Multiple-interface selection system for computer peripherals

• US 5,330,370 A
• Filed: 03/22/1993
• Issued: 07/19/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Spectra-Physics Scanning Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Spectra-Physics Scanning Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Shepard, Phillip W., Reddersen, Brad R., Moch, Rockie D.
• Primary Examiner(s): BISHOP, STEVEN C
• Application Number:
  US08/034,189
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 439/67, 439/77, 439/329, 439/491, 439/493, 439/498, 439/499, 439/502, 439/505, 439/514, 439/515, 439/680
• US Class Current: 439/502
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/18 Packaging or power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1017 Programmable
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10 by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/7076 for connection between PCB and component, e.g. display
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/465 Identification means, e.g. labels, tags, markings H01R9/2475, H01R9/2683 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/64 Means for preventing incorrect coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 29/00 Coupling parts for selective co-operation with a counterpart in different ways to establish different circuits, e.g. for voltage selection, for series-parallel selection, programmable connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/955 including electronic identifier or coding means

Abstract

An interface selection and configuration system for a computer peripheral in which configuration for the peripheral is at least in part accomplished by the interface connector cable. In a preferred embodiment, the computer peripheral is equipped with one or more hardware interfaces. The interface connector cable has a first end connector for attaching to the computer peripheral. The first end connector of the interface connector cable is typically a multiple pin connector constructed and arranged to be properly physically and electrically connectable only to a specific computer peripheral or class of computer peripherals, the first end connector including at least one electrical connection between two pins for completing a circuit within the computer peripheral thereby enabling the computer peripheral.

Claims

1. An interface configuration system for a computer peripheral comprising:

(1) a given first host computer;

(2) a computer peripheral having (a) at least two internal configuration selection circuits and (b) sufficient internal hardware and/or firmware to be internally configurable for at least the given first host computer and a given second host computer selectable by actuation of a given one or more of said internal configuration selection circuits; and

(3) an interface connector cable having a first end connectable to the computer peripheral and a second end connectable to the given first host computer,

wherein the first end of the interface connector cable includes a multiple contact connector constructed and arranged to be properly physically and electrically connectable to a specific computer peripheral or class of computer peripherals,

wherein the first end of the interface connector cable includes at least one electrical connection between two contacts which, when the first end of the interface connector cable is plugged into the computer peripheral, completes the given one or more of said internal configuration selection circuits within the computer peripheral thereby configuring the internal hardware and/or firmware of the computer peripheral to correspond to the given first host computer as opposed to the given second host computer.

2. An interface configuration system according to claim 1 wherein the computer peripheral comprises a laser scanner.

3. An interface configuration system according to claim 1 wherein the multiple contact connector is selected from the group consisting of:

edge connectors, pin connectors, plugs, and sockets.

4. An interface configuration system according to claim 1 wherein the second end of the interface connector cable includes a multiple contact connector constructed and arranged to be properly physically and electrically connectable only to a specific host computer or class of host computers.

5. An interface configuration system according to claim 1 further comprising means for ensuring correct interface connector cable selection for the computer peripheral.

6. An interface configuration system for a computer peripheral with at least a first internal configuration and a second internal configuration, comprising an interface connector cable connectable at one end to the computer peripheral and in communication to a host computer, the interface connector cable including

a first end connector attachable to the computer peripheral, the first end connector having multiple contacts;

and

a second end connector providing communication to the host computer, wherein the interface connector cable includes at least one electrical connection between two contacts for completing an internal configuration selection circuit within the computer peripheral thereby internally configuring the computer peripheral to the first internal configuration as opposed to the second internal configuration.

7. An interface configuration system according to claim 6 wherein the computer peripheral comprises a laser scanner.

8. An interface configuration system according to claim 6 wherein the multiple contact connector is selected from the group consisting of:

edge connectors, pin connectors, plugs, and sockets.

9. An interface configuration system according to claim 6 further comprising means for ensuring correct interface connector cable selection.

10. An interface configuration system according to claim 6 wherein the first end connector of the interface connector cable is constructed and arranged to be properly physically and electrically connectable only to a specific computer peripheral or group of computer peripherals.

11. An interface configuration system according to claim 6 wherein the second end connector of the interface connector cable is constructed and arranged to be properly physically and electrically connectable only to a specific host computer or group of host computers.

12. A method for configuring a computer peripheral for a given host computer, comprising the steps of:

supplying the computer peripheral with sufficient internal hardware and/or firmware to be configurable for at least a first host computer and a second host computer;

equipping the computer peripheral with a multiple contact connector and with at least two internal configuration selection switches, the computer peripheral being selectively configured for a given host computer by actuating a given one or more of said internal configuration selection switches; and

actuating the given one or more of said internal configuration selection switches for configuring the computer peripheral for the first host computer as opposed to the second host computer by;

selecting a matching interconnect cable which matches the computer peripheral and the first host computer, the interconnect cable having a first end connector for attaching to the computer peripheral and

closing an electrical circuit between contacts in the multiple contact connector of the computer peripheral by attaching the first end connector of the matching interconnect cable to the computer peripheral, the first end connector having certain of its contacts electrically interconnected.

