Intellectual Ventures I LLC

Mobility Electronics, Inc.

Tao Logic Systems LLC

Paul Charles

Jason J Hoendervoogt

Walter C Peschke

David Marsh

Walter M Peschke

A system and method for interfacing at least one ISA and/or PCI compliant device with a PCMCIA compliant socket on a host computer is disclosed. The system is particularly useful to allow ISA and/or PCI compliant devices, which could not otherwise be used with a portable computer having a PCMCIA socket, to be used with such computers. The system can provide complete compatibility between a PCMCIA socket and ISA /PCI compliant devices even though such industry standards include contradictory requirements. The system allows a user to easily connect and disconnect numerous ISA and/or PCI compliant devices via a single PCMCIA socket commonly found on portable computers. Preferably included in the system are structures to carry out the functions of: interrupt translation between the PCMCIA port and the ISA devices; direct memory access translation between the PCMCIA port and the ISA devices; translation of a buss address latch enable signal between the PCMCIA port and the ISA devices; translation between a memory read signal and a memory write signal of the PCMCIA port and a system memory read signal and a system memory write signal of the ISA devices; translation between the PCMCIA port and 8 bit ISA devices; DRAM refresh of the ISA devices; providing a clock signal to the ISA devices; supplying power to the ISA devices; and, translation of the timing between the PCMCIA port and the ISA devices.

System and method for expansion of a computer

A system and method for interfacing at least one ISA and/or PCI compliant device with a PCMCIA compliant socket on a host computer is disclosed. The system is particularly useful to allow ISA and/or PCI compliant devices, which could not otherwise be used with a portable computer having a PCMCIA socket, to be used with such computers. The system can provide complete compatibility between a PCMCIA socket and ISA/PCI compliant devices even though such industry standards include contradictory requirements. The system allows a user to easily connect and disconnect numerous ISA and/or PCI compliant devices via a single PCMCIA socket commonly found on portable computers.Preferably included in the system are structures to carry out the functions of: interrupt translation between the PCMCIA port and the ISA devices; direct memory access translation between the PCMCIA port and the ISA devices; translation of a buss address latch enable signal between the PCMCIA port and the ISA devices; translation between a memory read signal and a memory write signal of the PCMCIA port and a system memory read signal and a system memory write signal of the ISA devices; translation between the PCMCIA port and 8 bit ISA devices; DRAM refresh of the ISA devices; providing a clock signal to the ISA devices; supplying power to the ISA devices; and, translation of the timing between the PCMCIA port and the ISA devices.

A system and method are provided for interconnecting computer peripherals with portable and desktop computers and other digital devices. More specifically, the present invention includes a system and method for simultaneously connecting multiple portable computer peripherals to a single portable computer interface slot, for connecting portable computer peripherals to a desktop computer, and for connecting a portable ZIP&trade; drive to a portable computer. A system for providing a supplemental power supply for the computer peripheral is also provided.

Growing community of inventors

Scottsdale, AZ, United States of America

Paul Charles