter card/computer connector being in the computer and a portion of the adapter card/computer connector being in the adapter card. The apparatus further includes a portion of a smart cable/adapter card connector configured to connect a smart cable to the adapter card.

Similarly, apparatus used to interfac