Handheld option pack interface

• US 20050114553A1
• Filed: 08/02/2004
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Henry F. Lada, James M. Mann
• Original Assignee: Henry F. Lada, James M. Mann
• Inventors: Mann, James M., Lada, Henry F.
• Application Number:
  US10/909,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20050114553A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724092 Interfacing with an external cover providing additional functionalities

Abstract

An interface of an option pack configured to be used in conjunction with the main unit of a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). An option pack comprising a connector configured to mate with the main unit of a PDA and provide a plurality of signal paths and a memory storage device such as an EEPROM can be used to store identification and functionality information to be conveyed to the main unit upon insertion of the option pack connector into the main unit. The interface on the option pack provides serial and parallel exchanges between the option pack and main unit and provides safeguards against draining the power on the main unit upon insertion. Further, the interface allows a software application and associated drivers to be downloaded onto the main unit temporarily and removed when a user has no further use for the application or option to save memory space on the main unit.

Claims

1. An option pack interface comprising:

a serial peripheral interface;

a connector configured to transmit and receive a plurality of signals to and from a main unit of a personal digital assistant and further configured to transmit and receive the plurality of signals through the serial peripheral interface; and

a memory device electrically coupled to the connector through the serial peripheral interface and configured to store identification information correlative to an option pack.

2. The option pack interface, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a 100-pin connector.

3. The option pack interface, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the 100-pin connector is configured in accordance with Table 1 repeated below.

Pin # Name Type Description 1 CC_ETM P/G Trickle charge current pin 2 PCM_RESET I PCMCIA Reset 3 VS_EBAT O Extended battery sense 4 RD/WR# I Memory &

4. The option pack interface, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the memory device comprises an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM).

5. The option pack interface, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the memory device is configured to store identification information comprising:

option pack features;

option pack configuration; and

option pack identification.

6. The option pack interface, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the memory device is configured to store identification information comprising bootstrapping software.

7. The option pack interface, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the interface is configured to transmit and receive signals corresponding to the identification information, wherein the option pack draws a minimal amount of current from the main unit correlative with the coupling of the main unit and the option pack, the current able to provide identification information to the main unit based on an option pack enable signal.

8. The option pack interface, as set forth in claim 7, wherein the option pack draws a current from the main unit between 5.0 ma and 15.0 ma.

9. A personal digital assistant comprising:

a main unit comprising;

a processor;

a controller operatively coupled to the processor through a first data bus;

a first connector operatively coupled to the controller through a second data bus and configured to receive a second connector on an option pack; and

an option pack comprising;

a Serial Peripheral Interface;

a second connector configured to transmit and receive a plurality of signals to and from the first connector in the main unit and further configured to transmit and receive the plurality of signals through the serial peripheral interface; and

a memory device electrically coupled to the connector through the serial peripheral interface and configured to store identification information corresponding to an option pack.

10. The personal digital assistant, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the first data bus comprises a universal asynchronous receive and transmit (UART) data bus.

11. The personal digital assistant, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the first connector comprises a 100-pin connector.

12. The personal digital assistant, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the second data bus comprises a serial peripheral interface (SPI) data bus.

13. The personal digital assistant, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the second connector comprises a 100-pin connector.

14. The personal digital assistant, as set forth in claim 13, wherein the 100-pin connector is configured in accordance with Table 1 repeated below.

Pin # Name Type Description 1 CC_ETM P/G Trickle charge current pin 2 PCM_RESET I PCMCIA Reset 3 VS_EBAT O Extended battery sense 4 RD/WR# I Memory &

15. The personal digital assistant, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the memory device comprises an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM).

16. The personal digital assistant, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the memory device is configured to store identification information comprising:

option pack features;

option pack configuration; and

option pack identification.

17. The personal digital assistant, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the memory device is configured to store identification information comprising bootstrapping software.

18. The personal digital assistant, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the interface is configured to transmit and receive signals corresponding to the identification information, wherein the option pack draws a minimal amount of current from the main unit correlative with the coupling of the main unit and the option pack, the current being no higher than necessary to provide identification information to the main unit based on an option pack enable signal.

19. The personal digital assistant, as set forth in claim 18, wherein the option pack draws a current from the main unit between 5.0 ma and 15.0 ma.

20. An option pack interface comprising a 100-pin connector configured in accordance with Table 1 repeated below.

Pin # Name Type Description 1 CC_ETM P/G Trickle charge current pin 2 PCM_RESET I PCMCIA Reset 3 VS_EBAT O Extended battery sense 4 RD/WR# I Memory &

21. An option pack comprising an interface configured to support:

one or more personal computer memory card international association/compact flash (PCMCIA/CF) devices;

static memory access;

input/output device access;

one or more serial peripheral interface (SPI) data buses; and

a memory device configured to store identification information.

22. An option pack comprising:

a first battery; and

an interface configured to provide a means for simultaneously charging the first battery on the option pack and a second battery on a main unit of a personal digital assistant.

23. The option pack, as set forth in claim 22, wherein the interface is configured to provide a means of charging the second battery on the main unit with the first battery on the option pack.

24. The option pack, as set forth in claim 22, wherein the interface is configured to provide a means of simultaneously using both the first battery on the option pack and the second battery on the main unit.

25. A personal digital assistant comprising a main unit comprising:

a processor;

a memory device operatively coupled to the processor and configured to temporarily store software applications and associated drivers;

a controller operatively coupled to the memory device, the controller configured to download the software and associated drivers from an option pack; and

a connector operatively coupled to the controller and configured to transmit identification information from the option pack to the controller and further configured to transmit the software and associated drivers from the option pack to the memory device.

26. The personal digital assistant, as set forth in claim 25, wherein the connector comprises a 100-pin connector.

27. The personal digital assistant, as set forth in claim 25, wherein the memory device comprises software applications and associated drivers only when an option pack is coupled to the connector.