All flex PCMCIA-format cable

• US 5,540,597 A
• Filed: 12/15/1993
• Issued: 07/30/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Wutka, Anthony D., Mosley, Joseph M., Budman, Mark, Massman, Lloyd H., Jenness, Robert V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bradley, P. Austin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Elpel, Jeanne M.
• Application Number:
  US08/167,712
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: 439/505, 439/502, 439/77, 439/493
• US Class Current: 439/77
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4063 Device-to-bus coupling

Abstract

A flexible cable assembly for coupling an electronic apparatus, having a port for receiving personal computer cards in accordance with the PCMCIA standard, to at least one peripheral device, said flex cable assembly comprises a personal computer card connector, in accordance with the PCMCIA standard, for connecting into a corresponding port in the electronic apparatus, and a flexible cable connected to the personal computer card connector. The personal computer card connector also comprises an interface to said at least one peripheral device. In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the flex cable assembly can also couple a first electronic apparatus, to a second electronic apparatus, each having a port for receiving personal computer cards in accordance with the PCMCIA standard. This flex cable assembly comprises (1) a first PCMCIA card connector for connecting into a corresponding port in either the first or second electronic apparatus; (2) a second PCMCIA card connector for connecting into a corresponding port in either the first or second electronic apparatus; and (3) a flex cable coupled between the first and second personal computer card connectors.

Claims

1. A flexible cable assembly for coupling an electronic apparatus, having a port for receiving personal computer cards in accordance with the PCMCIA standard, to at least one peripheral device, not in accordance with the PCMCIA standard, said flexible cable assembly comprising:

a personal computer card connector, in accordance with the PCMCIA standard, for connecting into the port in the electronic apparatus; and

a flexible cable having a first end directly connected to the personal computer card connector and having a second end for connecting to the at least one peripheral device;

said personal computer card connector also comprising an interface to said at least one peripheral device, said interface comprising a data access arrangement circuit.

2. The flexible cable assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one peripheral device.

3. The flexible cable assembly of claim 2 wherein the at least one peripheral device is also a data processing system.

4. The flexible cable assembly of claim 1 wherein the flexible cable is connected to the personal computer card connector by means of a plurality of solder joints.

5. A flexible cable assembly for coupling a first computer system, having a port for receiving personal computer cards in accordance with the PCMCIA standard, to a second computer system, also having a port for receiving personal computer cards in accordance with the PCMCIA standard, said flexible cable assembly comprising:

a first personal computer card connector, in accordance with the PCMCIA standard, for connecting into the port in either the first or second computer system;

a second personal computer card connector, also in accordance with the PCMCIA standard, for connecting into the port in either the first or second computer system; and

a flexible cable coupled between the first and second personal computer card connectors, said flexible cable attached directly to said first and second personal computer card connectors.