The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 18, 1995
Filed:
Jul. 05, 1994
Gregory N Stewart, Austin, TX (US);
David Lunsford, Austin, TX (US);
Dell USA, L.P., Austin, TX (US);
Abstract
A computer system including an input/output (I/O) connector for connecting to an external data peripheral, where the computer includes circuitry for detecting the presence or absence of a load on a first pin and for providing power to the external data peripheral through a second pin of the I/O connector. In this manner, the external data peripheral need not include a separate power supply, but instead is sensed and powered by the computer itself through the I/O connector. In the preferred embodiment, the I/O connector is coupled to parallel port circuitry for interfacing to an external printer, and also to a floppy controller for interfacing with an external floppy drive, where the computer system further includes circuitry to switch from the printer controller to the floppy controller when an external floppy drive is connected to the I/O connector. In this manner, the same I/O port automatically serves either an external printer or an external floppy drive.