13. A method for configuring a computer peripheral according to claim 12 wherein the multiple contact connector is selected from the group consisting of:

edge connectors, pin connectors, plugs, and sockets.

14. A method for configuring a computer peripheral according to claim 12 wherein the computer peripheral comprises a laser scanner.

15. A method for configuring a computer peripheral according to claim 12 further comprising the step of ensuring a correct interface connector cable is selected for the given host computer and the computer peripheral.

16. A computer peripheral system comprising:

a computer peripheral having (a) at least two internal configuration selection circuits and (b) sufficient internal hardware and/or firmware to be internally configurable for at least a given first application and a given second application selectable by actuation of a given one or more of said internal configuration selection circuits; and

a communication link between a given host computer and the computer peripheral, the communication link including an interface connector cable having a first end connectable to the computer peripheral, the first end of the interface connector cable including (a) a multiple contact connector constructed and arranged to be physically connectable to a specific computer peripheral or class of computer peripherals and (b) at least one connection path between two contacts which, when the first end of the interface connector cable is plugged into the computer peripheral, completes the given one or more of said internal configuration selection circuits within the computer peripheral thereby internally configuring the computer peripheral for the given first application as opposed to the given second application.

17. A computer peripheral system according to claim 16 wherein the interface connector cable comprises a continuous wire cable extending between the first end of the interface connector cable at the computer peripheral to a second end of the interface connector cable at the host computer and wherein the at least one connection path is electrical.

18. An interface connector cable for configuring a computer peripheral for a particular application or host computer, comprising a first end connector connectable to the computer peripheral, the first end connector having at least one electrical connection between two contacts for completing an internal configuration selection circuit within the computer peripheral thereby internally configuring the computer peripheral for the particular application or host computer as opposed to some other application or host computer.

19. An interface connector cable according to claim 18 further comprising an identifying code located on an outer surface of the interface connector cable, the identifying code corresponding to the particular application or host computer.

20. A method for internally configuring a computer peripheral for a given application as opposed to some other application, comprising the steps of

(1) identifying the computer peripheral;

(2) identifying the given application for which the computer peripheral will be used;

(3) selecting a correct interface connector cable by identifying a connector cable having an identifying code corresponding to the computer peripheral and the given application identified in steps (1) and (2); and

(4) connecting a first end of the interface connector cable into a mating connector on the computer peripheral which comprises establishing electrical connection between certain contacts in the mating connector thereby actuating a given one or more internal configuration selection switches within the computer peripheral to select a desired internal configuration of the computer peripheral corresponding to the given application as opposed to some other application.

21. A method according to claim 20 wherein the step of connecting the first end of the interface connector cable into a mating connector on the computer peripheral comprises enabling and/or disabling certain hardware and/or firmware within the computer peripheral.

22. A method for setting a desired internal configuration of an electronic device to a predetermined set of values, comprising the steps of:

supplying the electronic device with sufficient internal circuitry having internal configuration of at least one internal variable;

connecting a connector cable to the electronic device;

setting the internal variable to one of the predetermined set of values in response to whether or not a circuit is formed between a predetermined first contact and a predetermined second contact in the connector cable upon the connector cable being connected to the electronic device.

23. A method according to claim 22 further comprising the step of selecting the connector cable being connected on the basis of a code applied to the connector cable which identifies the desired internal configuration for the electronic device.

24. A method according to claim 22, wherein the electronic device comprises a peripheral device connectable to a host device by the connector cable, the method further comprising the steps of connecting the connector cable to a given host device and selecting the connector cable being connected on the basis of a code applied to the connector cable which identifies the given host device.

25. A method of operating a handheld scanner for data reading, the handheld scanner including a scanner body and a connector cable, comprising the steps of:

detachably connecting the connector cable to the scanner body;

changing a function of the scanner by changing the connector cable.

26. A method according to claim 25 wherein the step of changing a function comprises changing a value of an internal configuration parameters of the scanner.

29. A method according to claim 25 wherein the step of changing a function comprises selecting interface hardware in the scanner corresponding to a given application.

30. A method according to claim 29 further comprising manually setting switches in the scanner to complete interface hardware selection.

31. A method according to claim 29 wherein the step of changing a function further comprises manually setting switches on the connector cable.

32. A method according to claim 29 further comprising the step of selecting the connector cable being connected on the basis of a code applied to the connector cable which identifies the given application for the scanner.

27. A handheld scanner for data reading comprising:

a body portion;

a scanning mechanism mounted within the body portion;

a connector cable detachably connectable to the body portion, said connector cable being electrically connected to the scanning mechanism when the connector cable is attached to the body portion, the connector cable being changeable by connecting to and being disconnected from the body portion wherein a function of the scanner may be changed by changing the connector cable.

28. A handheld scanner according to claim 27 wherein the body portion includes a scan head containing the scanning mechanism and a handle portion having a first end attached to the scan head and a second end, wherein the connector cable is detachably connectable to the second end.